So...this is going to be a random mish-mash of a blog entry, so brace yourself for it now. Fair warning.
First of all, I need to get some random thoughts out of the way that occurred to me on my 20 minute walk back from the train station today.
Random thought #1: Germans are way too attached to their winter coats. Today it was literally 65 degrees outside. However, about 90% of the Germans that I saw STILL had their winter coat on, and often times a scarf as well. And they weren't sweating...how is this physically possible??? I was trudging along with my heavy bags in a hoodie and the sweat was rolling. How is a coat necessitated in weather which college students in the US would greet with shorts, t-shirts and flip flops?!?
Random thought #2: I've definitely assimilated to the culture when I've become obsessed with having "frische Luft" or fresh air in the room at all times. German homes and many buildings don't really have a ventilation system, so they simply open the windows during the day (no screens, mind you) in order to let in the fresh air and let out the humidity in the room. This happens in both warm and VERY cold weather. At my Berlin conference this weekend I found myself dying for some frische Luft many times, and I was very upset by the fact that the window in our hotel room didn't open. Well done, Germans...well done.
Random thought #3: Also when making the trek back from the train station today, I realized that I've really settled in here (of course right before I'm getting ready to leave). I had this sense of coming back home after being in Berlin for a week, and I was genuinely excited about seeing my colleagues for our weekly viewing of Germany's Next Top Model...just as kitschy in Germany as it is in the US, if not more so.
It's a bit late to start in on the travel talk right now, so for now I'll say that Hamburg and Berlin were both fantastic trips, mostly because I found them to be a completely different experience from any other trips I've had within Germany. Definitely both very unique, and not what people would expect in Germany (one being more of a port city and the other such a myriad of many different cultures). I'll post some pictures as soon as I get the time to.
Hope this blog finds you, my avid readers, well!
Alles Gute.......tschuessi! :)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Some things are just universal...
Since my arrival in Germany, I've gotten to know several of my colleagues at the school very well, and have reached a certain level of comfort with my position at the school. Through these relationships I've come to the conclusion, as cliche as it might be, that really - some things are universal.
Example #1: Next Top Model. Yes, the television show that is every woman's guilty pleasure in the United States is ALSO a guilty pleasure of women in Germany. I was recently invited to join a viewing group with some teachers that I work with - my friend Nadin came up to me and said (with a hint of embarrassment) that she and some of the other teachers made it a habit last year to get together and drink wine and bitch about how skinny all of the models are, much like she used to do with her friends when she was at the university. My instant reaction: "OH MY GOD I did the exact same thing with my friends all throughout college, I'd loooooooove to!!!!!!" She just laughed and said, "See, women all around the world really are the same." Well said, Nadin. Well said.
Example #2: Fifteen year old boys will always be the same blundering fools in every country. Well, at least they're the same in Germany as they are in the US. In one of my tenth grade classes they were doing group work today, and I was going around asking them if they had questions, asking them to read out their work. I get to the group of boys in the class - and you all know this group. Think they're too cool for school. And they laugh at EVERYTHING. Literally, everything.
Me: "So guys, let's hear your diary entry for number five."
Student A: *giggle giggle* "You should be reading YOURS!" *points to another, more laughter* "He should read it - his is very good I think"
Student B: "NEIN! will ich nicht...YOU do it!" *chuckle chuckle, shoves paper to other boy*
Student A: "But yours is SOOO good!"
Laughter explodes at this point. This goes on for another five minutes until finally, .....
Student C: "aach, du Arschloch...fine, I read it." *reads the text*
Me: "Good job, that sounded great. Seriously, was it that hard?"
Student A: "Oh, yeah, that was totally mine - I had wrote it!" *LAUGHTERRRRRRRR*
Example #3: All teachers talk about outside of school...is school. Trust me, I've grown up with two parents who are also teachers. I get to hear all about their classes, school politics, etc. I guess it's just part of unwinding at the end of the day. Then I come here, and I'm struggling to find a discussion that I can actually take part in. Thank God I've gotten to know some of the classes and a bunch of the students, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to follow a conversation in the teacher's lounge, OR in the bars when we go out! I mean, I suppose they have that all in common, but let's give it a rest, people!
I'm sure that there are more "universals" out there, but this will have to do for now. Maybe I'll keep a list and post again later.
Oh, and for those of you who I haven't freaked out to yet, I got into Georgetown (unbelievably)! Although it looks like the classes and prestige might have been a bit better, I don't think it will be the best fit for me personally. UW Madison has been very generous in their offer, and I definitely feel more of a personal connection to the culture on that campus. That, and let's face it - I'm a little overdue to be closer to home for a year or two :)
As for now, just trying to be patient and wait for my lovely visitors come April! This weekend my friend Charlie arrives Thursday, and he, my friend Emily and I are heading off to Hamburg for the weekend! Will post pictures and stories when I return to quaint little Duelmen!
Tschuessi,
Mary
Example #1: Next Top Model. Yes, the television show that is every woman's guilty pleasure in the United States is ALSO a guilty pleasure of women in Germany. I was recently invited to join a viewing group with some teachers that I work with - my friend Nadin came up to me and said (with a hint of embarrassment) that she and some of the other teachers made it a habit last year to get together and drink wine and bitch about how skinny all of the models are, much like she used to do with her friends when she was at the university. My instant reaction: "OH MY GOD I did the exact same thing with my friends all throughout college, I'd loooooooove to!!!!!!" She just laughed and said, "See, women all around the world really are the same." Well said, Nadin. Well said.
Example #2: Fifteen year old boys will always be the same blundering fools in every country. Well, at least they're the same in Germany as they are in the US. In one of my tenth grade classes they were doing group work today, and I was going around asking them if they had questions, asking them to read out their work. I get to the group of boys in the class - and you all know this group. Think they're too cool for school. And they laugh at EVERYTHING. Literally, everything.
Me: "So guys, let's hear your diary entry for number five."
Student A: *giggle giggle* "You should be reading YOURS!" *points to another, more laughter* "He should read it - his is very good I think"
Student B: "NEIN! will ich nicht...YOU do it!" *chuckle chuckle, shoves paper to other boy*
Student A: "But yours is SOOO good!"
Laughter explodes at this point. This goes on for another five minutes until finally, .....
Student C: "aach, du Arschloch...fine, I read it." *reads the text*
Me: "Good job, that sounded great. Seriously, was it that hard?"
Student A: "Oh, yeah, that was totally mine - I had wrote it!" *LAUGHTERRRRRRRR*
Example #3: All teachers talk about outside of school...is school. Trust me, I've grown up with two parents who are also teachers. I get to hear all about their classes, school politics, etc. I guess it's just part of unwinding at the end of the day. Then I come here, and I'm struggling to find a discussion that I can actually take part in. Thank God I've gotten to know some of the classes and a bunch of the students, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to follow a conversation in the teacher's lounge, OR in the bars when we go out! I mean, I suppose they have that all in common, but let's give it a rest, people!
I'm sure that there are more "universals" out there, but this will have to do for now. Maybe I'll keep a list and post again later.
Oh, and for those of you who I haven't freaked out to yet, I got into Georgetown (unbelievably)! Although it looks like the classes and prestige might have been a bit better, I don't think it will be the best fit for me personally. UW Madison has been very generous in their offer, and I definitely feel more of a personal connection to the culture on that campus. That, and let's face it - I'm a little overdue to be closer to home for a year or two :)
As for now, just trying to be patient and wait for my lovely visitors come April! This weekend my friend Charlie arrives Thursday, and he, my friend Emily and I are heading off to Hamburg for the weekend! Will post pictures and stories when I return to quaint little Duelmen!
Tschuessi,
Mary
Friday, March 5, 2010
Prepping for the Craziness of March & April
Well, it's now less than one month until my time here starts to go be REAL fast. In fact, next weekend my friend Charlie comes to visit and we'll be making a trip to Hamburg, which is supposed to be one of the most beautiful (northern) German cities. The following weekend begins the conference in Berlin for the Fulbrighters, and then directly after that, spring break will begin in all its glory!
My time has lately been spent helping my spring break possy prepare for their first trip to Europe - that means writing many lists of what they need to take care of before they leave, what they should pack, what they should plan on expecting once they get here, and of course, making a list of useful phrases in the various languages we will encounter. These will include German, Swedish and French. When looking up French phrases, this Friends episode immediately came to mind...enjoy! (P.S. - Two things: have not heard back from Georgetown yet, AND...I have been watching far too many episodes of Friends.)
My time has lately been spent helping my spring break possy prepare for their first trip to Europe - that means writing many lists of what they need to take care of before they leave, what they should pack, what they should plan on expecting once they get here, and of course, making a list of useful phrases in the various languages we will encounter. These will include German, Swedish and French. When looking up French phrases, this Friends episode immediately came to mind...enjoy! (P.S. - Two things: have not heard back from Georgetown yet, AND...I have been watching far too many episodes of Friends.)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Things I do waaaaaaay more in Germany than stateside:
1. Paint my nails. Wait, one's chipped? Gotta re-do them all!
2. Watching Friends....and any other television series I can get my hands on.
3. Blogging. Duh.
4. Facebooking...somehow it makes me feel more connected to what's going on at home. See, there IS a purpose for stalking!
5. Going through the Itunes store over and over again to best decide how to spend my remaining balance leftover from Christmas giftcards. Still haven't made a decision. Singin' in the Rain, or the Great Mouse Detective?!?
...the sooner I get a life, the better.
2. Watching Friends....and any other television series I can get my hands on.
3. Blogging. Duh.
4. Facebooking...somehow it makes me feel more connected to what's going on at home. See, there IS a purpose for stalking!
5. Going through the Itunes store over and over again to best decide how to spend my remaining balance leftover from Christmas giftcards. Still haven't made a decision. Singin' in the Rain, or the Great Mouse Detective?!?
...the sooner I get a life, the better.
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