Teacher

On the 30-minute walk to university, I am delighted to discover a Starbucks and get myself an iced chocolate mocca, no matter how cold it is here, I love the taste of coffee with chocolate.

Then I enter the grounds of Trinity College for the first time through the large stone gate and take a deep breath. I look around and find a sign that says Dean and set off to follow the signs. I mean, I'm from LA, it won't be that difficult.

Wrong ... at some point there are just no more signs and I turn around in circles before I bump into someone again.

"Sorry." I say immediately and close my eyes in agony when I see who I have bumped into again.

"This time it almost sounds like you mean it." Smiles my "victim".

"I'm really sorry." I tell him and pick up his bag to pass it to him.

"No problem, but can it be that you are standing in the middle of the way?" He tilts his head questioningly.

"Yes." I admit, "I have to go to the dean's office."

"Okay, the long corridor we are now in straight ahead, last corridor on the left to about half way, then turn right and then you will see a large double-leaf door. Then there it is. ”He explains kindly and I stare at him.

"I've been here a little longer." He explains and I look caught at my feet.

"Sorry." I get it again.

“Stop apologizing all the time. I'm Nate. ”He holds out his hand and I hesitantly take it.

"Ana." I introduce myself to him too.

I tilt my head and look at him, he's probably in his early 30s, he has slightly longer light brown hair, a three-day beard and warm brown eyes. He towers almost a whole head over me and makes a trained impression.

"If you keep staring at me, you will never come to the dean." He reprimands me and I nod.

"I'm sorry." I finally let go of his hand.

"Ana ..." he reminds me "And by the way, you can save yourself nodding ..." he comes a bit closer to me "I can't see it." He whispers to me.

I moan softly and he smiles again.

"No more apologies." He reminds me.

"Thank you Nate." I finally say and finally continue on my way. Based on the description, I quickly find the office and knock timidly on the door.

"Come in." It comes almost instantly and I enter the imposing room.

“How can I help you?” An elderly lady looks at me kindly.

"I'm Anastasia Coleman, I should report you here." I answer almost shyly and close the door behind me.

"Miss Coleman." The lady gets up and gets a file. “Here I have your curriculum, your enrollment, and please sign it so that we can request your documents from your previous university.” She puts a few pieces of paper on the counter for me and I put my signature on everything she points to.

"James Connor will be here in a moment and take you around the grounds and show you the rooms. He's one of her fellow students, top of the class and very clever. ”She adjusts her glasses and points to a chair by the door.

"Thank you Mrs." I look at the sign on her desk, "McKinney." I thank you politely and sit down.

It doesn't take long for a young man to storm in.

"Ah Mr. Connor, this is Anastasia Coleman, she is moving to us from UCLA, please show her everything and familiarize her with everything." She points to me and he comes to me.

He offers me his hand and looks at me suspiciously.

I admit, I scrutinize him too ... with his white shirt, tank top, creased trousers and matching black nickel glasses, he corresponds 100% to the image of the ambitious student.

"Then come with Anastasia." He nods to me and we step into the hallway.

It makes this tour about as exciting as a documentation about the sleep behavior of sloths and I groan internally after just 10 minutes. After three hours we come to the cafeteria and I am given a cafeteria card and he shows me how to top up it.

After he has more or less informed me about the peculiarities of my various professors and teachers, he dismisses me at 2 p.m. and I make 3 crosses.

That was definitely the longest morning of my life ... I just hope I don't attend too many lectures like him because he is definitely one of those people who asks dozens of questions on any subject.

With the book list given to me, I look for a bookstore and pay over 300 euros for books that I actually already have ...

Then I stroll a little through the city center, treat myself to a small dinner in a sushi bar and only come back to the dormitory in the early evening.

"Hello Ana." Amber greets me as I step out of the elevator and I give her a short wave before I go to my room. I'm not in the mood for another "interrogation" where they only condemn me anyway ...

I pick up my new books and look for my curriculum, tomorrow I have the first lecture with Prof. Williams ... European law.

So I really have no idea about that ...

I actually fall asleep over my books and would love to throw my phone out the window when it wakes me up early the next morning.

I shuffle into the bathroom, take a quick shower and, with a look outside, put on waterproof clothes again.

It seems to rain almost exclusively here ... I think morosely and set off with a detour to Starbucks.

Looking for something, I also find the lecture hall and enter it with a bunch of other students.

"Hello Ana." I hear a voice right next to me and I flinch.

"You scared me." I look at Nate and he smiles complacent. “And what if it hadn't been me?” I ask after digesting the first shock.

"Melon shampoo and Euphoria Blossom, only you have this combination." He gives me another smile and I answer it.

For the first time since I've been here, I smile and it feels kind of strange.

"Okay won." I reply, "I have to find a place now." I put my hand on his forearm.

"Have fun." He winks at me, I find a place and take my book and my laptop out of my backpack. All right, European law ... Well, let's see.

“Good morning.” An older man enters the lecture hall and begins the lecture with a question-answer session.

"Miss Coleman, I have to ask you to take a closer look at the material. I am aware that they have only just changed, but that is basic knowledge. ”He rebukes me after I cannot answer the third question that he asked me.

I look at my hands ashamed and hear the quiet whispering around me.

The start is really good ...

“So, today's lecture will be taken over by Mr. O'Brian, whom you all already know and who will be doing his own lectures from next semester so that I can breathe a little deeply as an old man. Nathaniel they are yours. ”He points to Nate and Nate goes into the middle and turns to us.

He is a teacher?

I would have expected a lot, but certainly not ...

Then he starts his lessons, I have to say he is good, he is really good ... but since I am apparently already missing a few basic building blocks, I of course can't really keep up with the current material.

European law goes on for a full three hours and I sigh in relief when Nate dismisses us.

I pack my things and pray fervently that I don't completely fail in the next lecture, Fundamental Rights.

"Ana?" Calls me Nate and I go to him.

"Do you want to tell me now that I don't have the material on it?" I ask tortured. "And why didn't you tell me that you were a teacher?"