Hello, my loverly readers, I just thought that I'd take a few minutes to answer some regular questions about my life in Germany and what I've encountered so far.
With regards to the weather, yes, it is almost always gray. Grau, grau, grau immer ist der Himmel, lol. And it rains, a lot. Puddle stomping is inadvisable since to do so would mean drenched clothes at the very least. And I strongly suggest to keep away from the edge of the sidewalk, as German drivers have no qualms whatsoever in roaring down the gutter at full speed.
School. Oh, how to describe school... Well, I'm getting more used to it as time goes on. But I really despise taking German tests. I pretty much fail most my tests, even though I put all my effort into them. This is why we should all have an off/on switch for how much we care about something.
Oh, I have some rather interesting news to report. This Monday, as I was walking back from the bus, I stopped by the minimart in Saarmund. The automatic doors whoosed open and the welcoming smell of warm bread rushed out, warming the frigid air. Turning to the Gemuse and Obst section, I discovered, to my immense joy, green, fresh, crunchy apples. I hadn't had a green apple for three months now, so I bought two and ate one on the way home. The other I ate with peanut butter during dinner today. I've gotta say, those green apples were like wonderfully colorful beacons in my gray German world.
Sometimes there are little things like that. Tiny rays of encouragement, whether sent to us by design or by mere coincidence I know not. But when you feel alone, or as if the world is slowly backing away from you, those little tokens of light are so precious. I'm sure that you know about my share of ups and downs since I've gotten here, and I hope you know also that there's much more to come. It's not going to be easy, but then again, nothing ever is. So thanks for listening, this post is for you. Your friend, TGWTC
16.11.10
13.11.10
Meine Abenteuer in Berlin
Oh, my gosh! I have so much to write about, and not so much time to write it in!
Let's start with what I did this weekend. On Friday, I met a friend of my family's at Potsdam Hauptbahnhof and went with her to Berlin, where I saw my first opera ever, La Traviata. It was amazing, and even though it was a modern take on the original, I could still sort of get what they meant. (The analysis will be haunting my dreams, I assure you, lol.)
They sang in German and Italian. I used to understand a bit more of Italian, since it's a romance language, but now I understand more German, so that was interesting. Thankfully I had a screen in front of me with an English translation, so I didn't get lost. Oh, and here's one interesting tid-bit. La Traviata is about a "working woman," and so is Carmen. What was it with these composers and their interest in the life of prostitutes, I wonder? Just putting it out there!
Today I had the oportunity of going to not one, but two museums in Berlin: The Neue Museum and The Pergamon. I didn't have too much time to spend there, but I've gotta say, both are worth visiting. I hope to go there again while I'm here, especially to the Pergamon. (They have a t-shirt I want, lol. Not to mention all the amazing artifacts and exhibits!!!)
And now I have a few words to say about Berlin. Like other great cities of culture (Paris, Rome, New York, even), Berlin has its own rhythm. Its own ebb and flow of traffic, sounds, and sights. While I was walking to the museum island, we crossed over a bridge, and there was a man playing an accordian there. The sky was its classic business suit gray, and the water in the river below reflected the color back like graphite. And of course the stones in the street were left shining from the recent rain. The whole thing was so amazing, I can't possibly describe it. But if you have ever been someplace that just oozes of stories, whether real or fiction, then you know how a place like Berlin feels.
Okay, I've had my little creative writing exercise, lol, so let's continue. Thursday was 11.11, or Elfte Elfte, aka the day when German teens go crazy for absolutely no reason at all. They dressed up in all sorts of crazy outfits for school, and we have what would be our equivalent of a pep rally. Oh, and here's something that sort of shocked me: I think the total number of students attending my school here is about an eigth the amount of those in my high school back home. Crazy, right?
And now we continue my little list: (uhm, which number were we on? oh, well, I'll just do bullets for now...)
-We had a fire drill a few weeks back in my school. I have to say, it wasn't very organized, and they didn't check to see if everyone was there. I really hope they never have a fire or other catastrophe here..
-They have German pretzel vendors in Berlin. I freaking LOVE that place!! lolz
-The sun is a primadonna here. It makes seldom makes appearances, and it's not terribly spectacular when it does. (Okay, fine, it's spectacular. It's like the color comes flooding back to the world in a torrent of light. Happy? hahaha.)
-Germans do not use the handy-dandy serrated edge of the aluminium foil box. They throw away the box, and leave American foreign exchange students to struggle with the roll of foil as they go to make their lunches, lol.
-Some German boys look like Edward Cullen and Clark Kent. Some smoke, some don't. Some are nice, some aren't. Some are dull, others must be smart (but I can't grasp what they're saying cuz it's in German, lol). Some are fit, some aren't. But all of them wear clothes which would label them as gay in CA in about, oh, point 5 seconds, lol. This is the dillemna: Is it just European style? lolz
Stay tuned for next week's episode, where our attractive and intelligent young heroine ventures out into a world which is quickly turning into a very cold, but very pretty, Winter city.
Let's start with what I did this weekend. On Friday, I met a friend of my family's at Potsdam Hauptbahnhof and went with her to Berlin, where I saw my first opera ever, La Traviata. It was amazing, and even though it was a modern take on the original, I could still sort of get what they meant. (The analysis will be haunting my dreams, I assure you, lol.)
They sang in German and Italian. I used to understand a bit more of Italian, since it's a romance language, but now I understand more German, so that was interesting. Thankfully I had a screen in front of me with an English translation, so I didn't get lost. Oh, and here's one interesting tid-bit. La Traviata is about a "working woman," and so is Carmen. What was it with these composers and their interest in the life of prostitutes, I wonder? Just putting it out there!
Today I had the oportunity of going to not one, but two museums in Berlin: The Neue Museum and The Pergamon. I didn't have too much time to spend there, but I've gotta say, both are worth visiting. I hope to go there again while I'm here, especially to the Pergamon. (They have a t-shirt I want, lol. Not to mention all the amazing artifacts and exhibits!!!)
And now I have a few words to say about Berlin. Like other great cities of culture (Paris, Rome, New York, even), Berlin has its own rhythm. Its own ebb and flow of traffic, sounds, and sights. While I was walking to the museum island, we crossed over a bridge, and there was a man playing an accordian there. The sky was its classic business suit gray, and the water in the river below reflected the color back like graphite. And of course the stones in the street were left shining from the recent rain. The whole thing was so amazing, I can't possibly describe it. But if you have ever been someplace that just oozes of stories, whether real or fiction, then you know how a place like Berlin feels.
Okay, I've had my little creative writing exercise, lol, so let's continue. Thursday was 11.11, or Elfte Elfte, aka the day when German teens go crazy for absolutely no reason at all. They dressed up in all sorts of crazy outfits for school, and we have what would be our equivalent of a pep rally. Oh, and here's something that sort of shocked me: I think the total number of students attending my school here is about an eigth the amount of those in my high school back home. Crazy, right?
And now we continue my little list: (uhm, which number were we on? oh, well, I'll just do bullets for now...)
-We had a fire drill a few weeks back in my school. I have to say, it wasn't very organized, and they didn't check to see if everyone was there. I really hope they never have a fire or other catastrophe here..
-They have German pretzel vendors in Berlin. I freaking LOVE that place!! lolz
-The sun is a primadonna here. It makes seldom makes appearances, and it's not terribly spectacular when it does. (Okay, fine, it's spectacular. It's like the color comes flooding back to the world in a torrent of light. Happy? hahaha.)
-Germans do not use the handy-dandy serrated edge of the aluminium foil box. They throw away the box, and leave American foreign exchange students to struggle with the roll of foil as they go to make their lunches, lol.
-Some German boys look like Edward Cullen and Clark Kent. Some smoke, some don't. Some are nice, some aren't. Some are dull, others must be smart (but I can't grasp what they're saying cuz it's in German, lol). Some are fit, some aren't. But all of them wear clothes which would label them as gay in CA in about, oh, point 5 seconds, lol. This is the dillemna: Is it just European style? lolz
Stay tuned for next week's episode, where our attractive and intelligent young heroine ventures out into a world which is quickly turning into a very cold, but very pretty, Winter city.
9.11.10
Girl with a Geige, Coming Through!!
This was pretty much what I wanted to say to everyone on the tram as I hauled my violin with me from Saarmund to Potsdam and back. Really, people, do not mess with a musician carrying their instrument. You will get run over, lol.
For those of you who know me, remember when I used to be on a robotics team with FTC? Well, on one of the computers at school, I happened to see the software for LEGO Mindstorm while looking under the programs. Yeap, apparently it really is an international competition. :)
There's not anything that can quite compare to the workout of running for a bus. Especially when are have a heavy school backpack and November Germany clothing, lol. But the upside is that you don't miss the bus, hahaha. And trust me, here in Saarmund, if you miss one bus, the next one will take it's darned good time getting there. I often find myself wishing for a Totoro bus, that can take me right to where I need to go, exactly when I need to go there, lol. *sigh* If only... ;)
On Sunday, I went to an antik markt that was in Potsdam for the weekend. It was in a building right next to my school, so that was convenient. I choked up a little when I went inside because I have such fond memories of going to a fair or garage sale with my mom or dad. But then I just imagined what they would say if they were there with me, and it helped me a lot. I can't not think about my family and home in CA, but I can do my best to think about positive things. I ended up getting a little figurine with a boy and a girl about to kiss. I decided to buy that one because the boy is holding flowers for the girl. And I find the idea of a guy giving a girl flowers to be very romantical <3
So I was walking back to the house from the bus stop a few nights ago, and I stopped to look at my shadow from the light of the street lamps. It was sort of nice to see a cute, curvy figure there. Sometimes I feel like an old lady, going to the grocery store with my plastic bag, lolz. So thanks to the street lamps that line the street I walk every evening :)
I like being outside when it's morning and afternoon because I can see the smoke rising from the chimneys, and I sometimes sing Chim-Chimminee. I can smell the smoke wafting up from fire-places and it reminds me of Christmas Eve at my Nana and Grandpa's house. I remember when we had these scented pine-cones for a few years. They made the house smell like all sorts of good things. So that's why I like chimney smoke, lol.
List of Random-ness (continued):
25. Germans do not refridgerate their beverages while they are being stored. I find it extremely odd not to refridgerate milk.
26. They always sit down to eat their meals. It doesn't matter if it's breakfast or dinner, they like to sit down.
27. German seagulls are annoying and a disgrace to the race of seagull. They sound so silly, and it's just, no, just, no...
28. Ticket checking people tend to ride the trams at night. I have had my ticket checked about three times, and I always show it when I get on the bus.
29. They have the coolest calendars ever. EV-ER. ;)
30. All the bakeries, or Backerei, give off mouth-watering smells of fresh bread and pastries. I turn my head involuntary every time I walk by one.
31. The best pretzel in the world is a German one.
Well, that's all for now. I'm finding that I'm quite busy now, so I'm not sure when I'll have the chance to blog next. I hope this will suffice, at least for a while!! TGWTC, rockin' the haus!!
For those of you who know me, remember when I used to be on a robotics team with FTC? Well, on one of the computers at school, I happened to see the software for LEGO Mindstorm while looking under the programs. Yeap, apparently it really is an international competition. :)
There's not anything that can quite compare to the workout of running for a bus. Especially when are have a heavy school backpack and November Germany clothing, lol. But the upside is that you don't miss the bus, hahaha. And trust me, here in Saarmund, if you miss one bus, the next one will take it's darned good time getting there. I often find myself wishing for a Totoro bus, that can take me right to where I need to go, exactly when I need to go there, lol. *sigh* If only... ;)
On Sunday, I went to an antik markt that was in Potsdam for the weekend. It was in a building right next to my school, so that was convenient. I choked up a little when I went inside because I have such fond memories of going to a fair or garage sale with my mom or dad. But then I just imagined what they would say if they were there with me, and it helped me a lot. I can't not think about my family and home in CA, but I can do my best to think about positive things. I ended up getting a little figurine with a boy and a girl about to kiss. I decided to buy that one because the boy is holding flowers for the girl. And I find the idea of a guy giving a girl flowers to be very romantical <3
So I was walking back to the house from the bus stop a few nights ago, and I stopped to look at my shadow from the light of the street lamps. It was sort of nice to see a cute, curvy figure there. Sometimes I feel like an old lady, going to the grocery store with my plastic bag, lolz. So thanks to the street lamps that line the street I walk every evening :)
I like being outside when it's morning and afternoon because I can see the smoke rising from the chimneys, and I sometimes sing Chim-Chimminee. I can smell the smoke wafting up from fire-places and it reminds me of Christmas Eve at my Nana and Grandpa's house. I remember when we had these scented pine-cones for a few years. They made the house smell like all sorts of good things. So that's why I like chimney smoke, lol.
List of Random-ness (continued):
25. Germans do not refridgerate their beverages while they are being stored. I find it extremely odd not to refridgerate milk.
26. They always sit down to eat their meals. It doesn't matter if it's breakfast or dinner, they like to sit down.
27. German seagulls are annoying and a disgrace to the race of seagull. They sound so silly, and it's just, no, just, no...
28. Ticket checking people tend to ride the trams at night. I have had my ticket checked about three times, and I always show it when I get on the bus.
29. They have the coolest calendars ever. EV-ER. ;)
30. All the bakeries, or Backerei, give off mouth-watering smells of fresh bread and pastries. I turn my head involuntary every time I walk by one.
31. The best pretzel in the world is a German one.
Well, that's all for now. I'm finding that I'm quite busy now, so I'm not sure when I'll have the chance to blog next. I hope this will suffice, at least for a while!! TGWTC, rockin' the haus!!
5.11.10
I Wish I Had My Bow and Arrows
I wish I had my bow and arrows right now, because sometimes a girl just needs to go and shoot at a bale of hay, or a wall, or German grammar, lol. Archers will know that when you get that tense feeling in your shoulders and back, there's nothing to be done but go out on the range by yourself, calm down, and focus. It's really quite meditative and relaxing.
Well, enough about that, onto the next topic. I went to a youth orchestra in Potsdam on Monday. It felt very nice to play with a group again, even if they are a bit younger than me and still starting to master the basics. There really is nothing like the comraderie you find with a group of musicians.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I helped out with an English class for kids in maybe the fifth or sixth grade. I walked in before the teacher had gotten there, and subsequently got some rude remarks from the kids. I find a lot of them to be quite loud and without restraint. I predict that had I been born in an earlier century, I would have become a governess, lol.
Yesterday (Thursday) I went to an English debate club after school. There are about five or so other girls in the club, and they're all seventeen or eighteen. Hmmm, I wonder what happened to all the sixteen-year-olds in Germany... The club was very welcoming: they had tea and some cookies ready when I got there. (I checked the ingredients list on the cookies before I took one. It definitely helps to know the word Nuss!)
Today I took a test in Chemistry. (Dun, dun, dunnnn...) I did my best, translated the questions into English, and wrote my answers in error-ridden Deutsch. I think my teacher knows that I'm doing my best, so hopefully that's a pass for that class at least!!! (Quarter grades come out next week, to my understanding.)
And here's the continuation of The List:
26. We're all human beings, no matter how, when, or where we live. We all shed tears, and there are some things we all understand.
27. Unfortunately, since we're all human, we can all get sick, too. I sense something spreading in my school, aaahhhhhh!!! (Well, I got all the inocculations under the sun before I left, so I should be okay, lolz.)
28. For the school lunch, they get real plates and silverware. Made out of ceramic and metal. I know, I was shocked, too. O.O
29. Potsdam is located farther north of the Equator than Los Angeles. Which means that it is now dark when I am starting the day, and when I'm walking back home. (And it will only get worse, hahaha.)
30. Some German teachers are nice. Others are NOT. Just like in America, folks!
So there you have it, everything that's been going through my head and all the random things I feel like blogging about. Thanks for reading, tune in next week to see what crazy stuff happens next!! -TGWTC
Well, enough about that, onto the next topic. I went to a youth orchestra in Potsdam on Monday. It felt very nice to play with a group again, even if they are a bit younger than me and still starting to master the basics. There really is nothing like the comraderie you find with a group of musicians.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I helped out with an English class for kids in maybe the fifth or sixth grade. I walked in before the teacher had gotten there, and subsequently got some rude remarks from the kids. I find a lot of them to be quite loud and without restraint. I predict that had I been born in an earlier century, I would have become a governess, lol.
Yesterday (Thursday) I went to an English debate club after school. There are about five or so other girls in the club, and they're all seventeen or eighteen. Hmmm, I wonder what happened to all the sixteen-year-olds in Germany... The club was very welcoming: they had tea and some cookies ready when I got there. (I checked the ingredients list on the cookies before I took one. It definitely helps to know the word Nuss!)
Today I took a test in Chemistry. (Dun, dun, dunnnn...) I did my best, translated the questions into English, and wrote my answers in error-ridden Deutsch. I think my teacher knows that I'm doing my best, so hopefully that's a pass for that class at least!!! (Quarter grades come out next week, to my understanding.)
And here's the continuation of The List:
26. We're all human beings, no matter how, when, or where we live. We all shed tears, and there are some things we all understand.
27. Unfortunately, since we're all human, we can all get sick, too. I sense something spreading in my school, aaahhhhhh!!! (Well, I got all the inocculations under the sun before I left, so I should be okay, lolz.)
28. For the school lunch, they get real plates and silverware. Made out of ceramic and metal. I know, I was shocked, too. O.O
29. Potsdam is located farther north of the Equator than Los Angeles. Which means that it is now dark when I am starting the day, and when I'm walking back home. (And it will only get worse, hahaha.)
30. Some German teachers are nice. Others are NOT. Just like in America, folks!
So there you have it, everything that's been going through my head and all the random things I feel like blogging about. Thanks for reading, tune in next week to see what crazy stuff happens next!! -TGWTC
2.11.10
The Grayness Has Fallen
Yes, it's true. The grayness, as I'm calling it, has settled over Potsdam. I haven't seen the sun for almost two days now. I would just like to let the weather ppl know that, should this continue, I will lose whatever melanin I had in my skin and become albino. Just so they're aware ;)
Halloween was fun, though it's not even remarkably close to the fun we have in the U.S. I didn't dress up, but I did go around the neighborhood a bit with my younger host sister and her friends. It was pretty creepy to see tendrils of fog rolling in from the wooded hills, illuminated by the yellow street lamps. Ooh! I'm giving myself chills!!
Yesterday I went to an orchestra in Potsdam, and it was fun to play with a group again, even if they are younger than me and more of a junior high level. My stand partner's hair is dyed mostly a bright shade of pink, but that's Germany for you, lol. We came upon the topic of Star Trek (they're playing the theme song), and it turns out that she really likes it, too (even though she likes Kirk more than Picard, hahaha! Seriously, Next Generation ROCKS!!).
On the way home, I ran into a bit of a speed bump due to the fact that the bus only runs every hour after 7:00pm. Everything was fine and I got back alright, but it wasn't very enjoyable waiting at the bus stop when you're tired and carrying a heavy violin case, lol. (Adjustments are being made to see what we can do about this for next week--stay tuned.)
Here is more to add to my list:
21. German seasons know when to start and when to end. The trees all started losing their leaves in earnest after Halloween. I wonder what they'll do next... O.o
22. A lot of German kids are really loud in the classroom, and a lot of them don't stop when the teacher is talking. Hence, a lot of German teachers shout, especially when I happen to be sitting right in front of them, not making any hassle, hahaha.. yeah....
23. The grocery stores are either itty bitty, or GYNORMOUS. There is no in-between. (Same goes for the spoons. Soup or dessert, take your pick.)
24. German boys are just as immature as American boys. Sorry girls, lolz :P
25. The digital signs at the bus station like to play tricks on ppl waiting. Your bus will be coming in 5 minuten, and then poof! it's gone! The solution is to stare at the sign, unleashing all manner of threats within your head, until it decides to cooperate again.
Well, that just about sums this up for now! Be talkin' to ya l8r! -TGWTC
Halloween was fun, though it's not even remarkably close to the fun we have in the U.S. I didn't dress up, but I did go around the neighborhood a bit with my younger host sister and her friends. It was pretty creepy to see tendrils of fog rolling in from the wooded hills, illuminated by the yellow street lamps. Ooh! I'm giving myself chills!!
Yesterday I went to an orchestra in Potsdam, and it was fun to play with a group again, even if they are younger than me and more of a junior high level. My stand partner's hair is dyed mostly a bright shade of pink, but that's Germany for you, lol. We came upon the topic of Star Trek (they're playing the theme song), and it turns out that she really likes it, too (even though she likes Kirk more than Picard, hahaha! Seriously, Next Generation ROCKS!!).
On the way home, I ran into a bit of a speed bump due to the fact that the bus only runs every hour after 7:00pm. Everything was fine and I got back alright, but it wasn't very enjoyable waiting at the bus stop when you're tired and carrying a heavy violin case, lol. (Adjustments are being made to see what we can do about this for next week--stay tuned.)
Here is more to add to my list:
21. German seasons know when to start and when to end. The trees all started losing their leaves in earnest after Halloween. I wonder what they'll do next... O.o
22. A lot of German kids are really loud in the classroom, and a lot of them don't stop when the teacher is talking. Hence, a lot of German teachers shout, especially when I happen to be sitting right in front of them, not making any hassle, hahaha.. yeah....
23. The grocery stores are either itty bitty, or GYNORMOUS. There is no in-between. (Same goes for the spoons. Soup or dessert, take your pick.)
24. German boys are just as immature as American boys. Sorry girls, lolz :P
25. The digital signs at the bus station like to play tricks on ppl waiting. Your bus will be coming in 5 minuten, and then poof! it's gone! The solution is to stare at the sign, unleashing all manner of threats within your head, until it decides to cooperate again.
Well, that just about sums this up for now! Be talkin' to ya l8r! -TGWTC
30.10.10
Two Days in a Row!!
Yes, that's right, folks! For two days in a row now, I've had internet access via my laptop and internet stick in my room in Saarmund!! It's amazing! It's unbelievable! (I'm glad I don't drink, or else I'd be a little bit worried, lol.)
Well, now, on to business... Today I went with a friend of my biological family's (hmmm, sounds like I'm adopted, lol!) to Schloss Sanssouci! It was soo much fun! We took an audio tour, which was really great, and now I'm having difficulty choosing between the 1600s and the 1800s as my favorite time period, hahaha!
I'm going to check out a youth orchestra in Potsdam on Monday. I hope all goes well! My PI Rep said that the director speaks less English than I do Deutsch. My response: "Uh-oh..." lolz.
On Tuesday I will help out in an English class for younger kids (I think they're about 5th graders?). Anyway, I think that will be really fun getting to be a teacher's aide. I like kids; they're less complicated to understand, lol.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is Halloween! I'm going to do my best to show my host family how much we enjoy Halloween in America. I hope it will be a fun day for all! Monday is also my Dad's birthday (which falls on El Dia de Los Muertos). Here's a shout-out to ya, and have a happy Day of the Dead on your birthday!! (Okay, that sounds just a TAD bit macabre..)
Now, for the continuation of my random observations of Germany and Germans: (I think we're on fifteen, yeah??)
15. At the school, instead of having handball courts, they have cement ping-pong tables. Weird... (I'm tolerant, but I just find it unusual, that's all, lol.)
16. Tons of people smoke, especially young people. I'm surprised by how many kids who go to my school smoke. I feel sorry for them, and I hope they find the strength to quit.
17. There are NO GREEN APPLES in Germany, whatsoever. I miss you, Granny Smith!
18. The teachers' writing in school is illegible. PERIOD.
19. Sales tax is included in the price. :)
20. The people who work in the Eis shops in the mall are really nice. They help you decide what you want, even when you stand there gawking at the ice cream. And they don't judge you just because your Deutsch isn't so gut. They are now some of my new heroes!
I watched The Devil Wears Prada with my host family. (In Deutsch, naturlich.) It was so funny to hear the voice-over for Meryl Streep saying, "Das ist alles." I also bought Over the Hedge and Hercules in Deutsch. I've already watched Over the Hedge, and I think maybe I'll get to watch Hercules tomorrow. Better to start with simple films I've already seen, lol.
Well, I think that wraps this up, for now! Oh, and thank you to my friends who have sent me letters and are staying in contact! Ich liebe u guys!!
TGWTC, running around loose in Potsdam (hehehe, be afraid, be very afraid). ;)
Well, now, on to business... Today I went with a friend of my biological family's (hmmm, sounds like I'm adopted, lol!) to Schloss Sanssouci! It was soo much fun! We took an audio tour, which was really great, and now I'm having difficulty choosing between the 1600s and the 1800s as my favorite time period, hahaha!
I'm going to check out a youth orchestra in Potsdam on Monday. I hope all goes well! My PI Rep said that the director speaks less English than I do Deutsch. My response: "Uh-oh..." lolz.
On Tuesday I will help out in an English class for younger kids (I think they're about 5th graders?). Anyway, I think that will be really fun getting to be a teacher's aide. I like kids; they're less complicated to understand, lol.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is Halloween! I'm going to do my best to show my host family how much we enjoy Halloween in America. I hope it will be a fun day for all! Monday is also my Dad's birthday (which falls on El Dia de Los Muertos). Here's a shout-out to ya, and have a happy Day of the Dead on your birthday!! (Okay, that sounds just a TAD bit macabre..)
Now, for the continuation of my random observations of Germany and Germans: (I think we're on fifteen, yeah??)
15. At the school, instead of having handball courts, they have cement ping-pong tables. Weird... (I'm tolerant, but I just find it unusual, that's all, lol.)
16. Tons of people smoke, especially young people. I'm surprised by how many kids who go to my school smoke. I feel sorry for them, and I hope they find the strength to quit.
17. There are NO GREEN APPLES in Germany, whatsoever. I miss you, Granny Smith!
18. The teachers' writing in school is illegible. PERIOD.
19. Sales tax is included in the price. :)
20. The people who work in the Eis shops in the mall are really nice. They help you decide what you want, even when you stand there gawking at the ice cream. And they don't judge you just because your Deutsch isn't so gut. They are now some of my new heroes!
I watched The Devil Wears Prada with my host family. (In Deutsch, naturlich.) It was so funny to hear the voice-over for Meryl Streep saying, "Das ist alles." I also bought Over the Hedge and Hercules in Deutsch. I've already watched Over the Hedge, and I think maybe I'll get to watch Hercules tomorrow. Better to start with simple films I've already seen, lol.
Well, I think that wraps this up, for now! Oh, and thank you to my friends who have sent me letters and are staying in contact! Ich liebe u guys!!
TGWTC, running around loose in Potsdam (hehehe, be afraid, be very afraid). ;)
21.10.10
7 Degrees Celcius
Aaaarrrgggg! Silly internet just made everything kaput. Now I have to start all over again :(
Okay, so you read the title correctly, this morning until about 2 o'clock it was seven degrees celcius. Later it warmed up a bit- to 12 degrees celcius.. not very pleasant for a CA girl. Whosoever starts singing that Katie Perry song one more time may just disappear in the dead of night... jk, or am I?? O.o
Here's a few more points to add to my list of observations of Germans and Germany. (This is just as I've observed, so I'm just telling it as I see it.):
10. In restaurants, they only give you one glass of liquid to consume. And they don't refill that lonely, skinny glass without you paying for it, lol.
11. They never seem to eat as though they are hungary. I'm having difficulty eating as slowly, hahaha.
12. German birds are SCARY. Maybe it's because of the red glint in their eyes...
13. Hand disinfectant is BAD.
14. They really care about their windows.
Well, I think that's enough for now. Today is my host father's birthday; he really liked the flashlight we got him (Thanks my wonderful Mom and family in CA!!!)
TGWTC (with two German children staring at the screen, ah, privacy is so fleeting), tschuss!!
Okay, so you read the title correctly, this morning until about 2 o'clock it was seven degrees celcius. Later it warmed up a bit- to 12 degrees celcius.. not very pleasant for a CA girl. Whosoever starts singing that Katie Perry song one more time may just disappear in the dead of night... jk, or am I?? O.o
Here's a few more points to add to my list of observations of Germans and Germany. (This is just as I've observed, so I'm just telling it as I see it.):
10. In restaurants, they only give you one glass of liquid to consume. And they don't refill that lonely, skinny glass without you paying for it, lol.
11. They never seem to eat as though they are hungary. I'm having difficulty eating as slowly, hahaha.
12. German birds are SCARY. Maybe it's because of the red glint in their eyes...
13. Hand disinfectant is BAD.
14. They really care about their windows.
Well, I think that's enough for now. Today is my host father's birthday; he really liked the flashlight we got him (Thanks my wonderful Mom and family in CA!!!)
TGWTC (with two German children staring at the screen, ah, privacy is so fleeting), tschuss!!
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