Lieber Frühling, komm doch bald. A new Kaffeeklatsch thread for Spring - living in Austria and Germany

[Ploom]

All welcome - whether you're living in Germany or Austria, have questions about life in those countries or just want to chat.

Previous thread here

[hupa]

Nutella Sorry to hear that ds has been ill. Hopefully you´re still managing to have a great time. We´re heading over that way in the summer, so any recommendations would be gratefully received.

admylin Is ds actually looking forward to the trip?
Dd starts secondary School this year, so I´m not looking forward to the additional costs. We´ve got a meeting next week to find out which class she will be in.

Lentils Glad you made it safely to Scotland.

A quick hello to everyone else. I´m having a nightmare with our internet connection this week. It keeps disappearing and then running really slowly. This is the first time I´ve managed to get this thread to load, so I´m hoping it doesn´t vanish when I try to post.

[admylin]

hupa hope the internet connection problem can be solved somehow, it's so annoying especially when you do internet banking or are trying to book a ticket for train/flight etc. Ours was constantly going off and we tried everything, telekom sent a man out, sent a new router, new speedport, I bought new cables thinking they could be damaged then the telekom put us on their highest internet speed package (probably as they were fed up of me phoning their service number) and since then it has improved.

No ds still isn't really looking forward to his trip but is slightly happier about it since he got the daft bite plate thingy taken out yesterday. He has to get it put straight back in on the Monday after the trip though.

Nutella hope your ds is better soon and you enjoy the rest of your holiday. Would you like to live in France? I'd swap France for Germany tomorrow if I had a choice! I used to live in Biarritz about an hour from where you are. After work I could just walk the 2 minutes to the beach and relax watching the sun go down, ah those were the days!

[platanos]

admylin good to hear that the bite plate is out. Hope ds enjoys the trip when he is there.

hupa dd1 also starting secondary school, where they proudly announced they had spent 2 weeks in San Francisco on a school trip for English. How do parents afford that? Not sure why they couldn't take a train to the UK, and stay at a youth hostel. Hope the meeting for your dd goes well.

nutella hope ds is better? And that you are enjoying your holiday!

lentils good luck with setting up your new home!

I had a parent's evening at ds's future school earlier in the week. It was dreadful, they will have 3 new classes, one Vorschulklasse, and two 1. Klassen. But they only have one teacher and are waiting to hear who the others might be. (They will know who the other 2 will be at the end of next week, so not sure why they did not wait to have a parent's evening then). The whole tone was wrong - scaring parents into how hard school is, how life will completely change for parents and chlildren, listing all the things parents have to do every evening (sharpening all pencils - ha ha ha...have any of you ever done that every evening?!? I haven't.) Then they read off the names to see who was present. They struggled to read some names, laughed at how difficult they were [hmmm]. When one parent said the name correctly, the teacher waved her hand dismissingly and said "I don't need to learn that' . Sigh, I know the school from dds and it is fine, depending on the teacher of course, but I felt so bad for first-time parents that could have been nervous and were being patronised. It's one of those situations where I wish I had had the guts and the German to say something. But I was just so stunned.

Waves to all, wishing you all a fun weekend. Hope the weather is nice near you.

[platanos]

Remember the multivitamis discussion? Might want to have a read of this...
www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/07/vitamins-stop-taking-the-pills

[LinzerTorte]

Interesting article, platanos. The DC aren't actually taking any multivitamins atm as we've run out, but it's definitely food for thought. I'm convinced that echinacea does help colds, however, as it's stopped most of mine in their tracks and definitely alleviates the symptoms otherwise (haven't tried it with the DC, though). OTOH I remember being dosed up with Vitamin C when I was a child as I used to get so many colds, and it didn't make the slightest difference.

Have to go and pick up DD2 and DS from birthday parties now; will be back to catch up properly when I have more than two minutes to myself.

[admylin]

platanos oh dear, I really know how it is to attend a parents evening like the one you went to. The worst part is that it's justthe beginning and you just have to hope that you get a decent, motivated teacher every now and then too. I've seen the difference it can make. Ds had such a rubbish time at school in Berlin but dd, in the exact same school, but a year below him, was in a great class with an excellent and fair teacher who helped all his pupils to enjoy learning.
I'll have a read of the article in a minute.

Ds went for his written DELF exam (Diplôme d'études en langue française) in town today. He managed to answer everything so hopes he has passed. Dd got a mixer at last so she has made us all a lovely vegan smoothie with mixed berries, almond milk and some golden syrup. Very tasty!

Ds is now counting down the hours until he has to leave tomorrow morning for his trip. He has one suitcase, a large sport bag and a rucksack all packed. Seems alot for 6 days but he has to carry a sleeping bag, iso mat, warm and cold/wet weather clothes and bedding for the guest house too.

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

Hello, not been on the thread for a while so I'm afraid there is no hope of me replying properly to everyone!

admylin glad your DS has had the bite plate taken out for the trip at least - why does it have to go back in? Hope it goes OK.

Plantanos that parents eve sounds like an amalgamation of most of the negative things about living here! :( I am quite outspoken and willing to stand up and be heard in English, but hate that I just can't do it in German without sounding like an idiot and risking not getting the point across properly or clearly :(

[LinzerTorte]

Morning,

Another lovely sunny day here - hope you all had sunshine at the weekend too. It was Father's Day here yesterday so we had a trip to the Prater in Vienna (excellent views from the Riesenrad) and then went out for lunch.

admylin Hope DS got off OK this morning and enjoys the trip. Wow, that's a lot to pay for school books, especially if you're only borrowing them. DD2 has just had her list for next year, even though there are still another three weeks to go until the summer holidays (we don't normally get the list until the last day), but at least we get all the books for free.

Nutella Hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday and that your DS recovered quickly. I was never brave enough to travel much when the DC were little; it's only really over the last couple of years that we've been doing more travelling again.

platanos That sounds like the Einschreibefest at our school, although tbf it was only the one teacher who would have put me off completely. She refused to believe that one boy only spoke German because of his non-Austrian name and no doubt appearance (his parents have a Turkish background, but his mother was born here and his father is German) and kept asking him what other language he spoke and where he was from. We had a note home from DS's teacher not long ago reminding us to check every evening that all their pencils are sharp. I remember to do so about once a week.

[admylin]

Linzer it's a crazy price for school books isn't it? I don't know how people on low income manage to get their dc through school. Only people on social benefits don't have to pay if they send in proof. School trips are the same. Next year we'll have two expensive trips to pay for. Dd will be going on the one ds is on now at around 350? and ds will have his Berlin trip that they are already telling us is Pflicht.

MrTumbles to be honest I have no idea why this thing really has to go back in ds's mouth but I think he said it would speed up the treatment slightly. I've cancelled dd getting it so we'll see how he decides to change her treatment plan (if he bothers to even let me know).

I'm missing ds and it's only Tuesday. Atleast it looks as if he isn't getting bad weather even if it's not as warm as it should be for this time of year.

Linzer meant to ask, what do you call your health check-up that you do once or twice a year in German? Last time I went to the doctor she said I should call and make an appointment for a check-up but I can't remember what she called it (only remember translating it in my head, as you do, and understanding that's what she meant).

[LinzerTorte]

Just very quickly as I'm on my phone - we haven't had Internet access since last night (have the feeling it's probably a provider problem, but will have to phone up later if it's still not back). admylin The check-up is called a Gesundenuntersuchung or Vorsorgeuntersuchung here. What's the betting it's called something different in Germany, though?

[admylin]

Thanks Linzer!
Doctor said I have to update all my Impfungen too as last one was 13 years ago. Have you all had many vaccinations in your adult life? I know the last was just after dd was born and the midwife noticed from a blood test that I needed the measles jab (I think, or was it Windpocken?)

[LinzerTorte]

I've never even thought about whether I need a booster for any of the vaccinations I had as a child (haven't had a chickenpox jab, though - are they routinely vaccinating against it in Germany now?). I have the Zeckenimpfung every 5 years and had a tetanus booster ages ago, but that's about it.

[admylin]

I'll wait and see what the doctor suggests but I guess I'll have to have tetanus for sure. I was just reading about the windpocken one and it seems to be one of the standard impfungen in Germany now (since 2004).

[LinzerTorte]

I wonder if it's routine here now too. It wasn't back in 2004 at any rate, as neither DD2 nor DS were offered it. DD1 had the jab but still caught chickenpox when the other two had it, although had a much milder case.

[platanos]

linzer that is strange: we did not have internet yesterday either! Who does your Vorsorgeuntersuchung? Last year a dr came to my work and did blood tests but nothing like that has been offered yet this year...And does your check involve anything other than bloods? Dh's colleague was talking about going to all the specialists...I am confused. I do eyes and woman stuff regularly but nothing otherwise. at school teacher insisting on a second language. And well done for sharpening pencils once a week!

admylin good to hear ds has nice weather. dd2 is on away on a school trip this week too and I miss her too... I agree, it is such a lottery regarding teachers, more important than the school really. We have been lucky twice (though I have my niggles about both of dds' teachers I can see they have been good for my dds). But I am not sure about what is coming for ds...

mrtumbles I feel like you do about the german. All the parents I spoke to found this parent's evening dreadful too. Others I have been to have been quite civilised, but they were with just the parents and teacher of that class. Much nicer! And I remember dd starting reception in the Uk and the teacher being a bit strict with parents and children. I often feel that some teacher's forget they are talking to other adults when they talk to parents!

ds has two friends over and they decided to watch a film . we did have other plans but it is pouring out there. i find it a shame that they don't want to play together but then...I get to go on mumsnet and cook dinner so not all bad

[admylin]

Linzer and platanos I hope you get your internet troubles sorted out. We had big problems with our connection and tried all sorts but upgrading to a faster speed falt rate thingy has sorted it for now. MAybe if you complain enough, your provider will upgrade you for the same price you pay now (ours did, for a year we pay the old prive then it'll be 5? more a month).

Heard from a father of a class mate who is with ds on his trip and who smuggled his mobile with him to the campsite. Weather is good but they are all abit bored and don't know what to do with themselves in the middle of a forest next to a lake! That's what the dad said and I had to laugh as his son is more or less addicted to computer games and alot of them are, so they've lost the ability to use their imaginations. In the good old days we would have been up to all sorts on a trip like that from building dens to climbing trees. Have you heard from your dd platanos?

[hupa]

admylin I can imagine that quite a few of the children will be having computer withdrawal symptons. I hope the weather stays good for the rest of the trip.

We just had a letter from the Krankenkasse to say that they will cover the treatment costs for dd´s and ds´s braces. I´m sure I´ll be back with loads of questions once the treatment gets underway.

planatos I agree that the individual teacher is more important than the school. Dd´s teacher in the Grundschule has been really excellent and has a really nurturing attitude. Ds´s teacher is fine, but it´s her first proper teaching job and she has be teamed with a bit of a dragon and has taken a lot of her cues from her, unfortunately.

Strange that a lot of us have been having internet problems. We still have random high speed connection and then nothing at all. Even dh who is much more tech savvy than me, can´t get to the root of the problem.

I´ve only had a Tetanus booster here and a Hep (not sure if Aor B ) vaccination a couple of years ago.

[LinzerTorte]

As some of you may have seen on FB last night, our Internet problems were finally solved by unplugging the modem and then plugging it back in again. After spending half an hour in the queuing system to speak to someone at the helpline, DH was not best pleased to discover that that wasn't actually the first thing I'd tried. Disclaimer: I have spent what feels like months of my life restarting the computer, switching modems on and off and sometimes unplugging them, etc. etc. etc., usually to no avail. (Several hours later will phone the helpline, only to discover that a pipe has burst somewhere.) We used to have all kinds of problems too admylin, but it's been much better since we changed to a different package.

hupa Good news about the braces; it can be a very expensive business.

platanos I thought of you yesterday when I was sharpening DS's pencils! (All very blunt, so I'm obviously not doing my job often enough.) The Vorsorgeuntersuchung includes a blood test, urine test, colorectal cancer screening and having your blood pressure taken. You can go and see any GP; the one I see is a Wahlärztin (the Krankenkasse covers all the costs) so she does a very thorough job and spends ages going through my blood test results with me, although I've usually forgotten most of it five minutes afterwards.

admylin We (more or less) banned screen time during the week as I was worried that the DC were forgetting how to use their imagination to entertain themselves. I hated the way that as soon as they were bored, they'd turn to the computer or TV.

We're having an awning fitted today, so there's lots of drilling going on. Fortunately the neighbours are having one fitted straight after us, so shouldn't mind about the noise too much!

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

EI recommended a table top pencil sharpener (the kind with a handle you turn) and making DC sharpen their own pencils - DD does her own and DS1, who is still at Kiga, does the home ones -you they love doung it for some reason!

[LinzerTorte]

Some teachers here insist that the DC sharpen their own pencils, others don't seem too bothered who does it as long as they're sharp. I quite enjoy doing it when I remember, as I find it strangely satisfying (only do it for DS, though).

[admylin]

I was never told to sharpen any pencils but I used to help dd do hers as she used them alot (colouring pencils). Ds had his year 1 set of pencils right up to year 6, he did the absoloute minimum colouring-in that was required! He still has his first year HB pencil too! It's about 2.5cm long (now in year 9).

[platanos]

I shall have to tell that teacher that she started an international internet discussion on pencil sharpening

[platanos]

admylin how did ds find his trip? Hope it went well. We weren't allowed to contact the children. DD2 had a great time, though she came home and burst into tears - exhausted and overwhelmed by it all. Luckily the other two were still at school and kindergarten so we lay on the bed, chatting and cuddling. She's come back with bad allergy eyes (skin goes really red around the eyes from the scratching) and skin. But otherwise full of great stories.

hupa good news on the KK covering the braces. What do they need? It is a shame ds's teacher has a dragon as a model. How long are they teamed up for?

linzer glad you got the internet sorted!! Has it been okay since? Ours has, it was just a blip I think. I turned everything on and off about 10 times! I would have phoned the helpline but I couldn't find the papers with all our customer numbers etc. And then it all came back. Thanks for the information on the health check. Dh's colleague was talking about going to an internist, a lung specialist...but then she had had a bad skiing accident and I think she just wanted to make sure all was well.

We still don't know who ds will get as a teacher. I am still wondering whether I should insist on the Vorschulklasse. DH and I are going out to dinner later on...that is on our "agenda". There are just so many things that we don't want to talk about in front of the dc, and by the time they have gone to bed we are both too tired.

Hope you all have some sun shining down on you!

[LinzerTorte]

After a rainy day yesterday (perfect excuse for a trip to Bratislava - although we discovered that Mothercare and the ELC, which were always a good source of clothes for the DC, have closed down), it's already quite hot here this morning. We're forecast temperatures of 30° and above all this week; it's either one extreme or the other.

platanos Hope you had a nice meal out on Saturday. Have you decided about the Vorschulklasse? It was definitely the right decision for DS, but we're also gespannt about which teacher he'll get next year. It turns out that his teacher will be teaching the Vorschulklasse next year as well (we were originally told that she'd be moving up to the 1. Klasse, although the class is divided up so DS wouldn't necessarily have had her anyway), so we have about a month to wait before we find out who he's getting.

[admylin]

Linzer hope your ds gets one of the nice ones! It certainly makes all the difference to how the dc enjoy school (or not). Is he looking forward to the change?

platanos ds was quite positive about the trip when he got back. His friend who had been reporting back to his dad the whole time was very negative about it all. They weren't happy that there had been no toilets at the camp site but it was worse for the girls. Ds even manage dto go up the 11m hochseil thing in the forest and most of the class gave up at 8m so he was proud of that as he thought he was afraid of hights. Hope your dd's allergy and rash calms down. Is she taking something for it?

We've just heard that our niece is coming over for a few days next week from Texas. Dd is so excited as she's bringing her some things over that she has on her wish list and are only available in the states. I have to plan a few trips and things to show them. Might take them to the city of Hamlyn of Pied Piper of Hamlyn fame.