SO. And then there were classes. Apparently the classes here in Germany are a lot different than the ones at home. Students here have to shop up to one or two classes, and then the teacher picks who gets to be in them, and you sign your name on a sheet that gets passed around, and if you don't get chosen then, oh well, too bad for you. Luckily, us international kids don't really have to worry too much about that. Our coordinator, Nir, keeps telling us: "Everything will be fine, everything will be fine." in a fairly laid back manner that we all happen to find a little stressful. Needless to say, I only need 30 ECTS to fufill my credits for this semester, same with Marsha. So we've decided to take:
"Grüsse von Hier" - Greetings from Here, 5 ECTS . This class is taught in English, although the English is very broken and actually quite hilarious in it's own way. It involves a lot of hand gestures and Italian words and German students offering the wrong words for certain things. But basically we have to make two comics, one in black and white and the other in colour, both two pages long about "place". Either about where you come from or the place that you are living, or a place you remember in your life. We're going to be submitting these comics to the Italian magazine, Internationale, and if your comic gets chosen to be publicated, then there is some sort of monetary prize that I don't remember. Easy right? Well, that could be debated.
"Digitale Illustration" - Digital Illustration 5 ECTS. This class, oh this class. This one is taught in German, and it takes a bit of teamwork from Marsha and I to understand what is going on, which is a hilarious gongshow in itself. It requires me fooling around with the computer (which is in German, although I'm not too sure what WE were expecting), Marsha catching German words here and there, me catching the jist of things from the screen, and Marsha telling me what they read, since I can't see the TV screen very well. Hilarious indeed. No really, it is. I'm sure we could just ask the German students next to us, as pretty much everyone knows English, but we thought we would try it on our own for a while.
"International Workshop"- 5 ECTS. This class is taught by our coordinator Nir, and we have yet to do anything productive yet. We pretty much meet every Thursday and discuss what art openings are this week, although it is hard to understand when you don't know where any of the places are, let alone how to spell their names. :P
"Milch and Kohle- Die Mutter" -Milk and Coal- The Mother, 15 ECTS. This is the class that we really wanted to take. It's another comic class, that is taught in pretty much 3/4's English so far, and some German. This class is HUGE though. Huge. But awesome. From what I've gathered, we're going to be making a 16 page comic about Milk, Coal and the Mother, but in a more abstract and obtuse form of course. I'm pretty sure we're going to be printing these and some students will get to go to a comic festival either in Poland or in England. I think.
I mean, there's only been about two weeks of classes so far, and the school is very cool! It's an old hospital meant for mothers and their children, and it looks very much like an old hospital. One of these days I'll get to taking pictures. I just keep forgetting to bring my camera with me places. Woops.
It's been crappy weather here a lot, which saddens me a bit, as it effects my motivation for going outside when it's cold and rainy outside...
I also just keep collecting more paperwork here, the Germans and their paperwork! I had to get an organizational thing from Staples down the road to keep it all straight! Let's see, also went to a couple potlucks, art openings, The Hunger Games (in English of course) and wandering around downtown and through parks. Also went to the Teen Daze concert, which was amazing! Always happy to see another Canadian around these parts. Marsha and I have also been planning to go to Vienna, Prague and Munich in May! Also planning to go to a couple music festivals. We're hopefully going to b doing the UK in July, and some other places here and there. I would really like to go to Spain, Paris and Denmark too, and any other places that happen to pop up. Of course, we'll have to budget this all out, as it takes more planning that I thought it would to go to these places inexpensively.
Anyroad, that's about it for now! Easter consisted of a potluck with friends and Carolyn and I sharing a small amount of chocolate in the afternoon.
EASTER CHOCOLATE YAY
-Jena
PS. One day when I get my tablet pen, I will make this blog look a little better than it does right now....
