My First Ever College Classes

I've always wanted to go to college. 

And to be honest, I'm not really sure why I didn't. For a while, I was very determined. And then for a time, I thought maybe it was wrong for girls to attend college, though I only thought that for a few months. 

I think, mostly, I just decided college wasn't for me, and that I could be successful without it and the burden of debt that comes along with it, and that I could learn on my own as I've always done and loved to do best, anyway. 

All that being said, one of the craziest reasons I was excited about being an Au Pair is that they paid for classes. 

Now, money was never a problem for me. And the course I would have here would be such a small thing, a couple days a week at the most, and only fifty euros a month paid. But, even so, I was excited. And my classes turned out to be very fun. 

The first course was on Monday nights. Sometimes it was a bit of a cold, dark ride on the bike, and a few times it sprinkled a little and I was very cold. But I still always loved going. 

My teacher was this lovely, energetic lady which lovely as it was so late at night and as much as I loved the class I also love sleep. 

But it was great. 

We had discussions in which she mostly taught us about the Berlin wall, shopping (with real fruit and marbles for pretend money), how trees and leaves work, fairytales, and such fun things that required us to learn lots of new vocabulary. 

When I told them all I had to leave the teacher was like, "You must be joking?" (in German). 

And then she asked me if I were angry, and when I said no, she was like, "Of course you wouldn't be. But I'll be angry for you." And she crossed her arms and looked very angry, in an almost terrifying way that made me laugh. 

The two other ladies in my class gave me their emails and told me if I needed a place to stay I could come to be with them, and if the next family didn't work out I could be their Au Pair. One of them has since sent me a sweet email to see how I am doing. 

My second class was a little larger and on Tuesday mornings, and was very lively. Quite a few of the students were all from Bulgaria and were loud with laughter. They all thought I was very young and let me know it quite often (in both of my classes I was the only one who was in my twenties and the only women without children).

The teacher was very nice and fun and did a great job keeping everyone in order. And when she asked us all about ourselves, some of the women said they were widowed and started crying and the teacher quickly had a tissue for them.

They also seemed surprised and sad that I was leaving and half of them gave me their emails and numbers, and two of the women came up to me after to make sure I had enough money (which I said I did) and asked if I needed a place to stay and if they could help in any way.

I came to this class once more after telling them I would leave, and half of the class was gone.

Most of the Bulgarian ladies had gone on a vacation for two months and the guy had simply let it be known that he was done and would come no more. Which was shocking for all of us as all of these people had been the life of the class.

And then one of the teachers came in and talked to our teacher about it, explaining more ... and they went out of the room and talked about it for a good five minutes or more. So something clearly happend so that those people weren't coming back anymore.

Which is very sad, as now that teacher only has three students.

The middle lady was absent for the first photo, so we got another in which she could be in it. Both of these ladies were so very sweet and told me they were Christians, too, and made asked if I needed anything and to let them know if I did. 

Arriving for one of my last classes a little early, so waiting ;D 

I think I'll be having new classes with my new Au Pair family, but I don't know yet what they were will look like. 

But whatever happens, I am very happy for the experience I did have and am thankful to have met and learned with so many wonderful strangers.