Well, the rain has finally stopped, but only to be replaced by a cold, impenetrable fog that makes you feel lonely, even if you are surrounded by thousands.
Okay, Kara us mocking my taking advantage of the fact that I feel like I can write whatever I want because regardless, some of you out there will read this.... but having this blog is seriously so fun because I feel like I am published....
Anyway, on Friday, Pika rejoined us again! She had been in Hamburg and Kiel visiting old friends. Frau Weppener, our neighbor 2 flights down, invited us over for afternoon tea, and so Kara, Pika, Mom, and I showed up to have her give us the marvelously detailed tour of her elaborately and warmly decorated apartment. She is the cutest old lady and took such pride in all her "kitsch" as she called all the trinkety knick knack stuff that she has collected over a lifetime. The tour ended in her sun/sitting room with a lavishly laid out table for tea for four and coffee for herself (she had originally invited us over for coffee, but we explained to her that we didn't drink coffee). She had laid a different kind of tea cup at each place, to show off the variety of complete tea sets she had, and each one was exquisitely intricate and unique. She kept mentioning how her 2 kids were always trying to make her get rid of all her collectibles, se we were really glad to be able to share in the beauty and sentimentality of all her unique treasures. We felt like princesses, as she served a variety of delicious Kuechen and chocolate, along with the most divine strawberry raspberry herb tea I have ever drinken. She is a diabetic, but assured us that she wasn't for the day :)Three hours later, after looking through photo albums and hearing stories of her interesting life, and with stuffed bellies, we were on our way home with the leftover cake and pockets full of tea bags she had made us take home.
Friday night, Kara and I rented a movie from the huge video rental store a mere block away from our apartment.
Saturday, Pika, Mom, Kara, and I went to the Floh Markt (flea market) and found some treasure among the junk: Pika found some traditional Christmas pyramids for really inexpensive along with a rug beater and some pants for herself. Kara and I hit up a used CD stand and perused the plethora of classic american music, notably including original ABBA, David Bowie, and Madonna CDs. Kara bought an old Muse CD that she hadn't been able to find in the states. Mom and Pika found some really nice new authentic German style blazers and jackets and a skirt. Overall, a succesful day at the flea market.
Sunday after church, Dad went to a stake-wide priethood conference in Hannover, while Mom and Kara and I went to the Gaenseliesel Festival in downtown Goettingen. Our neighbor had told had told us that we had to go, so, went we did. It was fun to see how similar small town festivals are, universally. All the Eiscafes and bakeries were open (all the shops and restaurants are normally closed on Sundays) and there were art and food kiosks litering both sides of the streets. We tried some amazing crepes! Mom's had Nutella in it, mine was cinnamon sugar, and Kara's was like a pizza on with mozzerella and tomatoes. We saw the 'crowning of the 2008 Gaenseleisel', which I would compare to the 'Little Miss Lindon' pagenat and a Homecoming pageant, where they interviewed the top 8 finalists on stage with questions such as: What do you want to do when you grow up?, and what makes Goettingen the best city in the world? etc. Upon announcing the winner, the last year's Gaenseliesel gave a litte speech and passed on the basket with a stuffed goose in it to the new girl, and then the Burgermeister (mayor) of Goettingen gave flowers and a kiss on the cheek to the 2008 Gaenseliesel. It was a lot of fun.
So that was our awesome weekend! Stay tuned for the next entry.... which probably won't be until Thursday or Friday because we are going to Berlin for a couple days. Bis Spaetter!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Music Makes the World Go Round
Well, thanks Kathleen for being interested in whatever happens. It brings me courage to write again today, though I don't really have any fantastical fabulous foreign anecdotes of an adventure.
So today is the forth day in a row it has been rainy and chilly. Thank goodness for scarves and umbrellas. Yesterday, after Mom and I had just kinda been cooped up in the apartment all day, we decided to go with Dad (he had come home for Mitagessen) to go find this shopping mall that Pika had told us about. So we hopped on the Linie 5 bus and rode it for half an hour to, what looked on the outside, a huge and kind of ugly corrugated concrete store. We walked inside though, and I was instantly transported back to the states. It looked exactly like a mall we would have in the U.S. and I felt right at home browsing the book, shoe, clothes, and pet stores. There was also a home depot type store, and even a wal-mart type store. The internal halls were even complete with little kiosks selling beauty products, and self-advertising massage chairs. Mom and Dad and I bought some chocolate to try, including at my insistence, a "hot grenadine dark chocolate" bar. The 'hot' comes from the red chiles they put in it. Hey, I wanted to say I had tried it! Well, now I have. And I think the only person who might be able to appreciate it is my uncle Dave (yes, I will bring you some home). The yogurt and cranberry chocolate Dad picked out was a universally liked flavor, however (yes I will bring all the rest of you some home...).
Mom's goal for the week was accomplished, when she finally located where to buy hot coca mix (oh they have coffee aplenty, but we have had the hardest time finding hot chocolate).
So I have this new philosophical question that I would like some opinions on. Here, at least 70% of the music they listen to (at least on their personal i-pods, radio, CD selection in stores, and what is played in public places) is American music. Or, at least music where the words are in English. Yes I know this shouldn't be that weird to me: many people speak fluent or semi-fluent English. But many people don't. A lot more people than I first realized actually don't speak English. And even if one is fluent in a second language, as Kara found out while trying to translate a poem from German into English the other day, it is really difficult to actually catch the intended meaning or feeling even when something is directly translated: there is so much "between-the-lines" interpretation and connotation or implied meaning or background associated with written literature, especially poems and lyrics. At least in English, and I would assume in every language.
Ok, all that laid out, I wonder if music, to other cultures who listen to English-lyriced music in majority (beside America or England probably), means something different to them. I mean, anyone can appreciate music for the sake of music- classical music or even sometimes opera for instance are valued for the beautiful music quality. And I can appreciate beautiful songs that are sung in a language foreign to me for the sound of the music or even the aesthetic of the sound of the language. But for me and the music I listen to, with my favorite bands such as Postal Service, Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer, Coldplay, Angels & Airwaves and that whole genre of alternative type rock, half of the listening experience for me is interpreting and applying the lyrics for my life; I am not one of those people who can tune out the lyrics in a 'bad' song, for instance, and excuse myself saying that I don't even listen to the words. I can't help it. Now I kind of claim to be somewhat of a poet, and so maybe I am different than many music listeners and their music-listening goals. But my major point of these whole two paragraphs of doom are this: How can they (meaning my German peers in this case) appreciate popular English-lyriced (I don't actually know if 'lyriced' is a word) music and enjoy it as much as Americans when even those who are fluent in English, probably cannot get nearly as much meaning out of the lyrics as someone who understands American culture and connotations of the American-English language. And it's totally fine of they don't and just are listening to American music out of music sake, and honestly because it is mostly what they have to choose from, but I just wonder if music, at least to the current generation of people, means the same thing to them as it does to me and other American music-listeners.
Wow. How was that for confusing. I just re-read that. Hmm. Well, anyway, now I have opened up way too publically how my mind works.
Oh well. Totally aside from the aforementioned music philosophical views, I want to tell anyone reading this the following: I love life. I love my family and friends. I love living in Germany. I miss and have a new appreciation for living in Utah, living in the U.S., and being close to all of you. Love from Goettingen,
Emily
So today is the forth day in a row it has been rainy and chilly. Thank goodness for scarves and umbrellas. Yesterday, after Mom and I had just kinda been cooped up in the apartment all day, we decided to go with Dad (he had come home for Mitagessen) to go find this shopping mall that Pika had told us about. So we hopped on the Linie 5 bus and rode it for half an hour to, what looked on the outside, a huge and kind of ugly corrugated concrete store. We walked inside though, and I was instantly transported back to the states. It looked exactly like a mall we would have in the U.S. and I felt right at home browsing the book, shoe, clothes, and pet stores. There was also a home depot type store, and even a wal-mart type store. The internal halls were even complete with little kiosks selling beauty products, and self-advertising massage chairs. Mom and Dad and I bought some chocolate to try, including at my insistence, a "hot grenadine dark chocolate" bar. The 'hot' comes from the red chiles they put in it. Hey, I wanted to say I had tried it! Well, now I have. And I think the only person who might be able to appreciate it is my uncle Dave (yes, I will bring you some home). The yogurt and cranberry chocolate Dad picked out was a universally liked flavor, however (yes I will bring all the rest of you some home...).
Mom's goal for the week was accomplished, when she finally located where to buy hot coca mix (oh they have coffee aplenty, but we have had the hardest time finding hot chocolate).
So I have this new philosophical question that I would like some opinions on. Here, at least 70% of the music they listen to (at least on their personal i-pods, radio, CD selection in stores, and what is played in public places) is American music. Or, at least music where the words are in English. Yes I know this shouldn't be that weird to me: many people speak fluent or semi-fluent English. But many people don't. A lot more people than I first realized actually don't speak English. And even if one is fluent in a second language, as Kara found out while trying to translate a poem from German into English the other day, it is really difficult to actually catch the intended meaning or feeling even when something is directly translated: there is so much "between-the-lines" interpretation and connotation or implied meaning or background associated with written literature, especially poems and lyrics. At least in English, and I would assume in every language.
Ok, all that laid out, I wonder if music, to other cultures who listen to English-lyriced music in majority (beside America or England probably), means something different to them. I mean, anyone can appreciate music for the sake of music- classical music or even sometimes opera for instance are valued for the beautiful music quality. And I can appreciate beautiful songs that are sung in a language foreign to me for the sound of the music or even the aesthetic of the sound of the language. But for me and the music I listen to, with my favorite bands such as Postal Service, Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer, Coldplay, Angels & Airwaves and that whole genre of alternative type rock, half of the listening experience for me is interpreting and applying the lyrics for my life; I am not one of those people who can tune out the lyrics in a 'bad' song, for instance, and excuse myself saying that I don't even listen to the words. I can't help it. Now I kind of claim to be somewhat of a poet, and so maybe I am different than many music listeners and their music-listening goals. But my major point of these whole two paragraphs of doom are this: How can they (meaning my German peers in this case) appreciate popular English-lyriced (I don't actually know if 'lyriced' is a word) music and enjoy it as much as Americans when even those who are fluent in English, probably cannot get nearly as much meaning out of the lyrics as someone who understands American culture and connotations of the American-English language. And it's totally fine of they don't and just are listening to American music out of music sake, and honestly because it is mostly what they have to choose from, but I just wonder if music, at least to the current generation of people, means the same thing to them as it does to me and other American music-listeners.
Wow. How was that for confusing. I just re-read that. Hmm. Well, anyway, now I have opened up way too publically how my mind works.
Oh well. Totally aside from the aforementioned music philosophical views, I want to tell anyone reading this the following: I love life. I love my family and friends. I love living in Germany. I miss and have a new appreciation for living in Utah, living in the U.S., and being close to all of you. Love from Goettingen,
Emily
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Hello my loyal fans! I can't believe it has been almost a week since I have posted anything...
Let's see, nothing too exciting has happened since Wednesday, but noteworthy events were saying goodbye to my Italian friends on Friday, as their two week study abroad was over. We all exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses and they made me promise to call them when I come to Italy.
On Saturday, the fam took a guided walking tour of Goettingen, as it was the one Saturday a month that they do it in English. It was actually quite fascinating. Kara and I realized that we had been trying so hard to blend in and not be tourists, that we hadn't even noticed some of the amazing historical and cultural aspects native to Goettingen. For example, the tour guide pointed out architecture and plaques naming historically famous residents on the upper stories on the downtown shops and restaurants. Some especially interesting facts about Goettingen I learned were that the beginnings of Goettingen began in the 12th century because it was so important in the trading routes, as it is in the exact center of Germany. It had a golden age in the 14 and 1500's due to its' fine clothe production, and then again in the 18 and 1900's due to the importance and prestige of the University and was an influential intellectual center, with over a hundred resident Nobel prize winners (I hope I got that right). Unfortunately, with WWII came a brain drain due to Nazi infiltration, but no physical damage affected the city. I wish I could remember everything else I learned. But it was really cool. Oh the stained glass window picture below was in the old Courthouse (built in the 1300's) and is where all the civil weddings in Goettingen take place to this day.
On Sunday, we had the missionaries over and Mom made an amazing dinner. It was really fun to talk to them in English and talk about home- they are both from Utah :)
It has poured rain here for the past 2 days, but that is fairly normal it seems, and at least is not that cold.
Wow I am having a hard time thinking of anything else cool to say... but I really am doing cool stuff and keeping busy most of the time... you'll just have to take my word for it?
Let's see, nothing too exciting has happened since Wednesday, but noteworthy events were saying goodbye to my Italian friends on Friday, as their two week study abroad was over. We all exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses and they made me promise to call them when I come to Italy.
On Saturday, the fam took a guided walking tour of Goettingen, as it was the one Saturday a month that they do it in English. It was actually quite fascinating. Kara and I realized that we had been trying so hard to blend in and not be tourists, that we hadn't even noticed some of the amazing historical and cultural aspects native to Goettingen. For example, the tour guide pointed out architecture and plaques naming historically famous residents on the upper stories on the downtown shops and restaurants. Some especially interesting facts about Goettingen I learned were that the beginnings of Goettingen began in the 12th century because it was so important in the trading routes, as it is in the exact center of Germany. It had a golden age in the 14 and 1500's due to its' fine clothe production, and then again in the 18 and 1900's due to the importance and prestige of the University and was an influential intellectual center, with over a hundred resident Nobel prize winners (I hope I got that right). Unfortunately, with WWII came a brain drain due to Nazi infiltration, but no physical damage affected the city. I wish I could remember everything else I learned. But it was really cool. Oh the stained glass window picture below was in the old Courthouse (built in the 1300's) and is where all the civil weddings in Goettingen take place to this day.
On Sunday, we had the missionaries over and Mom made an amazing dinner. It was really fun to talk to them in English and talk about home- they are both from Utah :)
It has poured rain here for the past 2 days, but that is fairly normal it seems, and at least is not that cold.
Wow I am having a hard time thinking of anything else cool to say... but I really am doing cool stuff and keeping busy most of the time... you'll just have to take my word for it?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Heist of the Goose!
Gutentag! So for my German class, we have been making a film (I now realize that no matter where you are or what language you are learning, language classes are all the same). The plot is basically thus: two thieves steal the goose from the Goose Girl Statue (the Gaenselisl) and so the Gaenselisl recruits these girls to help her get it back. They, with the aide of the Polizei, find the theives and recover the goose. As simple as this sounds, it took us forever and a half to all get on the same page (across English, Italian, and German) as to what the plot would be, how to script it in German, casting, memorizing lines, and then the filming process. It has been really fun though- we finished filming today. Afterwards, we went on a field trip of sorts to go to a local Burg (castle). It was about a 20 minute bus ride and then a half hour walk to get there. It was really cool and had a great view from the top of the Turm (tower), but more memorable to me than the castle was the company and conversation. It really is quite comical how we communicate with each other: it is me speaking in German when I know the words, and when I don't know a word, I substitute in English words. Even when they ask me a question in English, I respond in as much German as I can because I am thinking in German... cuz I am in Germany. It is probably really confusing for them to switch back and forth so quickly between what are both secondary languages for them, though they tell me they like it because it helps their German AND English. Today they asked me a lot about American music and if I had heard of so-and-so, or if I had been to New York or Hollywood and if I had ever met any actors. They also, once again, asked me about countless American TV shows, movies, and actors. At first, like Tom, I was annoyed at how they must view America and American life, based on shows they have seen that are unrealistic of what it is really like, but it doesn't really seem like there is cause for that, now that I have talked to them more and more, as the only TV they have is American shows. It is just like us watching the variety of shows we have here. Not just the obscene shows are piped over there; they all are, so they have the same spectrum as us. Anyway, they have this weird cultural thing here that I am pretty sure is Europe-wide (at least in both Germany and Italy) that everyone carries a pencil case around with them. You know, like the little oblong zipper cases that you used in elementary school? Anyway, everyone has them over here- kids and adults alike. It is like, horrible if you don't have one. When I questioned them on this, they thought it was so weird that we didn't widely use them and they were confused as to where we put our writing utensils. "Ver do you keep pencil then? Pocket (hahaha)? Behind ear (chortle)?" They laugh, as if it were completely ridiculous. Hmmm. Telling them Tom actually does indeed keep a pencil behind his ear probably would not have eased their giggling at that point.
Holy cow I need to go to bed. Bis morgen!
Holy cow I need to go to bed. Bis morgen!
Monday, September 15, 2008
My First Day of Skool!
Hallo! Sorry it's been a few days since I last posted- the weekend was crazy. It was Mom and my first Sunday here and so when we went to our branch, although Kara had told me already, I was still surprised to find only about 20 people there on the third floor of a downtown office building - which is our meeting house. We had Sunday School first, which was taught by a lady who was from Colombia and therefore had a really interesting accent with her German. But it was a good lesson. She showed a portion of a church video of Christ healing the sick and speaking with the Nephite children, surrounded by angels. There was no dialogue, just music and I felt the Spirit very strongly in the room. I was again hit with a strong re-realization of how universal the gospel is for God's children all around the world. I am grateful for the commandments and the scriptures and for the prophets and revelation that keep the church consistent all over the world. There was no Relief Society/Priesthood because they have that on the first and third Sunday, and Sunday School on the second and fourth Sunday. I think they do this because there are just so few people to be able to facilitate all the organizations and auxiliaries and activities that I so take for granted in Utah. Anyway, then we had Sacrament Meeting and they read off our names (Dad had asked them to wait until Mom and I got here). I also got to meet Heidi, who is Kara's seminary teacher who just got married.
After Church, Pika, Mom, Kara, and I went with 4 other ladies from the branch to a yearly stake women's conference, which was in Hannover. We took the train there, which took about an hour and a half. We had a lot of fun getting to know the ladies better, and one, Rose Marie, took a special liking to Mom and talked to her and insisted on translating for her for the whole time. The theme of the actual conference was "Men are that they might have joy" and the talks focused on how we are responsible for our own happiness and attitude. On the first part of the train ride home, Pika talked to the sister missionaries, and then the last hour, talked to this German dude who had just graduated from the Goettingen University in archaeology and was pretty much like Indiana Jones. Anyway, he seemed pretty cool.
Wow this is going to be really long. Ok so today I had my first day of classes- I am doing a 2-week program through a community German-learning program as a refresher course before I have to jump into the rigorous Goethe Institut program. It was really cool- I am in a class with 10 other girls who are all from Italy (from a small town near Venice) and they are here for two weeks and staying with host families to work on their German. They are mostly 16 and 17 years old and have been taking German for 3 or 4 years in high school, so it is a good challenge for me to keep up with them, but I am pretty close to their level. They are really nice and wanted to know everything about me (including if I watched The OC, which when I told them I wasn't very familiar with it they were disappointed), as well as vice versa.We conversed outside of class in a German and English mixture- their English is about as good as my German. We have class from 9 AM until 12:30 PM with a half hour break in the middle. And after I was done, my brain felt fried from trying to remember all the German I have ever learned and thinking purely in German for 3 hours. I think after having these 3 hour classes everyday for 2 weeks, I will hopefully start to not feel so inadequate when it comes to the language and trying to communicate, as it has been for me the past week.
I have been here a week. I can't believe it has only been that long. I miss you and hope you are all surviving everything you have going on in your lives.
After Church, Pika, Mom, Kara, and I went with 4 other ladies from the branch to a yearly stake women's conference, which was in Hannover. We took the train there, which took about an hour and a half. We had a lot of fun getting to know the ladies better, and one, Rose Marie, took a special liking to Mom and talked to her and insisted on translating for her for the whole time. The theme of the actual conference was "Men are that they might have joy" and the talks focused on how we are responsible for our own happiness and attitude. On the first part of the train ride home, Pika talked to the sister missionaries, and then the last hour, talked to this German dude who had just graduated from the Goettingen University in archaeology and was pretty much like Indiana Jones. Anyway, he seemed pretty cool.
Wow this is going to be really long. Ok so today I had my first day of classes- I am doing a 2-week program through a community German-learning program as a refresher course before I have to jump into the rigorous Goethe Institut program. It was really cool- I am in a class with 10 other girls who are all from Italy (from a small town near Venice) and they are here for two weeks and staying with host families to work on their German. They are mostly 16 and 17 years old and have been taking German for 3 or 4 years in high school, so it is a good challenge for me to keep up with them, but I am pretty close to their level. They are really nice and wanted to know everything about me (including if I watched The OC, which when I told them I wasn't very familiar with it they were disappointed), as well as vice versa.We conversed outside of class in a German and English mixture- their English is about as good as my German. We have class from 9 AM until 12:30 PM with a half hour break in the middle. And after I was done, my brain felt fried from trying to remember all the German I have ever learned and thinking purely in German for 3 hours. I think after having these 3 hour classes everyday for 2 weeks, I will hopefully start to not feel so inadequate when it comes to the language and trying to communicate, as it has been for me the past week.
I have been here a week. I can't believe it has only been that long. I miss you and hope you are all surviving everything you have going on in your lives.
Friday, September 12, 2008
I gave this a really dumb title, but luckily Kara erased it for me and replaced it with this
Well Sharolee, I don't think I am quite ready to write a complete entry auf Deutsh, but I will keep that as a goal for a couple of weeks down the road...
Kara and I ventured off on our own this morning because she wanted to show me the graveyard, which dates back to 1700 (I have this weird fetish for graveyards...). We found the gravestone for the Burgermeister (Mayor) of Goettingen, for which Georg-August University was named (see picture).
We then meandered downtown to do some window shopping, where we saw this amazing pastry and candy shop (see picture). We also bought some amazing hazelnut ice cream at an Eiscafe. As we walked past the Jacobi Kirche, the doors were open with organ music streaming out. Kara freaked out because apparently the cathedral has never been open the whole time they have been here. We went inside to find beautiful stained-glass windows and striking orange and blue pillars. After listening to the music for a bit, we saw a sign pointing to the tower. After each paying a Euro, we climbed 13 flights of intensely steep and narrow wooden stairs to the top of the bell tower. The view from the top was incredible.
After Dad got home from work, we decided to go to the circus. We had seen signs all over Goettingen for a traveling circus that was performing tonight, and we didn't have anything else to do on a Friday night...
I was quite impressed with it- the acrobatics, trained animals, tight-rope, and other acts were all very entertaining and impressive. We were on the very front row too, which was a plus... until PomPom the clown (see picture) picked on me from the audience to be his assistant for his jokes and acts intermittently throughout the whole program. As nerve-wracking for me as being in the spotlight would have been in any other situation, not really being fluent in German made it even more scary. Luckily, PomPom was very nice and when I couldn't quite follow what he was saying in German or from his pantomiming, he whispered some English. I even kissed him at the end (sorry Michael...). We found out at the end that he was from Hungary and had performed in England for 7 years, which is why his English was so good. Anyway, It was a little scary, but really fun and makes a pretty good story. Oh but don't bring up the part about when Kara almost got mauled by the horse at one point-- she might start hyperventilating...
That's enough adventures for one day I think...
Kara and I ventured off on our own this morning because she wanted to show me the graveyard, which dates back to 1700 (I have this weird fetish for graveyards...). We found the gravestone for the Burgermeister (Mayor) of Goettingen, for which Georg-August University was named (see picture).
We then meandered downtown to do some window shopping, where we saw this amazing pastry and candy shop (see picture). We also bought some amazing hazelnut ice cream at an Eiscafe. As we walked past the Jacobi Kirche, the doors were open with organ music streaming out. Kara freaked out because apparently the cathedral has never been open the whole time they have been here. We went inside to find beautiful stained-glass windows and striking orange and blue pillars. After listening to the music for a bit, we saw a sign pointing to the tower. After each paying a Euro, we climbed 13 flights of intensely steep and narrow wooden stairs to the top of the bell tower. The view from the top was incredible.
After Dad got home from work, we decided to go to the circus. We had seen signs all over Goettingen for a traveling circus that was performing tonight, and we didn't have anything else to do on a Friday night...
I was quite impressed with it- the acrobatics, trained animals, tight-rope, and other acts were all very entertaining and impressive. We were on the very front row too, which was a plus... until PomPom the clown (see picture) picked on me from the audience to be his assistant for his jokes and acts intermittently throughout the whole program. As nerve-wracking for me as being in the spotlight would have been in any other situation, not really being fluent in German made it even more scary. Luckily, PomPom was very nice and when I couldn't quite follow what he was saying in German or from his pantomiming, he whispered some English. I even kissed him at the end (sorry Michael...). We found out at the end that he was from Hungary and had performed in England for 7 years, which is why his English was so good. Anyway, It was a little scary, but really fun and makes a pretty good story. Oh but don't bring up the part about when Kara almost got mauled by the horse at one point-- she might start hyperventilating...
That's enough adventures for one day I think...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
In this section: Fashion, Traditions, Politics, and Food
Hi! Today Pika, Mom, and I met up with Kara downtown after she was done with school. Can I just say that I love shopping in Europe! While the warm weather delicately lingers, food stands, clothes sales racks, and other street vendors selling any goods you can imagine, flower the streets, along with accordion players. Kara and I bought a gorgeous skirt, a scarf, and some awesome print tights- I had no idea there was such a variety of colors and patterns of tights in the universe. For lunch we grabbed some bratwurst und broetchen, while Mom ordered some "Wonton Suppe" from the German-ized Vietnamese food stand all by herself. Kara and I also discovered the "Charlotte Russe" equivalent here- cheap, trendy clothing with dance music and all :)
We also visited the local landmark of the Gaenselisl ("goose girl") fountain (see picture below). The local tradition is for all newly graduated PhD students to kiss the cheek of the goose girl statue. Gottingen is a very intellectual center in Germany because of the very old and prestigious university. In fact, Heidelberg and Gottingen are the two intellectual hearts of Germany that England had an agreement with Germany during WWII that they would not bomb if Germany wouldn't bomb Cambridge or Oxford. Because of this, Gottingen has several buildings dating back to the 1300's.
When we got home, Kara and I turned on the TV and were reassured in our realization of how obsessed Germans are with American politics when the first 3 channels we flipped through had Sarah Palin, Bush, and Obama on respectively. Kara asked a classmate why this is and she replied that U.S. politics affect them more so than probably any other country, besides their own. She then proceeded to ask Kara if she even knew, as an American, who the German Chancellor was. Kara thankfully could answer her correctly, though I wouldn't have been able to... Kara's classmates have a whole class devoted to politics, where they spend most of their time discussing American politics. This is probably why Kara was bombarded with questions like " Who would you vote for if you were old enough" or "You would vote for Obama, right?" when she first got to her school, or by anyone she meets who finds out she is American.
For Abendessen (light evening meal), Pika had gone to the day-old bakery and purchased a cornucopia of Kuechen (pastry-like cake), ranging from raspberry to rhubarb to a lime-cheesecake-tasting one. They were all delicious and surprisingly light- everything is less sweet here it seems.
Well, I will sign out for the day, but I love and miss you all at home with a "veritable cornucopia of sincerities" (thanks for that one, Michael- it is my favorite phrase you have ever said to me).
We also visited the local landmark of the Gaenselisl ("goose girl") fountain (see picture below). The local tradition is for all newly graduated PhD students to kiss the cheek of the goose girl statue. Gottingen is a very intellectual center in Germany because of the very old and prestigious university. In fact, Heidelberg and Gottingen are the two intellectual hearts of Germany that England had an agreement with Germany during WWII that they would not bomb if Germany wouldn't bomb Cambridge or Oxford. Because of this, Gottingen has several buildings dating back to the 1300's.
When we got home, Kara and I turned on the TV and were reassured in our realization of how obsessed Germans are with American politics when the first 3 channels we flipped through had Sarah Palin, Bush, and Obama on respectively. Kara asked a classmate why this is and she replied that U.S. politics affect them more so than probably any other country, besides their own. She then proceeded to ask Kara if she even knew, as an American, who the German Chancellor was. Kara thankfully could answer her correctly, though I wouldn't have been able to... Kara's classmates have a whole class devoted to politics, where they spend most of their time discussing American politics. This is probably why Kara was bombarded with questions like " Who would you vote for if you were old enough" or "You would vote for Obama, right?" when she first got to her school, or by anyone she meets who finds out she is American.
For Abendessen (light evening meal), Pika had gone to the day-old bakery and purchased a cornucopia of Kuechen (pastry-like cake), ranging from raspberry to rhubarb to a lime-cheesecake-tasting one. They were all delicious and surprisingly light- everything is less sweet here it seems.
Well, I will sign out for the day, but I love and miss you all at home with a "veritable cornucopia of sincerities" (thanks for that one, Michael- it is my favorite phrase you have ever said to me).
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
My Big Fat Greek Restaurant Experience
Hello Again! Today was pretty laid back for all of us, but for Mittagessen when Dad and Kara came home, we went to this fabulous Greek restaurant basically right across the street from our apartment. It was just a little family that owned and ran it and it was so cute- the wife is the cook, the dad the host and the son the waiter. They had retired 3 years ago but after a year, the dad decided that he missed being able to interact with the people and regular customers so they opened it back up. And we were the only ones there right then because we kinda came in between lunch and dinner and so the dad and son were pretty much out there just talking with us the whole time, mostly about his Christian-orthodox views in comparison to our Mormon ways, which came up after he tried to serve us alcoholic drinks and we told him we didn't drink. Anyway, it made me so happy- people are so friendly and not in a hurry here. And the food was delicious- we had lamb and gyros and rice and this amazing salad with goat cheese.
We also chatted with our upstairs neighbor for a while. When Pika mentioned we were from Utah and we were Mormon, but not affiliated with the Mormons who had multiple wives, he got kinda confused and said he had never heard of the polygamist thing, but that he had learned how to play basketball from Mormons 30 years ago! It was back when basketball was not a well-known sport at all in Germany and apparently some Mormons wanted people to play basketball with so they taught a bunch of people how to play. I thought that was kind of funny that that was his connection and pretty much all he knew of Mormons.
I think that's all I will say for today, tschuss!
We also chatted with our upstairs neighbor for a while. When Pika mentioned we were from Utah and we were Mormon, but not affiliated with the Mormons who had multiple wives, he got kinda confused and said he had never heard of the polygamist thing, but that he had learned how to play basketball from Mormons 30 years ago! It was back when basketball was not a well-known sport at all in Germany and apparently some Mormons wanted people to play basketball with so they taught a bunch of people how to play. I thought that was kind of funny that that was his connection and pretty much all he knew of Mormons.
I think that's all I will say for today, tschuss!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Day 2 in Gottingen
Gutentag! Today after Kara and Dad left for school and work, Pika, Mom, and I set out to see the city. All I can say is... no, there aren't words. Gottingen is a magical place. It has all the elements of a small and safe cozy town, but with all the advantages of big city life as well- the shopping is amazing, ranging from big department stores, to small boutiques or thrift shops. The whole downtown is enclosed in a circle where there is only foot traffic, bikes, delivery trucks, and buses allowed. The variety of bread shops and flower shops are so fun and European. And ice cream here, is an art. There are countless cafes devoted entirely to dessert and ice cream and the presentation and design is as good as the taste. We tried this amazing pistachio ice cream today.
I also visited the Goethe Institute, which is where I will be going to school come October. It is this beautiful and was built in like 1900 and is completely in its original state. There are students there from all over the world, including Chile and South Africa, who are trying to learn German, most of them to try to pass the German language test you have to pass to enroll in any German university.
I have so much more to say and not enough time to say it in, but I will put some pictures up from today and I will be in touch tomorrow. Thanks for those who are following this now- I feel so loved!
Auf wiedersehen!
I also visited the Goethe Institute, which is where I will be going to school come October. It is this beautiful and was built in like 1900 and is completely in its original state. There are students there from all over the world, including Chile and South Africa, who are trying to learn German, most of them to try to pass the German language test you have to pass to enroll in any German university.
I have so much more to say and not enough time to say it in, but I will put some pictures up from today and I will be in touch tomorrow. Thanks for those who are following this now- I feel so loved!
Auf wiedersehen!
Monday, September 8, 2008
September 8, 2008
Hallo! This is my first attempt at having a blog, so hopefully besides just as a means of personally journaling my experiences here in Germany, it can be somewhat entertaining and informative to all my fans out there... haha hopefully SOMEone will read this.
Mom and I got to the Frankfurt airport at 7AM Monday (11PM Sunday MST) German time after an 8 hour flight. Despite our eye-masks, ear-plugs, and sleeping pills :) Mom only could sleep a couple hours, while I can't claim more than an hour of sleep. I think I was just too darn excited (or maybe the fact that I had slept a collective amount of 13 hours the day before...). But thankfully, everything went very smoothly upon arriving at the airport. We found our luggage immediately, and waited only 5 minutes before finding Dad and the driver from Max-Planck. We then were on our way, after a slight game of "fit our ridiculous amount of luggage in the European car Tetris," to our apartment in Gottingen.
While at first trying to get myself up-to-date on American politics by finishing the article on Sarah Palin in the copy of Newsweek that Mom and I had bought at the Atlanta airport using the last of our U.S. money (and a 20 cents financial backing from the vendor) during the 2 1/2 hour drive through the hilly German countryside, the gorgeous green trees and charming towns, each with houses all surrounding a central church, demanded my eyes to be glued to the window (along with the feeling of carsickness that trying to read in the car over hills and fast curves on the Autobahn caused...) until I fell asleep. Next thing I knew was driving up to the handsome apartment building we were to call home for the next four months. The willow tree and green green grass in the courtyard caught my eye and I knew it was going to be... magical. Ahem. Sorry, cutting the dramatics.
Anyway, Pika welcomed us with open arms and joyous laughter-- oops sorry again, wait no, that was really what it was like. No uberstridung (over-exagerration) there. She helped us get unpacked, and then Kara got home from school around 11:30AM and there was much rejoicing, once again.
Since then, Mom and I took a nap, and then Kara and Pika and I went to the grocery store (just a block or two away) while Dad and Mom hit a floral shop and bakery. We reconvened for a delicious Austrian dinner (Quark-knuddel) served by the amazing Pika, and now I am writing on here, while Kara does her homework. I guess that's enough for today. Probably too much... but essentially, it is beautiful here and it is so good to be reunited with Dad and Pika and Kara again, though I miss you all at home terribly.
Mit viele liebe grusse!
Emily
Mom and I got to the Frankfurt airport at 7AM Monday (11PM Sunday MST) German time after an 8 hour flight. Despite our eye-masks, ear-plugs, and sleeping pills :) Mom only could sleep a couple hours, while I can't claim more than an hour of sleep. I think I was just too darn excited (or maybe the fact that I had slept a collective amount of 13 hours the day before...). But thankfully, everything went very smoothly upon arriving at the airport. We found our luggage immediately, and waited only 5 minutes before finding Dad and the driver from Max-Planck. We then were on our way, after a slight game of "fit our ridiculous amount of luggage in the European car Tetris," to our apartment in Gottingen.
While at first trying to get myself up-to-date on American politics by finishing the article on Sarah Palin in the copy of Newsweek that Mom and I had bought at the Atlanta airport using the last of our U.S. money (and a 20 cents financial backing from the vendor) during the 2 1/2 hour drive through the hilly German countryside, the gorgeous green trees and charming towns, each with houses all surrounding a central church, demanded my eyes to be glued to the window (along with the feeling of carsickness that trying to read in the car over hills and fast curves on the Autobahn caused...) until I fell asleep. Next thing I knew was driving up to the handsome apartment building we were to call home for the next four months. The willow tree and green green grass in the courtyard caught my eye and I knew it was going to be... magical. Ahem. Sorry, cutting the dramatics.
Anyway, Pika welcomed us with open arms and joyous laughter-- oops sorry again, wait no, that was really what it was like. No uberstridung (over-exagerration) there. She helped us get unpacked, and then Kara got home from school around 11:30AM and there was much rejoicing, once again.
Since then, Mom and I took a nap, and then Kara and Pika and I went to the grocery store (just a block or two away) while Dad and Mom hit a floral shop and bakery. We reconvened for a delicious Austrian dinner (Quark-knuddel) served by the amazing Pika, and now I am writing on here, while Kara does her homework. I guess that's enough for today. Probably too much... but essentially, it is beautiful here and it is so good to be reunited with Dad and Pika and Kara again, though I miss you all at home terribly.
Mit viele liebe grusse!
Emily
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