Leinen Los!

    I always wondered what it’s like for the new students that just show up to a school one day and join in. Yesterday, I was able to learn first hand.

    The night before my first day of German high school, I picked out my clothes with excitement. Normally, I just throw on whatever is clean (or least dirty) and stumble out of my room with just enough time to make it school without being late. My first day of German school was different. I had my sister help me pick my outfit (over text, of course), went to bed early, and got up without hitting snooze on my alarm. I stretched and looked out the window- it was still dark. My clock showed that it was only 5:45 am, yet, I felt ready to go. I put on my clothes and checked my book bag to make sure everything was packed. I descended downstairs and joined my host mom who had already made me breakfast (bröchten- basically a German breakfast sandwich) and a sandwich (Germans love their sandwiches) for lunch. She asked if I was nervous, but really I wasn’t. I was excited. Today, I had an entire school of new people to meet and friends to make. I do think that if this was back in the USA I would have been nervous, but I felt that coming from America would help me strike up conversation. My host mom took my picture and drove me to school.

    We drove past fields and cows until we entered the city. As we pulled up to the school, I watched the younger students play soccer out front. Boy was I excited. The mom walked with me into the schools office, where we met with… no one. It took us a while even to find someone to talk to, and when we did, they scrambled to get the head principal. They had forgot that I was coming. We stood around awkwardly for the next few minutes, as they tried to act like they actually remembered I was to be joining the school that day. The principals all came out and greeted me, yet clearly having no idea who I was. This was made evident when one asked me if I was from England. Some of the teachers came up to greet me as well. I learned later that at least one of them thought I was from Spain. My host mom was clearly aggravated, as she berated them with questions regarding how my day was going to be. This continued until the English teacher just happened to walk by, and the head principal told him I’d be joining his class right then. I didn’t mind all the confusion though- to me, it was funny. On top of it all, I liked having English first. This allowed me to introduce myself first in English. I liked this since I could make my best impression without having to worry about grammar mistakes. It was in this class that I met a group of guys I’d hang out with for the rest of the day. They started out asking me questions about the USA, which of course I was happy to answer. We started talking from there and they helped me get to know the school.

    Through the next periods, the school administrators stumbled around trying to figure out what I needed. I was having too much fun to care, though. I was given a course plan, that was clearly just thrown together on an Excel spreadsheet. Every new class was a new adventure and more people to meet. Every period I’d walk into a room and the teacher would look at me confused as I explained I’m from the US and will be in their class for the rest of the year. We didn’t do much learning that first day- I mostly chatted and answered questions from all the other students and even the teachers.

    So what’s a first day in a new school like? For me, this first day in a new school in a new country really couldn’t have gone better. I am excited to have a year here, as I am looking forward to getting to know my new friends more and becoming a part of the school.