why doesn't anyone take europe's music scene seriously??

here's why:
Germany's Eurovision contestant:



...and that wasn't even the worst(dressed) one!!!
norway, which won, was a strange combination of fiddler on the roof, and a mentally deficient,shit-eating-grinning harry potter. enjoy:



I hope you have enjoyed our lesson on european music today. homework for tonight: bleach out your ears, possibly also your eyes and brain.

should I stay or should I go?

Hey! Sorry its been a while, I’ve been uncharacteristically busy this past week. First off, I just heard that I got an extension on my grant from PAD, so that means that I have the chance to stay somewhere in Niedersachsen for another year. That does not mean, however, that I’ll be in or around Göttingen, unfortunately. They’re gonna place me again, and one of my teachers, who works with PAD told me they tend not to have FSAs in the same school twice, which kinda sucks… I’m really hoping that I get to stay here, or, at least, around here! I like my school, some of my kids, my apartment, and the town… I wanna stay here!!! However, if they assign me to a little village in the middle of nowhere, I think it’d better serve me to move back to the states and start with my real life. I’ll hear by mid-june where they’re going to place me, so I have to wait till then to make my decision.
In other fun news, an American pub just opened up in town, and I’ve been hanging out there with Karen, and a few other Expats. They have fun things like Reese’s and pancakes. I told them I’d love to come help them perfect their menu, and mess around in the kitchen a little bit, so I’ve been doing that with a lot of my spare time this past week. It’s been really nice to be in a professional(ish) kitchen again, and have the whole array of tools and fun things that go along with that! So yes, I’ve been cooking and baking my ass off for the past week, and, today, got home, made some lovely beef-guinness stew (the bar owner had to get rid of the Guinness keg, and gave me the last 2 liters!!) It turned out really well, and since it’s a lovely day outside, what better way for me to spend it in the kitchen!?!? Banana bread is in the oven now, and It’s making my apartment smell lovely.
Speaking of lovely weather, it’s supposed to be mid-70’s and sunny all this week. I can’t wait!! Karen and I are planning on picnic-ing later on this week, and I’m prolly gonna sunburn my ass off. Hope everyone is doing well!!
-seany

is this the real life? or is this just fantasy?

So yes, I don’t think that I have a real job. I also don’t know how German students learn anything. Basically, I have the easiest schedule in the world, and lets face it, I don’t do much, professionally. I have a 3-day weekend every week, and I work 12 hours per week. Not exactly time consuming, or using a ton of brainpower. So, in addition to the long vacations, I also have classes cancelled on me all the time, which would be enjoyable if I knew about them before I showed up at school, and if I actually had something else with which to fill up my time. So today, I was talking with the head of the English dept, and she mentions to me casually that there aren’t any classes on weds and thurs this week, due to the fact that the graduating seniors have their oral exams both of these days. Lets count now: Sean’s workweek this week: 2 days. (all of 6 hours total) Sean’s upcoming weekend this week: 5 days. The following week is full, and then I have another 5 day weekend because of Pentecost. Not that I’m ever going to complain about too much free time, but… jeez! When do these kids learn!?!?
In other news, this past weekend was a BLAST! I performed at a huge gala event thingy in the city this weekend called “Pop Meets Classic,” which is apparently a huge annual event. I sang with the choir from my school, a few fun classical pieces, and then we sang some lovely German and American pop songs (just imagine hearing “man in the mirror” with a German accent!!) if you can’t imagine it, please scroll down to the “polkaface” video below. Thanks. I had a great time fooling around onstage, and hanging out backstage with a bunch of the local musicians, and kids from my school. They seemed to be fascinated by the fact that I’m a teacher, but I’m also a real person!! It was nice bursting their happy little pre-conceived notions about teachers, and how they’re supposed to live outside school (apparently not at all!) I got a bunch more kids interested in studying abroad, and coming to stammtisch, so hopefully that’ll translate into something actual. I also offered to help anyone who needed help with applications or advice on studying abroad, and shared some of my experiences with living around the world and the states. It was, to me, the perfect example of what I’m here for- to represent my culture in a non-classroom setting, and show the Germans something other than the simpsons and desperate housewives. All in all, great weekend! Ended up last night going out with a few of them to the pub, where I ran into a couple other friends, and had a blast that ran far too late into today. It was definitely naptime this afternoon!