Friday, July 01, 2005
Episode 8
Einen wunderschönen guten Tag an euch alle!
A few of you emailed to ask if I took you off the episode list... which is understandable, considering I haven’t written in about a month.
My last emails have concentrated on trips and travels to the point that I think it might seem that I’m not actually studying abroad, but just playing abroad. (This might be true…) So, here’s a typical day in the life of Mary Ann at Justus-Liebig Universität, Giessen:
- Make a bleary-eyed trip to the shower, focusing on the fact that the towel hook is above the heater, which produces pleasantly warm towels, not on the chipped paint and odd smell coming from the drain.
- Hop on the bike and express delight in the fact that it didn’t rain overnight, and I am spared the refreshing sensation of sitting on a wet bike seat.
- Sit in classes where usually over half the time is taken by student presentations. (Feel lucky if the presenter has actually mastered the art of public speaking, instead of rambling in a monotonous tone for 45 minutes.)
- Discuss English literature in German
- Have a student presenter in the political economy class claim that all Americans drive 15 mpg cars without catalytic converters. Realize why they think this when we talk about human-induced global climate change, the Kyoto protocol, and the US’s monstrously large share of CO2 emissions.
- Listen to the political economy professor claim (during one class period) that most American lives in mobile homes, but that the standard of living is so high, everyone sends their laundry out, instead of doing it themselves.
[I list these misconceptions for the sake of humor, not as a criticism of the Germans. Considering that some Americans think all Germans walk around looking like they’re posing for a postcard of Bavaria in Lederhosen with suspenders and yodel all day, most Germans at least have a slight idea of what America is like. Even if they think they can deduce that reality from ER, Friends, and MTV.]
- Have an animated discussion with the woman at the library circulation desk about the futility of an interlibrary loan system which takes half a semester to transport a book from the university 15 miles away.
- Entertain classmates by telling them that I stayed up till 2am typing a paper, and watch them gasp in horror because I procrastinate to the point of typing the research paper on which my entire grade for the course is based in one night. (Apparently the German students take up to three weeks to create a research paper. Gasp!)
- Pass a brand-new Mercedes convertible on the way to softball practice and decide that my ride is better, since I can skip rush hour, take short cuts, feel more sun/wind, and have the peace of mind that I am not harming the environment in any way.
- Play softball in the pouring rain and manage to get at least five lasting bruises/welts per practice from a) wearing running shoes instead of cleats and b) stopping the ball with my body instead of my glove.
- Ponder on the severe misnomer “soft” in the word “softball.”
- Come back to find the entire apartment complex turned into a giant open-air party. (They cleared the parking decks, brought in live bands, had a DJ in the lower deck, and lots and lots of food/drink stands. Most of the students go home on the weekends, so, of course, all the big parties are on weeknights. Perhaps this is why it takes three weeks to write a paper…)
- Give up on writing a paper for the night, since I can’t hear myself think and join the crowd.
- Sample conversation from party:
“Hi, where are you from?”
“America”
“Oh.” *pause* “Well, it’s not your fault.” [smiling, with a tinge of pity]
Let the good times roll. Hope all of you are enjoying the summer. Twelve more days, and I, too, will have vacation. Yay!
Thanks to Liz Cannon’s inspiration, I’ve started a web blog. This has all the old episodes on it, and I’ll be adding to it, especially after the train trip. If you suffer from insomnia, grab a cup of hot chocolate, settle down, and head to www.way2gullible.blogspot.com. You can even leave comments.
Cheerios and fresh oatmeal raisin cookies,
Mary Ann
A few of you emailed to ask if I took you off the episode list... which is understandable, considering I haven’t written in about a month.
My last emails have concentrated on trips and travels to the point that I think it might seem that I’m not actually studying abroad, but just playing abroad. (This might be true…) So, here’s a typical day in the life of Mary Ann at Justus-Liebig Universität, Giessen:
- Make a bleary-eyed trip to the shower, focusing on the fact that the towel hook is above the heater, which produces pleasantly warm towels, not on the chipped paint and odd smell coming from the drain.
- Hop on the bike and express delight in the fact that it didn’t rain overnight, and I am spared the refreshing sensation of sitting on a wet bike seat.
- Sit in classes where usually over half the time is taken by student presentations. (Feel lucky if the presenter has actually mastered the art of public speaking, instead of rambling in a monotonous tone for 45 minutes.)
- Discuss English literature in German
- Have a student presenter in the political economy class claim that all Americans drive 15 mpg cars without catalytic converters. Realize why they think this when we talk about human-induced global climate change, the Kyoto protocol, and the US’s monstrously large share of CO2 emissions.
- Listen to the political economy professor claim (during one class period) that most American lives in mobile homes, but that the standard of living is so high, everyone sends their laundry out, instead of doing it themselves.
[I list these misconceptions for the sake of humor, not as a criticism of the Germans. Considering that some Americans think all Germans walk around looking like they’re posing for a postcard of Bavaria in Lederhosen with suspenders and yodel all day, most Germans at least have a slight idea of what America is like. Even if they think they can deduce that reality from ER, Friends, and MTV.]
- Have an animated discussion with the woman at the library circulation desk about the futility of an interlibrary loan system which takes half a semester to transport a book from the university 15 miles away.
- Entertain classmates by telling them that I stayed up till 2am typing a paper, and watch them gasp in horror because I procrastinate to the point of typing the research paper on which my entire grade for the course is based in one night. (Apparently the German students take up to three weeks to create a research paper. Gasp!)
- Pass a brand-new Mercedes convertible on the way to softball practice and decide that my ride is better, since I can skip rush hour, take short cuts, feel more sun/wind, and have the peace of mind that I am not harming the environment in any way.
- Play softball in the pouring rain and manage to get at least five lasting bruises/welts per practice from a) wearing running shoes instead of cleats and b) stopping the ball with my body instead of my glove.
- Ponder on the severe misnomer “soft” in the word “softball.”
- Come back to find the entire apartment complex turned into a giant open-air party. (They cleared the parking decks, brought in live bands, had a DJ in the lower deck, and lots and lots of food/drink stands. Most of the students go home on the weekends, so, of course, all the big parties are on weeknights. Perhaps this is why it takes three weeks to write a paper…)
- Give up on writing a paper for the night, since I can’t hear myself think and join the crowd.
- Sample conversation from party:
“Hi, where are you from?”
“America”
“Oh.” *pause* “Well, it’s not your fault.” [smiling, with a tinge of pity]
Let the good times roll. Hope all of you are enjoying the summer. Twelve more days, and I, too, will have vacation. Yay!
Thanks to Liz Cannon’s inspiration, I’ve started a web blog. This has all the old episodes on it, and I’ll be adding to it, especially after the train trip. If you suffer from insomnia, grab a cup of hot chocolate, settle down, and head to www.way2gullible.blogspot.com. You can even leave comments.
Cheerios and fresh oatmeal raisin cookies,
Mary Ann
Friday, June 03, 2005
Episode 7
Greetings, and welcome to another edition of Episode in the Life of Mary Ann, a fortnightly (or thrice-nightly ?) publication.
It’s been three weeks since I’ve written, which is at least in part due to the fact that the reality of my research papers is slowly sinking in. That’s right, drastic measures are in order. The last three days, I skipped a softball practice, dance class, and an African drumming session, for academic reasons. (!!!) Dear me, what a shock. Before you shed in a tear in sympathy, I have to add the disclaimer that this was because I needed to make up for leaving the country for four days last week.
You know, academic life is a real trial sometimes. Imagine picking a thesis topic that just forces to you make a trip to Switzerland. And not only that, but to possibly the most beautiful part: the Bern area, at the foot of the Alps, with large rolling hills, crystal clear lakes, snow capped Alps framing the scene, etc, etc. And then, just imagine, I had to go when we happened to have perfect, 75 degree weather with cloudless skies. Really, academia is a chore… I hopped on a train last Wednesday (Thursday was another holiday) and headed to Switzerland to talk with a guy who does research on the early Anabaptists, visit the university in Bern, and take pictures of handwritten documents in the archives that I will never be able to decipher. Since it was a long weekend, I just had to stay for an extra day or two… I stayed with RoseMarie, a family friend from when we used to live in Germany. She’s the everybody’s-grandmother kind of type and thoroughly spoiled me.
A few thoughts on Switzerland:
First, the city fountains serve drinking water. No joke. There are tons of fountains, which is great, considering that a seven ounce bottle of ginger ale costs $3.50. So, I treated myself to a self-guided tour of Bern, drinking from fountains for the sheer fun of it. On Friday (I told you I took an extra day) I spent the day in Thun. Imagine the most beautiful postcard you’ve ever seen of Switzerland, and it was probably taken near Thun. In the morning, Rosemarie and I walked around the town, looked at the castle, and fed the swans, then she went home again because the heat was bothering her. I stayed a rented a free bike. An absolute miracle! In the country where an ice cream cone costs $5, I found a stand offering free daily bike rentals. Leaving my expired driver’s license as security, I peddled away on an absolute Cadillac of an 8-speed. First I biked along the lake. Now, this lake was as clear as only ice-melt mountain lakes can be. And it was so hot out, and the water was so inviting. So, I parked my bike at a short strip of “beach” that wasn’t owned by the many splendid resorts and jumped in. Once I was in the water I realized just how recently the water must have melted from the glacier. I also noticed that while many people were sunning themselves on the shore, I was the only one in the water (well, there was a dog, who kept retrieving sticks…). And the only one in the water wearing regular clothes. So then I biked/hiked up the side of the mountain, and ran though a meadow singing The Sound of Music songs with rather damp clothes. (I know, The Sound of Music is an American musical set in Austria, but still, it’s the Alps!) Then I biked to another town called Steffisburg (where many of the early Amish lived), and I biked on up another mountain/hill. (I call it a mountain, the Swiss call it a hill). This was a bit of a chore, but the view was amazing, and flying back down the gravel path was almost like riding a motorcycle!)
Such an amazing day. I gathered a nice sunburn as a souvenir and decided that I could be happy herding cows with bells and hiking for the rest of my life. :o)
It was also fun to listen to the Swiss German. It’s sounds like German, except sing-songy and with lots of funny words ending in “-li”. :o) I wish I could speak it! The Amish dialect is mainly from the Pfalz area of Germany and has lost almost all of its original Swiss German.
Before I left, I went to the Swiss authorities and informed them that I would be immigrating shortly. And staying. Forever. :o)
On my way home I met a fun couple on the train. They had spent a few days hiking and camping in the mountains, and were on their way back to Germany where they earn their living by writing plays for children. They have a six-year-old daughter who rides the unicycle. Quite the eccentric people. We spent a few hours talking, and now, the next time I just happen to go through their corner of Bavaria, I’m welcome to pitch a tent in their backyard. :o) (Jacqueline, this might come in handy this summer. :o) That’s what I love about train trips. Big backpacks are a pretty good signal for interesting conversations.
Meeting people like that helps me deal with some of anonymity of this large university. When I smile at other students on the way to class, unless they know me, they often will either avoid eye contact, or not smile at all. Hmm. But I am determined to keep smiling! I had a discussion about this cultural difference with one of my friends a while back. I was complaining about what I perceived to be a generally sour atmosphere around the university. (This is not always the case.) He argued that he prefers to have people be honest, instead of wearing a mask of false happiness. Thus, if life stinks at the moment, people should feel free to express that. I claimed that walking around looking as though we had just been released from a lemon-tasting expo wouldn’t improve matters any, and that the simple act of smiling can actually make one feel more happy. Ah, the joys of dialogue across cultural differences. To be fair, the Germans sometimes consider Americans to be superficial because we meet people, pretend to be their best friend, and then forget the names a few minutes later…
Today was another fun day. I had to hop on a train to copy a few journal articles at the university in Marburg. (The interlibrary loan system here is a disaster.) It’s a really pretty town, so I decided to make the obligatory pilgrimage to the castle and enjoy the sights. (Check my website for pics.) On the hike back down the hill, I stopped to fill my water bottle at a fountain that had the shape of a hog’s head (yes, some German fountains serve drinking water too!) As I was doing this, a guy completely dressed in medieval garb was delighted to find out that this was drinking water. I asked if he worked at the castle, and he said, “No, I’m in the service of the Lord.” He was making a historical pilgrimage through Germany dressed in 16th century clothes. He had a large cross around his neck, so I asked if he was Catholic. “No, I’m a fan of Martin Luther!” This led to a discussion about buying indulgences, direct access to God, and other hot topics that split the state church 400 years ago. Ah, the people one meets.
In between these trips, my life has been progressing as usual. Lots of books, lots of presentations, lots of essays. Hope you are finding adventures of your own.
Cheerios with no milk, sugar, or cheerios,
:o) Mary Ann
PS: Picture trail had a odd trail period, so now I’m using Yahoo to post photos. Try the following link:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/way2gullible/my_photos
It’s been three weeks since I’ve written, which is at least in part due to the fact that the reality of my research papers is slowly sinking in. That’s right, drastic measures are in order. The last three days, I skipped a softball practice, dance class, and an African drumming session, for academic reasons. (!!!) Dear me, what a shock. Before you shed in a tear in sympathy, I have to add the disclaimer that this was because I needed to make up for leaving the country for four days last week.
You know, academic life is a real trial sometimes. Imagine picking a thesis topic that just forces to you make a trip to Switzerland. And not only that, but to possibly the most beautiful part: the Bern area, at the foot of the Alps, with large rolling hills, crystal clear lakes, snow capped Alps framing the scene, etc, etc. And then, just imagine, I had to go when we happened to have perfect, 75 degree weather with cloudless skies. Really, academia is a chore… I hopped on a train last Wednesday (Thursday was another holiday) and headed to Switzerland to talk with a guy who does research on the early Anabaptists, visit the university in Bern, and take pictures of handwritten documents in the archives that I will never be able to decipher. Since it was a long weekend, I just had to stay for an extra day or two… I stayed with RoseMarie, a family friend from when we used to live in Germany. She’s the everybody’s-grandmother kind of type and thoroughly spoiled me.
A few thoughts on Switzerland:
First, the city fountains serve drinking water. No joke. There are tons of fountains, which is great, considering that a seven ounce bottle of ginger ale costs $3.50. So, I treated myself to a self-guided tour of Bern, drinking from fountains for the sheer fun of it. On Friday (I told you I took an extra day) I spent the day in Thun. Imagine the most beautiful postcard you’ve ever seen of Switzerland, and it was probably taken near Thun. In the morning, Rosemarie and I walked around the town, looked at the castle, and fed the swans, then she went home again because the heat was bothering her. I stayed a rented a free bike. An absolute miracle! In the country where an ice cream cone costs $5, I found a stand offering free daily bike rentals. Leaving my expired driver’s license as security, I peddled away on an absolute Cadillac of an 8-speed. First I biked along the lake. Now, this lake was as clear as only ice-melt mountain lakes can be. And it was so hot out, and the water was so inviting. So, I parked my bike at a short strip of “beach” that wasn’t owned by the many splendid resorts and jumped in. Once I was in the water I realized just how recently the water must have melted from the glacier. I also noticed that while many people were sunning themselves on the shore, I was the only one in the water (well, there was a dog, who kept retrieving sticks…). And the only one in the water wearing regular clothes. So then I biked/hiked up the side of the mountain, and ran though a meadow singing The Sound of Music songs with rather damp clothes. (I know, The Sound of Music is an American musical set in Austria, but still, it’s the Alps!) Then I biked to another town called Steffisburg (where many of the early Amish lived), and I biked on up another mountain/hill. (I call it a mountain, the Swiss call it a hill). This was a bit of a chore, but the view was amazing, and flying back down the gravel path was almost like riding a motorcycle!)
Such an amazing day. I gathered a nice sunburn as a souvenir and decided that I could be happy herding cows with bells and hiking for the rest of my life. :o)
It was also fun to listen to the Swiss German. It’s sounds like German, except sing-songy and with lots of funny words ending in “-li”. :o) I wish I could speak it! The Amish dialect is mainly from the Pfalz area of Germany and has lost almost all of its original Swiss German.
Before I left, I went to the Swiss authorities and informed them that I would be immigrating shortly. And staying. Forever. :o)
On my way home I met a fun couple on the train. They had spent a few days hiking and camping in the mountains, and were on their way back to Germany where they earn their living by writing plays for children. They have a six-year-old daughter who rides the unicycle. Quite the eccentric people. We spent a few hours talking, and now, the next time I just happen to go through their corner of Bavaria, I’m welcome to pitch a tent in their backyard. :o) (Jacqueline, this might come in handy this summer. :o) That’s what I love about train trips. Big backpacks are a pretty good signal for interesting conversations.
Meeting people like that helps me deal with some of anonymity of this large university. When I smile at other students on the way to class, unless they know me, they often will either avoid eye contact, or not smile at all. Hmm. But I am determined to keep smiling! I had a discussion about this cultural difference with one of my friends a while back. I was complaining about what I perceived to be a generally sour atmosphere around the university. (This is not always the case.) He argued that he prefers to have people be honest, instead of wearing a mask of false happiness. Thus, if life stinks at the moment, people should feel free to express that. I claimed that walking around looking as though we had just been released from a lemon-tasting expo wouldn’t improve matters any, and that the simple act of smiling can actually make one feel more happy. Ah, the joys of dialogue across cultural differences. To be fair, the Germans sometimes consider Americans to be superficial because we meet people, pretend to be their best friend, and then forget the names a few minutes later…
Today was another fun day. I had to hop on a train to copy a few journal articles at the university in Marburg. (The interlibrary loan system here is a disaster.) It’s a really pretty town, so I decided to make the obligatory pilgrimage to the castle and enjoy the sights. (Check my website for pics.) On the hike back down the hill, I stopped to fill my water bottle at a fountain that had the shape of a hog’s head (yes, some German fountains serve drinking water too!) As I was doing this, a guy completely dressed in medieval garb was delighted to find out that this was drinking water. I asked if he worked at the castle, and he said, “No, I’m in the service of the Lord.” He was making a historical pilgrimage through Germany dressed in 16th century clothes. He had a large cross around his neck, so I asked if he was Catholic. “No, I’m a fan of Martin Luther!” This led to a discussion about buying indulgences, direct access to God, and other hot topics that split the state church 400 years ago. Ah, the people one meets.
In between these trips, my life has been progressing as usual. Lots of books, lots of presentations, lots of essays. Hope you are finding adventures of your own.
Cheerios with no milk, sugar, or cheerios,
:o) Mary Ann
PS: Picture trail had a odd trail period, so now I’m using Yahoo to post photos. Try the following link:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/way2gullible/my_photos
Friday, May 13, 2005
Episode 6
Dear ladies and gentlemen, young and old, short and tall, big and small, quiet and loud, humble and proud, near or far, wherever you are…
Don’t worry, this whole email won’t be written in Suess-ese. :o)
So, what has Mary Ann been up to in the 16 days that have passed since her last mass mail? I’m sure each one of you has been grappling with this pertinent question…
Since school has taken a rapidly growing role in my routine, let me tell you a bit about the German university system. Once you find your way through the chaotic class registration process (which sometimes leads to personal injury, as people elbow their way to the signup list) you start attending classes. [Editor's note: The author occasionally tends to exaggerate to create the impression of an adventurous struggle for survival. Through the process of selecting what to report and choosing the manner in which she frames her stories, these episodes may or may not be an accurate reflection of life in Giessen, Germany.] Now, here’s the neat part: If a class is announced as being from 10:00 – 12:00, it’s understood by both professor and student that it will actually start at 10:15. They call this the academic quarter hour. Personally, I find this concept fantastic. Then, at the end of class when people start being noisy and the professor wraps things up, everyone knocks on the wooden desks. At first, I was completely shocked and thought they were being rude, but it turns out that this is a type of applause. Again, what a cool tradition. At the end of every lecture, they give this token of thanks to the professor for the time/effort of teaching the class.
One class I’m attending is an interactive seminar on the German education system—and it’s taught by students. So basically, every week a few students prepare a report on an aspect of education, then we argue with each other about how things should be. Fantastic. I met a student in that class, and after talking for about 5 minutes, we decided to spend last Thursday (a holiday in Germany) exploring the area. So, Barbara and I went to a tiny, very old, little town close to Giessen. Wetzlar is that “typical” German town, with lots of half-timbered houses, narrow cobblestone streets, etc. (Unfortunately, Giessen has very little of this. As an important crossroads for the rail system, 80% of Giessen’s buildings were flattened by the Allies at the end of WWII. The city was rebuilt, but with an eye for economy, not necessarily beautiful, restored buildings.)
After seeing Wetzlar, we decided to go to the apple wine fest I had heard about from a friend. We had taken our bikes on the train to Wetzlar (a rather tedious thing to do, with all the stairs to get to the train platforms) and when we got back to the station where we needed to change trains, we saw that the train we needed wouldn’t leave for another 30 minutes. Now, this was such a beautiful day, we were not about to spend it on a train station platform waiting around.
Reasoning: The train ride only takes 10 minutes. It can’t be that far, and besides, bike tours are fun.
Reality: While the train from Giessen to Lollar takes a straight shot through the valley, the road goes over rather large hills.
Nonetheless, we arrived a mere 15 minutes later than if we had waited for the train. The apple wine fest was hilarious, though. A tiny, tiny town hosts it, and apparently everyone and his brother between the ages of 15 and 30 in all of Hessen decide to pile into a tiny clearing in the woods and consume apple wine by the jug. They had an old fashioned German band playing songs that the guys at the table behind us apparently knew, since they kept getting up on the benches of the picnic table, clapping and singing along. Loudly. Everyone was in a merry mood, though, and it was nice to see everyone relaxed and having fun. :o)
The next day I went rock climbing with Jako and Sabrina at a gym outside Köln. Even though I love of college, it makes me wish I could spend my time in the Alps, hiking and climbing, instead of reading books… Later that evening, we were walking through the downtown area, and this guy was playing the accordion like I have never heard anything before. Please don’t think Steve Urkel here. This guy made it sound like an entire orchestra. Amazing. As we continued down the street we heard, well, an interesting sound. A guy was standing on the square holding a guitar. An extremely, extremely out of tune guitar. I guess you could say he was playing it, as he would strum/hit/bang the strings without even having his left hand on the neck to attempt any semblance of a chord. He was screaming some song at the top of his lungs. If I were to analyze him for an essay, I would say that he was embodying a courageous statement about the accepted social construct of the street musician. :o) Instead, I took a short video clip of him, but it didn’t come out that well, because I was laughing too hard. I think the guy even had a hat out. Perhaps some people gave him money out of pity, or to get him to be quiet. It takes all kinds.
A few of you have wondered about church here. Sometimes I go to Darmstadt, which is the closest UCG congregation, but I also go up to Dormagen (the church we attended when we lived here 8 years ago) to see my friends there. Two weeks ago we even had a combo deal with the people from Holland, so that was fun. I love how close so many different countries are here!
I’m attaching a hilarious article. I saw it posted on a professor’s door, and found it at BBC.com (the best news source of all time, by the way). Apparently, a researcher has found the root cause of the Germans’ reputation for being grumpy. A great read.
As a final thought, being here has made me respect anyone who moves to another country and goes through the difficult process of truly mastering a foreign language. Even though I was relatively fluent in German before I got here, it is at times extremely frustrating to want to say something, but not being able to find the exact words to express the idea. When I’m in class, I feel like a fourth grader, because I often lack the “educated vocabulary” to comment on academic questions, etc. Suddenly, I am put into the situation of those, who for whatever reason have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. I’m used to being the one who talks a mile a minute, and I am ashamed to remember times when I was doubtless less than patient with people who need more time to formulate their thoughts.
And with that, I hope you all have a pleasant weekend.
Cheerios and cherries,
Mary Ann
PS: I put a few new pictures up, including one of Paul and Kira’s twins! PPS: ABC list folks, you probably won't get the attachment, so to read the article I was talking about, go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/895503.stm
Don’t worry, this whole email won’t be written in Suess-ese. :o)
So, what has Mary Ann been up to in the 16 days that have passed since her last mass mail? I’m sure each one of you has been grappling with this pertinent question…
Since school has taken a rapidly growing role in my routine, let me tell you a bit about the German university system. Once you find your way through the chaotic class registration process (which sometimes leads to personal injury, as people elbow their way to the signup list) you start attending classes. [Editor's note: The author occasionally tends to exaggerate to create the impression of an adventurous struggle for survival. Through the process of selecting what to report and choosing the manner in which she frames her stories, these episodes may or may not be an accurate reflection of life in Giessen, Germany.] Now, here’s the neat part: If a class is announced as being from 10:00 – 12:00, it’s understood by both professor and student that it will actually start at 10:15. They call this the academic quarter hour. Personally, I find this concept fantastic. Then, at the end of class when people start being noisy and the professor wraps things up, everyone knocks on the wooden desks. At first, I was completely shocked and thought they were being rude, but it turns out that this is a type of applause. Again, what a cool tradition. At the end of every lecture, they give this token of thanks to the professor for the time/effort of teaching the class.
One class I’m attending is an interactive seminar on the German education system—and it’s taught by students. So basically, every week a few students prepare a report on an aspect of education, then we argue with each other about how things should be. Fantastic. I met a student in that class, and after talking for about 5 minutes, we decided to spend last Thursday (a holiday in Germany) exploring the area. So, Barbara and I went to a tiny, very old, little town close to Giessen. Wetzlar is that “typical” German town, with lots of half-timbered houses, narrow cobblestone streets, etc. (Unfortunately, Giessen has very little of this. As an important crossroads for the rail system, 80% of Giessen’s buildings were flattened by the Allies at the end of WWII. The city was rebuilt, but with an eye for economy, not necessarily beautiful, restored buildings.)
After seeing Wetzlar, we decided to go to the apple wine fest I had heard about from a friend. We had taken our bikes on the train to Wetzlar (a rather tedious thing to do, with all the stairs to get to the train platforms) and when we got back to the station where we needed to change trains, we saw that the train we needed wouldn’t leave for another 30 minutes. Now, this was such a beautiful day, we were not about to spend it on a train station platform waiting around.
Reasoning: The train ride only takes 10 minutes. It can’t be that far, and besides, bike tours are fun.
Reality: While the train from Giessen to Lollar takes a straight shot through the valley, the road goes over rather large hills.
Nonetheless, we arrived a mere 15 minutes later than if we had waited for the train. The apple wine fest was hilarious, though. A tiny, tiny town hosts it, and apparently everyone and his brother between the ages of 15 and 30 in all of Hessen decide to pile into a tiny clearing in the woods and consume apple wine by the jug. They had an old fashioned German band playing songs that the guys at the table behind us apparently knew, since they kept getting up on the benches of the picnic table, clapping and singing along. Loudly. Everyone was in a merry mood, though, and it was nice to see everyone relaxed and having fun. :o)
The next day I went rock climbing with Jako and Sabrina at a gym outside Köln. Even though I love of college, it makes me wish I could spend my time in the Alps, hiking and climbing, instead of reading books… Later that evening, we were walking through the downtown area, and this guy was playing the accordion like I have never heard anything before. Please don’t think Steve Urkel here. This guy made it sound like an entire orchestra. Amazing. As we continued down the street we heard, well, an interesting sound. A guy was standing on the square holding a guitar. An extremely, extremely out of tune guitar. I guess you could say he was playing it, as he would strum/hit/bang the strings without even having his left hand on the neck to attempt any semblance of a chord. He was screaming some song at the top of his lungs. If I were to analyze him for an essay, I would say that he was embodying a courageous statement about the accepted social construct of the street musician. :o) Instead, I took a short video clip of him, but it didn’t come out that well, because I was laughing too hard. I think the guy even had a hat out. Perhaps some people gave him money out of pity, or to get him to be quiet. It takes all kinds.
A few of you have wondered about church here. Sometimes I go to Darmstadt, which is the closest UCG congregation, but I also go up to Dormagen (the church we attended when we lived here 8 years ago) to see my friends there. Two weeks ago we even had a combo deal with the people from Holland, so that was fun. I love how close so many different countries are here!
I’m attaching a hilarious article. I saw it posted on a professor’s door, and found it at BBC.com (the best news source of all time, by the way). Apparently, a researcher has found the root cause of the Germans’ reputation for being grumpy. A great read.
As a final thought, being here has made me respect anyone who moves to another country and goes through the difficult process of truly mastering a foreign language. Even though I was relatively fluent in German before I got here, it is at times extremely frustrating to want to say something, but not being able to find the exact words to express the idea. When I’m in class, I feel like a fourth grader, because I often lack the “educated vocabulary” to comment on academic questions, etc. Suddenly, I am put into the situation of those, who for whatever reason have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. I’m used to being the one who talks a mile a minute, and I am ashamed to remember times when I was doubtless less than patient with people who need more time to formulate their thoughts.
And with that, I hope you all have a pleasant weekend.
Cheerios and cherries,
Mary Ann
PS: I put a few new pictures up, including one of Paul and Kira’s twins! PPS: ABC list folks, you probably won't get the attachment, so to read the article I was talking about, go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/895503.stm
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Episode 5
Guten Morgen ihr Lieben,
How’s life in central Germany these days? I’m glad you asked, here goes:
The day after I sent my last update, I left on an impulsive trip to Sweden. Budget airlines are spinning their webs across Europe, and although I doubt that they are economically or environmentally sustainable, it worked great for a 3.5 day trip to see Paul and Kira. Seeing them (predictably) just made my week. There’s nothing like telling stories of the good old days and watching the talent show DVD. Again. (And Paul didn’t even fast-forward to the parts he’s in!) :o) On Friday Kira and her parents gave me a tour of rural Sweden. We saw lots of ancient, painted stones from the Vikings. Lots. Then we went to an old monastery ruin, walked through an old town, etc. (I’ve uploaded pictures of all this on the website, if you want to see what I’m talking about. www.picturetrail.com/way2gullible) I had never been to Sweden before, so everything was new and exciting. My attempt to become fluent in Swedish by the end of the weekend failed somewhat, but I was excited to find that between German, English, and animated gestures, I could decipher a little Swedish… if I knew what they were talking about. :o) Sweden seems like an awesome country, from what I saw. It’s fairly sparsely populated, and there are forests everywhere, where everyone is free to pick berries, mushrooms, etc. I think I’ll move to Sweden some day. :o) (Paul, I can’t wait to see pictures of the twins when they come!!)
Then, I had a week of classes. My schedule here has really worked out well. I’m taking 5 regular classes, auditing 3 more, and managed to talk my way out of attending the required tutorial! One of the classes I’m auditing is Spanish, and the teacher is hilarious. So, hopefully I’ll be able to practice my Spanish, somewhere in Germany… The best part about all this is that I have Wednesdays and Fridays free! :o)
Last Friday I picked up Dad from the airport! He came for a long weekend and was here for Passover, so that was especially nice. We stayed at the Herzogenrath’s for the weekend, and got to see lots of people again, so that was nice. Then he came down to Giessen for the evening and got to see my lovely living arrangements here. :o)
Now it’s back to classes and the routine for a while. I just got back from a fun evening, though. I went to a group called Café International. I met some interesting people, including a group from Cameroon. Then one of their friends came to teach an African drumming class, so of course I just had to try that. It was so much fun! (Cora, we even did that Sia Hamba song you taught me last semester.) I’m also taking a voice class, so I’m finding musical outlets without having a piano at my disposal. (Though, I did talk a music professor into letting me practice, even though I’m not a major. So, when I’m on that side of town I sneak into a practice room…)
Well, the second half of the book I need to read by tomorrow beckons. Thanks for all the emails you guys have been writing! It’s great to hear from you!
Flat bread and fruit-sweetened jelly,
:o) Mary Ann
How’s life in central Germany these days? I’m glad you asked, here goes:
The day after I sent my last update, I left on an impulsive trip to Sweden. Budget airlines are spinning their webs across Europe, and although I doubt that they are economically or environmentally sustainable, it worked great for a 3.5 day trip to see Paul and Kira. Seeing them (predictably) just made my week. There’s nothing like telling stories of the good old days and watching the talent show DVD. Again. (And Paul didn’t even fast-forward to the parts he’s in!) :o) On Friday Kira and her parents gave me a tour of rural Sweden. We saw lots of ancient, painted stones from the Vikings. Lots. Then we went to an old monastery ruin, walked through an old town, etc. (I’ve uploaded pictures of all this on the website, if you want to see what I’m talking about. www.picturetrail.com/way2gullible) I had never been to Sweden before, so everything was new and exciting. My attempt to become fluent in Swedish by the end of the weekend failed somewhat, but I was excited to find that between German, English, and animated gestures, I could decipher a little Swedish… if I knew what they were talking about. :o) Sweden seems like an awesome country, from what I saw. It’s fairly sparsely populated, and there are forests everywhere, where everyone is free to pick berries, mushrooms, etc. I think I’ll move to Sweden some day. :o) (Paul, I can’t wait to see pictures of the twins when they come!!)
Then, I had a week of classes. My schedule here has really worked out well. I’m taking 5 regular classes, auditing 3 more, and managed to talk my way out of attending the required tutorial! One of the classes I’m auditing is Spanish, and the teacher is hilarious. So, hopefully I’ll be able to practice my Spanish, somewhere in Germany… The best part about all this is that I have Wednesdays and Fridays free! :o)
Last Friday I picked up Dad from the airport! He came for a long weekend and was here for Passover, so that was especially nice. We stayed at the Herzogenrath’s for the weekend, and got to see lots of people again, so that was nice. Then he came down to Giessen for the evening and got to see my lovely living arrangements here. :o)
Now it’s back to classes and the routine for a while. I just got back from a fun evening, though. I went to a group called Café International. I met some interesting people, including a group from Cameroon. Then one of their friends came to teach an African drumming class, so of course I just had to try that. It was so much fun! (Cora, we even did that Sia Hamba song you taught me last semester.) I’m also taking a voice class, so I’m finding musical outlets without having a piano at my disposal. (Though, I did talk a music professor into letting me practice, even though I’m not a major. So, when I’m on that side of town I sneak into a practice room…)
Well, the second half of the book I need to read by tomorrow beckons. Thanks for all the emails you guys have been writing! It’s great to hear from you!
Flat bread and fruit-sweetened jelly,
:o) Mary Ann
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Episode 4
I thought that once I started classes here, these updates would become a bit of a drag. “So, I went to class again, then I read a book…” But so far, that hasn’t happened. (Michal Lisa, I’ve decided to adopt your practice of breaking long-winded emails into sections, though I haven’t progressed to point of adding chapters and titles…)
Random news:
What have I done since the last update? Well, I made a trek to the Pfalz to visit a Mennonite archive and start gathering material for my senior research. I went to this tiny little village and on the way there I had an interesting conversation with an 83-year-old woman who sneezed in 28-second intervals. (Yes, I counted without intending to.) It was great, because she spoke in the dialect of the Pfalz area, and I could understand everything! (Apparently the Amish dialect originated at least in part in this area.)
Ah, yes, the classes. This university has a chaotic method of class registration, where you just go the classes that sound interesting and hope you find a spot. There are signup lists for some classes, but they were all filled by the time I arrived. Nonetheless, I’ve weaseled my way into the classes I need. I’ve found quite a few that fit my majors and interests, so it’s really not that bad a system.
Shocking story for the week:
So, yesterday I began a journey across town, which resulted in me finding myself locked in a German army base. What? That was a joke, right? A hook to keep you reading… I was biking along, intending to find the sports complex (I joined the Giessen Gremlins—the co-ed softball team). My pocket-sized map of Giessen showed a road that seemed to dead end into the sports area. When I got to that street, it continued under an arch and through a gate. Now, that’s a little odd. To the right of the gate there’s a plaque announcing that this site formerly housed the troops of Kaiser Wilhelm II until 1918. Oh, how convenient. A historical landmark right on my way! So, I start biking through. As soon as I continue down the street, I realize that this seems far too modern to be a historical landmark. Then I notice that the area is fenced off with an eight-foot fence, topped with barbed wire. Oops. But I don’t see a single person, and I assume that there must be an equally open gate at the other end of the street. After the road (that I thought would lead to a softball field, mind you) dead ends in the wall, I start to feel a little uneasy. I quickly retrace my steps (or bike tracks), and return to that original gate. It is now very much closed and locked. I look at my watch. 5:01pm. Great. The place is closed for the night. I survey the gate. Eight feet really isn’t that bad, and one part has no barbed wire. Then I realize that I must be caught on video by now, and climbing the fence would be the wrong choice…especially the day before I need to apply for a residency permit. Worst case scenarios fly through my head as I imagine myself camping out for the night or being deported for trespassing. What if my face has been scanned into the intelligence computers? I regain my senses and wander around a bit until I see a building with an open door. “Hallo? Entschuldigung?” Someone answers! “Um, I somehow got locked in here and can’t get out.” I caught a friendly army reservist just as he was heading home for the day, and he graciously let me leave when the gate opened for his car. How is it that I manage to turn relatively simple things like a bike ride across town in an adventure?
Food:
I’ve noticed that a disproportionate section of these updates is devoted to food, but that shouldn’t be that surprising. In my last update I complained about the selection at the cafeteria. I need to amend that. While the selection isn’t that huge, the quality is surprisingly good for mass-produced food. I’ve even heard rumors that the meat is organic! And, I’ve found a health food store that sells raw milk! (Mr. Shoemaker, you could sell your milk here. I think they have to half-pasteurize it, but it’s not homogenized or ultra-pasteurized.)
Environmental thoughts:
I hear that gas prices are rising in the states. To put this in perspective, regular gasoline costs more than $7 a gallon here. This might explain the popularity of extremely small cars and public transportation. Everyone sorts and recycles trash here, too, which is awesome.
Paperwork:
I’ve filled out quite a bit of paperwork to stay here for a mere 5 months. I finished everything today though, including my residency permit. I had heard that the lines could be pretty long at that office, so I arrived at 10am, two hours before the office closes. But alas, when I got to the machine that is supposed to give you a number, it was already closed down for the day. Apparently enough people had already taken a number to fill the remaining two office hours. Not one to give up, I struck up a conversation with an Italian family and Spanish guy in the waiting room. They had been waiting for almost two hours, but their number was almost up. It turns out that they had pulled a second number a little later. After telling my conscience that I wasn’t really cutting in line, I gladly accepted the extra number and waited a mere hour for the friendly man behind the desk to put a large colorful sticker in my passport. :o)
And with that, my pillow beckons.
Cheerios and fresh oranges from Spain,
Mary Ann
Random news:
What have I done since the last update? Well, I made a trek to the Pfalz to visit a Mennonite archive and start gathering material for my senior research. I went to this tiny little village and on the way there I had an interesting conversation with an 83-year-old woman who sneezed in 28-second intervals. (Yes, I counted without intending to.) It was great, because she spoke in the dialect of the Pfalz area, and I could understand everything! (Apparently the Amish dialect originated at least in part in this area.)
Ah, yes, the classes. This university has a chaotic method of class registration, where you just go the classes that sound interesting and hope you find a spot. There are signup lists for some classes, but they were all filled by the time I arrived. Nonetheless, I’ve weaseled my way into the classes I need. I’ve found quite a few that fit my majors and interests, so it’s really not that bad a system.
Shocking story for the week:
So, yesterday I began a journey across town, which resulted in me finding myself locked in a German army base. What? That was a joke, right? A hook to keep you reading… I was biking along, intending to find the sports complex (I joined the Giessen Gremlins—the co-ed softball team). My pocket-sized map of Giessen showed a road that seemed to dead end into the sports area. When I got to that street, it continued under an arch and through a gate. Now, that’s a little odd. To the right of the gate there’s a plaque announcing that this site formerly housed the troops of Kaiser Wilhelm II until 1918. Oh, how convenient. A historical landmark right on my way! So, I start biking through. As soon as I continue down the street, I realize that this seems far too modern to be a historical landmark. Then I notice that the area is fenced off with an eight-foot fence, topped with barbed wire. Oops. But I don’t see a single person, and I assume that there must be an equally open gate at the other end of the street. After the road (that I thought would lead to a softball field, mind you) dead ends in the wall, I start to feel a little uneasy. I quickly retrace my steps (or bike tracks), and return to that original gate. It is now very much closed and locked. I look at my watch. 5:01pm. Great. The place is closed for the night. I survey the gate. Eight feet really isn’t that bad, and one part has no barbed wire. Then I realize that I must be caught on video by now, and climbing the fence would be the wrong choice…especially the day before I need to apply for a residency permit. Worst case scenarios fly through my head as I imagine myself camping out for the night or being deported for trespassing. What if my face has been scanned into the intelligence computers? I regain my senses and wander around a bit until I see a building with an open door. “Hallo? Entschuldigung?” Someone answers! “Um, I somehow got locked in here and can’t get out.” I caught a friendly army reservist just as he was heading home for the day, and he graciously let me leave when the gate opened for his car. How is it that I manage to turn relatively simple things like a bike ride across town in an adventure?
Food:
I’ve noticed that a disproportionate section of these updates is devoted to food, but that shouldn’t be that surprising. In my last update I complained about the selection at the cafeteria. I need to amend that. While the selection isn’t that huge, the quality is surprisingly good for mass-produced food. I’ve even heard rumors that the meat is organic! And, I’ve found a health food store that sells raw milk! (Mr. Shoemaker, you could sell your milk here. I think they have to half-pasteurize it, but it’s not homogenized or ultra-pasteurized.)
Environmental thoughts:
I hear that gas prices are rising in the states. To put this in perspective, regular gasoline costs more than $7 a gallon here. This might explain the popularity of extremely small cars and public transportation. Everyone sorts and recycles trash here, too, which is awesome.
Paperwork:
I’ve filled out quite a bit of paperwork to stay here for a mere 5 months. I finished everything today though, including my residency permit. I had heard that the lines could be pretty long at that office, so I arrived at 10am, two hours before the office closes. But alas, when I got to the machine that is supposed to give you a number, it was already closed down for the day. Apparently enough people had already taken a number to fill the remaining two office hours. Not one to give up, I struck up a conversation with an Italian family and Spanish guy in the waiting room. They had been waiting for almost two hours, but their number was almost up. It turns out that they had pulled a second number a little later. After telling my conscience that I wasn’t really cutting in line, I gladly accepted the extra number and waited a mere hour for the friendly man behind the desk to put a large colorful sticker in my passport. :o)
And with that, my pillow beckons.
Cheerios and fresh oranges from Spain,
Mary Ann
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Episode 3
Hello all,
I am in my new home in Giessen, enjoying the luxury of unlimited high-speed internet access!! (So, for all of you who are still waiting for a response to an email, I will answer soon!) I’m not quite sure how to handle this connectivity. I even have a cell phone now! (01149-1520-257-5538, just in case you have money to burn.) Suddenly, I am no longer Mary Ann the distant, wandering scholar…
So, what’s my new home like, you may ask. Well, as you head to the outskirts of Giessen, you will see university buildings, trees, birds chirping in the trees, and pretty, well-kept homes along the bike path. Then you turn the corner to see massive, non-decorative, beige-yellow, 70s-style, plain-concrete apartment buildings. Home sweet home. But my room is nice and has everything I need. The building is set up like a dorm, except the floors are split, such that we only have eight people to a floor. So, I share a hall, kitchen, dining/living room, and bathroom with eight people. That’s right, one shower, eight people. (Lauren, do I hear you gasp in horror? :o) (Alix, no suggestions on how to make the best use of shower time, please. :o)
Food:
I ate at the dining hall yesterday. Believe it or not, the main dining hall for a university of 20,000 students has less selection than the small dining hall at Denison. (That’s right, DU folks. Less selection than Huffman for dinner.) Here’s the good news, though: I don’t have to eat there. I just pay when I go instead of being on a meal plan, so I’m free to cook for myself as much as I like. Speaking of which, groceries are pretty much only cheap thing here. That is if you buy typical German food like lots of bread (please refer to episode 2.1).
I’ve thought of a new slogan for this country: “Germany: The land where restaurants charge more for a glass of water than a glass of beer.” No joke.
Transportation:
I have a little red, five-speed… bike! The Herzogenrath’s pulled this bike off their tenant’s big-trash-day pile. The lights even still work! So, after a 12 Euro investment in new tire tubes and very greasy hands, I have a functioning transportation vehicle. Apparently many bikes get stolen/dismantled here, so I’m glad mine is old and rusty.
Today it was raining in the morning, so I decided to try my luck with the city buses. Armed with an umbrella, a 640-page book describing the Giessen bus lines, an additional booklet describing the construction detours, a large fold-out map of the bus system, and two small maps of Giessen’s streets, I bravely marched out of my room and promptly boarded the wrong bus.
Sports:
I arrived here on Friday, and by Sunday I decided I had been here long enough to run a road race. So, early Sunday morning I biked across town to run a 5k. I miscalculated when I would need to be there, and by the time I arrived, it was too late to register for the 5k. So I ran a 10k instead (6.2 miles). My knees complained, but the weather was great. This provided another insight into German culture. I went expecting the usual running crowd in t-shirts, sweat-pants, etc. Instead I found groups of running teams, all in matching team outfits. Spandex outfits. That’s right, middle-aged men and women in spandex suits. Let’s just say this gave me motivation to be ahead, not behind, the other runners.
Pictures:
Thanks to my dear friend Tiffany, I now can share pictures with you without filling up your inbox. Just go to www.picturetrail.com and type “way2gullible” where it says “Member Name” at the top. I haven’t uploaded too many, but someday soon I will be a tourist and take lots of pictures of Giessen for you.
Address:
Now that I am finally at my apartment, I know my address. Since a few of you have been bugging me… *cough* Nathan *cough* Daniel *cough*
Mary Ann Miller
Unterhof 57, Zimmer 405
D-35392 Giessen
Germany
Hope you all are having oodles of fun,
Cheerios and quark,
Mary Ann
I am in my new home in Giessen, enjoying the luxury of unlimited high-speed internet access!! (So, for all of you who are still waiting for a response to an email, I will answer soon!) I’m not quite sure how to handle this connectivity. I even have a cell phone now! (01149-1520-257-5538, just in case you have money to burn.) Suddenly, I am no longer Mary Ann the distant, wandering scholar…
So, what’s my new home like, you may ask. Well, as you head to the outskirts of Giessen, you will see university buildings, trees, birds chirping in the trees, and pretty, well-kept homes along the bike path. Then you turn the corner to see massive, non-decorative, beige-yellow, 70s-style, plain-concrete apartment buildings. Home sweet home. But my room is nice and has everything I need. The building is set up like a dorm, except the floors are split, such that we only have eight people to a floor. So, I share a hall, kitchen, dining/living room, and bathroom with eight people. That’s right, one shower, eight people. (Lauren, do I hear you gasp in horror? :o) (Alix, no suggestions on how to make the best use of shower time, please. :o)
Food:
I ate at the dining hall yesterday. Believe it or not, the main dining hall for a university of 20,000 students has less selection than the small dining hall at Denison. (That’s right, DU folks. Less selection than Huffman for dinner.) Here’s the good news, though: I don’t have to eat there. I just pay when I go instead of being on a meal plan, so I’m free to cook for myself as much as I like. Speaking of which, groceries are pretty much only cheap thing here. That is if you buy typical German food like lots of bread (please refer to episode 2.1).
I’ve thought of a new slogan for this country: “Germany: The land where restaurants charge more for a glass of water than a glass of beer.” No joke.
Transportation:
I have a little red, five-speed… bike! The Herzogenrath’s pulled this bike off their tenant’s big-trash-day pile. The lights even still work! So, after a 12 Euro investment in new tire tubes and very greasy hands, I have a functioning transportation vehicle. Apparently many bikes get stolen/dismantled here, so I’m glad mine is old and rusty.
Today it was raining in the morning, so I decided to try my luck with the city buses. Armed with an umbrella, a 640-page book describing the Giessen bus lines, an additional booklet describing the construction detours, a large fold-out map of the bus system, and two small maps of Giessen’s streets, I bravely marched out of my room and promptly boarded the wrong bus.
Sports:
I arrived here on Friday, and by Sunday I decided I had been here long enough to run a road race. So, early Sunday morning I biked across town to run a 5k. I miscalculated when I would need to be there, and by the time I arrived, it was too late to register for the 5k. So I ran a 10k instead (6.2 miles). My knees complained, but the weather was great. This provided another insight into German culture. I went expecting the usual running crowd in t-shirts, sweat-pants, etc. Instead I found groups of running teams, all in matching team outfits. Spandex outfits. That’s right, middle-aged men and women in spandex suits. Let’s just say this gave me motivation to be ahead, not behind, the other runners.
Pictures:
Thanks to my dear friend Tiffany, I now can share pictures with you without filling up your inbox. Just go to www.picturetrail.com and type “way2gullible” where it says “Member Name” at the top. I haven’t uploaded too many, but someday soon I will be a tourist and take lots of pictures of Giessen for you.
Address:
Now that I am finally at my apartment, I know my address. Since a few of you have been bugging me… *cough* Nathan *cough* Daniel *cough*
Mary Ann Miller
Unterhof 57, Zimmer 405
D-35392 Giessen
Germany
Hope you all are having oodles of fun,
Cheerios and quark,
Mary Ann
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Episode 2.1
Hello again,
In my cut and paste haste, I left out the most exciting part of my update:
Daniel is officially engaged to Lauren Readnack!! I’m going to have a sister! I’m so excited, I think I’ll wear pink! (Just kidding, Lauren. No, really.) Who would have thought that someone would marry my brother?! (Just kidding, Daniel. You know I love you.) Anyways, send these ridiculous love birds an email of congrats if you wish, I just had to share the happy news.
Cheerios with strawberries,
Mary Ann
In my cut and paste haste, I left out the most exciting part of my update:
Daniel is officially engaged to Lauren Readnack!! I’m going to have a sister! I’m so excited, I think I’ll wear pink! (Just kidding, Lauren. No, really.) Who would have thought that someone would marry my brother?! (Just kidding, Daniel. You know I love you.) Anyways, send these ridiculous love birds an email of congrats if you wish, I just had to share the happy news.
Cheerios with strawberries,
Mary Ann
Episode 2
Bread and cheese.
I’ve chosen German food as a theme for this update… I think I’ve had more bread and cheese in the last two weeks than I usually eat in a full year. Explanation: Germans typically eat one warm meal a day (lunch) and for the other two they have bread with cheese, meat, one of many milk products we’ve never seen in the states (quark, soft cheeses, a million varieties of yoghurt/cottage cheese/cream cheese-like products), and numerous other spreads. Related to bread, the cakes are unbelievable. I keep writing down recipes, even though I won’t be able to find key ingredients in the States.
In other news, I spent the better part of last week in Belgium with the Kaspers, who are possibly the most unconventional/eccentric family I know. (Example: They have two pet chickens, and decided to use an old car as the chicken stall. [Molly, this takes your chicken tractor concept to a completely new level.] :o) So, during the day, the chickens run around as they please, and at night they stay in the car, with the windows partially down for ventilation. Thus, the chickens are safe from the family’s semi-friendly Doberman and from other neighborhood dogs.) Anyhow, these guys live in the very rural and very woodsy German-speaking part of Belgium. Belgium is pretty interesting language wise. The already tiny country is further split in three along linguistic lines. The northern half speaks Dutch, the southern part speaks French, and a tiny section in the east speaks German.
Since I had never been to Belgium, they showed me a bit of the country. We went to Antwerp (a pretty, old city along the river) and to Liege (another old city where we picked up Erik, the oldest brother, from college). The trip back from Antwerp was pretty entertaining. The second train we took kept stopping and finally accumulated a delay of about 45 minutes. Not to worry, we kept ourselves entertained be making faces and taking picture of them. (The little four-year-old boy across from me had fun with this, too.) But then an announcement came that the train would not continue through to its final stop (the one we needed). Great. It’s already dark, raining, and we’re still in the French-speaking part of the country. Once we got to the train station, the schedule claimed that another train would come through in a half hour. Not too bad, I thought. In the mean while, the station officials were announcing (in French) that another connecting train was leaving immediately for our station. I obviously couldn’t understand a word, and Jako didn’t hear it because we were in the tunnel underneath the tracks making silly echoes and singing. (Most Belgians are at least bi- if not trilingual, and this trip made me wish that I were fluent in at least French.) We later found out about the train (after it left) and that the next train wouldn’t be coming through for another 45 to 60 minutes. The next station was only 4 or so miles away. I suggested walking, Jako suggested hitchhiking. (Before you’re too alarmed, consider that each of the three brothers has hitchhiked through half of Europe, and apparently it’s still somewhat common and somewhat safe here. At least for guys.) In any case, we started walking to the main road (in the rain) and happened to see a bus come our way. When I saw the name of our destination town on the front of the bus, I started frantically waving down the bus with obvious glee, which must have sufficiently amused the (German-speaking) bus driver, because he let us talk him into making a minor detour and taking us to our train station. Ahh, good times.
Besides walking through old towns etc, I also finally learned how to use a clutch on a motorcycle! Jako’s dad has an old dirt bike, so we spent an afternoon driving through pastures and woods, making a mess and getting ourselves ridiculously muddy. :o) (Mom, no worries, I wore a helmet, and the motorcycle really wasn’t that fast.)
Today was much more low-key and safe. :o) I biked along the Rhine, had some good ice cream, even though it was cold, and browsed through music books from the Herzogenrath’s attic that look so old, they could have been printed when the composers were still alive… :o)
I’ve also met up with quite a few of my old friends from middle-school days. It’s so great to catch up after not having seen them in a while.
For the next few days I’ll be at the Herzogenrath’s again, and will be moving into my mystery room in Giessen on Friday.
I hope you all are in good health and digestion. (That was for you, Bobby.)
Cheerios,
:o) Mary Ann
I’ve chosen German food as a theme for this update… I think I’ve had more bread and cheese in the last two weeks than I usually eat in a full year. Explanation: Germans typically eat one warm meal a day (lunch) and for the other two they have bread with cheese, meat, one of many milk products we’ve never seen in the states (quark, soft cheeses, a million varieties of yoghurt/cottage cheese/cream cheese-like products), and numerous other spreads. Related to bread, the cakes are unbelievable. I keep writing down recipes, even though I won’t be able to find key ingredients in the States.
In other news, I spent the better part of last week in Belgium with the Kaspers, who are possibly the most unconventional/eccentric family I know. (Example: They have two pet chickens, and decided to use an old car as the chicken stall. [Molly, this takes your chicken tractor concept to a completely new level.] :o) So, during the day, the chickens run around as they please, and at night they stay in the car, with the windows partially down for ventilation. Thus, the chickens are safe from the family’s semi-friendly Doberman and from other neighborhood dogs.) Anyhow, these guys live in the very rural and very woodsy German-speaking part of Belgium. Belgium is pretty interesting language wise. The already tiny country is further split in three along linguistic lines. The northern half speaks Dutch, the southern part speaks French, and a tiny section in the east speaks German.
Since I had never been to Belgium, they showed me a bit of the country. We went to Antwerp (a pretty, old city along the river) and to Liege (another old city where we picked up Erik, the oldest brother, from college). The trip back from Antwerp was pretty entertaining. The second train we took kept stopping and finally accumulated a delay of about 45 minutes. Not to worry, we kept ourselves entertained be making faces and taking picture of them. (The little four-year-old boy across from me had fun with this, too.) But then an announcement came that the train would not continue through to its final stop (the one we needed). Great. It’s already dark, raining, and we’re still in the French-speaking part of the country. Once we got to the train station, the schedule claimed that another train would come through in a half hour. Not too bad, I thought. In the mean while, the station officials were announcing (in French) that another connecting train was leaving immediately for our station. I obviously couldn’t understand a word, and Jako didn’t hear it because we were in the tunnel underneath the tracks making silly echoes and singing. (Most Belgians are at least bi- if not trilingual, and this trip made me wish that I were fluent in at least French.) We later found out about the train (after it left) and that the next train wouldn’t be coming through for another 45 to 60 minutes. The next station was only 4 or so miles away. I suggested walking, Jako suggested hitchhiking. (Before you’re too alarmed, consider that each of the three brothers has hitchhiked through half of Europe, and apparently it’s still somewhat common and somewhat safe here. At least for guys.) In any case, we started walking to the main road (in the rain) and happened to see a bus come our way. When I saw the name of our destination town on the front of the bus, I started frantically waving down the bus with obvious glee, which must have sufficiently amused the (German-speaking) bus driver, because he let us talk him into making a minor detour and taking us to our train station. Ahh, good times.
Besides walking through old towns etc, I also finally learned how to use a clutch on a motorcycle! Jako’s dad has an old dirt bike, so we spent an afternoon driving through pastures and woods, making a mess and getting ourselves ridiculously muddy. :o) (Mom, no worries, I wore a helmet, and the motorcycle really wasn’t that fast.)
Today was much more low-key and safe. :o) I biked along the Rhine, had some good ice cream, even though it was cold, and browsed through music books from the Herzogenrath’s attic that look so old, they could have been printed when the composers were still alive… :o)
I’ve also met up with quite a few of my old friends from middle-school days. It’s so great to catch up after not having seen them in a while.
For the next few days I’ll be at the Herzogenrath’s again, and will be moving into my mystery room in Giessen on Friday.
I hope you all are in good health and digestion. (That was for you, Bobby.)
Cheerios,
:o) Mary Ann
