Museum Education Programming

First of, I would like to scream, TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a little tired. My alarm woke me up from a dead sleep and dream, in which Victoria and I were at a gas station, met some Brits, and were eating ice cream with them. It was a good dream. But I got ready on time, at some strawberries with breakfast, dressed appropriately today and remembered my sunglasses. So, it was a good start to the day.
If I mentioned earlier this week, I was able to attend a seminar today for local teachers. It was interesting, and made the day go by fast. Though I am not pleased at all with the end result.
After arriving to the Museum, changing my shoes and drinking a cup of tea, I helped Frau Haas carry the tea and coffee to the room we'd be using for the seminar. Its in the actual Abbey, on the third floor. Teachers, or teachers in training (they all seemed around my age) came and we began more or so less by going on a small tour of the museum with the theme of Fashion. Frau Auer gave the tour. This was actually fun, because it was interactive and I like historical costumes. I got to dress up, complete with fake panniers. My dress was from the 1500's, not literally, but an imitation. I could not move my arms very well. But I guess all I was to do during that time was embroider tapestries or something.
After the tour, we were offered coffee (no thanks) and another lady gave a rather long talk about Museums Education, how it wasn't boring and you could learn about any subject in a museum, regardless if the museum was for history or not. From there, we were given an assignment. We were to create, in groups, a costume/outfit using the following materials: chicken wire (that had a bunny on the wrapping, so I guess here its called bunny wire), paper, poster board, batting, random yarn, and of course glue, staples and scissors. It took a long time and I got poked a lot by the wire.
Originally my group was going to have me be the model for the outfit. But Monika decided we should make pants, so I couldn't be the model because I was wearing a skirt. That turn out to be fine, because I didn't need to be poked endlessly with chicken wire. The project was actually interrupted by lunch (an hour), which I used to eat, write an email or two at the library, and buy a chocolate croissant. We worked on the project for about another hour. Let's just say that ours looked like shit. I am embarrassed of that handiwork. Granted, most of it was not my idea, but its bad when the best part was the hat, which was a big circle cut out of poster board.
Ultimately, the models were photographed, made to promenade in the museum foyer and outside for the public. It didn't help that my group members decided our costume looked Asian, so the girl made up some Asian sounding words as the name of the costume. It was all stupid. When we went outside, I stood on the other side of the garden.
But, all in all, it's a cool program/seminar/outreach program for teachers, or teachers in training. I don't think we have anything like this in StL, though Frau Auer said this concept came out of the States. It kind of makes me want to see if we do have such programs, and if not, demand that the Museum District (Forest Park) hires me and I get to design all the programs. I guess then I'd be something like Frau Auer, but more specific on my time management.
I was glad to be done with the day, and go home. But, I had to wait, as always, an hour before the next train. I went inside a shop I hadn't been in before. It was for old ladies, it turned out. This is something I've noticed today and yesterday, a shop will have cool clothes on the street rack, but inside, its full of clothes for older women. They fool you/me. Then I went inside Mueller, to look at the chocolate, even though I knew I wasn't going to buy any. But I discovered they do indeed sell Koala Yummies. Which is good. After that, I decided to go inside a store that's right outside the last city tower on my way to the train station. They have a nice pair of shorts I've been eying for a few weeks, and I wondered what else they have.
I feel awkward going into some of these stores, because they're so small. And often I"m the only one in there, so I feel very exposed, and almost bad if I don't buy something, because the shop person knows I didn't. But this lady was at least quiet, and left me to myself. I will try on those shorts one day, and tragically, I found about five pairs of cute shoes. Why, seriously, does European fashion have to be so much better than ours? And why do the shoes have to be so cheap? Bah.
The train ride and walk home was OK. It's a bit cooler in St. Georgen, so I wasn't completely miserable this time upon coming home. I still changed immediately, though. And laid on my bed for about six minutes cooling off. Frau Brause wasn't home, but Herr Brause was watching the first game of the Cup. I finished it with him, and if you don't know, it was South Africa against Mexico. They tied, one-one. Next up is France and Argentina. I'm excited. And tomorrow we play and then on Sunday the Germans play. I believe we're having a party for it.
It totally felt good to lay on the couch and watch other people exercise. And finish my tea from the morning (Frau Brause's been sending me to work with a giant canister of tea).
Dinner was pretty good, I plowed through my steak. I didn't chew most of it. This is not because I was so hungry, but because the cut of meat sucked. But she tried, and I discovered that goat cheese is excellent on salt potatoes. I think goat cheese is one of my new favourite foods. Upon returning home, I will investigate a good one from Whole Foods. Right now, I'm just wasting time until France's World Cup debut. I have about a half hour.