Hallo,...hi....hallo......
Tschuss.....Tchau.....Tschu!
Now, why did I call this entry greetings? Because I've really learnt something about greeting people here. They do it right! People exchange hugs and handshakes WAY more often! and I love it! Even if you just met someone that evening, and you talked a little bit....at the end when you're going home, you hug! Why not!?
and here are the greeting guidlines
man greets man-->handshake...or if you're good friends, sometimes a quick hug
woman greets woman--> hug
man greets woman--> hug
men and women don't really shake hands
ALSO, when writing emails or SMS (texts) you ALWAYS end of by saying "liebe Grüße"...which shouldn't be directly translated because it means "love greetings" but basically means best wishes. NEVER leave that out at the end....it just doesn't happen.
Anyway, I'm going to bring this "greeting" thing back with me, so be prepared!
Liebe Grüße,
(which when talking with friends can get shortened to plain "LG")
Katrina
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Evening in the Park
Grillin......so last night I went to a Geburstag Partie (bday party) in the park. Another slightly familiar, yet different experience for me.
At around 10:30, my friend Johanna, her boyfriend Tommy and I headed to meet people at a park to celebrate. As we were walking I tried to think about if we do this at home...it didn't feel totally out of place, but it didn't feel super normal either. We're walking through this park at night, and there's about 5 different circles of people around our age, and now its time to guess as to which circle is our group of friends lol.....
So we walked by, squinting our eyes, hoping to see a familiar face through the darkness. Of course it was the last circle where we finally hit the jackpot! This is how they do it here. It was a pot-luck-style kinda dinner, and everyone brings some beer, and then you sit in cirlces and talk with each other. I tried to think about how we do it at home and this is what I discovered.
At home we have so much more land. We would of had a backyard BBQ or something instead of meeting at the park. I thought it was a really great idea though! you could see the stars, and everyone stayed outside instead of moving into the house etc.
Anyway.....that is all!
Love
K
ps- I'M GOING TO ITALY TODAY!!!! :)
At around 10:30, my friend Johanna, her boyfriend Tommy and I headed to meet people at a park to celebrate. As we were walking I tried to think about if we do this at home...it didn't feel totally out of place, but it didn't feel super normal either. We're walking through this park at night, and there's about 5 different circles of people around our age, and now its time to guess as to which circle is our group of friends lol.....
So we walked by, squinting our eyes, hoping to see a familiar face through the darkness. Of course it was the last circle where we finally hit the jackpot! This is how they do it here. It was a pot-luck-style kinda dinner, and everyone brings some beer, and then you sit in cirlces and talk with each other. I tried to think about how we do it at home and this is what I discovered.
At home we have so much more land. We would of had a backyard BBQ or something instead of meeting at the park. I thought it was a really great idea though! you could see the stars, and everyone stayed outside instead of moving into the house etc.
Anyway.....that is all!
Love
K
ps- I'M GOING TO ITALY TODAY!!!! :)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Torn....
Question: How is it that when you finally establish yourself somewhere, learn the language, actually have friends, don't have trouble finding plans and feel comfortable in your environment.....it comes time to say goodbye.....
I had a great evening tonight! Went out with about 20 people from my school for my friend Julia's birthday. There was nothing especially special about it, except that I felt pretty well comfortable with the situation. (One thing I've really missed here is being able to share what I learn/experience with someone here....its so hard to actually say what actually goes on a couple days later on the phone.)
and I know you're probably thinking...what's so great about feeling comfortable.....but its a big deal!! As we were leaving the school after choir, it's a bunch of people that I know in varying degrees....some I've had good convo's with, some I just say hi to.....but they all come from the same country, speak the same language and have studied together for a couple years already....and then there's me :).....
so in these situations, I always try and pick out one person that I feel comfortable talking with, and that if I ask them how they are, they'll take the time to talk with me. Tonight it was Ingo :)....and I often find, once I have one person that I'm engaged in a good conversation with, people see me as more approachable or even want to join OUR conversation! and I'm in!
See the thing is, is that at the beginning, I was interesting, and people wanted to talk to me because I was from across the world.....but I could barely talk with them without there being misunderstandings or things that needed to be erklart (cleared up).....Now, I'm that foreign kid that's been around forever, and if we havn't talked already, then why would we start now ya know? (try and picture an exchange student in your class) When now, I could ACTUALLY have a conversation that FLOWED!
So tonight was a good night. Why? because I was with a bunch of great people....I pushed myself out there once again, and opened up conversations with people that I havn't really talked to that much, and other people were open to talking with me....
I really love these people and place, and am starting to feel really torn between the two.
love
K
I had a great evening tonight! Went out with about 20 people from my school for my friend Julia's birthday. There was nothing especially special about it, except that I felt pretty well comfortable with the situation. (One thing I've really missed here is being able to share what I learn/experience with someone here....its so hard to actually say what actually goes on a couple days later on the phone.)
and I know you're probably thinking...what's so great about feeling comfortable.....but its a big deal!! As we were leaving the school after choir, it's a bunch of people that I know in varying degrees....some I've had good convo's with, some I just say hi to.....but they all come from the same country, speak the same language and have studied together for a couple years already....and then there's me :).....
so in these situations, I always try and pick out one person that I feel comfortable talking with, and that if I ask them how they are, they'll take the time to talk with me. Tonight it was Ingo :)....and I often find, once I have one person that I'm engaged in a good conversation with, people see me as more approachable or even want to join OUR conversation! and I'm in!
See the thing is, is that at the beginning, I was interesting, and people wanted to talk to me because I was from across the world.....but I could barely talk with them without there being misunderstandings or things that needed to be erklart (cleared up).....Now, I'm that foreign kid that's been around forever, and if we havn't talked already, then why would we start now ya know? (try and picture an exchange student in your class) When now, I could ACTUALLY have a conversation that FLOWED!
So tonight was a good night. Why? because I was with a bunch of great people....I pushed myself out there once again, and opened up conversations with people that I havn't really talked to that much, and other people were open to talking with me....
I really love these people and place, and am starting to feel really torn between the two.
love
K
Monday, May 25, 2009
The best about here
Things I will miss about here...
1. Riding the trains and subways...its become so habitual for me and I keep forgetting that before I came here, I had barely ever been on one.
2. Of course the language switching....I love talking in 2 languages! Its just really cool to explain yourself in another Sprache (language)....even with my friends here that speak english, its always a mix of the two. If we're talking English and a word comes to mind erste (first) in German then we through it in, genau wie so. (just like that lol)
3. Cobblestone sidewalks, beirgartens (patios), the Rhine River that's so close to my house, travelling on weekends!!!!
4. My choir!! I love them and I love the music that we sing!
5. The openmindedness of the culture here.
6. Beinging in a really international environment as well. ex. Last friday night I went out for dinner with a bunch of exchange students.....a girl from Argentina, 2 girls from Spain, a guy from Italy, my friend Frida from Finnland and me from Canada.....and I've had the oporrtunity to be in lots of similar situations. Its funny cause now we all speak German, but with TOTALLY different accents!
7. My good friends who I hope I see again in my lifetime!! The fact that I live so close to Niagara Falls and Toronto is real appealing so I hope they come visit!
That's all for now!
Miss my home too!
love
K
1. Riding the trains and subways...its become so habitual for me and I keep forgetting that before I came here, I had barely ever been on one.
2. Of course the language switching....I love talking in 2 languages! Its just really cool to explain yourself in another Sprache (language)....even with my friends here that speak english, its always a mix of the two. If we're talking English and a word comes to mind erste (first) in German then we through it in, genau wie so. (just like that lol)
3. Cobblestone sidewalks, beirgartens (patios), the Rhine River that's so close to my house, travelling on weekends!!!!
4. My choir!! I love them and I love the music that we sing!
5. The openmindedness of the culture here.
6. Beinging in a really international environment as well. ex. Last friday night I went out for dinner with a bunch of exchange students.....a girl from Argentina, 2 girls from Spain, a guy from Italy, my friend Frida from Finnland and me from Canada.....and I've had the oporrtunity to be in lots of similar situations. Its funny cause now we all speak German, but with TOTALLY different accents!
7. My good friends who I hope I see again in my lifetime!! The fact that I live so close to Niagara Falls and Toronto is real appealing so I hope they come visit!
That's all for now!
Miss my home too!
love
K
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Classical German Singing Concert
So, I have officially sung in my first classical Vorspiel (Master Class).....a classical German piece called "Jasminenstrauch" by Robert Schumann.
Now, my general feelings toward classical singing thus far in my life, would be one's of somewhat distaste.....mostly because:
#1. It hurts my ears.
#2. The concerts can be really stuffy and the singing too exaggerated-ly emotional for my liking...
.....well guess what.....I am now that girl. Ja, I have now experienced being in front of people, giving the emotional "sad eyes", stretching my mouth open to in unbelievable proportions.....and spitting out German "g", "rrrrr" and "sch" syllables...........Lets just talk about stepping outside the box.
Its interesting though, to do this kinda thing.....you learn something from every situation. (perhaps the "presenting infront of a crowd" skills will be useful in job interviews or something? lol) I'm glad everyone in the room had to do it too....and its actually looks way worse if you don't do the acting part!!
My teacher is still crazy, but I've come to realize that she acts this way with everyone, and I don't have to deal with it forever....besides, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger??...I am seriosly testing that theory.
bis bald!
love
K
Now, my general feelings toward classical singing thus far in my life, would be one's of somewhat distaste.....mostly because:
#1. It hurts my ears.
#2. The concerts can be really stuffy and the singing too exaggerated-ly emotional for my liking...
.....well guess what.....I am now that girl. Ja, I have now experienced being in front of people, giving the emotional "sad eyes", stretching my mouth open to in unbelievable proportions.....and spitting out German "g", "rrrrr" and "sch" syllables...........Lets just talk about stepping outside the box.
Its interesting though, to do this kinda thing.....you learn something from every situation. (perhaps the "presenting infront of a crowd" skills will be useful in job interviews or something? lol) I'm glad everyone in the room had to do it too....and its actually looks way worse if you don't do the acting part!!
My teacher is still crazy, but I've come to realize that she acts this way with everyone, and I don't have to deal with it forever....besides, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger??...I am seriosly testing that theory.
bis bald!
love
K
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