For those of you who desire a bit lighter and more amusing reading than my dry blog, please check out my bestie Amanda's blog. She is also in Germany for the next year, but sees it through an entirely different (and hilarious) lens.
http://weebleweeble.blogspot.com/
(For those of you who don't know her, here is a detail that only partially describes her: we've decided to chronicle all of her failures in Deutschland. Thus far, they include jumping into a fountain and yelling, "I am the great Kraken of the sea!" ala Juno, somehow managing to look like she's eating people's faces in every photograph, and getting blasted in an Irish pub in the middle of Trier during Karaoke night and singing the dentist song from Little Shop of Horrors. You can thank me for helping her reach the state of uncaring necessary to get her to sing.
...not that I haven't been sassed out by a very tall and intimidating French-speaking Belgian woman for moving empty juice bottles full of bees to a table away from mine, almost had the door to my bathroom stall beaten down by a Luxembourgish toilet sitter who was angry that I didn't pay the 50 cent fee, or had an ankle the size of a large Red Delicious apple for a week because the children's slide was a little too difficult for me <I SWEAR... that is NOT safe for children!!!>...
...we just don't have all that on video.)
Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Even in Deutschland, Hamline calls on me...
It's kind of cool to even have my name in Forbes Magazine.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Woohoo! I love being in Germany!
Next weekend, as a group, the IFK is going to Schengen, an uncontrolled border between Luxemburg, France, and Germany, and then to Arlon, Belgium.
My classes are over next Thursday, and then I believe I'm going to take the train to Düsseldorf to visit Esther for a week!
Mao, a friend of mine from the IFK, is traveling Germany for the next month or so, so I may meet her in Stuttgart, Köln, Berlin, and/or Frankfurt.
My friend Naomi, who is also a student at Hamline and is spending a year abroad, will arrive in Europe soon. We're thinking about hitting up Oktoberfest in München!
My goodness... the adventures to come.
Next weekend, as a group, the IFK is going to Schengen, an uncontrolled border between Luxemburg, France, and Germany, and then to Arlon, Belgium.
My classes are over next Thursday, and then I believe I'm going to take the train to Düsseldorf to visit Esther for a week!
Mao, a friend of mine from the IFK, is traveling Germany for the next month or so, so I may meet her in Stuttgart, Köln, Berlin, and/or Frankfurt.
My friend Naomi, who is also a student at Hamline and is spending a year abroad, will arrive in Europe soon. We're thinking about hitting up Oktoberfest in München!
My goodness... the adventures to come.
Monday, August 11, 2008
This past week has been just crazy busy. I've already been here 12 days, and it feels simultaneously like forever and only overnight. My summer course is finished next week already! Insanity. I have to admit, I'm a little bit concerned; after spending 3.5 weeks straight running, running, running, seeing everything and doing everything, having downtime might not be such a good thing.
But, alas, whine whine... I'm in Germany, right?! Alles ist ok.
Last week, we kept crazy busy. On Sunday, we went on a city tour of Trier, to all the old Roman monuments and buildings. We saw and heard the history of the Porta Nigra, a still-standing Roman city gate in which a monk once cloistered himself. After he died, the Porta Nigra was transformed into a church until Napoleon came to power and decided that it was to be restored to its original look, the church façade destroyed. We saw the Konstantinbasilika, which once held the throne of Constantine the Great. At one point, Trier, the oldest city in Germany, was apparently larger than Rome. We also saw the Kurfürstliche Palais, next to the Konstantinbasilika, which, in the 1700s was home to the archbishop in Trier. We then walked to some Roman ruins, the old bathhouses of the Romans. Trier also contains the Römerbrücke, a bridge built by the Romans and still used today, which is the oldest bridge in Germany, as well as many other old Roman Antike.
That afternoon, we headed to the flea market, a monthly event in Trier, at which I met a wonderful old German couple who sold me enough dishes and utensils for almost a full (matching!) set for four, all for only 10,-€! I also had a chance to test out my common sense German skills, as I helped Amanda bargain for German Batman comics (a useful purchase, no?).
Monday, I finally bought a wash machine card, so that I could stop smelling so terrible. Florian showed Mao and me where the little market on the university is, and it's so helpful; it contains a grocery store, office supply store, a couple of restaurants, post office, bank, and physical therapy center... everything one could ever need... sort of. Later that day, I joined a tour of Petrisberg, the newest area of Trier, right near the university, after which a group of us went to a small bar and hung out for awhile.
I'd heard from many people before I got here that the best way to meet people is to keep constantly doing things, trying new things (actually, one person's words were "just party, party, party!"), and they are totally right. Going out a lot not only has helped me to meet people, it's helped me to become acclimated to the city in which I will be living for a year. Additionally, becoming known as someone who is always up for anything is helpful; I'm always included in invitations to go out and am never bored.
Tuesday night, we went to a little fake beach on the Mosel River; Wednesday was Projekttag, in which I joined a group learning about wines in this region and throughout Germany (I'm putting together a PowerPoint with a group focusing on the Rebsorten, the different varieties of wine that are produced in the Mosel River region) and then in the evening, attended an organ concert in the Konstantinbasilika; Thursday visited a former concentration camp in which there wasn't much to see - everything had been disassembled in the 50s - then went strolling through the city with Amanda; and Friday, opted out of bowling to have a quiet night and get a little sleep.
Saturday, we visited Saarbrücken, the capital city of the German state Saarland, and then also visited Metz in France. France is only a 1.5 hour drive from Trier! Pictures coming soon. I found France to be not as interesting as Germany, or at least Metz; all the buildings were the same shade of brown, and it just felt a little more boring and a little more dirty. However, I do admit I've had limited exposure to Europe in general, and this is only one city! I will correct that soon... ;)
After our excursion, a group of 15 or so of us went to the Disco, or club. What fun! I danced and danced and danced... and am still sore.
Yesterday, I visited a museum here in Trier, where they house cool, giant old Roman monuments and remains, beautiful Roman-built mosaics, and other such artifacts that were found in the area. Very cool, although all the information was written in German (naturally! I'd hope it was no other way!), so I irritated a few of my friends by being the slowest through the museum, taking my time to understand all the placards and really appreciate the stuff. We have nothing like it in the USA... these things were made only a few hundred years after the birth of Christ! Beautiful.
Today, I had class, per usual, and later will go grilling and playing volleyball and soccer and whatnot with a group of students and tutors. Tomorrow, we've organized an international dinner, at which I'm bringing the Minnesota state dish - hamburger, rice, carrot, potato hotdish. Goodness, am I ever excited to make that! I just hope these weird German rices and soups will make it turn out ok...
Bis später, dann!
But, alas, whine whine... I'm in Germany, right?! Alles ist ok.
Last week, we kept crazy busy. On Sunday, we went on a city tour of Trier, to all the old Roman monuments and buildings. We saw and heard the history of the Porta Nigra, a still-standing Roman city gate in which a monk once cloistered himself. After he died, the Porta Nigra was transformed into a church until Napoleon came to power and decided that it was to be restored to its original look, the church façade destroyed. We saw the Konstantinbasilika, which once held the throne of Constantine the Great. At one point, Trier, the oldest city in Germany, was apparently larger than Rome. We also saw the Kurfürstliche Palais, next to the Konstantinbasilika, which, in the 1700s was home to the archbishop in Trier. We then walked to some Roman ruins, the old bathhouses of the Romans. Trier also contains the Römerbrücke, a bridge built by the Romans and still used today, which is the oldest bridge in Germany, as well as many other old Roman Antike.
That afternoon, we headed to the flea market, a monthly event in Trier, at which I met a wonderful old German couple who sold me enough dishes and utensils for almost a full (matching!) set for four, all for only 10,-€! I also had a chance to test out my common sense German skills, as I helped Amanda bargain for German Batman comics (a useful purchase, no?).
Monday, I finally bought a wash machine card, so that I could stop smelling so terrible. Florian showed Mao and me where the little market on the university is, and it's so helpful; it contains a grocery store, office supply store, a couple of restaurants, post office, bank, and physical therapy center... everything one could ever need... sort of. Later that day, I joined a tour of Petrisberg, the newest area of Trier, right near the university, after which a group of us went to a small bar and hung out for awhile.
I'd heard from many people before I got here that the best way to meet people is to keep constantly doing things, trying new things (actually, one person's words were "just party, party, party!"), and they are totally right. Going out a lot not only has helped me to meet people, it's helped me to become acclimated to the city in which I will be living for a year. Additionally, becoming known as someone who is always up for anything is helpful; I'm always included in invitations to go out and am never bored.
Tuesday night, we went to a little fake beach on the Mosel River; Wednesday was Projekttag, in which I joined a group learning about wines in this region and throughout Germany (I'm putting together a PowerPoint with a group focusing on the Rebsorten, the different varieties of wine that are produced in the Mosel River region) and then in the evening, attended an organ concert in the Konstantinbasilika; Thursday visited a former concentration camp in which there wasn't much to see - everything had been disassembled in the 50s - then went strolling through the city with Amanda; and Friday, opted out of bowling to have a quiet night and get a little sleep.
Saturday, we visited Saarbrücken, the capital city of the German state Saarland, and then also visited Metz in France. France is only a 1.5 hour drive from Trier! Pictures coming soon. I found France to be not as interesting as Germany, or at least Metz; all the buildings were the same shade of brown, and it just felt a little more boring and a little more dirty. However, I do admit I've had limited exposure to Europe in general, and this is only one city! I will correct that soon... ;)
After our excursion, a group of 15 or so of us went to the Disco, or club. What fun! I danced and danced and danced... and am still sore.
Yesterday, I visited a museum here in Trier, where they house cool, giant old Roman monuments and remains, beautiful Roman-built mosaics, and other such artifacts that were found in the area. Very cool, although all the information was written in German (naturally! I'd hope it was no other way!), so I irritated a few of my friends by being the slowest through the museum, taking my time to understand all the placards and really appreciate the stuff. We have nothing like it in the USA... these things were made only a few hundred years after the birth of Christ! Beautiful.
Today, I had class, per usual, and later will go grilling and playing volleyball and soccer and whatnot with a group of students and tutors. Tomorrow, we've organized an international dinner, at which I'm bringing the Minnesota state dish - hamburger, rice, carrot, potato hotdish. Goodness, am I ever excited to make that! I just hope these weird German rices and soups will make it turn out ok...
Bis später, dann!
Friday, August 8, 2008
A few infos for you
My mailing address here, at least through the end of August:
Akademisches Auslandsamt der Universität Trier
Internationaler Ferienkurs
Amanda Dutcher
Universitätsring 15
D-54286 Trier
Deutschland
The following are prices for a letter from the U.S. to Germany
Weight not over __ ozs = Price in $
1 = .94
2 = 1.74
3 = 2.54
3.5 = 3.34
Further information can be found here, under "First-Class Mail International":
http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/fh_011.htm#ep1379549
Akademisches Auslandsamt der Universität Trier
Internationaler Ferienkurs
Amanda Dutcher
Universitätsring 15
D-54286 Trier
Deutschland
The following are prices for a letter from the U.S. to Germany
Weight not over __ ozs = Price in $
1 = .94
2 = 1.74
3 = 2.54
3.5 = 3.34
Further information can be found here, under "First-Class Mail International":
http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/fh_011.htm#ep1379549
1. and 2. Aug
I know it's only been eight days since I truly updated, but I feel like I have so much to say and not enough time in which to say it! So much happens in a day here... it's incredible and tiring and wonderful.
Freitag, den 1. Aug. 2008
I started classes in the morning, which are held from 9.15-12.30 each day of the week. The IFK students were separated into groups depending on their language level, and I ended up in a lower middle level, which is at times a little too easy for me, but at times a really important review for things that I did not pick up well enough when I first learned them. My teacher, Ruth, is roughly 24 years old, small and cute and super nice. She has graduated from Uni Trier and is a fantastic teacher. In our morning classes, we study grammar, vocabulary, and discuss other seminars and lectures that we attend in the afternoon. There is a lot of speaking, listening and reading comprehension, and, naturally, grammar exercises.
I am in a class with eight other people, three of whom hail from Taiwan, and five from Japan. It is so interested getting to know not only the German culture, but at the same time, amazing people and cultural things from so many other countries! Now I want to study in Japan, too...
In the evening, I met with some others, from Russia, Japan, St. Paul (yes, there's a student here from St. Thomas! Crazy!), Czechoslovakia, and Spain for dinner in a nice little restaurant by city hall. We walked around the city, which is beautiful, and when we returned to the university, I met a guy named Ahmed from Morocco, who lives in my building and who offered to help with anything.
Samstag, den 2. Aug. 2008
On Saturday, we had our first excursion (of which we have 4.5 - the .5 is not an entire city, and yes, this is how I describe it, not the IFK organizers). We had to meet at 9.00 to get on buses and head to Bernkastel-Kues, a beautiful little town on the Mosel River. We had the morning to ourselves to wander the city. Mao from Japan, Özge from Turkey, and I wandered around, sat at a little coffeehouse for an hour or so with Brauni (pronounced "Brownie," for his last name is Braun), the tutor for my group and another older student from Italy, then all of us except the Italian ate in a little pizzeria high in a building overlooking the Mosel.
Afterwards, we took a boat cruise on the Mosel, which was a little long and on which they played terrible traditional German music that almost killed Brauni. (I thought it was kind of kitschy and fun... first we had polka that was beautifully reminiscent of my old bus driver, Mr. Marty, then we had techno, which is such a German phenomenon it hurts.)
The best part of the day was yet to come, though. We all reboarded the bus and took it to another small town, in which we toured a little winery and museum and had a wine tasting with 5 different varieties of white wine, which is the type produced in the Mosel River region, and also throughout much of Germany. We started with a sweet, then a very dry with bread and cheese, followed by a semi-dry (which tasted really good after the dry, though I liked them all), a very sweet dessert wine, and a finish of white wine mixed with cherry liqueur. If you would like more info on where I went and the specific names and types I drank, I'd be happy to let you know. Just say the word. Also, if you come here, I recommend the peach liqueur-infused wine... heilige Scheisse! So delicious.
That night, we just couldn't get enough, so Florian and I decided to visit Weinfest (yes, Wine Fest), which was a half hour walk from the university, down in the city. It was much like Taste of Minnesota or other outdoor festivals; many food booths, and lots to drink. The main difference I saw is that no one was carded, and they give you real glasses out of which to drink! You must pay a small deposit for each glass (only 1 Euro!), but you get it back when you give back the glass. And beer there was only 2 Euros per glass! Beautiful. It was a good time; they had three or four live stages, and the cover bands played almost exclusively American songs (German radio is hilarious... it's all the hits we had a year or longer ago!), of which Amanda and I knew all the words (naturally). Florian had extended the invitation to everyone, and we ended up with a group of about 15 who came down there with us, and we met more throughout the night. Many eventually wandered off; Amanda, Florian, and I, some of the last left, headed homeward around 1.20.
Freitag, den 1. Aug. 2008
I started classes in the morning, which are held from 9.15-12.30 each day of the week. The IFK students were separated into groups depending on their language level, and I ended up in a lower middle level, which is at times a little too easy for me, but at times a really important review for things that I did not pick up well enough when I first learned them. My teacher, Ruth, is roughly 24 years old, small and cute and super nice. She has graduated from Uni Trier and is a fantastic teacher. In our morning classes, we study grammar, vocabulary, and discuss other seminars and lectures that we attend in the afternoon. There is a lot of speaking, listening and reading comprehension, and, naturally, grammar exercises.
I am in a class with eight other people, three of whom hail from Taiwan, and five from Japan. It is so interested getting to know not only the German culture, but at the same time, amazing people and cultural things from so many other countries! Now I want to study in Japan, too...
In the evening, I met with some others, from Russia, Japan, St. Paul (yes, there's a student here from St. Thomas! Crazy!), Czechoslovakia, and Spain for dinner in a nice little restaurant by city hall. We walked around the city, which is beautiful, and when we returned to the university, I met a guy named Ahmed from Morocco, who lives in my building and who offered to help with anything.
Samstag, den 2. Aug. 2008
On Saturday, we had our first excursion (of which we have 4.5 - the .5 is not an entire city, and yes, this is how I describe it, not the IFK organizers). We had to meet at 9.00 to get on buses and head to Bernkastel-Kues, a beautiful little town on the Mosel River. We had the morning to ourselves to wander the city. Mao from Japan, Özge from Turkey, and I wandered around, sat at a little coffeehouse for an hour or so with Brauni (pronounced "Brownie," for his last name is Braun), the tutor for my group and another older student from Italy, then all of us except the Italian ate in a little pizzeria high in a building overlooking the Mosel.
Afterwards, we took a boat cruise on the Mosel, which was a little long and on which they played terrible traditional German music that almost killed Brauni. (I thought it was kind of kitschy and fun... first we had polka that was beautifully reminiscent of my old bus driver, Mr. Marty, then we had techno, which is such a German phenomenon it hurts.)
The best part of the day was yet to come, though. We all reboarded the bus and took it to another small town, in which we toured a little winery and museum and had a wine tasting with 5 different varieties of white wine, which is the type produced in the Mosel River region, and also throughout much of Germany. We started with a sweet, then a very dry with bread and cheese, followed by a semi-dry (which tasted really good after the dry, though I liked them all), a very sweet dessert wine, and a finish of white wine mixed with cherry liqueur. If you would like more info on where I went and the specific names and types I drank, I'd be happy to let you know. Just say the word. Also, if you come here, I recommend the peach liqueur-infused wine... heilige Scheisse! So delicious.
That night, we just couldn't get enough, so Florian and I decided to visit Weinfest (yes, Wine Fest), which was a half hour walk from the university, down in the city. It was much like Taste of Minnesota or other outdoor festivals; many food booths, and lots to drink. The main difference I saw is that no one was carded, and they give you real glasses out of which to drink! You must pay a small deposit for each glass (only 1 Euro!), but you get it back when you give back the glass. And beer there was only 2 Euros per glass! Beautiful. It was a good time; they had three or four live stages, and the cover bands played almost exclusively American songs (German radio is hilarious... it's all the hits we had a year or longer ago!), of which Amanda and I knew all the words (naturally). Florian had extended the invitation to everyone, and we ended up with a group of about 15 who came down there with us, and we met more throughout the night. Many eventually wandered off; Amanda, Florian, and I, some of the last left, headed homeward around 1.20.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
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