Category Archives: Kat Schmidt ’12, Germany

“We are Florence & the Machine.  We have come from England.  And we have come for human sacrifices!” Yes, I did indeed spend 16 hours round-trip, traveling from Greifswald to Düsseldorf and back.  Four trains there and two trains back.  … Continue reading →

Last week, I taught 5 Thanksgiving lessons.  Meaning, I taught the same lesson five times.  Three times on Tuesday, each class back-to-back.  That was a little surreal.  All of my classes thought Americans give gifts on Thanksgiving, which I find … Continue reading →

Last Monday, I ate a lot of vegetarians. Excuse me, I mean, I ate with a lot of vegetarians.  And one other vegan.  We went to Taj Mahal, a restaurant which promotes itself as being an Indian/Italian restaurant, but is … Continue reading →

When I first started at my Gymnasium, Carsta, my Betreuungslehrerin, told me I only had to teach for 15 minutes or so, at first, but that I would eventually be teaching the whole 45-minutes.  I concealed my terror.  Forty-five whole … Continue reading →

In Germany, October 31st is Reformationstag, in honor of Martin Luther (the original, not the King, Jr.).  In MeckPomm, we have the day off, and, at least in my school, we had the following Thursday and Friday off.  These are … Continue reading →

21. October 2012 I know we “live in a world of increasing globalization”, a world in which studying abroad is strongly encouraged (particularly at UPS), and more and more young adults are choosing jobs after college which allow them to … Continue reading →

19. October 2012 Oomph. Have I told you yet how slow and relaxed my introduction to teaching has been?  My first month in Greifswald looked like this: Week One:  the students are in England on a field trip, so I … Continue reading →

14. October 2012 Despite it being mid-October already, or nearly, Greifswald is still gorgeous.  We have days that are cold and gray and rainy, for sure, but they are not unrelenting.  This weekend, I could walk outside in short sleeves, … Continue reading →

22. September 2012 Jet lag is brutal.  Spending 18 hours on planes and trains and in airports is brutal.  Being awake for 33 consecutive hours is brutal.  Having your hostel roommates stay up late and then also wake up early … Continue reading →