Woche 6
I didn't really get up to much last week, but I'll take a few moments to have a rant about finding accommodation here and the sheer incompetence of the British Council in helping its assistants. Skip this part if you want - I just need to rant about it!
You don't find out where you're going to be working until the end of July, so its not possible to be able to afford to fly out and find accommodation beforehand. You don't get paid until the "end of October"- I'm still staring at 0 Euros in my bank account?????? Ok Hun.
They don't help you with any accommodation, don't contact local unis to see if you can stay in their halls of residence for a little while, nor give you some money towards an AirBnb/Hostel/Hotel - it's honestly a wonder there aren't more English assistants sleeping under bridges? Yes, mentor teachers are there to help you find accommodation, but they can only do as much as the assistant - ask around and search online.
And honestly, I've contacted the British Council 3 times now to no effect. They're perfectly comfortable with giving you 10 million repetitive talks before you come out here and "Keep in touch with us!", but that's not the case at all. Unless, they just want to hear positive experiences and use those for their website? What about those of us who are struggling? Helloooooo? Knock knock, British Council???
Luckily, things are looking positive, as I contacted a woman on AirBnb to rent out one of her places for the duration of my stay (something that IS NOT suggested by the British Council), but this has occurred after circa. 30 viewings and 10 million blisters on my feet from walking to viewings. It is simply too competitive with a) people coming to university and b) a growing refugee population. The British Council needs to adapt and change its programme to get with this changing environment in Germany. It is simply not fair that I'm gonna be well out of pocket while others thrive.
Right, now that's over.
Here's the pages from my vocab book this week:
Montag
Was very down after saying good bye to Joe on Sunday, pretty much stayed in bed all day, but posted off my bank details so maybe I'll get paid before the end of the year.
Dienstag
Again, did nothing, visited the shop to get lunch and food.
Mittwoch
As above, also got a message being rejected from a flat that I really liked, had a break down, said that if I don't have anywhere by the end of November I'd literally quit my degree (still thinking about it tbh - not sure if a certificate is worth being homeless in a foreign country for 2+ months).
Donnerstag
Was an absolute "nope" day, didn't want to get out of bed, but forced myself to and went to Hamburg for the day (2 hours). I was quite disappointed with the city- not sure if I just went to the wrong place, was in a bad mood, or I'm unimpressed by large cities seeing as I come from one. The viewing I had on the evening cancelled, so got to go home earlier, even though I got the wrong train to begin with (luckily the terminus stop wasn't far from Luebeck).
Freitag
Met up with my mentor for a coffee and discussed my options and began to feel better about the whole thing. Worked out the AirBnb situation. Went to a viewing. Came home and had fish and wedges (wedges are the first thing I've "made" since being here).
Samstag
Had two viewings, neither went particularly well. Came home around five, and helped my dad book his accommodation for when he comes over in December. Ordered a takeaway (to whom I will say this: PEPPERONI IS NOT THE SAME AS A PEPPER) and watched Stranger Things (was not disappointed).
Sonntag
Washed the bedsheets and towels and cleaned the apartment, then (tried to anyway) got an early night because I had to be up at the ungodly hour of 5:30 this morning, booooooooo.
Pictures below are from Hamburg, plus an interesting piece of graffiti I saw at Bad Oldesloe train station (when I accidentally ended up there...)
You don't find out where you're going to be working until the end of July, so its not possible to be able to afford to fly out and find accommodation beforehand. You don't get paid until the "end of October"- I'm still staring at 0 Euros in my bank account?????? Ok Hun.
They don't help you with any accommodation, don't contact local unis to see if you can stay in their halls of residence for a little while, nor give you some money towards an AirBnb/Hostel/Hotel - it's honestly a wonder there aren't more English assistants sleeping under bridges? Yes, mentor teachers are there to help you find accommodation, but they can only do as much as the assistant - ask around and search online.
And honestly, I've contacted the British Council 3 times now to no effect. They're perfectly comfortable with giving you 10 million repetitive talks before you come out here and "Keep in touch with us!", but that's not the case at all. Unless, they just want to hear positive experiences and use those for their website? What about those of us who are struggling? Helloooooo? Knock knock, British Council???
Luckily, things are looking positive, as I contacted a woman on AirBnb to rent out one of her places for the duration of my stay (something that IS NOT suggested by the British Council), but this has occurred after circa. 30 viewings and 10 million blisters on my feet from walking to viewings. It is simply too competitive with a) people coming to university and b) a growing refugee population. The British Council needs to adapt and change its programme to get with this changing environment in Germany. It is simply not fair that I'm gonna be well out of pocket while others thrive.
Right, now that's over.
Here's the pages from my vocab book this week:
Montag
Was very down after saying good bye to Joe on Sunday, pretty much stayed in bed all day, but posted off my bank details so maybe I'll get paid before the end of the year.
Dienstag
Again, did nothing, visited the shop to get lunch and food.
Mittwoch
As above, also got a message being rejected from a flat that I really liked, had a break down, said that if I don't have anywhere by the end of November I'd literally quit my degree (still thinking about it tbh - not sure if a certificate is worth being homeless in a foreign country for 2+ months).
Donnerstag
Was an absolute "nope" day, didn't want to get out of bed, but forced myself to and went to Hamburg for the day (2 hours). I was quite disappointed with the city- not sure if I just went to the wrong place, was in a bad mood, or I'm unimpressed by large cities seeing as I come from one. The viewing I had on the evening cancelled, so got to go home earlier, even though I got the wrong train to begin with (luckily the terminus stop wasn't far from Luebeck).
Freitag
Met up with my mentor for a coffee and discussed my options and began to feel better about the whole thing. Worked out the AirBnb situation. Went to a viewing. Came home and had fish and wedges (wedges are the first thing I've "made" since being here).
Samstag
Had two viewings, neither went particularly well. Came home around five, and helped my dad book his accommodation for when he comes over in December. Ordered a takeaway (to whom I will say this: PEPPERONI IS NOT THE SAME AS A PEPPER) and watched Stranger Things (was not disappointed).
Sonntag
Washed the bedsheets and towels and cleaned the apartment, then (tried to anyway) got an early night because I had to be up at the ungodly hour of 5:30 this morning, booooooooo.
Pictures below are from Hamburg, plus an interesting piece of graffiti I saw at Bad Oldesloe train station (when I accidentally ended up there...)
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