Elf means 11

Made it through my first day of German class. Shockingly, I was late (sooo not my fault - Mark was supposed to wake me up at 7:30 but decided to let me sleep until 8...). So we didn't get a 'first day of school' photo as I had envisioned, maybe a 2nd or 3rd or end of the 1st week of school photo ... we'll see (depends on if am looking good or not).

After getting lost and being so close to where I was supposed to be, I found the buliding and ran up to the office hoping they would give me the room number and I would only then be about 7 minutes late ... well, one woman looked at my paperwork and then entered a bunch of info into the computer and started shaking her head and speaking 'not English'. I kindly emplored, "if you'll just tell me the room number, I can come back and we can discuss other details at the break..." (smiling charmingly, of course). She ignored me and went to get another woman and this other woman informed me that the class was full and that I had not taken the test.

Test? What test? Mark registered me online and he can read German and said nothing about a test. When was I to take this test? And what about James? Did he need to take the test? He signed up for the class days after me - only 2 days ago. (James is James Moffatt, the great guy who originally hired Mark at Zuirch and has since left his position there and has the month of January off. He spoke excitedly about how we could drink wine and ski and go on little adventures while our spouses - both of whom speak German fluently - worked. Well, we spent Christmas day and a few fabulous days after with James and Lorna and I mentioned that I was planning on registering for the German class at Migros and Lorna jumped on that train, suggesting that it would be a great time for James to take a class as well. Though I'm sure he'd deny it, I felt him glare at me just then and I think he watered down my drinks for the rest of the night. So James heeded the 'boss' advice (his name for her, not mine) and signed up and was there early for the first day like a regular suck up.)

By the time the 3rd woman got involved I looked at the clock and it was now 9:25. I was ready to cry or blow a gasket and figured that I would go get some coffee and find out when the break was for the class and talk to James then and he'd be a peach and help me figure something out.

Just when I was about to give up all hope, the 4th woman, who was listening all along, said that James came 1/2 hour early and there was one space left so they didn't give him the test and let him in. (He, like me had already registered online but apparently this is just something to make you feel as though you are signing up - you still need to register in person ahead of time?!@%$) She took my paperwork and said we'd go up to the class and see if there were any spaces left and if so, then I could hopefully stay. (Again - when we registered online - there was plently of room ....)

I felt like a military kid whose parent had just been transferred to a new base and who was being led by the hand into this class full of strange, mean kids who would throw spit balls and whisper and to a teacher who would never forgive her not starting at the beginning of the year (day). I stood there with everyone gawking at me (including James) while my chaperone spoke in German at lighting speed with the teacher about me.

After what seemed like 10 minutes, the woman smiled and pushed me into the classroom while shutting the door behind her. I apologized (in German - I learned this early as I am often doing things for which I need to apologize) and went and sat in an empty seat next to James while the teacher, Sylvia said something about sitting next to my boyfriend. I protested briefly while James left me hanging in the wind but I didn't want to get into the whole 'James-is-my-husband's-ex-boss-who-has-January-off-because-he-doesn't-start-his-new-job-until-February-and-he-thought-he'd-take-the-class-with-me-instead-of-skiing ....'

After that beginning, I figured I could handle what came next so I put on my 'focus-hat' (it only works for about 20 minutes at a time,but without the hat, I'm only good for about 3 mins., tops) and listened to the German-only intruction and followed along in the workbook with the pretty pictures and spoke to Bruno and James who were my 'sprechen' partners (everyone else only got one - I have 2!).

I learned to say things like, 'my name is..', 'I am from...' 'what is your name...?' and how to count to 20 and a trick for going above 20 (the Germans say 2 and 20 and so on... of course they do.)

We had a proper break for 1/2 hour about 1/2 way through the class and James and I went to a little cafe near Hooters and had a coffee and a little cake. (So much for starting the healthy eating today...) Maybe I'll have learned enough German after my month of intensive classes to apply at Hooters. It sure would make me feel good to finally be a contributing part of the family. And think of all the great writing/charater material I would get! Hmm ....maybe...

Our teacher, Sylvia got a little warmer after our break and I decided that I didn't hate her, which is good as I really want to like this class and not be a quitter.

I won't say that the time flew, but it didn't drag either and in my book that is a v. good thing.

I think my favorite part of the class was learning that elf means eleven. I am v. proud of myself for not making one of my assinine jokes when she said and wrote 'elf'. It made me giggle on the inside and that was enough for today. It is funny, right? A little? Please? Is this thing on? Is anyone out there?

So now I have one hour of homework and did most of it on the tram home after buying 2 new wine glasses (I broke yet another good one this weekend ... shocking, I know) and a baby doll for my neice Kaitlyn's 1st birthday in a few weeks. (Note to self - you are ahead of the game buying it so early -birthday is the 31st - don't screw it up as always by not mailing for a few weeks ...)

I need a German/English dictionary to finish the rest of my vocab homework and will likely use the computer as all we seem to have here is the 'Jiffy German Phrasebook' which is not really working so far. (Lucky James and his electronic dictionary ...)

I will go back to school tomorrow and perhaps I'll even wake up early and put on a pretty frock and make Mark take a pix of me so you can all see how cute I am going to school and all. We'll see.

I'll just make sure I set my own alarm and try to go to bed before elf.