I´m loving it!

Thus far I haven´t gotten a chance to scribe something on the educational system/culture in Deutschland. I feel that wherever I travel I become a part of that culture embodying the tenets of success that that system produces. And now that I´ve done my undergraduate studies in 3 different countries, Trinidad, Canada and Germany, I feel that a life long ambition of mine is being accomplished.

So the things that I love:

Classes at the PH (abbreviated name for my uni in German, pronounced Pay-Ha)are most times no longer than 2 hours! And in fact an hour and a half because classes usually start 15 pas the hour and end 15 to the hour (to ensure learners get to class on time because in some cases another class may be a 12 min bike ride in town). I´ve been really appreciating this becasue the sessions are broken up into very manageable chunks- this I suppose favours meaningful learning instead of the having-to-cover-all-the-work-tendancy that my school tends to have.

In the german system, students attend classes to be able to cover modules. So over 4 years they are supposed to cover the eight modules. In each course, students have the option of receiving a testat, or schine. The testat is simply a certificate of attendance whereas to obtain the schine, one has to complete a presentation, or essay, or reflection or some type of evaluation. Some courses, like the ones I´m currently pursuing can be completed to obtain a Hauptseminar schine which essentially require an extensive 10-15 page research paper in order to be given the certificate. What´s interesting is that without having exams for courses, I feel that I can focus more on enjoying the cpontent and focus more on life long learning that regurgating facts in order to be awarded a grade. And so far, I´m loving it because I feel less anxious and focus more on what matters in a lecture-the work and not the exam.

The Classes at the PH are superbly engineered! Each class has HUGE windows that channel amaying natural light. Even the light panels have reflectors so that the light can be refracted to maximise light in the class. Therefore some class do not even need artificial lights. I love it!




Oh and the views are immaculate! Freibug is surrounded by the Schwarswald or Black Forest which is an immensely dense wooded mountain range that is almost omnipresent from any point within the town! Kinda reminds me of Trinidad where the mountains seemingly were guardians protecting me from the nefarious North Coast.



German students though sit generally two exams in all of their university life. After completing say Module 4, they sit a general exam where they are required to synthesize what they have been learning for the last 2 years! And at the end of their 4 or 5 years (or 8th and 10th semester) having consumed theory and learnt how to apply it, write a 10 page critical reflection of a very broad topic. It could be anything form promoting literacy amongst low achieving students to comparing two theories of intercultual communicative competences. This explained by my friend´s roomate over sushi, could be stressful because you are required to to be competent in identifying critical theories and know how to apply them to real world scenarios. I find this AMAZING because it has always been something that completely intrested me. I mean I´ve enjoyed rereading my research papers because they´ve been my little genius on paper but I mean being given the opportunity to bring together a little of everything that i´ve studied for the last 4 years into one single paper would be ASTOUNDING!!!

At the end of classes, students knock knucles on the tables to signal the end of a lecture session. INTEERESTING!!! LOL

Maybe not representative of all Germany but in most of my classes I find that I´m being exposed to hot off the press research! Like papers where you see (Schocker 2011) bhind it! In all of my career at York, I have never had this up to date research. Reasons being perhaps that there isn´t such an emphasis on research within undergraduate classes, some professors are office occupiers or I just don´t know what! In one class, I was astonished to see how well my German peers were able to spit out theories that they had previously learned. If i were to do that at York or even UWI I wonder how many stuednts would be even capable of doing such! Is our system not meeting this objective? What are we doing wrong? Is our system to exam oriented?

I love that I´m being exposed to very different theory like German ones! Too often, professors on my side of the world are only competent in the Queen´s language and the results are that it locks us out of the rest of the world.


AND the things that drive me nuts!

Lack of wireless coverage on the entire campus!

Profs here don´t distribute printed course outlines on the first day of class. At York, it´s mandatory! Each outline gives you an idea of what will be taught in each class, the assignments to complete, their weightings, expectations etc. Call me spoilt but hey it really does organize me as a learner.

Having lived on campus for the last 4 years at York,I know the extent at how long some restaurants open! At the Mensa (or cafetaria) it opens at 11 but closes at 3! And on that note, I CANNOT STAND STUDENT SERVICE HERE!!!!! Everything is opened for like 2 hours in a day! So if I had to get a document from a faculty secretary, she would only be availbale for 2 hours in the day!! GRRRRR!


All in all though the positives outweigh the bad ones so I´m happy! In a lot of ways I´m loving the fact that my education is not commercialised! That I´m not a client only there to fill spot! And though it´s ironic that my title echoes the McDonaldsization of the world, I´m still loving it!

And I´m hungry for more!



B

Branded?

One aspect of my stay here in Deutschland is to objectively observe the people and how they interact with each other. What I'm about to share with the world is not anything read from books but solely based on what my eyes and ears have captured since my arrival of less than 3 weeks ago.

As a modern educator, or having the hopes of becoming one, one important aspect of my professional being is to be able to instruct ANYONE despite their abilities, incapabilities, hue, socio-economic background et al. However, I have to confront my personal biases and expunge them if I am to embolden others to do the same.

So for instance, should I have a scornful attitude toward Guyanese when I go to the market to purchase produce,blaming them for inflated prices? Or should I take the Mickey out on all Nigerians, mocking them or their 'funny' accent? Should I still promulgate the stereotype that blonde topped girls will always be dumb? Is every single Jamaican violent?

So, having prefaced my proceeding rant, I may as well just speak my mind.

I've observed a tendency by Germans, irrespective of age, gender or social standing to 'turn up dey nose' or throw 'cut eyes' to people whom I've come to realize are of Turkish lineage. Scornful eyes pierce their darkened features relegating them to the peripheries of Germany's social space. It's an arduous task to translate the feelings of discomfort I felt as my heart sunk to deep, dark ebbs.

Funny enough, these kids who entered the strassebabahn (tram) and into my memory seemingly were en route to cash in what potentially could have been their only bite between sun-up and sun-down. You see they were laden with empty plastic bottles (and my guess being)to redeem them at a local grocery store in exchange fro 10cents a piece. With that meagre earning, it might permit them to walk away from the grocer's with some pasta or rice, a cucumber and some pesto maybe, not sufficient enough though for a quality cut of chicken or beef.

Loud and vivacious, they were creating a bustle of klacks and klicks and bellyful bouts of laughter, much to the displeasure of the predominantly prim and proper ridership.

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So while purposefully escaping reality while on the tram by transfering my thoughts on paper, a pleasant looking older couple enters. With them, a kid is accompanying- too young, I assume to be their's, maybe though, the playful Easter gift dropped off for the weekend by the elderly pair's posterity.

Between the kid and I, our eyes collide.

And within no more than three heartbeats, he flicks his hand pointedly toward me. Immediately the feamale kin puts her aged hands over his and regulates the situation. Ensuing the gesture of mere ignorance,I assume, (due to my lack of German)she gives him an impromptu lesson on diversity, equity, privilege and manners.

Oddly enough, today I don a t-shirt with the inscription:

"I am not a target for hate"

...and so are not the bottled children or the one loved by the two elderly persons or the person/persons whose eyes will read this.

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Homecoming

The proceeding poem is the format I chose to share this intense emotion of excitement with you on receiving the opportunity to go to France!

Homecoming

(Funny enough while writing this, a song that I love was playing on the radio. I suggest you play it while the poem is being recited.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZXjuka1VYI&feature=related


As feet descended upon earth,
Frenzied thoughts gushed internally,
Homecoming?

I was adopted not by my mother tongue
But by another one almost nearly 150 months ago.
She taught me how to express myself differently
With dignity and pure ecstasy, linguistically.

She opened up to me a world scarcely unearth by my fellow islanders
Never had I been to her home,
Dreams though slipped into reality, finally!

From tomes of consumed pages
Came an understanding of how they dress,
How they articulate, how they are recognized,
How they’ve colonized, ostracize, alphabetize

Others on site may or may not notice,
But I am like them? Right?
No second guessing!
You are.

No passport though, does that dictate my me?
I could probably expatiate theoretically the lingua franca
Or even better the literature, the food, I’ve an idea.
Lost, if I were, my words could compass me to desired destinations.

Tingly inside, I eaves drop tête-a-têtes ,
Listening and laughing
Learned I did, so hence.

I live in the light presently,
German worlds darken my light,
Because I don’t have their light,
here shines brightly My light
I have sight, from my tongue and lips and vocal chords et al

The people love me,
I do as well, since I met mom so long ago.
My navel string reconnects to the earth,
I’m home,

Finally.

In the FULLNESS of time

Of late, I've been in my scribing zen! CAUTION: watch out world, extreme creativity is imminent!

So a common thread that has been holding together several WOW moments of my stay here has been this whole concept of time! On days like this, I would evoke a whirlwind of thought to blow into perspective everything that has happened thus far.

17 minutes is the average time it takes for me to leave Littenweiler, the name of my town where the school is to reach to downtown Freiburg (where all the cool canals are). I enjoy tramming it there because you see the uninterrupted livelihood of German folks! The clothes that wear them, the buildings they inhabit, the innocence of their children, or even the love between older couples who I've realized travel much more often than their peers in my home country.

1 & 3/4 weeks is the total time that I have been here. Prior to my departure from Toronto, the sappy person that I am, I, like an expert fish catcher, reeled in several goals that I wanted to take out of this experience and one of them being to amass as much German as I can. Truthfully, I failed my German course last year, because I dropped it! However, now that I'm here, I'm being given a second chance to redeem myself. Shout out to my dad, who, one day encouraged me to pick up more languages! [DAD I would never forget what you said]

40 minutes is the time I took on Sunday morning to simply spend quality time with my Maker. Pressed play on some of my best soul calming music, meditated on some key lines from the latter part of Ephesians 1, and made a list of things I wanted to pray about. It's not surprising that merely 4 hours later, one of them was answered. I implore you, with your time, to spend more, on God! :)

Last summer was the time when,not having a US visa in time or not having a good enough resume,a teaching internship at Columbia Uni slipped right through my fingers and my chance at an internship to Greece was averted. It's OK, I accepted that it wasn't my turn then. Only if back then, I could have seen a glimpse of my now, having a blast in this wonderful place and on a prestigious scholarship studying the subject that launched me into the international scene, I would have been less disappointed. I echo my own words: our disappointment is God's divine appointment.

Weeks (I refuse to be precise for this one) I've been trying to finish 2 outstanding essays for a French class that I took prior to coming here. Between, planting my navel string in Freiburg, course selections, absorbing the German language, marathon-ing (yup i just coined a word)around to organize my student card, registration, contract signing and the like, I've had no time to actually concentrate on writing something, I quite frankly 1) don't care about and 2)is so arduous to grasp. Have I resigned myself to failing a course, so that I can for a long time spend a half hour at the Titisee lake on a lazy Sunday afternoon or take a walk with newly made friends in the Black Forest, or have a meal prepared for me by a funny, Finnish friend, or enjoy a glass of champagne with some Brie and honey to celebrate the good times a friend's mom had while reconnecting with her daughter, or simply enjoying a 80cent ice cream cone beckoning summer to arrive? I don't know but we will see...

21 years ago, my grandmother succumbed to cancer (well more like to the train over to heaven to finally behold her Love), but before she did, wrote upon my life that I would be hardworking. As much, as I may try to deny it, I overwork myself! I cannot do things halfheartedly,( hence my prolonged time in trying to draft the insipid papers). While in a back to earth, feet in air, face to sky moment on the edge of a lake, I promised to myself that I would have more down time moments! A summer resolution it was indeed! Thinking about it, I spend 15 hours working my 3 jobs per week, 21 hours a week in classes or teaching and the other couple thousands of seconds dedicated to volunteering. If Christ rested after wording into being the world, then who am I?

And finally,(no pun intended! Did you get it? let me know in a comment if you did LOL) it's been 12 going on 13 years that I've been attempting to master the French language. And as I scribe this, my heart is smiling because of the excitement bubbling within me! Today, I, with a dozen others are heading over to Strassbourg, France for a day packed with sightseeing goodness, fun museums, Alsatian cuisine and French speaking wonderment! A dream fulfilled is about to occur as I've never really spent quality time on the soil of the people and language that I've come to call my own! Words cannot even describe how I feel! Can't wait to share my experiences with yall!

So I leave with this thought for you to nibble on! No matter how long it may take, or how much years it will take to repay your student debt, or how far-fetched your dreams may be, sucker punch doubt, depression, fear in the face, take back your dignity and with chin up, an ear to ear smile, and a heart of gratitude, walk into your destiny.



Heart smiling,

B

Hodge Podge of Goodness

So within the span of less than 24 hours I had been air chauffeured from Toronto to London to Switzerland to France and then from France to Germany-where I currently will be residing for the next four months of my life.

I am excited! (to say the least)

Funny fact before I spill the thoughts speeding in my brain! Arriving in Switzerland then simply walking to the other side of the airport (like literally 30 footsteps across unto French soil) was simply mind blowing for me. It was a particularly exhilarating moment of pleasure for me since by now you understand that my blog is about global citizenry. I transcended borders merely in seconds!

Ok so here are the experiences, sounds, smells, thoughts, fulfilled dreams, shocks, people that I’ve encountered thus far:

Swiss Besel Airport, French immigration officers who loved Ato Bolden, pizza making machine in France, everyone riding bikes, mountains and many of them, cool bus driver from Airport into Freiburg, tram station nightmare, no Deutsch, at the last station having a finger conversation with the conductor of the tram about me wanting to pay his fare, he let me off saying not to bother paying, being lost at the PH( which is short for my school’s name), being lost behind some parking lot and a familiar face, David shouting out my name welcoming me, watching the mountains from his balcony, getting my keys to my flat, meeting Johannes the director of the International office, bringing chocolate chips, baking soda and vanilla essence for Clara in his office, meeting friends from Slovenia, Luxembourg, a German speaking Colombian,a really nice Sweedish room mate who bakes, a library that once was a concert hall, milk for 29 cents, cheeses galore, hearing about some libraries being so vast that librarians need a tricycle to get around, cream cheese and toast for breakfast, bank PINs 15 numbers long (to avoid identity theft i hear), course selection where you have to email your prof and ask to be enrolled, train rides through the mountains, a lake that is surrounded by lush mountains,no food spicy enough for my adoration, 80cent ice cream cones,chilly evenings, though fragrant with the scents of nocturnal blossoming flowers, people staring at you unashamedly, maybe because I look good/have dreads/speak English with a cool accent/am one of the few Black persons you see per square mile, offices being opened only for 4 hours of the working day, beer with sprite in it, having the option of getting beer instead of a coke with combos at restaurants, beautiful cemeteries, pollen gingerly dancing in the wind, a friend's room mate who sort of like his mother ensures that he does everything right-thing is she doesn't speak an ounce of comprehensible English (frustrating much),bikes, bikes and more bikes, the silent roar of a train every half hour or so, a stone's throw away from my window, windows that open downwards,shopping at the grocery store where images are your guide in what to buy instead of the language, inviting my four friends who accompanied me to that adventure to the grocery, those four guests turning into an all out cook out-potluck style, me and my new friends liming out at the pond till ridiculous hours in the morning amusing ourselves with song and stories and satisfying food!

These are but a few of the things I've experienced thus far...my hope is that you may vicariously enjoy them as well!

Alles klar!

B

Thinking Aloud

In less than 72 hours I will be saying hi from another location in the world! How intense is it to fathom the fact that people move beyond borders completely immersing themselves into something that they've never been into, seen, smelt or ever discovered! I sent a futuristic welcome message to a pal of mine who was to arrive at the destination in which i will be spending the next four months of my life! Kinda cool huh?

Anyhoo, couple things are resonating within me that I believe should be thought aloud.

1) Never underestimate the power of words! In my case, they have been like secret injections that have cured my insecurities, doubts, loneliness and other not-so-good-things! My mother spoke to me almost everyday this past week her words blanketed my fears and reassured me that everything was going to be fine. My sister eloquently planted the seeds of encouragement when she said "Delayed but not denied!". Or my dad saying that EVERYTHING will work out in your favor! I kid not these seemingly minor exhortations have carried me through many high waters.

2) Keeping being you! While attending a Trini event last night, I had a friend disclose how much I've impacted her life. [picture me holding my hands over my mouth....with the usual expression of OMG LOL Brendon] WHOAAA! She had said that she was inspired because of how inspirational i was! What did I do?
**I be me!**
That's what I say. Aim high, Dream big, Laugh jovially, forgive often, and sing your vocal chords out when stressed!

3) Have faith! What is faith? i think the Bible does justice when it defines it to mean the evidence of things hoped for, for those things that are unseen! My evidence was feelings, words, joy, loyalty and the like! A friend of mine, over some Japanese dinner asserted that faith loves the fearless. I acquiesce.

As I embark on this portion of my destiny, I shout from the mountain top, a great THANK YOU to all the people who've stolen a piece of my heart! Too many to name but you know who you are. To the people who've played instruments of encouragement, my song goes out to you. May it be sung over dancing, smiling, warmth and a good glass of Merlot! :)

Words that walk...

In life [clearly from these initial scribblings this is going to be a philosophical one] it is often said that sticks and stones may break some bones but words will never hurt you. I concur [clearly]. However, words detonate endorphins on reserve to make life more livable.

Life is like a subway station [like the one I'm on presently] it stops at each stop where passers-by enter your life and they exit, opportunities do so as well, they though [are like the sponge from my headphone that just fell on the floor of the train tossing and turning at each skillful manoeuvre of the train] not frequent are sometimes difficult to secure.

I choose to listen to the wholesome whisperings of friends that have become family. What I will doodle for the next minute [or so, though really I'm trying to have a page a done before I arrive at Donsview station] have been those lyrics either spoken, song, blogged or scribbled by others I consider kin.

[Trying to remember them now!] " Release me, release my body, cause I'm not able to release myself" mouthed musically by Agnes. For some reason it [the song] makes me happy. It is a normal ol' song but it has a killer rhythm that makes my soul dance! it is also an arrow in a target reminder of a new friend I made, Graham, who I've come to appreciate as a good friend who, in a low time; once said "With your personality and charisma, you can do it ! How come? Don't they know how awesome you are! [internally smiling]

Next up " Brendon, you're a visionary, that's why i hired you, there's an energy that you bring to a team and it's infectious!" Well maybe not as contagious as Lady Gaga's Alejandro chart topper [and by the way have you not seen her new video: CAUTION there's copious gender bending with sprinkles of marching band madness!!!] There was a tingling feeling of contentment when my now former Residence Life Coordinator spoke into my life the above mentioned words. Indeed I am a visionary. Next Stop? Marathon runner! ;)

On another note, my BBM status "my disappointment is God's divine appointment" and added to that" there are many plans in a man's heart but it's God's purpose that prevails" [my stop is like one minute away or maybe two! Go to wrap it up! Ready?]

[With an air of unknowing contentment],
I did not get the Greek internship...

B