The weekend!

On Friday I had a nice quiet night in. Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to head over to Senior School to help out with the Cross Country Race. Every Fall BBS hosts other international schools from all over Germany. Everybody comes and all of the students participate in a 2k. Schools had come from places as far away as Frankfurt! There are awards given to the fastest girls and boys in each grade.

My job was to collect the 12 Year 4s who would be participating from BBS. I was supposed to keep them contained and get them to the starting line at the appropriate time. (easier said then done as they were all excited out of their minds and running around everywhere). I got them to the line and they took off... It was great except for the little girl who did a nose dive into the pavement. (but she picked herself up and ended up finishing the race!)These kids are crazy fast and it was only a few minutes later that they were huffing and puffing their way through the finish line.

This was a really cool way to spent my Saturday morning. The kids were all really excited and all of the parents and teachers were really involved. There was a bake sale and (of course) bratwurst on the grill.

Saturday night, myself and a few teachers went to the tacky little Oktoberfest set up at Alexanderplatz. The little bar stand had this sign above the window that read "Ficken 3euros" (If you don't know what ficken means google it. Heaven forbid I say bad words on the blog....) We were really curious as to what you received if you paid the three euros but we were all too chicken to ask. I didn't stay out too late and ended up heading home around 12:30.

On Sunday it was the 20th anniversary of the German Reunification Day and there was a big festival right by the Brandenburg Gate. I went and saw some street performers (a juggler, a crazy drummer lady, and strangely enough, some American Indians) There were food and craft vendors everywhere. The whole of Strasse des 17. Juni was blocked off and there was even a huge ferris wheel. A stage was set up with various bands and performances going on throughout the day. I walked around and listened to a few bands for a couple of hours and then decided to pop by Mauer Park on my way home.

Mauer Park is where the huge flea market and karaoke goes on every Sunday. I had a bratwurst and a Becks mit Lemon and listened to some really awful singing, before heading home to work on lesson plans.