Christmas season is ramping up, and the calendar year is winding down. That means Christmas Markets a plenty throughout Bavaria and summative assessments and end of unit work at school. It also means a lot of parties and a lot of chances to get out and enjoy life.
A couple weekends ago a bunch of us met in the city and took in one of the bigger Christmas markets in Munich. It's called Tollwood, and it's a bit of an eclectic market, different than many of the more traditional markets that exist around the city. This one is takes place in the Munich fair grounds, the same location as the world famous Oktoberfest in the fall. Like all Christmas markets, Tollwood is a mix of food stalls, shopping, socializing and the ever-present Gluhwein, a mulled wine you find everywhere this time of year. In addition to all of this, Tollwood also has some tents, allowing you to get away from the cold to shop, eat or listen to live music.
We begin our day in the Bazar tent and ended it in the main music tent, chatting, enjoying a few rounds of helles biers, getting to know the locals at the other end of the table, and dancing on our benches when security had their backs turned. It was a super fun day, not just a day kicking off the Christmas season, but also celebrating one of my co-worker's birthdays. I had such a good time, I plan to return to Tollwood to celebrate my own birthday on the 17th.
Even though it's December, there have still been opportunities to get out and bike. I've biked to school a few times this month, and also done a few tours around the area. My legs and my lungs have become rather strong since arriving here. Starnberg is in a bowl of sorts - a valley - so every time I want to venture away from town I have to climb my way out of it. It's impossible to avoid a climb if I want to go anywhere. One recent ride put me through the amazingly beautiful little town of Aufkirchen. A beautiful town, yes, but also a town that resides on top of rather tall hillside. I didn't know this pre-ride, but I found out quickly that I didn't quite have the legs to make it all the way to the top. I had to bail from my seat and push the bike to the top of the town. Great views once I got there. Then recently - Sunday - I biked into Munich. I hadn't done a full ride into the center of the city yet, and I'd been wanting to, so Sunday was the day. It was brisk, but sunny, and the ride didn't disappoint. After a climb outside of Leutstetten, the ride went mostly through a forest right to the edge of town. After that, inside the city limits of Munich, I was almost always on a bike lane. The city has an amazing network of bike lanes - one on nearly every major street. It makes cycling in the city a joy. The other nice thing about Munich is that after my ride, as the sun was setting, I could simply ride to an SBahn stop and hop on board with my bike - saving myself the 90 minute ride home.
School's been fun of late. This time of year, many teachers are giving students major summative assessments to wrap up units before winter break. I've given a couple myself, but I've also pulled back a little, sensing the stress of my students. I have plans to do some additional assessments in January, hopefully during a month when other teachers aren't doing the same. Some of the most interesting and most enjoyable teaching I've done so far has centered around Trevor Noah's memoire "Born a Crime." If you haven't read it, you should. It's Noah's engaging, sometime brutal story of growing up "colored" in South Africa. We've tied together his experiences with the experiences of my students as "Third Culture Kids." It's been a blast, and truly eye-opening to hear the stories my students bring into the classroom. We essentially wrapped up the unit with a peer-assessed literature circle activity today. The kids did an amazing job - causing me to feel pride in the learning they've accomplished. I feel truly lucky to be working with these intelligent, interesting students.
Last Wednesday, four of my EAL colleagues and me packed our bags and boarded the train for Vienna, to take in a two-day WIDA symposium. The symposium was put on by the University of Wisconsin and hosted by the American International School of Vienna. WIDA is an organization within UW Madison that has put together standards and other professional materials to help English Language programs around the world. MIS adopted WIDA's standards and assessments a few years ago, but as a school we still have a lot to learn and a lot to do to fully implement the program.
The symposium was great in that I was able to chat with lots of other EAL teachers from many different international schools and to compare notes with them. As head of department, one of my tasks is to keep our EAL program at MIS on a path of improvement, so this was a great opportunity for me to learn some things to start doing that. It was, however, also very exhausting. Lots of sitting. Lots of listening. Lots of conversations where I had to be "on." I was happy and very tired when it was all done. Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of time to enjoy the city, other than Thursday night when a group of us took a bus and a tram into the city to take in - you guessed it - more Christmas markets. It was a fun time, all around, but especially that night as my colleagues and I were able to spend some good social time together - something we haven't had much of a chance to do to this point.
I came back from Vienna Friday night in time to go to the MIS Christmas party in Munich Saturday night. I had plans to spend the weekend in Vienna, but due to the party, I wanted to return. It didn't disappoint. Many of us took a coach bus from Starnberg directly to the party, then met the others there. Everything was covered by the school - appetizers, beer, wine, prosecco and dinner. I had reindeer. After eating, a DJ pumped things up and many of us danced 'till the party ended. I had heard stories of the "wild" MIS Christmas parties, so I was expecting the unexpected. But, really, the party was just an exceptionally good time. No scandals as far as I could tell.
Finally, on Sunday - after my bike ride into the city - I went to Marienplatz to watch the Krampus Run of the Munich Christmas Market. This thing was quite a trip. If you don't know about the Krampus, it's this mythical beast who punishes children who misbehave - in contrast with Saint Nicholas who rewards well-behaved children with gifts. I'm no expert on this Krampus Run, but what I've gathered is that these Krampus "clubs" exist around the city in which people make these elaborate costumes then bring them out during the Christmas season to parade in them around the city. It was very cool - and it brought out quite the crowd. The costumes were truly extraordinary.
Currently I'm watching some Champions League action on TV. Tomorrow is an ordinary day that will probably involve a grocery run and possibly a gym visit after school. Friday we're doing a Middle School gluhwein event after work, then on Saturday many of us are heading toward new friend, Barbara's, house for Christmas dinner and a secret Santa exchange. Then next week is the wrap-up. My 50th is Tuesday night - hopefully a good one, then Nephew Ryan Fredlund comes for a visit on Wednesday night. After what should be a couple of fun days with him in the city, I'll be flying back to MN on Saturday. Lots to look forward to. Lots to be thankful for.
Ciao!
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