Oh my goodness, I have been crazy busy. The past month has just flown by. My summer course ended on Thursday, and I've spent much of the weekend saying goodbye to new friends whom I've gotten to know well in so short a time. It is incredible how close we've become, even through language and culture barriers, all of us just here for the same reasons: to learn and live and experience Germany, to have an adventure.
Taking off (no worries, only a summary of the important and interesting stuff) from where I left off 12 days ago...
Grilling night was awesome. More than half of the 80 or so students in the IFK showed up, and we played volleyball, talked, ate wurst and drank beer. (There, Scott, are you happy? We're doing traditional German things!) I, Özge, and the Tequila Mädchen (2 Japanese girls... more on the name later) discovered a play place designed for children... on which no child should be allowed. It consists of six or so various play stations, including a giant continuous motion machine (you know, the metal balls dangling from wires that are supposed to move continuously once started) that didn't move continuously; two different tonal things, like upright xylophone-type deals (this made me rather happy, as I could play the Rugrats theme and Jingle Bells... ha), and a spinny roulette wheel. Ok, so these are fine for kids. Great. Love 'em. Fun for the whole family.
However, next on the path: little standing boxes just chilling out there, that, when you jump on them, tip to one side. Ok, fine. Kid's dumb, he gets hurt, his own fault. I can handle that. At least they're not pussyfooting around playgrounds like in America, where nothing is fun anymore. (It's just too damn safe, you know what I mean?)
Next up: A giant top. Yes, a top. The kind that balance on one point and spin around, and when they get unbalanced, tip to one side? Yep, that one. Thing about this one, is that it spins if you stand on top of it and run around in circles. Even better, load an American, 2 Japanese, a Turk, and/or a Frenchman on it and proceed to jump up and down and scurry from edge to edge. Safe for children? Maybe. Safe for 20-30 year olds in a festive mood? Probably not.
Oh, it gets better. Then, we found the slide. This is the most massive, amazing, beautiful, intimidating slide you've ever seen. High in the air is a tower of small logs, stacked haphazardly like pickup sticks. Out of it emerges a daunting chute, slick cold metal like water flying off a waterfall, two nearly 90° bends as it reaches toward the ground. Safe for children? Ha. Safe for me? Apparently not.
Yes, it is amazing to clamber your way up the pickup sticks to be king of the hill, then terrifyingly whiz down only to do it again. The other four stations in this area were contructed with logs in the same manner... except they included no slides, instead were connected together by three ropes, two of which you held on to, the other you tightrope walked.
Of course I was the first to conquer all of them. And, of course, on the last time down the slide, I jumped off and started running... only to roll my ankle. I sat there laughing, but by the end of the night could hardly walk on it and went home rather than wandering around the town with most of the rest of the group. (It turned out better, anyway... it rained on the group, and Florian, Amanda, and I met David and Rhaban - a tutor and his friend - in the parking lot and ate more wurst.
Fast forward: for the next week, I walked around with an ankle the size of a small baseball. However, the coolest part? I couldn't feel it at all.
Moral of the story: Children's playgrounds in Deutschland = fun at a cost.
Nachwort: My ankle is completely fine now. Please do not worry.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
ADDRESS CHANGE
As I finally received the key for my mailbox (hooray!!), please send all further post to the following address (the previous one sends to the general foreign exchange student office):
Amanda Dutcher
SWH Tarforst, Haus IV, App. 107
Universitätsring 8c
54296 Trier
Deutschland
Dankeschön!! Hope to hear from you!
Amanda Dutcher
SWH Tarforst, Haus IV, App. 107
Universitätsring 8c
54296 Trier
Deutschland
Dankeschön!! Hope to hear from you!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Kraken Chronicles
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!
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!
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
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