The big day finally arrived yesterday: our daughter started school.

The day started at 9am with a church service, where the children were blessed and the satchels were sprinkled with holy water.  From there, it was a 20 minute walk to the primary school.

Starting school: with the Schultüte in front of the Church

Inside the school, we were crowded into a side area of the entrance hall where, after a few words from the headmistress, the children were called up one-by-one to join their new teachers, who then led them in groups off to their classrooms through an aisle of over-sized raised pencils.

Thus began the long wait outside, during which we were fed and watered by the Förderverein (a sort of “Friends of…” association).

And while we waited, our daughter was being told the rules of the classroom, was given her first homework (!), her timetable and even a school T-Shirt.  Her satchel was also loaded up with various papers for us to read, and some to sign.  Finally, we were allowed to collect her and take her home to open her Schultüte and, of course, for her to do her first homework.

The day is a major event for German schoolchildren, much more than the first day of school in many other countries.  The children are accompanied by their parents, grandparents and even godparents who, where possible, spend the whole day with them.

It means that the children are at the centre of attention on their big day, and our daughter mastered the event brilliantly.  We are so proud of her!

Today one of our local supermarket chains  (Rewe) was offering a free Schultüte (school cone) to all the children who start school next week.

Not only is the cone filled with healthy fruit and useful things such as a timetable to fill out and a ruler, but the promotion was well organised.

Although we had received a voucher in advance, we went early to make sure that our daughter did not miss out.  Excepting to find a large display – possibly with none left by the time we got there, we were pleasantly surprised to find that they were being kept out of public view and were only being issued on production of the voucher.

So even if this isn’t the cone that will be going with her to school next week, it was a nice thing for them to do and really brought home the fact, that there are only a few days left to go.

Thank you Rewe – and well done!

Our daughter and her school cone at the supermarket

When I was a student in Germany, I used to take the train into Frankfurt every few weeks.  The only trouble was, that the ticket machines at the station were often out of order.

I remember that the first time this happened, I asked another passenger what I should do, and they told me to write down the serial numbers of all of the ticket machines, and if anyone wanted to see my ticket I should tell them what had happened and prove it using the numbers.

I was reminded of this the other day, as – just as I was in the process of paying – the only machine at our local station decided that it was not going to issue me with a ticket.  (Incidentally it had also locked in my bank card!)

Out of order - Außer Betrieb

So what should you really do in such circumstances?

Writing down the number of the machine is certainly a good idea.  Apparently, if you are checked by a ticket inspector, they write down your name and address and send someone to see if the machine really was faulty (and presumably fix it).

However, I have since heard of people who then received a bill for the “erhöhtes Beförderungsentgeld” (that’s the fine for travelling without a ticket), because the machine was allegedly working.

I always wondered how such things happened – now I know!  Having retrieved my bank card and noted the machine number, we waited for our train to arrive.  After a few minutes, the machine reverted to its normal state and the “Außer Betrieb” notices disappeared.  We bought our tickets with cash and the train eventually came.

Now, supposing the train had been a few minutes earlier and we had been unable to buy those tickets. Anyone going to check the machine the next day would not have found the problem.  (Or do they have audit trails in the software?)

After making some enquiries, I still do not have anything official, but I do have some new advice.  Not only is it wise to note down the number(s) of the machine(s), but you should advise the train driver as well.  It is then up to him or her to either let you travel without a ticket – something they can then vouch for when the ticket inspectors get on the train.  Or they can let you off at the next stop and wait while you buy a ticket there.  I emphasise the wait because normally the time at a U-Bahn stop would not be sufficient.

Finally, if ticket inspectors do get into your carriage, it is important to make yourself known to them straight away and get them to talk to the driver.  Do not wait for them to come to you!

By the way, the machine really does have to be out of order.  If you don’t have the right change, and the machine is not taking notes or bank cards, then that is not considered sufficient to travel without a ticket.

The alternative is to travel a different way – if you can!