I have a little story. Actually, it's my mom's story. Early this school year, I was having a real shit day, so I called my mom. Even though I'm almost 21 years old, I still call my mom multiple times a week...turns out that's really expensive. BUT! That's not the story. One of these times I was calling my mom, Kathy as some of you may know her, she told me about one time in college when she was going through the same sort of thing. And she told me that she dealt with it in the middle of Arizona "winter" by putting on her bikini, turning off all the lights in her dorm room, putting on a pair of sunglasses and turning up "Pet Sounds" really loud. And this was when I knew I really belonged to my mom. It sounded exactly like what I needed to do to get out of my funk. And not that I'm in a funk today, but I am sitting on my bed listening to "Pet Sounds" and thinking about how hard it is going to be to come back to the United States. So I'm coming up with a list of things that I'm really looking forward to about home. We (the royal we) can assume that friends and family are included. And Midge!
1) Mexican Food
I haven't had too many strong cravings for Mexican food but I'm definitely looking forward to it not costing over $3 for a package of 10 tortillas. That, and having more than one choice of a place to go to eat it.
2) My Car
There I go being a typical American. I'm really looking forward to being on time again.
3) Familiarity
Even though I've become quite familiar with the city of Freiburg, there is certainly much more incertainty in my daily activities. When I go into this store, will I really be able to communicate to them what I want? Once I'm back home, I don't think I'll have to worry about that so much...or atleast I hope that I won't.
4) Whole Foods/HEB/Central Market
I am really really really really really looking forward to big, American grocery stores. Everything here is so small with much more limited selections. I can't wait to be able to cruise down 25 aisles of grocery store and get all the weird American products I want. Oh, and baggers. Man, I miss you guys. I can't tell you how stressful it is to be in the grocery store line here and have to bag your own groceries with several impatient German old ladies behind you.
5) Personal Space
I love Alban Stolz, the dormitory/co-op that I live in, but I absolutely cannot wait to go home to my wonderful little one bedroom apartment with my own fridge, my own dishwasher, my own oven, my own shower, my own toilet, my huge closet. This last sentence made me feel very snobby. Woohoo
I can think of a lot more things but I think this is good.
08 July 2007
25 June 2007
Ich liebe es
It's Monday morning which means it's time for a new update. Also, I have a lot of work to do...so that means update.
Per usual, since the last time I've written, I've had a new thought (sometimes two). My thoughts, as of late, reflect on why I think studying abroad in Germany is so much different than any other place in Europe. I think I could guarantee myself wrong on this (take note: this is probably the one time in my life you will ever see me claim that) but I think everyone who studies abroad surely feels the same way. But since I'm on the downslope now, practically a month a way from leaving, I can't imagine not coming back. This hasn't been a "getitallinmywhileyoucancuzyouwillneverbebackhere" sort of six months. Since being here, I haven't really felt the push to see everything there is to see because I know that I'll be coming back eventually. And I guess what my point is, is that I think that other people don't have that same experience. And this probably is speaking fairly specifically to where I live, literally, because this "dormitory/cooperative" living arrangement breeds relationships that aren't so temporary, I think. So anyway, that's all I have to say about that. Now, what I love about Germany:
1)Drink/Food
This is so obvious it has to be at the top of the list. At first, German food was stressful. It really was! It always felt like I was playing a game of roulette. You never knew when you might end up with a sack of gelatin. But now that my vocabulary has expanded and I know that when I have questions, I should ask because I find that you can end up with some very delicious dishes. A few of my favorites include spaetzle and knodel. And BEER! Oh sweet sweet nectar of life, I'm going to miss you. Not to say I'm an alcoholic, but who can turn down a ,5 liter bottle that costs less than a euro. That's just a deal.
2)Chocolate
I feel like this obviously deserves its own category. Even though all the good German chocolate is sold in the US too, it's 4 times the price and the label is in English. The German label is half the fun. I think I'll miss sharing the Ritter Sport squares with Lana the most.
3)TV
Oh glorious, ridiculous, German TV. It really kills me the way everything is dubbed in this country. When we went to Amsterdam, they had practically the same issue of all of the programs being from America, but at least they used subtitles and kept the original English. Everything, EVERYTHING here is dubbed and it's just..funny. You know, it sounds like I really hate it, and I really do, but in the same way, I really love it....sort of like how you hate getting a black eye because it hurts, but secretly you love it because it makes you look like a badass. Or maybe that's just me. I guess I don't get black eyes as often as I'd like to think I do.
4)the Street Train
I absolutely cannot wait until I can drive my car again. And I do kind of hate the train, but! It is really nice to be able to go into the city and not worry about who is going to have to drive you home.
5)The community that I live in
Awwww, that's so sweet. I know. But really, in the same way that Normandy Scholars built a comradery, so too has Freiburg; not only among other Americans but also with some Germans. Only this time we're bound by the struggle of living in another language, not 5,000 pages of reading and writing. I live in a dysfunctional and wonderfully gossipy little family, bumbling along and somehow not ending up dead. Don't worry Mom and Dad, I really don't do anything that dangerous, but do know that I'm incredibly lucky for the people I've ended up with around me. I'm sad that some are having to leave so soon. Who is going to stop me now when I unknowingly step out in front of Strassenbahns? I'm going to have to start paying attention. And the dorm, oh the dorm, I think it's probably to the point that I can tell who has just come home by the sounds they make as they walk past my door. I will miss all the whistling.
I keep thinking of more and more and more things that I'd like to write here but I've decided to stop at five. I guess it's probably a good sign that when I think about Germany now my first thought isn't panzer.
Per usual, since the last time I've written, I've had a new thought (sometimes two). My thoughts, as of late, reflect on why I think studying abroad in Germany is so much different than any other place in Europe. I think I could guarantee myself wrong on this (take note: this is probably the one time in my life you will ever see me claim that) but I think everyone who studies abroad surely feels the same way. But since I'm on the downslope now, practically a month a way from leaving, I can't imagine not coming back. This hasn't been a "getitallinmywhileyoucancuzyouwillneverbebackhere" sort of six months. Since being here, I haven't really felt the push to see everything there is to see because I know that I'll be coming back eventually. And I guess what my point is, is that I think that other people don't have that same experience. And this probably is speaking fairly specifically to where I live, literally, because this "dormitory/cooperative" living arrangement breeds relationships that aren't so temporary, I think. So anyway, that's all I have to say about that. Now, what I love about Germany:
1)Drink/Food
This is so obvious it has to be at the top of the list. At first, German food was stressful. It really was! It always felt like I was playing a game of roulette. You never knew when you might end up with a sack of gelatin. But now that my vocabulary has expanded and I know that when I have questions, I should ask because I find that you can end up with some very delicious dishes. A few of my favorites include spaetzle and knodel. And BEER! Oh sweet sweet nectar of life, I'm going to miss you. Not to say I'm an alcoholic, but who can turn down a ,5 liter bottle that costs less than a euro. That's just a deal.
2)Chocolate
I feel like this obviously deserves its own category. Even though all the good German chocolate is sold in the US too, it's 4 times the price and the label is in English. The German label is half the fun. I think I'll miss sharing the Ritter Sport squares with Lana the most.
3)TV
Oh glorious, ridiculous, German TV. It really kills me the way everything is dubbed in this country. When we went to Amsterdam, they had practically the same issue of all of the programs being from America, but at least they used subtitles and kept the original English. Everything, EVERYTHING here is dubbed and it's just..funny. You know, it sounds like I really hate it, and I really do, but in the same way, I really love it....sort of like how you hate getting a black eye because it hurts, but secretly you love it because it makes you look like a badass. Or maybe that's just me. I guess I don't get black eyes as often as I'd like to think I do.
4)the Street Train
I absolutely cannot wait until I can drive my car again. And I do kind of hate the train, but! It is really nice to be able to go into the city and not worry about who is going to have to drive you home.
5)The community that I live in
Awwww, that's so sweet. I know. But really, in the same way that Normandy Scholars built a comradery, so too has Freiburg; not only among other Americans but also with some Germans. Only this time we're bound by the struggle of living in another language, not 5,000 pages of reading and writing. I live in a dysfunctional and wonderfully gossipy little family, bumbling along and somehow not ending up dead. Don't worry Mom and Dad, I really don't do anything that dangerous, but do know that I'm incredibly lucky for the people I've ended up with around me. I'm sad that some are having to leave so soon. Who is going to stop me now when I unknowingly step out in front of Strassenbahns? I'm going to have to start paying attention. And the dorm, oh the dorm, I think it's probably to the point that I can tell who has just come home by the sounds they make as they walk past my door. I will miss all the whistling.
I keep thinking of more and more and more things that I'd like to write here but I've decided to stop at five. I guess it's probably a good sign that when I think about Germany now my first thought isn't panzer.
11 June 2007
What to say, what to say? It's mid-morning on a Monday, so this means I'm sitting around in my room, wasting time. I have class from 4:15 until 8:00 tonight, leaving my day completely free to do whatever I please. I was thinking about going to lay on the Dreisam, the river that runs behind where I live, but I just took a shower and being outside means getting sweaty. My life is full of hardship.
Speaking of hardship, I've been thinking about this idea of the poor college student a lot lately and what it means to me. I've spoken to more than one friend who is/has been studying abroad and they've talked about how they've lost weight because they don't have any money for food. And I've thought about this and I just don't know that I believe it. If I was down to my last damn dime, it most certainly is going to go toward food. I will never go hungry. What can I say? I come from the land of plenty and everything is bigger in Texas, har har. Food is a sacrifice that I simply cannot make.
Let's work out an example together and take a theoretical college student who is on a Tight budget and studying abroad. Let's name them Fritz. Fritz has German ancestry and really enjoys sauerkraut, German cinema and walking very fast. Fritz has roughly 30 euros a week to spend on everything. This means fun, food, and uhm, school supplies. So, supposing Fritz is a prolific writer and must purchase one new package of pens every week, that equals roughly 1 euro out of the budget. Good for you Fritz, now you only have 29 euros. Now suppose Fritz is really the depressed writer-type and thoroughly enjoys a nice glass of whiskey for creative courage. On average, one whiskey drink will cost Fritz around 5 euros. Fritz is really moody this week and drinks 2 whiskey sodas, that's 10 euros. Now Fritz has 19 euros. Uh oh, Fritz remembers he must eat, good thing food is Really cheap in this country. One loaf of bread is 99 cents, a liter of milk (organic) 89 cents, a package of cheese and some meat 3,50 euros, 10 eggs 80 cents, 3 apples 1 euro, and a 6 pack of decent German beer 3,50 euro. Hell, Fritz went nuts this week and even bought a chocolate bar for 68 cents. All together this equals 11,36 euros. Fritz has 7,64 euros to spare. That's roughly one more shot of jagermeister and a big box of Corn Flakes or perhaps a trip to Fritz's beloved cineplex. Good job, Fritz! You can eat, have fun AND study abroad.
That's all I've got for now. Next time will be what I love about Germany and I can guarantee major points will include food and drink.
Speaking of hardship, I've been thinking about this idea of the poor college student a lot lately and what it means to me. I've spoken to more than one friend who is/has been studying abroad and they've talked about how they've lost weight because they don't have any money for food. And I've thought about this and I just don't know that I believe it. If I was down to my last damn dime, it most certainly is going to go toward food. I will never go hungry. What can I say? I come from the land of plenty and everything is bigger in Texas, har har. Food is a sacrifice that I simply cannot make.
Let's work out an example together and take a theoretical college student who is on a Tight budget and studying abroad. Let's name them Fritz. Fritz has German ancestry and really enjoys sauerkraut, German cinema and walking very fast. Fritz has roughly 30 euros a week to spend on everything. This means fun, food, and uhm, school supplies. So, supposing Fritz is a prolific writer and must purchase one new package of pens every week, that equals roughly 1 euro out of the budget. Good for you Fritz, now you only have 29 euros. Now suppose Fritz is really the depressed writer-type and thoroughly enjoys a nice glass of whiskey for creative courage. On average, one whiskey drink will cost Fritz around 5 euros. Fritz is really moody this week and drinks 2 whiskey sodas, that's 10 euros. Now Fritz has 19 euros. Uh oh, Fritz remembers he must eat, good thing food is Really cheap in this country. One loaf of bread is 99 cents, a liter of milk (organic) 89 cents, a package of cheese and some meat 3,50 euros, 10 eggs 80 cents, 3 apples 1 euro, and a 6 pack of decent German beer 3,50 euro. Hell, Fritz went nuts this week and even bought a chocolate bar for 68 cents. All together this equals 11,36 euros. Fritz has 7,64 euros to spare. That's roughly one more shot of jagermeister and a big box of Corn Flakes or perhaps a trip to Fritz's beloved cineplex. Good job, Fritz! You can eat, have fun AND study abroad.
That's all I've got for now. Next time will be what I love about Germany and I can guarantee major points will include food and drink.
04 June 2007
To be in Texas
Having Tyler around this past week got me thinking about coming home. I am not ready yet but I have been thinking about things that I like about Texas/Austin/and sometimes Dallas. I have also been thinking about things that I like about Freiburg/Germany/and sometimes Europe. Further still, I have been thinking about things I don't like about Texas/Germany. Because I'm more of the "Gimme the bad news and then the good news type" I've decided to compile a brief list of things I will not miss about the land of Germans. By the way, from what I recall, Amsterdam was great.
What I will not miss about Germany (Disclaimer: I love this country and I am by no means unhappy. Thank you.)
1) People blowing their nose I don't know when or where this happened but someone decided that it's completely acceptable to blow your nose incredibly loud in public. Not that I've ever been told I'm "particular" but this is just gross and I'm really looking forward to no more nose honking.
2) Silence due to fear of misunderstanding I couldn't count on my fingers and toes the number of times I've been totally silent for fear of sounding like a complete idiot...not to say that I haven't opened my mouth several times only to sound like an idiot. For example, the other day I answered the phone in my kitchen. The person on the other end asked whether or not one of my roommates was around and instead of simply saying, "no he isn't here", I said (in German, of course) "he isn't here if he is in your room." I don't know why I said that. I don't know why the other person didn't laugh at me. But either way, that's what I said. We were watching Easy Rider at the time so perhaps some of the drugs filtered through the television screen and into my brain. I really have no legitimate excuse.
3) The German Stare I may or may not have mentioned this earlier but many older Germans participate in an activity I like to call "The German Stare". I actually have experienced this much less in the past few weeks. In the beginning though, I got it bad. It's this peculiar habit of staring Directly at you and not turning away when you look back at them. I began to fight back by staring right back in the old peoples' eyes but most of the time that didn't phase them and they continued to stare. These people are serious. Eitherway, I'm really looking forward to the American tendancy to avoid eye contact altogether and then secretly stare at you when you look away. That's really the only way to go.
4) Scary Washing Machine I'm not sure I could describe this any more clearly. The washing machine in my dorm is terrifying. It makes loud noises and is in German. Everytime I do my laundry I feel like I'm destroying my clothes yet they somehow always end up smelling so pretty. In any case, I look forward to my good old-fashioned American technology, made in China washing machine.
5) German Television I feel like this one could probably also fall into my list of things that I love about Germany. I've never seen more strange things on TV in my entire life. And god forbid a German should ever have to read subtitles. Every American television show played here, which is about 80% of programming, is dubbed into German. I can't tell you how many times I've been incredibly excited to watch a certain movie or TV show and then realize it's been dubbed. Although, I can say that you've never lived until you've seen "Laguna Beach" in German. Oh the drama!
I can't much think of anything else right now that I find absolutely unbearable about living in this country. It really is rather nice....minus the raccoon problem. Next to come: things I love about Germany.
What I will not miss about Germany (Disclaimer: I love this country and I am by no means unhappy. Thank you.)
1) People blowing their nose I don't know when or where this happened but someone decided that it's completely acceptable to blow your nose incredibly loud in public. Not that I've ever been told I'm "particular" but this is just gross and I'm really looking forward to no more nose honking.
2) Silence due to fear of misunderstanding I couldn't count on my fingers and toes the number of times I've been totally silent for fear of sounding like a complete idiot...not to say that I haven't opened my mouth several times only to sound like an idiot. For example, the other day I answered the phone in my kitchen. The person on the other end asked whether or not one of my roommates was around and instead of simply saying, "no he isn't here", I said (in German, of course) "he isn't here if he is in your room." I don't know why I said that. I don't know why the other person didn't laugh at me. But either way, that's what I said. We were watching Easy Rider at the time so perhaps some of the drugs filtered through the television screen and into my brain. I really have no legitimate excuse.
3) The German Stare I may or may not have mentioned this earlier but many older Germans participate in an activity I like to call "The German Stare". I actually have experienced this much less in the past few weeks. In the beginning though, I got it bad. It's this peculiar habit of staring Directly at you and not turning away when you look back at them. I began to fight back by staring right back in the old peoples' eyes but most of the time that didn't phase them and they continued to stare. These people are serious. Eitherway, I'm really looking forward to the American tendancy to avoid eye contact altogether and then secretly stare at you when you look away. That's really the only way to go.
4) Scary Washing Machine I'm not sure I could describe this any more clearly. The washing machine in my dorm is terrifying. It makes loud noises and is in German. Everytime I do my laundry I feel like I'm destroying my clothes yet they somehow always end up smelling so pretty. In any case, I look forward to my good old-fashioned American technology, made in China washing machine.
5) German Television I feel like this one could probably also fall into my list of things that I love about Germany. I've never seen more strange things on TV in my entire life. And god forbid a German should ever have to read subtitles. Every American television show played here, which is about 80% of programming, is dubbed into German. I can't tell you how many times I've been incredibly excited to watch a certain movie or TV show and then realize it's been dubbed. Although, I can say that you've never lived until you've seen "Laguna Beach" in German. Oh the drama!
I can't much think of anything else right now that I find absolutely unbearable about living in this country. It really is rather nice....minus the raccoon problem. Next to come: things I love about Germany.
28 May 2007
Weather and other points of small talk
I find Germany and Texas quite similar in their affinities for rapid and random weather changes. The other day, I made a big stink about going to the store and buying a fan for my room because it was "sooooooooooo hot". And it was. And I bought one. And then that night, there was roughly a 15 degree temperature drop and rain. Go Figure. It will be hotter this summer....On to other things.
Since my last entry, I have done a bit of a traveling. By a bit, I mean I went to Munich with Lana and Emily. For the four people who have ever traveled through Freiburg, they know that Freiburg is a fairly international city. It is German in the sense that signs are in German and people speak German at you until they see you're confused. Otherwise, I'd argue that it is a fairly non-descript city. I don't really feel the feeling of, "This. Is. Germany." when I walk around the city of Freiburg. It's all rather neutral. So when I made plans to go to Munich, I was really hoping for something german-y. I wanted to fulfill every stereotype that the Sound of Music has put into my head...although ironically, that was set in Austria....So we went to Munich...
Munich is a very different city from Freiburg. Most importantly, it is located in Bavaria. See, I live in Freiburg, which is in southwest Germany, in the state called Baden-Wuerttemburg. These people are NOT your typical "German." I find them to be quite healthy and active specimens. It is quite common to see a couple roller blading down the side walk with nordic skiing poles. I shit you not. These people are nuts for outdoor activity and they don't shy away from making you feel like a fat waste of space for not wanting to hike up some mountain at 7:30 AM, in the snow with no shoes on. What can I say? Hiking just doesn't do it for me....unless someone is carrying me up the mountain. Anyway, I guess I imagined Bavarians to be the opposite of this. Instead of rolling down the street in spandex, I expected more rotund men in lederhosen with a liter of beer in their hand. To my great dismay, this did not happen, although I did see some lederhosen. Oh, right, back to the story.
So, we got to Munich and decided we were hungry. We walked to our hostel, put our backpacks down and then asked how to get to the "stadtmitte" (city center). I don't know why this has become the question to ask when visiting new cities, but the europeans always do it...so I guess we figure they're on to something? I don't really know but I guess when I go to a new place in the US, my first question is never where the city center is. So, we go to the "city center" and eat at the Augustiner Brewery. It was a delicious choice. I ordered the traditional white wurst and potatoes and it was the bomb diggity...although, I don't really know how much I like wurst, but I did feel quite german. Maybe it was the beer. Mmm beer. It is common custom in Germany to sit at a table with people you don't know, if there is room. Emily, Lana and I were sitting all by our lonesome at a table for 6, until this older German couple came and sat down. Oh Boy, real-live German people. And we started talking. And the first thing older German men ALWAYS say, "Ahhhcchh! Drei, huebisch maedchen!" (ACK! (You know, that germanish noise) Three pretty girls!) Because I don't know why, that's just what they always say. So he says this and then the wives are always like, "Oh, don't mind him. He's nuts." And we're always like, "No, it's okay, we ARE really pretty. You can say that." And then they're like, "Right, okay, great. You guys are hotties." So anyway, it goes on like that for like, ten minutes (just kidding) and they hear us speak German and naturally ask, "England or America?" and we say, "America." (and this is all in German). Then they say, "Where from?" and so Lana goes, "Well, I'm from Alaska." And they always talk about Alaska being cold and far away. And Lana says, "Yes and Yes." And so then they ask Emily and she says, "Oh, I'm from Pennsylvania, but no one ever knows what that is." And they usually say, "Yea, you're right." But they really should know Pennsylvania. And then they get to me and Lana goes, "She's from Texas." and then they ALWAYS say, "Bush." And I say, "Well, I didn't vote for him either." And then I get a lecture about Iraq, only this time they began to compare Bush to Hitler and I really didn't even know what to say because, sure I don't like Bush but he is Certainly no Hitler. So anyway, they talk about that and so on and so forth and it turns out they're from the country...good farm-dwelling folk and their kids studied English and they have fourteen grandkids and they don't travel much but they're going home that afternoon, etc. etc. And we smile and talk and drink more beer and it is nice. So that was our first afternoon in Munich. The next day we had a city tour and that was alright. I questioned a bit of the accuracy of the tour guide's history. Then that night we went to the Hofbrau Haus, which was delicious. I really didn't think I had drank that much until I got to the bottom of that one liter glass of beer. Then Lana got hit in the head with a coster and we just had a jolly time. Our last day in Munich, we walked around the city, did some shopping and found the best vegan (this means no animal products are used in the cooking) food I have ever had EVER and I really think that was the only appropriate end to our trip. It started with white wurst and potatoes and ended with eggless, milkless italian food. The perfect bookends to my not-so-german-y trip.
I didn't even mention the tourists...but there were a lot of us. So much English.
So now, we are back on vacation for a week because of Pentacost and Lana and I have scheduled a trip to Amsterdam. Oh boy. We plan on going to the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and other various art museums, the Heineken Experience and of course...several local coffee houses. AND TYLER IS GOING TO BE THERE!
This is going to be a Very fun week.
Since my last entry, I have done a bit of a traveling. By a bit, I mean I went to Munich with Lana and Emily. For the four people who have ever traveled through Freiburg, they know that Freiburg is a fairly international city. It is German in the sense that signs are in German and people speak German at you until they see you're confused. Otherwise, I'd argue that it is a fairly non-descript city. I don't really feel the feeling of, "This. Is. Germany." when I walk around the city of Freiburg. It's all rather neutral. So when I made plans to go to Munich, I was really hoping for something german-y. I wanted to fulfill every stereotype that the Sound of Music has put into my head...although ironically, that was set in Austria....So we went to Munich...
Munich is a very different city from Freiburg. Most importantly, it is located in Bavaria. See, I live in Freiburg, which is in southwest Germany, in the state called Baden-Wuerttemburg. These people are NOT your typical "German." I find them to be quite healthy and active specimens. It is quite common to see a couple roller blading down the side walk with nordic skiing poles. I shit you not. These people are nuts for outdoor activity and they don't shy away from making you feel like a fat waste of space for not wanting to hike up some mountain at 7:30 AM, in the snow with no shoes on. What can I say? Hiking just doesn't do it for me....unless someone is carrying me up the mountain. Anyway, I guess I imagined Bavarians to be the opposite of this. Instead of rolling down the street in spandex, I expected more rotund men in lederhosen with a liter of beer in their hand. To my great dismay, this did not happen, although I did see some lederhosen. Oh, right, back to the story.
So, we got to Munich and decided we were hungry. We walked to our hostel, put our backpacks down and then asked how to get to the "stadtmitte" (city center). I don't know why this has become the question to ask when visiting new cities, but the europeans always do it...so I guess we figure they're on to something? I don't really know but I guess when I go to a new place in the US, my first question is never where the city center is. So, we go to the "city center" and eat at the Augustiner Brewery. It was a delicious choice. I ordered the traditional white wurst and potatoes and it was the bomb diggity...although, I don't really know how much I like wurst, but I did feel quite german. Maybe it was the beer. Mmm beer. It is common custom in Germany to sit at a table with people you don't know, if there is room. Emily, Lana and I were sitting all by our lonesome at a table for 6, until this older German couple came and sat down. Oh Boy, real-live German people. And we started talking. And the first thing older German men ALWAYS say, "Ahhhcchh! Drei, huebisch maedchen!" (ACK! (You know, that germanish noise) Three pretty girls!) Because I don't know why, that's just what they always say. So he says this and then the wives are always like, "Oh, don't mind him. He's nuts." And we're always like, "No, it's okay, we ARE really pretty. You can say that." And then they're like, "Right, okay, great. You guys are hotties." So anyway, it goes on like that for like, ten minutes (just kidding) and they hear us speak German and naturally ask, "England or America?" and we say, "America." (and this is all in German). Then they say, "Where from?" and so Lana goes, "Well, I'm from Alaska." And they always talk about Alaska being cold and far away. And Lana says, "Yes and Yes." And so then they ask Emily and she says, "Oh, I'm from Pennsylvania, but no one ever knows what that is." And they usually say, "Yea, you're right." But they really should know Pennsylvania. And then they get to me and Lana goes, "She's from Texas." and then they ALWAYS say, "Bush." And I say, "Well, I didn't vote for him either." And then I get a lecture about Iraq, only this time they began to compare Bush to Hitler and I really didn't even know what to say because, sure I don't like Bush but he is Certainly no Hitler. So anyway, they talk about that and so on and so forth and it turns out they're from the country...good farm-dwelling folk and their kids studied English and they have fourteen grandkids and they don't travel much but they're going home that afternoon, etc. etc. And we smile and talk and drink more beer and it is nice. So that was our first afternoon in Munich. The next day we had a city tour and that was alright. I questioned a bit of the accuracy of the tour guide's history. Then that night we went to the Hofbrau Haus, which was delicious. I really didn't think I had drank that much until I got to the bottom of that one liter glass of beer. Then Lana got hit in the head with a coster and we just had a jolly time. Our last day in Munich, we walked around the city, did some shopping and found the best vegan (this means no animal products are used in the cooking) food I have ever had EVER and I really think that was the only appropriate end to our trip. It started with white wurst and potatoes and ended with eggless, milkless italian food. The perfect bookends to my not-so-german-y trip.
I didn't even mention the tourists...but there were a lot of us. So much English.
So now, we are back on vacation for a week because of Pentacost and Lana and I have scheduled a trip to Amsterdam. Oh boy. We plan on going to the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and other various art museums, the Heineken Experience and of course...several local coffee houses. AND TYLER IS GOING TO BE THERE!
This is going to be a Very fun week.
10 May 2007
To be in Germany..
Right now there exists only two major differences between life in Texas and life in Germany: the language and the law.
I haven't been arrested yet but we've got our fingers crossed.
Oh, and I won a limbo contest last night while wearing socks and flip-flops, after drinking sangria from a bucket.
I think the most important thing you learn while studying abroad is not the language.
I haven't been arrested yet but we've got our fingers crossed.
Oh, and I won a limbo contest last night while wearing socks and flip-flops, after drinking sangria from a bucket.
I think the most important thing you learn while studying abroad is not the language.
26 April 2007
I've thought of something to say
I really have been thinking of something to share and this is what I've come up with. It is a bit akin to what Jos has done, so thanks for the idea. Since I've been in Germany, I think I have done more things that I never would have done in the US. Most of the time it hasn't been an issue of me being "braver" or more courageous or something like that. It has primarly been because I didn't realize what I had gotten myself into until it was too late to turn back. Go figure. This is a brief list of the things suitable for publishing on THE internet.
1) "Food"
I can't even count the number of times now I have been eating something and said, "This seems like the sort of thing that is going to make me really sick in a couple of hours." It hasn't happened yet but it's bound to when you keep ending up with things on your plate like an entire fried banana or meat suspended in gelatin loaf. I really thought I would've figured out the banana thing before it happened. The word for banana is Banana. All this being said, I did have a couple of days when I only ate the food my parents brought me. I call that the "American Period." (see: chocolate chip cookies, mac and cheese and grits.) I didn't say it was a healthy time but it was a golden time.
2) "Bureaucracy"
This is a general phrase I use to describe my interactions with women in offices. When people are actually working in Germany, they are usually female and it's only between hours of 7:30AM and 9:00AM or 2:00PM and 4:00PM. You must adjust your schedule to them. You must accept the fact that they will have all of their things packed up by 8:57AM in order to run out their office as quickly as possible and not work a moment longer than required. In this way, the germans are most certainly punctual.
3)Bikes
Okay, so I haven't actually done this one yet but I'm going to. Believe it or not, I most definitely can ride a bike, it's just that it scares the shit out of me when I have to think critically while doing so. Right now in Freiburg, it is about 80 degrees which isn't too bad yet, but it will get worse. The Strassenbahn(street train) has no windows, no A/c and specially-scented europeans. This sounds much scarier to me than riding a bike. So I'm going to stop being a baby and get on a damn bike.
4)Stars
So I've always heard about these things called 'stars' that supposedly shine in the sky. Turns out that's true. In fact, I think I even saw the North Star last night, although, I still think that it might have been Venus. You can see certain planets from the Earth, right? I know I'm not crazy, sort of.
5)Yoga
What a good way to learn my anatomy words. Yoga is still funny auf Deutsch.
6)Self-Control (sort of)
There have been several experiences now when things have been done or said that I've never seen or heard before and I have (sort of) retrained myself from freaking-out, pointing or laughing. For example, instead of clapping for someone or something in class, people knock on the table. Definitely wasn't expecting that to happen when it did....definitely laughed outloud..........definitely got stared at by the professor..........definitely felt like an asshole. Second, there is a lot of English usage in advertisements or other random German cultural things. For example, there is this song that was apparently really popular about ten years ago by Scatman called "I'm the Scatman." When I heard about it, I practiced a little bit of self-control, only laughed a little bit and decided to not share the double meaning of scatting/to scat. You should know how hard that was for me.
Anyhow, I think this is all I can think of right now. Now I must prepare a presentation about Absurdist Theater. Barf.
1) "Food"
I can't even count the number of times now I have been eating something and said, "This seems like the sort of thing that is going to make me really sick in a couple of hours." It hasn't happened yet but it's bound to when you keep ending up with things on your plate like an entire fried banana or meat suspended in gelatin loaf. I really thought I would've figured out the banana thing before it happened. The word for banana is Banana. All this being said, I did have a couple of days when I only ate the food my parents brought me. I call that the "American Period." (see: chocolate chip cookies, mac and cheese and grits.) I didn't say it was a healthy time but it was a golden time.
2) "Bureaucracy"
This is a general phrase I use to describe my interactions with women in offices. When people are actually working in Germany, they are usually female and it's only between hours of 7:30AM and 9:00AM or 2:00PM and 4:00PM. You must adjust your schedule to them. You must accept the fact that they will have all of their things packed up by 8:57AM in order to run out their office as quickly as possible and not work a moment longer than required. In this way, the germans are most certainly punctual.
3)Bikes
Okay, so I haven't actually done this one yet but I'm going to. Believe it or not, I most definitely can ride a bike, it's just that it scares the shit out of me when I have to think critically while doing so. Right now in Freiburg, it is about 80 degrees which isn't too bad yet, but it will get worse. The Strassenbahn(street train) has no windows, no A/c and specially-scented europeans. This sounds much scarier to me than riding a bike. So I'm going to stop being a baby and get on a damn bike.
4)Stars
So I've always heard about these things called 'stars' that supposedly shine in the sky. Turns out that's true. In fact, I think I even saw the North Star last night, although, I still think that it might have been Venus. You can see certain planets from the Earth, right? I know I'm not crazy, sort of.
5)Yoga
What a good way to learn my anatomy words. Yoga is still funny auf Deutsch.
6)Self-Control (sort of)
There have been several experiences now when things have been done or said that I've never seen or heard before and I have (sort of) retrained myself from freaking-out, pointing or laughing. For example, instead of clapping for someone or something in class, people knock on the table. Definitely wasn't expecting that to happen when it did....definitely laughed outloud..........definitely got stared at by the professor..........definitely felt like an asshole. Second, there is a lot of English usage in advertisements or other random German cultural things. For example, there is this song that was apparently really popular about ten years ago by Scatman called "I'm the Scatman." When I heard about it, I practiced a little bit of self-control, only laughed a little bit and decided to not share the double meaning of scatting/to scat. You should know how hard that was for me.
Anyhow, I think this is all I can think of right now. Now I must prepare a presentation about Absurdist Theater. Barf.
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