Week 2

Well this last week's experience with orienteering proved to be a bit easier (I only got lost once).  I had my first week of normal class, and so far it has been really interesting and valuable.  We took our first test on Friday, and I must say that it was quite hard.  I haven't really taken tests for as long as I can remember.  I prefer and am used to writing big papers or doing art/video projects for my weightier grades.  Luckily there was a writing section on the test...that may redeem my lack of memorization of prepositions and past-tense verbs.

There is a kind of "official" activity we do: "Nur Deutsch Dienstag" (Only German Tuesday).  If we speak German the whole day through without using English, even when Germans try to speak English to us, we get a nice smiley-face sticker on a board.  As of yet, I have never seen this board nor have I been successful in speaking only German for the whole day.  I went about 2/3 and broke when I was hanging out with some Americans.  In any case, I usually speak German to Germans, and when they don't speak English, it is great.  Ordering food, meeting people at the coffee shop, or just talking to my roommates is not so hard.  I will admit that it is very easy to slip, though.  Communication always tries to find the easiest route. 

We went to Lübeck yesterday, and I had a pretty good time.  While it was cold, and we mostly wandered about, I got to go in a great bookstore and swiped up three books.  One was a Bavarian dialect dictionary/instruction book.  I think it is really funny and hopefully I can finally understand my Bavarian friends for once.  I found a book on my favorite artist, Hundertwasser, for only 10 euros, and Das Parfum by Patrick Süskind.  I've been excited to get some new books, and this is only the beginning!  Anyway, Lübeck has some cool gates and a nice big historical district.  There is also a nice river that runs around the town (it is an island), and I found some really nice graffiti on the bridges.  Ryan Air flies out of Lübeck, so I will probably return when making flights out of Germany, and also to see the torture museum!

I found the outdoor market this week and must say that it is wonderful.  I'm not going to buy produce at the grocery store again.  And organic food is actually affordable!  Today is Sunday, so most every business (besides small cafes) are closed.  It can be annoying if you forgot to pick something up at the store and then need it on Sunday.  I cannot cook eggs, for instance, because we are all out of oil/margarine/butter for the pan.

Some trips are going to be in order in the coming weeks, and you will soon hear about those as well.  Hamburg photos on the way, and the beginning of the documentary underway.

Auf Wiedersehen!

First Week in Lüneburg

I have been in Germany for 7 days now, and my German is getting better everyday.  It is the little things like ordering a meal or trying to ask for directions that are the biggest learning experiences.  While at first I was really nervous about speaking to Germans, it has proven to be very rewarding.  Even though mistakes are made, I always learn from them, and hopefully I will not be making any mistakes at the end of my time here.  People are very nice and understanding when I have trouble.
I have Brazilian, German, and American roommates, and they are all really great.  We speak German a lot and share our different cultural characteristics and ideas about each other.  For once, we have an organized chore list, so it is no longer me having to do all of the work in the apartment (as it was with every roommate I've ever had)  My room is furnished and is quite a bit bigger than I expected.  I haven't slept too well, but I think it has a lot to do with my messed up circadian rhythms.

My classes are going well, and I look forward to the coming weeks.  My German Cinema and Photography classes are both taught in English, which offers me a refreshing moment to relax and speak without any struggle.  I was bumped up to the advanced German level in my program, so the other classes are all in German and offer me a great challenge.  I will have to do presentations, homework "auf Deutsch" daily, and take a lot of pictures.  Speaking of which, I have been so busy getting accustomed to the new town, the cultural differences and trying to understand and speak German, I have not had time to actually go out and enjoy Lüneburg.  This will come in due time, but at the moment there are many orientation classes and policy meetings regarding my program.

I am going to Hamburg on Saturday with the other Americans for a walking tour.  I look forward to seeing the place of The Beatles' beginnings.  Otherwise I don't know much about it, so I will have a look at another part of Northern Germany, a place that I've never been.  Updates and pictures concerning this coming soon.

The bars here so far have been pretty cool.  There is a really grungy place called Jekyll and Hyde that I naturally am quite fond of.  There are always interesting people there...and broken glass/cigarettes all over the floor.  I met a Russian and a guy who grew up on Potsdam and East Berlin for the beginning of his life.  It was a unique moment in the history of the world--this is a day when people from the former USSR, DDR, and USA can sit in a bar in Lüneburg and happily drink and talk without harsh feelings and a strong dislike for anything fascist.  There is also a Hausbar akin to my favorite House Bar in Bloomington where people can just sit in couches and visit without music blaring and people everywhere.  Oh, and don't forget the Irish pub.  I'm not sure if it is more or less Irish than those in the USA (more Irish immigrants in America) but there is plenty of Guiness to go around while watching great music.

Now it's the weekend and time to enjoy some time without any homework to get in my way.  Stay tuned for my next report.

Tschüss!

Well, it's T-1.

I can't help but constantly recheck my flight itinerary, read Wikipedia articles on everything German, and think about my upcoming semester.  I'm anxious at a whole new level.  What's funny is that when I finally do get to the airport tomorrow, I'm going to be bored to death waiting for takeoff while failing to figure out the second clue on Myst DS--a daunting task.  I guess exploring that wondrous empty isle will mean a lot less to me, though.  By the time I arrive in Germany a day later, my jet-lagged self will be in quite a new reality with a whole continent of opportunity to explore, learn from, and understand.  Get ready Germany...seriously get ready! 

I managed to pack my bags with more books than I will ever need (since I'll definitely accumulate more in Europe), including various political writings by Marx and Jefferson, German travel guides and grammar books, textbooks on German cinema and photography, a book on Hundertwasser, and copies of Faust and The Little Prince to keep a bit of allegory in my life.  Perhaps you will find these books somewhere along your own travels, as I will be taking on the role of knowledge-sharer, dropping off these quality texts in various hostels across Europe.  Since the iPad has now realistically declared war on the book (eventually), we need to keep the ones we have circulating and alive.  I recommend sharing your own interesting things with the rest of the world.  There's something about tactility and craftsmanship that just can't be beat.


See you later United States of America.