A few significant things have happened since the last time I posted. First and foremost, I took the FSOT (Foreign Service Officer Test) in Frankfurt a week ago. The test was at 1:30, so I had to leave my apartment in Hannover at 8:30 in order to get to the train station and then take a train to Frankfurt. Rather than pay €4 to reserve a seat on the train, I figured that I would take my chances. Bad choice. The train was completely full, and people were standing everywhere. That was not an incredibly pleasant 3 hour train ride. Once I got to Frankfurt I had some lunch and then figured out how to get to the Consulate. I approached the Consulate (which was of course completely gated, with armed guards) and tried to figure out which entrance to try first. I finally found the correct one, and they took my passport and Driver’s license after I went through a metal detector. I received a visitor’s badge that stated I needed an escort at all times. We finally got to the testing center, and the first question that I had to answer was: ”Who was the first Native American Senator?” I failed to mention that this test was not multiple choice. At this point I was thinking that I had no shot. I should get the results in 6-8 weeks, so we’ll see what happens.
I finally got a new schedule at school because a new semester started a few weeks ago. I guess I am more pleased with it than what I had last semester. I am working with more upper level classes, but I am still with that class and teacher I despise. I am not sure how that will work out, but I only have another 4 months and then I’m done, so I can finish without any problems.
This whole week I’ve been sick. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and he said I have strep and bronchitis. Sounds like a good combination. I haven’t had to teach the past few days because of a doctor’s note, but I will definitely be back to school on Monday.
Now that it is already late February, I have really started to think about what I am going to do once I am done here in Germany. Do I stay another year? If I do stay then I will definitely not be doing the Fulbright program again. I would look for a job (preferably not teaching English) maybe near Frankfurt. I’d like to stay, but in this job market, who knows. Otherwise I will be back in the USA on the 24th of June, and I will just have to hope that I can find a job or internship while I’m there. We’ll see what happens, and any suggestions are of course appreciated!!
3 years ago