Filipinos Learning German

I posted in my previous article that we have a Facebook group for this purpose. But in this post, I wanted more to motivate my kababayans who are struggling in learning this language.

Because German language is one of the requirements when applying for long-term visa to Germany, a lot of my fellow Filipinos find learning this language difficult or stressful. But my dear kababayans, wag kayong matakot at mawalan ng pag-asa. Pinagdaanan ko din lahat ng pinagdaanan nyo and I am proud to say, medyo bihasa ko na ang lenggwaheng ito. I was even able to land 2 jobs in customer service for German-speaking countries. Kaya kung kinaya ko, alam kong kayang kaya nyo din!

Eto ang mapapayo ko para sa inyo:

• Manood ng mga children's programs. Nung bago ako dito sa Germany, naging habit ko na ang manood ng Sendung mit der Maus. During holidays, lalo Christmas season, may mga fairy tale movies din sa ARD and ZDF, so pinapanood ko din yun. Ngayon na uso ang Netflix at Amazon Prime Video, kung nasa Germany na kayo, try to watch animes and other cartoons AUF DEUTSCH. Mukhang mahirap intindihin sa una, but in due time, you'd be surprised, tatawa na din kayo sa mga scenes.
• Magbasa ng mga blogs, news articles, story books in German. Still a beginner? Then try children's books. Madaming children's books sa Amazon. Medyo asa B1 level na kayo? Check mga teenager books or mga chick lit sa Amazon. They are all easy readings for you.
• Practice speaking. Join groups gaya ng Facebook group namin, at maghanap ng tandem partner among members. Create chat groups with fellow Filipinos learning the language at dun magpractice magsalita. But still, best practice pa din ang makipag-usap with Germans in German. They can help you with the pronunciation pati na din kung ano ang tamang word na gagamitin in every situation. Kalimutan ang hiya, I'm telling you, Germans are very proud and they will love you if they hear na you are exerting effort to learn the language. They will be very happy to help you with your journey in mastering the language.

The only secret in mastering this language is continuous use of it. Hindi mo maaattain ang fluency na gusto mo kung sa loob lang ng classroom mo ito ginagamit.

By the way, I am open in helping you too in learning the language. I used to offer tutorial but due to health reasons, itinigil ko muna eto. Pero kung may demand, baka mag-offer uli ako in the near future. For now, I am open to checking your writings, and to practice speaking in German with you. Just look for me sa FB group (link above).

Where Are The Filipino Bloggers in Germany?

Out of boredom on a Sunday evening, I scrolled down the list of expat bloggers who are living in Germany. I am in search of Filipinos out there, but sadly, I only found 3 blogs: my blog, a medical student's and a mother. I am not sure if it is because the number of Filipino members in Expat-Blog is so small compared to those who came from US of A, or because there are really a small number of Filipino bloggers who are living in Germany.

If you are a Pinoy and is living in Germany, would you care to tell me which forum can I find you?

Autumn Fun

We are not really sure, but it is possible that this weekend is the last time we can enjoy the sun with aa temperature of 20 degrees Celsius! So we took the chance and had fun outside.

Independence

Few days ago, I had a talk with my mom. She asked me the usual stuffs we talk about when we chat: how I and my husband are, what is the weather here, the weather in the Philippines, my dear dog and our upcoming vacation. Then I told her I have to cut our chat time short because there are lots of stuff I have to do since we were out of town for three days. Then came this old talks that I am not sure whether I would be grateful of or would piss me off.

Mom: I bet you got lots of clothes to wash.
Me: Yes, and I have to clean the house too.
Mom: Don't force yourself to finish everything today. That is one of my worries here.
Me: Mom, you have nothing to worry here. First of all, I just have to dump the clothes in the machine and wait for it. Secondly, the apartment is not too big that I'd tire myself to death. I think it'll only take me 30 minutes cleaning up.
Mom: When yo start working and I am already there, everything would be easier for you again just like when you were here.
Me: Thanks, ma. But really, everything is okay and my husband is not that sensitive and OC.

I am grateful that up to this time, my mom thinks of me and how she can make things light for me. But honestly, I had enougj of it. I love my independence now. I love that I can cook for myself and for my husband, that I feel more responsible when it comes to cleanliness and order of our house. I have learned to wake up early to ensure my husband's coffee is ready. These stuffs that I experience for the first time makes me totally happy.

I did not come from a rich family, for I am afraid some people would think I am due to my lazy past. The reason why for 27 years, I have never done much of household chores was due to my health. My mom was so afraid that if she forces me to do stuffs, I'd end up having heart aches (literally) or asthma attack. Therefore, she did everything for me. The times when I do chores, such as cleaning the house and waxing and scrubbing the floors, it always end up me being scolded instead of being praised nor thanked for. My mom allows me to help but only for a very short time and she would send me somewhere for errands. We had fought a lot of times over this method of hers, because I have seen my classmates having their own responsobilities at home while I do not have any.

When I left for training in the year 2008, I experienced independence for the first time. It was so great. I felt healthier than ever. I felt more grown up. Hence I told myself, it is now time for my mom to enjoy her days, she does not have to serve me anymore. I am no longer that sickly girl she used to take care of. I am already a grown up woman. But when I went back to the Philippines, it went back to how it was before I left. When I told her I wanted independence, it hurt her and thought that I do not need her anymore. It hurt me more because it is not what I really want! Until a colleague became my boyfriend (who is now my husband). I finally have a reason to give mom a rest from serving me. When we got married, I will be leaving the country and live with my husband in Germany and finally, my dream of independence shall be fulfilled!

True enough, we got married, I moved here and I am enjoying a lot of independence. But my mom still thinks I am still her little girl and would want to move here too to do again what she used to do. I know I am lucky that I have my mom and she is so thoughtful and sweet. But it is already time for her to pamper herself, to enjoy her life and be secured that I can take care of myself and my own family. I do not know how to tell her that without hurting her feelings again. All I got for an answer to her was:

First, mom, you have to learn the language and pass the exam to get here. :)

I think a woman of old age would think otherwise when it entails learning a new language again. I hope that my answer helped me to lower down her expectations that migrating here is not as easy as it is in the US.

Plus I do not want to give up my independence. I am having a lot of fun with it.

Random Whining

It's August and till now I still do not have a concrete idea what to do with my life here. Soon it would be my first year here in the Land of Beer and Sausages and all I got to accomplish is my completion of integration course by passing the language exam for migrants with a B1 level rating and the political overview exam with only one failure. One may say, those are great accomplishments, why this whining? Well, first of all, this language test for migrants is just half higher than my last Goethe Institut exam that I passed, hence it is just like I repeated my Start Deutsch 2 exam and perfected it this time instead of mere 92 grade. Now I understand why the adviser at the school was a bit hesitant on giving me Module 5 to start at, because my last Goethe certificate eligibles me to a higher module but then, the foreign office required me to complete the Module 5-6 at the VHS. It was still the best thing anyway, because I got to improve my listening and speaking skills, the worst fields on my certificate from Goethe Institut. To make it short, this language exam has already been expected out of me from the start (though I admit I was also nervous because what if I stutter? Then even if I perfected the written exam, I would fail it still because the deciding factor on the exam is the oral exam.). Secondly, the basic political exam already comes with this review materials downloadable from the internet complete with answers. Memorization is my best skills. Honestly, I was disappointed that I incurred one failure on the exam because I was o confident with my answers and it only took me 5 minutes to answer the 25 questions. I am wondering where have I gone wrong? I really wanted to go to the office for migrants and asylant --err refugees (I'm sorry, I got this little problem now with my English skills) and ask them to show me my test paper just to know which question was I not able to answer correctly. But of course, that will be totally crazy to do. After these exams, what happened to me? Back to my old routines at home: waking up, cleaning up, cooking and whole day at the internet. As what I frequently blogged before, I will say it again: I miss working.

I miss waking up early like my husband, fixing breakfast, rushing in the shower and rushing to get to the office on time. I miss the stress that the bosses or the colleagues can give. There was one Saturday when my ex-boss asked me to go to the office and help him out on the presentation. I was too excited and full of energy that I only had to pause when my husband came into the old office I used to stay during my training days and tell me it's time to eat. I was even working longer than my husband and my ex-boss as if it's just one of those normal days I had a year ago. They said they'd compensate me for that, it's already 2 months since I did that and I am still not paid, BUT I am happy. That day, I already felt compensated, because they made me feel my worth again. They showed me that I was indeed a big loss for them when I married and have to give up my position in the Manila office to be with my husband here in Germany. That even if they already got someone who replaced me in Manila, there are still these work load that they actually needed me, just like before. I am forever grateful to Emerson for they are like a family to me both in the Philippines and here in Germany. They never forget me and my skills. It is sad though that the companies here that I've applied to are not giving me any chance to prove them of my worth. Every application letter and resume sent, all I receive are just rejection letters. They did not even gave me a chance for an interview. Hence all this whining.

I feel so undervalued here. I am actually willing to start anew hence I am applying on all these "Ausbildung." Yet, they will not give me the chance. I wish one day, a company with a similar heart like Emerson would call me and give me a chance to prove myself. However, the question is, how long should I wait for that time to come? I feel so stocked in the moment. It feels like my life is not moving forward. The days pass and I am still here. Everybody moves forward and I am left on the same spot after my integration exams.

I thought about going back to the university but I asked myself, "am I still fit to relearn my chemistry? Will I be able to make it to these companies that turn me down after doing this?" There is fear and there is hope at the same time. However, the desire to learn Chemistry is now a bit dull. It is no longer shining like it used to before. My friends advised me to take a degree that is of highest need here and it is either chemistry or engineering. My heart is telling me to be a linguist instead, but I do not know where to go after getting an M.A. here, unlike chemistry that the future is so clear, my fear is that it is taught in pure German and I might fail.

I really do not know what to do with my life. I am so left behind. I wanted to move forward but there are no jobs available for me that will give me the opportunity to take the next step. There are countless job vacancies but all I got from them are also countlesa rejection letters. It is sometimes depressing and stressful. I hope somebody out there would help me and give me a hand to go on.

Brüder Grimms Haus in Steinau

The famous Brothers Grimm are Hessisch! One of the house where they lived and wrote some of their works is just 11 km away from us!

A Little Trivia: Snow White story is based on real people. The girl which inspired them about Snow White lived in Lohr am Main, the next County to Main-Kinzig-Kreis. The place where she lived with the dwarves is said to be in Bieber, Biebergemünd (yes, the next village to us), and they were said to be the miners. In old times, the miners were small people (compared to a natural height of Germans) that's why they were called dwarves. In Lohr was also this factory that manufactures mirrors, that inspired the character of Magic Mirror. The wandering path along the series of mountains from Schloss Lohr am Main (Lohr Castle, http://www.antenne.de/Schneewittchen-Schlo%C3%9F%20in%20Lohr%20am%20Main%20__schoeneorte_233923_news.html) to Bieber, Biebergemünd is called Schneewittchenwandernweg (Snow White's Path) and is approximately 35 km, one of the famous path taken by wanderers and bikers.

Spring 2012

First real spring for me. I am always here during Fall and Winter.

Saxony, Germany

Dresden, Moritzburg, Meissen, Radeburg.

Pentecost weekend with hubby and some Emerson guys from USA.

New Year Walk

I noticed that most people here go out to take a walk on New Year's day. I don't know what it means, but I was envious. So my husband took me for a walk... Our destination: The Middlepoint of European Union in Meerholz. :)

Art Appreciation

I used to not like art. I tried since grade school days to at least love to draw, but I always end up in frustration. I realized that art is not on my blood, hence I avoided it all in the past, which is actually easy to do in the Philippines. It is because, in order to see real great art, you must be ready to spend some amount of money, which is sadly a difficult thing for me.

Until I got an opportunity to travel to Germany. First impression: wow! Europe is for me a very  large museum, with Germany as the section for middle age art. I fell in love and my appreciation for art came back. I haven't seen it all yet in Europe, but so far, I am already satisfied. The grandiose cathedrals and schloss are enough for me to say how great are the masterminds of these buildings.

The modern times would of course not let it pass, even the modern graffittis have something to say. They are not just graffittis made by kids, they are skillfully made too, to match the grandiosity at the background.

I wish I could be also an artist in my own way.

It's So Magical

One thing I love about winter: SNOW.

Despite the below freezing point temperature, which can be as low as -25 degrees Celsius, Winter is one of my favorite season, next to it is Autumn. I love to watch snow slowly falling down from the sky. However, our location is considered one of the hottest place in Germany, hence snow is not that too often nor too many. Nevertheless, when it starts to fall, I love to sit by the window and stare at it. It is so magical, how it glistens at night and how light they seems to be. Just there, floating in the air, taking their time to fall on earth. Then, after a few minutes, everything is so peaceful, so white and beautiful! It feels so soft under your feet and so fine between your fingertips. It seems like you suddenly are in Wonderland, it's so magical!

It is like telling me to take everything easy, never hurry on anything, for no matter how long it may seem, you'll get there, to your destination, because that is how God had planned everything. So leave everything in God's hand, and enjoy every moment, because it is not that long, in few moment you are no longer where you are right now and would regret not being able to enjoy every moment this life gives.

February Is My Month!

A Large Chair at Freizeit Park in Büdingen

First, I had this new blog, then I decided to look at the brighter side of my life. I did not realize before that positive thinking yields positive results. Truly, it does not hurt to wait for a while, for God is always at work for something good for all of us.

I almost feel so down because I had been here in Germany for 3 months now and still not able to start my language classes. It is because there is always no available slot for me. I really want to give up and fly back to the Philippines. Staying at home all day and not able to meet other people or go to other places makes me feel really low. However, everything's going to change starting next week. My husband talked to the school and they found a slot for me! Yes, finally! I can go back to school and get busy on something - learning and nurturing my German.

Maybe some of you wonder why is it so important for me. Well, for one reason, German language is such a very important tool for a foreigner like me. Germany is a country who loves its native language so much. Unlike in the Philippines, all road signs, buildings, newspapers, etc. are written in German. Hence, in order to survive and have a better life, German is the most important tool to have. True, I do have a little knowledge already, but it is not enough, especially now that I am eyeing a very nice job somewhere.

Secondly, my former professor wrote an email to me. It is not something about job or research proposal, it is all about our faith. Starting this Holy Week, I am officially a contributor for the Tanghalang Anluwage website. It has always been part of my life serving Jesus and the church. When I arrived here in Germany, I felt sad because for the first time, after more than a decade of being part of Teatrong Kumot (a local theater in San Jose, Batangas, Philippines who portrays the Passion of Christ every Holy Week), I would not be a part of it this year. It has been one of my ways of serving the Lord, aside from going with the youth council for apostolate, since I was in high school. It has already been my way of life. But God always finds a way, He made me be part of Tanghalang Anluwage so I can still serve Him, and now I am serving Him ONLINE. :)

My February has just started, so I know there are more good news to come. I am very much excited for the following days and very positive on everything. I miss busy days, and I am happy my busy days are slowly coming back to me. I am glad my chair is comforting, high and large enough for me to sit and watch the world around me and welcome every opportunity that might knock at the door.  I am also willing to share this chair with everyone out there. :)

Warum Ramona Nerra muss weiter und weiter gehen??? Ich kann das nicht verstehen!!!

The Voice of Germany. At the beginning, their ad slogan says, "we search for someone who got it right (that is just my lose translation)." This is one reason why they have what they call, the blind audition, the coaches only listens to the auditionees and without seeing them physically, they choose the singer who they think fits their team. Thus, I got interested on this program. Most reality shows nowadays are so commercialized and I was in search of something new.

The Coaches. The coaches are award-winning  artists of their own genre, hence there is a big respect. However, I am not sure whether the technical systems send out bad signals to the tubes or the coaches have bad ears. There are great singers that were sent home for no one from the coaches wanted them, and those who only have the capability to sing, but not something worth any price, got in further. It started to make me  confused on what exactly are they looking for.

The Battle. After the blind audition, every contestant faces a battle against other singers on their team. The coaches choose six singers from their team to go on further. From hereon, I am going to speak about Ramona Nerra. She is one of the singers in Boss Hoss's team. She can sing, okay, but there are notes she cannot sing so well, she even gets out of tune at times. When she got in during the blind audition, I was surprised, but I did not give too much of a damn thinking she'll be out the next round. I and my husband were so excited when we found out that she will be battling against Cool Daddy, one of our favorited since the blind audition. However, we were wrong, Cool Daddy went home and this woman went further to the Live Shows. I started to say, "what happened there?" But I still chose to give this show a chance.

The First Live Show. Each singer are given their chance to shine and two singers go on further depending on the public's decision via phone call or SMS. Most of the singers I like went further since they got the most vote, and I was so happy to know most people share the same thought I have over these contestants. However though, the coaches will decide on the other two singers to go on their respective teams. If you're guessing what I will write next, yes, you are right, Ramona was one of the two singers Boss Hoss chose for their team. After this, I decided, I will just watch the episodes from Nena and Rea Garvey's teams, Boss Hoss decisions make me totally confused on what is their plan for their team, it seems like they want to be the biggest loser team in the history of The Voice worldwide.

The Second Live Show. Last Friday was the second live show for Boss Hoss and Xavier's teams. I did not watch it, I do not want to make my ears bleed from unworthy singers. I only watched the video upload when James Morrison sang with Xavier's team (thank God it was not with BossHoss's team). However, since I have subscribed on their FB andTwitter pages,I still was able to know who went further. By Xavier's team, I have big respect on Xavier, he knows what he needs and he did good, he wants to win against Nena and Rea. But then again, BossHoss's favorite went further. I don't have to say the name.

I really could not understand why this woman just keeps on going further on the contest. This made me lose my faith on finding a real reality show.

I hope though that this Friday's episode won't be frustrating, because I am a big fan from these two coaches, I hope they won't make decisions as confusing as the BossHoss's.

Back in Hessen

After a day of me whining and demanding, he spent whole Sunday with me, no TVs nor computer games. We went for a walk at a lake by the next city: Kinzigtalsperre at Steinau. Interestingly, the famous Brother Grimm had also lived there, and their old house was turned into a museum along the Deutschmärchen Straße (tranlated as German Fairy Tales Street). Since we are already there, we also planned to make a little tour around the Steinau Castle and Brother Grimm's House, sadly, cameras are not allowed at the Brother Grimm's House Museum and the Steinau Museum, hence, the photos I got were only at the little museum at the castle, telling a little about the Brother Grimm as well, and their famous Marionette plays.

We were given one great weather!

This is the biking/ jogging path along the Kinzigtalsperre

Welcome to Schloss Steinau!

I wonder if it is still safe to drink from here

This is not a large canvas, but rather the old walls of Schloss Steinau

Jacob Grimm is so cute!!! 

The Grimm Brothers' job is really about dictionaries and grammar books, fairy tales are only their past time

                       

Aside from fairy tales, they also enjoy painting during their free time, and these are just one of their art works

The Brothers Grimm signature laser-carved by their other brother

Old Bible of Family Grimm

Ludwig's Reisetagebuch

Hand-painted carpet once used at the Schloss Steinau

 

 

 

Old stuffs in the Schloss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Marionette plays

And to conclude the tour:

The Frog Prince and I... :-D

The First Bayern Experience

I had been here in Deutschland for training about 3 years ago, and honestly, the only time that I could say I was in Bayern was when we made a short stop at a castle in Aschaffenburg (it was already dark to get a decent photo and the Weihnachstmarkt was not yet open) which lasted for only about 30 minutes. That is because it was just near the house of Frau Huth, and we just have to pick up some plants at a market on the way home. Therefore, this event was my first REAL Bayern tour.

Bamberg, according to their tourist book, is a city holding vast history of more than thousand years ago. They say it is a "historical stroke of luck", for it was amazing to find a city here in Germany where it seems like it was NEVER ravaged by the wars. It could be because the Almighty One had saved this city from turning into ruins due to the people's deep religious beliefs. It is fascinating to find that on six hills surrounding the main city, stands grandiose cathedrals and churches, of whose structures are as old as Bamberg can remember.

Sadly, we were only there for a day, I went there with some ex-colleagues from Emerson Manila and our boss and my hubby. However, no one can fund an overnight stay for the Emerson employees, hence, we have to squeeze in all that we can do in one day. The outcome was not bad at all, we went to only one hill, the Domberg, and strolled around the city center.

We all started at the Tourism Office of Bamberg. It was already quite a sight, for you can see towering Gothic  buildings behind the houses and buildings.

A few more steps and we were already at the old Rathaus. It was built right at the middle of the river to serve as a link between the new town and the old town.

These frescoes tell the rich history of Bamberg. The artist immortalized himself by creating a sculpture of his knee.

Over the bridge at the old town hall, you can see the old town, the old slaughterhouse and the old boat that transported the goods in and out of Bamberg. This part of Bamberg is also known as the "Little Venice."

White-water rafting? Yes, you can also do it here.

At almost all the buildings here, secular or not, you can find religious sculpture just like what I found behind me. It is an old restaurant (not a chapel!) beside the old town hall.

The first church we went to in Bamberg. Let the stamp below tell the history of this St. Martin Church.

Inside was so magnificent! With all the golds shimmering over old structures.

Church ceiling of St. Martin Church

Maximilliansbrünnen at Maximilliansplatz

And the new town hall is here, right around the Maximilliansplatz.

A closer look at the old Metzgerei (slaughter house), sadly, there is a construction ongoing, and this pipeline destroyed the view :(.

The old trading boat.

 More about the history of this part of Bamberg.

And now, the new boat traversing this river.

Empress St. Kunigunde. More about her here.

The Bamberger Dom at the Domberg. Here lies the remains of Pope Clement II, St. Cunigunde and her husband St. Henry. More of its history here.

The cathedral entrance for the commoners.

Simple, yet magnificent.

The mysterious horseman.

The cathedral's organ and the Baroque-ceiling

And now, the cathedral entrance for the noblemen.

The historical "Neue Residenz" (sorry, I cannot find something in English).

The old parking area. The place for horsemen and the cooks while the noblemen stay at the Neue Residenz.

The famous "Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier" of Bamberg. After drinking, you will "schlenkern". :-p

Yes, it's brewed in a cloister!

A Madonna on a residential building.

The "Gymnasium" from yesterday until today.

Me and U are planning to go back there, with other colleagues from Emerson, and this time, we are going to stay for a night or two to enjoy Bamberg more than ever. There are so many other places to see in Bamberg, yet our time is soooo limited! To learn more about Bamberg, you can read it here.