Friday, October 10, 2008
Interview'd!
Frau Amanda Dutcher has an interview for a position at the Trier Center for American Studies on Monday at 5 pm!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Going for the Gold
So, this girl still has not had time to sit down and write anything lengthy between classes, orientation, official crap, and socialization, but I just had to share this little bit of info with you:
This girl is currently writing her résumé for an opportunity to work at the Trier Center for American Studies. A tutor/friend of mine who studied at St. Thomas last year told me about the opportunity and urged me to send my résumé to her boss by tomorrow or Saturday. She has only told two other students about it and thought that I would be a good person to add to the candidate pool.
If I get the job, it would involve some translation and proofreading, and I would receive a monthly scholarship/wage of 200 Euros!!
Wow. Wish me luck!
This girl is currently writing her résumé for an opportunity to work at the Trier Center for American Studies. A tutor/friend of mine who studied at St. Thomas last year told me about the opportunity and urged me to send my résumé to her boss by tomorrow or Saturday. She has only told two other students about it and thought that I would be a good person to add to the candidate pool.
If I get the job, it would involve some translation and proofreading, and I would receive a monthly scholarship/wage of 200 Euros!!
Wow. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Oh Mann
My goodness, have the last two weeks been crazy. Fun. Weird. Emotional. Wonderful.
Having anywhere between 2 and 5 Americans in my room every night for 14 days. Wow. It was amazing to have them here, a little trying at times when I just wanted my space, and kind of strange and lonely now that they are gone.
I will write more about recent events later, perhaps later today, after I thoroughly clean my room to get the hippie hitchhiker smell out.
So, here goes.
Having anywhere between 2 and 5 Americans in my room every night for 14 days. Wow. It was amazing to have them here, a little trying at times when I just wanted my space, and kind of strange and lonely now that they are gone.
I will write more about recent events later, perhaps later today, after I thoroughly clean my room to get the hippie hitchhiker smell out.
So, here goes.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Alles gut zum Geburtstag!
So, it's my birthday! In Deutschland! And so far, it's been awesome.
Only have a few minutes before class, but I just wanted to drop a short line and let everyone know I'm still alive and happy. (And, Scott, no one has stolen anything, ruined anything, or been sketchy.)
Went out to a couple of bars with the crusties, international students, and some Mexicans last night, and am going out dancing tonight with what sounds like will be a HUGE group!! Excited.
Happy day to you all!
Only have a few minutes before class, but I just wanted to drop a short line and let everyone know I'm still alive and happy. (And, Scott, no one has stolen anything, ruined anything, or been sketchy.)
Went out to a couple of bars with the crusties, international students, and some Mexicans last night, and am going out dancing tonight with what sounds like will be a HUGE group!! Excited.
Happy day to you all!
Friday, September 26, 2008
They multiply like bunnies
Yeah, the crusties. Like bunnies. Multiply. But not through the same process. Ew.
Last night, four of them crashed on my floor. FOUR! It was a regular cuddle party. I, meanwhile, was snug and comfy in my bed... all by myself! Baha. Only one stayed in the other Amanda's room. Either this means that she has less room than me (true)... she has a bare floor versus the foam mattresses we found in the large items garbage and dragged up to my room (also true)... or she just plain reeks (I believe this is true, too).
Yesterday was a rather good day spent registering for orientation, showing the crusties a little around the city, going to a fabulously fun wine tasting as part of orientation, where I drank much wine, ate some gross ham, and met a butt-ton of other Americans from various states, three Brits, and a bunch of other people. We then brought the Virginian and the Coloradoan back to Amanda's room to meet the crusties, where we feasted on delicious burritos made by the fabulous Jake, who spent a year in culinary school, played dice, and had a few beers.
When it came time for the Virginian (Ann-Marie) and the Coloradoan (Matt) to head back into the city to go home, I walked them to the bus stop, only to talk with a bus driver who claimed that it was somehow a holiday and no more buses were running other than this last one... that was going the wrong direction. Awesome. What the hell holiday is on September 25/26? Srsly?! After a walk back to Amanda's room, I procured a taxi and had it pick them up at the bus stop.
Thus, all was well.
Just took my Einstufungsprüfung (placement test) for this orientation time, and it was surprisingly easy and tied right in to what I learned in the IFK. (I must remember to send my teacher a thank you note again... I really do feel I learned a ton!) Having other students show up here is so strange, but it really makes it sink in just how much German I've learned so far! Now, I'm keeping up with students who have studied German for seven years and speak almost fluently, but I also am glad I can relate to those who are coming here a little lost and uncertain. It really feels good to give back to them and help them along in these first days.
Hope all is well on the homefront and wherever you are! Until next Schreibung,
Amanda
Last night, four of them crashed on my floor. FOUR! It was a regular cuddle party. I, meanwhile, was snug and comfy in my bed... all by myself! Baha. Only one stayed in the other Amanda's room. Either this means that she has less room than me (true)... she has a bare floor versus the foam mattresses we found in the large items garbage and dragged up to my room (also true)... or she just plain reeks (I believe this is true, too).
Yesterday was a rather good day spent registering for orientation, showing the crusties a little around the city, going to a fabulously fun wine tasting as part of orientation, where I drank much wine, ate some gross ham, and met a butt-ton of other Americans from various states, three Brits, and a bunch of other people. We then brought the Virginian and the Coloradoan back to Amanda's room to meet the crusties, where we feasted on delicious burritos made by the fabulous Jake, who spent a year in culinary school, played dice, and had a few beers.
When it came time for the Virginian (Ann-Marie) and the Coloradoan (Matt) to head back into the city to go home, I walked them to the bus stop, only to talk with a bus driver who claimed that it was somehow a holiday and no more buses were running other than this last one... that was going the wrong direction. Awesome. What the hell holiday is on September 25/26? Srsly?! After a walk back to Amanda's room, I procured a taxi and had it pick them up at the bus stop.
Thus, all was well.
Just took my Einstufungsprüfung (placement test) for this orientation time, and it was surprisingly easy and tied right in to what I learned in the IFK. (I must remember to send my teacher a thank you note again... I really do feel I learned a ton!) Having other students show up here is so strange, but it really makes it sink in just how much German I've learned so far! Now, I'm keeping up with students who have studied German for seven years and speak almost fluently, but I also am glad I can relate to those who are coming here a little lost and uncertain. It really feels good to give back to them and help them along in these first days.
Hope all is well on the homefront and wherever you are! Until next Schreibung,
Amanda
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Crusties have come
Sorry I've been absent from writing lately. The past week has been a complete blur... in a wonderful way.
This weekend went fast, with two nights of clubbing, one in a brand new club in Trier. This thing, called Musikpark A1, is NUTS. It's huge! Amanda and I went there last Saturday night to meet up with our friend Yu, from Japan, and a group from Mexico City who are studying at the Fachhochschule (business school) here in Trier. When we got there, it was complete wonderful chaos (sort of). A giant building, called the Edeka Center, that reminds me of the Target Center. A line of 500 or so people... ALL NIGHT LONG. Amanda and I stood in line with Yu and got through it fairly fast, but there was a slight mishap on Amanda's part, and she ended up not getting in. See her blog for the funny version of her part of the story.
Anyway, Yu and I got in and were immediately confronted by a huge room with a bar, all decorated in gothic style, with gargoyles and columns and Catholic icons and crazy stuff. The club then gave three separate dance floors: one decorated like a saloon that played older but fun music; one like a strip club, that played newer hits, complete with pole dancers; and a smoker lounge/bar/dance floor that played electronica and industrial. The night was long and fun, the Mexicans met us, and I then accompanied them to their place around 5 am for the "after party"... from which I left and got back home at around 1 pm on Sunday to find Amanda alive and well.
On Monday, I received a call from Forehead, a friend of mine from the Twin Cities, who had mentioned to me earlier this summer that he'd be in Europe. I'd told him to contact me when he's here if he needed/wanted a place to stay. Well, according to him, he was here in Germany, hitching down to Trier at the moment from a town only a few hours away! I awoke Amanda and we did a flash cleaning of our rooms, as Forehead was traveling in a group of 5, all friends and friends of friends from the Twin Cities. The next morning, 11 am, I got another call, and Forehead and Brittany were sitting on my university! Yesterday, the other three arrived in two groups, and Amanda and I guided them to the university and picked one up at the train station, and short summary of the story: we are now hosting 5 crust punks between our 2 rooms for an indeterminate amount of time. They are thinking they'll stay at least through my birthday next week, which would be awesome... how cool to celebrate my 21st in Germany with Americans! So far, it's been great having them (other than the unwashed smell), being able to speak and act American, show people around my temporary home, and just have fun with a bunch of people I know and am getting to know better!
Today, I registered for orientation, and tonight is the official opening/wine tasting (yep, another one). Tomorrow, I take my first German language placement test and then have a few activities through the morning/early afternoon. In the evening, there is an international student party, I've heard, and who knows what's in store for the weekend! Perhaps a day of playing tourist, showing the crusties around Trier.
Thus, alles gut, ich bin sicher und froh, and ich werde versuchen, mehr bald zu schreiben! (All is well, I'm safe and happy, and I will try to write more soon!)
Viele Grüße an ihr alle!
Amanda
This weekend went fast, with two nights of clubbing, one in a brand new club in Trier. This thing, called Musikpark A1, is NUTS. It's huge! Amanda and I went there last Saturday night to meet up with our friend Yu, from Japan, and a group from Mexico City who are studying at the Fachhochschule (business school) here in Trier. When we got there, it was complete wonderful chaos (sort of). A giant building, called the Edeka Center, that reminds me of the Target Center. A line of 500 or so people... ALL NIGHT LONG. Amanda and I stood in line with Yu and got through it fairly fast, but there was a slight mishap on Amanda's part, and she ended up not getting in. See her blog for the funny version of her part of the story.
Anyway, Yu and I got in and were immediately confronted by a huge room with a bar, all decorated in gothic style, with gargoyles and columns and Catholic icons and crazy stuff. The club then gave three separate dance floors: one decorated like a saloon that played older but fun music; one like a strip club, that played newer hits, complete with pole dancers; and a smoker lounge/bar/dance floor that played electronica and industrial. The night was long and fun, the Mexicans met us, and I then accompanied them to their place around 5 am for the "after party"... from which I left and got back home at around 1 pm on Sunday to find Amanda alive and well.
On Monday, I received a call from Forehead, a friend of mine from the Twin Cities, who had mentioned to me earlier this summer that he'd be in Europe. I'd told him to contact me when he's here if he needed/wanted a place to stay. Well, according to him, he was here in Germany, hitching down to Trier at the moment from a town only a few hours away! I awoke Amanda and we did a flash cleaning of our rooms, as Forehead was traveling in a group of 5, all friends and friends of friends from the Twin Cities. The next morning, 11 am, I got another call, and Forehead and Brittany were sitting on my university! Yesterday, the other three arrived in two groups, and Amanda and I guided them to the university and picked one up at the train station, and short summary of the story: we are now hosting 5 crust punks between our 2 rooms for an indeterminate amount of time. They are thinking they'll stay at least through my birthday next week, which would be awesome... how cool to celebrate my 21st in Germany with Americans! So far, it's been great having them (other than the unwashed smell), being able to speak and act American, show people around my temporary home, and just have fun with a bunch of people I know and am getting to know better!
Today, I registered for orientation, and tonight is the official opening/wine tasting (yep, another one). Tomorrow, I take my first German language placement test and then have a few activities through the morning/early afternoon. In the evening, there is an international student party, I've heard, and who knows what's in store for the weekend! Perhaps a day of playing tourist, showing the crusties around Trier.
Thus, alles gut, ich bin sicher und froh, and ich werde versuchen, mehr bald zu schreiben! (All is well, I'm safe and happy, and I will try to write more soon!)
Viele Grüße an ihr alle!
Amanda
Monday, September 15, 2008
Reminders that we're here
At least a few days a week, I see (and hear, oh goodness, do I hear) military jets flying overhead as I sit outside on campus, attempting to soak in some Vitamin D. It makes me wonder... are they American military aircraft? It seems likely. The other night, while talking with a friend at the Mexico party, he told me that there is a small town near Trier with a many Americans from a nearby base.
I have to wonder... what are the aircraft doing up there? What is their purpose? Are they going somewhere, returning from a foreign land? Are they merely patrolling or practicing?
Whatever their purpose or reason, they always serve as a reminder that we Americans are everywhere, sticking our fingers in everything. It remains to be decided whether this is good or bad... or in which cases, how I feel about it.
I have to wonder... what are the aircraft doing up there? What is their purpose? Are they going somewhere, returning from a foreign land? Are they merely patrolling or practicing?
Whatever their purpose or reason, they always serve as a reminder that we Americans are everywhere, sticking our fingers in everything. It remains to be decided whether this is good or bad... or in which cases, how I feel about it.
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