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| Excursions |
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| Christkindlmarkt |
Enjoy!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas Time Photo Update
There are some new pictures up from both the Regensburg and Nürnberg Christmas Markets. They have been added to two different albums:
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Fröliche Weihnachten!
Obvious loss of quality through upload... but here it is! I made a special Christmas in Regensburg video just for you lovely people. It's just about as close to a first-hand experience as I can offer (and probably explains more than a postcard).
My very first, I hope you're proud of me ;) . Enjoy and have a safe and happy holiday, everyone!
My very first, I hope you're proud of me ;) . Enjoy and have a safe and happy holiday, everyone!
Monday, December 22, 2008
"Well, the Dutsch speak four languages and smoke marijuana!"
People sometimes ask me if I get confused having four different languages in my head. To really answer the question, I don't get confused so much as I get the urge to substitute words in every direction. For every word or phrase, there is often a different language that comes to mind the most quickly or automatically.
I have several friends here who can speak both German and English very well, and I ramble in Denglisch (Deutsch/Englisch) with them all the time. It sounds something like, "Just make sure you das mir morgen unbedingt bring over when you um Mittag zu mir kommen. It's auf jeden Fall ziemlich wichtig, I would say."
So aside from the fact that I still play the game of "Taboo" in German here every day, just like all students of a foreign language, it's typically not much of a problem. But a problem I've come to realize over the course of the semester starts showing up when I get online and talk to my family on webcam. I get urges every which-way to put in filler and substitute words -- in German -- to my definitely-does-not-speak-a-lick-of-German, Asian family. Last night, I was talking to my mother and just wanted to say, "Exactly," after something she said, and I had to veer clear of just blurting, "Genau." There was also no convenient contextual equivalent in Chinese. That phrase also somehow sounds less natural to me in English now, as do countless others.
The brain seeks a certain efficiency in expression. So now in my head I just end up speaking Eng-chin-erman. And occasionally, Cherglish. I am just dying to know what I really sound like when I sleep-talk.
I have several friends here who can speak both German and English very well, and I ramble in Denglisch (Deutsch/Englisch) with them all the time. It sounds something like, "Just make sure you das mir morgen unbedingt bring over when you um Mittag zu mir kommen. It's auf jeden Fall ziemlich wichtig, I would say."
So aside from the fact that I still play the game of "Taboo" in German here every day, just like all students of a foreign language, it's typically not much of a problem. But a problem I've come to realize over the course of the semester starts showing up when I get online and talk to my family on webcam. I get urges every which-way to put in filler and substitute words -- in German -- to my definitely-does-not-speak-a-lick-of-German, Asian family. Last night, I was talking to my mother and just wanted to say, "Exactly," after something she said, and I had to veer clear of just blurting, "Genau." There was also no convenient contextual equivalent in Chinese. That phrase also somehow sounds less natural to me in English now, as do countless others.
The brain seeks a certain efficiency in expression. So now in my head I just end up speaking Eng-chin-erman. And occasionally, Cherglish. I am just dying to know what I really sound like when I sleep-talk.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Afterthought
On a better note, at the next stand, where I bought a present for someone, the guy who sold it to me was both very sweet person and attractive. So I guess Life does balance itself out, as I always believe it does.
(Not that I won't still get a Döner and watch Will and Grace, of course).
(Not that I won't still get a Döner and watch Will and Grace, of course).
This is a Rant about the Wallet Witch
I am feeling slightly vexed at the grouchy German hag at one of the stands in the Christkindlmarkt. She works at a bag/purse/wallet booth, and I was sifting through the rows of wallets on display, because my current wallet is not conducive to holding change, and I'm looking for a new one.
So I will take my time looking, right? Because there are infinite number of wallet styles and I'd like one that is both very practical for my needs and appeals to my taste, right? Right. Tell this lady who gives me a cold smile when I walk up. She honestly has that look like I'm wasting her time. I just got here, woman! And I am browsing, not running a marathon.
I must admit to having a "female" stereotype of being terribly indecisive. I think I am afraid of irreversibility. At any rate, unless I know specifically what I'm getting, I am not particularly swift at buying things. 1) Do I need it?. 2) Do I like it?. And so on.
I am narrowed down to two cloth-type wallets, more or less. So they are of the same structure, but different colors, slightly different sizes, different designs, etc. Aesthetically, I like them both. Practically, the charcoal one doesn't open up as well, but eggshell/white gets dirty and sooty looking very quickly. So I need to decide. But this is particularly difficult because for the entire time I am there, she is standing over and watching me. Lady, I am just looking, and have told you so twice. Don't you have some big shelf of purses to go organize or something? Some inventory to count up?? Some sunny land of bunnies to go darken with your face like a storm cloud?? Meanwhile, she has so helpfully informed me for the 3rd time since I got there, "They are all the same!" (No, they are not, just like how you and I are both humanoid, but you are a total five-letter word that rhymes with witch, and I am not.)
I know that I have a hard time deciding, so I smile and apologize briefly. Like you do. Most people understand, and if they want business, they will definitely understand. Instead, she retorts straight back to me, "Yeah. I'm sorry too." I didn't even listen to whatever the hell else she was adding to that remark, because I was stuffing the wallets back into the row and walking away at that moment.
(I really need a Döner and some Will and Grace right now.)
So I will take my time looking, right? Because there are infinite number of wallet styles and I'd like one that is both very practical for my needs and appeals to my taste, right? Right. Tell this lady who gives me a cold smile when I walk up. She honestly has that look like I'm wasting her time. I just got here, woman! And I am browsing, not running a marathon.
I must admit to having a "female" stereotype of being terribly indecisive. I think I am afraid of irreversibility. At any rate, unless I know specifically what I'm getting, I am not particularly swift at buying things. 1) Do I need it?. 2) Do I like it?. And so on.
I am narrowed down to two cloth-type wallets, more or less. So they are of the same structure, but different colors, slightly different sizes, different designs, etc. Aesthetically, I like them both. Practically, the charcoal one doesn't open up as well, but eggshell/white gets dirty and sooty looking very quickly. So I need to decide. But this is particularly difficult because for the entire time I am there, she is standing over and watching me. Lady, I am just looking, and have told you so twice. Don't you have some big shelf of purses to go organize or something? Some inventory to count up?? Some sunny land of bunnies to go darken with your face like a storm cloud?? Meanwhile, she has so helpfully informed me for the 3rd time since I got there, "They are all the same!" (No, they are not, just like how you and I are both humanoid, but you are a total five-letter word that rhymes with witch, and I am not.)
I know that I have a hard time deciding, so I smile and apologize briefly. Like you do. Most people understand, and if they want business, they will definitely understand. Instead, she retorts straight back to me, "Yeah. I'm sorry too." I didn't even listen to whatever the hell else she was adding to that remark, because I was stuffing the wallets back into the row and walking away at that moment.
(I really need a Döner and some Will and Grace right now.)
Monday, December 15, 2008
Mäuschen
("Little mousy" - "MOYS-hyen")
Before my Tutorium today, I saw a little mouse at the university! My tutor laughed and said she was not so pleased to hear that as much as I was to see the Mäuschen (-chen is a diminuitive suffix in German). I know, I know... seeing a mouse at your university is not really good news. But it really was adorable. I cannot help it.
(On a tangent note, I hope some of you have read The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. It is a children's novel, but incidentally one of my very favorite books that I've ever read. Despereaux is also an adorable little mouse.)
Before my Tutorium today, I saw a little mouse at the university! My tutor laughed and said she was not so pleased to hear that as much as I was to see the Mäuschen (-chen is a diminuitive suffix in German). I know, I know... seeing a mouse at your university is not really good news. But it really was adorable. I cannot help it.
(On a tangent note, I hope some of you have read The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. It is a children's novel, but incidentally one of my very favorite books that I've ever read. Despereaux is also an adorable little mouse.)
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Meltdown
About a week ago, my suitemate's sister came to visit for a couple of days and brought her cute little girl with her as well. She's about a year and a half old.
On the morning of the day they left, I was in my room and typing on the computer when there was a loud *POP*, and all of the lights go out. So I did the necessary confused freeze-and-blink, and then got up and looked into the kitchen. The three of them were there, little Antonia scooped up in her mother's arms. I asked if they knew what was up.
So apparently, while one sister was preoccupied and the other was taking a brief shower, Antonia had tottered out to the kitchen and fooled with the stove dials. 1, 2 and 3 out of 4, to be exact. Previously sitting in the back on Burner #2 was our water boiler. Now sitting in the back on Burner #2 was something resembling our water boiler leaning pathetically from a pedestal of hot, melted, gooey plastic.
My brave roommate somehow managed to successfully bring all the lights back up after messing with the switchbox. So... the kitchen smelled awful, but at least nothing happened to the little girl. I would have been heart-broken. (When I was around her age, I had a stove top accident myself, but my hands weren't so lucky).
My suitemate fortunately managed to do a pretty clean job of prying the thing off after we let it cool. Now it's still sitting in my room. Because I have this odd reluctance to let it go. I need to throw it away already, but it just keeps amusing me.
When it was on our kitchen table, I joked to my roommate that I felt the need to put a small label plaque next to it with the words,
On the morning of the day they left, I was in my room and typing on the computer when there was a loud *POP*, and all of the lights go out. So I did the necessary confused freeze-and-blink, and then got up and looked into the kitchen. The three of them were there, little Antonia scooped up in her mother's arms. I asked if they knew what was up.
So apparently, while one sister was preoccupied and the other was taking a brief shower, Antonia had tottered out to the kitchen and fooled with the stove dials. 1, 2 and 3 out of 4, to be exact. Previously sitting in the back on Burner #2 was our water boiler. Now sitting in the back on Burner #2 was something resembling our water boiler leaning pathetically from a pedestal of hot, melted, gooey plastic.
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| From Living in Regensburg |
My brave roommate somehow managed to successfully bring all the lights back up after messing with the switchbox. So... the kitchen smelled awful, but at least nothing happened to the little girl. I would have been heart-broken. (When I was around her age, I had a stove top accident myself, but my hands weren't so lucky).
My suitemate fortunately managed to do a pretty clean job of prying the thing off after we let it cool. Now it's still sitting in my room. Because I have this odd reluctance to let it go. I need to throw it away already, but it just keeps amusing me.
When it was on our kitchen table, I joked to my roommate that I felt the need to put a small label plaque next to it with the words,
"Untitled"
Antonia, 2008
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Grand Marnier
A friend and I were strolling through the Christkindlmarkt this afternoon, looking around for Christmas presents. At the end of our walk through, I decided to get a crepe to eat. Looking down the list on the side of the stand, I couldn't decide which type I wanted. I spotted a "Grand Marnier" at the very bottom of the sweet crepes list, and we both agreed that I should go for it, though neither of us had any idea what it was. But I like to throw a dart at the dartboard with my eyes blindfolded as far as trying new foods.
Standing before the crepe master and his pan, both of us watched to see just what sort of grand piling of ingredients would go on my crepe.
Start with some melted butter...
... Generous sprinkle of sugar...
... Generous sprinkling of some kind of alcohol...?
And then I suddenly realized, he is DONE. That man is folding the crepe.
Lesson learned: Grand Marnier is a strong alcohol.
Experience briefing: The crepe is folded. When you start at the edge, it's not so bad. But towards the center where the layers are thick, it took me a slightly longer endeavor to finish it off, particularly if you can smell the scent of rubbing alcohol coming off of your crepe corner by the time you get that far. An amusing experience, but I will go with the strawberry-banana-Nutella crepe again next time.
Standing before the crepe master and his pan, both of us watched to see just what sort of grand piling of ingredients would go on my crepe.
Start with some melted butter...
... Generous sprinkle of sugar...
... Generous sprinkling of some kind of alcohol...?
And then I suddenly realized, he is DONE. That man is folding the crepe.
Lesson learned: Grand Marnier is a strong alcohol.
Experience briefing: The crepe is folded. When you start at the edge, it's not so bad. But towards the center where the layers are thick, it took me a slightly longer endeavor to finish it off, particularly if you can smell the scent of rubbing alcohol coming off of your crepe corner by the time you get that far. An amusing experience, but I will go with the strawberry-banana-Nutella crepe again next time.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Winter Chill
The nice potential for having winter now is that when our little student refrigerator starts getting too cluttered, I could always just start putting things on the windowsill...
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Salzburg
So as I mentioned, Michael and I hopped an early morning train and went to Salzburg for the day on Saturday.
Salzburg sits in west Austria on the river Salzach. Mozart was born there, so as it were, there is Mozart paraphernalia all over the city...
Seeing as it's December and every European city that has a Christmas Market has got it set up by now, Michael and I hit up the market streets during our wanderings through the city.
We only truly realized that we had done absolutely no "research" for our trip to see what kind of locations we needed to visit in Salzburg until we had stepped out of the train station and were looking around our first glimpse of the city. But that was okay. Some of the very best trips are always impromptu.
So as usual, the full collection of pictures is on the Picasa album ("Salzburg"), along with extra explanations. Kuck mal ;) ! ("Have a look!")
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| From Salzburg |
Salzburg sits in west Austria on the river Salzach. Mozart was born there, so as it were, there is Mozart paraphernalia all over the city...
 |
| From Salzburg |
Seeing as it's December and every European city that has a Christmas Market has got it set up by now, Michael and I hit up the market streets during our wanderings through the city.
 |
| From Salzburg |
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| From Salzburg |
We only truly realized that we had done absolutely no "research" for our trip to see what kind of locations we needed to visit in Salzburg until we had stepped out of the train station and were looking around our first glimpse of the city. But that was okay. Some of the very best trips are always impromptu.
So as usual, the full collection of pictures is on the Picasa album ("Salzburg"), along with extra explanations. Kuck mal ;) ! ("Have a look!")
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| From Salzburg |
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Under Construction
I am finally changing up the honestly-not-so-convenient-for-matching-blog-colors blog wallpaper of the German flag. This also means that the blog will look a little odd here and there for a little while. On one hand, give suggestions if you like. On the other hand, just BEAR with me for now. Savvy? Danke, everyone.
Parlez-vous Französisch?
Hahaha. A nice lady and a girl just rang our doorbell and asked (in German) if there was anyone here that I knew who spoke French.
I smiled and told her that I unfortunately didn't know anyone here who did. What I realized I should have added afterward was, "Sorry, no French. But we've got Chinese and Swahili, though!" I just think I would have gotten a kick out of it.
(Yes. My suitemate has spent time in Africa and can actually speak a certain amount of Swahili very well. Neat, huh?)
I smiled and told her that I unfortunately didn't know anyone here who did. What I realized I should have added afterward was, "Sorry, no French. But we've got Chinese and Swahili, though!" I just think I would have gotten a kick out of it.
(Yes. My suitemate has spent time in Africa and can actually speak a certain amount of Swahili very well. Neat, huh?)
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