Well, almost, that is. I am still waiting for the official certificate to arrive from Cambridge but I already know I have passed my CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults) Teacher Training Course and am quite happy with the result. I have finished the course itself and passed all of its components and have even been given a preliminary grade: a Pass B. Pass B is the second-to-best grade one can get after a Pass A, which only 2% of all participants ever get. I really wanted to get a Pass A and did my best, but for some very obvious and clear reasons I did not get it and agree I did not deserve to either.

The course itself was intense as well as intensive. It actually was a 4-week intensive course and was everything it promised to be. They had told me beforehand I would not have time for my private life but would be working 12 to 14 hours a day including weekends and they were right. I had initially thought I would be able to do it in less time because of my work experience but - even though I did not spend as much time on many things as others did - it was still heavier than expected. Which is obviously one of the reasons I have been relatively incommunicado for the last couple of weeks and I apologise to anyone I may have a) forgotten, b)harmed,
c) neglected or d) all of the above during this time, most of all Olaf of course.

A good indication of how intense it was is illustrated by the fact that I tended to wake up several times a night believing I was in a classroom without students, unable to find my elaborate lesson plan or simply unable to answer a question one of the students asked me. I am usually quite a sound sleeper and never wake up during the night, nor do I usually remember my dreams.

Intense though it may have been, I am very glad I decided to take this course. Though I did start off feeling much more comfortable in front of a class, with an excellent knowledge of grammar and some quite clear ideas about effective ways of managing a classroom, I found out I still had a lot to learn. It was very interesting to study some teaching methods I had not studied before and very useful to work on my classroom management skills. The course did not include a final examination but we were continually observed during the four weeks the course lasted. The regular feedback we received on the classes we taught, the observations we did and our participation in class were all particularly useful and I have the greatest of respect for the four teacher trainers that guided us through this process. Though most of it was not exactly difficult but did take a lot of effort, I have most definitely learnt a lot and am much more aware of the areas I still need to work on and how to avoid a number of 'traps' or difficult situations I used to walk right into and did not know how to prevent or avoid.

It is strange how being thrown together can also create bonds between people who did not know each other beforehand in a very short time. There were 15 of us trainee teachers and we were divided into 3 subgroups of 5 people we shared the groups we taught with. I really liked the other 4 people in my group and there was a very positive, supporting, constructively critical atmosphere all over. Most of the participants went their separate ways after the course, either back to their country of origin or on to greener pastures to try and find jobs as English teachers, but I was fortunate enough to meet some people who were actually staying in Berlin. My social life is Berlin is not that extensive yet and I welcome these new additions wholeheartedly. Bring on the good times!!

The first week after I finished my CELTA I got to do a lot of holiday substitutions, as well as to start up my own courses again, which meant I did not really get the time to relax and get up to speed again. I really enjoyed Lisa's visit last weekend, but that also meant important things such as updating this blog had to wait for just a little bit longer. This week is somewhat better though and I finally feel like I can breathe again - although I do fear a virus that has been lingering in my body has decided to take advantage of this situation to finally make me suffer a little bit. Oh well, I am just glad it did not do so any earlier.

We're going to Bavaria next week to tour the region for a couple of days and end up for a taste of the famous Oktoberfest with Jen, Massimo, Kate, Flora, Shruti, Gianni, Jules and some more Milan/Sardegna friends. I can't wait!!!

The Nile isn't just a river in Egypt

Ciao tutti,

It's been a while since my theological monologue so I suppose it's time for another update. But first things first. Here is a lovely picture of Cobie and Peter.

Don't they look cute together on our no longer very white couch? Unfortunately this is not going to be a long update because I am way behind on lots of things I have to do. Including updating my blog. So, I'll just stick to the basics and won't start monologuing again - although who knows what happens when I start writing!

Let's start with a little work update. I am a little less swamped this month because I'm trying to avoid another physical breakdown - seriously, I hadn't been ill since high school before last month, and even then it was usually just an excuse not to have to go to school. The last two weeks I've been testing my students at CTL and all of them who were present at the test passed which makes me happy. Mike, the director of studies at that company, is moving to Australia and I'm a bit sad to see him go. He's a nice guy, which is something I can't say for his replacement who is a big, fat, loud Italian with a fake American accent and a horrible use of English. Needless to say, I don't like this person very much but I'm professional enough not to let that get in the way of what needs to be done. And besides, he says he's going to talk to the boss to get us all CELTA courses (official international teaching qualification comparable to TEFL, usually between 1500 and 2500 euros) and seems to value my input and accept most of my suggestions. We'll see what will come of that. I've also started a new course with a woman I like very much, her name is Paola and she works for a cinematographic design firm although she's really an Italian teacher. Even though her lessons are at 9am twice a week, I'm enjoying them very much!

The weekend before last, Olaf went to Izmir for a conference which he enjoyed very much. I had deliberately kept this weekend to myself in order to be able to do some thinking and relaxing. And it was good. I'd really been looking forward to my own personal Pride & Prejudice marathon, which is a miniseries Olaf doesn't like very much even though it has much to be appreciated. On Saturday, I met up with Nina and Antonio and we went for a lovely aperitivo at Yguana where I'd never been before. After some good food and interesting conversations, we met up with Belinda and Melina at a live TRL concert at Piazza Duomo. The concert sucked but we enjoyed some cocktails in a far too expensive bar. The rest of the weekend I spent in bed, on the couch, working out and eating the way I like to eat. I love Olaf's cooking, but I sort of did miss my own traditional penne with red sauce. Belinda also asked me to be her 'Matron of Honour' for her wedding next week. I am obviously extremely honoured to do this and am very happy that Belinda considers me to be matron-like! No seriously, am I???

Last weekend was our free weekend (we keep one weekend a month to ourselves, that is without visitors, to be able to spend some quality time together as this still is the only time we get to see each other), so of course we planned lots of things with other people. On Friday we went to Mike's goodbye party, which also turned out to be Becks' (his wife's) birthday party. It was dress to impress but we didn't really want to dress up. So I wore my grey 70s porn trousers with a white shirt and a grey tie and Olaf wore his black trousers, a white shirt and a black tie. This way we looked like 'Jut and Jul' - for which there is no good English translation, as it turns out - and told people we were a Dutch proverb. There was a guy who had just come back from Russia and who had brought a gigantic bottle of vodka which really needed to be finished that evening. Obviously, I felt called upon and drank way too much. I got the scare of my life at that party when Caroline (my boss at Corporate English and a friend of Mike and Becks') walked in - she was dressed as a bum with a dirty beard, old glasses and was wearing this big raincoat. I didn't recognise her but then she walked up to me and suddenly opened her raincoat. Underneath she was wearing nothing but a small shirt and hotpants with a fake dick attached to it. I swear I almost puked right then and there. We obviously went home way too late and way too drunk. The next day we were invited to Astrid's birthday party in her oversized villa in Brescia, which her family apparently only uses once in a while. You can find more pictures on Olaf's weblog, I was just amazed and jealous. The party was lovely but I was still a bit hungover from the day before and we hitched a ride home with people at 10.30 pm. We tried to stay up for a little while when we arrived home but couldn't keep our eyes open anymore.

The view from Astrid's garden (on the outskirts of Brescia, near the Alps)

Astrid and her mother, a lovely woman and had done all the cooking herself

Olaf and me with Fernanda, one of Olaf's colleagues

The day after that Olaf spent the whole day in the kitchen preparing sushi for the both of us and for Felix and Annaig, two friends who were coming over that Sunday evening. Thus, our weekend to ourselves was filled with lots of people anyway.

April consists of too many public holidays which only cost me money (as I get paid by the hour, I don't get paid when I can't work because all companies are closed). First it was Easter, Tuesday is Labour Day (as far as I remember we used to work on Labour Day in Holland, but I'm not sure) and today it's Liberation Day. As a result of having so many public holidays close to each other, many people take the rest of the time off and go on a short holiday to enjoy the spring sun. Which means that many of my courses on the days between these holidays get cancelled and I don't get paid for those either! And seriously, why do the Italians needs a Liberation Day? In case this wasn't clear yet, this is the day when Italy celebrates their liberation from the Germans and fascists at the end of World War II. Apparently, the official version of history being taught in this country is that Italy was invaded by the Germans and fascists and liberated by the allied forces. That's not how I remember it from my history lessons... The Nile certainly isn't just a river in Egypt!!!!

Ciao, Fe

PS I'm going to be in Nijmegen the weekend of 12th and 13th May and I hope to see a lot of you then!