04 November 2010
02 September 2010
Home again, home again.
I'm really glad I've saved entries because my feet are starting to itch. Forget football season; I want to be back in Germany to see the leaves start to change and to snuggle under my duvet as the cool autumn air twists through the window. And to be in a city again! Oxford, although I love it, is stiflingly small.
But I guess the old saying is true, and that absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
Next up: Osna, then Amsterdam, then Culture Shock.
Peace
But I guess the old saying is true, and that absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
Next up: Osna, then Amsterdam, then Culture Shock.
Peace
19 July 2010
Dorm Life: Techno Musik, Sheep and Nudity
So, I promised an entry on Osnabruecker adventures, but, honestly, I don't feel like writing about those just yet. I fully intend to, however, as there are some interesting stories. What I really want to talk about is my living situation.
Initially, when they told us we were going to be living in a dorm, I was excited. Getting to know German students AND living on campus? It sounded so kick ass. They forgot to mention a few details, though, in our information briefings/ packets/ emails. For example, because dorms are a relatively new idea in Germany, oftentimes they aren't that close to the University, which is the case for ours. It's actually kind of nice, as the area where the University is located is the center of the city and can be a bit loud. But it sucks when you really want to go back and take a nap during lunch, as it takes an hour to get to the dorm and back to the classroom.
Another thing that wasn't mentioned was that are dorms were co-ed. Not the Mississippi version of co-ed, but all the way co-ed, including bathrooms. I didn't know this, so imagine my surprise when I see a dude walking out of the stall as I entered. Besides this encounter, though, I've hardly see anyone in the bathroom, let alone a boy, so it's cool. Besides, the Germans, who love their rules, have the bathrooms labeled with signs. You can only "pee standing" in the first stall.
While we're talking about bathrooms, I must tell you about our toilet paper. First off, it's brown and scratchy, but whatever. It's not that bad. What's bad is that they pretty much ration it. Apparently we get 18 rolls per month, and, if we use that up, we don't get any more until the next month. It sucks, especially since I don't know where to buy toilet paper in Osnabrueck, and I certainly didn't pack any.
Enough about the bathrooms, though. There's a vending machine with beer in it. Seriously. In a college dorm, they make beer easily acceptable. There's also a cigarette machine, and you can smoke almost everywhere. The TV room has ashtrays, the halls smell like smoke, and, everytime I go into the kitchen, there's someone leaning out the window with a Lucky Strike. Oh, and you can smoke in your room, too, although they don't seem to encourage this, as they don't put ashtrays in the rooms.
The students in our dorm are big partiers, or maybe it's just because we're here at the beginning of their summer break. Whichever. These kids have been partying a lot. Saturday night, they threw someone a birthday party in the student bar (!), which happens to be two floors below my room. The techno music blasted until two or three in the morning, and I mean blasted. My iPod was turned up all the way to soothing, let's-go-to-sleep music, but I could still hear the steady beat and electronic sound of the techno version of Happy Birthday. And they come in at all hours of the night, talking and singing and--you guessed it--playing techno in their cars.
I've decided that it's actually not that loud, really, and that it's just that my window is open in hopes of catching a breeze. I can hear the most obscure things, like sheep baa-ing. Not kidding. The first time I heard the sheep, I thought it was fake, a ring tone or some stupid toy. Wrong. There's a sheep farm in front of our dorm. With actual sheep. And we're in the middle of the city. My mind is blown every time I hear the wooly animals, who quite often are the reason I wake up from afternoon naps. Sheep can be loud.
As for my room, it looks like something straight out of a 1990 Ikea catalog. I love it, though. It's so German. And I don't have a roommate, which has been so awesome. It's not that I would mind living with someone. It's just that it has been so damn hot here, and there's no air conditioning. I don't even have a fan anymore (see Goettingen). So, in the intense heat, sleeping in anything at all, even Nike shorts and a t-shirt, is too much. Without a roommate, I can be naked all the time, which is so awesome. Although, as it cools down some, I'm enjoying snuggling up in my comforter and falling asleep cozy. It makes me think of Mississippi and the beauty of air conditioning.
So that's my experience with German dorm life thus far. It's been interesting. There have been days when I hated it, when I wanted nothing more to move back to our hotel in Leipzig that had air conditioning and not leave until it's time to go to Amsterdam. But overall, it's been hella fun. Write to you soon about Osnabrueck and our excursions.
Peace,
Elizabeth
Initially, when they told us we were going to be living in a dorm, I was excited. Getting to know German students AND living on campus? It sounded so kick ass. They forgot to mention a few details, though, in our information briefings/ packets/ emails. For example, because dorms are a relatively new idea in Germany, oftentimes they aren't that close to the University, which is the case for ours. It's actually kind of nice, as the area where the University is located is the center of the city and can be a bit loud. But it sucks when you really want to go back and take a nap during lunch, as it takes an hour to get to the dorm and back to the classroom.
Another thing that wasn't mentioned was that are dorms were co-ed. Not the Mississippi version of co-ed, but all the way co-ed, including bathrooms. I didn't know this, so imagine my surprise when I see a dude walking out of the stall as I entered. Besides this encounter, though, I've hardly see anyone in the bathroom, let alone a boy, so it's cool. Besides, the Germans, who love their rules, have the bathrooms labeled with signs. You can only "pee standing" in the first stall.
While we're talking about bathrooms, I must tell you about our toilet paper. First off, it's brown and scratchy, but whatever. It's not that bad. What's bad is that they pretty much ration it. Apparently we get 18 rolls per month, and, if we use that up, we don't get any more until the next month. It sucks, especially since I don't know where to buy toilet paper in Osnabrueck, and I certainly didn't pack any.
Enough about the bathrooms, though. There's a vending machine with beer in it. Seriously. In a college dorm, they make beer easily acceptable. There's also a cigarette machine, and you can smoke almost everywhere. The TV room has ashtrays, the halls smell like smoke, and, everytime I go into the kitchen, there's someone leaning out the window with a Lucky Strike. Oh, and you can smoke in your room, too, although they don't seem to encourage this, as they don't put ashtrays in the rooms.
The students in our dorm are big partiers, or maybe it's just because we're here at the beginning of their summer break. Whichever. These kids have been partying a lot. Saturday night, they threw someone a birthday party in the student bar (!), which happens to be two floors below my room. The techno music blasted until two or three in the morning, and I mean blasted. My iPod was turned up all the way to soothing, let's-go-to-sleep music, but I could still hear the steady beat and electronic sound of the techno version of Happy Birthday. And they come in at all hours of the night, talking and singing and--you guessed it--playing techno in their cars.
I've decided that it's actually not that loud, really, and that it's just that my window is open in hopes of catching a breeze. I can hear the most obscure things, like sheep baa-ing. Not kidding. The first time I heard the sheep, I thought it was fake, a ring tone or some stupid toy. Wrong. There's a sheep farm in front of our dorm. With actual sheep. And we're in the middle of the city. My mind is blown every time I hear the wooly animals, who quite often are the reason I wake up from afternoon naps. Sheep can be loud.
As for my room, it looks like something straight out of a 1990 Ikea catalog. I love it, though. It's so German. And I don't have a roommate, which has been so awesome. It's not that I would mind living with someone. It's just that it has been so damn hot here, and there's no air conditioning. I don't even have a fan anymore (see Goettingen). So, in the intense heat, sleeping in anything at all, even Nike shorts and a t-shirt, is too much. Without a roommate, I can be naked all the time, which is so awesome. Although, as it cools down some, I'm enjoying snuggling up in my comforter and falling asleep cozy. It makes me think of Mississippi and the beauty of air conditioning.
So that's my experience with German dorm life thus far. It's been interesting. There have been days when I hated it, when I wanted nothing more to move back to our hotel in Leipzig that had air conditioning and not leave until it's time to go to Amsterdam. But overall, it's been hella fun. Write to you soon about Osnabrueck and our excursions.
Peace,
Elizabeth
14 July 2010
Hamburg, and Why Waffle House Sucks.
Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been so busy with class and getting settled, and somehow, no matter how much time I seem to have, it just evaporates in this unairconditioned heat and leaves me sleeping. Anyway, at the urging of several friends, I will now recount my tales regarding Hamburg
We headed to Hamburg a day early because of the intense heat and lack of things to do in Goettingen. After we checked into the hotel, we went to the Rathaus. It is so, so gorgeous. I felt like I was walking through a palace. Or a Vegas hotel. Whichever. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant in the pedestrian zone in front of our hotel, and I was given a rose by the waiter at the end of our meal. We walked around for a while after that, around the lake nearby and through the streets lined with gorgeous buildings. Hamburg is so, so beautiful. I almost didn't want to go back. I wanted to keep walking and to see everything in the city.
The next day we went down to the harbor. It was a really lazy day, just walking up and down, and stopping for fish and chips for lunch. We headed back to the hotel early, though, because that night we had tickets for Der Koenig der Loewen, or the German version of The Lion King on stage. It was phenomenal. The theatre is on the opposite side of the harbor, so you have to take a boat to this massive metal theater. We got there really early, so we sat outside and watched the ships come and go. The play didn't disappoint, either. The music is overall the same, although in German. And the costumes! Ahhh. It was such a good show.
We met up with Jake the next day, and just kind of wandering throughout Hamburg and caught up on all things America and FIFA related. After lunch, we headed to the Reeperbahn, which is the big party street in Hamburg. It was tame when we were there--after all, it was only the early afternoon. Anyway, it has this vibe to it that reminded me of Bourbon Street, but if it was in New York. Our adventures there were uneventful. We discovered that Jim Bean sells mixed drinks in a can--the perfect whiskey and coke, available at your local doener shop/ grocery store. They also sell champagne in a can, a discovery which is right on up there with the Kinder Surprise for me. We managed to stumble upon one of the places The Beatles used to play/ live, which was a nice surprise.
Our last day in Hamburg was spent wandering through the warehouse city on one of the hottest days in my memory. I loved walking through that area, but ended up with a migraine from the heat, and headed back to the hotel to nap and pack. We had dinner that night in the pedestrian zone again, although this time we opted for a typical German restaurant.
There were quite a few recurring topics of discussion throughout our stay in Hamburg, one of which was waffles. We were three weeks into the trip and would have done some horrible things for an American breakfast. It got to the point that I searched waffles in Hamburg, to no avail. However, it occured to me that Waffle House has one of the best (aka most likely to clog your arteries) breakfast spreads in the world. We figured that there had to be a Waffle House in Germany. Wrong. I was so disappointed.
I have since then had a waffle, thanks to my sweet travel companion, who bought waffles and syrup upon our arrival in Osnabrueck. I'll tell you of my more recent adventures soon, although they are admittedly a bit boring, as we've not been doing too much due to the heat.
Peace,
Eli
We headed to Hamburg a day early because of the intense heat and lack of things to do in Goettingen. After we checked into the hotel, we went to the Rathaus. It is so, so gorgeous. I felt like I was walking through a palace. Or a Vegas hotel. Whichever. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant in the pedestrian zone in front of our hotel, and I was given a rose by the waiter at the end of our meal. We walked around for a while after that, around the lake nearby and through the streets lined with gorgeous buildings. Hamburg is so, so beautiful. I almost didn't want to go back. I wanted to keep walking and to see everything in the city.
The next day we went down to the harbor. It was a really lazy day, just walking up and down, and stopping for fish and chips for lunch. We headed back to the hotel early, though, because that night we had tickets for Der Koenig der Loewen, or the German version of The Lion King on stage. It was phenomenal. The theatre is on the opposite side of the harbor, so you have to take a boat to this massive metal theater. We got there really early, so we sat outside and watched the ships come and go. The play didn't disappoint, either. The music is overall the same, although in German. And the costumes! Ahhh. It was such a good show.
We met up with Jake the next day, and just kind of wandering throughout Hamburg and caught up on all things America and FIFA related. After lunch, we headed to the Reeperbahn, which is the big party street in Hamburg. It was tame when we were there--after all, it was only the early afternoon. Anyway, it has this vibe to it that reminded me of Bourbon Street, but if it was in New York. Our adventures there were uneventful. We discovered that Jim Bean sells mixed drinks in a can--the perfect whiskey and coke, available at your local doener shop/ grocery store. They also sell champagne in a can, a discovery which is right on up there with the Kinder Surprise for me. We managed to stumble upon one of the places The Beatles used to play/ live, which was a nice surprise.
Our last day in Hamburg was spent wandering through the warehouse city on one of the hottest days in my memory. I loved walking through that area, but ended up with a migraine from the heat, and headed back to the hotel to nap and pack. We had dinner that night in the pedestrian zone again, although this time we opted for a typical German restaurant.
There were quite a few recurring topics of discussion throughout our stay in Hamburg, one of which was waffles. We were three weeks into the trip and would have done some horrible things for an American breakfast. It got to the point that I searched waffles in Hamburg, to no avail. However, it occured to me that Waffle House has one of the best (aka most likely to clog your arteries) breakfast spreads in the world. We figured that there had to be a Waffle House in Germany. Wrong. I was so disappointed.
I have since then had a waffle, thanks to my sweet travel companion, who bought waffles and syrup upon our arrival in Osnabrueck. I'll tell you of my more recent adventures soon, although they are admittedly a bit boring, as we've not been doing too much due to the heat.
Peace,
Eli
01 July 2010
Goettingen, and Why Little Fans Should Just Stay In America
Goettingen University can claim many famous alumni--Bismarck, the Brothers Grimm, and Werner Heisenberg (the Nazi a-bomb guy. Look him up.)--and is one of the few schools Ole Miss has an exchange program with that doesn't specialize in math/ computers/ something else I have no interest in. Anyway, I wanted to visit and see the town for myself before I make my decision as to where I'll be spending my semester/ year.
We spent Sunday afternoon at a doener restaurant in one of the plazas watching soccer. It was such good game, and the crowd was so responsive. Afterward, people rode around in their cars and honked their horns and waved their flags and yelled "Schland!" just like after every other victory thus far. However, perhaps because this was a more impressive win, or perhaps just because we were in a college town, the honking and waving and yelling went on for hours and well into the night.
Germany isn't too big on air conditioning, which is understandable, seeing as the vast majority of our days here have seen perfect weather. However, Sunday and especially Sunday night were both quite hot. In my prepared-for-all-things suitcase, I had my little fan, so, naturally, I plugged it in to my converter. I sat in the moving air, thinking smugly to myself that it was worth having my obscenely large suitcase, the size of which every cab driver and hotelier has commented on, just to have such things as a fan and appreciated the scent of fresh plastic it blew on my face. That is, until I noticed that it was not, in fact, a scent of fresh plastic, but of burning plastic. In that very instant, sparks flew out from the little fan, this lights shut off, and I fell from my bed in shock. Turns out my converter was just an adapter plus a power surge protector, and I had blown the power for the majority of the second floor.
On Monday, Martin and I walked around Goettingen. We saw their synagogue memorial and a few churches, then grabbed doeners and headed to the University's campus to play the people watching game. It was so much fun, watching German students and making up their slightly melodramatic life stories based solely on their appearances. After hanging out there for a while, we headed back to the hotel for naps, then went for Mexican food and the Chile-Brazil game.
Overall, our time in Goettingen was really laid back. It was nice to kind of just catch our breath and chill out for a bit. I hadn't realized how exhatusted I was until I woke up from Monday's nap and saw that I had slept for five hours. And I'm still mourning the loss of the little fan. It was so cute and worked so well in the few seconds before its demise.
I'll update soon with Hamburger stories.
Peace,
Eli
We spent Sunday afternoon at a doener restaurant in one of the plazas watching soccer. It was such good game, and the crowd was so responsive. Afterward, people rode around in their cars and honked their horns and waved their flags and yelled "Schland!" just like after every other victory thus far. However, perhaps because this was a more impressive win, or perhaps just because we were in a college town, the honking and waving and yelling went on for hours and well into the night.
Germany isn't too big on air conditioning, which is understandable, seeing as the vast majority of our days here have seen perfect weather. However, Sunday and especially Sunday night were both quite hot. In my prepared-for-all-things suitcase, I had my little fan, so, naturally, I plugged it in to my converter. I sat in the moving air, thinking smugly to myself that it was worth having my obscenely large suitcase, the size of which every cab driver and hotelier has commented on, just to have such things as a fan and appreciated the scent of fresh plastic it blew on my face. That is, until I noticed that it was not, in fact, a scent of fresh plastic, but of burning plastic. In that very instant, sparks flew out from the little fan, this lights shut off, and I fell from my bed in shock. Turns out my converter was just an adapter plus a power surge protector, and I had blown the power for the majority of the second floor.
On Monday, Martin and I walked around Goettingen. We saw their synagogue memorial and a few churches, then grabbed doeners and headed to the University's campus to play the people watching game. It was so much fun, watching German students and making up their slightly melodramatic life stories based solely on their appearances. After hanging out there for a while, we headed back to the hotel for naps, then went for Mexican food and the Chile-Brazil game.
Overall, our time in Goettingen was really laid back. It was nice to kind of just catch our breath and chill out for a bit. I hadn't realized how exhatusted I was until I woke up from Monday's nap and saw that I had slept for five hours. And I'm still mourning the loss of the little fan. It was so cute and worked so well in the few seconds before its demise.
I'll update soon with Hamburger stories.
Peace,
Eli
28 June 2010
Leipzig, How Uncreative The Bach Family Was and How To Disguise Yourself As A Manequinn
From Munich, we took the train to Leipzig, which is in what was once Eastern Germany, AKA the GDR, or the DDR. I expected the city to still have an air of repression about it, even though it's been twenty years since Reunification. And so, as we walked to meet our friend Kilian, I wasn't surprised by the architechture or the broken windows. I was surprised, though, by the cosmopolitan city that Kilian, Martin and I wandered through in search of Public Viewing. It was the complete opposite of what I had expected.
Martin and I met Kilian last summer when he was touring with the Leipzig Youth Orchestra, and I stayed in contact with him over the past year. We were really excited, though, that he wanted to hang out with us. I mean, I'm sure he had other friends to spend time with, especially the night of the soccer game. But, not only did he take us to Public Viewing, he also took us to an Irish Pub afterward. It was the perfect evening--we sat outside in the cool night air, drank Guinness and talked about everything from politics to music to childhood memories.
The next morning, Martin and I went to Thomaskirche, where Bach worked for a number of years. It was gorgeous. From there we went to the Bach museum, which is, handily enough, right by the church and quite interesting. They have a family tree up, and it turns out that the fourteen men of Bach's generation were all named Johann. Seriously. I mean, they all had middle names, but still. They all had the same first name. Can you imagine how confusing family Christmas must have been?
Anyway, after the Bach museum and a quick lunch of currywurst, Martin and I went to the zoo so as to appreciate the beautiful day. The weather was perfect for the zoo: sunny and warm, but with a breeze. We learned lots of animal names and even found a little slice of home in the reptile exhibit, where they have a Mississippi alligator.
That night, we happened to run into Kilian after dinner. The three of us spent the evening lounging in the grass at the park, swapping travel stories and asking questions about culture. Martin and I learned about the German system of DUIs, and Kilian learned about the all important adjective ending "ish." He seemed to really like using it, too, as almost every answer we received for the rest of the night ended with it. "How long does it take you to bike to school?" "Twenty minutes...ish." After, a while, though, it got dark (ish), and Martin got cold (ish), so we parted ways and decided to meet up the next afternoon.
Martin and I went to the Museum fuer Voelkerkunde, where we wandered aimlessly looking at things since we didn't understand a lot of the explainations. I ended up far ahead of Martin and decided to rest at the Iraq exhibit, where there were pillows and other comfy things to sit on. I had just gotten settled when a group of older men came in. I thought one was talking to me, so I took out my earbud. The man jumped and screamed "Sie lebt! Sie lebt!" and then explained to me that he had thought I was a manequinn. I guess I'm glad to know that, by German standards, I could pass for Iraqi.
Martin was feeling sick, so he went back to the hotel while I went to the Modern History Forum. It was one of the most emotional exhibits I've visited, with all the different propaganda posters and movies. It's unbelievable that twenty-five years ago I couldn't have visited Leipzig, that I wouldn't have met Kilian and that Leipzig has transitioned to capitalism so (seemingly) well.
Kilian called after I finished the museum, and we met up to wander some before he had to leave. It was hard saying goodbye to him. I feel like I've had to say goodbye so many times in the past few weeks! But I'm glad to have seen/ met everyone we have.
Soccer has dominated our lives. We've watched at least a game a day for probably a week now. I don't know what I'm going to do when it's over. It's given us a reason to go out and to actually be somewhat social with locals.
Anyway, it's getting kind of late, and I'm starting to ramble. I'll update soon with Goettingen and then Hamburg.
Peace,
Eli
Martin and I met Kilian last summer when he was touring with the Leipzig Youth Orchestra, and I stayed in contact with him over the past year. We were really excited, though, that he wanted to hang out with us. I mean, I'm sure he had other friends to spend time with, especially the night of the soccer game. But, not only did he take us to Public Viewing, he also took us to an Irish Pub afterward. It was the perfect evening--we sat outside in the cool night air, drank Guinness and talked about everything from politics to music to childhood memories.
The next morning, Martin and I went to Thomaskirche, where Bach worked for a number of years. It was gorgeous. From there we went to the Bach museum, which is, handily enough, right by the church and quite interesting. They have a family tree up, and it turns out that the fourteen men of Bach's generation were all named Johann. Seriously. I mean, they all had middle names, but still. They all had the same first name. Can you imagine how confusing family Christmas must have been?
Anyway, after the Bach museum and a quick lunch of currywurst, Martin and I went to the zoo so as to appreciate the beautiful day. The weather was perfect for the zoo: sunny and warm, but with a breeze. We learned lots of animal names and even found a little slice of home in the reptile exhibit, where they have a Mississippi alligator.
That night, we happened to run into Kilian after dinner. The three of us spent the evening lounging in the grass at the park, swapping travel stories and asking questions about culture. Martin and I learned about the German system of DUIs, and Kilian learned about the all important adjective ending "ish." He seemed to really like using it, too, as almost every answer we received for the rest of the night ended with it. "How long does it take you to bike to school?" "Twenty minutes...ish." After, a while, though, it got dark (ish), and Martin got cold (ish), so we parted ways and decided to meet up the next afternoon.
Martin and I went to the Museum fuer Voelkerkunde, where we wandered aimlessly looking at things since we didn't understand a lot of the explainations. I ended up far ahead of Martin and decided to rest at the Iraq exhibit, where there were pillows and other comfy things to sit on. I had just gotten settled when a group of older men came in. I thought one was talking to me, so I took out my earbud. The man jumped and screamed "Sie lebt! Sie lebt!" and then explained to me that he had thought I was a manequinn. I guess I'm glad to know that, by German standards, I could pass for Iraqi.
Martin was feeling sick, so he went back to the hotel while I went to the Modern History Forum. It was one of the most emotional exhibits I've visited, with all the different propaganda posters and movies. It's unbelievable that twenty-five years ago I couldn't have visited Leipzig, that I wouldn't have met Kilian and that Leipzig has transitioned to capitalism so (seemingly) well.
Kilian called after I finished the museum, and we met up to wander some before he had to leave. It was hard saying goodbye to him. I feel like I've had to say goodbye so many times in the past few weeks! But I'm glad to have seen/ met everyone we have.
Soccer has dominated our lives. We've watched at least a game a day for probably a week now. I don't know what I'm going to do when it's over. It's given us a reason to go out and to actually be somewhat social with locals.
Anyway, it's getting kind of late, and I'm starting to ramble. I'll update soon with Goettingen and then Hamburg.
Peace,
Eli
22 June 2010
Salzburg, and Why I'm a Firm Believer in Retail Therapy
Last night was a horrible night for me, sleep wise. I couldn't fall asleep for hours, and, when I finally did, I was painfully aware that my dreams were in German. Usually the idea of dreaming in one of my languages thrills me, but last night it was awful. My dreams had been my one refuge from German and all it entails, the few hours a day where I could hear English and understand without effort. At least until last night. It was a struggle to drag myself from bed and down to breakfast, but I did, for the sole reason that today was our Salzburg trip.
Salzburg is perhaps the prettiest, or perhaps most ornate, city I've ever visited. Everywhere you turn, there's a beautiful building, quite often a church, stretching to the sky, with a backdrop of mountain. I really can see why the hills were alive with music. I mean, I'd probably sing all the time if I lived in that beauty.
We started off our day with a trip to the Mozarts Geburtshaus, or the house in which Mozart was born. It was a really interesting museum that included a lot about his operas. There was also a listening room, where I spent probably half an hour just enjoying the music. After that, we headed to some catacombs at Toscaninihof, after stopping in some churches along the way. For lunch we ate at the oldest restaurant in Eastern Europe (open since 806!), after which we split up, as Martin wanted to visit the Festung, and I am Festung-ed out.
As I wandered the winding cobblestones of Salzburg, I couldn't help but think really cheesy thoughts--that Mozart walked along these streets, and that maybe Julie Andrews stopped in this shop. And I guess I got lost in my sleep-deprived thoughts because, next thing I know, I am in front of a Mango store. I'm convinced that it was a sign from God or karma or the universe that I should shop and not try to sightsee anymore. If the fact that I just happened upon one of my favorite stores which I have no access to EVER doesn't convince you that I was destined to shop today, H&M, which just happened to be across the street, was having a huge sale. I mean, come on. So I spent my afternoon browsing the latest European fashion and ended up purchasing a few pieces, including sequined leggings a la Gaga. It was the perfect afternoon.
I was still tired, though, and, when I'm tired, I get homesick, and, for whatever reason, when I'm homesick, I crave Asian food. Martin is not a fan of Asian food, so I went to a Vietnamese restaurant by myself. It's weird, but I really miss drinking cheap white wine and eating cheap Asian noodles. My dinner tonight was definitely top five since I've been here, if solely for the fact that I needed a splash of home in my life.
Tomorrow we leave for Leipzig. I don't know what we'll be doing, really. There's a soccer game that night, though, which promises fun.
Peace,
Eli
Salzburg is perhaps the prettiest, or perhaps most ornate, city I've ever visited. Everywhere you turn, there's a beautiful building, quite often a church, stretching to the sky, with a backdrop of mountain. I really can see why the hills were alive with music. I mean, I'd probably sing all the time if I lived in that beauty.
We started off our day with a trip to the Mozarts Geburtshaus, or the house in which Mozart was born. It was a really interesting museum that included a lot about his operas. There was also a listening room, where I spent probably half an hour just enjoying the music. After that, we headed to some catacombs at Toscaninihof, after stopping in some churches along the way. For lunch we ate at the oldest restaurant in Eastern Europe (open since 806!), after which we split up, as Martin wanted to visit the Festung, and I am Festung-ed out.
As I wandered the winding cobblestones of Salzburg, I couldn't help but think really cheesy thoughts--that Mozart walked along these streets, and that maybe Julie Andrews stopped in this shop. And I guess I got lost in my sleep-deprived thoughts because, next thing I know, I am in front of a Mango store. I'm convinced that it was a sign from God or karma or the universe that I should shop and not try to sightsee anymore. If the fact that I just happened upon one of my favorite stores which I have no access to EVER doesn't convince you that I was destined to shop today, H&M, which just happened to be across the street, was having a huge sale. I mean, come on. So I spent my afternoon browsing the latest European fashion and ended up purchasing a few pieces, including sequined leggings a la Gaga. It was the perfect afternoon.
I was still tired, though, and, when I'm tired, I get homesick, and, for whatever reason, when I'm homesick, I crave Asian food. Martin is not a fan of Asian food, so I went to a Vietnamese restaurant by myself. It's weird, but I really miss drinking cheap white wine and eating cheap Asian noodles. My dinner tonight was definitely top five since I've been here, if solely for the fact that I needed a splash of home in my life.
Tomorrow we leave for Leipzig. I don't know what we'll be doing, really. There's a soccer game that night, though, which promises fun.
Peace,
Eli
21 June 2010
Bavaria, or Why I'll Always Giggle When I See Johnny Depp
Last Tuesday, Martin and I said goodbye to German Family 1 in Bad Soden and took the train from Frankfurt to Würzburg, where we were picked up by Gabi and Andi, members of German Family 2. Let's just say that Germany is keeping us on our toes--swirling letters spelled out "Keep It Country" across Andi's shirt, and, while in the car to Rothenburg, Tik Tok came on the radio.
Rothenburg is absolutely gorgeous, albeit quite touristy. It's on what's known as the Romantic Road, and it's pretty easy to see why. I felt like I was walking around in a fairy tale! We spent a few hours just walking in a garden and the city. Martin and I were tired, though, so, after our first dönner kebap (phenomenal!), we loaded up in the Mercedes and struck on the autobahn toward Kronach.
Let me just say this about the autobahn: it's frightening. Or maybe it's something that takes some getting used to. Whichever it is, I have never feared for my life more than I did as the speedometer crept past 180 km/h. Everything turned out fine (obviously), but I guess I understand why so many people opt to take the trains instead of driving.
German Family 2 doesn't watch soccer. I didn't think it was possible, but it's true. So, instead of soccer, we watched movies in the evening. I have now seen Secondhand Lions, Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and both Blues Brothers movies in German, as well as three German comedies. As weird as it was to see some of those (i.e., POTC) in German, it was a lot of fun. It was kind of like being a little kid again. I didn't understand 99% of the jokes but could still appreciate slapstick humor. However, I did learn something, although rather indirectly, from our movie nights. I noticed that someone had written "Depp" on a picture of a politician on one of his posters and thought to myself "He looks nothing like Johnny Depp. It must mean something!" Turns out, it means prick.
Our days in Kronach were lazy--we toured the castle and the art museum there, then had lunch at a brewery and spent the afternoon in the park on Wednesday, and watched soccer all of Friday. Thursday was our Nürnberg trip. The doku-zentrum museum is probably the most informative museum I've ever been to regarding Hitler and the Third Reich, and it was fascinating.
We left German Family 2 yesterday for Munich. After we dropped the bags off, Martin and I split up. He went in search of the BMW Museum, and I chose to spend my afternoon in the Neue Pinotek and Pinotek Der Moderne. The Neue was splendid and just what I needed on a rainy Sunday, as the art was mainly from the 19th century and included pieces by both the impressionists and postimpressionists. It was also relatively uncrowded, especially when compared to the Moderne, where I spent half an hour before bailing to meet Martin at the hotel. We had an early dinner, then went to see Robin Hood. German movie theaters sell gummi bears AND beer. I'm in love with this country.
Today we went to Schloß Nymphenburg, which is beautiful. The weather's been kind of icky, so we didn't get to walk around the grounds too much. I guess that's a reason to come back, though. For lunch, we went to Hofbräuhaus, and I have to say this in so many words: Mother, you were right. I loved it. I want to go there everyday. It's wonderful! Huge steins of beer, potato dumplings, oompa bands, lederhosen AND a delicious dampfnudle for dessert. Then we walked around Marienplatz and the Viktualienmarkt for a few hours, and, after a peek inside Frauen Kirche, headed back to the hotel, where we are now. We're going to see When In Rome tonight. Somehow chick flicks are more appealing when you don't know what's being said the whole time. Tomorrow is Salzburg. I'll update then.
Peace,
Elizabeth
Rothenburg is absolutely gorgeous, albeit quite touristy. It's on what's known as the Romantic Road, and it's pretty easy to see why. I felt like I was walking around in a fairy tale! We spent a few hours just walking in a garden and the city. Martin and I were tired, though, so, after our first dönner kebap (phenomenal!), we loaded up in the Mercedes and struck on the autobahn toward Kronach.
Let me just say this about the autobahn: it's frightening. Or maybe it's something that takes some getting used to. Whichever it is, I have never feared for my life more than I did as the speedometer crept past 180 km/h. Everything turned out fine (obviously), but I guess I understand why so many people opt to take the trains instead of driving.
German Family 2 doesn't watch soccer. I didn't think it was possible, but it's true. So, instead of soccer, we watched movies in the evening. I have now seen Secondhand Lions, Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and both Blues Brothers movies in German, as well as three German comedies. As weird as it was to see some of those (i.e., POTC) in German, it was a lot of fun. It was kind of like being a little kid again. I didn't understand 99% of the jokes but could still appreciate slapstick humor. However, I did learn something, although rather indirectly, from our movie nights. I noticed that someone had written "Depp" on a picture of a politician on one of his posters and thought to myself "He looks nothing like Johnny Depp. It must mean something!" Turns out, it means prick.
Our days in Kronach were lazy--we toured the castle and the art museum there, then had lunch at a brewery and spent the afternoon in the park on Wednesday, and watched soccer all of Friday. Thursday was our Nürnberg trip. The doku-zentrum museum is probably the most informative museum I've ever been to regarding Hitler and the Third Reich, and it was fascinating.
We left German Family 2 yesterday for Munich. After we dropped the bags off, Martin and I split up. He went in search of the BMW Museum, and I chose to spend my afternoon in the Neue Pinotek and Pinotek Der Moderne. The Neue was splendid and just what I needed on a rainy Sunday, as the art was mainly from the 19th century and included pieces by both the impressionists and postimpressionists. It was also relatively uncrowded, especially when compared to the Moderne, where I spent half an hour before bailing to meet Martin at the hotel. We had an early dinner, then went to see Robin Hood. German movie theaters sell gummi bears AND beer. I'm in love with this country.
Today we went to Schloß Nymphenburg, which is beautiful. The weather's been kind of icky, so we didn't get to walk around the grounds too much. I guess that's a reason to come back, though. For lunch, we went to Hofbräuhaus, and I have to say this in so many words: Mother, you were right. I loved it. I want to go there everyday. It's wonderful! Huge steins of beer, potato dumplings, oompa bands, lederhosen AND a delicious dampfnudle for dessert. Then we walked around Marienplatz and the Viktualienmarkt for a few hours, and, after a peek inside Frauen Kirche, headed back to the hotel, where we are now. We're going to see When In Rome tonight. Somehow chick flicks are more appealing when you don't know what's being said the whole time. Tomorrow is Salzburg. I'll update then.
Peace,
Elizabeth
14 June 2010
Bad Soden, Part 2: How I Learned to Eat Potatoes
Yesterday, Hans and Rachel took us to the Rhinegau. It's probably half an hour from their lovely little town of Bad Soden and is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. We walked from one castle to another through rolling hills of vineyards and rosebushes--I'll post pictures soon, if the netbook allows it.
Anyway, we had dinner at one of the vineyards, where Martin and I received a crash course in German table manners, which I know you're just dying to hear about. Well, for one, you leave your hands on the table, poised to create your next bite, in place of letting them rest in your lap. German efficiency, anyone? Also, you don't use a knife to cut your potatoes; instead, you use your fork at a "36 degree" angle and hope that said potatoes don't roll into your lap. Sadly, these are the only two that stuck with me, but still I thoroughly enjoyed our discussion on manners. Rachel and Hans have been so wonderful in our adjustment to German culture in small ways like that.
And, of course, last night was the Germany-Australia soccer game. Hans drove over 100 mph to make sure we got back to watch most of the game. Needless to say, Germany won. (I say needless to say because Germany is just so amazing. And because I really don't know jack shit about soccer, so it just seems like they should have a good team.) I rode with Rachel to pick up Matthias from a friend's house, and it was insane. There were people standing in the streets with German flags, people riding on top of cars, people leaning out of balconies--people everywhere doing incredibly dangerous things in the name of soccer, and it was only Germany's first game! Never again will I complain about traffic on the Square after a football game.
Today we went into Frankfurt, which is about twenty minutes from Bad Soden. It's such a nice city, although I didn't have the luck of running into Herr Kaya. I bought a German soccer jersey and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in German. For lunch, I had the traditional eggs and "green sauce." It was tasty but not what I expected. For some reason, I pictured eggs benedict with a sauce hybrid of green mole and hollandaise--wrong. It was hard boiled eggs and potatoes on top of a cold-ish green sauce. I really don't know how to describe the taste except spice-y. Not like hot "spicy," but in a sense that there were lots of spipces, I guess. It was pretty good, though, and I was able to cut my potatoes like a proper German lady. And I pet a dog! Dogs are everywhere over here, but I've been too afraid to actually pet one, in fear of looking dumb. But today, I just went up and petted this dog, and I think the woman thought I was German because she kept talking to me in German after I asked her his name.
This evening Rachel took me to a friend's house for a dinner party. It was so much fun and so interesting. And Hans hadn't made up those table manners to throw us off--all the ladies kept their hands on the table as they chewed. Some even talked while they had food in their mouths. This is not to say that I am looking down on their manners or anything like that. It's just that my inner debutante was (and is) fascinated by the differences in culture that seep down into the manners of eating.
I suppose that's all for today. We leave for Kronach tomorrow morning, and I need to sleep.
Bis morgen,
Elizabeth
Anyway, we had dinner at one of the vineyards, where Martin and I received a crash course in German table manners, which I know you're just dying to hear about. Well, for one, you leave your hands on the table, poised to create your next bite, in place of letting them rest in your lap. German efficiency, anyone? Also, you don't use a knife to cut your potatoes; instead, you use your fork at a "36 degree" angle and hope that said potatoes don't roll into your lap. Sadly, these are the only two that stuck with me, but still I thoroughly enjoyed our discussion on manners. Rachel and Hans have been so wonderful in our adjustment to German culture in small ways like that.
And, of course, last night was the Germany-Australia soccer game. Hans drove over 100 mph to make sure we got back to watch most of the game. Needless to say, Germany won. (I say needless to say because Germany is just so amazing. And because I really don't know jack shit about soccer, so it just seems like they should have a good team.) I rode with Rachel to pick up Matthias from a friend's house, and it was insane. There were people standing in the streets with German flags, people riding on top of cars, people leaning out of balconies--people everywhere doing incredibly dangerous things in the name of soccer, and it was only Germany's first game! Never again will I complain about traffic on the Square after a football game.
Today we went into Frankfurt, which is about twenty minutes from Bad Soden. It's such a nice city, although I didn't have the luck of running into Herr Kaya. I bought a German soccer jersey and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in German. For lunch, I had the traditional eggs and "green sauce." It was tasty but not what I expected. For some reason, I pictured eggs benedict with a sauce hybrid of green mole and hollandaise--wrong. It was hard boiled eggs and potatoes on top of a cold-ish green sauce. I really don't know how to describe the taste except spice-y. Not like hot "spicy," but in a sense that there were lots of spipces, I guess. It was pretty good, though, and I was able to cut my potatoes like a proper German lady. And I pet a dog! Dogs are everywhere over here, but I've been too afraid to actually pet one, in fear of looking dumb. But today, I just went up and petted this dog, and I think the woman thought I was German because she kept talking to me in German after I asked her his name.
This evening Rachel took me to a friend's house for a dinner party. It was so much fun and so interesting. And Hans hadn't made up those table manners to throw us off--all the ladies kept their hands on the table as they chewed. Some even talked while they had food in their mouths. This is not to say that I am looking down on their manners or anything like that. It's just that my inner debutante was (and is) fascinated by the differences in culture that seep down into the manners of eating.
I suppose that's all for today. We leave for Kronach tomorrow morning, and I need to sleep.
Bis morgen,
Elizabeth
13 June 2010
Bad Soden
Well, I made it to Germany in one piece, thanks to Benadryl, an amazing iPod battery and a few prayers to St. Anthony. (They couldn't find the crew for the Jackson-Memphis flight. St. A = saint of lost things. Make sense?)
Anyway, we're staying with Rachel, a friend of Daddy's from work. She's lovely, and her family is precious. Her husband is named Hans, and they have two sons, Thomas and Matthias. Thomas spent a year in the US and therefore speaks PERFECT English, right down to the accent. Matthias is the younger son, and he's suuuch a little brother. We made dinner and ate as a family, then went to the park to watch the US-UK game in a park close by. It was so nice--they had beer and sausage vendors set up, and a big screen in front of benches and tables.
Today Hans and Rachel are taking us on a drive/ hike throught the country. We're going to a castle and a vineyard, or something. After an early dinner, we're going to come back and watch the Germany-Australia game in the park. Apparently things are going to be crazy, and I can't wait. I'm imagining the Grove but with Germans and legal beer.
It's so pretty here! Streams twisting through parks, houses on (mini) mountains, and dogs everywhere. Tomorrow we're going in to Frankfurt to explore some, and Tuesday we're off to Bavaria.
Frieden :)
Eli
Anyway, we're staying with Rachel, a friend of Daddy's from work. She's lovely, and her family is precious. Her husband is named Hans, and they have two sons, Thomas and Matthias. Thomas spent a year in the US and therefore speaks PERFECT English, right down to the accent. Matthias is the younger son, and he's suuuch a little brother. We made dinner and ate as a family, then went to the park to watch the US-UK game in a park close by. It was so nice--they had beer and sausage vendors set up, and a big screen in front of benches and tables.
Today Hans and Rachel are taking us on a drive/ hike throught the country. We're going to a castle and a vineyard, or something. After an early dinner, we're going to come back and watch the Germany-Australia game in the park. Apparently things are going to be crazy, and I can't wait. I'm imagining the Grove but with Germans and legal beer.
It's so pretty here! Streams twisting through parks, houses on (mini) mountains, and dogs everywhere. Tomorrow we're going in to Frankfurt to explore some, and Tuesday we're off to Bavaria.
Frieden :)
Eli
03 June 2010
One week.
I'm so ready, but it's so bittersweet.
I bought my books today. Six of them, all pertaining to German history, and only one that's fiction. I'm really looking forward to reading them while I'm there. It just feels right.
I just want to leave without having to say goodbye to anyone else. Can I do that?
Peace,
Eli
I'm so ready, but it's so bittersweet.
I bought my books today. Six of them, all pertaining to German history, and only one that's fiction. I'm really looking forward to reading them while I'm there. It just feels right.
I just want to leave without having to say goodbye to anyone else. Can I do that?
Peace,
Eli
22 May 2010
Events of the past week or so:
1. I WENT TO HARRY POTTER WORLD.
And it was amazing. I'd post pictures, but, sadly, there are none. They wouldn't let us take any. I do have cups, a sweatshirt and the bag the sweatshirt came in as souvenirs/ proof.
2. I developed some semblance of a tan.
Unfortunately, only the front of my legs tanned, so I'm a bit uneven.
3. I finally finished Love in the Time of Cholera.
It's beautiful. I highly recommend it.
4. I was hit on by Captain America.
It made me feel patriotic, if not a little creeped out.
5. I witnessed my father drunkenly singing back to opera singers from our balcony.
Oh, and he only had on a t-shirt and underwear.
6. I found LSU fans.
They had corndogs. For real.
7. I accidentally started Hotty Toddy on the Jimmy Neutron ride.
No body else said it, but, hey, the ride operators asked if we were ready. What was I supposed to say?
20 days.
Peace,
Eli
1. I WENT TO HARRY POTTER WORLD.
And it was amazing. I'd post pictures, but, sadly, there are none. They wouldn't let us take any. I do have cups, a sweatshirt and the bag the sweatshirt came in as souvenirs/ proof.
2. I developed some semblance of a tan.
Unfortunately, only the front of my legs tanned, so I'm a bit uneven.
3. I finally finished Love in the Time of Cholera.
It's beautiful. I highly recommend it.
4. I was hit on by Captain America.
It made me feel patriotic, if not a little creeped out.
5. I witnessed my father drunkenly singing back to opera singers from our balcony.
Oh, and he only had on a t-shirt and underwear.
6. I found LSU fans.
They had corndogs. For real.
7. I accidentally started Hotty Toddy on the Jimmy Neutron ride.
No body else said it, but, hey, the ride operators asked if we were ready. What was I supposed to say?
20 days.
Peace,
Eli
13 May 2010
Exactly four weeks from tomorrow.
New Orleans was fun. Mama and I got to shop and spend time with Marilyn, and I finally got to go in a damn voodoo shop. I've only been trying to get someone to go with me for six months now. Anyway, it was a good trip. I really want to start going down there more often. It's so close and such a fun little escape.
Today is Beth's birthday. I wish I could be with her (+ Ash and Katharine) to celebrate, but life is too busy, sadly. I already miss everybody so much, and I'm still able to talk to people fairly regularly. I don't know what I'm going to do when I don't have easy means of communication for two months. But we'll come to that bridge when we cross it, I guess.
I'm meeting Simi for lunch tomorrow. I'm going to cry, I just know it. Being with her always makes me miss her and MSMS so much.
Adam leaves for Peru tomorrow. It will be odd not talking to him on a daily basis. He's doing amazing things, though, so I guess it's worth it.
We leave Saturday at 5 (!!!) in the morning for Orlando. I'm excited. Sue and Bill's anniversary is the 17th, so we're going to Emeril's to celebrate. Creme brulee, anyone? :) And Daddy's going to help me sneak into a party at the Harry Potter park. God, I hope it works. It would suck if we got arrested or something. Oh, and I get to see Lloyd this trip. That'll be pretty wonderful.
I'm sorry this is a collection of such random thoughts. I guess that's my life right now? I don't know, really. I'm happy, though, to be home, even if it is only for a bit. I just wish I had a little more time with my friends without that pesky school business.
Love always,
Elizabeth
New Orleans was fun. Mama and I got to shop and spend time with Marilyn, and I finally got to go in a damn voodoo shop. I've only been trying to get someone to go with me for six months now. Anyway, it was a good trip. I really want to start going down there more often. It's so close and such a fun little escape.
Today is Beth's birthday. I wish I could be with her (+ Ash and Katharine) to celebrate, but life is too busy, sadly. I already miss everybody so much, and I'm still able to talk to people fairly regularly. I don't know what I'm going to do when I don't have easy means of communication for two months. But we'll come to that bridge when we cross it, I guess.
I'm meeting Simi for lunch tomorrow. I'm going to cry, I just know it. Being with her always makes me miss her and MSMS so much.
Adam leaves for Peru tomorrow. It will be odd not talking to him on a daily basis. He's doing amazing things, though, so I guess it's worth it.
We leave Saturday at 5 (!!!) in the morning for Orlando. I'm excited. Sue and Bill's anniversary is the 17th, so we're going to Emeril's to celebrate. Creme brulee, anyone? :) And Daddy's going to help me sneak into a party at the Harry Potter park. God, I hope it works. It would suck if we got arrested or something. Oh, and I get to see Lloyd this trip. That'll be pretty wonderful.
I'm sorry this is a collection of such random thoughts. I guess that's my life right now? I don't know, really. I'm happy, though, to be home, even if it is only for a bit. I just wish I had a little more time with my friends without that pesky school business.
Love always,
Elizabeth
21 April 2010
Life, or Something
52 days until I leave, and that includes days spent in Orlando and doing debutante stuff. I think I can handle this.
Anyway, my dad was in London and wasn't sure if he was going to get to come home or not because of that silly volcano. However, he got to fly out and is now in Atlanta, so all is well on the home-front. I just hope that this ash business settles before I have to fly over. I will not be a happy camper if I have to wait any longer.
As for the college-front, we're having another girls night. I love this week of nothingness before the hell that will be next week. I know I should be working on stuff for next week or finals week, but I really don't want to. I'm enjoying just hanging out and doing nothing.
Anyway, my dad was in London and wasn't sure if he was going to get to come home or not because of that silly volcano. However, he got to fly out and is now in Atlanta, so all is well on the home-front. I just hope that this ash business settles before I have to fly over. I will not be a happy camper if I have to wait any longer.
As for the college-front, we're having another girls night. I love this week of nothingness before the hell that will be next week. I know I should be working on stuff for next week or finals week, but I really don't want to. I'm enjoying just hanging out and doing nothing.
Once upon a time, I had a xanga. However, it's pretty much 9th-graded out with Fall Out Boy and the excitement of new curfews, so I opted for a fresh start. I'm not even sure of how to start this, really. Maybe an introduction? I'm not that interesting, though. I'm just a small town girl with big dreams. My majors are International Studies and German, and I'm minoring in Spanish and Public Policy, although I'm thinking of changing Int'l Studies to English. My ultimate career goal is to be a gypsy--the Esmerelda from Hunchback of Notre Dame kind, not the velour tracksuit kind. Writing is my true passion, though. For me, it's like breathing or eating: a necessary part of everyday life, and that's why I think I'd love being an English major. I'm still trying to work things out with myself, though. I'm sarcastic and have a slightly odd vernacular; hence, at more than one point in my life, I have been called Juno, although I'm not a big fan of being called a 16-year-old mother.
Anyway, I'm spending this summer (June 11-August 4) in Germany, and have decided to start a travel blog. I know it's a tad early, but I'm really, really excited, and I wanted to record even my preparations and everything for it.
Later,
Eli
Anyway, I'm spending this summer (June 11-August 4) in Germany, and have decided to start a travel blog. I know it's a tad early, but I'm really, really excited, and I wanted to record even my preparations and everything for it.
Later,
Eli
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