Today as i sat in a Cafe drinking wine with my buddy, Nick, we started to talk about the wine we were drinking and then all things wine like. Remember my post about Sekt? A sparkling German wine, if you don't pronounce it properly it can lead to awkward situations:
Me: This is really good, better than Sekt. When was the last time you had Sekt?
Nick: (stammers and blushes) uhhh...excuse me? Is that really something we need to talk about right now?
Me: huh?
It's a bit tough to speak Denglish. If you're not paying attention, the german words take you a bit by surprise and you don't hear them properly. Think about it like this- Sekt is pronounced with a Z, making it basically Zekt. Now, trying saying it again- saying the S as an S, in my lazy North American accent. I think we all know why Nick was a bit embarassed. And yes- it was awkward and strangely funny...
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Fall
As i rode my bike home today along the bike path, i noticed that fall seems to have struck the Ahr Valley with a vengence. Then i got to thinking- if Spring has sprung, can one say that Fall has fallen? I mean, i suppose it's grammatically ok, but it sounds a bit off. i started thinking maybe it was just a matter of finding a synonym for fallen. Here is what Thesaurus.com pulled up:
1 thesaurus results for: fallen
Main Entry: fallen
Part of Speech: adjective
Synonyms: dead, debased, degraded, deposed, depreciated, disgraced, dropped, immoral, lost, prostrate, shamed, sinful, slain
I think i may have maybe not done this search using the right word. Because, as sure as i am that no one really says "Fall has fallen", i am even more sure that no one would ever say "Fall has depreciated" or "Fall has dropped". Maybe i should hit the drawing board again here. There seems to be some fundamental flaws in my thought process on this one...
1 thesaurus results for: fallen
Main Entry: fallen
Part of Speech: adjective
Synonyms: dead, debased, degraded, deposed, depreciated, disgraced, dropped, immoral, lost, prostrate, shamed, sinful, slain
I think i may have maybe not done this search using the right word. Because, as sure as i am that no one really says "Fall has fallen", i am even more sure that no one would ever say "Fall has depreciated" or "Fall has dropped". Maybe i should hit the drawing board again here. There seems to be some fundamental flaws in my thought process on this one...
The only time hearing "I don't want you" will brighten your day
This morning i taught a half baked lesson i had cobbled together on Canadian history. it started with the Vikings and ended 'round about 1885 with the trans-continental railroad. So, yeah, a bit skewed maybe- seeing as i may have missed a hundred years or so after Confederation, but it went over really well with my grade sixes :) They liked reading a challenging piece and they had a lot of questions. It was the first class that i had today and it really set a positive tone for the day.
Also setting a positive tone was when the teacher of my last class told me she didn't want me today :) They were watching some sort of random/weird DVD and i would have just sat there anyway, so i totally got to peace out early. I think this will officially be the only time ever that "i don't want you" will make someone's day- cause it sure made mine :D
Also setting a positive tone was when the teacher of my last class told me she didn't want me today :) They were watching some sort of random/weird DVD and i would have just sat there anyway, so i totally got to peace out early. I think this will officially be the only time ever that "i don't want you" will make someone's day- cause it sure made mine :D
Friday, September 26, 2008
Can't Touch This!
I would just like to point out that the radio station i listen to here, BIG FM, prides itself on playing today's hotest new music. 20 minutes ago they played MC Hammer. i am glad they have kept up with the times.
His, his, his music hits me so hard.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcNUx0-XEfw
He was pretty good live too. Thank you River Cree :)
His, his, his music hits me so hard.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcNUx0-XEfw
He was pretty good live too. Thank you River Cree :)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sekt
Basically a german sparkling wine, it is definately the quickest buzz i have ever found. A glass of the stuff the Family drinks can make you tispy. 2 glasses can make you cut. keep this in mind.
That is all.
That is all.
No seriously- what is it?
Remember the scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where Ian's mom brought a Bundt cake to the Portokalos Family BBQ and Toula's mom had no idea WTH it was??? ok, well, i have a "WTH is that" as well. But, sorry to disappoint you all- it is not food. It is, in fact, an installation in my bathroom. And at least twice everyday for the past month i have looked at it and thought "no, seriously- what IS it?"
Plus, i can't just ask- what if the answer turns out to be something seriously simple an
d i look like a tard. Or what if the Family asks why haven't i been using it? Or maybe it's cause my bathroom when i was growing up was simple and all-canadian? I dunno. but everyday i wonder a little bit- wtf is it??? i think it is maybe the weird position of the faucet that confuses me the most. seriously. i have ideas, but i would appreciate it if someone i don't have to live with for the next 8 months could maybe tell me what its function is. And yes Kim, thanks- i get that the one on the left is the toilet ;)
Plus, i can't just ask- what if the answer turns out to be something seriously simple an
d i look like a tard. Or what if the Family asks why haven't i been using it? Or maybe it's cause my bathroom when i was growing up was simple and all-canadian? I dunno. but everyday i wonder a little bit- wtf is it??? i think it is maybe the weird position of the faucet that confuses me the most. seriously. i have ideas, but i would appreciate it if someone i don't have to live with for the next 8 months could maybe tell me what its function is. And yes Kim, thanks- i get that the one on the left is the toilet ;)
750 g of Awesome
So today is definately all about the food. i made another trip to the Aldi on my way to my weekly meeting with the HOTT guy processing my visa. to make a long story short- basically it's taken about 3 weeks to get it all together (thus, 3 seperate visits *sigh*) So, in Aldi i came across Zimt Chips. ok, cinnamon, i can do that- beats the hell out of the boring ass cornflakes the Family eats for breakfast. So i get home, whip 'em out for snackies and am definately pleasantly surprised. 750 g of Cinnamon Toast Crunch- aka all that is awesome in one happy little box. I have to admit though, that judging a ceral by its box can be risky business, but the box made it look like healthy, hippie cereal. Plus, like all things at Aldi, it was cheap- so definately if it was terrible, i could afford not to eat it.
I like Quark
Indeed. it is tasty. it has kind of a weird consistency- somewhere between sour cream and cottage cheese. it tastes fantastic when mixed with jam. You can also buy quark like this:
where it comes whipped and mixed with fruit. nice. also very tasty.
To actually figure out what quark is, i have included this link to wikipedia:
Look Ma- I Kauf'd a Handy!
After nearly a month of being out of touch with almost everyone, i finally bought a cell out of sheer desperation. I had gone and looked around at phones and plans earlier this month, but i was mostly just shopping around, trying to find a company that wouldn't hose me as badly as Bell had back in Canada. Pretty much, no one will do a contract for under 2 years, so it was all about the prepaid. I don't mind prepaid- but i find that i always talk too much on the phone so a prepaid can end up being just as expensive as a contract.
Anyway, today i had had enough. i decided that i was going to go get a handy and do it as simply as possible. The first store i went into had only one really ugly-ass prepaid phone. This, in a country where your handy is a fashion accessory and not just a phone, was seriously unacceptable. So i totally fobbed the guy off and told him i needed to think about it. Ha! What was there to think about??? it was a wicked ugly, wicked expensive phone. it was 59 Euro, for a phone without even a camera. ridiculous.
I wandered down the street a bit and came to another Handy store. I went in, asked the guy for a non-expensive, non-ugly phone that was kinda decent. I then paid 30 Euro for a semi-decent phone and another 25 Euro in talk time. It still stuns me that this cost less than JUST the phone at the first place. Then the guy behind the counter even added the pre-paid time for me :)
Satisfied, i wandered out of the store only to take 5 steps and realize i had no idea what my phone # was. ok- turn promptly back around and go talk to the guy who already has his coat 0n and is about to close the store for lunch. As he is showing me what the # is, i realize i haven't seen a charger in the box. a car charger yes- but i don't have a car here, so it's a bit not helpful. It took the poor guy 10 minutes to find the charger for the phone, mostly just because it was sitting on the counter from when he opened the box. nice. so finally everything in order.
And because sometimes i actually manage to be crafty and all plan-y like, i had participated in a class this morning that was doing a comparison on the differences between England and Germany (they just came back from a class trip to the UK). One of the things that came up was the phone booths, leading to a conversation about how phone numbers are different in the UK and Germany. not only did i manage to get the kids to explain the setup of German phone #s, i also got them to explain how to dial local and long distance. it was nice. i have been so confused about it for so long. Now i know.
Anyway- b/c i know you are ABSOLUTELY DYING to see my semi-decent Handy: I also took pics of it next to my North American cell, just so you can see how weirdly small my new phone is. It actually reminds me a bit of Derek Zoolander's itty-bitty high fashion model cell phone in Zoolander.
Anyway, today i had had enough. i decided that i was going to go get a handy and do it as simply as possible. The first store i went into had only one really ugly-ass prepaid phone. This, in a country where your handy is a fashion accessory and not just a phone, was seriously unacceptable. So i totally fobbed the guy off and told him i needed to think about it. Ha! What was there to think about??? it was a wicked ugly, wicked expensive phone. it was 59 Euro, for a phone without even a camera. ridiculous.
I wandered down the street a bit and came to another Handy store. I went in, asked the guy for a non-expensive, non-ugly phone that was kinda decent. I then paid 30 Euro for a semi-decent phone and another 25 Euro in talk time. It still stuns me that this cost less than JUST the phone at the first place. Then the guy behind the counter even added the pre-paid time for me :)
Satisfied, i wandered out of the store only to take 5 steps and realize i had no idea what my phone # was. ok- turn promptly back around and go talk to the guy who already has his coat 0n and is about to close the store for lunch. As he is showing me what the # is, i realize i haven't seen a charger in the box. a car charger yes- but i don't have a car here, so it's a bit not helpful. It took the poor guy 10 minutes to find the charger for the phone, mostly just because it was sitting on the counter from when he opened the box. nice. so finally everything in order.
And because sometimes i actually manage to be crafty and all plan-y like, i had participated in a class this morning that was doing a comparison on the differences between England and Germany (they just came back from a class trip to the UK). One of the things that came up was the phone booths, leading to a conversation about how phone numbers are different in the UK and Germany. not only did i manage to get the kids to explain the setup of German phone #s, i also got them to explain how to dial local and long distance. it was nice. i have been so confused about it for so long. Now i know.
Anyway- b/c i know you are ABSOLUTELY DYING to see my semi-decent Handy: I also took pics of it next to my North American cell, just so you can see how weirdly small my new phone is. It actually reminds me a bit of Derek Zoolander's itty-bitty high fashion model cell phone in Zoolander.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Things you should NEVER do to Chocolate
While watching Chocolat, did anyone wonder what the Chili that was mixed in with all that chocolate actually tasted like? i have to admit that i was curious. chocolate is such a tasty treat and chilis are spicy and not usually synonymous with dessert.
Then, today as i wandered down the aisles of my favorite store (aka- the drugstore where i pay through the nose but can usually find what i need), i came across my chance. On sale, was a bunch of Lindt chocolate- a variety of which just happened to be Mexican Chili Dark Chocolate. Ok- a golden opportunity if you will.
ARGH. it was not pleasant. Imagine if you will: your mom has just made some of her world famous, prefectly seasoned chili...then just as you are about to eat it, she comes up and squirts some chocolate sauce into your bowl. Yeah- it was kinda like that. My chocolate bar tasted more like chili and less like chocolate* Plus, there was definately the painful "i just ate a whole chili" afterburn.
I think whoever wrote the script for Chocolat was a big fat liar. Chili Chocolate was not tasty at all.
*breathe, Manda, breathe!!! i know it's a bit of a shock that any chocolate could be that terrible, but it was, i swear.
Then, today as i wandered down the aisles of my favorite store (aka- the drugstore where i pay through the nose but can usually find what i need), i came across my chance. On sale, was a bunch of Lindt chocolate- a variety of which just happened to be Mexican Chili Dark Chocolate. Ok- a golden opportunity if you will.
ARGH. it was not pleasant. Imagine if you will: your mom has just made some of her world famous, prefectly seasoned chili...then just as you are about to eat it, she comes up and squirts some chocolate sauce into your bowl. Yeah- it was kinda like that. My chocolate bar tasted more like chili and less like chocolate* Plus, there was definately the painful "i just ate a whole chili" afterburn.
I think whoever wrote the script for Chocolat was a big fat liar. Chili Chocolate was not tasty at all.
*breathe, Manda, breathe!!! i know it's a bit of a shock that any chocolate could be that terrible, but it was, i swear.
5 Vital Things
There are 5 things that one must know to survive as a teaching asisstent in Germany:
1. NEVER TAKE THE NOON TRAIN HOME. Taking the noon train will ensure that the train will be crowded with screaming, pushing and smelly youngsters-who will all want to say hi to you as they stampede past. *note - all the adults on the train then looked accusingly at me- like it is my fault they are little hellions???* Not a great idea ever, less so when tired.
2. LAUNDRY IS A PAIN IN THE ASS- AVOID IT. 'nuff said- I guarantee YOU won't be the smelly one on the train (see #1)
3. ENGLISH GRAMMER SUCKS TO LEARN and it is even harder to teach. Gird your loins.
4. DO YOU HAVE A FRIEND? This is a question i am repeatedly asked by the students. But, they are not asking if you have any friends- they want to know if you have a boy/girl friend. In german friend means specifically a bf/ gf. So when talking about a friend who is just a friend, one needs to say " a friend of mine"
5. ALWAYS TELL YOUR STUDENTS YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. They will be hesitant to call you something as informal as just your first name. So they will come up with their own variations to try and make addressing you as polite to their standards as possible. Thus, despite repeatedly telling them that it's just Emily, i am still frequently called Frau Emily or, failing to remember my first name, Frau Kanada. Step aside Captain America, there's a new superhero in town.
I just wonder what my super power will be- cause it sure isn't the ability to teach grammer...
1. NEVER TAKE THE NOON TRAIN HOME. Taking the noon train will ensure that the train will be crowded with screaming, pushing and smelly youngsters-who will all want to say hi to you as they stampede past. *note - all the adults on the train then looked accusingly at me- like it is my fault they are little hellions???* Not a great idea ever, less so when tired.
2. LAUNDRY IS A PAIN IN THE ASS- AVOID IT. 'nuff said- I guarantee YOU won't be the smelly one on the train (see #1)
3. ENGLISH GRAMMER SUCKS TO LEARN and it is even harder to teach. Gird your loins.
4. DO YOU HAVE A FRIEND? This is a question i am repeatedly asked by the students. But, they are not asking if you have any friends- they want to know if you have a boy/girl friend. In german friend means specifically a bf/ gf. So when talking about a friend who is just a friend, one needs to say " a friend of mine"
5. ALWAYS TELL YOUR STUDENTS YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. They will be hesitant to call you something as informal as just your first name. So they will come up with their own variations to try and make addressing you as polite to their standards as possible. Thus, despite repeatedly telling them that it's just Emily, i am still frequently called Frau Emily or, failing to remember my first name, Frau Kanada. Step aside Captain America, there's a new superhero in town.
I just wonder what my super power will be- cause it sure isn't the ability to teach grammer...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Laundry Day
There is nothing in this world that compares to the smell of freshly washed laundry *sigh* A symbol of all that is hygenic and good in this world to be sure. Except that i am using the family's laundry soap and i don't like how it smells- it's really scent-y. But aside from that, i still really enjoy doing laundry.
It's a bit different here though. A typical wash cycle lasts a bit over an hour. The machine uses very little water, but what it does use, it uses quite effectively. It's nice, my clothes are cleaner than the day i buy them every time they get washed (which i mean if you think about it- how many people tried on the clothes you bought before you bought them? so maybe it doesn't really take much for the clothes to be cleaner than the day you bought them? sorry- a total tangent there) Anyway- so the machine takes an hour to wash your clothes. Then because the Family doesn't have a drier i have to hang them up. Which i don't really mind but it does rain here a lot, so it is a bit of a gamble to dry them. Hang them up outside and potentially have them rained on, or hang them up inside, where they are safe from rain but your jeans will take a full three days to dry.
So imagine the chaos and confusion today. Saturday is usually a good day for any family to do laundry. Except today, you have at least one load from 3 people (so over 3 hours washing time), plus fighting for space on both the indoor and outdoor clothes lines... things could get ugly :D lol.
It's a bit different here though. A typical wash cycle lasts a bit over an hour. The machine uses very little water, but what it does use, it uses quite effectively. It's nice, my clothes are cleaner than the day i buy them every time they get washed (which i mean if you think about it- how many people tried on the clothes you bought before you bought them? so maybe it doesn't really take much for the clothes to be cleaner than the day you bought them? sorry- a total tangent there) Anyway- so the machine takes an hour to wash your clothes. Then because the Family doesn't have a drier i have to hang them up. Which i don't really mind but it does rain here a lot, so it is a bit of a gamble to dry them. Hang them up outside and potentially have them rained on, or hang them up inside, where they are safe from rain but your jeans will take a full three days to dry.
So imagine the chaos and confusion today. Saturday is usually a good day for any family to do laundry. Except today, you have at least one load from 3 people (so over 3 hours washing time), plus fighting for space on both the indoor and outdoor clothes lines... things could get ugly :D lol.
Friday, September 19, 2008
The cutest little soup i ever saw :)
Wandering down the aisle at Aldi yesterday, looking for a few easy foods to cook when the family isn't here to cook for me, i stumbled across a box of soup. High in sodium, low in nutrition, all that is tasty :) Plus it was only 0.35 Euro. i figured it had a couple packages in it. whatever, it was a good deal.
As i am unpacking my newly purchased foodstuffs, i decided to maybe have some soup for supper. so i opened the box and low and behold- not just 2 packs, but four.
Now, i am sure you are all wondering why this necessitated a post- so here we go- i
nside the box, in four adorable SQUARE packages were the soup portions. Plus each soup packet, instead of having loose flavoring powder, had a little cylindrical chunk of flavouring- you could decide for yourself how much you wanted! It was so cute that i had to take pictures before i could make any.
As i am unpacking my newly purchased foodstuffs, i decided to maybe have some soup for supper. so i opened the box and low and behold- not just 2 packs, but four.
Now, i am sure you are all wondering why this necessitated a post- so here we go- i
nside the box, in four adorable SQUARE packages were the soup portions. Plus each soup packet, instead of having loose flavoring powder, had a little cylindrical chunk of flavouring- you could decide for yourself how much you wanted! It was so cute that i had to take pictures before i could make any.
The New Power Suit
While perusing my host sister's fashion magazine, i came across this gem:
Now, correct me if i am wrong, but this seems like something i could find back home straight out of Lammles. Damn it, i knew i should have brought nothing but wranglers and button ups!
However, would anyone like to guess what magazine this actually came from? Try this:
Who knew? i could have been seriously in style this season just by bringing clothes i already had.
Now, correct me if i am wrong, but this seems like something i could find back home straight out of Lammles. Damn it, i knew i should have brought nothing but wranglers and button ups!However, would anyone like to guess what magazine this actually came from? Try this:
Who knew? i could have been seriously in style this season just by bringing clothes i already had.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Feeling Frustrated
Ladies and Gentlemen, for your reading pleasure: another vent.
My German does not hold up well in stressful situations. The stress hits and i lose my ability to form a sentence, especially when it is important or expensive.
So to the "lady" at the Reisenzentrum- I am not talking like an idiot because i am stupid. I am talking like an idiot because the train pass i am trying to buy is expensive and i don't have all the necessary vocabulary to buy it using fabulous German. I am stressed and i want it done right. So please, go patronize someone else. Oh, and when i politely point out that you have spelled my name wrong, don't give me the look of death. Please just change it. Thank you.
I don't know how people function in countries where they don't speak the language. I have trouble ordering anything more complex than a pizza and a beer- and i can speak passable German. Frick. Also, i would kill for a Walmart- just so there was a store i knew that could supply all my basic needs.
My German does not hold up well in stressful situations. The stress hits and i lose my ability to form a sentence, especially when it is important or expensive.
So to the "lady" at the Reisenzentrum- I am not talking like an idiot because i am stupid. I am talking like an idiot because the train pass i am trying to buy is expensive and i don't have all the necessary vocabulary to buy it using fabulous German. I am stressed and i want it done right. So please, go patronize someone else. Oh, and when i politely point out that you have spelled my name wrong, don't give me the look of death. Please just change it. Thank you.
I don't know how people function in countries where they don't speak the language. I have trouble ordering anything more complex than a pizza and a beer- and i can speak passable German. Frick. Also, i would kill for a Walmart- just so there was a store i knew that could supply all my basic needs.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Oh, Mick!
Gack! While surfing the interweb tonight in search of season premieres, i came across a seriously startling bit of news. Moonlight has been cancelled. Oh. My. God. No! But yes, it's true. I mean, i know it was seriously cheesy- who hasn't seen a million different shows about vampires tortured with the implications of vampirism and their immortality? So was Moonlight anything new? No.
But i liked this one. The main character, Mick St. John, was moody-ish and all that is tortured vampire without doing it in the wimpy, whiney Anne Rice kinda way. *Plus the actor that played him, Alex O'Loughlin, is so hott he needs two T's. And the season finale finally saw Mick and Beth finally get together after a season of side-stepping. So while not super original and kinda cheesy, it also had interesting characters with entertaining dialogue.
Now i am sad. stupid TV anyway :( oh well, i suppose it could be worse. i could have a blog completely dedicated to the show (you know who you are!) or a blog dedicated to bringing the show back (you also know who you are!) it is just TV after all, but still....so hott....
*no offense intended here, Anne. I know you wrote lots of books and stuff, but i always found your vampires a little too limp-wristed and weak sauce for my taste.
But i liked this one. The main character, Mick St. John, was moody-ish and all that is tortured vampire without doing it in the wimpy, whiney Anne Rice kinda way. *Plus the actor that played him, Alex O'Loughlin, is so hott he needs two T's. And the season finale finally saw Mick and Beth finally get together after a season of side-stepping. So while not super original and kinda cheesy, it also had interesting characters with entertaining dialogue.
Now i am sad. stupid TV anyway :( oh well, i suppose it could be worse. i could have a blog completely dedicated to the show (you know who you are!) or a blog dedicated to bringing the show back (you also know who you are!) it is just TV after all, but still....so hott....
*no offense intended here, Anne. I know you wrote lots of books and stuff, but i always found your vampires a little too limp-wristed and weak sauce for my taste.
Yay Comments!
To all of you who have sent me messages about not being able to comment on my seriously awesome-possum posts- I have fixed it! Yay. Turns out, that all i had to do was change the comment settings. So, it's all done and fixed and stuff. And ready for your commenting. So comment. Seriously.
As Friggen If!
Ok. I would just like to vent for a quick second here. If a substitute teacher shows up for a class unprepared, foists the entire 45 minute class off onto you with 30 seconds warning, then whines at the end that you didn't make enough opportunities for the kids to be "communicative", is it ok to call her a bitchhole behind her back and ask that you never have to work with such a douche sac again?
Is it also ok to be seriously aggravated that the 20 English teachers at the school have not yet, after 2 weeks, managed to put together 12 classes a week for me to work?
Please keep in mind that these are rhetorical questions, seeing as i did call the teacher a bitchhole behind her back, as well as asking the head of the English department to not place me with her ever again. I am not here to be her whipping boy. As to the class schedule, if i have to ride herd on the teachers about it, i will be very displeased... They just don't seem to understand that i will stop pestering them if they just provide me the essentials i need to do my job.
Is it also ok to be seriously aggravated that the 20 English teachers at the school have not yet, after 2 weeks, managed to put together 12 classes a week for me to work?
Please keep in mind that these are rhetorical questions, seeing as i did call the teacher a bitchhole behind her back, as well as asking the head of the English department to not place me with her ever again. I am not here to be her whipping boy. As to the class schedule, if i have to ride herd on the teachers about it, i will be very displeased... They just don't seem to understand that i will stop pestering them if they just provide me the essentials i need to do my job.
I saw Winnetou
Yesterday as i was walking down the street trying to find a place that sold headsets so i could finally use skype (how's that coming for you all, btw?), I literally almost ran into Winnetou. No, sillies, not the real Winnetou. A gigantic, hippie, FAKE Winnetou. Yes, dressed in fringed buckskin from ankles to wrists, with a pair of matching moccasins and a beaded headband, this fake Winnetou casually crossed the street in front of me.
Now, i know that all lot of times i see people wearing clothes here that make me shake my head and wonder if they looked in the mirror before they left the house (like the guy wearing an ankle length plaid skirt- not a kilt mind you, think actual skirt- on the train the other day.) But Wannabe Winnetou has so far taken the cake.
So why do i call him Winnetou? Because Winnetou is the fictional Native American character of German author, Karl May. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnetou . May's Winnetou enthralled his readers and continues to do so today. The Winnetou character , while not really authentic, formed the knowledge base for everything known about Native North Americans and their culture for a really long time. Therefore, it's not really surprising that i should come across one or two people here dressed to kill...buffalo, in their Winnetou best. I just kind of wonder where he tied Iltschi up?
Now, i know that all lot of times i see people wearing clothes here that make me shake my head and wonder if they looked in the mirror before they left the house (like the guy wearing an ankle length plaid skirt- not a kilt mind you, think actual skirt- on the train the other day.) But Wannabe Winnetou has so far taken the cake.
So why do i call him Winnetou? Because Winnetou is the fictional Native American character of German author, Karl May. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnetou . May's Winnetou enthralled his readers and continues to do so today. The Winnetou character , while not really authentic, formed the knowledge base for everything known about Native North Americans and their culture for a really long time. Therefore, it's not really surprising that i should come across one or two people here dressed to kill...buffalo, in their Winnetou best. I just kind of wonder where he tied Iltschi up?
Hands-On Advertising
I suppose, in a country where there is no space (to the point where graves are dug up every 30 years to make room for the new ones), it is only logical that they would want to make the most of what space they do have. Thus:
I will never look at any North American bathroom the same way ever again. All that potential advertising space just wasted...
Sunday, September 14, 2008
A Shout Out
I gotta give props to my mom here. She definately is the reason that i am posting such awesome pictures up for you all.
Seeing as she bought the camera that takes such nice pictures, she automatically gets a shout out for any pics that end up on the blog. So if you see her, thank her. She is the reason that this blog is not just text.
So Mom- Props.
Seeing as she bought the camera that takes such nice pictures, she automatically gets a shout out for any pics that end up on the blog. So if you see her, thank her. She is the reason that this blog is not just text.
So Mom- Props.
Running with Terry Fox
I completely forgot that today was the Terry Fox Run. It was only because i was listening to my favorite radio station (over the internet) that i even thought about it. So, in my quest to keep YOU in the know, i have included a link to Wikipedia's site on Canada's 2nd Greatest Canadian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox
Check it out. He was pretty important to Canadian cancer awareness and fundraising. His legacy makes me feel like i should be out there doing something that helps people other than just myself. I think that was maybe the point Dad was trying to make as he dragged his herd of kids out to it every year, regardless of the weather. It's not enough just to be here, you've got to do something to make a difference, no matter how small a difference that may be.
So to all those running today, thank you. To all those who aren't here to run with us today-we really miss you. And for those not running today- what's stopping you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox
Check it out. He was pretty important to Canadian cancer awareness and fundraising. His legacy makes me feel like i should be out there doing something that helps people other than just myself. I think that was maybe the point Dad was trying to make as he dragged his herd of kids out to it every year, regardless of the weather. It's not enough just to be here, you've got to do something to make a difference, no matter how small a difference that may be.
So to all those running today, thank you. To all those who aren't here to run with us today-we really miss you. And for those not running today- what's stopping you?
Skype
I'm kinda a big fan of Skype. it's a free computer to computer calling system, that uses the internet to transmit calls. It's like a vocal MSN.
Anyway, my point is, you should definately sign up for it. Cause, hey, who isn't looking to save a few bucks calling their favorite expat Canadian friend??? Anyway- the site: skype.org (if it comes up in German, there is a drop-down menu at the very bottom of the page that allows you to change the language).
All you've gotta do is download it, set up an account, add contacts and be online at the same time as your contacts. Easy. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
*let me know when you've got it, i'll give you my contact info :)
Anyway, my point is, you should definately sign up for it. Cause, hey, who isn't looking to save a few bucks calling their favorite expat Canadian friend??? Anyway- the site: skype.org (if it comes up in German, there is a drop-down menu at the very bottom of the page that allows you to change the language).
All you've gotta do is download it, set up an account, add contacts and be online at the same time as your contacts. Easy. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
*let me know when you've got it, i'll give you my contact info :)
Extreme Tourism
So today i walked into Sinzig. It's only about 2.5 km and what better way to spend a sunny sunday afternoon then checking out the local history?
However, the day was not a total wash for everyone:
Apparently, the only "better" way i could spend the day was to walk into Sinzig and get hosed by the biggest tourist trap ever. Maybe it's cause i'm still suffering from my down-home on the farm naivete, but i thought i would be kinda fun to go check out the Middle Ages Market. My first sign of things being "trap-y" definately should have been that i had to pay 5 Euro to get into the damn thing. hmmm.
However, the day was not a total wash for everyone:
Clarification
I know right now everyone is a little confused- asking where the hell do you actually live/work? It's actually a little complicated.
You see, I live in Bad Bodendorf, but despite not physically being part of Sinzig, Bad Bodendorf is considered a suburb of Sinzig (which is why i have a Sinzig address). I work in Bad Neuenahr which is part of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (the by-product of the same sort of amalgamation that hit Sinzig). So i can see how one easily gets confused :)
Hopefully that clears it up a bit.
You see, I live in Bad Bodendorf, but despite not physically being part of Sinzig, Bad Bodendorf is considered a suburb of Sinzig (which is why i have a Sinzig address). I work in Bad Neuenahr which is part of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (the by-product of the same sort of amalgamation that hit Sinzig). So i can see how one easily gets confused :)
Hopefully that clears it up a bit.
Ahhh...The Magic of the Weekend
For your viewing pleasure...
The Ahr River.
A church in Sinzig.
Random steps behind the church.
The Ahr River.
A church in Sinzig.
Random steps behind the church.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Problems?!?
Today in the 8th grade:
Me: So Canada has a really small population for such a large country. There are only about 32-33 million Canadians. It’s strange because Canada is one of the world’s largest countries.
Concerned Student: Why are there so few people?
Me: I think it’s mostly because Canada is still a very young country with a difficult climate.
Concerned Student: So Canadians have a lot of sexual problems?
Me: I’m sorry. What?
Student: Canada has so few people because it’s too cold for them to have sex?
Ummmm. Seriously. What do you even say to that?
Finally, Maybe, Kinda, Sorta Done
Wow, I may actually have gotten all my paperwork done on time- with the potential to even have it done right! Nice. I was pretty damn impressed with myself when I managed to open a free bank account for myself yesterday. Now I just need to figure out how exactly the phone #’s work here. It’s a bit frustrating. I would like to call home. I even bought phone cards so I could. But I can’t for the life of me figure out how to make these stupid ones work. I think the bastard at the internet café where I bought them totally hosed me. Argh. If things could even be just a bit more simple, I would feel way less inclined to physically injure the next idiot who pisses me off. Seriously. WTF??
I Like to Ride My Bicycle, I like to Ride My Bike
Ouch. That is all I have to say about the current state of my backside. Yet again another cultural difference. The bicycle. The Germans use it almost everyday. Each person’s bike is practically a member of the family. They take it to school, the park, church… They use their bikes so much that they forget that Canadians can’t really bike everywhere. And because they forget that our bikes are like ATVs/toys, they don’t think about us not being in shape for the 7 km ride to school. Yep, it’s so long I couldn’t lie about the distance if I tried. Plus, actually going into the main part of the city is another 2 or 3. So yesterday, being the first time I needed to go to school when the family couldn’t drop me off, I got up at 6.30. Then I left at 7.15 to cycle my lazy butt to school. Followed by a trip into the city and back, and then I went to the main part of the town I actually live in (Bad Bodendorf is a suburb of Sinzig) which was another 3 km away. This again was followed by the trip home (with a stop at a really weird tasting spring).
Let’s do the math, eh? 6+6+2+2+3+3= 22 km. I didn’t even realize how far my host brother and I had gone until I got off the bike and couldn’t feel anything below my waist. That is, until I tried to sit down at supper. Then I felt it. Now I need to do it all over again today, because I couldn’t fill out the paperwork I needed while I was in Sinzig. Gack.
Just wait people. I am going to be so buff when I get back that the Governator will bow down to my quads. Hoo yeah.
I Wish It Were Drinking Thinking
Drinking thinking indeed. The evenings suck. The day is so busy and on the go, but around 5 or 6 the world practically stops. I would like to say that I pass the time with a good beer but I really can’t because I don’t know where the nearest liquor store is, let alone the cheapest one. So I eat with the family- then I wander up to my room and watch movies. And surprise, surprise, the moody, gloomy posts that you get from me are pretty much exclusively written in the evenings, when I’m bored, and wishing I had something to do. So, to any doubting Thomas in the crowd- no, I do not spend my evenings drinking (with the family or alone)*, I spend them in (get this :D ) solitude and contemplation.
Yeah, I know it sounds totally lame- but it’s not that bad. Because, despite the fact that I am usually an overbearing, rude, jackass, I actually like spending time with the me I am when I am alone. The only person I talk to is the voice in my head and since it’s me it doesn’t care if I am not such a nice person. It doesn’t care if I didn’t brush my teeth after supper or even if I am not wearing clothes (I am, but that’s not the point- focus here people!) I may be alone for most of the evening, but I am rarely lonely. I mean- it’s pretty sweet that I am a best friend to myself. I just wish that the things that make Germany different from Canada weren’t always so big. Besides, as much as I love believing home is actually a phone call away- it isn’t really. Plus, I can’t even use my cell phone here, so home is just that much farther away… and I’m hungry. Oh well, at least I have fabulous breads, meats and cheeses for my bunwich here :) love it.
*No- I really haven’t been drinking. No, I am not lying about not drinking. So stop nagging.
Git 'Er Done Indeed
Let’s play a fun game. Ready? Ok- it’s called ye olde “Drop your new foreign language teaching assistants off in the middle of nowhere Germany and watch them struggle to figure it out”. It’s fun. Plus, good old PAD (the program I’m on) decided to throw in a side salad of “Get your visa, your bank account, your handy (a cell), and your shit together by the 12th or you don’t get paid for an extra month”. I like being here, I like my host family, and I like my school. But I could really use some hand holding here. If someone could just babysit my lame ass through the transition, I would feel so much better. And way less stressed. And if I could eventually find a calling card and a phone line to use it on- I could even call my mom. For the first time in over a week :( So- in summation: Germany- good; Stupid, stressful PAD paperwork deadlines- not so good. I’m keeping’ on keeping on simply because after this week I am assuming that it’ll be all downhill. And it better be, because I’m lazy and easy is how I like things :)
In Over My Head
Help- I’m drowning and I feel a serious need to apologize for being a rather large jackass for the past 16 years of my life. Do you have any idea exactly how friggen hard it is to put together a lesson plan? Not just on anything random either. Stuff about where you come from, what your traditions are, even about your family. Jeeze. It’s friggen hard. Plus, these kids are actually supposed to learn stuff from what I give them, not just come away from it feeling potentially informed. Argh. I was all excited on Friday to teach, but now with Monday morning fast approaching, I feel a rather large sense of dread coming over me. Gross. So, to apologize now- To every teacher who came to class with a less than stellar approach to what we needed to learn, I’m sorry. But don’t worry teacher- payback’s a bitch and I already have more than one of the student that I was.
*sigh*
Rainy Evenings
Here it is, my first weekend in Germany. I’ve been so busy since I got here that tonight is my first night really alone. And wow, am I alone. I hadn’t realized exactly how much I miss my family and being home where people actually understand exactly what I mean and why I do things the way I do. Is it culture shock? No. Speaking relatively decent German and having been here twice before nullified that aspect of the suck. This is 100%, Grade A homesick. I miss my mom and siblings, my puppy, my friends…knowing which store I can find the things I need. Sometimes life here is so ridiculously difficult and I‘ve been here a week- only 8 months, 4 weeks left- oh yeah, the countdown has officially started, check my facecrack).
And tonight, as I sit here at my laptop, finally catching up on my posts, all I can hear is the rain outside, battering at the windows in a full fledged effort to break in and drown me in nature’s tears. Frick, I am lonely. I could go and sit with my host family and listen to them chatter about inconsequential trivialities in that special slow and precise German they reserve for use only with me, or I could stay here alone with my thoughts and not have to be social because all I want is my mommy and to be home.
Or because this is a serious case of “suck it up princess”, I could just suck it the hell up. I think I just need to go do something, like laundry or making supper. And get over it. Because we all know the mommy I miss so much right now would seriously kick my ass for even thinking about coming home before my contract is over. So that said, I feel much better and I’ll try not to talk about my damn feelings so friggen much.
Love you mom. Miss you.
Yeah- I drank there too :)
After school today all my new “colleagues” went on a faculty trip to the local vineyard. The Ahr valley is apparently known for its red wine and vineyards, which happen to be situated on the sides of the mountains that make up the Ahr valley.
There in the Ahr, it struck me once again that the Germans are incredibly different than Canadians. To a Canadian, light walking means maybe 10 or 15 minutes to reach a destination. To a German, light walking almost always means hiking- in this case an hour of strenuously hiking up and down the side of a friggenly picturesque mountain that really rapidly lost all of its appeal. All so we could end up exactly where we started, to go to the actual winery and drink some local vintages.
There in the Ahr, it struck me once again that the Germans are incredibly different than Canadians. To a Canadian, light walking means maybe 10 or 15 minutes to reach a destination. To a German, light walking almost always means hiking- in this case an hour of strenuously hiking up and down the side of a friggenly picturesque mountain that really rapidly lost all of its appeal. All so we could end up exactly where we started, to go to the actual winery and drink some local vintages.
Yum. I’m not really into wine but these were so good. Part of the tour was a wine tasting and lunch, but I couldn’t decide between the red and the white. The red being the winery’s specialty, but the white being my more preferred variety. So, my friend/colleague, Evelyn (I met her in Altenburg- she was actually the teacher for my course) was trying to help me decide and the bartender was a like, here- I’ll give you some of both. So, I looked like the ultimate wine-o in front of all my brand-new colleagues, coming to the table with a glass of each. They were both pretty good. I got the sweetest ones that the winery offered. I found out today, through experience, that the sweeter wines are the ones that are way less offensive to my palate. I also got to keep the cups that I drank out of. They had a cute little poem on the back:
Wenn Du das Ahrtal ganz willst sehn,
Musst Du durch den Mayschosser Weinkeller gehn.
It was a pretty good afternoon :)
First Day
The program (PAD) had said in Altenburg that I had been earning money from them since September 1st and that we all needed to start working at our schools immediately upon our arrival. As I didn’t get to Bad Neuenahr before school let out on Thursday (Are-Gymnasium being a typical German high school has classes that are finished at a bit after lunch), I went today. I need to be up by 6.30 to shower and get ready to go on time L But when I showed up at Are Gymnasium today my supervisor, Claudia, said that they hadn’t been expecting me until Monday. She actually almost sent me home. W.T.F. After all PAD’s talk, Are didn’t want me yet. So I was all like, well…seeing as I am already here… Jeeze, seriously- I couldn’t believe it. So then I went and taught 4 classes. On my first day. Without any prep. Yikes. So mostly for 4 periods of 45 minutes, I talked about myself and Canada. Except for the last of the 4 I was just speaking to let them hear English- I ended up teaching a class in bilingual geography. Again- WTF. It was so random. But, I got to hang out with a seriously HOTT (and prolly with his attentions engaged elsewhere *sigh*) teacher for one of the classes, so that definitely made things better. I think things went well.
In Altenburg, when we did our practice teaching, the Prof told me that I had done an exceptional job, with a real instinct for the classes’ needs and the ability to be enthusiastic and yet maintain control. So either I just have a really inflated and undeserved pride in my teaching skills or I might actually have teaching skills…. I’m hoping it’s that I’ve actually got the skills to pay the bills happening here. Otherwise I am totally boned. I had a great first day, meeting some kids, being taken on a sightseeing tour of the town, and being invited on a school ski trip to the Italian Alps.
Yes, the Italian Alps. How friggen cool is that?!?!?!?! I am stoked for it already and it isn’t even til sometime in January J (oh- mom, if you’re reading this- and I hope you are, it’s one of the main reasons I’m writing it- could you send me the winter clothes I was so excited about NOT bringing? I know, the irony is killing me too…) Plus, it’ll only cost about 400 Euro- everything included. STOKED. All of a sudden, I am really excited for winter to get here.
Herzlichen Willkommen nach Deutschland
So, I finally made it to Germany after 10 hours of flying. It was all good until I needed to take the train. Since this was going to be the first time that I had ever taken the train by myself (Canada having nothing on this scale) I made sure that I got to the train station with an hour and a half to spare. Then actually making sure I was on the right platform at the right time, I discovered that I was not at the right station. Yikes. So I ran around trying to find someone who could, in English, tell my seriously stressing self where exactly I was supposed to be to get on the right damn train. I was so ridiculously frustrated. On top of that I was definitely carrying a year’s worth of junk around. Anyway- turns out I had originally been in the right place- I just was a few stops ahead of where my train ticket said that I needed to be. Do you have any idea how frustrated Germans can be when faced with an idiot with two huge bags and a backpack, wandering around seemingly 
without purpose??? It was the suck indeed.Anyway- once I actually got on the train it was ok- no changes or anything to worrying about on the way to Cologne. The Foreign Teacher Assistant conference was actually held in Altenburg. It was 3 days of hardcore learning about how to teach, how the German school system works, and friend-making. And of course, as they say in Dumb and Dumber, the beer flowed like wine J. It was pretty great. Out of the 140 some assistants there, only about 10 were Canadian with about 5 New Zealanders to round things out. The rest were all from the UK. I actually already knew most of the Canadians on the program. Also, I learned that the Welsh are seriously awesome! It was a bit weird to be treated by another English speaker as someone with an accent, but my status as a novelty gave me the opportunity to make a lot of friends, many of which live quite near.
without purpose??? It was the suck indeed.Anyway- once I actually got on the train it was ok- no changes or anything to worrying about on the way to Cologne. The Foreign Teacher Assistant conference was actually held in Altenburg. It was 3 days of hardcore learning about how to teach, how the German school system works, and friend-making. And of course, as they say in Dumb and Dumber, the beer flowed like wine J. It was pretty great. Out of the 140 some assistants there, only about 10 were Canadian with about 5 New Zealanders to round things out. The rest were all from the UK. I actually already knew most of the Canadians on the program. Also, I learned that the Welsh are seriously awesome! It was a bit weird to be treated by another English speaker as someone with an accent, but my status as a novelty gave me the opportunity to make a lot of friends, many of which live quite near.
On Thursday, I left Altenburg for Bad Bodendorf, which by bike is about 30 minutes away from Bad Neuenahr where I am teaching. My host family is pretty great. The son is in grade 12 and actually one of my students, which I find totally hilarious. The family is friendly but not insanely so. I also have a bedroom furnished entirely by IKEA. It is so big that it more than makes up for the crap room I had the last time I was in Germany:
I'm Sorry
There are new posts coming. i just need to figure out how to get them off my computer onto the one that actually has interenet. i have been writing them. they just aren't posted. no worries. i thought i had solved the problem, but apparently not. give me a bit of time- i'll fix the "technical difficulties" that News From Away is currently experiencing.
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