So this is my last night before I enter adulthood (well, in the US that is. Hehe so ironic because I’m not even in the US … but I feel like the rules still apply). But yeah 21. Born in 1988. Who would’ve thought my time would come now. Tonight. (and 6 hours early.)
So all I can think about right now is how I’ve grown since living abroad. Not knowing anybody (and thus relying just on myself) has allowed me to meet so many different kinds of people. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
And because I can’t just go hang out with the people I would normally do If I get lonely or tired, I’ve hade to make new friends. Start all over again. It’s like back to elementary school, all the tough lessons that you had to learn back then, all over again. (Another lesson, to hopefully never forget how hard something is, what it was like to see something through those eyes – in wonder and awe – to empathize with others…)
The people I’ve met, I see reoccurring characteristics with the friends I have back home. With a different twist of course (synergy), but still the same qualities I admire. It’s allowed me to see what kinds of people I connect with the best.
And allow me to see what I really like and don’t like. It lets me see who I want to be like, and what kind of person I want to be with.
Different role models too. There are different kinds of people that I admire now too. They’re still the same qualities, just, I have higher standards now?
I think they’re atypical admirable qualities too. Like the way people view/approach life. Just the way some people see it, always something to laugh at. I admire that. Their ability to connect with strangers. To find some kind of common group. I hope I can do that as well.
Also, the women here too. Well, I guess this is just the international women that I eat lunch with. They’re post-docs and idk if they completed it here or back in their home country, but I’ve gotten the chance to meet what I would call strong, independent women. I hope I can be like them.
That is one of the things I wanted to be more of (independent, strong) when I came abroad, and I’m glad to have gotten the chance to meet some. They kind of just plow through. I feel like they had to be strong to have made it thus far, and be brave.
Hm, I don’t think I’ll ever lose (nor do I want to) my ability to think about others (almost too much I feel like), or “considerate” as I like to think about it. But now I can finally start to teeter towards the balance I’ve always wanted. To know my own mind, and yet, be aware of others as well.
For example, I was always proud of my ability to adapt. I think that’s why I work so well in small groups, especially 1-1. Because then I could focus all my attention on the person, on making them comfortable and being able to pick up on little details.
Or even in groups, if they needed a leader, I could lead. But if someone wanted to play leader, then I could play the good follower that did everything was asked. I always….saw what people needed, and then filled the spot.
But I don’t think that’s too good. I see now that I should have my own mind. I should go ahead and lead anyway, but that doesn’t mean I can’t follow as well. I’m not sure how clear that is, and it’s hard to be more specific without already giving an example.
Hrm, I’m listening to “The Wizard and I” now from the Wicked OST. I used to feel that way about going to Germany and life in general. (Perhaps that’s why I love it so.)
“When I meet the wizard
Once I prove my worth
When I meet the wizard
What I’ve waited for since, since birth
[…]
Once I’m with the wizard
My whole life will change
Because once you’re with the wizard
No one thinks you’re strange
[…]
I know it sounds truly crazy
And true the vision’s hazy
But I’m sure someday there’ll be a celebration
Throughout oz, that has to do with me
And I’ll stand there with the wizard
Feeling things I never felt
And though I’d never show it
I could be so happy I could melt
And so it will be for the rest of my life
And I’ll want nothing else until I die
[…] ”
I feel like I used to feel that way about life. I was waiting for something greater, and that after I proved myself and became better it would come to me. I think I mentioned this in an earlier post, how I realized sometime ago that I should increase confidence by what I already had, not what I needed to have.
I don’t know what I’m trying to say anymore, heh. I guess just being here has allowed me to see things so differently. And I always thought of myself as open-minded before, y’know?
I guess I am finally seeing now that my life is just beginning. I just have to remember to be open-minded and not afraid. I used to be afraid of so many things when I was little, even before I came, even now. But I really mustn’t be because that stops me from truly, living, and I don’t ever want to do that. So cheers to a fulfilling life that is just beginning!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
German Letter 2
Hi Americans,
I can hardly believe I’ve been in Germany for a month as of tomorrow. Yikes! 1 down, 7 more to go I s’pose.
Also, thanks to everybody for the nice messages. I really enjoy hearing from all of you. In response to people’s questions, and just telling about my day … read on …
-----------------------
Culture Shocks – English Language
-----------------------
So one of the cutest things is how anything “American” or “English” is so cool and hip. [Aw, Germans]. They love listening to English music (any type, whatever is on the radio which really is a mix of so many genres and time periods). As in I hear Lady Gaga and then the next song is backstreet boys…and then some oldies … and then cher … so far, no rap. Guess that’s too fast, even for me.
So they take/use a lot of words that apparently they think American use but as you all know, not really, e.g.
Handy = cell phone or mobile phone
Beamer = projector
Also, I love how they say certain things that aren’t really incorrect, but just sounds weird in context. I don’t like correcting it because it makes me smile (aw, Germans) but apparently they want to be know what Americans say, e.g.
Water with gas or bubbles = mineral water, carbonated
Take holiday = take time off work, vacation [“Karen, you take holiday Friday?]
And last but not least, when something is in German and I don’t want to bother people, I just copy/paste the whole thing into Google Translate, I get the following translations:
Overnight translates to as night approaches [aghahha…This was for overnight experiments. But instead Google wrote it as, the experiment will run as the night approaches]
Beware of chemical cabinet translates to beware of poison cabinet (err… o.O)
Tie back long hair translates to avoid long hair (hehe, my boss was like, hah, do they want you to go to the hairdresser or something?)
---------------------
Friends
-----------------------
So when I came to Germany I didn’t know anybody. Well, my boss counts I guess. But I’ve actually made a fair bit of friends. Living in the boardinghaus has helped (although I can only stay for 6 months). From there, I met Stefanie, Thomas, holger, and Christoffer. Those I talk to the most.
And then at work I sit with the international gang. So it’s a pretty diverse group. Marek comes from Poland. Hillary and I come from the US (she’s from utah). Lucia and guilo are from italy. Kristina is from hungary. Danielle and anton are from slovakia. Etc… there’s probably a good bit of us, maybe 10+ or so. Oh yeah, nina and christoffer are from Sweden. Ok now etc…
And then there is my friend simonette from german class. If I haven’t mentioned this before, we don’t share a common language. She can speak French and a bit of german. So I’ve actually learned the most german from her although we don’t talk that much. We usually say the same things over and over again, or we can point at things and laugh. It’s kind of nice actually, how you can still be friends even if you can’t talk about say, work. :P
Hehee…
So we were riding her bike to german class. (I don’t have a bike), and since she’s smaller than me, I pedal and then she just sits on the back. So we have little jokes.
For example, I was going up the hill, I stopped, looked at her, made this big pregnant/fatter sign/noise, and pointed to her, to ask if she grew fatter this weekend because it was harder than normal. (I pretended to wipe sweat from her forehead.)
Hehe, or like, sometimes I’ll ask her if it’s comfortable riding, or if it’s okay (Gut?) and then she’ll reassure me by saying “super or sehr gut (very good).” So one day she was saying, “super…super…” and then I mock-complained, “simonette super super…. Karen mude.” (Karen tired) because she was just bumming a ride off of me while I had to pedal. Hehe, we had a good laugh over that one.
(I can’t form sentences yet so I can only say nouns.)
Or like whenever we pass by a shop window and we see our reflection, we say “tschuss Karen! Ciao!” hehe, we’re just very silly around each other.
-----------------------
Their English
-----------------------
So I love it.
I mentioned before, some of the things they say, but it’s just so … hrm, amusing. Their diction (choice of words).
So for example, marek (guy from hungary) was describing his weekend where he was outdoors watching birds and he forgot to put on sunscreen so he got sunburned, except he described it as, …
“ so I was busy watching the birds and then I realize I forgot to bring sunscreen and then … disaster.”
Ahahahhhaa… idk why I found it so funny, that he would describe it as disaster. Maybe it just sounded so much more dramatic. Like they don’t describe things properly, they either exaggerate or underemphasize things I guess because it’s whatever word comes to mind first.
Oh, and today, krisztina (from hungary) was describing something and I just found it hilarious (tears out of my eyes). I’ll try.
So somehow we got to talking about how there weren’t any bears in germany and then krisztina started talking about how there were bears in hungary (as with bees, and uhh… deer…something else), but no trees. And then she does this little dialogue:
A: what is that? :quizzical expression:
B: I think I have seen it before…on tv. I think it is a tree!
A: Oh!
A: OHHH… :AH, disgusted look: CUT IT Down!
B: :chop chop:
Hehee, she was just so dramatic. She was saying how there weren’t trees, and how if somebody saw a tree it immediately got chopped down. Or like vaporized into paper or something. Hehe.
-----------------------
CULTURE SHOCKS – My Stupidity
-----------------------
So I just need to clarify on the door thing because some people thought I was a dummkopf (heh, thanks Berger) or depp (idiot) and just stood at the door. NO I have more pride than that. :rolls eyes:
So I mean, at first I would just try to push when clearly I had to pull, and vice versa. But then later when I tried to read the signs (and sometimes messed up), I mean it’s just a very SLIGHT pause, honest, barely discernible. (NOT MINUTES jonathan…) seconds. nanoseconds. And I mean I was very smooth about it, I’d pretend to think about something I had to do for the day when in reality I was thinking about what to do. Ninja Karen!
Hehe, so I made up a phrase to help me remember. “don’t drucken me!” which means don’t push me (not really, but drucken mean push.)
Actually, drucken with two dots over the u means push. Drucken just like that means print.
----
So that being said, I admit I do pause (these are seconds now…5 tops) at the trash cans. So there’s diff. trash cans depending on the material (plastic (which is like kundufinsik or something, idk…), and bioabfall (for like apple stems and tea bags, that’s what the picture shows), something else, and then restmull (for rest, everything else)). And usually I can’t remember so I have to peek inside the trash cans (which makes the Germans laugh), or something like that.
… And then sometimes I still throw it in the wrong one so then I have to fish things out. Whatever.
They also laugh when I shoot baskets and then miss. I think a lot of things I do are funny to them. I guess I’m just like a kid to them (they’re all older than me, the youngest are probably like past mid-20s, and those are the ones that are there for their masters (English equivalent) or doctorate.)
Actually, the international group I sit with are all postdocs (very humbling), but then their English isn’t good so they’re very humble around me. It’s an interesting twist, and reminds you to keep your head.
OH, so another thing they thought I asked was funny was when I asked if I could throw toilet paper in the toilet. DUDE so I read in a book somewhere that their toilets weren’t strong (ever since Taiwan I have a fear of flushing tp down the toilet in case it clogs it and I have to unclog it especially after I’ve pooped.) so I was always afraid too. Then I had to explain how things were diff. in Taiwan.
---
Hm, maybe it’s just doors in general.
So I also have trouble opening my apt. door sometimes. (sOMETIMES..if my hands are dry.) So the system is neat in that you don’t have a key but a button that you push which will beep to unlock if you’re within range. (you have to be fairly close to the door) Kind of like more modern cars, def. not the van I drive(drove).
So the thing is that the door is just so smooth that I struggle with it a lot and sometimes I have to put all my bags down, try it again…. Or put my hand inside my jacket for some grip (usually doesn’t work, but I have to try everything). Hrm… or ask somebody (I only did that once, but that was after a 3 min. struggle). Literally. I timed it.
(okay fineee….4 minutes, but I bet you it was probably only 4 because it was 00:58 and probably 04:03 or something).
:D
Hmmm what else have I done. I’m sure I’ve done a lot more. Somehow there’s always a lot of laughing so it must be something.
Oh hehee… I remember.
So today in lab I was making a buffer. Anyway we have these magnetic stir bars and sticks to stir them with. So you use the stick to pick up the stirbar.
Well, I was in a very wizarding mood (idk, I pretended I was harry potter) so I was waving my stick around (I pretended it was a wand, just the right length!) and the little stirbar was on my stick, and then when I put it inside my graduated cylinder I would kind of tap it, hehe.. I had a lot of fun.
Anyway, I dropped it on the floor, so then I stooped down and gave it a tap and apparently I looked really funny because Michael (one of the guys in my lab) started laughing and then he explained that because I didn’t bend down but kind of … bent over, I looked like a grandma.
Ok I think I was just embarrassed that he caught me pretending to wave the magnetic wand around (and probably muttering things) when I thought he was at his desk…
-----------------------
How I am viewed
-----------------------
So I find it interesting that … hrm, whenever somebody asks me where I’m from when I’m in the US, I assume they mean because I’m asian so I say Taiwan.
However, when I’m there, they want to know because I’m an American so they want to hear Atlanta, Ga, USA or something.
It’s just an interesting change of perspective. All of a sudden I am an expert on the English language (haha) and customs (tell me about the school systems, what is the diff btwn a college and university, please correct my English, is it lay or lie?, …)
At first people thought I couldn’t speak german and only knew Chinese or something, but then they found out that I can speak English. Neat.
OH, so it actually is true that the germans are really eager to speak to me because they want to practice their English. There are actually two germans that are trying to learn mandarin (one is because he’s marrying a Chinese girl, I think the other one is just curious) so I’ve only talked to them once but everyone says I should trade german/Chinese lessons with them. Pft, if they want a Taiwanese/American accent kind of Chinese!
It’s more of a group thing though. If they are in a group they don’t really talk to me (I totally understand), but if it is 1-1, then they are very eager. I mean, I would be very self-conscious if I had to speak in a foreign language in front of a group, especially if I know some of the people can speak better than me.
Hehe, one of my coworkers, birgit, actually emailed me once and asked me to help her with her English hw. Hehe, I promptly asked her for help on my german hw the next day. It was so sweet though, her hw was, “describe her first day at work.” AW.
---------------------
Side Trips
-----------------------
So I’m proud to say that I have at least started to travel, heh. We had a 4 day weekend last weekend (SO many holidays in May and June) so I went to Berlin with some of my international (hehe! I’m an international student!) friends. Pics on Picassa (some not all).
We have another upcoming 3 day weekend (we get Monday, June 1st off) for next week. I was looking at flights but I think it was too late because they’re all 100+. Meh. So I’m going to go to my friend Stephanie’s hometown. She also lives in the boardinghaus.
Hehe, so her hometown is called Biberach (pronounced Bee-bur-ah). So I definitely didn’t remember it the first (…. Twenty…) time(s) but I wanted to show that I was listening and trying very hard to remember, so I would attempt to say it. Which meant calling it “boo-boo’ town.” Ah, stupid German.
So I’ve decided that sometimes it is better to feign innocence and just ask what the town is called since saying boo-boo town doesn’t really get me anywhere and I do feel stupid for saying it. Really stupid.
(Okay so they talk fast and slur their words, I really wonder what English sounds as a foreign lanuage now, like when they watch Friends or something. So it did sound like bah---boo---… )
We have another 4 day weekend coming up next next week (well, we get Thursday off and whenever we get a Thursday off, everyone takes Friday off as well.) Right now I can’t decide between Barcelona or London. And Stefanie is thinking about Rome or Paris. We’re just going to compare prices and find the cheapest. We’re shooting for less than 100 round trip.
Told you there were a lot of holidays. I think the smart thing would just be to find all the holidays for the rest of the year and start booking like crazy.
I have a let’s go Europe bk (thanks Sonya) and they have suggested cities for beginners, pros, and then also particular regions. There are also websites that give you blind trips (20 euros flat) and then they just take you somewhere based on “culture, shopping, etc.” not sure about those.
Anyway, I have a munich guidebook as well, so even if I don’t have a long weekend I can always take plenty of daytrips to the munich area because the train tickets are so cheap. Lots of castles (schloss) and mountains (berg…or burg…can never remember) around.
---------------------
Typical Day
-----------------------
So I guess I’m finally settling in more now so I do have a typical schedule.
I need to work “8” hours a day (I guess this includes coffee time and lunch time), which is usually 9 to 5.
And then on Mondays and Wednesdays I have German lesson for “beginners” (psh whatever) from 6-7:30 but it takes a while to walk here so I usually get back around 8:30 or a bit earlier. On those days I’m pretty tired.
Hrm, also Wednesday nights there are things called “Stammtisch-Praktikkum” dinners from 7-11. So Stammtisch means “reserved for regulars.” And Praktikkum is just “interns.” For some strange reason, all the Germans refer to this as, “intern meeting” or even “internal meeting.” Weirdos. We just have dinner at a pizzeria or a beer. I really want to blend in but I will feel stupid* for saying “intern meeting” so I usually say, are you coming this Wednesday?
*There are many stupid things I do. The key is to minimize stupid actions whenever I can.
Oh, and on Thursday nights people in the boardinghaus like to go downstairs to watch Germany’s next top model with heidi klum (again, didn’t know she was german and they were all shocked at me – really – I’ve discovered they are proud of the germans that have made it big time.) Except the season ended last week so idk if we will meet up or not. I know tomorrow Stefanie are going to watch a dancing movie downstairs. Shrug, hopefully another tv show will start or something.
Hmmm. That sounds kind of bland. And yet, every single day I have at least seen people.
So sometimes, as in the 3 times in the past…2 weeks, if the weather is nice out, people will go swimming in the lake after work (again, see pics). That’s kind of neat, and not something I would expect in Atlanta.
So let’s see, on the days that I haven’t had german class, I guess I rush to the supermarket (since it closes at 8, at the latest, some are 6).
I guess settling in I was pretty busy, I had to go to nearby towns with coworkers to get a phone (Weilheim), or have a drink with some of their friends (Bad Tolz) and I guess it was always nice to drive places.
Two weekends ago on Sunday there was a festival on the main street. (I felt very lucky for catching it, because apparently there are only 4 or 5 the whole year!) went to that for a couple of hours.
I don’t know, I feel busy. Tired actually. There was one of the dinners with interns tonight but I didn’t go because I felt so exhausted. Maybe I’m still recuperating from berlin (being a tourist is hard work.)
-----------------------
For those traveling in Europe:
-----------------------
Cell (Germany): 0162 592 8816
Also, I live in Penzberg, the closest big city to which is Munich. There’s a great deal for the train ticket for this area, which allows a 1 day pass for 20 euros or a group day pass (up to 5 adults and 1 dog, 2 kids count as 1 adult) for 28 euros. Really nice. The line includes a lot of places, but most notably, Munich, Salzburg (Austria), and I believe Fussen (Schloss Neuschwanstein). So save those trips for when you come to visit me and we can go see those places. So this pass only works in the southern part of Germany, and then the very border for Austria. Hrm, not sure if it goes into Switzerland.
And….book early.
---------------------
Weather
-----------------------
So the days have been kind of rainy lately. They’re either sunny and warm/hot (enough to go to the lake) or kind of cold/dreary/rainy in which case I just hurry home. But on the days where it is sunny, it’s so beautiful walking home because I can see the mountains, and the puffy white clouds in the blue sky (really, just like the windows xp desktop). And then ic an walk in the forest too since on this gravel path with these Christmas fir trees surrounding me either way. Gorgeous.
---------------------
Food
-----------------------
So gotta love the cafeteria food. Cheap and good. I get to eat a lot of the traditional german foods there (so they have diff sections, traditional, live cooking, specials, etc.) like spetzle (probably umlaut somewhere in their…I think the ‘a’ except I didn’t spell it with one. Maye like spatzle. Yea that looks right.) and knodel (BLEGH it had mushrooms in there, did not see that coming.)
When I went to berlin I had falfels (mmmm) and we went to some real italian restaurant (gotta love traveling with international students, they really know where to go) and had great pasta and desserts (some wobbly white jello thing with berries, panacotta or something… p---).
Mmmm, and for breakfast I loved getting the cheese breakfasts there. Which was basically an assortment of fresh bread (croissants, white rolls, called brotchen, …) and cheeses (mozzarella, bree, …) and then either jams/marmelades/nutella (YES)/ butter/etc.
In germany though I’ve been living off the wursts (sausage) and brezel (pretzel). This region is known for their weiswurst (white sausage).
---------------------
auf Wiedersehen
-----------------------
Hehe so I find it so cute that they try to sway me to be a Bavarian girl because I’m in the Bavarian region (germany is broken down into different regions). There are certain phrases that they teach me (and if I say a typical anywhere-german phrase, they say no and replace it with a Bavarian phrase.)
For example, in bavaria they like to say “servus” or “gruss gott” for hello. Not “guten tag” hehe…
They also like to say something like … “sho-ma-ma..” (I’m so serious that’s what it sounds like. So as you can probably guess, I’m really afraid to say this one out loud because honestly, who can keep a straight face.) It means “we will see.” Indeed, we will..
Okay enough of me.
Hope all is well with everybody.
I miss you all,
Keep me updated with what you’re up to,
Karen
I can hardly believe I’ve been in Germany for a month as of tomorrow. Yikes! 1 down, 7 more to go I s’pose.
Also, thanks to everybody for the nice messages. I really enjoy hearing from all of you. In response to people’s questions, and just telling about my day … read on …
-----------------------
Culture Shocks – English Language
-----------------------
So one of the cutest things is how anything “American” or “English” is so cool and hip. [Aw, Germans]. They love listening to English music (any type, whatever is on the radio which really is a mix of so many genres and time periods). As in I hear Lady Gaga and then the next song is backstreet boys…and then some oldies … and then cher … so far, no rap. Guess that’s too fast, even for me.
So they take/use a lot of words that apparently they think American use but as you all know, not really, e.g.
Handy = cell phone or mobile phone
Beamer = projector
Also, I love how they say certain things that aren’t really incorrect, but just sounds weird in context. I don’t like correcting it because it makes me smile (aw, Germans) but apparently they want to be know what Americans say, e.g.
Water with gas or bubbles = mineral water, carbonated
Take holiday = take time off work, vacation [“Karen, you take holiday Friday?]
And last but not least, when something is in German and I don’t want to bother people, I just copy/paste the whole thing into Google Translate, I get the following translations:
Overnight translates to as night approaches [aghahha…This was for overnight experiments. But instead Google wrote it as, the experiment will run as the night approaches]
Beware of chemical cabinet translates to beware of poison cabinet (err… o.O)
Tie back long hair translates to avoid long hair (hehe, my boss was like, hah, do they want you to go to the hairdresser or something?)
---------------------
Friends
-----------------------
So when I came to Germany I didn’t know anybody. Well, my boss counts I guess. But I’ve actually made a fair bit of friends. Living in the boardinghaus has helped (although I can only stay for 6 months). From there, I met Stefanie, Thomas, holger, and Christoffer. Those I talk to the most.
And then at work I sit with the international gang. So it’s a pretty diverse group. Marek comes from Poland. Hillary and I come from the US (she’s from utah). Lucia and guilo are from italy. Kristina is from hungary. Danielle and anton are from slovakia. Etc… there’s probably a good bit of us, maybe 10+ or so. Oh yeah, nina and christoffer are from Sweden. Ok now etc…
And then there is my friend simonette from german class. If I haven’t mentioned this before, we don’t share a common language. She can speak French and a bit of german. So I’ve actually learned the most german from her although we don’t talk that much. We usually say the same things over and over again, or we can point at things and laugh. It’s kind of nice actually, how you can still be friends even if you can’t talk about say, work. :P
Hehee…
So we were riding her bike to german class. (I don’t have a bike), and since she’s smaller than me, I pedal and then she just sits on the back. So we have little jokes.
For example, I was going up the hill, I stopped, looked at her, made this big pregnant/fatter sign/noise, and pointed to her, to ask if she grew fatter this weekend because it was harder than normal. (I pretended to wipe sweat from her forehead.)
Hehe, or like, sometimes I’ll ask her if it’s comfortable riding, or if it’s okay (Gut?) and then she’ll reassure me by saying “super or sehr gut (very good).” So one day she was saying, “super…super…” and then I mock-complained, “simonette super super…. Karen mude.” (Karen tired) because she was just bumming a ride off of me while I had to pedal. Hehe, we had a good laugh over that one.
(I can’t form sentences yet so I can only say nouns.)
Or like whenever we pass by a shop window and we see our reflection, we say “tschuss Karen! Ciao!” hehe, we’re just very silly around each other.
-----------------------
Their English
-----------------------
So I love it.
I mentioned before, some of the things they say, but it’s just so … hrm, amusing. Their diction (choice of words).
So for example, marek (guy from hungary) was describing his weekend where he was outdoors watching birds and he forgot to put on sunscreen so he got sunburned, except he described it as, …
“ so I was busy watching the birds and then I realize I forgot to bring sunscreen and then … disaster.”
Ahahahhhaa… idk why I found it so funny, that he would describe it as disaster. Maybe it just sounded so much more dramatic. Like they don’t describe things properly, they either exaggerate or underemphasize things I guess because it’s whatever word comes to mind first.
Oh, and today, krisztina (from hungary) was describing something and I just found it hilarious (tears out of my eyes). I’ll try.
So somehow we got to talking about how there weren’t any bears in germany and then krisztina started talking about how there were bears in hungary (as with bees, and uhh… deer…something else), but no trees. And then she does this little dialogue:
A: what is that? :quizzical expression:
B: I think I have seen it before…on tv. I think it is a tree!
A: Oh!
A: OHHH… :AH, disgusted look: CUT IT Down!
B: :chop chop:
Hehee, she was just so dramatic. She was saying how there weren’t trees, and how if somebody saw a tree it immediately got chopped down. Or like vaporized into paper or something. Hehe.
-----------------------
CULTURE SHOCKS – My Stupidity
-----------------------
So I just need to clarify on the door thing because some people thought I was a dummkopf (heh, thanks Berger) or depp (idiot) and just stood at the door. NO I have more pride than that. :rolls eyes:
So I mean, at first I would just try to push when clearly I had to pull, and vice versa. But then later when I tried to read the signs (and sometimes messed up), I mean it’s just a very SLIGHT pause, honest, barely discernible. (NOT MINUTES jonathan…) seconds. nanoseconds. And I mean I was very smooth about it, I’d pretend to think about something I had to do for the day when in reality I was thinking about what to do. Ninja Karen!
Hehe, so I made up a phrase to help me remember. “don’t drucken me!” which means don’t push me (not really, but drucken mean push.)
Actually, drucken with two dots over the u means push. Drucken just like that means print.
----
So that being said, I admit I do pause (these are seconds now…5 tops) at the trash cans. So there’s diff. trash cans depending on the material (plastic (which is like kundufinsik or something, idk…), and bioabfall (for like apple stems and tea bags, that’s what the picture shows), something else, and then restmull (for rest, everything else)). And usually I can’t remember so I have to peek inside the trash cans (which makes the Germans laugh), or something like that.
… And then sometimes I still throw it in the wrong one so then I have to fish things out. Whatever.
They also laugh when I shoot baskets and then miss. I think a lot of things I do are funny to them. I guess I’m just like a kid to them (they’re all older than me, the youngest are probably like past mid-20s, and those are the ones that are there for their masters (English equivalent) or doctorate.)
Actually, the international group I sit with are all postdocs (very humbling), but then their English isn’t good so they’re very humble around me. It’s an interesting twist, and reminds you to keep your head.
OH, so another thing they thought I asked was funny was when I asked if I could throw toilet paper in the toilet. DUDE so I read in a book somewhere that their toilets weren’t strong (ever since Taiwan I have a fear of flushing tp down the toilet in case it clogs it and I have to unclog it especially after I’ve pooped.) so I was always afraid too. Then I had to explain how things were diff. in Taiwan.
---
Hm, maybe it’s just doors in general.
So I also have trouble opening my apt. door sometimes. (sOMETIMES..if my hands are dry.) So the system is neat in that you don’t have a key but a button that you push which will beep to unlock if you’re within range. (you have to be fairly close to the door) Kind of like more modern cars, def. not the van I drive(drove).
So the thing is that the door is just so smooth that I struggle with it a lot and sometimes I have to put all my bags down, try it again…. Or put my hand inside my jacket for some grip (usually doesn’t work, but I have to try everything). Hrm… or ask somebody (I only did that once, but that was after a 3 min. struggle). Literally. I timed it.
(okay fineee….4 minutes, but I bet you it was probably only 4 because it was 00:58 and probably 04:03 or something).
:D
Hmmm what else have I done. I’m sure I’ve done a lot more. Somehow there’s always a lot of laughing so it must be something.
Oh hehee… I remember.
So today in lab I was making a buffer. Anyway we have these magnetic stir bars and sticks to stir them with. So you use the stick to pick up the stirbar.
Well, I was in a very wizarding mood (idk, I pretended I was harry potter) so I was waving my stick around (I pretended it was a wand, just the right length!) and the little stirbar was on my stick, and then when I put it inside my graduated cylinder I would kind of tap it, hehe.. I had a lot of fun.
Anyway, I dropped it on the floor, so then I stooped down and gave it a tap and apparently I looked really funny because Michael (one of the guys in my lab) started laughing and then he explained that because I didn’t bend down but kind of … bent over, I looked like a grandma.
Ok I think I was just embarrassed that he caught me pretending to wave the magnetic wand around (and probably muttering things) when I thought he was at his desk…
-----------------------
How I am viewed
-----------------------
So I find it interesting that … hrm, whenever somebody asks me where I’m from when I’m in the US, I assume they mean because I’m asian so I say Taiwan.
However, when I’m there, they want to know because I’m an American so they want to hear Atlanta, Ga, USA or something.
It’s just an interesting change of perspective. All of a sudden I am an expert on the English language (haha) and customs (tell me about the school systems, what is the diff btwn a college and university, please correct my English, is it lay or lie?, …)
At first people thought I couldn’t speak german and only knew Chinese or something, but then they found out that I can speak English. Neat.
OH, so it actually is true that the germans are really eager to speak to me because they want to practice their English. There are actually two germans that are trying to learn mandarin (one is because he’s marrying a Chinese girl, I think the other one is just curious) so I’ve only talked to them once but everyone says I should trade german/Chinese lessons with them. Pft, if they want a Taiwanese/American accent kind of Chinese!
It’s more of a group thing though. If they are in a group they don’t really talk to me (I totally understand), but if it is 1-1, then they are very eager. I mean, I would be very self-conscious if I had to speak in a foreign language in front of a group, especially if I know some of the people can speak better than me.
Hehe, one of my coworkers, birgit, actually emailed me once and asked me to help her with her English hw. Hehe, I promptly asked her for help on my german hw the next day. It was so sweet though, her hw was, “describe her first day at work.” AW.
---------------------
Side Trips
-----------------------
So I’m proud to say that I have at least started to travel, heh. We had a 4 day weekend last weekend (SO many holidays in May and June) so I went to Berlin with some of my international (hehe! I’m an international student!) friends. Pics on Picassa (some not all).
We have another upcoming 3 day weekend (we get Monday, June 1st off) for next week. I was looking at flights but I think it was too late because they’re all 100+. Meh. So I’m going to go to my friend Stephanie’s hometown. She also lives in the boardinghaus.
Hehe, so her hometown is called Biberach (pronounced Bee-bur-ah). So I definitely didn’t remember it the first (…. Twenty…) time(s) but I wanted to show that I was listening and trying very hard to remember, so I would attempt to say it. Which meant calling it “boo-boo’ town.” Ah, stupid German.
So I’ve decided that sometimes it is better to feign innocence and just ask what the town is called since saying boo-boo town doesn’t really get me anywhere and I do feel stupid for saying it. Really stupid.
(Okay so they talk fast and slur their words, I really wonder what English sounds as a foreign lanuage now, like when they watch Friends or something. So it did sound like bah---boo---… )
We have another 4 day weekend coming up next next week (well, we get Thursday off
Told you there were a lot of holidays. I think the smart thing would just be to find all the holidays for the rest of the year and start booking like crazy.
I have a let’s go Europe bk (thanks Sonya) and they have suggested cities for beginners, pros, and then also particular regions. There are also websites that give you blind trips (20 euros flat) and then they just take you somewhere based on “culture, shopping, etc.” not sure about those.
Anyway, I have a munich guidebook as well, so even if I don’t have a long weekend I can always take plenty of daytrips to the munich area because the train tickets are so cheap. Lots of castles (schloss) and mountains (berg…or burg…can never remember) around.
---------------------
Typical Day
-----------------------
So I guess I’m finally settling in more now so I do have a typical schedule.
I need to work “8” hours a day (I guess this includes coffee time and lunch time), which is usually 9 to 5.
And then on Mondays and Wednesdays I have German lesson for “beginners” (psh whatever) from 6-7:30 but it takes a while to walk here so I usually get back around 8:30 or a bit earlier. On those days I’m pretty tired.
Hrm, also Wednesday nights there are things called “Stammtisch-Praktikkum” dinners from 7-11. So Stammtisch means “reserved for regulars.” And Praktikkum is just “interns.” For some strange reason, all the Germans refer to this as, “intern meeting” or even “internal meeting.” Weirdos. We just have dinner at a pizzeria or a beer. I really want to blend in but I will feel stupid* for saying “intern meeting” so I usually say, are you coming this Wednesday?
*There are many stupid things I do. The key is to minimize stupid actions whenever I can.
Oh, and on Thursday nights people in the boardinghaus like to go downstairs to watch Germany’s next top model with heidi klum (again, didn’t know she was german and they were all shocked at me – really – I’ve discovered they are proud of the germans that have made it big time.) Except the season ended last week so idk if we will meet up or not. I know tomorrow Stefanie are going to watch a dancing movie downstairs. Shrug, hopefully another tv show will start or something.
Hmmm. That sounds kind of bland. And yet, every single day I have at least seen people.
So sometimes, as in the 3 times in the past…2 weeks, if the weather is nice out, people will go swimming in the lake after work (again, see pics). That’s kind of neat, and not something I would expect in Atlanta.
So let’s see, on the days that I haven’t had german class, I guess I rush to the supermarket (since it closes at 8, at the latest, some are 6).
I guess settling in I was pretty busy, I had to go to nearby towns with coworkers to get a phone (Weilheim), or have a drink with some of their friends (Bad Tolz) and I guess it was always nice to drive places.
Two weekends ago on Sunday there was a festival on the main street. (I felt very lucky for catching it, because apparently there are only 4 or 5 the whole year!) went to that for a couple of hours.
I don’t know, I feel busy. Tired actually. There was one of the dinners with interns tonight but I didn’t go because I felt so exhausted. Maybe I’m still recuperating from berlin (being a tourist is hard work.)
-----------------------
For those traveling in Europe:
-----------------------
Cell (Germany): 0162 592 8816
Also, I live in Penzberg, the closest big city to which is Munich. There’s a great deal for the train ticket for this area, which allows a 1 day pass for 20 euros or a group day pass (up to 5 adults and 1 dog, 2 kids count as 1 adult) for 28 euros. Really nice. The line includes a lot of places, but most notably, Munich, Salzburg (Austria), and I believe Fussen (Schloss Neuschwanstein). So save those trips for when you come to visit me and we can go see those places. So this pass only works in the southern part of Germany, and then the very border for Austria. Hrm, not sure if it goes into Switzerland.
And….book early.
---------------------
Weather
-----------------------
So the days have been kind of rainy lately. They’re either sunny and warm/hot (enough to go to the lake) or kind of cold/dreary/rainy in which case I just hurry home. But on the days where it is sunny, it’s so beautiful walking home because I can see the mountains, and the puffy white clouds in the blue sky (really, just like the windows xp desktop). And then ic an walk in the forest too since on this gravel path with these Christmas fir trees surrounding me either way. Gorgeous.
---------------------
Food
-----------------------
So gotta love the cafeteria food. Cheap and good. I get to eat a lot of the traditional german foods there (so they have diff sections, traditional, live cooking, specials, etc.) like spetzle (probably umlaut somewhere in their…I think the ‘a’ except I didn’t spell it with one. Maye like spatzle. Yea that looks right.) and knodel (BLEGH it had mushrooms in there, did not see that coming.)
When I went to berlin I had falfels (mmmm) and we went to some real italian restaurant (gotta love traveling with international students, they really know where to go) and had great pasta and desserts (some wobbly white jello thing with berries, panacotta or something… p---).
Mmmm, and for breakfast I loved getting the cheese breakfasts there. Which was basically an assortment of fresh bread (croissants, white rolls, called brotchen, …) and cheeses (mozzarella, bree, …) and then either jams/marmelades/nutella (YES)/ butter/etc.
In germany though I’ve been living off the wursts (sausage) and brezel (pretzel). This region is known for their weiswurst (white sausage).
---------------------
auf Wiedersehen
-----------------------
Hehe so I find it so cute that they try to sway me to be a Bavarian girl because I’m in the Bavarian region (germany is broken down into different regions). There are certain phrases that they teach me (and if I say a typical anywhere-german phrase, they say no and replace it with a Bavarian phrase.)
For example, in bavaria they like to say “servus” or “gruss gott” for hello. Not “guten tag” hehe…
They also like to say something like … “sho-ma-ma..” (I’m so serious that’s what it sounds like. So as you can probably guess, I’m really afraid to say this one out loud because honestly, who can keep a straight face.) It means “we will see.” Indeed, we will..
Okay enough of me.
Hope all is well with everybody.
I miss you all,
Keep me updated with what you’re up to,
Karen
German Letter 1
Hello my fellow Americans!
Don't worry, this is an actual email this time. ^^ Although I must say that since I keep in touch with everybody at diff. rates, some of the things I might say in this email will be a repeat. Es tut mir leid (I'm sorry). [Yes, I'm going to make this educational. YAY for deutsch]
Don't worry, this is an actual email this time. ^^ Although I must say that since I keep in touch with everybody at diff. rates, some of the things I might say in this email will be a repeat. Es tut mir leid (I'm sorry). [Yes, I'm going to make this educational. YAY for deutsch]
… And it’s rather long. Think of it as a collection of little Karen (hee hee) emails as you’ve all been wondering why I’ve been MIA these past week(s) (hehe…it has been three wks so now so I can say that.)
------------------------------
So refresher:
------------------------------
Duration in Germany: April 29 - December 29 (8 months)
Purpose:
I'm doing an international co-op with a pharmaceutical/biotech company, Roche (http://www.roche.com/index.
I work in the lab (so it's undergrad research all over again, except now the protocols are in German (no kidding), and well ... life is just tough after that). I’m glad I have some experience in this area though. Really glad. Cooping experience hasn’t been that helpful so far.)
My project is basically working on a way to purify/increase the batch size/yield of apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A1), which is the main component (70%) of HDL (high density lipid). And just different aspects of that. HDL is the good cholesterol that takes lipids away from your peripheral tissue and carries it to your liver to be disposed in the form of bile. We're hoping to increase the HDL in your body to get rid of fat and help people with CAD (coronary artery disease)…and people who just don’t exercise. JK. But I like it a lot, it's neat. :)
I can talk more later if you want to know.
Address (until end of October):
Karen Shih
Sankt-Klara-Strasse 29
No. E. 09
82377 Penzberg, Germany
Penzberg is a small town south of Munich.
[Yes, in Germany, the zip code comes first. And I have the right address this time, yeah yeah]
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/
Phone:
------------------------------
Common Questions:
------------------------------
Am I learning German?
Yes, so besides my handy Rick Steves' German phrase bk, I'm taking classes. I have this advanced class “downtown.” The beginning class started earlier, in February, so this is the only one left. I go to on Mon [Montag] and Wed [Mittwoch] from 6-7:30. It's in the middle of town (~25 min. walk), as with everything else (supermarket, etc.)
Oh, I cough at “downtown” because it’s so small (~11,000 inhabitants I believe) that everything you need is off of this one street, Bahnhofstrasse. Which basically means train street.
[If you think about it, the train system, Bahn, or in Germany, DB or Deutsche Bahn. Also, I live on St. Klara Strasse, so Strasse is street. A lot of things make sense in German! Or are connected.]
Later on I'm also going to take 1-1 lessons at work. I’m signed up for 20 lessons, each 45 min. I don't know when those start, we only just finished filling out the paperwork last week. [Actually, I just finished applying for my visa/work permit today. (since I’m staying more than 6 months.) I'm going to have to go back sometime this week to get my visa, but hopefully by then all the paperwork will be done for real].
I really want to maximize my exposure to German so I'm taking the advanced classes for now even though I don't understand that much and the teacher doesn't know that many English words. She's not a professinoal teacher or anything, but if you think about it, her job is pretty difficult. A friend of mine in the class, Simonette, only knows French and a bit of German. I only know English, Chinese, and a bit of Spanish. Not sure about the other two people in the class... So I don’t blame her too much except well, really, English?
Anyway, hopefully (the plan!) I'll be able to catch up with my 1-1 lessons, so that I'll be able to understand the advanced class. And come back knowing German. (!)
I should probably watch German TV or something, but I only want to if I have subtitles or something. I mean captions. Actually German captions and English subtitles would be great. They should invent that.
I’m starting to make a list of things I want to invent. [Hi Mu!] I’m thinking about specialized keyboards (I can give a good 5 min. rant – justified! – about the difficulty typing on a German keyboard.) Oh, and since I work in the lab and have to wear steel-toed shoes [Hi Brad!] I was thinking about steel-toed dance shoes for the guys! [Hi Justin!] Awesome huh?
But yeah, my keyboard… Something with german letters, and maybe even some Spanish ones too, idk… and maybe Chinese characters except I don’t really know my bo po mo (or whatever…) so I guess it doesn’t help much. Yeah, I get some pretty creative ideas sometimes. There was something else too, I forgot, it was on my way to work. Oh wait, it was the keyboard. Heh.
… I get off subject pretty easily. Good thing I write in small paragraphs and bold words huh?
Do I miss you?
Of course. :) But actually more than you all know. Little things remind me of you all. So yes, of course. [As can be see with the shoutouts, and those embedded in the email as well.] As they say in the song, Here (In Your Arms) by hellogoodbye, "Hello, I've missed you quite terribly."
How do you contact me?
Hrm, I'd say the best way is still to email me (lilkarenn@gmail.com). Hee, I can still check gmail at work (they haven't blocked that site) but not my gatech webmail (retarded!) As is pandora. (BOO!) but luckily not youtube except I don’t really go on youtube (except once, to look at that chopping vid you sent Sonica). hmm... yep. I’d much rather have Pandora. Although the German radio plays America music (It’s hip!), I’d prefer Pandora.
Besides that, I go on gmail chat often so you can always talk to me there (lilkarenn). No, I'm not really on facebook (or the chat) anymore. Nor AIM/Trillian.
I do have Skype though (s/n: lilkarenn). Usually I only get on if I'm expecting a call. So let me know.
When you are in Europe feel free to give me a call. I bought a pre-paid cell phone that will cost me 15 cents/min for every call I make. When you call me I believe you are the one being charged so prank call at your own risk. Hehe.
And as always, letters are welcome. Now that's the really slow way Graydon. ^^
Am I still playing ultimate? swing dancing? etc.?
No and no. I wouldn't mind tossing the disc around with people here except I haven’t really had a chance. I went swimming in the lake yesterday and I think next time we do this they talked about bringing a ball (in my mind I substituted it with disc…heh.) Or idk...I hear there's a picnic at work at the end of May with a big ol' fussbol (soccer) game. I'm hoping to bring along my disc there and maybe toss around. ^^
As for swing, I looked for a dance class but it had already started and you needed a partner to sign up. Plus it was rather far away. It was basically a 2 hr dance class each wk and you learned a diff. type of dance (including foxtrot, Vietnemese waltz, disco, ..) and I wasn't too interested.
I saw another dance class while I was at the kino (movie theatre) on Saturday except it was coupes only and it looked like … weird waltzing. :Shrug: I talked to my friend Holger and he said he paid 90 euros for a 3 hr lesson which…did not sound appealing to me. Let’s say I’m happy just watching swing vids. J Besides, only 7.5 more months.
Ok that is a long time. Yeah…
… But of course I miss swing and ultimate. Of course. :(
That being said/though, I'm hoping to keep busy learning German (!) and traveling (!). :)
Are you writing in a blog, taking pics, etc. / keeping up the memories?
So I have the best travel journal EVER.
[…]
Ever ever ever. Haha. For those I’ve already told, you can skip it because nothing really new here. Let me begin.
So I went to staples and got some regular computer paper and had that bound into a notebook [Hi Bisca!] And then that notebook is now my travel journal.
But there is so (!) much more.
So in it I can write what I want (I have neat handwriting, hey, asian) and not worry about going past lines. So it’s pretty plain paper and not ugly lined or anything. Although I must say I am very satisfied with Staples college ruled paper. [Hi Simona!]
Since it's blank paper, I can also doodle some. I'm not a great doodler, but I do enjoy ambigrams sometimes. I’ve also been sketching maps of where I live. And whatnot…
Also, since it's blank, i printed out some 4 x 6 pics, and then whenever i take pics, i mark out a space where i want in my travel journal. I also write the title of the pic and where i'm storing them on my laptop so that when i get back to the US, i can print out the pictures and post it RIGHT where it happened! (i have a sep. folder on my laptop labebled print me pics). BRILLIANT IDEA #24523
But wait, there’s more!
So I have lots of different, specialty pages.
One page I rate diff. kinds of shokolade (chocolate). One of the pick-me-ups I allow myself (kind of as a prize/reward for going out in Germany everytime when I could stay inside my little American flat lawl) is that I always buy a diff. type of shokolade. Then I write some description of it, tape the label in my book, oh idk, and i rate it out of 10. haha. For future ref? I used to write down the price and the store but now i'm too lazy.
I also started writing down my notes from german class in it so it really is everything I’ve done in Germany! They're in a diff. color (red) so they stick out which is nice when I look back. Everything else is written in blue/black ink.
Oh! And i just started sticking a page of typical “german” things. So my coworker (and boss, and …) laughed when she saw this, but i taped in a piece of toilet paper. (I guess I can see why…) It's just..the shape is really interesting (!). I mean, otherwise, why else would I do that? Don’t judge, listen. It's a lot smaller, or i guess, the width is shorter and the length is longer. It's a lot cuter and it fits in the palm of my hand perfectly and then some. I like it!
And others…
Culture Shocks? Complaints
So drucken (umlaut over u) means push and ziehen means pull. But so many of thee doors have a handle when all you have to do it pull and I got tricked…so….many…times…so so many times. I complained about it to a lot of people because it’s just plain mean to trick new people. But then I learned how to read the signs (which is why I sometimes paused in front of the doors) so now I am fine with it. But I just don’t understand, it feels like everything else in Germany is so well planned!
Heh… and my German culture shock book had this funny page. It went something like how Germans don’t trust Americans or Asians (OW! Double whammy) because they tend to beat around the bush and try not to hurt the other person’s feelings. But Germans like it straight. Keep that in mind. ^^
Haha I showed the book to some of my German friends and they all laughed at the cover [Culture Shock! Germany. A Guide to cultural tips and etiquette.] I think they all really want to read it, and to be honest, I kind of wand them to as well…I mean when else, right?
------------------------------
Typical Day
------------------------------
So far my workdays have been like this, work 8 hours a day, so usually from 9am to 5pm. It is more like working only 7 hours because we get 30 min. for lunch, and then we take two 15 min breaks, or coffee breaks. Those are usually at 9am (i sometimes skip those because i just get in to work, the other people in the lab get in anywhere from 7 to 8, or 8:30), and again at 2pm. I eat lunch at 11am.
I like it better this way, because then at most, I only work 2 or 3 hours at a time and then I get a tiny break to look forward to.
Boy, they really like their coffee breaks. Nothing really gets in the way of that.
[And then a few pages later in my German book they mentioned how Germans like their coffee break. So +1 pt German culture book. It’s how Germans like a schedule and for everything to be planned, so they plan for their coffee break and they’ll be upset at you if you mess it up. I’m not saying that extreme, but they do work their times around their coffee break, which is to be expected. It’s just coffee breaks weren’t a scheduled meeting when I worked at CIBA, and you didn’t share it with everybody else.]
I eat lunch in the cafeteria and the meals are REALLY good there. They're also very cheap, so far they have been costing me around 1.50 to 2 dollars (USD). I haven’t eaten so richly (or cheaply, hee he….. he) since middle/high school. Very good deal! So I like to think that I get my meat/vegetables/fruits there.
Then when I go home, I usually just eat some form of pasta.
So because there aren't any plastic grocery bags in Germany (very environmentally-conscious, so many different trash cans/bag everywhere), and since I don't have a car or bike here (I don't think I am going to buy one, I don't mind walking), then I can usually only buy what I can carry. So far, that means just enough for 2-3 days of cooking. Well, in the beginning when I didn’t have anything. Now it’s more of 1-2 days. It’s a nice break walking around outside…unless it’s raining and I really need to buy things. Then it’s just..well…yeah. I guess it’s fun the first couple min. I’m still in the “everything is an adventure” stage of my trip here so I don’t mind so far.
So let's see, i work everyday from 9-5. on mondays and wednesdays i have german learning class from 6-7:30. because it takes about 25+ minutes to walk there, i usually leave work around 5 or 5:30ish and start to walk there. that way i can take my time and enjoy the scenery. So on those days i am a bit tired. L
Actually, especially Wednesdays because afterwards a lot of the interns/masters/postdocs meet at a restaurant [we change every week] and just hang out until 11 or so. Some of them live in the boardinghaus [for Roche interns only] so I’ve gotten to know them better. They’re the same ones I went to the movies and lake with. J
------------------------------
Shoutouts:
------------------------------
Katy (and Tuesday Letter girls/fan of Twilight):
So I went to my Simonette's apartment, and guess who I saw out on the porch reading New Moon (2nd bk)... the dad of the family she's staying with. I KNOW. So the Mom was outside reading the 1st book (she went from 4th backwards) and the dad went from 1st onwards. Supposedly it's very popular over here as well.
That's not all, I told him I was surprised he was reading it since most of the guys I know in the US who went to go see the movie were kind of dragged by their girlfriends, and just looked sad in general. Well, supposedly it's very popular with the boys over here. (hahahaa). So their 11 year old son reads the Twilight series (he's on the 3rd book - I find it adorable the whole family is reading the book) and he wants to be like a vampire, cold and strong, etc.
And Katy, the dad was rooting for Jacob and then he and I started arguing about Jacob/Edward. I'd say discuss but it was more debating.
Katy, it made me think of you and miss talking to you. :) I'm actually borrowing the 4th book from them, haha. Except I have to hurry up and finish reading it because their son wants it back once he finishes the 3rd book. Maybe in a couple weeks, hah.
Christina, I don't know if I ever told you, but I thought the trailer you made was good. The 007 car scenes were incorporated very smoothly. Good music too.
Helen:
I like going to the bakeries/pastry shops here. I think of you whenever I eat something good (I am eating it for you, hah).
Eddie, Shune, Colin, and other ultimate folks:
You've seen the fields outside my apartment. I wish you guys were here so I coud toss with you. I only brought one disc (gah, should have brought more so I could practice hucking...) I tried doing that last week, just ran after the disc everytime I threw it. Kind of slow, but not like I have anything better to do. And then I get to think about my throw while I pick it up. I think I increased 2.5+ yds just by facing exactly 180 degrees before I started.
Just wow!
http://picasaweb.google.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/
Shune:
So I got a real kick out of this. Remember the 1st and 2nd prize beauty contest you won in Monopoly. Well apparently the german word, schön (pronounced shune), means beautiful.
Yeah..perhaps that prize was well chosen. ^^ Germans like to use this word a lot, so I hear your name every so often and I think, if they only knew the Shune that I knew (blup blup). ^^
Gabe:
I think you would enjoy riding your bike around here. Everybody does. It's really great actually seeing so many people ride their bike and not driving their cars around, especially since it's such a short commute to work. It's 10-15 min. for me walking, so it'd be less than 2-3 min. on a bike.
And everyone does it. I was talking to some friends and they're taking a trip to go mountain biking and whatnot. They mentioned 4000 or some insane figure that would involve ~8 hrs riding I believe. They needed to train for it (they're going in a couple of weeks.)
The view is amazing, I can see the mtns (Bavarian alps), and I pass by these fields and a tiny lake. You'd like it.
Mu:
I saw some pinecones on my way to work. There are so many forests here, very beautiful (Picassa proof). Anyway, i thought these would add nicely to your collection. Even though they're a bit small, they can be the newborn baby twins or something.^^ But then they got squished by a bike (probably) when I checked the next day so no souvenir for you.
http://picasaweb.google.com/
Eddie:
Remember the woodsy desktop picture you had freshman year (yes, not sophmore ^^). There are so many places here that look just like it. I'm trying to take some pictures but you might have to wait a bit longer. You would love the nature scenes here Eddie....you should come visit. :)
Berger:
I see youuuuuuuuuuuu….
http://picasaweb.google.com/
Brad:
Quadruplet whammy! Look at all that green space… and then some architectury pics.
I found even though you’re not really into that kind of stuff anymore.
I don’t have the time nor patience to show you all the pictures where I just owned you, so you’ll just have to go to the photo album yourself.
------------------------------
Farewell
------------------------------
That's all folks!
I miss you all terribly.
Karen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
