Today I ate a fresh-out-of-the-oven marzipan muffin from a muffin vendor at an outdoor market.
...The world is such a beautiful place.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light.
(Some teabag wisdom for the day.)
NOTE TO THE AUDIENCE: Today Jesse taught me how to upload photos so they got bigger when you clicked on them. Try it out!
The end of this week was full of adventures! Like I said in my last post, we got to explore the shiny shiny city hall on Tuesday. Here's a photo. Yay!
I took this picture standing on the steps leading down to this famously picturesque canal, which is picturesquely pictured below.
That evening we took a stroll through the Planten un Blumen park near the heart of the city where they have a nightly light and water show with someone playing music on the water organ. It changes every two weeks and this week was a classical set including Bolero and I can't remember what else. It was awesome in a tacky sort of way to watch the water and light change corresponding to the music. I felt like I was in the middle of Fantasia.
On our way back to the bus stop after the show, we were distracted by a street performer who was doing crazy things with fire. He juggled flaming torches, danced dangerously while doing fiery tricks, did crazy things while wearing flaming wings, and eventually used some sort of intense spark-throwing spinny things in his encore.
Wednesday we went on tours of the university libraries and learned how to use them, then on Thursday we went on a STADTRUNDFAHRT!, meaning a double-decker bus tour around the city. I learned lots of new interesting things about Hamburg, some of which I will share with the world because they're neat.
This row of houses on the left are some of the oldest buildings in the city. They somehow managed to survive the bombings of both world wars and are thus still standing. Another fun fact: the city's extensive canal system/the Elbe/and the lake give Hamburg over two thousand bridges. That's more than in Amsterdam, London, and Venice combined!
Along with bridges, the city is also jam-packed with Smart cars. (Listening, Dad?) Really, they're everywhere and in lots of fun colors. They also like to park creatively. Sometimes they park horizontally up on the curb between two vertically parked cars. What silly Autos.
There's lots of construction going on to build this and that. What I like about it is that almost every new building going up is covered with glass in some modern fashion. This is a city that likes its natural lighting.
The next photo was taken passing by the Alster (lake downtown). That poof of water on the right is from the huge fountain that is perpetually spouting water up many meters in the air in the middle of the lake. I also learned that Hamburg is one of the greenest cities ever with millions of trees all over the place. Someone did the math and determined that all the numbers evened out to about 38 trees per city block. That makes so many trees! It's also a city law that one is not allowed to build a building higher than the trees that are in that area, except in special circumstances that probably involve lots of moolah. That means no skyscrapers.
An example of the architectural clash between new and old. I like it.
I also learned that the city attempted to hide the entire lake from the Allied forces during the war by covering it up with wooden panels and logs, but it didn't work and they bombed the heck out of it anyway. Despite the terrible devastation that ensued, it didn't take long before Hamburg's harbor became what is still considered the 8th most important harbor in all of Europe.
After our tour, Sophia Smith treated us all to delicious ice cream in a local Eiscafe. This is a picture of Sarah's slightly melted hamburger and fries ice cream. Heh heh.
Aaaaand this is me playing in the train station with Liz Chase looking on disdainfully.
I did lots of other cool things, too, buuuuuut sleeping is also cool, so I am told.
NOTE TO THE AUDIENCE: Today Jesse taught me how to upload photos so they got bigger when you clicked on them. Try it out!
The end of this week was full of adventures! Like I said in my last post, we got to explore the shiny shiny city hall on Tuesday. Here's a photo. Yay!
I took this picture standing on the steps leading down to this famously picturesque canal, which is picturesquely pictured below.
That evening we took a stroll through the Planten un Blumen park near the heart of the city where they have a nightly light and water show with someone playing music on the water organ. It changes every two weeks and this week was a classical set including Bolero and I can't remember what else. It was awesome in a tacky sort of way to watch the water and light change corresponding to the music. I felt like I was in the middle of Fantasia.
On our way back to the bus stop after the show, we were distracted by a street performer who was doing crazy things with fire. He juggled flaming torches, danced dangerously while doing fiery tricks, did crazy things while wearing flaming wings, and eventually used some sort of intense spark-throwing spinny things in his encore.
Wednesday we went on tours of the university libraries and learned how to use them, then on Thursday we went on a STADTRUNDFAHRT!, meaning a double-decker bus tour around the city. I learned lots of new interesting things about Hamburg, some of which I will share with the world because they're neat.
This row of houses on the left are some of the oldest buildings in the city. They somehow managed to survive the bombings of both world wars and are thus still standing. Another fun fact: the city's extensive canal system/the Elbe/and the lake give Hamburg over two thousand bridges. That's more than in Amsterdam, London, and Venice combined!
Along with bridges, the city is also jam-packed with Smart cars. (Listening, Dad?) Really, they're everywhere and in lots of fun colors. They also like to park creatively. Sometimes they park horizontally up on the curb between two vertically parked cars. What silly Autos.
There's lots of construction going on to build this and that. What I like about it is that almost every new building going up is covered with glass in some modern fashion. This is a city that likes its natural lighting.
The next photo was taken passing by the Alster (lake downtown). That poof of water on the right is from the huge fountain that is perpetually spouting water up many meters in the air in the middle of the lake. I also learned that Hamburg is one of the greenest cities ever with millions of trees all over the place. Someone did the math and determined that all the numbers evened out to about 38 trees per city block. That makes so many trees! It's also a city law that one is not allowed to build a building higher than the trees that are in that area, except in special circumstances that probably involve lots of moolah. That means no skyscrapers.
An example of the architectural clash between new and old. I like it.
I also learned that the city attempted to hide the entire lake from the Allied forces during the war by covering it up with wooden panels and logs, but it didn't work and they bombed the heck out of it anyway. Despite the terrible devastation that ensued, it didn't take long before Hamburg's harbor became what is still considered the 8th most important harbor in all of Europe.
After our tour, Sophia Smith treated us all to delicious ice cream in a local Eiscafe. This is a picture of Sarah's slightly melted hamburger and fries ice cream. Heh heh.
Aaaaand this is me playing in the train station with Liz Chase looking on disdainfully.
I did lots of other cool things, too, buuuuuut sleeping is also cool, so I am told.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Pancakes!
I've dreamed about pancakes for the last two nights. Why? I have no idea, but I am craving them like crazy and the lack of baking powder and maple syrup in this country is upsetting. Also, I just ran out of my bag of Whole Grain Cheddar Goldfish after discovering how much I loved them. Nooooo!!
In other less important news, things have been going welllllll.... My brain has been thrown into semi-shock this week due to the sudden überload of homework from my orientation classes after not having had any since the end of April and, of course, all the German. Seriously, I think my brain is currently burning more calories than my body... and I walk a lot. It's alright, though. It keeps me fit and I haven't slept this well in a looooong time. Yay!
I'm also proud to say that I'm pretty comfortable finding my way around the main parts of the city now. I have memorized all nine bus stops between the one by my dorm and the one by the Smith Center, which happens to be a train station that I frequent often. I also know which S-Bahn lines (above ground metro train ish?) get me to and from places I need to go, where to get different groceries and cheap school supplies, the basic locations of main University buildings, etc... Lastnight I gave directions to the train station to someone and today I helped someone find a specific building on campus. Grin. During our "practical orientation" we've also done wichtig things like gotten library cards for the public library, learned how to use the school libraries, toured the sparkly Rathaus (town hall), and toured the Reeperbahn, among other things. The Reeperbahn (pronounced Raper-bon) is the touristy party area of the city that is full of lots and lots of bars, clubs, sex shops, sex shows, sex clubs, prostitutes, and other classy things. They say it's not too dangerous nowadays that there are so many Polizei, but I was still glad we went as a group. Woohoo! Fun fact: The Beatles played one of their first gigs ever at a club off the Reeperbahn. "The Star" no longer exists, but there is a sort of Beatles shrine where it used to be honoring the group.
A strange and somewhat unfortunate occurrence happened today with my box of winter clothes that was shipped from New Mexico. A few days ago, I received a notice in my mailbox saying that it had arrived, but instead of going to the nearby post office to retrieve it like had happened with my last one, it said I had to go to this obscure post-type-place somewhere in the business area of the city where I had never been. It didn't give an explanation, but said I had to bring my customs declaration, passport, and all that good stuff, which didn't sound good. I finally had a chance to go there today (thanks, Google Maps) and was a little sketched out when I had to wait outside the locked door for them to buzz me in. I then had to wait in the waiting room while they retrieved my package, then they made me open it in front of them after asking all sorts of questions as to its contents. Once open, they went through it and finally let me go after strewing socks, scarves, and sweaters all about. I asked the nice man why the package had gone there instead of the regular post office, but he replied very quickly and I only caught something about it being from the U.S. and the Deutschpost not wanting to deal with it and somethingsomethinggermanandfast. They didn't offer to tape it closed again, so I had to lug it back open on foot for several blocks to the S-Bahn, then the bus, then another several blocks to my dorm and up four flights of stairs to my room. At least now I have warm fuzzy things. : ) (Thanks, Mom and Dad!) Also, the past-me gave the current-me a pleasant surprise by filling my coat pockets with tea packets. (Thanks, self!)
Speaking of thanks, thanks to all you wonderful people who've sent good wishes, letters, cards, postcards, cupcake bandaids, Van Gogh stereo viewers, meditating modern Buddhist wire figurines... I love you. You make my days so happy.
I really didn't mean to write that much. My real intention was to say that I was settling in my room nicely and had found some color to combat the whiteness of it all (thanks, IKEA). I guess I'm just still on a rush after finishing my homework for the week. Pictures!
In a perfect world I would have a fab lazyboy recliner in this big empty corner, but I found a nice squishy pillow and rug instead. It's actually my favorite reading spot.
In other less important news, things have been going welllllll.... My brain has been thrown into semi-shock this week due to the sudden überload of homework from my orientation classes after not having had any since the end of April and, of course, all the German. Seriously, I think my brain is currently burning more calories than my body... and I walk a lot. It's alright, though. It keeps me fit and I haven't slept this well in a looooong time. Yay!
I'm also proud to say that I'm pretty comfortable finding my way around the main parts of the city now. I have memorized all nine bus stops between the one by my dorm and the one by the Smith Center, which happens to be a train station that I frequent often. I also know which S-Bahn lines (above ground metro train ish?) get me to and from places I need to go, where to get different groceries and cheap school supplies, the basic locations of main University buildings, etc... Lastnight I gave directions to the train station to someone and today I helped someone find a specific building on campus. Grin. During our "practical orientation" we've also done wichtig things like gotten library cards for the public library, learned how to use the school libraries, toured the sparkly Rathaus (town hall), and toured the Reeperbahn, among other things. The Reeperbahn (pronounced Raper-bon) is the touristy party area of the city that is full of lots and lots of bars, clubs, sex shops, sex shows, sex clubs, prostitutes, and other classy things. They say it's not too dangerous nowadays that there are so many Polizei, but I was still glad we went as a group. Woohoo! Fun fact: The Beatles played one of their first gigs ever at a club off the Reeperbahn. "The Star" no longer exists, but there is a sort of Beatles shrine where it used to be honoring the group.
A strange and somewhat unfortunate occurrence happened today with my box of winter clothes that was shipped from New Mexico. A few days ago, I received a notice in my mailbox saying that it had arrived, but instead of going to the nearby post office to retrieve it like had happened with my last one, it said I had to go to this obscure post-type-place somewhere in the business area of the city where I had never been. It didn't give an explanation, but said I had to bring my customs declaration, passport, and all that good stuff, which didn't sound good. I finally had a chance to go there today (thanks, Google Maps) and was a little sketched out when I had to wait outside the locked door for them to buzz me in. I then had to wait in the waiting room while they retrieved my package, then they made me open it in front of them after asking all sorts of questions as to its contents. Once open, they went through it and finally let me go after strewing socks, scarves, and sweaters all about. I asked the nice man why the package had gone there instead of the regular post office, but he replied very quickly and I only caught something about it being from the U.S. and the Deutschpost not wanting to deal with it and somethingsomethinggermanandfast. They didn't offer to tape it closed again, so I had to lug it back open on foot for several blocks to the S-Bahn, then the bus, then another several blocks to my dorm and up four flights of stairs to my room. At least now I have warm fuzzy things. : ) (Thanks, Mom and Dad!) Also, the past-me gave the current-me a pleasant surprise by filling my coat pockets with tea packets. (Thanks, self!)
Speaking of thanks, thanks to all you wonderful people who've sent good wishes, letters, cards, postcards, cupcake bandaids, Van Gogh stereo viewers, meditating modern Buddhist wire figurines... I love you. You make my days so happy.
I really didn't mean to write that much. My real intention was to say that I was settling in my room nicely and had found some color to combat the whiteness of it all (thanks, IKEA). I guess I'm just still on a rush after finishing my homework for the week. Pictures!
In a perfect world I would have a fab lazyboy recliner in this big empty corner, but I found a nice squishy pillow and rug instead. It's actually my favorite reading spot.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Llllllllllllllllllluebick!
Yesterday we took a Smithie excursion to the city of Luebeck, which was about a 40min. train ride from Hamburg. It's a city that's been around since the 1200s, making it around 900 years old, therabouts. Many of the medieval structures were destroyed over time and have since been rescued and rebuilt. Unlike Hamburg, it escaped a lot of destruction during WWII, though not completely. I really liked the mix of ancient buildings and modern architecture.
We arrived in the rain. Rain here has a mind of its own. It will pour one minute, then the sun will come out and trick everyone into putting away their umbrellas before it spontaneously starts to rain again. It will continue on and on like this for hours. 'Tis very sneaky.
Anyway! Parts of the city's outer wall still fortify it against today's savage neighbors, trolls, and the like. Neat!
There are many canals throughout the city, thus many bridges. This statue was built on one of these bridges. It's a Greek god of somethingsomething and carries a strong political statement. For some reason however many years ago, this part of Germany and Denmark were not getting along. Guess which part of the statue is directly facing our northern neighbor.
We were first led on a guided tour of the city. (It reminded me a lot of Bruges in Belgium.) We walked all around through huge ancient churches and tiny allyways until finally, FINALLY arriving at destination Mittagessen!
Lunch was in a VERY spiffy restaurant that had been around for hundreds of years. It was quite beautiful and had models of old ships hanging from the ceiling. Apparently that's where tradesmen and other adventurers would meet to discuss possible excursions and could handily point to whichever ship they wanted to use. The food was very classy, very expensive, and very delicious. Thanks, Smith College tuition money/Mom and Dad!
We were very much hoping to have more freetime in the afternoon to check out all the marzipan stores that Luebeck is famous for, but sadly lunch ran a little long and we had to catch our train. Guess I'll just have to go back.
That evening after Kassia and I found some cheap rainboots (Gummistiefel!), most of our group crashed at the Smith Center and watched The Wedding Singer auf deutsch. Oh, what a clash of worlds.
We arrived in the rain. Rain here has a mind of its own. It will pour one minute, then the sun will come out and trick everyone into putting away their umbrellas before it spontaneously starts to rain again. It will continue on and on like this for hours. 'Tis very sneaky.
Anyway! Parts of the city's outer wall still fortify it against today's savage neighbors, trolls, and the like. Neat!There are many canals throughout the city, thus many bridges. This statue was built on one of these bridges. It's a Greek god of somethingsomething and carries a strong political statement. For some reason however many years ago, this part of Germany and Denmark were not getting along. Guess which part of the statue is directly facing our northern neighbor.
We were first led on a guided tour of the city. (It reminded me a lot of Bruges in Belgium.) We walked all around through huge ancient churches and tiny allyways until finally, FINALLY arriving at destination Mittagessen!
Lunch was in a VERY spiffy restaurant that had been around for hundreds of years. It was quite beautiful and had models of old ships hanging from the ceiling. Apparently that's where tradesmen and other adventurers would meet to discuss possible excursions and could handily point to whichever ship they wanted to use. The food was very classy, very expensive, and very delicious. Thanks, Smith College tuition money/Mom and Dad!
We were very much hoping to have more freetime in the afternoon to check out all the marzipan stores that Luebeck is famous for, but sadly lunch ran a little long and we had to catch our train. Guess I'll just have to go back.
That evening after Kassia and I found some cheap rainboots (Gummistiefel!), most of our group crashed at the Smith Center and watched The Wedding Singer auf deutsch. Oh, what a clash of worlds.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
What are all these men doing in my dorm?
A few observations from a sleepy Studentin:
1.) The sirens for firetrucks, ambulances, etc... sound ridiculous. I find it hard to take them seriously.
2.) Hamburg LOVES Recycling! Water conservation! The environment! Saving electricity! My house has a requested shower rule for people to only use something like 45 or so minutes of shower water a MONTH, soooo, you do the math. I'm just happy the desert/Smith already taught me how to conserve water while doing such things. There are signs by all the sinks in the kitchens and bathrooms reminding you to save water. Also, the lights in all the hallways turn off automatically after a few minutes, so sometimes you find yourself in sudden darkness halfway down the stairs. I like that.
3.) Postage is so, so very expensive. To send a regular letter-sized envelope to the USA it costs 1.70 euro. One euro is currently worth around 1.4 dollars US. Yeah.
4.) Every evening at 6 and multiple times on Sundays, a nearby church plays all its bells for about five minutes straight. I love the lovely lovely bells ringing through my big windows.
5.) Two German students in my dorm have now assured me on different occasions that I don't actually need to clean out my gross dishes in the kitchen sink or pick up empty beer bottles strewn in various places because the cleaning lady does that for us. That was a pretty surprising cultural difference. I'm sure the Putzfrau has other things to worry about than cleaning up after me when I am perfectly capable of doing it myself. Come on, people.
Going to bed before eleven! Jaaaaa.
1.) The sirens for firetrucks, ambulances, etc... sound ridiculous. I find it hard to take them seriously.
2.) Hamburg LOVES Recycling! Water conservation! The environment! Saving electricity! My house has a requested shower rule for people to only use something like 45 or so minutes of shower water a MONTH, soooo, you do the math. I'm just happy the desert/Smith already taught me how to conserve water while doing such things. There are signs by all the sinks in the kitchens and bathrooms reminding you to save water. Also, the lights in all the hallways turn off automatically after a few minutes, so sometimes you find yourself in sudden darkness halfway down the stairs. I like that.
3.) Postage is so, so very expensive. To send a regular letter-sized envelope to the USA it costs 1.70 euro. One euro is currently worth around 1.4 dollars US. Yeah.
4.) Every evening at 6 and multiple times on Sundays, a nearby church plays all its bells for about five minutes straight. I love the lovely lovely bells ringing through my big windows.
5.) Two German students in my dorm have now assured me on different occasions that I don't actually need to clean out my gross dishes in the kitchen sink or pick up empty beer bottles strewn in various places because the cleaning lady does that for us. That was a pretty surprising cultural difference. I'm sure the Putzfrau has other things to worry about than cleaning up after me when I am perfectly capable of doing it myself. Come on, people.
Going to bed before eleven! Jaaaaa.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
If you can't be with the sentence you love, love the sentence you're with.
Hallo! Ich bin noch in Deutschland... This afternoon we signed away our means of verbal expression with our language contracts, in which we agreed only to speak German for the duration of the year unless in emergency or for very brief moments of clarification. What I found interesting was that it said it only applied to "those intent on learning the language." Or something like that. Therefore I'm not allowed to read this outloud to anyone, richtig? Thus begins the wonderful and frustrating world of less-than-childspeak, misunderstandings, circumlocution, "Noch einmal, bitte?," and of course, lots of hilarious inside jokes. Woohoo!
Not too terribly much to report, except that I had my first falling-in-love-with-Hamburg moment on Sunday night. In the afternoon we had a tea with our "big sisters," who were a rockin' group of past Smithie types who then gave us a tour of other parts of the city. After eating together at a delicious Italian place, we went to the last night of the Alster festival. This is a popular festival that happens several times a year around the lake in the middle of the city. There are lots of food and drink stands, many stages with live music, little shops, bright lights, usw, usw... I loved that there were people of all ages, young and old, all out walking around, dancing to the music, and generally enjoying the Hamburgian world. Sarah and I were THRILLED to discover a band playing old American rock tunes while dressed in STAR TREK UNIFORMS! It only got better when they broke out the Michael Jackson with Billy Jean. There was also synchronized dancing involved. The city looked so beautiful with all the lights reflected in the lake, the atmosphere was wonderful, the company was great, and then Johanna bought us all Danish soft-serve ice cream for having told us there were fireworks when there were not. Es war ein wunderbares Abend.
This week we start our orientation. Yesterday we took a grammar placement test and today we started our "practical orientation," during which we spent several hours discussing practical things like bank accounts and public transportation, and galavanting around the university on a scavanger hunt where we had to answer questions in different buildings. Sometimes that required asking random strangers to help us. It was fun. Heh heh.
Also! I brought Sparky (mein Computer) to the Smith Center and upgeloadet LOTS o' photos, so you can check them out on my flickr site (the link is on the right). The Belgium and Deutschland albums are to the right on zee homepage.
Tomorrow I get to learn about Hamburg's history and German grammar, and open a bank account. Again, woohoo! ...Und everyone should come visit me, bitte.
Not too terribly much to report, except that I had my first falling-in-love-with-Hamburg moment on Sunday night. In the afternoon we had a tea with our "big sisters," who were a rockin' group of past Smithie types who then gave us a tour of other parts of the city. After eating together at a delicious Italian place, we went to the last night of the Alster festival. This is a popular festival that happens several times a year around the lake in the middle of the city. There are lots of food and drink stands, many stages with live music, little shops, bright lights, usw, usw... I loved that there were people of all ages, young and old, all out walking around, dancing to the music, and generally enjoying the Hamburgian world. Sarah and I were THRILLED to discover a band playing old American rock tunes while dressed in STAR TREK UNIFORMS! It only got better when they broke out the Michael Jackson with Billy Jean. There was also synchronized dancing involved. The city looked so beautiful with all the lights reflected in the lake, the atmosphere was wonderful, the company was great, and then Johanna bought us all Danish soft-serve ice cream for having told us there were fireworks when there were not. Es war ein wunderbares Abend.
This week we start our orientation. Yesterday we took a grammar placement test and today we started our "practical orientation," during which we spent several hours discussing practical things like bank accounts and public transportation, and galavanting around the university on a scavanger hunt where we had to answer questions in different buildings. Sometimes that required asking random strangers to help us. It was fun. Heh heh.
Also! I brought Sparky (mein Computer) to the Smith Center and upgeloadet LOTS o' photos, so you can check them out on my flickr site (the link is on the right). The Belgium and Deutschland albums are to the right on zee homepage.
Tomorrow I get to learn about Hamburg's history and German grammar, and open a bank account. Again, woohoo! ...Und everyone should come visit me, bitte.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I done bought me a bonsai tree.
Good news! I now have the internets in my room.
Badish news! We only get 3g of downloading/uploading per month. That oughtta be more than enough for normal people, except I can use up that much in a day uploading photos. Thus, picture things will have to wait to be uploaded until I can bathe in wireless at the Smith Center. That could be tomorrow. Who knows.
So I'm in Hamburg. It's slowly starting to sink in that I'll be here for a bit now that I've started nesting a little. My room is pretty grand: there's a little entry way room that has my large wooden closet on one side and sink and mirror on the other (YAY, SINK!), then the main room itself is somewhat larger than a Ziskind single with a comfy bed and bedside table, desk and chair. One side of the wall is lined with three big shelves, which is handy when one needs to put things places. Another plus is that, like Ziskind, one wall is a giant window (two, rather) with a heater underneath. Unlike Ziskind, I can open these windows ENTIRELY so they swing into the room so that my whole room is like a giant balcony, or I can have them slant open at the top. Like Ziskind, (Z is my big beautiful white glass box house at school, for those of you who don't know), everything is white. Luckily we made an IKEA excursion today in which I got colored things to help with the bleakness, though more colored things would always be appreciated. (Nudge, nudge.) I also got a little bonsai tree that I'm debating naming Georg or Liesel. Green things!
To finish describing my new abode, I'm on the fourth floor in a room that is cornered with the terraces from the other side of the house. My view is part parking lot and part green lawn, duck pond, and trees with little rooftops peeking out from behind. Sometimes the ducks make hilarious noises, WHANKWHANKWHANKWHANKWHANK!! That got me wondering if German ducks spoke a different dialect or even different duck language than ducks in other parts of the world. (Sounds like an Ignobel Prize just waiting to happen.) I also face east, so like in Ziskind, I get lots of happy morning sun. There are many common rooms in the house, as well as pool tables, fussball, etc, etc. Every wing has a cute kitchen that everyone shares. In my wing, two people share a mini fridge and everyone has their own cupboard, both of which lock.
It's been splendidly beautiful until today when we had mucho rain and wind and HAIL LIKE WHOA! Also crazy thunderlightning, etc.. It was great.
What have I been doing, you ask? Well, Wednesday I arrived via the wunderbare Sabine, met up with Joe (my Smith German advisor/professor/program director) and his wife, Sue, at their place for a bit before going to my dorm. We had nothing scheduled until lunch the next day, so I looked through some orientation info and met up with the 3 other Smithies in my house (photos are Martha, Carolyn, and Liz Chase to put faces to names), all whom are groovy people that I have known for two years now. There was exploring of places and a cup o' noodles dinner, then unpacking and sleep. We went grocery shopping the next morning, as we will be providing food for ourselves all year. 'Twas so exciting! I'd never gone grocery shopping JUST for me before and had a hard time thinking of what I would need, as well as a hard time figuring out proportions for just me, as I normally shop for four. I ended up with some delicious nectarines, broccoli, milk, cheese, yogurt, juice, muesli, and probably a couple other things I forgot. (Later I found a vegetarian friendly store and marveled in the wonders of a basil-tofu, tomato, mozzarella, broccoli, garlic, lemony concoction for dinner that was sehr sehr lecker!) I don't know why I just wrote all that down.
At our Thursday luncheon we met with our orientation teachers and the rest of our group (9 students in total) and were delightfully overfed by Sue, who then insisted we take home the rest. She also prepared a special pot of decaf tea for me because she rememberd me always asking for some while at their house a couple times last spring. It made me very happy.
We spent the rest of the day spending time in each others dorms, chit-chatting, hence getting out all our English while we still had the chance. We had a business meeting the next day where we discussed VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES, then went around shopping again with Joe, who then kindly bought us all ice cream, not endorsed by Smith College, of course. We had today completely off. We went on our IKEA adventure until the mid-afternoon (photo is of the IKEA stairs at the train station) when we S-Bahn'ed and bused it home in the torrential rains. Kassia and I were planning on going to the big festival around the lake this evening, but the schlechtes schlechtes Wetters put an end to that. I've been here by myself all afternoon fitting the purple curtains I got to my windows, organizing, and much enjoying the rain and cool breezes that blow. It's still raining now. Mmm.
Tomorrow we have an afternoon tea with our "big sisters;" Smithies that did the JYA program and are now living in Hamburg or German students that spent a year at Smith. Everyone is assigned to a person that helps you out over the year, shows you around, provides an ear, coffee, whatever. I think it's a swell idea. Monday we have a grammar placement test and then our orientation program begins and goes until mid-October. We have a grammar/language course and Hamburg seminar every other corresponding with a "practical orientation," which I think involves actually going out and doing things. Next weekend we take an excursion to the medieval town of Luebeck and we go to Berlin for four days in October. Good things are afoot.
Speaking of feet, my foot is asleep and I need some tea.
I'll probably put some pictures up soon (*loik, now. This one is the view from the other dorm.), so keep checking! OH, and I fixed the comment thing so now anyone can leave one.
I'll leave you with a funny happening: we were talking with a German student in our dorm and someone sneezed, to which he said, "Gesundheit! How do you say that in English? Cheers?"
Cheers.
Badish news! We only get 3g of downloading/uploading per month. That oughtta be more than enough for normal people, except I can use up that much in a day uploading photos. Thus, picture things will have to wait to be uploaded until I can bathe in wireless at the Smith Center. That could be tomorrow. Who knows.
So I'm in Hamburg. It's slowly starting to sink in that I'll be here for a bit now that I've started nesting a little. My room is pretty grand: there's a little entry way room that has my large wooden closet on one side and sink and mirror on the other (YAY, SINK!), then the main room itself is somewhat larger than a Ziskind single with a comfy bed and bedside table, desk and chair. One side of the wall is lined with three big shelves, which is handy when one needs to put things places. Another plus is that, like Ziskind, one wall is a giant window (two, rather) with a heater underneath. Unlike Ziskind, I can open these windows ENTIRELY so they swing into the room so that my whole room is like a giant balcony, or I can have them slant open at the top. Like Ziskind, (Z is my big beautiful white glass box house at school, for those of you who don't know), everything is white. Luckily we made an IKEA excursion today in which I got colored things to help with the bleakness, though more colored things would always be appreciated. (Nudge, nudge.) I also got a little bonsai tree that I'm debating naming Georg or Liesel. Green things!
To finish describing my new abode, I'm on the fourth floor in a room that is cornered with the terraces from the other side of the house. My view is part parking lot and part green lawn, duck pond, and trees with little rooftops peeking out from behind. Sometimes the ducks make hilarious noises, WHANKWHANKWHANKWHANKWHANK!! That got me wondering if German ducks spoke a different dialect or even different duck language than ducks in other parts of the world. (Sounds like an Ignobel Prize just waiting to happen.) I also face east, so like in Ziskind, I get lots of happy morning sun. There are many common rooms in the house, as well as pool tables, fussball, etc, etc. Every wing has a cute kitchen that everyone shares. In my wing, two people share a mini fridge and everyone has their own cupboard, both of which lock.
It's been splendidly beautiful until today when we had mucho rain and wind and HAIL LIKE WHOA! Also crazy thunderlightning, etc.. It was great.
What have I been doing, you ask? Well, Wednesday I arrived via the wunderbare Sabine, met up with Joe (my Smith German advisor/professor/program director) and his wife, Sue, at their place for a bit before going to my dorm. We had nothing scheduled until lunch the next day, so I looked through some orientation info and met up with the 3 other Smithies in my house (photos are Martha, Carolyn, and Liz Chase to put faces to names), all whom are groovy people that I have known for two years now. There was exploring of places and a cup o' noodles dinner, then unpacking and sleep. We went grocery shopping the next morning, as we will be providing food for ourselves all year. 'Twas so exciting! I'd never gone grocery shopping JUST for me before and had a hard time thinking of what I would need, as well as a hard time figuring out proportions for just me, as I normally shop for four. I ended up with some delicious nectarines, broccoli, milk, cheese, yogurt, juice, muesli, and probably a couple other things I forgot. (Later I found a vegetarian friendly store and marveled in the wonders of a basil-tofu, tomato, mozzarella, broccoli, garlic, lemony concoction for dinner that was sehr sehr lecker!) I don't know why I just wrote all that down.At our Thursday luncheon we met with our orientation teachers and the rest of our group (9 students in total) and were delightfully overfed by Sue, who then insisted we take home the rest. She also prepared a special pot of decaf tea for me because she rememberd me always asking for some while at their house a couple times last spring. It made me very happy.
We spent the rest of the day spending time in each others dorms, chit-chatting, hence getting out all our English while we still had the chance. We had a business meeting the next day where we discussed VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES, then went around shopping again with Joe, who then kindly bought us all ice cream, not endorsed by Smith College, of course. We had today completely off. We went on our IKEA adventure until the mid-afternoon (photo is of the IKEA stairs at the train station) when we S-Bahn'ed and bused it home in the torrential rains. Kassia and I were planning on going to the big festival around the lake this evening, but the schlechtes schlechtes Wetters put an end to that. I've been here by myself all afternoon fitting the purple curtains I got to my windows, organizing, and much enjoying the rain and cool breezes that blow. It's still raining now. Mmm.Tomorrow we have an afternoon tea with our "big sisters;" Smithies that did the JYA program and are now living in Hamburg or German students that spent a year at Smith. Everyone is assigned to a person that helps you out over the year, shows you around, provides an ear, coffee, whatever. I think it's a swell idea. Monday we have a grammar placement test and then our orientation program begins and goes until mid-October. We have a grammar/language course and Hamburg seminar every other corresponding with a "practical orientation," which I think involves actually going out and doing things. Next weekend we take an excursion to the medieval town of Luebeck and we go to Berlin for four days in October. Good things are afoot.
Speaking of feet, my foot is asleep and I need some tea.I'll probably put some pictures up soon (*loik, now. This one is the view from the other dorm.), so keep checking! OH, and I fixed the comment thing so now anyone can leave one.
I'll leave you with a funny happening: we were talking with a German student in our dorm and someone sneezed, to which he said, "Gesundheit! How do you say that in English? Cheers?"Cheers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
