I had to wake up at 5.50 am to have breakfast and then go to Namur on my moped, and meanwhile filling the fuel tank. We all had to be there at 7.20 pm, and we left round 7.35. We were using a coach, for taking the train would have been less useful. Our group sat at the back, just because it's kind of cooler.
We chatted a little, then we listened to music while working on Konnex, our beloved Dutch vocabulary book… (Do you see what it means: we cannot even fully enjoy such a school trip!! Always something to do! I hate it!)
On the way, we drove by our (Anne-Sophie, Marie and me) homeland, le pays de Herve and several kilometres further we entered Germany. We arrived in Bonn at about 10.15.
Then we walked to Der Haus der Geschichte (House of History), a huge museum that brings you back to 1945 and shows you the evolution of the German society from then onwards. There were many historical documents and pictures, but also very collectible items, such as Kennedy's speech in Berlin in which he said "Ich bin ein Berliner", originally written "Ish been ein Bear-lee-ner" on his notes…
After that, the coach took us closer to the city centre, and we had about an hour to get some food and discover the city on ourselves. Some of us went directly to our meeting point (the Münster, a cathedral) and we bought sausages on the Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt): that was delicious!
Round 2 pm we started a short sightseeing of the city centre, with a local French teacher as guide. She took this picture of our group in front of the statue of Beethoven.
And precisely we walked to that house where he was born.
We also went to the Town Hall, an impressive building. Unfortunately, we couldn't visit it because a ceremony was taking place.
Then we had another hour to spend on ourselves in Bonn. We went once more on the Christmas market, buying several things. We also went to a T-Mobile shop, for there were actual brand-new iPhones to be seen!!! A girl was appointed to answer all questions from customers, so I started mumbling some words to say that we were from Belgium and that it was the first time that we got to see the iPhone. But apparently my German was terrible and she said we could speak English. So that's what we did. She showed us all the abilities of that brilliant smart phone. It's a shame that it's not yet available in Belgium… (Of course, it doesn't mean I would buy it: I hardly ever use my mobile, and it's rather expensive.)
A bit later we walked back to the couch and we left Bonn round 4.30. We were planning to study the rest of Konnex on the way back, but M. Bertrand (our teacher) came and sat with us and talked with us about the real German saunas, nudity and about many other things…
We arrived in Namur at 7.15 pm. We were all exhausted, but this day had been great fun for all of us!
6 comments:
studying for your Dutch test during the school trip, that's kinda sad.
And isn't studying for a Proficiency test during the weekend sad, too??
;-)
It's just that we really have a lot of work and that we can hardly rest a little and enjoy a school trip. Next Friday (7 December) we're going to Lille, but I think that we'll have something to busy ourselves with…
I'm really looking forward to the exams!!
Come on Simon, Christmas is round the corner. Cheer up! I believe I did something to reduce your workload, didn't I? Keep in mind I'll be writing comments on your papers, and grading part of the BA1 proficiency tests, and I have a book review due... this week for publication, and I'm also supposed to finish writing my PhD proposal,... plus one million other things related to family life.
You know, I'm also quite busy right now, but I don't complain all that much. I eat chocolate and other types of candy like there's no tomroow. That I do, yeah.
Thanks for your comment. Yes, when I wrote that, I was really fed up with everything, due to a terrible week (everyone was about to have a nervous breakdown—no kidding!). This week seems "lighter" in a sense, even if we have to work on our presentation (but that's easy) and your essay (actually I had nothing against it, but the others urged me to beg Prof. Vandelanotte to basically delete it).
I understand that everyone has a lot of work, and you especially as you're writing your PhD (which is already a kerfuffle) and also correcting our things…
Everything will be better next Tuesday, when the first term comes to his close. Meanwhile I keep working!! (Tough when you wanna keep up with your level…)
Yeah, we had a lot of work these days, even if it's getting better now (except that I've got to hand a bloody writing for german wednesday). And you get even more work with everybody complaining about the work, exam shedule and ask you to tell the teachers. If I were you I would go on strike ;)
I'll be glad to rest a bit before the exam (I've no level to keep up, just to pass).
We'll go back to the cerle to forget the workload, and there's the christmas party too ...
Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to Tuesday evening… "All the troubles float away"…
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