Being alone isn't so bad. It's being lonely that's tough. I've been alone this week since David's in London, but I've kept myself busy enough not to get too lonely. "Busy" to me, looks like this:
Lesson planning
Fun activities for learning consonant digraphs
My children's book library. It's small, but something.
And while I plan, oftentimes, I have a movie on in the background.
I certainly don't eat lunch out every day, but yesterday I spoiled myself at Cafe Wortner :-)
Ich übe mein Deutsch mit einem deutschen Buch.
While I was enjoying a Melange and my book, the city maintenance men came by and turned on the fountain. I guess we're officially out of the freezing temps. Spring is here!
Fortunately, my main squeeze comes home tonight and then we begin what promises to be an epic weekend. I wish you all a fabulous couple of days too!
The German language is so hard for me to grasp! I've taken 8 months of intensive courses (I'm in my 9th class now) and I'm still struggling to get a hold of this language! Some days I love it. I do. I get a high that lasts for hours just from a successful conversation with a waiter, a friend, or the nanny of one of my tutees. But these highs, these happy feelings, seem to be further and further apart. Lately, I feel more frustrated than satisfied with my language learning. I think I need a break. But then again, tomorrow I may wake up and think there's nothing more that I want to do right now than immerse myself in German. Uh! Frustration Nation!
Do any of you have tips for me? I know that learning a language is supposed to be hard. And I know that it takes time. Sure, sure. I get that. But how do you persevere through the tough times? Today is one of those tough times.
As my husband will tell you, I am absolutely, positively not a morning person. As my family will tell you, I have never been one. I am the person in the family that people would be wise to avoid before the 9 o'clock hour (that's right, I wrote 9 o'clock). A sunrise is probably the main impetus for why I still sleep with my baby pillow. When I'm not buried under the big pillow, I use the little pillow to cover my head and darken the world. It's the perfect strategy really. My mornings are blissful this way.
In any event, not particularly caring for the early hours or a bright sun are no reasons not to become obsessed with this 1977 German song by the Greek singer Nana Mouskouri. Maybe I dig it because it uses easy enough German for me to understand. Or, perhaps I like how my husband grooves to the beat. Either way, it brings a smile to my face and I hope it will bring one to yours as well. Guten Morgen!
German Lyrics
Guten Morgen, Guten Morgen
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Diese Nacht blieb dir verborgen
Doch du darfst nicht traurig sein
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Nein du darfst nicht traurig sein
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Weck mich auf und komm herein
Alles kannst du ja sehen
Auf dieser Erde, auf dieser Erde
Doch nun ist es geschehen
Dass ich auch ohne dich glücklich werde
Die allerschönsten Stunden
In meinem Leben, in meinem Leben
Hab ich heut Nacht gefunden
Du hast geschlafen, so ist das eben
Guten Morgen, Guten Morgen
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Diese Nacht blieb dir verborgen
Doch du darfst nicht traurig sein
Guten Morgen, Guten Morgen
Weck mich auf und komm herein
Und auf deinen Sonnenstrahlen
Tanzen meine Träumerein
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Nein du darfst nicht traurig sein
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Weck mich auf und komm herein
Wenn ich sehe wie deine Strahlen
So vor mir spielen, so vor mir spielen
Dann versuch ich mir auszumalen
Wie es heute Nacht war, kannst du es fühlen
Der Tag öffnet gerade die Augen
Lass ihn noch träumen, lass ihn noch träumen
Er wird dir sowieso nicht glauben
Was in der Nacht die Tage versäumen
Guten Morgen, Guten Morgen
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Diese Nacht blieb dir verborgen
Doch du darfst nicht traurig sein
Guten Morgen, Guten Morgen
Weck mich auf und komm herein
Und auf deinen Sonnenstrahlen
Tanzen meine Träumerein
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Nein du darfst nicht traurig sein
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein
Weck mich auf und komm herein
Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein (11 x)
English Translation
Good morning good morning
Good morning sunshine
This night was hiding you
Do not feel sorry for this
Good morning sunshine
You shouldn't be sad
Good morning sunshine
Wake me up and come in
You can see here everything
On this earth, on this earth
But now it has happened
That I can also be happy without you
The most beautiful hours
Of my life, Of my life
I have found tonight
You’ve been sleepping, so it was
Good morning good morning
Good morning sunshine
This night was hiding you
Do not feel sorry for this
Good morning good morning
Wake me up and come in
And on your sun rays
my dreams will dance
Good morning sunshine
You shouldn't be sad
Good morning sunshine
Wake me up and come in
When I see how your rays
Play in front of me, play in front of me
Then I try to picture
How it was tonight, can you feel it
The day just opens his eyes
let him dream a little more, let him dream a little more,
He wouldn't believe anyway
what days miss during the nights
Good morning good morning
Good morning sunshine
This night was hiding you
Do not feel sorry for this
Good morning good morning
Wake me up and come in
And on your sun rays
my dreams will dance
Good morning sunshine
You shouldn't be sad
Good morning sunshine
Wake me up and come in
At IKI the intensive course schedule is as follows: the A Level is 4 months long, B Level is 6 months long, and the C Level is 4 months long. So, in theory, one could become a mastery or proficient speaker within 14 months if they had the money and time to stick with the intensive language program. What a thought!
David's been taking evening classes at the Deutsch Institut. He just completed the B+ level. This means that he's finished the Threshold or intermediate level. He's quite impressive -- which surprises none of you, I know.
I've had the pleasure of learning German from some fantastic teachers at IKI. I've also really enjoyed learning along side of some really amazing people (i.e., African priests, South American musical prodigies, a Russian Oil executive, an Italian Opera singer, a Filipino nurse, a Greek doctor, a Spanish fisherman, an Australian Olympian and on and on. . . Over these past 4 months we've become each others cheerleaders, teammates, and friends. Here are the faces of meine Kollegen:
March - A1.1 Kurs
April - A1.2 Kurs
(Here's the view from our classroom window. I missed the last week of class so I didn't get a photo of our group.)
