Banquet, Birthday Blessings, and some Blues

What’s been going on? It seems something all of the time!  I’m sure there were equally busy times in my life, but then I was younger and had more stamina.  It seems keeping up is about all I’m able to do, and sometimes not event that!

This past weekend was the BFA Christmas banquet.  What does that mean?  In USA terms think of prom and homecoming combined in the fall.  Herbstmesse, the Basel fair you saw from October 31st pictures, initiates the asking...an art in itself.  The girl being asked is presented with flowers at the time of asking which can be done in quite an elaborate ways.  On young man got into a box, which he then “mailed” via his dorm van to a young lady at Wittlingen dorm...and there were several others. Of course for weeks squeals in the hall, friends celebration, and giggles accompanied each newly asked person.  Then the Sunday before there is a fashion show in the girls’ dorms, to share in the excitement and make sure clothing is appropriate.  

Then came the big night: Saturday.  The boys gathered at school and shortly the girls arrived, and before long the area was awash of suits, boutonnières, corsages, and gowns. The evening festivities included not only dinner, but photos, roasted chestnuts outside, line dancing lessons in the gym, and a program of homegrown talent and some not so talented fun, plus a “wish list” fulfilled with fun stuff:  A lock of one boy’s dreads, a girl being serenaded by one of the dorms where her parents used to be dorm parents, the principle doing a Korean dance, and anything else that can have special meaning with fun.

All of this I watched from the wings as I, along with a large crew, served and cleaned until 11:30 in the evening.   It was fun serving the students and seeing them have fun, but imagine how special to have the student council students return after their evening of fun to finish up the cleaning, and in addition, to have one say, “Thank you for helping.”  Needless to say “tired” was an understatement, but the sleep that night and Sunday afternoon was delightful!

Since I last wrote many other things have happened.  November 12th, Monday morning, Lynda’s husband, David, who flew over to visit his brother in the Netherlands and  landed in Zurich. He then took a train east to Basel, from there boarded a bus up here to Kandern!  He made a special trip to say “HI” and tour “greater” Kandern in the rain, have dinner, only to go to his B&B, and leave the next morning!   He returned to Zurich for a few days and then take a train to finish out his time with his brother.  Wow, talk about being touched. What a blessing.  Home never felt closer, and of course Lynda always has her special touch.  She works full-time and still manages to make gifts for her grandchildren’s teachers each year.  I received the teacher gift as well! :) hand delivered!

Also, thank you for all the birthday wishes, and if you did not know...that’s as I would prefer.  I planned to keep it under wraps, but two days ahead, one of the other new teachers commented about a “special day.”  From him I learned that our school home-base website lists birthdays, something I’d not seen.  That evening Pat called and said that she and Julia and Rich (the other neighbors) wanted to take me our to supper Friday.  That night I planned to go to the music recital and have a quite, relaxing evening... something that now seemed lost amid all the new plans.  Laura and Brant, our hosts, couldn’t come because of starting their substitution at the Sanctuary (TeachBeyond’s B&B) that afternoon and couldn’t leave, so they invited us over for cake after.  

The day came, and while talking with Julia during the day, I found that she too wanted to listen to the students.  After calling Laura, it turned out to be fine to go to the recital after dinner and then go over to the B&B.  Super.  I really did not want to miss some really talented young people--just an example, Ben, who plays the violin beautifully, is applying to Juilliard, a believable outcome--and he was playing that evening!  After a delightful dinner and the last half of the music, we headed to the B&B.  Once we arrived Laura told me of secretly contacting Ruth on Facebook to learn which cake I would like best. Subterfuge!  Without hesitation Ruth replied: “banana bread,” something she would make for me with the extra Sam’s bananas that went into the freezer.   

The kids were in contact throughout the week, Ruth waiting on the edge of her proverbial seat for me to tell her about what happened.  It’s so hard for her to keep a secret!  She was tickled with that, but in addition, she had sent a package and was antsy to know when it arrived.  This meant as much to her as if she were receiving a gift!  She has a talent at selecting such timely or appropriately suited things.  Now I have fleece leggings and pink flannel p.j.s for cold, gloomy days plus some other goodies. :)

After all of these things, I felt like Mary when the scripture said, “She pondered these things in her heart.”  Here in a strange place, with new people, and friends thousands of miles away, I felt just like He was filling in all the gaps, making this a very special time with all of the well-wishers in many and varied ways.  

These times are needed.  The trips, the events, the special moments blogged--some of which remain uncovered, are not the routine daily grind, only highlights.  With all of the blessings involved, in many ways these months here have also been some of the most challenging months I’ve faced:  Not having a rhythm because all is new--Not having the confidence in the content area--Spending endless hours reading and preparing daily and then searching for ways to present a lackluster content area effectively and meaningfully--Not yet connected with the students as in the past--Attending German classes myself and scrambling to keep up instead of being on top all the time, all of this and more is new to me.    

Would I change any of it?  Never.  Knowing this is where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do, what would be the fulfillment is doing anything less?  It, instead, has become a lesson to me in understanding needs of others that may have been less clear to me before.  Some lessons in life just “stick.”  One of those times occurred when I lost my dad

only a couple of years into our marriage.  It was at that time I first learned the truth of II Corinthians 1:3-4, “...the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”  It has helped me through all the “big” events that followed, and will continue even now.

Back home I’m so glad to have the Friday prayer group, my small group and other friends who pray and support me.  This update will help know more how to focus those prayers. Without sounding totally facetious--I would really like to ask that you include with that prayers that will ask for instant understanding and insight to all I read related to class preparation and planning.  If that were accomplished, everything else would be falling into place!  Christmas break, which begins in a few weeks, is greatly anticipated:  No classes daily and time for other things like painting, sewing a couple of things, and just relaxing.  Hopefully and prayerfully I’m asking for more balance in my life next semester, a necessity.

There is always more to say, but not the time--plus who would read endlessly?  Thank you again for your encouragement and participation.  Each and every personal note is a connection to home that is greatly appreciated, and some of them help me know how to pray for you, too.  Love you in Christ.

BFA Journey Vignettes

This last week's continued constant work, never free time, has proved more taxing than usual.  However, sprinkled throughout have been little delights.

Saturday I experienced one of life’s “ah ha” moments, when you realize you’ve changed.   Socked in grey skies and more than drizzle and less than a hard rain greeted me as the day started.  It was here for the day, and I had promised to take sandwiches to our church’s auto-clinic where men volunteer to change summer tires to snow tires, check car fluids, etc...an awesome, amazing ministry for church members.  Pat and I also had planned on a short outing to try out her new car (she’s been like a bird with clipped wings), but she needed to run an errand before leaving and wasn’t sure she would be back before I had to get the sandwiches there in time for the 11:45 lunch.  I blurted out, “Don’t worry, I can just walk over there and you can come by when you’re finished.”  Never in my life would walking somewhere in the rain to do something been considered so blithely.  Here it’s part of life, and now I don’t even notice, like a native--and just like the men doing this ministry.  Out I splashed to deliver sandwiches, bundled under a red hooded Fog raincoat and umbrella. That’s a change!

That night we attended the high school play, a comedy.  Unlike the music recital, none of my students were in the performance, but it was delightful.  The play, yes, but even more so were the students in the audience.  Before the play were quiet conversations, but also loud clamor as students called out to people behind the curtains before the play.  However, this is not the same commotion found in school back home.  When the house lights went down, the students became silent, and not a single distraction occurred, only attention to their classmates on stage.  Then during intermission, the volume increased, only to die down again upon the opening of the next act.  I cannot tell you what a stark contrast this was to school experiences of having to constantly be concerned about discipline issues. None here... at the end of the play, another treasure.  The Maugenhard dorm guys who had been seated  together, mobbed their dorm-mates performance conclusion, congratulating and encouraging him.  The bond they have is rather like seeing college frat brothers positively elevating their brothers, only this is all positive.  That, too, is normal here.

At the end of the school day, Tuesday’s German class brought a surprise--a quiz on Thursday!  The already overwhelmed feelings of constant work--the never ending study for teaching, study for German class, reading for monthly certification in-services--just was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.  Overwhelmed, I immediately decided to cancel the talk I was to attend that night, no time.  Frustrations of never even feeling like I have the time to figure out my printer problem--why it took all night to print a page, and not wanting to take the time to reload Rosetta Stone on this computer plus the other technology quirks that seem to always surface.  I had had enough.  Grace was coming over to help with the printer and Rosetta Stone in exchange for dinner, but after this news we both chose not to go anywhere else.  Instead, that night I did German homework and set out to study more as did she.

The next morning, to my surprise there in the school e-mail was a study group planned for that evening.  Grace and I did that.  Four of us made good use of two hours prep.  Somehow this “girls gathering” was a pick-me-up from the weight of work.  By the way, the quiz went well this afternoon, PTL.

Tonight a forth treat, an American Thanksgiving dinner was served at all the dorms, and Pat and I were invited.  Delicious turkey, absolutely scrumptious vegetables (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole--all with the best crunchy toppings I’ve ever eaten, dressing, and more), and home made pies--plus NO DISHES! What an amazing out-of-the-norm dinner, something  I didn’t miss it until it was made available.  Thanks to the dorm parents who organized and invited, and thanks to the girls who cleaned up...what a special way to end a rather a draining week or more of days.

Have I bounced back?  No, but I’m waiting for a non-event weekend that may help.  However, rays of light like these reaching through the clouds keep me going.

Pictorial Two Week Journey

It's been that long since last posting a blog...just a tad busy.

The Thursday after the last post, October 25, has no pictures, sorry.  Dinner for six sent me rushing home after German class to finish preparing what was begun the day before.  The "celebration" was in honor of two sets of dorm parents, two couples who parent girls dorms 14/7 every week...drama, emotions, and all.  Thursday is their only day off, and the desire was to have someone doing something for them for a change.  They had a break and Pat and I realized anew how fortunate we are to teach!

Friday had been anticipated for quite awhile...student music recital night!  One of my girls sings opera, and several are accomplished musicians.  What a wonderful way to spend an evening, especially when you find out how talented some of your students are in areas outside the classroom.  The violinist and cellist are graduating and should continue when they graduate, outstanding.

Then after spending the “SNOW” day inside writing, that evening I walked to school for a student led chapel.  Imagine about half of the students deciding to come on a Saturday evening to worship together. Though open to all, as one of a few adults I felt like an interloper...watching.  Worshipful praise songs opened, but the most touching part of the evening was prayer time.  While sharing personal needs and concerns for fiends, one boy asked prayer for friends who “have the same problems we do, but they are turning to the wrong things for help.”  Afterward the students sat on the floor in small groups--some in twos, others in threes or fours, maybe five--holding hands praying for each other and friends.  The following song time was even more vibrant.  During this extended time they individually wound their way to the side of the room where communion was available.  I so appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this...especially seeing how they reach out to one another.  This next picture typifies that.

Well, after church on Sunday the day was spent with more planning for the week ahead...not unusual, but certainly not picture worthy.  Oh, wait, remember earlier in the year how I told you about the leather covered park bench of a couch that needed replacing as there was no decent place in which to sit and study in the apartment?  Later I told you about getting used recliners to replace it, so maybe this would be a good place for that picture.  This has made a world of difference...as has the lamp next to the left chair.

Monday and Tuesday were just school, but that is a daily block of time, until the time change, lasted until 5:30 or 6:00 each night.  Oh, yes, every Tuesday and Thursday is German class after school.  Talk about being spent, sometimes my brain is so foggy it's difficult to think.  I even chose to not go to that Tuesday night's new staff gathering for that reason, and in addition I knew the next day was to be a super long one.  

Wednesday day, October 31, was a special occasion, Herbstmesse down in Basel.  The school had 6 busses to transport students, faculty, and staff that wanted to go. Halloween is nothing over here, but this is an annual carnival with rides...what school kid doesn't want to go to that!  The busses are quite the way to go, comfortable and great for sightseeing, but the trip was short.  Walking in Basel, however, wasn't. After watching some of the rides and walking half way to the final designation, Pat and I stopped for dinner at a lovely restaurant, complete with cloth table cloths and all (the norm here).

We never did find the "home show" type of area, so we made our way to the final destination--bumper cars!  Of course it is all the way at the other end of the entire area which is several blocks long and over a bridge and up hill a few more blocks.  The high schoolers go there at 7:30 and have a blast.  It is just fun to watch them have fun.  One of the rides at the beginning really go my attention.  Rather like a propeller, it turns, but so does the entire arm upon which it is attached.  As if that were not enough motion, the arm undulated up and down while spinning around, AND the individual propeller branches with seats turn as well, so throughout the "upside down" roll over is not uncommon...even watching gets me.

 Thursday was a German holiday, All Saints Day...NO SCHOOL!  Actually this was anticipated as the first quarter ended Wednesday and final grades were due by the weekend.  Since the research papers were due on Monday, this day was set aside for grading purposes.  Fun...yes, we teachers know how to have it!  We were told the day would be very quiet, nothing open, and we would see people dressed in their Sunday best going to graves to place flowers.  Well, I didn’t plan on being out to see that.  While holed up at the table grading, I heard and felt rumbling.  I couldn’t imagine what it would be.  Even someone in the neighborhood would not likely disturb the quiet.  Germans love quiet, especially on holidays and Sunday afternoons, so when it continued, I had to check it out...even if it meant getting dressed to do so.  Opening the huge wooden gates at the front of the apartment drive exit I was most surprised to find the road crew paving the road in front that they have been working on forEVER.  Apparently so were the Kanderners as they were standing around watching, supervising, and one person even taking pictures!

             

Well, that day went well into the night to finish,  but I was ready for the next day, Friday.  I had to be.  Pat and I were going with Sharyn and Dan Galvin--ironically from Texas, other new staff here, to Zurich that afternoon right after school.  This had been in the works for quite awhile. 

 It turns out the drive isn't terribly long, but driving in the dark in unfamiliar places, especially as busy as Zurich, can fray one's nerves (even with TomTom).  A guardian angel kept us from having an accident in an intersection that ole Tom didn't make clear to us.  Dan was amazing to do this. Then when we arrived, according to Tom, the street did not seem accessible...it was a walking road. Getting to the hotel itself proved to be an adventure and took several tries, and as it turn out, those posts marking this as a walking road have not been there that past five years---until this very day!  Go figure.  After getting in our rooms, getting dinner was about as difficult as getting to the hotel.  I'm used to Kandern...never a wait, never a crowd, never a rush; here it was the total opposite.  We had to try several places and even then we had to wait before the four of us could sit together!  Dinner, however, was delicious and the company enjoyable.

After breakfast in the hotel the next morning, we set out to do two things:  take a boat excursion on the lake and then take a bus tour of Zurich that afternoon.  I thoroughly enjoy using a tram for the first time, and it made getting around town so much easier.  The crisp, cool air and brilliantly blue sky made the day's events totally delightful.  The boar quietly cruised the perimeter of the lake, allowing us to view beautiful sights, including distant alps covered with snow at one end of the lake.  

Whether by boat or bus, the homes and architecture in town totally captured my attention--these are buildings like I've seen in movies, but never in real life.  The City Bus Tour office provides entertainment in itself.  One place we saw from the boat that looked like a palace up on a hillside turned out to be a stop on the bus tour. The bus parked at the base of the hill and we took a tram to the top.  Up there we viewed Zurich from above, and then saw the hotel.  We learned these rooms run in the thousands per night, in the area of 14 not two or three!  That made our expensive rooms seem so much more reasonable.  Zurich is quite a thriving, busy, wealthy area.  I've never been anywhere to take such a tour, and found it a most enjoyable experience.

You, too, can stay here if you can afford it.  They do have a 9 hole golf course, but not sure it comes with the room.

When I get an album made, I'll post pictures of the Zurich buildings on Facebook.  For many it is not fun to see a bunch of pictures without meaning, so that posting will allow those who wish to get a visual taste of the city a chance to do so.  

At the close of our whirlwind Zurich overview we had dinner once again and then journeyed back without incident.  This is Pat, Sharyn, and Dan, and proof I was there, too:

Dan, Sharyn, and Pat

Well, that would seem to be enough for the two weeks, but there was more.  I've been anticipating a visit from David for quite awhile.  He and Lynda have been friends for over 30 years, and he was coming to Europe to visit his brother and made a special trip to come by Kandern.  That was exciting.  So after serving coffee after church, another friend, Grace, and I went to check out a restaurant that had been suggested to us because of it's German cuisine and seasonal menus.  A HIT!  That afternoon and evening were again spent with lesson plans and preparation, but with excitement for the next day.

Monday came along with rain.  With little sleep on the transatlantic flight and the train and bus ride here, David had to walk around Kandern dodging drops.  He came to the school and was able to see parts of it and meet a few people.  Then we toured the town by foot and visited.  What a joy.  I am content and comfortable here.  God has blessed me with people with whom life can be shared on a meaningful level, but when we talked and called Lynda and he gave me her gifts...so Lynda, floods of home came.  What a special occasion.  After dinner we returned to the apartment and we went to introduce him to Pat, the other part of the "we" I so often write about.  After a visit, he headed to his room for sleep and departed the next morning.

Tuesday was back to normal, the long day with German class at the end.  Oh, yes, that is a good thing in many ways.  We had a quiz last week, and they are reminders of what the kids are always facing.  For the first time I can remember as an adult studying, I just don't even expect to get everything right.  With all that is going on and every evening filled after school with studying German, writing, or planning for class, I'm past expecting that.  I'm waiting for a comfort level in science class where I can do something in the evening and not feel guilty if it isn't work related.

That brings me to tonight. Leaving t a little earlier than usual, about 3:30 p.m.--that's 16:00 here and I'm still not used to that time stated that way, I stopped by the apartment to pick up some crocheting to take to the biweekly knitting/crocheting group that meets every other week.  Wanting to check something before leaving, I ended up a little after 4:00, and it dawned on me that they start at 3:30 and leave at 5:00.  Well, I didn't make it.  That's the second time the plans never came to fruition.  Maybe it isn't time yet.

I ended up staying at home, fixing dinner, studying German, and then finally getting to the blog.  Well, over four hours later, I'm just finishing. Maybe one day I'll get faster.  Anyway, it feels good to let you see some of what has been happening.  Thank you for caring enough to encourage me and be a part of all of this.  

(This is dangerous.  I'm posting without much rereading and revising...forgive mistakes you see.)