"It's time to scheisse, or get off ze crapper!" - From the movie Beerfest

I started my new school yesterday and it's a lot better than the old place.  My class is a little larger than my old class (18 students) so they are planning on splitting us up into 2 groups.  That will be better for group dynamics and for more concentrated interactions.  Im still in a Bennetton Ad.  There is a Korean, 2 Brazilians, 6 from China, 5 from the Middle East (libya, Kuwait, Lebanon, etc) 1 from Turkey 1 from  Cambodia, 1 from Russia and me.  Again, no luck from another person from the USA.  It's interesting to note that a few of my classmates have been living in Germany for a few years and only now are taking classes.  I have to wonder how the hell have they been coping with living here without having any working knowledge of the language.  That would drive me up the wall.  They must have a huge community to be so insular. We are seated in groups and the one thing I must do starting tomorrow is to sit at another table.  My group must be the short bus people because they repeat everything the teacher says and have a hard time pronouncing and understanding the directions.  Im having to carry the group.  Jesus H. Christ.  Its the Cambodian and the two Libyans.  Great - two countries that had despotic leaders and which America didnt have friendly relations with.  Im saddled with Quaddafi and Pol Pot.  Well now is not the time for me to repair relations...its every man for himself...

I also have a morning class now which I am VERY happy about.  Now I have a normal schedule. just to show how much of a nerd Ive turned into, I had to read a paragraph today and the teacher complimented me on my pronunciation. Some members of the class came up to me later and started asking me questions and asking for help...I was a star!  Oh lord...

Things are looking ok.  I was even able to go to the store after class today and have a rudimentary conversation with the cashier and she understood me and I understood her...