Friday, February 8, 2013

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.

 

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