My First Halloween in Germany

I started out with no costume. Given it is Halloween in Germany, no one has a costume, except for maybe wearing black and some spray painted hair. I didn't even try. I started my night, met up with Shoumi, Vickie and Alex...got some pizza and beer. Beer and pizza would have been way better should I have been in my 70's Roller Girl costume complete with a Black Thunderbird detailed with red standing in the driveway of a trailer park. But, oh well. We went to a couple of places and ended up at the Coyote Ugly in Stuttgart. Yep, it exists. Halloween is way better in the States...

1. I wound up on the bar dancing.
2. I got punched in the face.
3. I lost my jacket.

Punched in the face you ask?

There was a bar fight, I got caught in it...the left side of my face is swollen. End of story.

Ooooooooooooooh what a great night. Here are some pictures to clarify.


















Vickie helping me with my makeup.

















Vickie took her shirt off, and got this bottle of champange.

















The whole night looked like this.

***

Sonstiges

After two weeks of randomly attending classes, I think I finally have a class schedule figured out.

Globalisierung (Globalization)
Einfuehrung in der Soziologie (Intro to Sociology)
Deutsch Grammatik C1 (German Grammar)
Internationales Marketing (International Marketing)
Wirtschaftsdeutsch (Business German)

I'm pretty please with what's above, considering I can actually attend and understand about 90% of what the teacher is saying, except for my sociology class, which is at about 80% because the Professor is from Bayern. For those of you that don't know, it makes it difficult for non-native and native speakers alike.

Other than that...things are pretty darn quiet here. I'm spending my first weekend in Stuttgart, well, since I got to Stuttgart. I've been gone every weekend since I got here, actually nice to not have to do laundry and pack last minute.

Tomorrow I'm heading to IKEA...this will surely be the highlight of my week as I will no longer have to use my windows as a mirror. Most of my time recently has been spent on the internet looking for an apartment in Berlin. Oh, and by the way....

I GOT THE INTERNSHIP :)

***

Bad Sign

I had a dream last night that I was grinding my teeth, and one by one they were coming out. I could feel them get loose, then I would reach in and pull it out. It started with my back teeth, and by the time it was done all I had left were the front ones. I was eerie, because I could actually feel it in my dream...it wasn't painful though, more like taking a cork out of a wine bottle. I've looked this up numerous places, and the prognosis is not good.

***

Brussels, Belgium

Create Your Own!

Ordnung, Puentlichkeit, Sauberkeit

Some of the main underlying social themes of the country of Germany are those mentioned above. Hey, I'm a big fan of things being organized, I hate being late, and I'm pretty fond of it when things are clean. The three things above have managed to help this country come out of major world wars and rebuild a country that literally had been smashed to the ground. Coming out of what the German people went though, you can maybe understand why these things are so important - whether they recognize it or not. The youth try to deny it most of the time, as most young people in any culture try to pretend they are anarchists against "the man" or in Germany, "der Mann". Personally, it gets to me sometimes but most of the time I enjoy these facets of Germany because it makes my life much easier here in a lot of ways.

Okay, now that I've told you that throw it all out the window if you should ever happen to attend a German University.

There are no admissions advisors, there are no office hours, you don't know your requirements, you don't know really for sure if you classes is going to take place, the buildings don't have names or the room numbers are so off it doesn't make any sense, and you don't have to register for classes - just show up. Of course the German students are aware of all these things and reconize the frustration that will come along with attending University (but, hey, it's pretty much free so why complain too much). Also as German citizens they are well equipped to handle the confusion and nonsense that sometimes comes with the bureaucracy of public institutions in Germany. It's the same in the States, I probably just notice it a lot more here.

My first lecture went well and I showed up for my second lecture later that day. Classroom was empty, no one was there - and it was just me and four other clueless people standing outside the classroom. No note, nothing indicating it had been cancelled. I double checked and yep, it was supposed to start today. This apparently is a common occurance. I was warned about this, but didn't think it could happen already on the first day. I had to laugh at myself and think "So much for Ordnung and Puenklichket" but at least the classroom was clean.

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Create Your Own!

***

So, you have to choose.

I was talking to a girl at a party the other night. She lives in my building with another girl in my program. I was talking to her about homesickness and her experiences. She had been away from home for a year in New Zealand. We started talking about things you miss, people you miss, foods you miss and all those other things that go with being away for so long. Then, she turns to me and she says:

"You have to choose."

I ask her to clarifiy. She explains that you can't be two people at once. You can't be living in two countries at once, keeping track of everyone in your home town and also where you are living at the same time. She said,

"There comes a time where you have to choose."

I took this to heart, but at the same time, I realize that I am trying to do both. I am attempting to be in Chicago, and also be in Germany. Cater to my friends here, and my friends across the ocean. How do you choose something like that? How do you valuate your experiences in a foreign country over those that you feel close to home?

It's next to impossible.

I feel both. I have a love and compassion for Germany and the people here, but at the same time, I know my heart belongs in Chicago. I feel my fullest looking at the Sears tower or walking in Wicker Park. I like the streets that call to me knowing I won't get lost. I like the english yelling outside, mustard dripping down their lips yelling at their girlfriends "Hey baby! I'm sorry!". When here, I don't seek it, but I hear it...English. Even though I am fluent in German, I still listen for it - looking for that familiarity that goes with that nice feeling in your body when you know you are home.

***

Hard at work in Amsterdam

***

Amsterdam and White Boys

Well, my trip to Amsterdam proved to be more than successful, I had certain goals established and they were certainly attained. Goal number one: get lost in the city and wear my legs out (check). Goal number two: test the limits of the human body in regards to smoking pot (check). Me, Kim, and Andy met up on the train and got in late afternoon on Sunday...it was both their first times so it was nice to show them around. I was happy to be back, it really is a beautiful city and I like going there. Our hostel left something to be desired, but we couldn't really complain for 20 Euros a night. The first night there was the overwhelming stench of bleach in the room (I had to sleep with a scarf over my face) and the second night, bleach was replaced by dirty sock smell. The people were on the shifty side, and I wasn't comfortable with the chipping, water damaged paint above my head. I remember why I usually opt for a budget hotel when I visit. Got home on Monday and realized that I had little to no thought patterns going through my head, and was convinced that I had forgotten how to speak German. I couldn't find decent batteries to save my life, so I don't have any pictures, but will get some soon to put up.

Later that night on I met up with Alex and went to go see "The Whitest Boy Alive". I had never heard of them, but checked out their MySpace Page and it seemed like a good deal. I was pleasently impressed with the nice mixture of california style guitar and Postal Service lyrics. The main singer was an exact replica of Nepolian Dynamite without the dance moves. I heard covers of "I Got The Power" and "Music Sounds Better With You" and they were quite possibly better versions than their respective originals. Their groove on stage was impressive and the lead singer has a fabulous voice. The keyboardest has this contraption of a machine that made some great noises and all those familiar electronic sounds that we all are so fond of. I'm not usually into bands, but these guys are an absolute exception. It reminded me of a jam session in a college, but the guys in the band are 20 times more talented and you could actually listen to them for 3 hours in someone's basement. I highly suggest you check them out, you'll probably like them too. Here's a video I took, and one off of YouTube.

***

...

Stars and smoke,
music and sky,
love and rythm.

Eating slowly, cherishing eat bite.

Take it away, I’ve had my fill for tonight.

Stare.
Think.
Stare.
Vomit!

Rejection filled cake,
Poorly prepared and served for dessert.

Even before the main course has begun.

***

The clubs are open until when?

The Stuttgart nightlife I would have to say is pretty damn decent. Of course compared to Radolfzell, I am a pig in shit right now. The clubs are nicely designed, decent crowds, nice music. There's a nice array of different types of places - the grungy techno club in the basement, hip modern places with quirky menus, places that you know are designed just to dance and quieter bars with pricier drinks - but the trip hop in the background is free. I just went out last night for a *full* night on the town, and I'm beginning to wonder if rolling in at 7:00 a.m. is going to be a pattern here? I honestly don't know how it happens, but is it happening, and I see it happening again. Of course, since the beer is a higher quality, as long as you don't get completly stupid and have enought time to sleep, you wake up fine. I woke up this morning and briefly thought I had class? Psch, it wouldn't have mattered because all my classes start at 4:00 p.m. each day.

I am leaving on Sunday for Amsterdam to meet up with Kim and Andy for some smokey treat and next weekend I can't decide to head to Belgium and meet up with some people, or stay in town and see Jazzanova at Mono.

Wow, I better not get used to this.

***

There's MORE!

Japanese English Guide to Yelling at Your Boyfriend

I love watching this...

...I get so happy everytime! It's the perfect pick me up.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

***

Tag Der Deutschen Eiheit / German Unity Day

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the reunification between East and West Germany. It's not to be confused with the day the wall actually came down, which was November 9, 1989. Some people may ask why German Unity Day isn't on the day the wall actually came down? This date also coincides with the anniversary of the founding of the first real German Republic in 1918 and the defeat of Hitler's first coup in 1923. However, November 9 was is also the anniversary of the first large-scale Nazi-led pogroms against Jews in 1938 (so called Kristallnacht), therefore November 9th is grossly inappropriate (wikipedia.org).

I would like to recommend reading the article that Wikipedia has on the topic of German re-unification. It's a nice summary and it's always good to learn something! Click Here.

Today is Germany's National Holiday (Independence Day is ours in the United States). There seems to be a sort of solemness about the day today here, instead of firecrackers and parties, eveything is closed and the streets are quiet. I wonder if that is almost more appropriate considering what is being observed.

Imagine a United States where there was a Wall between the north and the south, one was communist and one was a democracy. Your family or lover may be on the other side and there is no way to see them, or go across because it's so heavily armed you may die just to see their face.

***

Early Morning

Five a.m. home, wet hair and clothes piled in the corner. Streets abandoned, no sound about. I don't know if it's really home, but it's where what I have is. Before friends abound, music all around. Still I look, as though I am home and looking for a face in the crowd. Something recognizable, something close but knowing full well it's not there and I won't find it. Similarities can be imagined. Empy room, empty floor, empty heart looking for a place to rest. Twenty pins out of my hair, counted on the counter, not tired, not awake...still breathing somewhere inside.