Hays Hopkins: Closing out my stay in Mainz

Today is the day that I receive my certificate and I am already aware that I have received excellent results.  This is despite all of my worries to the contrary.  It was truly a difficult course, but, for that reason, extraordinarily helpful.  After taking the A2 certificate test in May, I arrive in Mainz and actually skipped ahead to B1.5 instead of just B1.  That slight bump up immensely increased what I have been able to take from this experience.  The benefit of an experience like this cannot be replicated in one's private studies and I will greatly miss it.

Beyond the academics, the lifestyle is one to which I know I could grow accustomed.  I've used public transportation only a handful of times and have, instead, gotten around town on a bike that the Freundschaftkreis was generous enough to lend me--not to mention the amazing barbecue they invited me too.  There has been more than one day where I have found myself in some new area just through a spirit of adventure afforded by having a bicycle at my disposal.  I have found more places and experienced more sights.  I will remember my time here without even the slightest tinge of negativity.

I would like to end on a note about my German teacher here.  It is probably true that us Americans can be a little behind Europeans on politeness.  However, that does not serve as any indication of my level of respect for Stephan Stachorski.  His humor and liveliness can serve as a complete rebuttal of the stereotype of German severity.  These qualities also made five hours of German course a pleasure.  It is hard to imagine feeling more engaged in the material and being more excited by German grammar!  For all of these reasons, my time here has been invaluable and I would highly recommend a visit to our sister city, Mainz.

 

Hays Hopkins: My Arrival in Mainz, Germany

My first week and a half in Mainz has been both fantastic and fast.  It started with getting a lift from Frankfurt airport by Frau Karst of the Mainz Freundschaftkreis; after being in Heathrow for 8 hours overnight the appreciation of this gesture cannot be overstated.  After arriving at my place and taking a short nap, my first night ended with me being treated to dinner by Frau Karst and, another Sister Cities member, Frau Bell Koehler.  These gestures on my first day are entirely indicative of my stay thus far.

Classes started, and continue, in a flurry.  My teacher is so patient and conscious of the students that I feel that I’ve had no trouble integrating into an all German-language classroom.  I wish I could say the same for the times that I have hung out with German students!  It is difficult to keep up to the normal pace, but I have been hanging in there.  The students in my dormitory have asked me out to play soccer and just walk along the Rhine.  Along with the leisure program of the summer course, my schedule is rather full.

As to the theme of what I have learned so far, I do have an interesting story.  Another member of the Mainz Freundschaftkreis invited me to his house for a BBQ.  Herr Licht graciously invited me into his home and we entered into a discussion on cultural differences.  He reminded me that, although Americans can often find Germans too rude or direct, that I must not interpret actions from my own cultural vantage point.  Having to keep this in mind on a daily basis brings my academic learning to reality; however, I have, admittedly, had  little chance to exercise such understanding, as everyone has been so welcoming.
Bis bald!