Well, I actually started observing on Wednesday (22nd). There are 23 students in our 3rd grade class (and some can speak German!) The school is 3 stories and is connected with the middle and high school. It's a very interesting setup. Our class is on the 1st floor, and the library ("Information Center") is on the 2nd long with the office, and computer class is on the 3rd floor.
And as for the gender of my roommates, 1 is a guy and 14 are girls.
Wednesday, after my first day at the school, I went downtown and took some pictures and got a little tour guide from one of my fellow student teachers. Those pics should be posted. Wednesday evening, the whole staff of DoDDS that is in any way associated with the student teachers had dinner at Scheffel's Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg - it was amazing, I had "suckling pig!"
The student teacher that was in my class previous my arrival is German. She voluntarily took this position in order to familiarize herself with the American educational system. She was at the dinner and I will have the opportunity to see her teach in my (our) 3rd grade class on Thursday. She also volunteered to be my German tutor!
Lastnight, I decided what I will do for Thanksgiving, so I booked a trip to Dublin! It was only 10 Euro there and like 40 Euro back! That's like $65! It was cheaper, but I missed the cheap date by a day.
Next week, I will observe and take it from there.
There's a photo of my me, my cooperating teacher, and her previous German student teacher.
The photo of a boy with wings that is labeled, "Uni-Shop," was a student jail for for the University of Heidelberg college students... haha.

Oh, and since it's a military post - I pretty much live and work in a "fenced-in" community with guards everywhere. I have to check in and out with guards (they are sometimes German, American, or other ethnicities). I live on PHV (Patrick Henry Village), but my school is located on Mark Twain Village or MTV. I have ridden the military shuttle and German bus now - very exciting.

Today (Saturday), I actually went to Mannheim to watch a movie at a German theatre. They are much nicer than American theatres (cleaner and more elegant I guess you would say). They are more expensive though, about 9 Euro = $11.

Signing off from Germany...

Brandon

Hey guys!
Well, I'm in Germany safe and sound. The flight was pleasant and when I arrived there was someone waiting for me. We went to visit the school to fill out necessary paperwork and then to acquire my military post ID (Installation ID). Tomorrow, I plan to get my "privilege pass" to purchase things at the commissary and PX.
I am sharing an apartment with 6 other student teachers, and the apartment below me is filled with 8 other student teachers. Most of the student teachers are from Washington State and Michigan. Since I'm the only Texan... they gave me the nickname, "Tex."
I plan to start observing on the 27th.
The school has about 110 students. I'm the 3rd student teacher at the elementary and the rest of them are scattered between the middle and high schools on the post.

Any questions/comments... leave a post!

Testing 1-2-3...

Okay... So I'll try to update this blog as much as I can with experiences, pictures, and responses. You still can facebook me, too - I'll be checking both.
I leave on Monday, October 20th around 3pm! I should arrive in Frankfurt the next day in the afternoon. My 2nd student teaching placement will begin on the 27th! I will be with a 3rd grade class at Mark Twain Elementary; this will be located on an American Military Base in Heidelberg, Germany. My placement will end on December 5th and I will arrive back in Lubbock on December 10th... and graduate 3 days later!