One of those days...

I believe this is a view of Wetzlar from afar. 

It was just one of those days, that I didn't really do much at all, but it was perfect. I found so much beauty in this city, especially because the sun was intensively energizing. Yes, it is much cooler here than when I left New York. But today, I didn't even notice. I strolled through town, beaming as I listened to "Here Comes the Sun," wearing a chic outfit, and feeling very confident and settled. I took a bike ride, later after exploring the flee market, to find the public Swimmbad and go for a dip. However, the weather was too wonderful so I just kept riding. I am very fortunate to have a bike here, but mine is a little shifty. It has a weird balance, so that I can't seem to get my mastered no-handed cycling down. Today's ride was filled with those amazing moments that are filled to the brim with excitement. The scenery was breathtaking. I went outside of the city, along a canal, and through an area of Garten homes that are very popular in Germany. They're clustered little cottages with divided yards, usually near a stream or lake. It was beautiful all around. It's hard to take it all in, and it's exhilarating speeding along on a bike, so my reaction was simply to laugh. Basically the whole ride-- almost two hours. This town is pretty small, so you see people over and over again. Already people call me the smiling one, and know I'm foreign. Most people have guessed Ireland though strangely, I think it's the hair.

A boat tour along the canal that I rode alongside for a while

After I got home, I took a nice long bath, and am now going to a street festival with Salsa dancing! Whew, it's been a while, but Salsa has always been one of my favorites. Of course I can't overlook the German electronic/alternative music, but perhaps I'll save that for another night.  Going out wise, it's been fairly calm. 

I enrolled and started a German course at the Volkhochschule-an amazing community network that hosts classes from a wide range of language, cooking, art, fitness, even sociology. I am taking an intensive night course so that I can work in Homberg during the day. The class is in preparation for the DaF test. I am also busy preparing for my work, and the Fulbright orientation in Altenberg starting this Monday. So there are many things on my mind, but one especially--this year's project with the students in Homberg. As a teaching assistant I have a lot of free time, time in which I wanted to do an extra art project with the older students. I've been going over different versions of what this year's project will be, but I wanted to share it with you. So please send any feedback or suggestions you may have.

The IDEA: When I applied for this grant, I was looking forward to having time for my self to do artwork. That is still true, but I want to incorporate the students that I work with. The main question, for me, that has been sparking a lot of drawing has been: Who am I? A general, self reflection of what makes an individual unique, worthwhile, etc. So I'm thinking, wouldn't it be neat if this year long project was a self-reflective learning experience for these kids who are mostly 15/16 years old. I have requested, and received, time after school in the art room to host a club. Already there are some interested kids and I have only spoken with one class. The overall theme of identity will be divided into projects based on artistic movements. For example, doing a cubist style portrait, choosing and delineating the style of a German/local artist,  and doing collage work with personal meaning integrated. The list continues to grow of various project ideas; however, the main item of feedback is whether this would work in collaboration with an American school art club. The reason I ask is that I want this to be a personal and cultural study for these kids. I am the sole instructor, that means that even though I'll explain in german, I'll teach them English vocabulary that fits with our project at hand. 

Therefore, if there are any high school teachers that you know that may be interested in having an art club connection in Germany, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll just begin this project and I'm positive it will bend and form into something wonderfully unexpected.

That's a lot for now, so I wish you all the best.

Alles Gute