Tick-tock, tick Tock, Oh My so Many Clocks!!!

This past week has been a very slow relaxed week and I will say fairly normal. The week started as usual with classes to learn German. Sadly this weeks "Freizeit Programm" free time program didn't interest me much, So I came up with my own. But first had some legal business to attend to.

On wednesday and Thursday the representative from the GIZ would be visiting us to check up on us and fill us in on our final placements. I got to meet with her on wednesday, although too late to have actually done anything productive or interesting. Anyway I was informed that I will be living in Münster for the final 10 months of the program. I'll be living with a wonderful host family that I've already had several conversations with. They seem to be very nice and wonderful people. I was also informed that I will skip the university phase and begin my practicum as soon as possible. They had attempted to get me an internship within a police department, however due to my lack of knowledge in the german language I was unable to work for them at this time.

So my host dad came to the rescue and suggested a school for disadvantaged teens. The school is for 5th through 10th grade kids who may have a difficult time in school whether it be due to a hard home life, coming from a different country (there are 66 countries that will be represented when the school opens this week.), and possibly slight learning disorders. I'm not 100% sure of what I'll be doing there I have been told along the lines of a tutor who takes them on excursions and is just a friend to talk to. For those interested here is the home page http://www.muenster.org/geistschule/index.php?id=17 , you may wish to use crome because its all in german and chrome will translate. I will be allowed to reapply to the police department later in the year.

Thursday we had a meeting with our local tutor to discus a variety of things and then work on our CV's (Resume) followed by a traditional german diner or potato salad and Pan Stickers (i forgot the german word). After dinner was completed we didn't want the fun to end so a group of us headed on a beer run and then to the lake. A member of our group Mrs. Hanson delighted us with her new ukulele. I must admit soft music, a group of friends, and a slightly cool beer, under a sunset on the lake is wonder full. and looks something like....

 that. Isn't it nice!

On Friday, my travel companion, Kyle, and I headed to Switzerland to the city of Schaffhausen. Where in the Rhein waterfalls are located.

 Castle Restaurant and viewing platform

Now the RiehnFalls should have been enough, Ja... Nein we actually went as a kind of excuse to go somewhere else as well. This Swiss military surplus store, Sadly it turned out to be less surplus and more retail but none the less I found cool and usefull stuff!

 My "new" rain poncho

I think I'll be dry in the rain and completely hidden. 

Saturday

Kyle, Allison and I set out for Triberg, A small town in the heart of the Black Forest. Home of the black forest cake and coo coo clock heaven. We had a delightful slice of the said cake for breakfast and then climbed the largest waterfall in germany. 

 

Triberg, has quite a lot of clock shops and wood carvers around it. As well as home of the worlds largest coo coo clock. 

 A clock I would love to have in my house 

On Sunday I once again returned to Hohnesville to explore the keep. Sadly there's not much to report, I was unable to find any new passages I did climb to the second story of the castle and look around but there wasn't much there either. Still a wonderful place to go back to and the views are still breathtaking or maybe its the 260m climb at 18% grade... I'm going with the views and I now leave you with the view from the castles main gate at the top...

A beautifully framed picture if I may say so.

Auf Wiedersehen, 

Cody A. Glick