So, I don't have a lot of time to write today, as I must quickly head back to my room, eat some leftover ravioli from the gargantuan amount Amanda, my Turkish friend Özge, and I made last night for supper, then run to meet Florian and some other students for a tour of Petrisberg, a new area of the university and of the city of Trier.
The past few days have been a whirlwind, with an amazing excursion down the Mosel River, a wine tasting, a visit to Winefest late at night, a tour of landmarks in Trier, kitchen supply buying at a flea market, dinner with friends, and today classes, a lecture by the university president, and now another tour.
Things are crazy busy, but that's how I love it. I'm currently uploading photos to a new site (I've decided Flickr is crap, as their limit is way too low), so I will hopefully very soon have more to show you!
Apologies to all the people I really should call but haven't yet. I have very little time to call, plus, by the time I can get ahold of anyone in North America, it is way past the time I've fallen asleep here. Also, I haven't yet found any phone cards or plans that are worth the money. Rest assured, though, all is well, and I will call as soon as I figure out the best way!
P.S. For those of you who leave comments without a Google account, a profile I can access, or have an ambiguous name ("dutcher," who are you?! Mommy?!?!), please sign at least your first post so I know who I'm talking to!!
Now, off to ravioli and a tour, then who knows what!
Bis bald!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
A short summary of Germany thus far:
First day, Tuesday, July 29:
Amanda and I stayed overnight with Felix, a friend of mine, in Frankfurt. Through the day, we fought major jet lag and went sightseeing around the city, through the old city, the Frankfurter Dom (Cathedral), and to the old opera house. Felix's friend, Sebastian, knows a lot of Frankfurter history and was a phenomenal and friendly tour guide. :) For breakfast, we walked to an adorable little bakery not far from Felix's house. In most of Deutschland, people buy fresh brötchen (little sweet buns) for breakfast, and nearly everyone lives near a bakery.
For lunch, we ate currywurst from a stand on the street... es war sehr lecker (it was very tasty). After a lot of sightseeing, we were sitting at a small coffee house atop a building with a gorgeous view, and jet lag really hit me. We headed back to Felix's for a quick nap, which I ended up not taking because I reawoke. It was good to have the downtime, though; Felix and I just sat on the balcony reading, talking, and drinking beer while Amanda slept.
Felix, Amanda, and I went to a beautiful 500-or-so-year old restaurant for supper, and I ate real schnitzel for the first time. My god, was that ever good. Afterwards, we walked to Sebastian's house and then went back to Felix's, where Amanda crashed out, and Felix, his mother, and I sat around and drank beers and had great conversation late into the night. The conversation was almost entirely in German, as Felix's mother knows only a little English... and I understood most of it! It's so hard to believe, but I already feel very comfortable speaking German! Almost more comfortable with the native speakers than the international students, as it is sometimes harder to understand them as they struggle for the right word or phrasing. I still get a little nervous at times when I don't know how to explain something, but thus far, it has been a blast attempting to get my ideas out and understandable through the German language!
A quick note: German driving and parking is hilarious and wonderful. Their driving is a little scary... they make U-turns and take crazy turns almost anywhere. The parking is interesting... the streets are very, very narrow, so most of the time, autos are parked up on the sidewalk or only half in the street. Everyone drives a small car or station wagon, and even Felix admits that no one knows the parking laws (though he claims they do exist). Thus, autos are usually parked up on the sidewalk along one side of the street... but not all the cars are facing the same direction! It's hilarious.
The city planning would also drive many Americans crazy. The streets and buildings are very old (Trier, in fact, is the oldest city in Deutschland, having been founded hundreds of years before Rome). Streets go in every direction, their names change, small Gasse (tiny streets that tend to go between buildings, almost like tunnels) cut off often... one needs a map to navigate, but it's a ton of fun to wander!
Wednesday, July 30
Felix's mom brought Amanda and I to the train station. Amanda's luggage had all broken (three straps were kaputt), so she was in a terrible mood. It was quite the experience leaving her sitting with the luggage and attempting to buy two train tickets to Trier. It was easier than I had previously thought, though, and by 9:40 am, we and our giant pile of luggage were en route. The train ride was beautiful, full of vineyards and castles and rivers and beautiful old buildings. A bit hot, though... most places in Germany have no air conditioning, and it is as hot as and even more humid than Minnesota!
When we arrived in Trier, we hauled our stuff out of the train station, where we met some tutors from IFK (my summer course). Kirsten, a tutor, took us to the Uni in a car (which was greatly appreciated with our amount of luggage... many students took the bus with the tutors) and we registered and hauled our stuff to our apartments. The apartments are small... only a small kitchen, bathroom, and living room/bedroom, but I love having my own space. Also, right now, the buildings are very quiet, which is nice. We live in student apartments named Tarforst directly on campus, which is awesome, considering most student housing is at least a little off-campus.
After unpacking, showering, and having a little time, Amanda and I took the bus into the city, approximately a 10-minute ride from the university, which is up on a hill (but still in a very populated area, as is all of Deutschland) and ate dinner at Kebap Haus, a delicious little cafe with Turkish food, pizza, and pasta. We did a little shopping for food and necessities at Kaufland, a huge and amazing store, almost like Wal-Mart, only way better, way cleaner, way better selection, and less hateful. Then we came back to Tarforst and crashed for our test the next morning.
I already feel very at home here... I am very comfortable, and I can't believe that we've only been here for three days! I just realized that, and it is unbelievable!!! Even typing this, there were many words and phrases for which the first words that came to mind were German, not English. It is wonderful here, and I'm so glad I'm doing this.
Next in the saga: Our first day (test and official opening, followed by fun times in a Kneipe), today (first day of class and wandering in the city with newfound friends), and tomorrow (a boat cruise on the Mösel River!!)
Bis dann!!
Amanda and I stayed overnight with Felix, a friend of mine, in Frankfurt. Through the day, we fought major jet lag and went sightseeing around the city, through the old city, the Frankfurter Dom (Cathedral), and to the old opera house. Felix's friend, Sebastian, knows a lot of Frankfurter history and was a phenomenal and friendly tour guide. :) For breakfast, we walked to an adorable little bakery not far from Felix's house. In most of Deutschland, people buy fresh brötchen (little sweet buns) for breakfast, and nearly everyone lives near a bakery.
For lunch, we ate currywurst from a stand on the street... es war sehr lecker (it was very tasty). After a lot of sightseeing, we were sitting at a small coffee house atop a building with a gorgeous view, and jet lag really hit me. We headed back to Felix's for a quick nap, which I ended up not taking because I reawoke. It was good to have the downtime, though; Felix and I just sat on the balcony reading, talking, and drinking beer while Amanda slept.
Felix, Amanda, and I went to a beautiful 500-or-so-year old restaurant for supper, and I ate real schnitzel for the first time. My god, was that ever good. Afterwards, we walked to Sebastian's house and then went back to Felix's, where Amanda crashed out, and Felix, his mother, and I sat around and drank beers and had great conversation late into the night. The conversation was almost entirely in German, as Felix's mother knows only a little English... and I understood most of it! It's so hard to believe, but I already feel very comfortable speaking German! Almost more comfortable with the native speakers than the international students, as it is sometimes harder to understand them as they struggle for the right word or phrasing. I still get a little nervous at times when I don't know how to explain something, but thus far, it has been a blast attempting to get my ideas out and understandable through the German language!
A quick note: German driving and parking is hilarious and wonderful. Their driving is a little scary... they make U-turns and take crazy turns almost anywhere. The parking is interesting... the streets are very, very narrow, so most of the time, autos are parked up on the sidewalk or only half in the street. Everyone drives a small car or station wagon, and even Felix admits that no one knows the parking laws (though he claims they do exist). Thus, autos are usually parked up on the sidewalk along one side of the street... but not all the cars are facing the same direction! It's hilarious.
The city planning would also drive many Americans crazy. The streets and buildings are very old (Trier, in fact, is the oldest city in Deutschland, having been founded hundreds of years before Rome). Streets go in every direction, their names change, small Gasse (tiny streets that tend to go between buildings, almost like tunnels) cut off often... one needs a map to navigate, but it's a ton of fun to wander!
Wednesday, July 30
Felix's mom brought Amanda and I to the train station. Amanda's luggage had all broken (three straps were kaputt), so she was in a terrible mood. It was quite the experience leaving her sitting with the luggage and attempting to buy two train tickets to Trier. It was easier than I had previously thought, though, and by 9:40 am, we and our giant pile of luggage were en route. The train ride was beautiful, full of vineyards and castles and rivers and beautiful old buildings. A bit hot, though... most places in Germany have no air conditioning, and it is as hot as and even more humid than Minnesota!
When we arrived in Trier, we hauled our stuff out of the train station, where we met some tutors from IFK (my summer course). Kirsten, a tutor, took us to the Uni in a car (which was greatly appreciated with our amount of luggage... many students took the bus with the tutors) and we registered and hauled our stuff to our apartments. The apartments are small... only a small kitchen, bathroom, and living room/bedroom, but I love having my own space. Also, right now, the buildings are very quiet, which is nice. We live in student apartments named Tarforst directly on campus, which is awesome, considering most student housing is at least a little off-campus.
After unpacking, showering, and having a little time, Amanda and I took the bus into the city, approximately a 10-minute ride from the university, which is up on a hill (but still in a very populated area, as is all of Deutschland) and ate dinner at Kebap Haus, a delicious little cafe with Turkish food, pizza, and pasta. We did a little shopping for food and necessities at Kaufland, a huge and amazing store, almost like Wal-Mart, only way better, way cleaner, way better selection, and less hateful. Then we came back to Tarforst and crashed for our test the next morning.
I already feel very at home here... I am very comfortable, and I can't believe that we've only been here for three days! I just realized that, and it is unbelievable!!! Even typing this, there were many words and phrases for which the first words that came to mind were German, not English. It is wonderful here, and I'm so glad I'm doing this.
Next in the saga: Our first day (test and official opening, followed by fun times in a Kneipe), today (first day of class and wandering in the city with newfound friends), and tomorrow (a boat cruise on the Mösel River!!)
Bis dann!!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Photos!
I have so, so very many updates, but so little time! Fear not, though... I am writing everything down, and someday soon, you will get more than you can handle.
For now, a few photos to satiate your appetite:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atdutcher
For now, a few photos to satiate your appetite:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atdutcher
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
In Deutschland!! Currently staying with my old friend Felix in Frankfurt, a foreign exchange student who attended PRHS for a year. Taking the train to Trier tomorrow to register for the IFK!
Detailed updates coming soon!!
P.S. I love it already! (Except these German keyboards are tough to get used to... they went and switched the positions of the Z and Y keys on me... among other things...)
Detailed updates coming soon!!
P.S. I love it already! (Except these German keyboards are tough to get used to... they went and switched the positions of the Z and Y keys on me... among other things...)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
T-3
I meant to post a week or so ago, but the site didn't seem to be working right; sorry it's been so long, folks!
I am now three days and 13.5 hours away from boarding the US Airways flight at MSP that will transport me to Charlotte, North Carolina, then to Frankfurt, Germany. I went through a period of anxiety, worrying and stressing more about not being in Minnesota than about being in Germany. I even found myself having nightmares at home as I packed my bags, three consecutive nights of not being packed as it was time to leave for the airport; a bad, baby-filled, sleepless flight; but then, arriving in Frankfurt and being shown around by Felix, displaying my ability to converse somewhat in German, yet knowing, even in my dream, that there were some things I simply had to revert to English to convey.
I am now fully out of my house in St. Paul with a car full of stuff to haul back to my parents', a living room full of stuff at my parents' to haul down to my room, and... well... a room full of stuff. Ha. Hopefully this Germany thing will help me to sever some connections to material goods. I must say, it's greatly challenged my organizational skills, as I've come to realize that I take comfort in meticulously sorting and recording everything I am packing. (I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing...)
So, I'm currently living out of two bags stuffed in my trunk and anxiously attempting to finish copying documents, hemming pants, and trying to keep my brain from exploding. I said my first goodbyes to important people these past few weeks (a huge thanks to everyone who showed up at my au revoir!!) and am starting to realize just how long and yet how short a year is.
I'm not sure when next I can post, as I do not know when I'll have a chance to sit down and access the Internet in Germany. Monday, I fly; Tuesday, I'll spend with Felix in Frankfurt; Wednesday, I register for the IFK (Internationaler Ferienkurs) in Trier and move into my room for the year!
Bis nächste Post!
I am now three days and 13.5 hours away from boarding the US Airways flight at MSP that will transport me to Charlotte, North Carolina, then to Frankfurt, Germany. I went through a period of anxiety, worrying and stressing more about not being in Minnesota than about being in Germany. I even found myself having nightmares at home as I packed my bags, three consecutive nights of not being packed as it was time to leave for the airport; a bad, baby-filled, sleepless flight; but then, arriving in Frankfurt and being shown around by Felix, displaying my ability to converse somewhat in German, yet knowing, even in my dream, that there were some things I simply had to revert to English to convey.
I am now fully out of my house in St. Paul with a car full of stuff to haul back to my parents', a living room full of stuff at my parents' to haul down to my room, and... well... a room full of stuff. Ha. Hopefully this Germany thing will help me to sever some connections to material goods. I must say, it's greatly challenged my organizational skills, as I've come to realize that I take comfort in meticulously sorting and recording everything I am packing. (I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing...)
So, I'm currently living out of two bags stuffed in my trunk and anxiously attempting to finish copying documents, hemming pants, and trying to keep my brain from exploding. I said my first goodbyes to important people these past few weeks (a huge thanks to everyone who showed up at my au revoir!!) and am starting to realize just how long and yet how short a year is.
I'm not sure when next I can post, as I do not know when I'll have a chance to sit down and access the Internet in Germany. Monday, I fly; Tuesday, I'll spend with Felix in Frankfurt; Wednesday, I register for the IFK (Internationaler Ferienkurs) in Trier and move into my room for the year!
Bis nächste Post!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Flightplan
My flight is scheduled!
I will be departing Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 10:05 am, and will be arriving in Frankfurt, Germany on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:00 am. My close friend and travel partner, Amanda, who will also be studying in Germany for the year, is flying with me.
My IFK (Summer program) classes begin July 30. We plan on getting a hostel for the night in Frankfurt, doing some sightseeing and perhaps meeting with my friend, Felix, who was a foreign exchange student in Pelican Rapids my senior year, if he is free. The next morning, Wednesday, July 30, we will be boarding a train for the 2-hour trip to Trier, where I will be based for a year!
I would like to see every single one of you before I leave (or when I get there)! In the near future, I'll post free dates I have coming up this summer in both the Cities area and near Pelican Rapids... let's get together and have coffee! Or, if you're really ambitious, you can throw a going-away party for me... ;)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Accepted!
The e-mail I just received:
"Sehr geehrte Frau Dutcher,
wir freuen uns, Ihnen mitteilen zu können, dass Sie zur Teilnahme am Internationalen Ferienkurs der Universität Trier zugelassen sind..."
Translation:
"Dear Miss Dutcher,
We are pleased to inform you that you are accepted to participate in the International Vacation Course at the University of Trier..."
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