At this time tomorrow, I'll be flying over land and sea to return to my old Kentucky home.
I am sad to leave the second family that has welcomed me here so warmly, but I am also incredibly excited to see my husband, family, and friends once again. Oh, and Gatsby- I could never forget my Gatsby! Just look at that fluffy face.
On Sunday, I walked along the canal with my host parents. We walked for over an hour, gazing at the water and spending time in nature. It was wonderful to see the harbor in Rünthe, and the cold wind didn't slow us down a single bit. We did, however, stop at a café to warm up before making the long trek back home.
This week, we have been teaching our final lessons as student teachers. At the start of the week, we did grammar stations on question formation with 6th grade English students and group discussions on social issues with 9th grade English students.
Today, my schedule kept me happily teaching up until the last minute. For the first two lessons, I worked with 6th grade English students on discussing how they spend their pocket money. For the second set of lessons, Kathryn and I were given the opportunity to share one-on-one conversations with 7th grade English students as they prepare for their oral examinations in January. After that, I taught what was perhaps the most interesting lesson of them all- I was working with a group of German students, who are learning to speak French, using a combination of English, French, and some German to build their vocabulary in relation to the southern city of St. Tropez. After that lesson, Heike generously took us to a final lunch at Mama Leone in Werne. It was wonderful to spend time with her over a delicious meal of pizza, as well as during the final 9th grade English lesson of the day, and we will certainly miss her a great deal. She has been more than helpful throughout our stay here in Germany, and I appreciate her efforts more than I could ever express.
My bags are packed and I am (technically) ready to go, so I will spend time with my host family for as long as possible. I could never thank Lana and her family enough for all that they've done for me. I cannot wait until she is able to visit the United States again!
Although it is time to say farewell for now, I will certainly post an update when we have safely landed in the United States. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I hope that my blog has captured even a fragment of the incredible adventure this has been.
As always, Tschüss,
Johni (Mrs. L)