I arrived in Kandern on July 28th. Jet lag was thankfully a non-issue, and I have been able to settle into my apartment fairly quickly.
Last week, the new staff at BFA had a crash course in German language and culture, which involved several “field trips” to places like the bank, city hall, and a local restaurant.
Outside of class, my host helped me get adjusted into the community. After signing several papers to become a legal resident of Kandern and to obtain a visa, she helped me get my German bank account, set up a telephone/internet plan (though service does not start until the 18th of August!), set up electricity, and enjoy ice cream from the local Eis Cafe!
There are many outlets for my energy: hiking and running on forest trails, playing soccer on Sunday nights, and a morning workout group during the week. I am thankful that God has seen fit to bring me to a place where not only am I able to meet the needs of the students, but the place is also a beautiful fit for my personality and interests.
Path to the gazebo up the hill
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My roommate, Rachel Bertschi, arrived last Friday. We already are making plans to have the coolest house ever. We want to open our apartment to RAs so they can get down-time from the dorms and hang out with people their own age. We have an ideal location in central Kandern, just a 5 minute walk from 2 of the dorms and a 10 minute walk from the school. We hope to be a blessing to other staff members in addition to the students!
On Sunday, I attended the German-speaking church up the road. Though I could not follow everything, the PowerPoint helped and I was able to understand what the sermon was about. There were many warm German handshakes as I introduced myself, and the young people’s group quickly made me feel welcome.
This week we have New Staff Orientation. In addition to sessions designed to orient us to BFA’s unique culture, I will be settling into my office/studio. Yesterday we visited the elementary campus in the neighboring town of Sitzenkirch. Today we signed up for German insurance and discussed the BFA calendar, among other things.
– Wednesday: We will go to sessions on BFA activities, our philosophy of Christian education, and our handbook, and I will be meeting with the music department head to discuss the coming year.
– Thursday: Sessions on educational philosophy/goals, professional development, lesson plans, and a driving tour of the dorms.
– Friday: Sessions on syllabus, first unit plan, and a trip into Basel, Switzerland.
Next week will be all-staff conference and preparing for classes!
