Weinsberg

For my year abroad I went to a small town called Weinsberg in Baden-Württemberg where I worked in a Gymnasium (grammar school) as an assistant teacher.  This involved up to 12 hours per week taking small groups of 11-20 year-olds for conversation classes and occasionally teaching whole classes.  I chose to be an assistant mainly because I have always wanted to be a teacher and it gave me a good insight into that, but also the hours were reasonable and the pay was enough to live on.  Only 12 hours a week in school meant that I had lots of free time e.g. for travelling.

Before I went, I was really terrified - the only reason I went was because I knew I wouldn't get my degree otherwise!  But I had an absolutely amazing year - undoubtedly the best year of my life so far.  I look back and just smile! There were so many highlights of my year e.g.:

  • Getting into school on Dec 6 (Nikolaustag) to find my pigeon hole full of chocolate that had been left for me by my colleagues; I really felt part of the community
  • Climbing up to the top of Ulm cathedral, the highest church in the world, and looking at the amazing view
  • Watching a beautiful sunset over Dresden with all the famous buildings
  • Climbing up mountains in Austria in the snow during my Easter holidays
  • Getting everyone I knew together at the end of the year for my goodbye party and everyone doing so much for me to organise it and realising how many friends I had made there (although I was very sad to leave).

As well as improving my German, I have a lot more self-confidence now because I know that I can go somewhere where I don't know anyone and make friends, look after myself and make the most of it.  The experience has helped me realise that I can do anything I put my mind to.  I travelled almost every weekend so I feel like I know a lot more about German culture and their way of life, which helped me in my final year at Uni.  I also had time to just sit and think and I learnt a lot about myself and I feel like I've become a more rounded, content person.

Anna Patullo