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strength and school system of Germany.

Grundschule – Elementary School, with classes 1. until 4.

Hauptschule – Secondary General School , having 5. towards 9.

Realschule – Intermediate Secondary School, from 5. until 10.

Gymnasium – Grammar School offering classes 5. until 13.

Spending first four years making friends, of which a handful remain. After moving into another city, had to finish the last two somewhere else. A wonderful time, writing capital letters upon pages of the newspaper, using watercolours and a brush during the afternoon. Elementary school, was a so-called integral school, trying to teach children with light physical disabilities alongside with children that don’t have them, trying to bridge the gab between, making fear of contact between disappear.

Children are allowed to do the first three classes again, if need be – however the last one decides together with marks, parents and teachers, which school type will follow. There are basically the three from above. As you may imagine most of the parents do want their children to enter Gymnasium, providing most years of education, ending with A-level and probably University.

Yes, me too – entered as following school a Gymnasium. Due to further movement, had to change school again and upon advice by teachers went to a Realschule from then on. Not being the best of school, neither the class itself, my friends left far, it was rather difficult to ‘find ground’ to stand upon and therefore after 8th grade, I was falling to the bottom of Hauptschule.

May be a coincidence that both begin with an ‘H’: Hauptschule and Hell. Still remember first day entering the class room, during the middle of the year, totally lost of contact, as friendships were already made right after summer break. Only remaining seat in the first row. Just before sitting down, heard that the other student right next to me isn’t able to speak much German, if at all.

A few Friday’s before you were able to get a glimpse of it; having my stuff being thrown into trash can or made fun of due to the clothes I had to wear. Still remember as well, the day when half the school waited outside, to see whether I’d try to escape another boy, because I made friendship with his girl. Nothing serious just started to talk, finding another soul. Lost so it seems like me. No I didn’t. Never in my life went the other way, avoiding not a single fight – you can do it as well !

Building, fighting my way back up the scale. Reaching its peak and entering University to study Engineering. Building more than one dream, hoping to live long enough, to make them last, to tell you of them a few.