Magic and Fairytales

I want to blog about a couple of interesting things that happened, before I forget about them.

First of all, last week I went to a magic show, at a restaurant that I've been to about three times now. I think we saw a flyer for the magic show the first time we were there but kept getting confused with the dates, and to be honest when it's only on on the second Sunday of every month it's easy to lose track. However we eventually managed to pin one down and we went along, having no idea what to expect other than maybe a few card tricks over dinner.

It turned out to be a great evening in the end. You got given a free drink when you arrived and could then order food while the magician chatted to you (there were nine of us there in total) before starting the show proper. He ended up briefly hypnotising me while we waited for our food which was not what I expected. I guess I shouldn't have told him that things like that have always fascinated me. I wasn't 'fully under' or anything, just incredibly, incredibly relaxed. I could hear everything that he was saying to me and everything that he was telling me to do and I could have gone against it I guess but I was far too relaxed to want to. I suppose that's how trances work then.

The proper show was also very impressive, especially when he opened his wallet and fire came out and he produced a drink from seemingly nowhere. I suppose all the tricks were fairly standard: card tricks, rope tricks, 'mind reading' etc. He got me up to help hide a nail under a cup and then he played Russian Roulette with my friend to find the nail. I think my reaction gave it away too much (which was obviously what he was looking for, but I probably overreacted and spoiled it a bit) but other than that it was fun. He also didn't speak a word of English which was wonderful, I think one of the other audience members did because he wouldn't stop staring at us if we spoke English. I now have a lot more sympathy for people speaking their native language in a foreign country. I'll admit sometimes I stare too if the other language particularly fascinates me but I'll certainly remember that it's not fun to be stared at in future.

My secomd interesting thing was (as mentioned in the last blog) being on stage in 'Rumplestiltskin'. It was very strange to switch from one school to another in the course of one day (normally it's one day in one school, three in the other and fridays back in the first school). I think I was also very fortunate that this Friday turned out to be one of the best days I've ever had in one of my schools, in terms of student input and response. Whoever said Friday the 13th was unlucky? It seems that as soon as I told whichever pair I was working with, that they had to describe and discuss the picture they had in front of them but "make it more of a conversation between the two of them", they suddenly had loads to say. It nearly completely cut out the awkward silences where I normally try to think of a question and they look uncomfortable. I also had a long German discussion with two students about what would be helpful for them in English lessons and now feel more useful than I did before.

Anyway, that was all before even getting to the right school for rehearsals. I only just made it from one to the other in time so didn't manage to eat lunch until 3pm but things went well. We managed to get the room set up (there wasn't a real stage, just a decked out classroom) and even got the music sorted, then our last rehearsal mostly ironed out the scene change difficulties we'd been having. It turns out that turning straw into gold and then back again so that more straw can be magically conjured is difficult! Thankfully we had an old sack that we could throw over a pile of 'gold' along with some straw and then whisk the sack away so it looked like it had been transformed. I'm hoping the effect was good. We also had a large bag of chocolate coins which the King liberally threw at the small children after he had been proclaimed 'the richest man in the world' by the Narrator. All in all it was good fun, especially because we were performing it for the 5th graders, most of whom have seen me in their lessons at least once. The small seemingly-excited cry of "Da ist Emma!" when I came on 'stage' made me smile and one even came and said hello afterwards.

So yes, that was a good Friday, all told. Next week I may be working with the younger ones more as one of the teachers in one school said it would be good as I've not really met them yet. Their enthusiasm and excitement to have a new and strange person in the class is also really sweet. Next weekend also sees the adventure of a trip to Prague and the further excitement of having a vist from the PAD (Paedagogische Austausch Dienst) to see how I've been getting on as a language assistant. Here's hoping I remember to blog.