Fifteen

Mittwoch, the fifteenth day.

We woke like normal, missed the bus as usual, walked to the train station, and then headed to school. We had class with Herr and Frau first hour and then headed to the 6th grade. Today was actually really fun. The first lesson was a math lesson, where they were talking about different types (integer, complex, natural) numbers and really digging into negative numbers. I think a bit more than Kirkwood 6th grade (but not MEGESS).

After that, we had a 30 minute break (it seems as if the Germans don't actually go to school- they have two thirty minute breaks and an hour for lunch) and then the whole class, without a teacher, left the room, walked out of the school, and got on the subway. We rode two stops, got off, and went to a pool for swimming lessons. Just like that.

I brought my swim suit, so I swam some laps with the 6th graders and played in the water with them. It was really nice, but then we had to go back to school (after getting an ice cream on the way with the class). They had Englisch class afterwards, but the teacher had conferences with every student, so our group of three went up and answered questions about America for the whole class period.

I went to music class with the 6th graders , but we realized it was time to leave and went home. I got home right away and cooked tacos- they were awesome. I really want to make them like, five more times before I leave. The Lorenzes were a bit surprised when I started eating with my hands, but that's cool. They said they liked them, and I hope max does, because it' s all I eat at home.

After tacos, I went on a bike ride with Max's brother. I had no idea that the city STOPPED a hundred feet from my house- there are literally cow fields. We rode around for a while out there so I could get used to my bike, as the bike tour was the next day.

Then, it was on to "Dirty Dancing". I had seen a preview and was a bit skeptical, but the theater was amazing. Max said it's one of the best equipped in Germany. They had Verilight type lights (the ones that have motors and you can point them remotly) for their SIDE lights. There must have been a million dollars of lighting equipment. Then, as it opened (the sound was good, but we sat next to the left speaker and couldn't hear any stereo) the middle of the stage started rotating. There was a large center circle and then two more concentric to and a couple of feet larger than the first one that were not only motorized, but could move up and down.

The play was a word-for-word translation into German and I could actually understand it. At some point (I was a bit tired) I just stopped having to translate it and heard everything normally. I don't think the singing was anything special, but the play got much better in the 2nd act. Throughout, the dancing was amazing. Then they sang a part of Pirates of Penance in German. That made the whole thing ten times better.

The finale was really great, and I think everybody left feeling good about the play (except my partner). Me, Nick, and Angie waited for the train for a half an hour because our Germans forgot that we had to first ride to Central Station on S31 in order to get on the S3 that took us home. At least ten S31 trains went by in that time.

Then I went to sleep (possibly not Robberty this time, it was like 11:00 and everyone else was asleep).

RwH