To end this week, we spent much of our lesson playing games – memory games, to be exact, to help us remember past tenses and also food names. We also learnt the months of the year and their corresponding horoscopes. Through this last game, we were able to learn animal names too. Who says that you can’t have fun whilst learning?

As we moved on to learn names of foods, I have happened to notice since moving to Munich, that much of the food here is bought fresh. Bakerys, Butchers and Green Grocers are very popular  here especially as the staple diet for a traditional German family (especially in Bayern) is sausage and bread and fruit based Cakes, Tarts & Tortes. The Viktuelien Market in Marien Platz is just such a market which is particularly large and sells great fresh Fruit & Veg. Compared to England, which considers these markets a special “feature” – aka “Farmers Markets”, it really isn’t  that expensive either. I can now understand why many of the European exchange students that stay with my family in England, say that Europeans are much more healthy eaters from what they are offered at school and out & about town. If I remember correctly, England used to also be this way. Maybe, we should go back to the “good old days” and really reinvest in local produce. I personally have felt so much better for the change – despite all the cakes!!!;-)

As we were learning the names of fruit and veg – I happened to notice that many fruits in German have the feminine Artikel – Die. It was very nice to feel that I was finally able to start putting things into “brain boxes” again and have a fighting chance of remembering them. As I tend to do the shopping at home, this will be very useful.

Coincidentally, chocolate also has the feminine Artikel. I am very happy about this although as we currently have a Hat-ful of chocolate (see below) stashed for a rainy day but I don’t think I will be needing to get any more soon, do you? Aahhh… “Die Schokolade”.

I end this week with a little bit of good news. Apparently, we’ve all been really getting to grips with the new tense much better than we thought. I personally do believe this for most in the class but maybe I have to spend my weekend with my nose in my books just a little bit longer than the others. That’s right – we have a test on Monday. Joy!!!