European Tour III

Greetings from Germany!

I hope everyone is doing fantastic! I am doing well and adjusting. I have joined the football coaching staff at Bamberg High as like a student intern type of situation. It has been a really rewarding experience already. We started working and kids seem to listen me, and stuff I don't know, I at least fake really well :). It has been awesome. I think the coach is going to let me work with the defense. I hope it continues to be a rewarding experience. I am already deciding how I would coach and teach my students if I ever decide to coach in high school. 

My roommates in Germany are all really awesome and we are having fun hanging out and getting to know one another. We have had some fun times already, we went out to the Bamberg festival on Thursday night and sampled some of the breweries around. The beer was fantastic. But don't worry Mom, it was all under control. We can't go crazy, because we live in such a small American community, so if we want to go party somewhere, we have to leave Bamberg, otherwise we will see our students out at the pubs and clubs. A) That is really weird B) It is apparently a norm.. I am trying to decide what else I can help out with, as I will probably be living at the school once it starts. 

I started staff inservice last week. It was extremely... interesting? The school is really laid back, and very low key. There is no official attendance policy and the school said something like expecting to lose 50-60 kids just in the first semester. This is just mind-blowing to me. But it makes sense because of the military lifestyle.  The school is highly diverse and we are actually going through an accreditation process. It is going to be an intense year. I hope I am able to handle it OK. Keep praying for me, like I know you all will. My first day of school as a teacher is Monday! I am slightly nervous, but I am ready. I have been told to not expect much of kids doing work and maybe that is the case, but I will expect a lot from them. I hope it isn't false optimism.  I am now finding my way around Bamberg and base easily, so that has been a relief. I have bought groceries and find the like "Wal-Mart."  I haven't really been as sad as I was in the first couple of days. I am hoping that as I get busier, I won't have time to think about everyone back home.. but every once in awhile.... 

I do miss you all dearly but don't worry. I am also keeping my room relatively clean and fixing meals on a regular basis. My phone is acting weird, and I don't really know how to put money on it, which is also frustrating. But hopefully, I will be able to do that soon. :) It's really frustrating calling somewhere, and having to figure out an automated service in German. It's funny though too. I just press buttons that I think are right... maybe one of these times I will get it right.  In fact, the two other guys and myself in the apartment have fixed or will be fixing meals for the three ladies on a regular basis. And! I have found a lindy-hop exchange in Munich! (Swing dancing for those who aren't familiar) I am super pumped for it, and I am going to go to the dance! I am going to email the people and try to figure out where it is Munich. Hopefully I get an answer.

I will post a couple of pictures soon of Bamberg. As a history person, It is really awesome being in a town that is older than your entire country! I love it. The people are really nice, especially when you make an effort to embrace their culture. We are headed back to the festival tonight. It should be an absolute blast. OH! Funny story. On Thursday in downtown Bamberg, we ran into this GIGANTIC line and immediately, I thought, that it was for one of the local breweries. It wasn't. Everyone, the line was for kettle corn. Kettle corn! It was literally backed up three blocks! Are you kidding me? Kettle corn is OK, but am I waiting three city blocks for popcorn?! No way!... kind of really funny. 

I miss you and I promise, eventually I will get an address for everyone. I love you all! 

Welcome To Europe II

Hello all! 

I hope everyone who is wanting to read this is getting a chance too. It has been quite the transition here in Germany, and I am still not officially moved into an apartment yet. Kind of a big bummer. Oh well, I am sure that it will happen soon. I am trying to keep positive. 

Friday and Saturday I toured around Bamberg to try and familiarize myself with the city. And so far, I think I have done an O.K. job. I now know where a bunch of famous landmarks are and a bunch of really good beir gartens... and yes that is the correct spelling. I haven't sampled them all yet, but hopefully we will get to as the semester passes on. I am still trying to accustom myself to all of the wurst... if you know what I mean. The german people sure do like their sausage. Also pretty neat to talk about, there was a blues and jazz festival this entire week in the downtown area and I went to listen to some songs. Apparently Jazz and Blues includes Mariachi Bands.. I think someone needs to remind the Germans about what Blues and Jazz really are.  Also, I had a small victory the other day, I was able to find a grocery store and buy some fresh fruit, always positive. I know you were all worried about wether or not I was going to be able to find my way to food... don't worry. It took no time whatsoever. On Saturday,  I actually went downtown by myself and tried to get lost and find my way back to the bus station. It worked and I did.. on all accounts. It was kind of stressful, but kind of fun too. Apparently there is a castle around here somewhere, I am going to find it and explore it. That is the goal for this weekend. 

We start staff in-service this week, really exciting. I get to meet my teacher for the first time this Monday.  I am also going to help out with the football team (American) and coach, at least for as long as it doesn't interfere with my studies.  For those of you who don't know, I coached soccer for a long time in Kirksville and absolutely loved it. So I am hoping that this will be a great experience for me too.  School starts sometime next week, so keep me in your prayers as I get headed into the first day of school.

I have been having some struggles with the adjustment of  Germany, but I want to let you all know that I feel like this is going to change me in a way I could never understand.  This morning was especially tough, and sleep hasn't been easy. But today I was led to the story of Jonah. And I know that when I had read it before, it was always about the big fish eating Jonah, and I never paid attention to the rest of the story. Basically Jonah, ignores the call of God, God smacks him around, and Jonah goes to do great things. And after being smacked around, I am now realizing that I have had to rely on God more than ever, and he is definitely challenging me to become the best person I can possibly be. Your continued prayer and support is greatly appreciated. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts. Email is greatly encouraged! And as soon as I get an address, I will let you all know. I love you all! 

Robert 

Welcome to Europe

Hello All! 

I hope this post finds everyone well. I must confess that this is a new experience for me. I mean the idea of a blog in which everyone can actually see what is going on in my life? Awesome. The wonders of technology. 

I am going to try and keep at least a weekly/bi-weekly deal, especially with the writings about how I am doing in Europe. Hopefully that way I won't interrupt busy lives with useless posts about how terrible the chiefs will be this season. And I will also try and keep the European stuff under the same title. That way, everyone can get to it really easy and keep track of what is going on from the very beginning. This is such an exciting opportunity. 

Couple of ground rules/house keeping stuff

1) I love you all. Thanks for all the wonderful support. I know the prayers helped immensely. (more to come on that later) Please keep me in your thoughts and continue to give me support, it helps out more than you will ever know! 

 

2) Steven. DO NOT take all my stuff to Mizzou. I swear if I come back and my wardrobe is cleared out, I am personally coming down to Columbia to have words. (j/k- take all you want)

3) Mom, PLEASE, PLEASE do not edit this... I will try to keep mistakes to a minimum. I promise. (J/K- please edit it if you feel the need, I will be editing the entire time anyway) 

4) I haven't really figured out the posting for you all yet, so I don't think that I will pay attention to that too much. No offense to you all, but I don't think I would keep too much track of the comments on my post. If you really want to get a hold of me, please send me an email. I check that way more often, and am more likely to respond. The purpose of this is to just fill people in. Which is what I now intend to do:

The beginning... (Epic Hero Music- I am thinking Star Wars) 

First things first. The flights went really well. I left the States around 9:15PM. I was able to  make all of my connections and arrived in Bamberg shortly after 10:00 PM here... (I am about seven hours ahead over here, so about 3:00 PM (CST) in the states) Anyways, the flights were really good, especially the one from St. Paul to Amsterdam. My mom and my brother wrote me letters which really spoke to me at that exact moment. Steven, at 3 Am this morning on the flight, I laughed out loud at some of the quotations you put into the letter. Fantastic. And Mom, I can't tell you how appreciative of I was of your encouraging words. Really, nothing to exciting happened until I got of the plane in Nuremberg. You know, you never really realize how little you know until your staring at a map of Nuremberg, in German mind you, wondering how the heck your supposed to get from the "Fluegzeugan (sp?) to the main train station and catch the main train to Bamberg.  At that exact moment, every fear and doubt about this trip came rushing to the forefront of my mind. Those constant whispers from the evil one saying "your not good enough" and "time to give up" were really starting to gain a footing. And to be honest, I was scared to death. I kept thinking to myself. "What am I supposed to do now? What if I am not good enough?" I was literally frozen with fear and it took a small act of God to get me moving again.  Well I did it, but not without the help of some great and wonderful people.

Tonight could have been a lot worse for me. However, (and this is how I know God is real) the people praying for me and sending me their support was an absolute blessing because at every instance when I was about ready to lose it and go into full-fledged panic mode, God sent someone or something to remind me of his power and glory. In Nuremberg, something made me calm down and think clearly. I asked myself- what would Jesus do in this situation. I know that seems corny sometimes, but literally it became clear. I knew I had to rely on the kindness of Germany. With that thought in my head, for the first time, I noticed directions to an information booth where two lovely women helped me get situated and on the right track... literally... to get to the Nuremberg train station. They even helped me understand what train I needed to get on. It was awesome. But it doesn't stop there, I get of the subway at the train station and am trying to find my train to Bamberg, when an older gentlemen asks me if I speak English and directs me to the right place. Just to let everyone, know, he came up to me. (I am thinking the look of panic came back and at that exact moment, God sent an angel to direct me).  I make it to Bamberg and literally take twenty minutes to decide whether or not I should risk the base or go directly to hotel. Problem was, I didn't know where the hotel was, and I was having a heck of a time figuring it all out on my own. I decided to catch a cab to the main gate of the American base, only to end up having my cab leave me (forgot to tell him to wait, should have done that) and being denied access to the base, because no one was there to check me in. God, for the third time that day intervenes. Just as they were suggesting where I should go and while I was asking if it was in walking distance (a difficult task carrying my luggage), a cab comes from out of the base. The driver not only takes me to the hotel,  but makes sure that I have a room for the evening. He even waited to make sure I got into the hotel okay.  It was incredible. I find my room and literally fell asleep within minutes. 

It was such an incredible and humbling experience being lost and alone in Germany. Frankly, I could only rely on God and when I completely did that, he completely took control. I know he is with me because even this morning, when I woke at 4:30 in the morning and was feeling homesick, I was able to get a hold of my dad and was able to tell my family that I was safe. That made me feel way better,  And at near 10:00 when Dad should have been in bed, he sat on the phone an extra five minutes in order to give me that boost of confidence that I needed to make it through this day. Thank you for that Dad. Those extra minutes helped me regain composure and look at the challenges and opportunities awaiting me. It meant a heck of a lot to me. 

It means a heck of a lot to me that my family and friends have been so supporting as well. The prayers and support sent to me were so incredibly awesome. Thank you all so much and please continue it for me. 

Well, I think that that about wraps it up. Hopefully today, I will be able to get on base and into my apartment and find some food at some point :) I miss and love you all.  Please keep in touch!  

Email- rns733@gmail.com 

Base Address to Come Soon