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
Monday, May 18, 2009
Its the small things....
I just woke up and was getting my laundry together, and started thinking about the un-comparable brilliancy that is "homelaundrysystems"--a Denglish word for you all (Deutsch and English)-->the creating of new words by joining a bunch of previous words together :)
......This lead me to thinking about things I am now allowing myself to get a bit excited about when I am back in the Mother Land, and they are:
1. Home laundry!! that doesn't cost 3EURO (around 4 Canadian dollars) PER LOAD!...I'm pretty sure I will be bringing all my laundry home unclean (will you still be glad to see me mom?? :)
2. Home cooking! I am not a cooker by myself...with other people I don't mind,....but alone NEVER! For example, I get excited when I boil an egg for myself.....yes.
3. Driving. I have not driven a car for 8 Months! and all though driving isn't a favourite thing of mine, it is a bit missed.
4. Country. I miss the COUNTRY! Its cool to experience living in a city...and I do that in Waterloo at home too....but Waterloo is not even close to as big as Köln, I would call it more "townish"...this city is just under 1 million,.....and anyone who's been here or talked to me on skype knows that the street below me is extremely LOUD! The country is just somehow refreshing and peaceful!
5. Working! I am a job lover! and I havn't worked since September and I miss it! and so does my bank account.
ok, that is all for now.....I think I'll make a list of things I love about here too sometime....
Tchau!
K
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Facelift!
Facelift!!
ya like it?...just thought it needed to be spiced up a bit :)
Anway, so yesterday (Saturday) my friend Vera came over (she's a German girl who is coming on exchange to Canada next year!) and we started planning a bit what we're going to do when she comes to visit me before she starts school.
She's going to school in New Brunswick, but making a stop in by me first. She really wants to go camping (its what everyone talks about as being so awesome in "America"...everyone here wants to see wild bears, moose and deer.....I think its hilarious. So yes, we are hoping to go camping, as well as shopping at the Eaton Centre! (a indoor mall with 7 floors is QUITE the spectacle here) sight seeing in Toronto, see Niagara falls etc....eine wirklich full Woche!
Not quite sure what I will do if I have to work still lol...but everything will work out.
Later we went to a combined Geburstag Partie for 2 friends of ours from school. We found the party location in a building on the property of an Evangelical church. This is how it was explained to me .....churches have buildings on their properites called "Gemeindhall" or community centre, a building used for wedding receptions, special family get togethers (this all sounded fine and familiar...kinda like our church gyms) oh.....and its used for parties, with disco lights, surround sound speakers and a bar! That part felt weird to me. But, I had a good time and met a couple more people that I've seen around at school!
Hey! 5 weeks from yesterday till I'm back at home! can't wait! but also looking forward to the weeks left here!
Breakin' it down:
The next 2 weeks = in school, with possible trip back to my relatives next weekend
Week 3 = ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes Italy! I'm going to Italy for a week with my school during the first week of June becuase its a holiday week. A group of about 25 students are going, and we're going to have classes in Groove Piano, Ensembles, and Duos! yay!
Week 4, 5 = back at school, getting things wrapped up and packed up!
till next time!
K
ya like it?...just thought it needed to be spiced up a bit :)
Anway, so yesterday (Saturday) my friend Vera came over (she's a German girl who is coming on exchange to Canada next year!) and we started planning a bit what we're going to do when she comes to visit me before she starts school.
She's going to school in New Brunswick, but making a stop in by me first. She really wants to go camping (its what everyone talks about as being so awesome in "America"...everyone here wants to see wild bears, moose and deer.....I think its hilarious. So yes, we are hoping to go camping, as well as shopping at the Eaton Centre! (a indoor mall with 7 floors is QUITE the spectacle here) sight seeing in Toronto, see Niagara falls etc....eine wirklich full Woche!
Not quite sure what I will do if I have to work still lol...but everything will work out.
Later we went to a combined Geburstag Partie for 2 friends of ours from school. We found the party location in a building on the property of an Evangelical church. This is how it was explained to me .....churches have buildings on their properites called "Gemeindhall" or community centre, a building used for wedding receptions, special family get togethers (this all sounded fine and familiar...kinda like our church gyms) oh.....and its used for parties, with disco lights, surround sound speakers and a bar! That part felt weird to me. But, I had a good time and met a couple more people that I've seen around at school!
Hey! 5 weeks from yesterday till I'm back at home! can't wait! but also looking forward to the weeks left here!
Breakin' it down:
The next 2 weeks = in school, with possible trip back to my relatives next weekend
Week 3 = ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes Italy! I'm going to Italy for a week with my school during the first week of June becuase its a holiday week. A group of about 25 students are going, and we're going to have classes in Groove Piano, Ensembles, and Duos! yay!
Week 4, 5 = back at school, getting things wrapped up and packed up!
till next time!
K
Friday, May 15, 2009
Deutsche, mein Zweitsprache!
Heute, ich dachte ich werde auf Deutsche schreiben weil, ich war schon in Deutschland fast 8 Monate und ich glaube jetzt sollte ich etwas auf Deutsch schreiben nah?!......So es tut mir leid wenn ihr könnt nicht Deutsch verstehen aber diese ist mehr eine Üben für mich :)
Ich immer finde, wenn ich denke mein Deutsch kommt viel besser, danach bin ich in einer Situation wo ich verstehe fast gar nichts. Daß ist blöd. Ich dachte ich werde viel mehr in die Sprache lernen, aber ich habe kein Refarat zu geschrieben und meisten die Leute möchten Englisch mit mir reden. So es geht.
Weiter.......(freuer ich hatte ein Abbruch)
So, die Deutsch immer sagt..."Deutsche Sprache, schwierige Sprache" und English ist ziemlich einfach.....dass ist stimmt! Die Grammatic, mit Verben, Adjektive Endungen und so weiter, ist mehr kompliziert weil sie haben die Femanien, Masculien und Neutrum...........Egal! Ich versuche noch zu etwas lernen und bin fröh mit was ich zürucknehmen!
Ich finde dass ich Einzelkonversationen am besten mag, weil dann kann ich mehr sagen und der Satz formulieren. Wenn Leute in einer Gruppe reden, manchmal geht es zu schnell lol
Ich glaube wann ich zu Hause sein, ich werde die Sprache wechseln wirklich vermissen :( Aber ich möchte mit alle die älteren Leute in die Kirche noch sprechen! Wiellicht mit Kaffe und Kuchen?! ;)
So, Leute....laßt ihr mich nur noch sagen, dass ich euch alle vermissen! und wir sehen uns bald!!
Liebe Grüße,
K
Ich immer finde, wenn ich denke mein Deutsch kommt viel besser, danach bin ich in einer Situation wo ich verstehe fast gar nichts. Daß ist blöd. Ich dachte ich werde viel mehr in die Sprache lernen, aber ich habe kein Refarat zu geschrieben und meisten die Leute möchten Englisch mit mir reden. So es geht.
Weiter.......(freuer ich hatte ein Abbruch)
So, die Deutsch immer sagt..."Deutsche Sprache, schwierige Sprache" und English ist ziemlich einfach.....dass ist stimmt! Die Grammatic, mit Verben, Adjektive Endungen und so weiter, ist mehr kompliziert weil sie haben die Femanien, Masculien und Neutrum...........Egal! Ich versuche noch zu etwas lernen und bin fröh mit was ich zürucknehmen!
Ich finde dass ich Einzelkonversationen am besten mag, weil dann kann ich mehr sagen und der Satz formulieren. Wenn Leute in einer Gruppe reden, manchmal geht es zu schnell lol
Ich glaube wann ich zu Hause sein, ich werde die Sprache wechseln wirklich vermissen :( Aber ich möchte mit alle die älteren Leute in die Kirche noch sprechen! Wiellicht mit Kaffe und Kuchen?! ;)
So, Leute....laßt ihr mich nur noch sagen, dass ich euch alle vermissen! und wir sehen uns bald!!
Liebe Grüße,
K
C.U.L.T.U.R.E
Even though this Deutsche Land will never feel like "home" to me, it is defiantly a culture I have grown very comfortable with and understand.....all the elements that when you first arrive, or when you only stay for a short time, you process as:"oh, that's not like home!"
"why do they do that that way!?"
"That's really different/not "normal"...it should be more like my country!" ect. ect. ect.!!
…they’ve become normal now and I’m sure there’s lots of things that I don’t even realize are “different” now.
I feel like the experience of living in another culture for a more extended amount of time really opens your eyes up to the possibilities of the world in a very different way. Its just so so easy to think that everywhere is like Canada or foreign places are just that…..foreign, and not actually real. The neat thing about Europe and that you have so many different cultures so close to each other too! Ya, people are people,….true…..but the way we operate and traditions can be SO different even though the countries neighbor each other!
I think the next place I would love to live is Holland though! ☺….perhaps a little work/travel experience? Just from living there for 6 weeks, I love the people, the culture, the language is crazy, but it’s a mix of German and English so I feel if I was going to be able to learn another one, that would be the one!
Who knows!
Till next time!
K
Germanada :)
So, there has been another MIA pause here.....but please do not give up faith in me so fast!
The break was due to a fantastic visit from my friend Stephanie! She's a good family friend from home! I've grown up with her since I was about 12 maybe?....Anyway, her family is German and she comes here about once a year to visit her Oma....I was lucky enough to have her visit me from Tuesday night until this morning.
...and what a wonderful time we had! Now, this girl can talk! and put the two of us together after not seeing each other for 8 months and lets just say we were on SUPER speed!! I called my parents today and they had to tell me to SLOW my speech down because I was almost non-understandable! haha
It was really great to talk with her, because she's also done exchanges to Germany (never more then 2 months, but the concept is the same).....and we could talk alot about what kinds of things we discovered about ourselves, culture and the world from living here. It was also different to host her because Germany is a culture and a place that she's very familiar with, instead of it all being a little foreign. We played the role of two German girls quite well I think! :)
Anyway, I can't wait to re-unite with her in 5 WEEKS back at home! We've already planned a "Germany in Canada" evening where we sip wine, and talk about what we miss about this country!
Miss you!
K
The break was due to a fantastic visit from my friend Stephanie! She's a good family friend from home! I've grown up with her since I was about 12 maybe?....Anyway, her family is German and she comes here about once a year to visit her Oma....I was lucky enough to have her visit me from Tuesday night until this morning.
...and what a wonderful time we had! Now, this girl can talk! and put the two of us together after not seeing each other for 8 months and lets just say we were on SUPER speed!! I called my parents today and they had to tell me to SLOW my speech down because I was almost non-understandable! haha
It was really great to talk with her, because she's also done exchanges to Germany (never more then 2 months, but the concept is the same).....and we could talk alot about what kinds of things we discovered about ourselves, culture and the world from living here. It was also different to host her because Germany is a culture and a place that she's very familiar with, instead of it all being a little foreign. We played the role of two German girls quite well I think! :)
Anyway, I can't wait to re-unite with her in 5 WEEKS back at home! We've already planned a "Germany in Canada" evening where we sip wine, and talk about what we miss about this country!
Miss you!
K
Monday, May 11, 2009
The sunny side!
Haaaallllloo!
So the weather this last weekend was fantastic! I had a friend (her name's Larissa and she's from the States) that I worked with in Amsterdam come visit me for the weekend and we had a wonderful time (this is summerizing the weekend) climbing the Dom towers (533 steps going up....and what a view!), walking along the river, shopping, sun tanning, running, I cut her hair, talking, etc!...and it was around 22 degrees both days! A wonderful weekend with a girlfriend, doin' girlfriend kinda things!
...aaannndd tomorrow night, my friend Stephanie (she's a friend from home who is doing a 1 month practicum in Germany) is coming to stay with me till Friday! lol....it seems when it rains it pours! But I like it this pace! and I'm excited to see her!
I've learnt ALOT about hosting people and being hosted this year! I've been a guest at many houses and also housed more people then I ever have in my life so far. Its funny how its different everytime....depending on peoples interests, what they want to see in the city, weather can make a big difference etc.
I really like being in Europe in the spring and I bet the summer is awesome too! The people are just more freindly, there's way more stuff to do, when it rains its not as miserable, and everything looks so much more beutiful!
Till next time!
K
So the weather this last weekend was fantastic! I had a friend (her name's Larissa and she's from the States) that I worked with in Amsterdam come visit me for the weekend and we had a wonderful time (this is summerizing the weekend) climbing the Dom towers (533 steps going up....and what a view!), walking along the river, shopping, sun tanning, running, I cut her hair, talking, etc!...and it was around 22 degrees both days! A wonderful weekend with a girlfriend, doin' girlfriend kinda things!
...aaannndd tomorrow night, my friend Stephanie (she's a friend from home who is doing a 1 month practicum in Germany) is coming to stay with me till Friday! lol....it seems when it rains it pours! But I like it this pace! and I'm excited to see her!
I've learnt ALOT about hosting people and being hosted this year! I've been a guest at many houses and also housed more people then I ever have in my life so far. Its funny how its different everytime....depending on peoples interests, what they want to see in the city, weather can make a big difference etc.
I really like being in Europe in the spring and I bet the summer is awesome too! The people are just more freindly, there's way more stuff to do, when it rains its not as miserable, and everything looks so much more beutiful!
Till next time!
K
Thursday, May 7, 2009
M to the UNICH!!....Part 1
So, let me tell you about one of the highlight trips of this year! Munich!
So last Thursday, me and my friend Frida (who is another exchange student from Finnland) got in a car with a Bavarian boy named Thomas (who later not only became our carpool driver, but also our Munich social convener and we changed his name to "Tommy" :)......and drove with him 5 and a half hours across Germany on the Autobahn (the German highway...LOVE IT!.....people drive super fast always!)
After talking with Tommy for about 10 minutes in the car, he had already invited us to go with him to his friends house for breakfast the next day, then go to a Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival) party in another town, then to some other place and then we could sleep at his parents house for the night!! hahahaha Me and Frida looked at each other and mutually decided we would love to join in the breakfast, Frühlingsfest and town party...bbbuuuuut perhaps we'd skip the sleepover with his parents :)......we did however somehow get to meet them.....
So the next day we took a train to a town in the middle of nowhere, were picked up by T., found out he had forgotten something at home so we just had to "pop" back in......went to his house, were invited out of the car and somehow ended up sitting on the patio, talking with his parents while they had breakfast and Tommy was collecting his things somewhere in the house! Me and Frida could not make eye contact during this convo, cause we would have burst out laughing at the wonderment of how we got into this situation!
Anyway, we left shortly after and were on our way to Max's house (one of Tommy's Bavarian friends) for breakfast. This was really cool! There were about 10 of us and everyone was in Lederhosen and Dirndles for the festival! We really had no idea what to expect, so when we were ushered into the house to find a giant long table all set up with warm pretzels, weißwurst (a special kind of sausage) and beer.....we were presently suprised and definilty had a great time! Tommy's friends were all great! Some of the nicest and open Germans we've met!
After breakfast, we headed to the town festival! This was EXACTLY like all the German Oktoberfest stereotypes! Picture a big tent and a Biergarten outside.....everyone in Lederhosen and Dirndles, sausage, sourkrout, massive preztles (like 2 times the size of my head) massive beers ( 1L in every mug)....a polka band etc. What a blast!
We didn't stay too long though cause it was our first day and we wanted to make sure we saw the city of Munich too! lol
....and what a beautiful city! It was very different from anywhere else I've been in Germany so far. Its only about 50 years old, but all the architecture was built in the style of pre-war times. I think I will get into that history in the next blog. Anyway, first day in Munich equalled fabulous!
Prost!
K
So last Thursday, me and my friend Frida (who is another exchange student from Finnland) got in a car with a Bavarian boy named Thomas (who later not only became our carpool driver, but also our Munich social convener and we changed his name to "Tommy" :)......and drove with him 5 and a half hours across Germany on the Autobahn (the German highway...LOVE IT!.....people drive super fast always!)
After talking with Tommy for about 10 minutes in the car, he had already invited us to go with him to his friends house for breakfast the next day, then go to a Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival) party in another town, then to some other place and then we could sleep at his parents house for the night!! hahahaha Me and Frida looked at each other and mutually decided we would love to join in the breakfast, Frühlingsfest and town party...bbbuuuuut perhaps we'd skip the sleepover with his parents :)......we did however somehow get to meet them.....
So the next day we took a train to a town in the middle of nowhere, were picked up by T., found out he had forgotten something at home so we just had to "pop" back in......went to his house, were invited out of the car and somehow ended up sitting on the patio, talking with his parents while they had breakfast and Tommy was collecting his things somewhere in the house! Me and Frida could not make eye contact during this convo, cause we would have burst out laughing at the wonderment of how we got into this situation!
Anyway, we left shortly after and were on our way to Max's house (one of Tommy's Bavarian friends) for breakfast. This was really cool! There were about 10 of us and everyone was in Lederhosen and Dirndles for the festival! We really had no idea what to expect, so when we were ushered into the house to find a giant long table all set up with warm pretzels, weißwurst (a special kind of sausage) and beer.....we were presently suprised and definilty had a great time! Tommy's friends were all great! Some of the nicest and open Germans we've met!
After breakfast, we headed to the town festival! This was EXACTLY like all the German Oktoberfest stereotypes! Picture a big tent and a Biergarten outside.....everyone in Lederhosen and Dirndles, sausage, sourkrout, massive preztles (like 2 times the size of my head) massive beers ( 1L in every mug)....a polka band etc. What a blast!
We didn't stay too long though cause it was our first day and we wanted to make sure we saw the city of Munich too! lol
....and what a beautiful city! It was very different from anywhere else I've been in Germany so far. Its only about 50 years old, but all the architecture was built in the style of pre-war times. I think I will get into that history in the next blog. Anyway, first day in Munich equalled fabulous!
Prost!
K
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Home..
Today was a day I really just wished I was home.....
Its so weird to think of how much time has gone by.....I just can't believe how many things have changed and that I've missed. Some of my best friends have had new boyfriends for a while already and I havn't even met them!....It makes me sad cause I want to know these guys that they are sharing massive chunks of their lives with!....Other friends and cousins are graduating highschool and University this year! or accomplished major things like 3rd year singing recitals, getting awesome jobs working for parliament, going through the steps of getting married....my parents have built a totally new section and main floor of our house!....my Oma and Opa moved into an appartment...the list goes on and on and I miss it all SO much!
Know, that truley not a single day goes by that I don't think about home...not always in a sad way, don't worry!....but I think about it always in some kind of way. One of the many things I've come to realize this year is that apart from God, people are the most important thing in life!! And for me, those people are you!
I love you!
K
Its so weird to think of how much time has gone by.....I just can't believe how many things have changed and that I've missed. Some of my best friends have had new boyfriends for a while already and I havn't even met them!....It makes me sad cause I want to know these guys that they are sharing massive chunks of their lives with!....Other friends and cousins are graduating highschool and University this year! or accomplished major things like 3rd year singing recitals, getting awesome jobs working for parliament, going through the steps of getting married....my parents have built a totally new section and main floor of our house!....my Oma and Opa moved into an appartment...the list goes on and on and I miss it all SO much!
Know, that truley not a single day goes by that I don't think about home...not always in a sad way, don't worry!....but I think about it always in some kind of way. One of the many things I've come to realize this year is that apart from God, people are the most important thing in life!! And for me, those people are you!
I love you!
K
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Singer DRAMA!!!
OK, this just in.......DO NOT accidentally get your arrogant German singer teacher mad!
As a little background FYI, lets just say, the beginning of this semester has been the opposite of smooth! The international office forgot me, therefore I wasn't registered in the school...therefore, therefore,....I didn't have any kind of instrumental lessons (being a music student, these are somewhat essential )
Step 2, I got registered and was excitingly told that I could take piano AND singing lessons! Horray!
Step 3, I contacted, arranged, and had first piano lesson with my teacher and contacted, arranged, and had first talk/set up class with my singing teacher.
Step 4, ....was told that apparently now exchange students can only have lessons in one subject and that piano teacher was full, therefore I couldn't have piano lessons so I had to take singing................oooookkkk.
Step 5, was told that I could no longer take singing lessons with my first singing teacher.
Step 6, ...Now had to get in contact with a new lady and set up lessons with her.
Step 7, ...Contacted second singing teacher who had no idea that I was studying with her, and wondered basically what I was talking about.
Steps 1 through 7 came out to equal a VERY aggravated me. So, after talking with my mom, it was executively decided that I needed to stick up for myself and stop getting thrown around. So I mustered up all my courage and sent an email to the Prof. in charge of me, telling her how it was, that I was real frustrated and I wanted her to get to the bottom of this.
Well, the next day my singing teacher emailed me...said come by and sing for me and we'll arrange lessons. "Excellent!" I thought...wow, I have to do this speaking up thing more often....
So that brings us to today...where I went for my first lessons with Frau Kelling. An extremely skinny lady with pencil thin eyebrows and a real singers attitude (which means you think you are the best in the world)......who now reminds me of Cruella De Vil!
The lesson began with her telling me a couple ....lets say "unpleasant" facts....(and these were all in German so they sound even more intimidating!)
#1. Did I know that I had the President of the University calling her at 10 pm on a Thursday night becasue of the email I had sent?? (believe me, my intetion by telling one Prof. I was frusterated was not to get the president involved!)
#2. Did I know what an amazing and well known teacher she is? and who do I think I am?...followed by her saying that she thought I must be an absolutly brilliant singer in order for me to create such a stir...followed by me saying I've never taken singing lessons IN MY LIFE!
Yes, well, after I had apologized a few thousand times and told her the real story, she decided it was actually time to sing and let me know AGAIN that she thought I must be like some famous singer named "Colours" (that I've never heard of)........
So, I sang "la, la, la" about 4 times and she said I actually had a really lovely voice and now we're meeting twice a week for lessons cause I only have............6 WEEKS LEFT!!!!!!
And that my friends was I feel just the beginning or the drama that revolves in the "Singers" world. I'm hopin' I can make it through!!
LOVE
K
As a little background FYI, lets just say, the beginning of this semester has been the opposite of smooth! The international office forgot me, therefore I wasn't registered in the school...therefore, therefore,....I didn't have any kind of instrumental lessons (being a music student, these are somewhat essential )
Step 2, I got registered and was excitingly told that I could take piano AND singing lessons! Horray!
Step 3, I contacted, arranged, and had first piano lesson with my teacher and contacted, arranged, and had first talk/set up class with my singing teacher.
Step 4, ....was told that apparently now exchange students can only have lessons in one subject and that piano teacher was full, therefore I couldn't have piano lessons so I had to take singing................oooookkkk.
Step 5, was told that I could no longer take singing lessons with my first singing teacher.
Step 6, ...Now had to get in contact with a new lady and set up lessons with her.
Step 7, ...Contacted second singing teacher who had no idea that I was studying with her, and wondered basically what I was talking about.
Steps 1 through 7 came out to equal a VERY aggravated me. So, after talking with my mom, it was executively decided that I needed to stick up for myself and stop getting thrown around. So I mustered up all my courage and sent an email to the Prof. in charge of me, telling her how it was, that I was real frustrated and I wanted her to get to the bottom of this.
Well, the next day my singing teacher emailed me...said come by and sing for me and we'll arrange lessons. "Excellent!" I thought...wow, I have to do this speaking up thing more often....
So that brings us to today...where I went for my first lessons with Frau Kelling. An extremely skinny lady with pencil thin eyebrows and a real singers attitude (which means you think you are the best in the world)......who now reminds me of Cruella De Vil!
The lesson began with her telling me a couple ....lets say "unpleasant" facts....(and these were all in German so they sound even more intimidating!)
#1. Did I know that I had the President of the University calling her at 10 pm on a Thursday night becasue of the email I had sent?? (believe me, my intetion by telling one Prof. I was frusterated was not to get the president involved!)
#2. Did I know what an amazing and well known teacher she is? and who do I think I am?...followed by her saying that she thought I must be an absolutly brilliant singer in order for me to create such a stir...followed by me saying I've never taken singing lessons IN MY LIFE!
Yes, well, after I had apologized a few thousand times and told her the real story, she decided it was actually time to sing and let me know AGAIN that she thought I must be like some famous singer named "Colours" (that I've never heard of)........
So, I sang "la, la, la" about 4 times and she said I actually had a really lovely voice and now we're meeting twice a week for lessons cause I only have............6 WEEKS LEFT!!!!!!
And that my friends was I feel just the beginning or the drama that revolves in the "Singers" world. I'm hopin' I can make it through!!
LOVE
K
Hitchhikers!?
SO, I have to write about my time in Munich because it has a whole bunch of great stories that come along with it.....but I am going to save that for a day where I have nothing to say....that day is not today :)
Today, I just said bye to 3 friends that came to visit me from Amsterdam!!
Yesterday I got an email saying "Hey Katrina! 2 of us want to come visit you TONIGHT! is that alright?" (these are people that I worked/lived with when I was volunteering at the hostel).... at first I thought "well I havn't even been home for 24 hours...I have school, blah, blah, blah....but I'm really working on not letting opportunities pass through my fingers AND keeping a busy schedual so I talked some sense into my head and said
"Please come! I'd love to see you!....Let me know when your train comes in and I'll pick you up at the station!"
Reply--"Oh, actually we're going to HITCHHIKE!....so hopefully we get there sometime around 8ish?"
Well, to make a long story short,......7 random rides, 6 hours and a couple funny stories later, I picked up my friends Coen (Dutch), Carmi (New Zealander) and Heather (Candian) infront of the Dom (big cathedral) where they were sitting on the ground eating bread and chocolate spread they had brought with them from home. hahhaha It was so great to see them again!
We went back to my place, hung out, I got caught up on everthing that I've missed in the last month etc. It was really cool to have them here, and I think it was interesting for them to see me in a different setting, outside of our usual house.....when you live together with a bunch of people, its easy to forget that they have lives that go on in other parts of the world.
Anyway, this morning I went to class, came back and we made a big breakfast before they headed off to see a bit of Köln and then hitchhike their way back to Amsterdam.....I hope they're doing alright right now!
I don't know about this hitchhiking thing.....obvioulsy its great cause it costs nothing...but you can't really have a "time of arrival" cause you really never know! Don't worry Parentals.....I don't think this one's gunna try it ;)
Today, I just said bye to 3 friends that came to visit me from Amsterdam!!
Yesterday I got an email saying "Hey Katrina! 2 of us want to come visit you TONIGHT! is that alright?" (these are people that I worked/lived with when I was volunteering at the hostel).... at first I thought "well I havn't even been home for 24 hours...I have school, blah, blah, blah....but I'm really working on not letting opportunities pass through my fingers AND keeping a busy schedual so I talked some sense into my head and said
"Please come! I'd love to see you!....Let me know when your train comes in and I'll pick you up at the station!"
Reply--"Oh, actually we're going to HITCHHIKE!....so hopefully we get there sometime around 8ish?"
Well, to make a long story short,......7 random rides, 6 hours and a couple funny stories later, I picked up my friends Coen (Dutch), Carmi (New Zealander) and Heather (Candian) infront of the Dom (big cathedral) where they were sitting on the ground eating bread and chocolate spread they had brought with them from home. hahhaha It was so great to see them again!
We went back to my place, hung out, I got caught up on everthing that I've missed in the last month etc. It was really cool to have them here, and I think it was interesting for them to see me in a different setting, outside of our usual house.....when you live together with a bunch of people, its easy to forget that they have lives that go on in other parts of the world.
Anyway, this morning I went to class, came back and we made a big breakfast before they headed off to see a bit of Köln and then hitchhike their way back to Amsterdam.....I hope they're doing alright right now!
I don't know about this hitchhiking thing.....obvioulsy its great cause it costs nothing...but you can't really have a "time of arrival" cause you really never know! Don't worry Parentals.....I don't think this one's gunna try it ;)
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