Walking onto the Harrisburg HACC Campus was really weird. I didn't know what to expect. I'll admit I'm a bit of an academic snob so I failed to realize that for some people, this is it. It looks like a real college. I arrived via Rabbit Transit Express from York at 8:30 in the morning. It's a snowy morning and both York and Lebanon HACC campuses are closed today (In my defense I'm pretty sure at least the York Campus is just one building. I'll find out for sure on Friday.) so I wasn't even sure Harrisburg's would be open this early. Much to my surprise, there were people everywhere; hanging out with labtops in the lobby of the main building, hanging out in the gazebo in the courtyard. It's unmistakeably a college campus. I still found it weird that it was 8:30am and so many people were out and about. The library (my current location) is pretty full. You would only see a crowd like this at this hour of the morning during finals weeks at Lehigh. Well, come to think of it, I can't say that with any authority, because I was personally never in one of Lehigh's libraries from 8-9:30am. I was either in class or sleeping (or both!) so I could be wrong. I guess HACC students don't have the luxury of jumping out of bed and running across campus to class. The have to hang out here all day in the midst of going to class. And now I'm one of them. A line from another Avenue Q song comes to mind. The last line to this sucker:
"These kids are so much younger than me." (Which I would only say because, following the rhyme sequence, it has to rhyme with 'be'. Grammatically, it's an incorrect sentence and should be "younger than I". See, I told you, I'm a snob.)
After the initial shock of "whoa, this is like real college" I read the syllabi for two of my classes online and was reminded of where I am. With remarks like "quotes should not take up the whole page" in instructions for one page responses that will be due and later examples of the type of sentences NOT to write, my professor's frustration with prior students' performances is palpable. The other syllabus for the online class is filled with threats of deducting points if your posts are indicative of a lackluster effort. A post doesn't count if it only repeats another student's point and doesn't add anything new to discussion, you lose points if it looks like most of your posts are posted "at the last minute simply to meet the deadline rather than engaging in meaningful discussions" (that sentence is in bold and underlined) as well as for poor grammar and spelling (bold and italic). I've never felt so talked down to in a course syllabus. But then I look around me and see the guy next to me singing along obnoxiously to whatever is coming through his headphones (remember we're in a library) and the guy across from me aggressively scratching his junk and then I understand why they include these things.
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
New Title, Same Great Posts
So I've returned from a fantastic visit home. Unfortunately, I didn't get to do/see everything that I had on the list, but it was a great time nonetheless. Miki said he could see himself living there in the future and that it's not too much different than the Czech Republic minus all of the driving everywhere, of which he was not a big fan.
I arrived to Prague after about 36 hours of traveling by every mode of transportation I can think of, except for car or boat (bus, plane, subway, train, at one point bike, and of course, by foot) all the while carrying bags that were far too heavy and falling apart. But at least it didn't involve sleeping in airports or train stations like the two nights prior to coming to the States. But I digress. We are young, strong, and healthy. Now's the time to schedule ridiculous travel routes just to save money and/or visit different places.
As I was saying, I arrived on the evening of Friday the 18th after 36 hours of traveling, carry heavy bags, with very little sleep, and had to be at the office at 9:30am to begin my weekend of intensive training. Piece of cake. Actually it really wasn't that bad. Getting up the next day was worse and I wrestled with the alarm clock snooze button for two hours before finally being dragged out of bed and downstairs where Miki's Grandmother had cooked us a nice lunch. So I groggily stuffed myself with the giant section of chicken (I think) that she so lovingly prepared, while they spoke in Czech. Great. Back in the land where I have no idea what's being said around me. At times like these, it's funny how much I long to be back in the land where I usually know kind of what's going on, or can at least fake it (i.e. Germany). Luckily I had to be at work soon, so I escaped rather quickly. (Note: I'm being over dramatic, it's really not that bad here. I'm having lovely time.)
Undoubtedly I was one day become facebook friends with fellow Wattsenglish teachers, and they will find this blog, therefore be it known, that I think it is a good company. However, they basically write your first lesson for you, since you are just getting the kids excited about English and showing them the way and thing they will be learning. That being said, the first day of work doesn't require much independent thought. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, after watching other sample videos I stumbled upon on YouTube from other potential candidates that may or may not have made the cut, I see why they write everything out for you. Let's be honest, not everyone is as awesome as I am. (kidding) So at the training I got a lot of papers to read that were filled with ideas for games and activities and then got the Demo lesson as well as the first month's lessons all planned out for you. I stopped feeling bad about missing the training pretty quickly. However, I did miss out on meeting everybody. I plan to fix that problem by hosting a party for my fellow Prague teachers in the near future.
However, as punishment for not being at training, nay, as a result...well I guess that can't be proven either...anyway my first week's schedule was very empty (as is this weeks). They keep insisting more is to come, and I'm sure it is, (though I've heard horror stories of over-hiring/under-booking from last year that keep me feeling a little uneasy) as of right now, I only teach two 25 min classes on Monday and Friday mornings. And this Monday was a Holiday.
It's actually been very nice because I've then been able to run around and do all of the bureaucratic things that I didn't get to do during the week of training, and I've been able to do some proofreading so I'm not entirely useless. Although I must admit, I could get used to the idea of being able to work in my pajamas in front of a computer.
I arrived to Prague after about 36 hours of traveling by every mode of transportation I can think of, except for car or boat (bus, plane, subway, train, at one point bike, and of course, by foot) all the while carrying bags that were far too heavy and falling apart. But at least it didn't involve sleeping in airports or train stations like the two nights prior to coming to the States. But I digress. We are young, strong, and healthy. Now's the time to schedule ridiculous travel routes just to save money and/or visit different places.
As I was saying, I arrived on the evening of Friday the 18th after 36 hours of traveling, carry heavy bags, with very little sleep, and had to be at the office at 9:30am to begin my weekend of intensive training. Piece of cake. Actually it really wasn't that bad. Getting up the next day was worse and I wrestled with the alarm clock snooze button for two hours before finally being dragged out of bed and downstairs where Miki's Grandmother had cooked us a nice lunch. So I groggily stuffed myself with the giant section of chicken (I think) that she so lovingly prepared, while they spoke in Czech. Great. Back in the land where I have no idea what's being said around me. At times like these, it's funny how much I long to be back in the land where I usually know kind of what's going on, or can at least fake it (i.e. Germany). Luckily I had to be at work soon, so I escaped rather quickly. (Note: I'm being over dramatic, it's really not that bad here. I'm having lovely time.)
Undoubtedly I was one day become facebook friends with fellow Wattsenglish teachers, and they will find this blog, therefore be it known, that I think it is a good company. However, they basically write your first lesson for you, since you are just getting the kids excited about English and showing them the way and thing they will be learning. That being said, the first day of work doesn't require much independent thought. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, after watching other sample videos I stumbled upon on YouTube from other potential candidates that may or may not have made the cut, I see why they write everything out for you. Let's be honest, not everyone is as awesome as I am. (kidding) So at the training I got a lot of papers to read that were filled with ideas for games and activities and then got the Demo lesson as well as the first month's lessons all planned out for you. I stopped feeling bad about missing the training pretty quickly. However, I did miss out on meeting everybody. I plan to fix that problem by hosting a party for my fellow Prague teachers in the near future.
However, as punishment for not being at training, nay, as a result...well I guess that can't be proven either...anyway my first week's schedule was very empty (as is this weeks). They keep insisting more is to come, and I'm sure it is, (though I've heard horror stories of over-hiring/under-booking from last year that keep me feeling a little uneasy) as of right now, I only teach two 25 min classes on Monday and Friday mornings. And this Monday was a Holiday.
It's actually been very nice because I've then been able to run around and do all of the bureaucratic things that I didn't get to do during the week of training, and I've been able to do some proofreading so I'm not entirely useless. Although I must admit, I could get used to the idea of being able to work in my pajamas in front of a computer.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Deutschen sind pünktlich.
"Germans are punctual." This was what Taras (one of my tandempartners) said to me after I was 20 minutes late. (only he said it in German.) This is one aspect of German culture that I definitely did not inherit. I am habitually late. I was that way in college, and I continue to be that way here. At work it's not really an issue, because I'm pretty much on my own, and I don't have to punch in. I blame the U-bahn. The frequency with which it runs depends on the time of day as well as the day of the week. The U8, which is the line closest to my Wohnung, is usually a 10 minute wait between trains once you get passed 7pm or something. And, it's about a 10 minute walk door-to-station. Well, 10 minute American pace, probably about 6 minutes German pace. Germans don't always walk fast, but they certainly do when they have someplace to go. When George was showing me around the lab at UBA I had to basically jog to keep up with him. So it's sort of like walking around with R. Adam. But then, if they're just going for a walk or something, which we do if it's warm enough after lunch (kind of like Mom and her friends, only it's just once around the block) they walk very casually (i.e. slowly). By that's besides the point. So, the first time I met Taras I was 20 minutes late, because Paul was actually home the same time I was (which rarely happens) and we were talking about something while cleaning the kitchen. Before I knew it, it was 8, which was when I was supposed to be there. I wasn't too worried because it was only like 5 minutes away on the U-bahn. However, I forgot to account for walking to the U-bahn and waiting for it and then finding him once I got there. Luckily he wasn't mad though. I have yet to feel the wrath of a German. I've witnessed it from afar a few times. There was a shouting match on the U-bahn once and there was almost a hobo fight. But Taras was very nice and just said that next time he would show up a half an hour after the time we actually agreed to meet.
The bajillion Tandempartners have settled down to really only about 4. A couple of them I met once and never again, and then there are some that just kept getting canceled so we just kind of gave up. Now I have two that I meet once a week for a causual drink and conversation and then two that are more along the lines of actually hanging out with a little more frequently (both of those are men, go figure). Some things never change I guess.
There's also a lady I work with who is from East Germany and therefore never learned English in school. She's taking a class now, but she's 57 and the class is only twice a week, so it's really hard for her. So she trys to talk to me in English a little bit each day. She is really interested in America and dreams of visiting some day. I guess the stigma of the American Dream hasn't been destroyed for everyone. But she asks me so many questions about Pennsylvania and the sizes of different towns and how many kilometers away things are. In these meetings, I have discovered that I know nothing about facts like that. I have no idea how many people live in York, PA, although, I must admit, I have on several occasions made up some numbers on the spot. So, depending on which German you ask, York, PA has anywhere from 10-80,000 inhabitants. One would think I'd be a bit more consistant. But where's the fun in that?
I really don't understand why America can't just switch to the metric system. It would make things much easier. I asked someone how tall he was, and he gave me some answer in the hundreds. When Eva, (the lady I work with) asked how cold it gets in the winter where I'm from, I just tried to remember the coldest temperature I've seen on the Hanover Foods marquee that we pass on the way to church since it also has Celcius. And cooking is interesting, since I brought cookbooks from home and anything I look up online uses the English system. Since Paul stocked the kitchen, we don't have measuring cups we have Liter measuring things. Don't let the fact that he's English fool you. They also use the metric system. I often times blame him for coming up with the English system and for killing the Native Americans. And he makes fun of me for "mispronouncing" words. We have a nice relationship.
The bajillion Tandempartners have settled down to really only about 4. A couple of them I met once and never again, and then there are some that just kept getting canceled so we just kind of gave up. Now I have two that I meet once a week for a causual drink and conversation and then two that are more along the lines of actually hanging out with a little more frequently (both of those are men, go figure). Some things never change I guess.
There's also a lady I work with who is from East Germany and therefore never learned English in school. She's taking a class now, but she's 57 and the class is only twice a week, so it's really hard for her. So she trys to talk to me in English a little bit each day. She is really interested in America and dreams of visiting some day. I guess the stigma of the American Dream hasn't been destroyed for everyone. But she asks me so many questions about Pennsylvania and the sizes of different towns and how many kilometers away things are. In these meetings, I have discovered that I know nothing about facts like that. I have no idea how many people live in York, PA, although, I must admit, I have on several occasions made up some numbers on the spot. So, depending on which German you ask, York, PA has anywhere from 10-80,000 inhabitants. One would think I'd be a bit more consistant. But where's the fun in that?
I really don't understand why America can't just switch to the metric system. It would make things much easier. I asked someone how tall he was, and he gave me some answer in the hundreds. When Eva, (the lady I work with) asked how cold it gets in the winter where I'm from, I just tried to remember the coldest temperature I've seen on the Hanover Foods marquee that we pass on the way to church since it also has Celcius. And cooking is interesting, since I brought cookbooks from home and anything I look up online uses the English system. Since Paul stocked the kitchen, we don't have measuring cups we have Liter measuring things. Don't let the fact that he's English fool you. They also use the metric system. I often times blame him for coming up with the English system and for killing the Native Americans. And he makes fun of me for "mispronouncing" words. We have a nice relationship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)