Back home in Ann Arbor I did not own a television set but rather we --myself and two roommates-- had a monitor that they would hook up to an Xbox and play while I watched. The benefits of living with guys never end. The most television I watched so far in my college (entire) life would have probably been during the month long, mind you free, trial we did of Netflix. Trying to squeeze out the most of it, during the final weekend we watched an entire cartoon tv series.
I know, I am possibly the lamest college student alive, but hey, at least I didn't eat Ramen Noodles every day, right?
My host family in Germany does, in fact, have a television (It's beautiful and big and shiny and new!) and we watch it regularly...As in every night... As in I am semi-addicted to a German reality show that consists of people cooking for one another and hence my title.
It's not particularly interesting, nor intelligent, mostly I am just proud to understand it all because once we switch it up to the news I've got my sixth grade comprehension level to fall back on. Something of note here is that every week a TVguide comes in the mail (Those still exist?) and one might wonder, "Why does Germany keep sending out guides?"
Well, dear readers, it is probably because Germany has the most messed up confusing scheduling ever. Ever. Their shows do not have starting times on the hour, or the half hour, or any sort of normal hour-ish time. Sometimes movies will begin at seven after the hour and because the Germans are so punctual it is exactly four hundred and twenty seconds after the hour.
Then they just split into these wonky twenty minute commercial segments which are completely useless for the kid who has learned to sprint to the bathroom, use said room, brush teeth, and get into pajamas within the four-and-a-half-minute break between our tv shows because I'll be damned if I'm missing any precious second of Red and Green Show!
Not only are these commercial breaks way too long for any normal human being, since they are generally American tv shows adapted to German, the commercials will break mid-way through sentences.
Because we in the states have tv figured out! Five minute commercials at carefully spaced plot points to keep viewers coming back, not DIRECTLY in the middle of the show because there is only one commercial break total.
Trust me, watching Horatio Caine take of his sunglasses to a witty remark revolving around murder is not nearly as dramatic if it doesn't immediately cut to commercial. And that *takes off sunglasses* is all I have for today. YEEAAH!
(Edit: Sorry, if you didn't get that last part, just watch an episode of CSI:Miami.)
Meet Rebecca
- Rebecca
- Amateur blogger (yes, there are professionals) who started with a travel blog that quickly degenerated into blabbering. Along with a life goal of surfing with Eddie Vedder, attending BlogHer is now on my list.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
I'd Like to Thank the Academy
After working the entire day on a post that ended in a prompt deletion, (The combination of bellyaching and angst would have put any eyeliner-wearing teenage boy to shame.)
I instead took some advice from a very wise and colorful lady I once knew and put together a list of things I am thankful for instead. Because honestly, we should all take a look around us and see the great things we have.
Here goes:
I am thankful for...
1) ...getting a wonderful guest family here in Germany. I could not have found a better fit myself and I can contently say I will miss them when I have to go this week. This whole opportunity is officially on the list too.
2) ...my health and the health of my family and friends. I have yet to break a leg here and I like to take the 'no news is good news' approach for the rest of my family.
3) ...my immediate financial security. Yaaaaay, tax returns!
So since the three big obvious ones are out of the way.
4) ...my Christmas boots, they are coming in handy.
5) ...a haircut I think that finally suits me.
6) ...the fact I have not read the Twilight books.
7) ...my ability to go to a spa whenever I want.
8) ...Eis (ice cream) because it can brighten any day.
9) ...finally finishing my first real book in German that wasn't for class. (Theo Traktor doesn't count.) It was Löcher (Holes). Check me out! I'm nearing a sixth grade reading level!
10) ...being able to continue this list if I wanted.
Danke allen.
I instead took some advice from a very wise and colorful lady I once knew and put together a list of things I am thankful for instead. Because honestly, we should all take a look around us and see the great things we have.
Here goes:
I am thankful for...
1) ...getting a wonderful guest family here in Germany. I could not have found a better fit myself and I can contently say I will miss them when I have to go this week. This whole opportunity is officially on the list too.
2) ...my health and the health of my family and friends. I have yet to break a leg here and I like to take the 'no news is good news' approach for the rest of my family.
3) ...my immediate financial security. Yaaaaay, tax returns!
So since the three big obvious ones are out of the way.
4) ...my Christmas boots, they are coming in handy.
5) ...a haircut I think that finally suits me.
6) ...the fact I have not read the Twilight books.
7) ...my ability to go to a spa whenever I want.
8) ...Eis (ice cream) because it can brighten any day.
9) ...finally finishing my first real book in German that wasn't for class. (Theo Traktor doesn't count.) It was Löcher (Holes). Check me out! I'm nearing a sixth grade reading level!
10) ...being able to continue this list if I wanted.
Danke allen.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Imported
If I learned anything in Anthro 101 it would be that during field experience people are going to treat you like an attraction until your peculiarity wears off. Well, I also learned that Barbies are modeled after an erotic doll, but right now that's not important.
The routine seems to go like this: You come into another culture and by your very definition you are foreign and out of place. I felt just like a piece of furniture that was ruining the feng shui of a room. Only instead of being a misplaced lamp, I was a misplaced lamp that would bump into everything and not being able to explain itself. Soon your language skills start warming up and people tell you all the great things they think about you and your country. Great school system, so many choices, people are so proud to be Americans, and by the way, there's a McDonald's in the next town if you need it. After comes a period of getting to know one another, and then, just like any good relationship the rose-colored glasses come off and the dukes come up.
Before I had come to Germany, there was a very large school shooting in which a student took the lives of nine children, three teachers, three civilians, and finally himself. Within my first month here, there was a trial for his father who did not have his weapons--which in Germany are very expensive and strictly regulated--stored properly. One morning, reading the paper I noticed that a quote in the article said something along the lines of, 'These sorts of tragedies are supposed to happen in the United States, not Germany' and that these ideas 'have been imported from the states.' I had never been so ashamed of where I came from.
I know these are blanket allegations and stereotypes. Intelligent people dismiss them anyways, but still. The stereotype that all Americans are "fat and lazy" (fette und faule Menschen)-direct quote from my host brother- I can live with. They live with the stereotype that they all drink constantly and have garden gnomes. Julian is able to correct the kids in his class when they say things like that, but talking to him at dinner last week he asked me if it's true that we sell guns in our supermarkets. (In which case, Wal-Mart does, but I am well beyond being surprised by that store anymore.)
So to all you exchange students, travelers, or anyone interacting with another culture, let's improve our image a bit, okay? Americans are proud of their culture, or so I've been told, so make something to be proud about. Because, honestly, with stuff like this floating around, we have some work to do.
PS Don't forget about Earth Hour! Today, take one hour and unplug. No computer, lights, television, or electricity use. So just go flip the breaker off and take a walk or play a board game with the rest of the world as we save some energy. (Says the girl typing on her lap top. I know, I know. I'm going right now..)
Bis bald.
The routine seems to go like this: You come into another culture and by your very definition you are foreign and out of place. I felt just like a piece of furniture that was ruining the feng shui of a room. Only instead of being a misplaced lamp, I was a misplaced lamp that would bump into everything and not being able to explain itself. Soon your language skills start warming up and people tell you all the great things they think about you and your country. Great school system, so many choices, people are so proud to be Americans, and by the way, there's a McDonald's in the next town if you need it. After comes a period of getting to know one another, and then, just like any good relationship the rose-colored glasses come off and the dukes come up.
Before I had come to Germany, there was a very large school shooting in which a student took the lives of nine children, three teachers, three civilians, and finally himself. Within my first month here, there was a trial for his father who did not have his weapons--which in Germany are very expensive and strictly regulated--stored properly. One morning, reading the paper I noticed that a quote in the article said something along the lines of, 'These sorts of tragedies are supposed to happen in the United States, not Germany' and that these ideas 'have been imported from the states.' I had never been so ashamed of where I came from.
I know these are blanket allegations and stereotypes. Intelligent people dismiss them anyways, but still. The stereotype that all Americans are "fat and lazy" (fette und faule Menschen)-direct quote from my host brother- I can live with. They live with the stereotype that they all drink constantly and have garden gnomes. Julian is able to correct the kids in his class when they say things like that, but talking to him at dinner last week he asked me if it's true that we sell guns in our supermarkets. (In which case, Wal-Mart does, but I am well beyond being surprised by that store anymore.)
So to all you exchange students, travelers, or anyone interacting with another culture, let's improve our image a bit, okay? Americans are proud of their culture, or so I've been told, so make something to be proud about. Because, honestly, with stuff like this floating around, we have some work to do.
PS Don't forget about Earth Hour! Today, take one hour and unplug. No computer, lights, television, or electricity use. So just go flip the breaker off and take a walk or play a board game with the rest of the world as we save some energy. (Says the girl typing on her lap top. I know, I know. I'm going right now..)
Bis bald.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Hats off to the Hausfrauen!
Every German woman is my hero. When a women here says they are a housewife (hausfrau) it constitutes everything similar in the states. They cook, clean, take care of kids, all the fun things women are entitled to do. These ladies don't rest of their laurels though (I learned a laurel is a wreath! Probably not the most comfortable place to relax anyways.) they go all out. Elke cleans the whole house (this includes the oven) every other day and I would eat off of the living room floor if all the plates were dirty. Like they ever would be.
And Nick's Mom, Sonja, keeps an unbelievably awesome garden while taking care of a political party and a husband that gets called into work at three am on a regular basis. (Plus I really like that she puts fruit into my cereal in the morning before I come down to breakfast, Thanks Sonja.)
But that is not the important part, because honestly, it's practically inhuman. These ladies are exceptional. The best part (for me, the lazy host-student) is the daily cake allowance (It's really more of fruit with cream, but whatever, Germans don't get cake. I forgive them.) and the meals.
I love the food here. My love handles agree.
They make so many delicious things. "Black forest cake, with frosting like snow on the eaves of a Bavarian castle!" -H.J. Simpson (Edit: The black forest is not in Bavaria. There's only lederhosen, coo coo clocks, and FC Bayern fans there.) It's uncanny how the food here is. I can't explain it. You can take a bite of something and be completely brought to another world. So far, I have eaten spätzle that tasted like camping, marmalade that brought me back to pre-school and fingerpainting, and yesterday I ate cake that was a Fall day reincarnate. It's unexplainable, you just take a bite and immediately you're thinking of apple orchards and carving pumpkins. I'm not the only one, (or in the very least I'm not the only insane one) because other American students have taken bites of my examples and noted the exact same thing. It's truly indescribable. How do they do it?
I'll just chalk it up to the fact that Elke refuses to wear sweatpants while she's at home. (Überhaupt keine Joggenhose!) What a classy lady.
I would like to note, before I wrap this up, that my mom tops all of these women for three reasons:
1) My mom does all the house work while simultaneously owning a farm and raising eight kids that would have given Genghis Khan a hard time.. Elke is a proud housewife and only housewife. She told me herself she tried having a job, but decided on staying home instead.
2) I could live without any food item made here. I cannot live without my mom's cinnamon rolls or bread. If you haven't tasted them, be grateful, it's like having a crack addiction.
3) C'mon you guys. She's my mom.
And Nick's Mom, Sonja, keeps an unbelievably awesome garden while taking care of a political party and a husband that gets called into work at three am on a regular basis. (Plus I really like that she puts fruit into my cereal in the morning before I come down to breakfast, Thanks Sonja.)
But that is not the important part, because honestly, it's practically inhuman. These ladies are exceptional. The best part (for me, the lazy host-student) is the daily cake allowance (It's really more of fruit with cream, but whatever, Germans don't get cake. I forgive them.) and the meals.
I love the food here. My love handles agree.
They make so many delicious things. "Black forest cake, with frosting like snow on the eaves of a Bavarian castle!" -H.J. Simpson (Edit: The black forest is not in Bavaria. There's only lederhosen, coo coo clocks, and FC Bayern fans there.) It's uncanny how the food here is. I can't explain it. You can take a bite of something and be completely brought to another world. So far, I have eaten spätzle that tasted like camping, marmalade that brought me back to pre-school and fingerpainting, and yesterday I ate cake that was a Fall day reincarnate. It's unexplainable, you just take a bite and immediately you're thinking of apple orchards and carving pumpkins. I'm not the only one, (or in the very least I'm not the only insane one) because other American students have taken bites of my examples and noted the exact same thing. It's truly indescribable. How do they do it?
I'll just chalk it up to the fact that Elke refuses to wear sweatpants while she's at home. (Überhaupt keine Joggenhose!) What a classy lady.
I would like to note, before I wrap this up, that my mom tops all of these women for three reasons:
1) My mom does all the house work while simultaneously owning a farm and raising eight kids that would have given Genghis Khan a hard time.. Elke is a proud housewife and only housewife. She told me herself she tried having a job, but decided on staying home instead.
2) I could live without any food item made here. I cannot live without my mom's cinnamon rolls or bread. If you haven't tasted them, be grateful, it's like having a crack addiction.
3) C'mon you guys. She's my mom.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Can you German?
I am slowly integrating into the blogging world, and I read one that I specifically enjoy about a girl who spontaneously moved to Germany with no language knowledge to become a baker. As I read it, I really do start to wonder how her German is coming along. Her entire blog is in English and she speaks about her classes very little. (Remind you of anyone?) My question to you guys is, does anyone wonder how I'm coming along?
Probably not, but if you didn't want my opinion, it's a safe bet to say you wouldn't be here reading. ... I hope.
Background: Rebecca knew no deutsch beyond aufwiedersehen before college. In all honesty, she didn't even know what country aufwiedersehen came from.
In college, by some random circumstances she had half a mind to enroll in a German language course. She took three semesters before coming to Germany and declaring a German major. At this point, she could say what she liked to do in her free time (Ich koche gern!) and describe her family. Which granted, by how confusing her family is to explain in English, doing it in German is a bit of a feat. (Ich habe viele Geschwister!)
As of right now, she can say what she needs to and is able to hold semi-intelligent conversations in German so long as the other end speaks clearly enough. Her biggest accomplishment thus far was having an AHA!-moment (Shout out to all you Tuesday people.) during class where she realized that while doodling, she could understand her teacher when only half-listening. It was thrilling.
What I really wanted to get at here, was that my German has improved, but it is not perfect. Absolutely nowhere near perfect. Although some other students are having some problems with that mind-set...
The biggest example is a girl storming out of class (twice) because she didn't feel she needed to review. However, my favorite was today.
I was on the bus with the other American students, just sitting in my seat minding my own business until all the younger school kids got on. They are always rambunctious and loud, but you can always hear English over it. That voice is always a girl from my class. Let's call her Blondie. So Blondie thinks she is very good at speaking German,...
this is how the conversation went between her and a nine-year-old German.
Blondie: (loudly speaking English)...
German Kid: He, kannst du deutsch?
Blondie: Doch! Kannst DU englisch???
In English now...
B: (loud English)
GK: Hey, do you speak German?
B: Nu-huh! Do YOU speak English?
The hilarity is that she improperly uses German while declaring that she can speak German but ultimately actually saying (and implying through her misuse of the language) that she really doesn't understand German. A true face-palm moment. I just shook my head because this is how that conversation should have went:
B: (loud English)
GK: Hey, do you NOT know any German?
B: Nu-huh. Of course I know German. Do YOU speak English?
Lesson learned from Abe Lincoln: It's better to say nothing and be thought a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Bis bald.
Probably not, but if you didn't want my opinion, it's a safe bet to say you wouldn't be here reading. ... I hope.
Background: Rebecca knew no deutsch beyond aufwiedersehen before college. In all honesty, she didn't even know what country aufwiedersehen came from.
In college, by some random circumstances she had half a mind to enroll in a German language course. She took three semesters before coming to Germany and declaring a German major. At this point, she could say what she liked to do in her free time (Ich koche gern!) and describe her family. Which granted, by how confusing her family is to explain in English, doing it in German is a bit of a feat. (Ich habe viele Geschwister!)
As of right now, she can say what she needs to and is able to hold semi-intelligent conversations in German so long as the other end speaks clearly enough. Her biggest accomplishment thus far was having an AHA!-moment (Shout out to all you Tuesday people.) during class where she realized that while doodling, she could understand her teacher when only half-listening. It was thrilling.
What I really wanted to get at here, was that my German has improved, but it is not perfect. Absolutely nowhere near perfect. Although some other students are having some problems with that mind-set...
The biggest example is a girl storming out of class (twice) because she didn't feel she needed to review. However, my favorite was today.
I was on the bus with the other American students, just sitting in my seat minding my own business until all the younger school kids got on. They are always rambunctious and loud, but you can always hear English over it. That voice is always a girl from my class. Let's call her Blondie. So Blondie thinks she is very good at speaking German,...
this is how the conversation went between her and a nine-year-old German.
Blondie: (loudly speaking English)...
German Kid: He, kannst du deutsch?
Blondie: Doch! Kannst DU englisch???
In English now...
B: (loud English)
GK: Hey, do you speak German?
B: Nu-huh! Do YOU speak English?
The hilarity is that she improperly uses German while declaring that she can speak German but ultimately actually saying (and implying through her misuse of the language) that she really doesn't understand German. A true face-palm moment. I just shook my head because this is how that conversation should have went:
B: (loud English)
GK: Hey, do you NOT know any German?
B: Nu-huh. Of course I know German. Do YOU speak English?
Lesson learned from Abe Lincoln: It's better to say nothing and be thought a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Bis bald.
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