Today was the last day that I will see most of the people from the summer course this month, as they are leaving. Classes have ended, and today most of our groups met in a cafe near the centre to eat breakfast. I also recieved a certificate from my teacher with my grade on for this month (A 1,0 :D ) and also a copy of our class diary.
After we had finished there and said some goodbyes to people, I went shopping for clothes! I have no washing machine in my building for me and no laudrette is near me...so I bought new clothes instead, to avoid washing. Does that make me an awfully lazy person?
Tuesday 25 August 2009
#51 - A German Paris
On the weekend of 22 and 23 August we went on our last excursion for this month's summer course to Paris. It was a fairly long bus journey but we got there safely. We had to share rooms in groups of 3 in a hotel room which went alright.
Birds fly by the church at Les Invalides
When we arrived on the bus in the first day we straightaway picked up a guide and then proceeded to drive around the city having a tour, which was kind of interesting but I would have really preferred to maybe get off the bus seeing as we had bee on it all morning! After we had finished that and put our things in our rooms then I went with a small group to the centre area Ile de Paris. We then walked aroud to all major monuments (even though we had a day ticket for the metro but nobody wanted to listen to me the several times I brought this up). It was alright, but I had seen all this before, and we basically did exactly the same as we had done earlier on the bus! It was a little useful however because as it got dark the monuments were lit up so I had an opportuity to photograph them!
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
On the Sunday I went north to Monmartre because this was an area I hadn't visited before, and I wanted to visit the Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge. They were both very interesting but it was so hot and sunny out! And of course that means I got a little burnt - but not too much!
The ride back felt a lot shorter but maybe it was because I wasn't tired as much. Lots of people were making noise though, and the younger ones playing loud music for a few hours and past midnight, much to the annoyance of the guy I was sat next to!
This is the second time I have visited Paris now, and I think I have seen all I want to see. I know the layout fairly well now!
Birds fly by the church at Les Invalides
Sacré-Cœur BasilicaOn the Sunday I went north to Monmartre because this was an area I hadn't visited before, and I wanted to visit the Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge. They were both very interesting but it was so hot and sunny out! And of course that means I got a little burnt - but not too much!
The ride back felt a lot shorter but maybe it was because I wasn't tired as much. Lots of people were making noise though, and the younger ones playing loud music for a few hours and past midnight, much to the annoyance of the guy I was sat next to!
This is the second time I have visited Paris now, and I think I have seen all I want to see. I know the layout fairly well now!
Tuesday 18 August 2009
#50 - Öcher Bend
On Monday evening I went with most of my class and another to meet at Bendplatz in Aachen. Here Öcher Bend was being held. Öcher Bend is a fairground that happens about twice a year in Aachen (Öcher means Aachener in Aachen dialect). It was a really good time even though I only went on two rides!
There were various food stalls too and I had this long meat on a stick that they called Piratespeiss which was nice, but unfortunatly when I went back later they had run out!There was one ride (the one you can see in the second piture on the left hand side) which was great fun, but also really scary - not because it was intense, but because it was kinda of extremely dangerous! It spins around fast and tilts, and then also bounces, so you are thrown in the air. The only way to stay on the ride is to grip tightly to the railings...
Sunday 16 August 2009
#49 - Second excursion: Amsterdam
After some self deliberation, I decided to move into a higher group in my lessons. It is much more difficult and mainly consists of reading passages and answering questions, which I think is good. As fun as the other group was, it was just too easy and slow for me.
On Saturday was the excursion to Amsterdam. Leaving on a bus in the morning from Aachen, we arrived at about midday near Amsterdam main train station. There were a few options we could choose to dο - various museum visits - and I ended up going to the Van Gogh Museum. I wasn't terribly interested in it but I went inside, but was disappointed when I found out that you are not allowed to take any pictures inside.
Later in the afternoon we went on a boat cruise around the canals with some information about the city (in German, of course). It was a nice trip, although the boat had no solid roof so I was in the sun almost the whole time and now I am a little more tanned around my neck! After the boat trip I went with a few other students to eat and then to wander around a few of the shops still open.
I am not sure what to make of Amsterdam. It did have some nice parts to it, but I think I was put off by the museums - or especially the ones told to us by the summercourse. I didn't really have an interest in them. Also there were lots of people so it was a bit claustrophobic at times. Nevertheless I would like another chance to go and spend more than one day there to really get to know the place, as our time was very limited.
On Saturday was the excursion to Amsterdam. Leaving on a bus in the morning from Aachen, we arrived at about midday near Amsterdam main train station. There were a few options we could choose to dο - various museum visits - and I ended up going to the Van Gogh Museum. I wasn't terribly interested in it but I went inside, but was disappointed when I found out that you are not allowed to take any pictures inside.
Later in the afternoon we went on a boat cruise around the canals with some information about the city (in German, of course). It was a nice trip, although the boat had no solid roof so I was in the sun almost the whole time and now I am a little more tanned around my neck! After the boat trip I went with a few other students to eat and then to wander around a few of the shops still open.
I am not sure what to make of Amsterdam. It did have some nice parts to it, but I think I was put off by the museums - or especially the ones told to us by the summercourse. I didn't really have an interest in them. Also there were lots of people so it was a bit claustrophobic at times. Nevertheless I would like another chance to go and spend more than one day there to really get to know the place, as our time was very limited.
Sunday 9 August 2009
#48 - First excursion: Cologne and Bonn
Yesterday, Saturday, we had our first organised excursion with the summercourse. We have to arrive at the FH and wait for a bus to come to drive us to Cologne, which takes somewhere around an hour. When we arrived there, we were presented with two options: we could either decide to climb to the top of the Koelner Dom (Cologne's giant catherderale) or we could go to the Schokolade Museum, as there was not enough time to do both activities.Naturally, I chose to go to the chocolate museum.
It was quite interesting and had all the usual
information about how chocolate is made, where it comes from, a history of chocolate making. No free smaples though, apart from a small square when you enter, and some melted chocoalte on a wafer. I took quite a few pictures here, until I had ran my battery out!After we leaft the museum I wandered around outside where they had a small market like thing, and so I bought and ate some tarte flambee/flammenkueche and also had a crepe, although it wasn't very nice.
After a short bus ride we arrived in Bonn. We didn't see much/any of the city, but we went to the Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. This is a huge museum all about the history of Germany from 1945 to present day. We had a guided tour (in German of course) and we wore little headsets. I thought it would be a bit boring, but it turned out to be quite interesting so I am glad.
I will upload some pictures to this entry later on after I have charged my camera a bit to get them onto my computer!
Friday 7 August 2009
#47 - end of Aachen first week
This week I had various things to do. One of the first things was the placement test. When I applied I suggested I would be in group B2 but after my test the lady suggested I should be in M1 which I agreed to try because I think they do more speaking in class which is what I need to work on. My writing is absolutely fine!
I have met a lot of cool and interesting people so far, from various countries, much like when I was in Nancy. We have had a couple of welcome party like things which is cool. We also went on a game around the town where we had to find out information about various sites and buidlings etc! Here are some photos I took of Aachen:
The lessons are ok, but the class I am in is too easy for me, and I have learned all the grammar we are doing before. If it doesn't get harder next week then I am going to move up a set.
Tomorrow is our first excursions to Cologne and to Bonn, which should be interesting. The forecast says it might rain, but at any rate it seems as if it will be cooler than it is now! It is too hot! At least I can see clouds outside my window now, I havn't seen clouds in days.
I have met a lot of cool and interesting people so far, from various countries, much like when I was in Nancy. We have had a couple of welcome party like things which is cool. We also went on a game around the town where we had to find out information about various sites and buidlings etc! Here are some photos I took of Aachen:
The lessons are ok, but the class I am in is too easy for me, and I have learned all the grammar we are doing before. If it doesn't get harder next week then I am going to move up a set.Tomorrow is our first excursions to Cologne and to Bonn, which should be interesting. The forecast says it might rain, but at any rate it seems as if it will be cooler than it is now! It is too hot! At least I can see clouds outside my window now, I havn't seen clouds in days.
Tuesday 4 August 2009
#46 - Aachen, Germany!
I am now in Aachen for the start of my German summer course! I will be here for 2 months so I hope it will be a good time!
I have not started lessons yet as we will be having a placement test on Wednesday, where I will hopfully meet other students of the course. For today and yesterday, I was taken to where I will be staying. They told me I was in a special room, because I was going to be there for 2 months. I thought it would be student accommodation - it turns out I am staying in a room in a flat that a girl rented out for 2 months when she is not here, sharing with 2 Germans! I don't know if we will be close, but my room is fairly big and its nice, so I am happy.
I have been given a form that has the different trips for each weekend planned, and I have to tick whether I want to go or not (for an extra cost of course). There are 3 trips planned: to Cologne and Bonn, to Amsterdam, and to Paris. I havn't made up my mind yet if I want to do them all, but I think I will end up doing them anyway!
Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the placement test, and after a reception and lunch, there is a "Rallye" planned around Aachen. From what I can make out, it is a kind of game where we will walk around the city and look for different things, which sounds quite fun. Then classes will begin on Thursday.
Seeing as I have internet in my room, I will have enough time to update this I think!
I have not started lessons yet as we will be having a placement test on Wednesday, where I will hopfully meet other students of the course. For today and yesterday, I was taken to where I will be staying. They told me I was in a special room, because I was going to be there for 2 months. I thought it would be student accommodation - it turns out I am staying in a room in a flat that a girl rented out for 2 months when she is not here, sharing with 2 Germans! I don't know if we will be close, but my room is fairly big and its nice, so I am happy.
I have been given a form that has the different trips for each weekend planned, and I have to tick whether I want to go or not (for an extra cost of course). There are 3 trips planned: to Cologne and Bonn, to Amsterdam, and to Paris. I havn't made up my mind yet if I want to do them all, but I think I will end up doing them anyway!
Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the placement test, and after a reception and lunch, there is a "Rallye" planned around Aachen. From what I can make out, it is a kind of game where we will walk around the city and look for different things, which sounds quite fun. Then classes will begin on Thursday.
Seeing as I have internet in my room, I will have enough time to update this I think!
#45 - Nancy, France
Excuse me for the massive delay in posting, but I didn't have proper internet access in France, and was never given time to use it anyway!
The summer course at Nancy was amazing. I met so many nice people from all over the globe and will try to stay in touch with all of them. The animateurs for the course were really friendly and fun to be around. The city of Nancy is also quite nice, with beautiful buildings, and Place Stanislas is a square in town surrounded by cafes and shops, and at night there is a light and sound display against the Hotel de Ville which is spectacular!
On the university main campus
The organisation of the course was well thought out. There were various trips and weekends away (such as to Paris, Luxembourg, Val d'Isere and Vittel and the European Parliament). It was really nice to get to do these! The classes themselves were not too difficult. I was in the top advanced group but because of the variety of levels of French, it was mostly like revision. I had a selection of classes I could do in different areas such as literature or language. The teachers were really nice and it was all very informal so I felt relaxed.
Hotel de Ville at night in Place Stanislas
I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn some, or to brush up on their French! Here is the website that I applied through:
The summer course at Nancy was amazing. I met so many nice people from all over the globe and will try to stay in touch with all of them. The animateurs for the course were really friendly and fun to be around. The city of Nancy is also quite nice, with beautiful buildings, and Place Stanislas is a square in town surrounded by cafes and shops, and at night there is a light and sound display against the Hotel de Ville which is spectacular!
On the university main campus
Hotel de Ville at night in Place Stanislashttp://www.france-summercourses.com/
One thing to note if you travel to France: take care travelling through Charles De Gaulle airport. I went through there twice for Nancy (and once for Strasbourg). 3 times out of 3 they lost my luggage or didn't put it on my flight, meaning I had no clothes for the first half a week in Nancy!
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