So, my mom received a letter in the mail yesterday. Our usual routine is for her to photocopy my important mail, then forward it to me. (The copying is an insurance policy in case of faulty USPS.) I knew it would contain part of my location in which I will be placed in Germany next year. The letter was written in German, so it was kind of fun for me to know that my mom would read the letter, but I would still find out where I was before she did.
When I asked her if she could identify any important upcoming dates that I may need to be aware of, however, she started sounding out the first two lines of the letter... which included the location.
So, I guess the surprise is out. The whole situation was amusing, though.
However, I'm happy to know that I'll be placed somewhere within the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia for you Anglophiles) beginning in September. Here's a map, so you know where to find me. (I'll be in the orangey state on the left.)
And, just for kicks, here's the story my campus newspaper published about me. Apparently I was in disbelief a lot.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
My victorious return to Germany!
Welcome back to my blog. I will attempt to resume (hopefully semi-regular) posting here, now that I have some new news about a Dutcher in Deutschland.
I will be returning to Germany from September 2010 through June 2011 through funds granted to me by the American and German Fulbright Commissions in partner with the German Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (Pedagogic Exchange Office). While there, I will assist English teachers in middle and high school classrooms as well as organize extracurricular activities and volunteer in the community.
I don't yet know where I'm placed, but I'm going back!
Hamline University's article on my Fulbright award.
I will be returning to Germany from September 2010 through June 2011 through funds granted to me by the American and German Fulbright Commissions in partner with the German Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (Pedagogic Exchange Office). While there, I will assist English teachers in middle and high school classrooms as well as organize extracurricular activities and volunteer in the community.
I don't yet know where I'm placed, but I'm going back!
Hamline University's article on my Fulbright award.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Photos
For you, my Facebook-less friends, here is an update of photos uploaded since December's journey to Berlin.
Beginning the Year in Lyon, January 2009
Yzeron and the Best Valentine's Day Ever, February 2009
Karneval in Köln - Days 1 & 2, February 2009
Karneval in Köln - Day 3 (because it's just too much for one album!)
Heidelberg with my mom, aunt, and Romain, February 2009
Luxembourg with my mom and Aunt Christy, February 2009
Beginning the Year in Lyon, January 2009
Yzeron and the Best Valentine's Day Ever, February 2009
Karneval in Köln - Days 1 & 2, February 2009
Karneval in Köln - Day 3 (because it's just too much for one album!)
Heidelberg with my mom, aunt, and Romain, February 2009
Luxembourg with my mom and Aunt Christy, February 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Kurse
So, I'm barely in my third week of courses, and already, I'm having class sessions canceled. On the downside, getting up to go to a canceled class got me out of a 1.5-hour nap. On the upside, getting up to go to a canceled class got me out of a 1.5-hour nap.
These are the courses I'm taking this semester:
- Sociology of Language in Britain (very German, I know, but here's hoping it will apply toward my linguistics minor without too much fuss)
- Europa 1900-1945 (a history lecture of hundreds in which I only need a short oral exam to pass. Plus, it's pure German lecture, which is good for my listening comprehension.)
- Grammatik und Syntax des Deutschen (alles klar?)
- Wortschatz und Idiomatik des Deutschen (Vocabulary and Idiomatics of German)
- Interkulturelle Kommunikation (again, does anyone need a translation?)
Despite how full that schedule sounds, it's really quite beautiful. Each course is only a 2-hour class once per week. I begin Mondays at 2 pm, and my last class is Thursday from 6-8 pm, with Fridays off. The earliest I need to awaken is for a 10 am class on Tuesdays.
My life here is seriously great. Looking forward to that bucket of cold back-in-the-real-world-water over my head next year...
These are the courses I'm taking this semester:
- Sociology of Language in Britain (very German, I know, but here's hoping it will apply toward my linguistics minor without too much fuss)
- Europa 1900-1945 (a history lecture of hundreds in which I only need a short oral exam to pass. Plus, it's pure German lecture, which is good for my listening comprehension.)
- Grammatik und Syntax des Deutschen (alles klar?)
- Wortschatz und Idiomatik des Deutschen (Vocabulary and Idiomatics of German)
- Interkulturelle Kommunikation (again, does anyone need a translation?)
Despite how full that schedule sounds, it's really quite beautiful. Each course is only a 2-hour class once per week. I begin Mondays at 2 pm, and my last class is Thursday from 6-8 pm, with Fridays off. The earliest I need to awaken is for a 10 am class on Tuesdays.
My life here is seriously great. Looking forward to that bucket of cold back-in-the-real-world-water over my head next year...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Schweineflu
Well, folks, here we go: Swine flu has reached Germany.
This morning, there was a case confirmed by the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's leading health institute. The case, luckily, is in Regensburg, north of Munich, which is about a 4.5 hour drive from where I am living in Trier.
Still gotta say, this stuff makes me nervous. Here's hoping that it goes away fast and without too much more illness and chaos.
Keep washing your hands!!
This morning, there was a case confirmed by the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's leading health institute. The case, luckily, is in Regensburg, north of Munich, which is about a 4.5 hour drive from where I am living in Trier.
Still gotta say, this stuff makes me nervous. Here's hoping that it goes away fast and without too much more illness and chaos.
Keep washing your hands!!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Spring is in the air...
Isn't it nice to finally have spring weather again? It's such an uplifting feeling...
Two days ago, my friend Mario contacted me, saying, "Hey, let's grill on Thursday! Help me organize this!"
Thus, in about an hour, we created a simple Facebook event inviting all the exchange students and our friends in Trier to a night of grilling on the university. We invited roughly 200 people altogether - around 40 people RSVPd - and were excited to see who would show up.
Thursday night rolled around, and a few of us met to run to the nearest grocery store and get our supplies. I suggested buying a grill to share, as we only had a little campfire pit - and, of course, I ended up paying 25€ out of the 30€ for it. I wasn't too fazed, though, as I love grilling and was ok with owning one.
The night was a ridiculous success; at one point, I counted 60 people milling around outside, and Mario swears there were around 100 who showed up. Everyone just enjoyed themselves, grilling their own food, having a couple of beers and talking. At the end of the night, a lot of people helped me clean up the HUGE mess we'd made, most chipped in 1-2€ apiece, so that the grill ended up costing me only 5€ personally, and I gathered enough beer bottles (which are worth a deposit back here) to make at least 15€!
At some point, I recall talking with someone who had gone home for the semester break. I said at first, "You are so lucky to have spent time with all of your family!" After which I looked around and realized, "But this," gesturing to the gathered crowd, most of whom I knew, the others I now know, "This is also our family."
Two days ago, my friend Mario contacted me, saying, "Hey, let's grill on Thursday! Help me organize this!"
Thus, in about an hour, we created a simple Facebook event inviting all the exchange students and our friends in Trier to a night of grilling on the university. We invited roughly 200 people altogether - around 40 people RSVPd - and were excited to see who would show up.
Thursday night rolled around, and a few of us met to run to the nearest grocery store and get our supplies. I suggested buying a grill to share, as we only had a little campfire pit - and, of course, I ended up paying 25€ out of the 30€ for it. I wasn't too fazed, though, as I love grilling and was ok with owning one.
The night was a ridiculous success; at one point, I counted 60 people milling around outside, and Mario swears there were around 100 who showed up. Everyone just enjoyed themselves, grilling their own food, having a couple of beers and talking. At the end of the night, a lot of people helped me clean up the HUGE mess we'd made, most chipped in 1-2€ apiece, so that the grill ended up costing me only 5€ personally, and I gathered enough beer bottles (which are worth a deposit back here) to make at least 15€!
At some point, I recall talking with someone who had gone home for the semester break. I said at first, "You are so lucky to have spent time with all of your family!" After which I looked around and realized, "But this," gesturing to the gathered crowd, most of whom I knew, the others I now know, "This is also our family."
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