Eight days in and Ive almost used all of the 12 pocket packs of tissues Dad felt the need to give me. And I'm glad he did. This isnt because I miss you all so so much, which I do, but its because with the beautiful snow comes the freezing cold. And when it doesnt snow, its even colder.
Last wednesday, it was -13 degrees. Today its a 'warm -5 degrees, with a slight wind' as my host mum puts it.
This sudden change in temperature has given me the worst cold ever. Second week in, and I'm already sniffing and carrying on like a baby. It kind of dampens the wonder of the amazing snow, which is coming down outside right now. If this snow was rain, as it would be in Aus, it would not be just spitting, not raining normally, but it would be pouring. Every now and again there is a little sunlight that breaks through and puts a stop to the crazy amounts of snow, and we all sigh with relief. Then the snow starts up again, and a collective groan comes from around the classroom.
Have I told you about the classroom yet?
On the outside, it looks like a normal class room, cream hallway walls with a grey door. The only hint that it is unusual is in the sign on the door. 7Ci. 7C is my class, and the i is a joke they added later. In Austria, i means you generally have some sort of learning difficulty. Apparently I am the one with this difficulty, and my problem is not speaking german.
Anyway.... as you walk through the door of this class room, you question whether you are in the right place. Surely eighteen 17 year old students could not share this room that is only fit for a kindergarten.
The walls are pink, with a green and blue stripe down the middle. On the walls are A4 'colouring in' pictures of Hello Kitty in various situations, in the snow, flying a plane, dancing etc. On the filing cabinet at the back is stuck a scene from finding nemo. On top of this cabinet, there is a stolen 'Nando's rooster' and a collection of other things accidently taken from restaurants. Next to the black-board at the front, there are baby blue ducks hanging from the wall. In one corner, under the window, there is an Ikea couch, and in the other corner, there is a matching Ikea arm chair. The desks are covered in colour. The only hints of 17 year old kids are the twilight pictures on one desk, and the full sized picture of a good looking ski-er on the back wall.
But that is their class room, and they love it.
I have added my little peice, cheap koalas hanging from the ceiling and sitting on each desk.
All of this makes it the best class for me to be in, I dont have to do anything, and I never feel too out of place. The teachers have so many other things to keep an eye on that they don't always have to stare at the strange little Australian girl sitting in the back corner.
Tomorrow I will start German classes with a younger class, and then, maybe, the teacher will feel the need to stare at the strange, little, 18 year old Australian sitting in the back corner of a class full of 10 year olds.
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