Start Deutsch A1 Exam -- My Experience

Finally my examination is over. I have been worried about it the whole week. As most did, I also went to ask around to the people who took the exams before and passed. I was reassured over and over again that it is easy. Nevertheless, I continue what a good student would do: STUDY! And now, its my time to share my own experience:

Our Exam Information

A week before the examination, Goethe Manila will send you an email about the where to held the examination. They will also include the schedules. You will be numbered according to your Surname's first letter that is arrange alphabetically. For the written exam, your sitting arrangement will be strategically placed in a room full of long tables having 2 chairs in it. For the oral exam, we were group together by 4 based on the attendance list.

IMPORTANT:
Please arrive at least an hour earlier than your schedule examination with your Passport or NBI clearance.
-- No Passport or original NBI clearance =  no exam
-- If you arrive late = no exam
-- No exam = no second chances = no refund of your money

Greeting us at the Entrance

Not to scare anyone who read this, but I really have a hard time with my written exam. Specifically the listening part. After the exam, I really feel stupid and I was very disappointed with myself. I only realize that the exam was really difficult when everyone suddenly comment on how hard the exam was. But this does not ease my worry on passing the examination or not. Suddenly, the most important thing now is to get that passing grade of 60%. After all, its the certificate we really need irregardless what grade is printed on it.

During the Oral exam, the proctor will tell her instructions in German. I was smiling thru out because I did understand every word she said. It send such a good vibration. I portray myself very confident but in reality: I knew I made some mistakes. I did find the situation funny. lol.

So now it boils down to this: Waiting for the result. Hoping its good news! It will be 10 days or earlier a bit before we know who made it and not. I am planning to do my CFO seminar in the mean time and I will update you guys about it. This is all for now.

Thanks for reading!

P.S. Some of your batch mate might attempt to cheat and will try to convince you to "help" them. Please do yourself a favor and protect yourself -- do no such thing. Never mind if this stranger get mad at you. If you get caught of cheating or 'helping' this person, you are risking your own exam result. The penalty is that they forfeit your exam. I do not think its worth it, do you? Just my two cents.

Last Day of my A1 Deutschkurs

My, my. How time flies by. I have a silly grin on my face as I re-read about my first day in class experience. Yesterday (August 03) was our last day in school. There was lot of picture taking going on before and after the class. Overall, my German class experience was awesome. I truly have a good time & happy to gain good friends. We all be seeing each other again this weekend: for our Start Deutsch 1 examination. (dun-dun-duun).

The things to bring for the Examination:

1. Passport
-- Its a strictly 'No Passport No Exam' policy.
-- You can present an original copy of your NBI clearance if your passport not available.
Note: With NBI clearance they will allow you to take the exam but you need to present your original Passport in getting your Certificate.

2. Black Ballpen (at least 2)
-- The last thing you wanted is in between your exam, the ballpen stop writing. Eeeks!

3. Jacket (optional)
-- Just incase its too cold for you.

To all who are taking the exams: Good luck!!!

Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage Paper part2

Your German Partner finally receive your Philippine Documents for his Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage  Paper (yey!). If its already translated to German, then he can already visit his Standesamt with all your documents along with his Passport & his Birth Certificate.

The processing for this paper varies from each Standesamt, so do not panic incase you have a different experience. They are really case-to-case basis. Here are the 2 common experiences that I was able to gather:

1. There are some whose Standesamt requests for document checking first (of the Philippine partner) and ask them to pay around 12,000php equivalent. It took them 2-3 months to get their papers. The good thing about this is that they are no longer subjected to document checking when they process their visa.

2. There are some whose Standesamt did not ask for document checking anymore but they will be ask to pay an equivalent of 5,000php for processing the documents. Your partner can get this paper less than a month. Those who are done with their visa process mentioned that this document checking was ask from them after the interview at German Embassy Manila. It is safe to assume that most of the applicants will be ask of this.

On our experience, we were not ask to do the document checking yet. My partner must be extremely lucky and he got his paper on the same day when he filed. Cool huh?

After getting his 'Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage' paper, you still have one more step to go: Give it to the German Embassy in the Philippines and have them issue a "Consular Certificate". In this document, they will certify that your partner is free to marry you: they will put both of your names there. They will also put the validity period of the said Certificate. The Good Consul will have the certificate stamp and sign for. Your partner's paper will become its attachment. Then there you have it: you are done!

To have this step done, you have the following choices:

1. Have your German partner hand carry it and personally drop by the German Embassy either in Manila or Cebu.
-- Allot 2-3 extra days for the pick up just incase.

2. Have your German partner send it to-and-fro the Embassy via courier.
-- He can do this while he is still in Germany. Or if he chooses, he can bring it with him in the Philippines and send it via courier (maybe you are living outside Manila or Cebu). Again, allot extra weeks for this.

3. Have your German partner send it to you and you will be the one to visit the German Embassy.
-- It will be best that your partner includes an authorization letter allowing you to process it for him and that the purpose of the document is for your marriage.
-- bring your passport with you for identification purposes.

On our case, we did the third option at German Embassy Cebu. I also have his Birth Certificate translated. Like other documents, the rates are in Euro but you need to pay them in pesos based on the current market rate. Both the Birth Certificate translation and the issuance of the Consular Certificate of the Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage costs 2,000php. The certificate was ready to pick up after a day.

Hope it helps! Good luck!

Facebook Help Group

Nothing more scarier than going head on with the unknown. Fear no more and some of the readers of Pinoy in Germany blog has took one foot forward and had created a Facebook Group: Pinay in Deutschland group. The members who join here are either filipino/filipina married or engaged to a German national, living and/or working in Germany, and the likes. Asking for help regarding your visa or for tips on how-tos from people who are 'been-there-done-that' have never been this easy.

Happy Chatting!

Internet Connection Problem

The internet at home is down for a few days already, the internet provider just said that there was a restoration going on and could not give an estimate time on when it will be available again. For people who are in Long Distance Relationships, I know you guys will understand on how horrible the situation is for me. It felt like my world stop turning. The first couple of days, I have to contented myself with text messages ... but its quiet different if you get to talk real time with your love one.

SMARTBRO prepaid plug-it kit

I got convince to avail a wireless broadband to end my misery. There are other telecommunication companies who offer this but I went for SmartBro by Smart Telecommunication company mainly because it was recommended to me by my brother and other friends who personally tried it themselves. There are several kinds of SmartBro available in pre-paid or post-paid plans. I opted for the SmartBro prepaid plug-it kit, since (I hope) that the internet at home will be fix soon. I thought this is a good temporary fix. 

The content of the
 SMARTBRO prepaid kit

The kit costs me 1,245php and is pre-loaded with 120 hours internet airtime valid for 5 days. It's so easy to use: Just insert the sim card in the USB slot, then plug it in your laptop and you are ready to go. There is a manual included in the kit just incase you need. This is a pay-to-use type so you needed to load it after using up all the internet airtime. Their lowest rate is 10php for every 30 minutes. They also offer "unlimited" use where their highest rate is 200php good for 5 whole day. Not bad, right?

I am a computer noob and can only tell you that the connection was good enough for my daily activities which includes checking my emails and my social network account, chat and video call via yahoo messenger, and surfing online.

Indeed,  I regret not getting the wireless internet service sooner. It would have save me and my boyfriend the frustrations. But at least now, I do not need to worry about that anymore.

DISCLAIMER:
I am not an affiliate of Smart. For any inquiry regarding their services, products or promos, kindly redirect yourself to their official website. I am not paid to write this and have only express myself based on what I experience.

Studying Der, Die, Das

I saw a glimpse of confusion in the German Language during our third day in class. We were introduced to the infamous "Der, Die, Das" which all means "The" in English. They symbolizes masculine, feminine or neuter respectively. Actually, the real tricky part is that each item word in German Language have their own gender. How to know if it male or female? That's the point, you don't. We have to memorize everything. Whew!

Thanks to my teacher and new online acquittance -- I was able to get some good tips on how to handle this:

1. Memorize by group.

-- Use a table to help you achieve this. It should like this:

Clothing	DER	DIE	DAS
	Rock	Jacke	Kleid
	(skirt)	(jacket)	(dress)
	Mantel	Bluse	T-shirt
	(polo)	(blouse)
	Pullover	Hose
	(sweatshirt)	(pants)

2. Memorize little but little.

-- Avoid mixing other unrelated stuffs inside the group. Sure, you wanted to know everything: table, kitchen items, and so on. But this will only confuse and overwhelm you. Just focus on what words you needed to learn, the rest will follow.

3. Use sticky notes.

-- Place sticky notes on items you see everyday at your home with their german word equivalent. Remembering by practicing!

Crossing my fingers now ... Good Luck!!!

Monday Best: 2nd day in School

For some reasons, I always dislike Monday. Even when I started to work, Monday is always the rush hour of my week. But yesterday's Monday is different. I was excited and thirsty to learn more german words. I found myself in our classroom an hour earlier than starting time. I eagerly inspect the pictures on the wall and the several maps of Germany inside the classroom. One by one, my classmates arrived. I have  a great time listening to their love stories about their german husband/boyfriend. And was delighted to find out that one of them is heading to the same city where I am heading too. Yey!

 So far, we are 9 now in the batch -- we have a new classmate who just arrived recently: the thorn of the roses -- our only guy in the class.  He was stranded in his town's pier as there was an ongoing strong typhoon over the week end. This is why he didn't get to attend the first day. The good thing about him is that he is a fast learner. Imagine from our first day: 3 hours lesson all jam packed for less than 30 minutes (it serve as a reviewer). So, as much as possible, it is a must to attend each class on time.

This is all for now. Going to review now for tomorrow's rumble! 'Til next time!