tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49683120476684707522024-03-08T09:33:47.056-08:00Frau's TravelsActual travel stories and lessons learned on them. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06107885612788991675noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-73545370060074670502015-12-26T17:06:00.002-08:002015-12-26T17:06:54.529-08:00Winter in Iceland <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xLAA3YSHVUY/Vn84PS93KKI/AAAAAAAABOk/hmRHWa3eZeY/s1600/IMG_6383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xLAA3YSHVUY/Vn84PS93KKI/AAAAAAAABOk/hmRHWa3eZeY/s320/IMG_6383.jpg" width="320" /></a>After returning from Iceland in the summer, it only took two weeks for me to miss it terribly. Playing around with the Icelandair flight costs, I realized I could return for a pre-Christmas vacation with little time off work, and a very affordable round-trip flight cost.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kp_QPJvdoFg/Vn84VYd74cI/AAAAAAAABPY/rJgoE0vk9mo/s1600/IMG_6467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kp_QPJvdoFg/Vn84VYd74cI/AAAAAAAABPY/rJgoE0vk9mo/s320/IMG_6467.jpg" width="320" /></a>Nearly everyone asked "Why Iceland in the winter?!?" Well, the northern lights are the biggest winter attraction, but Icelanders are said to love Christmas, and being there before Christmas seemed like a good plan.<br />
<br />
I decided to wait until the <a href="http://www.vedur.is/">Aurora</a> forecast to make any plans, and once that happened and I saw the weather in addition to it, I decided it would be best not to make any plans at all and to just enjoy my time there. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvVjDrWMWtU/Vn84PRWZvsI/AAAAAAAABOo/12o0y2oW1WQ/s1600/IMG_6400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvVjDrWMWtU/Vn84PRWZvsI/AAAAAAAABOo/12o0y2oW1WQ/s320/IMG_6400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As it turned out, that was the best plan - the week was far too overcast to see the northern lights. In fact, some of the tours were even canceled due to weather (there were a couple very windy days). So, what did I do for a whole week? <br />
<br />
Well, I got to meet up with an acquaintance and learn about Icelandic microbrews. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iABm-jR5gOk/Vn84So-X3ZI/AAAAAAAABPA/whMBMl_R764/s1600/IMG_6417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iABm-jR5gOk/Vn84So-X3ZI/AAAAAAAABPA/whMBMl_R764/s320/IMG_6417.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I enjoyed the Christmas markets. They aren't as big and fancy as the German and Austrian ones, but I did enjoy some mulled wine, browse the "Christmas-themed" flea market, and spend a couple hours at the main Christmas market, outside of Reykjavik. It was indoor in a mall, with some stores and some tables of smaller businesses. There was an accordion player and a singer, and Santa came to play and sing with the kids. I especially enjoyed the Viking store, with items made in the tradition of the Vikings.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTRQhsDs8ns/Vn84TdLC5aI/AAAAAAAABPM/Em47PBxIjas/s1600/IMG_6435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTRQhsDs8ns/Vn84TdLC5aI/AAAAAAAABPM/Em47PBxIjas/s320/IMG_6435.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0KYuCbJDmog/Vn84PIW37GI/AAAAAAAABOg/EUJVDEkxn38/s1600/IMG_6397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0KYuCbJDmog/Vn84PIW37GI/AAAAAAAABOg/EUJVDEkxn38/s320/IMG_6397.jpg" width="320" /></a>I also enjoyed walking along the bay. It's not as packed with tourists as it is in the summer time, and on less windy days, it's quite beautiful. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGF6WS9U2tk/Vn84TfHNb0I/AAAAAAAABPE/or4f44oZHXs/s1600/IMG_6428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGF6WS9U2tk/Vn84TfHNb0I/AAAAAAAABPE/or4f44oZHXs/s320/IMG_6428.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
I love being in Iceland. The food, the people, the weather - it's all wonderful. I'm already trying to plan my next trip.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-71303154481401881362015-11-02T14:43:00.001-08:002015-11-02T15:36:45.828-08:00Using Languages You Know, Everywhere You GoAlthough I haven't written about all of my German trips yet, most of the rest start repeating themselves more than they already have. Instead, it's time to write about the opportunity to use German, even in other countries. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91KMA7pWs3o/VjfjbbWDP-I/AAAAAAAAA-E/I0k_WUi2-nM/s1600/IMG_5100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91KMA7pWs3o/VjfjbbWDP-I/AAAAAAAAA-E/I0k_WUi2-nM/s320/IMG_5100.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<li><b>Domestic Travel</b>. There are many tourist areas in the States where you are likely to find German tourists as well. My students have told me about Hawaii (I must admit, I have yet to go... I keep traveling in Europe instead). The Grand Canyon, DisneyWorld, and Niagra Falls are great places to hear German. DisneyWorld of course has Epcot, so if you go to Germany there, you can speak German with the native speakers working there and eat real German food. </li>
<li><b>Cruises</b>. Many cruises will have a very international passenger list, and if you keep your ears open, you're bound to hear German. There are some cruises that leave from German ports, so those will have the biggest German attendance, but others even in the Caribbean will have German tourists on board. </li>
<li><b>The Mediterranean area countries, especially during colder months</b>. Okay, I have never experienced this one first hand either, mostly because I don't enjoy warm weather very much. But several Germans spend winter vacation time in southern areas such as Spain, Mallorca, and Italy, as well as Croatia and Greece. </li>
<li><b>Really anywhere touristy</b>. I'll include more details below!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oROC0YvHeLc/VjfkSX8-aaI/AAAAAAAAA-M/5ncje_4oTO8/s1600/IMG_5806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oROC0YvHeLc/VjfkSX8-aaI/AAAAAAAAA-M/5ncje_4oTO8/s320/IMG_5806.jpg" width="240" /></a>My sister and I traveled to Norway and Iceland the summer of 2015. Our main destination was Haugesund, Norway, where she did a half Ironman. It's a fairly small city, so besides for the race, there weren't a lot of tourists around. We took a day trip to Stavanger, which is a much bigger tourist area. As soon as we got into town, I heard German everywhere. I looked and saw that at least one of the cruise ships in the port was from Germany. If I had been traveling alone, I might have spoken with some of them, but as it was I didn't feel the need. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On our way home, we spent a week in Iceland. As we arrived and waited for our bags, I heard mostly German. I noticed that most of the flights arriving around the same time ours did were from Germany: Hamburg, Stuttgart, Frankfurt... all within an hour or so. While my sister waited for her bike, I waited by the regular baggage claim belt. I remember hearing an elderly German couple complaining about how long the bags were taking. I turned to them and agreed - I had already been there at least a half an hour by then, and they had just gotten off their plane. We talked about the inefficiency of the airport, and how that would never exist in Germany. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WIg76Z1GmFg/VjflBaHPxzI/AAAAAAAAA-U/o4SekVVwtmA/s1600/IMG_5998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WIg76Z1GmFg/VjflBaHPxzI/AAAAAAAAA-U/o4SekVVwtmA/s320/IMG_5998.jpg" width="240" /></a>We did a lot of tourist activities outside of Reykjavik, but on the excursions, I only remember hearing German on the Into the Glacier tour. There were two German families on our half of the tour. It was interesting - if they had a question, they could ask in German. Since the tours were to be in English, the tour guide responded in English, but he also did a quick translation for them after. (There were a couple kids involved, so it was really nice that he was able to do that.)<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hOvEPdaXFks/VjflBqyFjAI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/yo-WNNvj6I8/s1600/IMG_6008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hOvEPdaXFks/VjflBqyFjAI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/yo-WNNvj6I8/s320/IMG_6008.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Our tour guide's ability to quickly switch languages prompted me to look up the educational system in Iceland, especially in relation to language learning. I was intrigued to see that Danish was the first foreign language they learned, followed by English, and then German or French. Every Icelander I came across spoke English very fluently. I never heard their Danish, but I would expect it would be at least as good. Our tour guide's German was really good, but I did hear someone who had trouble with it. In one of the stores in town, a German woman who spoke very little English was trying to ask questions. The employee spoke very little German. I kept an ear open and was about to offer my help translating to English for him, but they were able to understand each other eventually. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the past decade, I've made an attempt to learn how to say something in the language of the areas I'm about to travel to. For Czech, I could say hello and that's about it - though apparently my pronunciation of the town names is still impressive, and that alone gets me by fairly well. In České Budejovice, I ended up speaking mostly German anyway. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In Norway and Iceland I had learned enough Norwegian and Danish to dissect words and try to figure out meaning when reading, but not enough to gain confidence to say anything besides "godmorgen" and "takk" and I'm pretty sure I used the Danish pronunciation every time... At least "takk" is "tak" and pronounced the same. I think my favorite part about Icelandic, Norwegian, and Danish is that they are Germanic languages as well, and one can really find the morphological history in it all. </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-66225522710382023912015-10-29T21:19:00.002-07:002015-10-29T21:21:09.546-07:00While in Europe... Traveling within Europe is much more affordable than getting back to Europe, so if you can extend your stay, I always recommend it!<br />
<br />
After my year in Salzburg, I spent another month traveling, mostly in eastern Europe. I wanted to see where so many of my students in my first year teaching had been from. Unfortunately, along with the rest of the pictures from this year, these pictures are reduced to those that had been put on Facebook at the time. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wni39JF9Jlo/VjLuaYb5CcI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/KPADXbHN_3Y/s1600/rijeka%2Bview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wni39JF9Jlo/VjLuaYb5CcI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/KPADXbHN_3Y/s320/rijeka%2Bview.jpg" width="320" /></a>I feel as if I may have already written about Rijeka, but since I can't remember, I'll put it in again before moving on to summer. I found a cheap flight over the Easter holidays to Croatia. It ended up being something along the lines of 50 Euro round trip. Rijeka is interesting - it's an industrial port town trying to welcome tourists. The beaches were all industry, but I found my favorite spot up in Trsat, a fortress dating back to the Ottoman Empire. It holds a museum and cafe. I spent most of my day times there, drinking amazing coffee and watching a gorgeous view. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cA9CI19iP4k/VjLuaJhWWwI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/AQtS2o-LaRU/s1600/rijeka%2Bsunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cA9CI19iP4k/VjLuaJhWWwI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/AQtS2o-LaRU/s320/rijeka%2Bsunset.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G8sRRkicggM/VjLuaYSR-eI/AAAAAAAAA7U/x9IuHuNRP_0/s1600/rijeka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G8sRRkicggM/VjLuaYSR-eI/AAAAAAAAA7U/x9IuHuNRP_0/s320/rijeka.jpg" width="265" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7TG6Q0CPrbw/VjKsn53JcSI/AAAAAAAAA4w/M7o0kDhc7JI/s1600/adrianic%2Bsea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7TG6Q0CPrbw/VjKsn53JcSI/AAAAAAAAA4w/M7o0kDhc7JI/s200/adrianic%2Bsea.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-57F35YwmI98/VjKsoCVDypI/AAAAAAAAA40/5HC7sg_HymE/s1600/croatia%2Bsea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-57F35YwmI98/VjKsoCVDypI/AAAAAAAAA40/5HC7sg_HymE/s320/croatia%2Bsea.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I flew to Dubrovnik, Croatia and spent a few days there. It was a beautiful place to relax. I had a nice hotel on the Adriatic Sea. There was a nice beach area with an area to swim, and it was a good walk into town. The water there is so clear, you can't see how deep it is.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IZjwNN7KUXc/VjKsou35hdI/AAAAAAAAA48/-5K8VimtC7M/s1600/croatia%2Bdaytrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t44PNoWqmgY/VjKspC3bvQI/AAAAAAAAA5E/qzZppqeOHIg/s1600/dubrovnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t44PNoWqmgY/VjKspC3bvQI/AAAAAAAAA5E/qzZppqeOHIg/s1600/dubrovnik.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgVGp4IwC_s/VjKspTp7O2I/AAAAAAAAA5M/Av7AF3KtSBc/s1600/hotel%2Bview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgVGp4IwC_s/VjKspTp7O2I/AAAAAAAAA5M/Av7AF3KtSBc/s320/hotel%2Bview.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
I learned enough Bosnian/Croatian (AKA Serbo-Croatian) to ask if the other speaks German or English. (Goverit li ti engleski ili njemaći? Probably not the best spelling anymore...) In Dubrovnik, the answer was usually German, especially in restaurants.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
From Dubrovnik, I took a bus to Mostar, Bosnia. There was a border stop in between, but it wasn't too complicated. I do remember them looking at some of the bags, but I don't remember them being bothered by mine. There was a huge Catholic tourist attraction on the way, but I don't remember where exactly it was. Something about a siting of the Virgin Mary. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_wejsgiw0Zg/VjLhvaCRg7I/AAAAAAAAA5o/BMJvnJXfu3g/s1600/mostar%2Bruins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_wejsgiw0Zg/VjLhvaCRg7I/AAAAAAAAA5o/BMJvnJXfu3g/s320/mostar%2Bruins.jpg" width="267" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_UN94EHsNE/VjLhvJoH8kI/AAAAAAAAA5k/VAXEayzPkeo/s1600/mostar%2Briver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_UN94EHsNE/VjLhvJoH8kI/AAAAAAAAA5k/VAXEayzPkeo/s320/mostar%2Briver.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Mostar is an intriguing place. It was a decade after the war, yet many buildings remained in ruins. Some partially rebuilt, allowing people to live on one or more of the floors (between floors that weren't redone). Others had signs warning against going in, as they have not been cleared of mines. Mostar's most (bridge) is probably among Bosnia's most famous sites. It's quite beautiful, as is the river that flows under it. As I prepared to leave, I found the train and bus schedules didn't match what I had seen online. I ended up taking a taxi to Sarajevo, which allowed me beautiful views of the mountains. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dg44FNXgVEw/VjLhvEmsOhI/AAAAAAAAA5g/geplYj2W1T8/s1600/mostar%2Bmost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dg44FNXgVEw/VjLhvEmsOhI/AAAAAAAAA5g/geplYj2W1T8/s320/mostar%2Bmost.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XYN3H3HUtEY/VjLkMsiVUuI/AAAAAAAAA58/ypH5cuSl_gc/s1600/sarajevo%2Bcemetary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XYN3H3HUtEY/VjLkMsiVUuI/AAAAAAAAA58/ypH5cuSl_gc/s320/sarajevo%2Bcemetary.jpg" width="320" /></a>The hotel I stayed in for Sarajevo was a couple miles from the center of town. I took a tram in the first day. The tram was originally German. I remember noting a year, but I can't remember it. Something like the 60s. It was old and rickety, but it did the job. I walked around a park and heard a woman speaking/practicing German with her children. She smiled as we came closer to each other and asked me something in Bosnian. (I was only able to tell it was a question due to inflection, I didn't understand a word.) I replied in German that I was sorry, I couldn't speak Bosnian, but I could speak German. We talked for quite some time and she invited me up to her house for coffee. I went along and we continued talking for hours, along with her husband. They had been in Germany during the war. They talked a lot about politics, immigration/emigration, and religion - specifically, the differences in the different ways Muslim countries treat religious traditions and how people treat women. I wish I could remember their names. I would love to reconnect with them. Sadly, I only have one picture left of Sarajevo - one of a cemetery in the center of town, near the market. I took a day trip up to Vareš, one of the towns one of the students had been from, before moving on to Kakanj.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3jd1DJGeRg/VjLmogZHrfI/AAAAAAAAA6I/wq3YUrxw9jg/s1600/kakanj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3jd1DJGeRg/VjLmogZHrfI/AAAAAAAAA6I/wq3YUrxw9jg/s320/kakanj.jpg" width="320" /></a>Kakanj is a small town. I enjoyed speaking with the hotel receptionist. We spoke over coffee. She taught me how to make Bosnian coffee, and explained to me how so many younger Bosnians can speak decent English while the others couldn't. TV shows were largely from other countries, especially America. I got to meet her family. It was a very pleasant visit and it made me love the Bosnian culture even more. Instead of dubbing the shows, they had subtitles. So the kids who great up with these shows have heard native English all their lives. From Kakanj I took the train to Banja Luka.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OoAVye56vGo/VjLoU_mUV8I/AAAAAAAAA6U/8a7Um6qC2Uk/s1600/banjaluka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OoAVye56vGo/VjLoU_mUV8I/AAAAAAAAA6U/8a7Um6qC2Uk/s320/banjaluka.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
What I hadn't realized was that Banja Luka was sort of a Serbian area within Bosnia. Instead of mosques, there were Orthodox Catholic churches. Instead of written language that I could sound out and more or less get the gist of, I saw cyrillic. I got off the train and immediately felt a difference in culture. The taxi driver who took me to the hotel lectured me that he didn't speak Bosnian, he spoke Serbian. I knew there were some very important differences in the languages, but I just hadn't realized the political and religious cultural differences within Bosnia. All I can remember of this stop was a less-than-inviting attitude towards strangers, that is was hot and I had no air flow in the hotel, and the TV didn't work when I wanted it to. I don't even have pictures left of the churches, which were quite pretty at least. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztiSUBryuO8/VjLq2srUrjI/AAAAAAAAA6g/hrjuhOM0C0k/s1600/bihacriver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztiSUBryuO8/VjLq2srUrjI/AAAAAAAAA6g/hrjuhOM0C0k/s320/bihacriver.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVXhd0xTyR8/VjLq2vcWh5I/AAAAAAAAA6k/XVDSCfDfn6M/s1600/bihacschedule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4hRaL4mT8F4/VjLq26SrOlI/AAAAAAAAA6o/jgpxVqldo48/s1600/bihacriver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4hRaL4mT8F4/VjLq26SrOlI/AAAAAAAAA6o/jgpxVqldo48/s320/bihacriver2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVXhd0xTyR8/VjLq2vcWh5I/AAAAAAAAA6k/XVDSCfDfn6M/s1600/bihacschedule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVXhd0xTyR8/VjLq2vcWh5I/AAAAAAAAA6k/XVDSCfDfn6M/s320/bihacschedule.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Bihać was my final stop in Bosnia. The plan had been to continue by train to Split, Croatia, but on my way, I was told by another passenger that the train does not go to Split from there. It was strange because I had checked the trains online. When I got settled, I went to the train station and found a schedule that had a route to Split on it. The station was more or less abandoned, though. I couldn't find anyone to ask. I wandered around, looking at all the other signs in the station and found a small one on a bulletin that was a current schedule, very few routes. I looked back up to see the the date on the bigger schedule - 1991-1992. Pre-war. My hotel was away from the center of town right next to a gorgeous river. I enjoyed this stop. I can't remember if I could walk to town or if I had to take transportation, but I remember going to town a few times. There were many bullet holes in the buildings. I remember that vividly, even though the pictures are gone.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJ8EB3h6o_Y/VjLsFQ47Q0I/AAAAAAAAA7A/hW8bZlMweac/s1600/split.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJ8EB3h6o_Y/VjLsFQ47Q0I/AAAAAAAAA7A/hW8bZlMweac/s320/split.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I don't remember how I ended up getting to Split, but it must have been bus. My hotel was about a 15 minute walk from the tourist area. There was no elevator, and I had my two suitcases, each weighing 70 pounds. I carried at least one of them up... Split is beautiful. It was a perfect place to relax, sunbathe, listen to some of the new music I had gathered from Germany, Austria, Croatia, and Bosnia, and just take in vacation as much as I could. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqe2RG4BTj8/VjLsFWpmX2I/AAAAAAAAA68/nJU8gr07rvQ/s1600/splitstarigrad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqe2RG4BTj8/VjLsFWpmX2I/AAAAAAAAA68/nJU8gr07rvQ/s320/splitstarigrad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After Split, I took the train back up to Austria. I transferred trains in Ljubljana, Slovenia. I spent another weekend in Salzburg (quietly rejoiced that I didn't have to spend the whole summer there - the tourists are everywhere!) and then went up to Germany. I finished my stay in Europe by going to a Tokio Hotel concert, trying to find clues of my ancestors in Bremerhaven, and visiting with my host family in Waiblingen. I'm really glad I stayed the extra time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-62280400275187929582015-10-26T21:41:00.002-07:002015-10-26T21:41:51.255-07:00A Year Abroad as an Adult: SalzburgWhen I decided to apply for masters programs for German, I noticed there weren't many to choose from. I wanted to study somewhere outside of Washington State because I have connections here already and I wanted to get everything I could out of further studies. My GRE scores weren't impressive (seriously, why do we only test English and math no matter what subject we're applying to study? I could rant about the educational system for far too long...), and I'm relatively certain that's why I didn't get accepted to most schools. Bowling Green State University not only accepted me, but offered me an assistantship, which in the end meant being paid to earn my masters degree through them. Because of delays in recommendations, I would have to defer my education for a year in order to guarantee an assistantship both years. I decided that was worth it, so I had my first year teaching German as a .8 teacher at a high school that had already gone through 2 teachers the year before. I was sorry to create more instability there, but it was a good experience and I then knew more what I needed in order to be a successful educator. (Side note: apparently all of my pictures from this year are lost. All pictures included in this blog, while still mine, only exist because I first posted them to Facebook, or because I went back and have pictures from other trips.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4CxLT_Xa5rs/Vi76MullkdI/AAAAAAAAA3E/f7_J3XYEoYU/s1600/dormbuilding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4CxLT_Xa5rs/Vi76MullkdI/AAAAAAAAA3E/f7_J3XYEoYU/s320/dormbuilding.jpg" width="320" /></a>I am happy I chose this program. Visas and room and board were arranged for us. Since getting there was on us, I flew with the only airline that would arrange round trip for this length (British Airways) and make a stop in Waiblingen to see my host family. Arriving in Salzburg by train, I simply had to take a taxi to the dorm building and check in there. The first semester I shared a room with a first year undergraduate Austrian student. It was nice to have an Austrian there as I adjusted, but at this time in my life, I had already lived alone for two years and study habits were quite different between the two of us. Dorm rooms included two twin sized beds with desks at the end, connection to ethernet (it was 2005 in Europe, the fact that we got internet in our rooms was nice) and a door separated the sleeping space from the bathroom/toilet and closets. Our room was near the stairwell and across the hall from the shared kitchen (each floor had a kitchen), where many of the residents gathered and smoked. It was a hard environment for me to live in. On the positive side, the dorm building was a 10-15 minute walk from the university, very near a tech building (computer labs are useful when the internet is down in the room). <br />
<br />
Back to the real work - everyone takes a test at the beginning of the year to be placed in the correct level of German as a foreign language. I was unhappy with where I tested into (Mittelstufe III), but I got to take the course with a friend and our professor was amazing, so I got a lot out of it. Besides that, we had other courses just for our group and were allowed to take whatever courses we wanted to take at the regular university. I took linguistics courses on morphology with another awesome professor. I was so impressed with him in semester one that I made sure to take another course with him the next year. It was fun being in there for the second semester (Morphologie: Deutsch und Englisch) because I was the only native English speaker there, so I was used often as an example, especially for the purpose of pronunciation. I attempted to take a pedagogy course as well, but the schedule wasn't perfect and I couldn't keep up without being there the whole time. The courses for us included: Literature, Business German, Austrian Politics (? okay, I remember learning about Austrian Politics, but I don't remember if it was its own class... and my memory has faded about anything else...) I also got to be a tutor for the undergraduates' music course for the first semester and I was an English speaking assistant in a nearby Gymnasium second semester. I mostly worked with one class, though I visited a couple others. The students were mostly about 15 and they were reading Lord of the Flies in English and discussing and analyzing it. (Comparison: our 15/16 year old students complain that that same assignment is too hard... in their native language.)<br />
<br />
We did a lot of things as a group, but had freedom most of the time. Early on, we walked/hiked around the area and in the city to help us get used to the area. We spent some time in Wien. We attempted to see an opera, but the actor declared himself ill in the first scene... Touring the capitol was nice, though. I got many ideas for where to take my parents when they visited for Christmas. We visited a castle in the area, but I don't remember much about the tour. Apparently I had a little claustrophobia and passed out... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh_0mPf4JTc/Vi76KiDSGgI/AAAAAAAAA18/rcIfQmw0CCg/s1600/2006Nurnberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh_0mPf4JTc/Vi76KiDSGgI/AAAAAAAAA18/rcIfQmw0CCg/s320/2006Nurnberg.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bUbO0wpdNaA/Vi76K84envI/AAAAAAAAA2A/1x8lpXNXP0s/s1600/2006%2Bnurnberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bUbO0wpdNaA/Vi76K84envI/AAAAAAAAA2A/1x8lpXNXP0s/s320/2006%2Bnurnberg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In the spring time, we took a trip up to Berlin, making a few stops along the way. There was Nürnberg - we saw the castle and had a city tour. There was an art protest, apparently, surrounding some of Nürnberg's famous statues.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3FTukXdVL7s/Vi76L2rjUBI/AAAAAAAAA2c/3O4qKynbeDA/s1600/bamberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3FTukXdVL7s/Vi76L2rjUBI/AAAAAAAAA2c/3O4qKynbeDA/s320/bamberg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bamberg's Dom is an interesting one. It was built as the style changed from romantic to gothic, so one side of the church has rounded arches, while the other points at the top. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abkP3IZlLrw/Vi76MK5BYUI/AAAAAAAAA2k/xtixiJWSuFk/s1600/bamberginside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abkP3IZlLrw/Vi76MK5BYUI/AAAAAAAAA2k/xtixiJWSuFk/s320/bamberginside.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LYwRREXC468/Vi76LIRu2FI/AAAAAAAAA2E/dbOVW21dDOo/s1600/2006dresden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LYwRREXC468/Vi76LIRu2FI/AAAAAAAAA2E/dbOVW21dDOo/s320/2006dresden.jpg" width="320" /></a>We went to Dresden (seriously, that hotel was creepy - I wish I could remember the name so I could warn everyone about it!). I believe this was my first time going in the Frauenkirche? I remember it was finished by this time, anyway.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jCkI8IDaeU/Vi76LZu2_nI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/zBEWVpe0ihM/s1600/2006frauenkirche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jCkI8IDaeU/Vi76LZu2_nI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/zBEWVpe0ihM/s320/2006frauenkirche.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Berlin was interesting as usual. It was all decorated for the world cup. A few more memorials were available now than in the years past. I love returning to Berlin because it changes so much so quickly. Our city tour took us past the Holocaust memorial, which was being built the last couple of times I had been in Berlin. We went to Check Point Charlie. I feel as if this spot is a little more hype than anything else by now. The history is interesting, at least.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A8WmvDiFhJ0/Vi76Ksc2xTI/AAAAAAAAA2M/KNXmvP7s4XA/s1600/2006berlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A8WmvDiFhJ0/Vi76Ksc2xTI/AAAAAAAAA2M/KNXmvP7s4XA/s320/2006berlin.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWfA84VSheE/Vi76MceCJnI/AAAAAAAAA2o/ft2qp7m7Rcs/s1600/berlinwall2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWfA84VSheE/Vi76MceCJnI/AAAAAAAAA2o/ft2qp7m7Rcs/s320/berlinwall2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I spent Christmas with my host family. My parents met me there the next day and we toured southern Germany and Austria for the next two weeks. We went back to Fussen and this time went into Neu Schwanstein. It was really amusing, actually. Ludwig II. had the rooms decorated with the influence of Wagner operas, which were musical versions of the literature we were studying. I remember remarking as we walked into a room with a checkered person "This must be Parzival - that's what was imagined a person would look if they were half black and half white" and then the tour guide confirming that thought. My dad was surprised I know that. (Quite frankly, I'm surprised I knew that... and that I still remember it.)<br />
<br />
We spent New Year's in Wien. I showed them some of the places we had gone as a college group, including the Parliament building. We took a tour there that was quite intriguing. (Political history is actually very interesting and gives you a better understanding of culture and wars that have happened since.) On New Year's Eve my mother and I had Glühwein from the market and then we went to the hotel, played games, and watched TV. It's when I heard Durch den Monsun for the first time...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHykRW6hSCs/Vi76Ll7FPFI/AAAAAAAAA2U/BX8h-luoM2w/s1600/2006salzburg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHykRW6hSCs/Vi76Ll7FPFI/AAAAAAAAA2U/BX8h-luoM2w/s320/2006salzburg.jpg" width="320" /></a>We ended our time together in Salzburg, where I was able to take them to concerts and several of my different hang outs. Restaurants, cafes, stores, etc. I took them up to the Festung for the museum as well. It has some interesting history to it. We went on the Sound of Music tour together. It's embarrassing to me that the man in charge was an American who had lived in Salzburg for 7 years and still spoke no real amount of German. The tour was cheesy, but fun. It was also nice to see areas outside of the city that we might not have found on our own, including some of the scenes where the movie was filmed. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MAxvVnwF5ew/Vi76L3-XQbI/AAAAAAAAA2g/edaTrRqyqe0/s1600/2006viewfromgaisberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MAxvVnwF5ew/Vi76L3-XQbI/AAAAAAAAA2g/edaTrRqyqe0/s320/2006viewfromgaisberg.jpg" width="320" /></a>My sister visited during her spring break that year. Instead of doing the Sound of Music tour, I took her to some of the highlights with regular public transportation. We also hiked up Gaisberg, which I had previously done with the group. It was still fairly cold up there in March, so it made for a fairly comfortable hike.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mlhoAFZTebQ/Vi76M6tHAzI/AAAAAAAAA28/odobXJlqEJU/s1600/gaisberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mlhoAFZTebQ/Vi76M6tHAzI/AAAAAAAAA28/odobXJlqEJU/s320/gaisberg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-98ApfmkF8JI/Vi76M__k84I/AAAAAAAAA3A/CzMinjlTCC0/s1600/untersberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-98ApfmkF8JI/Vi76M__k84I/AAAAAAAAA3A/CzMinjlTCC0/s320/untersberg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Untersberg. You may recognize it from the Sound of Music. Unfortunately, crossing this mountain will take you straight to Germany. Maybe not the best way to end that story...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
During this year, I collected evidence for my thesis plan (using authentic German-language music in the German as a foreign language classroom, specifically in the second year). I made friends, I made connections, I learned another dialect. I went for walks along rivers and in forests. This year changed the way I thought of education and reminded me of the importance of visiting other cultures. After my schooling ended for the year, I took another month for travel. That's a blog for another time.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-43989440818246304932015-10-24T16:31:00.000-07:002015-10-24T16:31:25.305-07:00Getting to Europe for EducationThere are many ways to go about getting to Europe for the purpose of education. The first thing you must ask yourself is: How long do I want to be there?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Seminars. The Goethe Institut </b>(https://www.goethe.de/en/) is an organization that exists for the sole purpose of teaching foreigners German. There are "local" branches in several countries, including several in the United States, but one can also apply for a scholarship to take a seminar in Germany. You'll have to pay for the flight/travel to the seminar, but the room and board during the seminar will be taken care of, and you may end up with some of the travel being refunded (there is a maximum, and this seems to be different for each seminar and change every year). Seminars generally last two weeks, but some may be longer. In the application, you select three seminars you're interested in. If you're chosen, you'll be registered for one of those. I ended up with a seminar called Deutsch for Lehrer, which was taught in Schwäbisch Hall. (I may or may not have selected it for convenient visiting of my host family in Waiblingen!)</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VPG7d45SLA/ViwSojOQPtI/AAAAAAAAA0U/zktC2JjFP6g/s1600/IMG_1712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VPG7d45SLA/ViwSojOQPtI/AAAAAAAAA0U/zktC2JjFP6g/s320/IMG_1712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VPG7d45SLA/ViwSojOQPtI/AAAAAAAAA0U/zktC2JjFP6g/s1600/IMG_1712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YpllBq1Q570/ViwSc9nMeNI/AAAAAAAAA0M/s2thjb4GeYU/s1600/IMG_1541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YpllBq1Q570/ViwSc9nMeNI/AAAAAAAAA0M/s2thjb4GeYU/s320/IMG_1541.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VPG7d45SLA/ViwSojOQPtI/AAAAAAAAA0U/zktC2JjFP6g/s1600/IMG_1712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VPG7d45SLA/ViwSojOQPtI/AAAAAAAAA0U/zktC2JjFP6g/s1600/IMG_1712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sxjz1njRIFs/ViwSXczcSYI/AAAAAAAAA0E/A1RPH6uav8o/s1600/IMG_1670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sxjz1njRIFs/ViwSXczcSYI/AAAAAAAAA0E/A1RPH6uav8o/s320/IMG_1670.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<li><b><b>Austria has a similar</b> program: The Austrian Cultural Forum</b>. (http://www.acfny.org) They only have two branches in the States (New York and DC), so I only know of it because of my love of conferences. I won a raffle that was a free seminar through the Austrian Cultural Forum. I had a choice between some seminars (somewhere between 3 and 5) and I had to prioritize the top three I was interested in. I ended up with a comparison between Dorf and Stadt: Drosendorf and Wien. I spent a week in Drosendorf, which is near the border with Czech and then finished the seminar in Wien. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sXmz9G1ImKI/ViwSSd5UxEI/AAAAAAAAAz8/mEXFIz2qrEg/s1600/IMG_1536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sXmz9G1ImKI/ViwSSd5UxEI/AAAAAAAAAz8/mEXFIz2qrEg/s200/IMG_1536.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HukrH6nQJsM/ViwSJ-D-zBI/AAAAAAAAAz0/E27sR6dcsUo/s1600/IMG_1502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HukrH6nQJsM/ViwSJ-D-zBI/AAAAAAAAAz0/E27sR6dcsUo/s1600/IMG_1502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HukrH6nQJsM/ViwSJ-D-zBI/AAAAAAAAAz0/E27sR6dcsUo/s1600/IMG_1502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HukrH6nQJsM/ViwSJ-D-zBI/AAAAAAAAAz0/E27sR6dcsUo/s320/IMG_1502.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84ZsufKRKMM/ViwSH1Se1uI/AAAAAAAAAzs/7UNt4LUjqI4/s1600/IMG_1505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84ZsufKRKMM/ViwSH1Se1uI/AAAAAAAAAzs/7UNt4LUjqI4/s320/IMG_1505.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<li><b>Semester/Academic Year abroad. </b> If you are studying at a university in the States, chances are you have an opportunity to study abroad. Most schools have programs in Germany, especially in the major universities such as Heidelberg. Not as many seem to have programs in Austria, though there is a New England program, and I went through the program at Bowling Green State University. All undergraduate German majors go for either one semester or a full year, and all graduate students in German stay the full year. Our program is with the University of Salzburg, so that's where my college experience is. (I started writing more about this and realized quickly that this needs to be its own blog... Stay tuned.)</li>
</ul>
<br /><ul>
<li><b>Study Abroad. </b> By this I mean *all* of college. It's possible, but not many Americans think of it. You have to apply directly to the universities, so the first step is figuring out where you want to live and what you want to study. Many universities have programs with several courses taught in English, so you could seek that out too. German universities differ greatly from those in the States. In the states if you're getting your bachelor's degree, you should expect two years' worth of basic and breadth courses. The reasoning? A well-rounded education and people insisting you don't know what you want to do with your life yet. Did I change my major? Absolutely. Would I have decided how to go about it without those breadth classes? You'd better believe it. In Germany, Gymnasium students have already started focusing towards their major in the last couple of years of their studies, so at the university level, you end up with four years' worth of what you're going to be doing with your life. (Is this sounding a little biased? It probably does - I don't hide my opinion of the need for basic and breadth very well...) I didn't go this route, but it's getting easier and easier to make it happen. Just don't forget to get your Visa!</li>
</ul>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-72517237546222565432015-10-24T08:31:00.002-07:002015-10-24T08:31:24.388-07:00Group Travel I don't hide the fact that I'm not a fan of group travel. Part of it is a dislike of crowds, another part being a dislike of tourists. (I know, I'm a self-hating traveler!) But group travel does offer something that is difficult to get on your own: cheap (/affordable) access to multiple museums, nice restaurants, decent hotels, and transportation within and between cities.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCsJ2hPYAcs/VisCNYXInDI/AAAAAAAAAwM/1HcmLhFIf_s/s1600/big%2Bben.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCsJ2hPYAcs/VisCNYXInDI/AAAAAAAAAwM/1HcmLhFIf_s/s320/big%2Bben.JPG" width="183" /></a><br />
In the summer of 2000 I went on the Washington Ambassadors of Music tour. This tour has remained the same for YEARS. I've since had a few students go on this trip, and it's fun to share experiences.<br />
<br />
After rehearsals, the group flew to London. There was a city bus tour, some free time for shopping, and a show. My group ended up at the Buddy Holly Story. I would have more enjoyed a play that allowed the British actors to use their real voices, but it was still nice to see. We were in London for 4 days before taking the bus to Paris.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dzxp9kOzcn4/VisCf6hxx2I/AAAAAAAAAxI/QDcTD0SwIAc/s1600/london%2Bbridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dzxp9kOzcn4/VisCf6hxx2I/AAAAAAAAAxI/QDcTD0SwIAc/s400/london%2Bbridge.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpXqYBbnaOI/Vijmy6l4T3I/AAAAAAAAAvg/glWX0CiGMlk/s1600/eiffeltower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpXqYBbnaOI/Vijmy6l4T3I/AAAAAAAAAvg/glWX0CiGMlk/s320/eiffeltower.JPG" width="185" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I didn't like Paris so much. Sometimes I wonder if I would like it if I went back during a non-summer month. It was over-crowded and quite frankly, it smelled bad. The Louvre was interesting. I was too young to enjoy it, but it might be nice to see again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7AuWaFHmO0/VisCtFH4XTI/AAAAAAAAAxo/9-vRwf9ECpw/s1600/swiss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7AuWaFHmO0/VisCtFH4XTI/AAAAAAAAAxo/9-vRwf9ECpw/s320/swiss.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfnhBVCc_ao/Vijmlr9D8TI/AAAAAAAAAvM/SfyT19aPorA/s1600/alpen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfnhBVCc_ao/Vijmlr9D8TI/AAAAAAAAAvM/SfyT19aPorA/s400/alpen.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
From Paris to the Swiss Alps - we were in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, but I don't remember the town's name. It was quite small. Here's a view from that village. Lots of shops, especially if you're interested in watches or cheese. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We took a day trip to Zermatt and saw the Matterhorn. It was a beautiful day for the hike.<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-91Ki1kKlP6s/VisCgbXDEHI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/Ouw69J9LStU/s1600/matterhorn.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-91Ki1kKlP6s/VisCgbXDEHI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/Ouw69J9LStU/s400/matterhorn.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HX_pjsxnuDE/VisCt_vwJoI/AAAAAAAAAx4/xTR_kAoBI6k/s1600/venice%2Bbridge%2Bof%2Bsighs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HX_pjsxnuDE/VisCt_vwJoI/AAAAAAAAAx4/xTR_kAoBI6k/s320/venice%2Bbridge%2Bof%2Bsighs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Another day trip was to Venice. In 2006 I took a long weekend there in February, and will say I don't dislike the city anymore... I just dislike it in the summer. It smells of fish, and there are many many tourists in the summer. Shops were nice, but the gelato was better! It's a fun town to wander in with all the canals and bridges and beautiful architecture. I didn't get to tour St. Mark's with the group, but I made sure to do it when I went back.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Khh5P8em-1Y/VisCua-MtwI/AAAAAAAAAyA/DkUCpT4asWM/s1600/venice%2Bst%2Bmarks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Khh5P8em-1Y/VisCua-MtwI/AAAAAAAAAyA/DkUCpT4asWM/s320/venice%2Bst%2Bmarks.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4uyAhxn7-ZE/VisCfN93klI/AAAAAAAAAw4/Sg64ppPMTNs/s1600/innsbruck%2Brings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4uyAhxn7-ZE/VisCfN93klI/AAAAAAAAAw4/Sg64ppPMTNs/s1600/innsbruck%2Brings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4uyAhxn7-ZE/VisCfN93klI/AAAAAAAAAw4/Sg64ppPMTNs/s1600/innsbruck%2Brings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4uyAhxn7-ZE/VisCfN93klI/AAAAAAAAAw4/Sg64ppPMTNs/s320/innsbruck%2Brings.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We stopped in Innsbruck, Austria. We saw the home of the winter Olympics there. I don't actually remember much from this stop. I did go back to this city with my parents in the winter of 2005-2006. I like it much better in the winter time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Faau5A2CnG8/VisCfajm0yI/AAAAAAAAAxA/7mZyRIGlp48/s1600/innsbruckskijump.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Faau5A2CnG8/VisCfajm0yI/AAAAAAAAAxA/7mZyRIGlp48/s320/innsbruckskijump.JPG" width="188" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w-uW8c3hWSc/Vijml7c1tFI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/D0zlBoRohDQ/s1600/arbeitmachtfrei.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w-uW8c3hWSc/Vijml7c1tFI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/D0zlBoRohDQ/s320/arbeitmachtfrei.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The last stop was Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany. On the way, we went to Dachau. It was my second concentration camp, and it wasn't nearly as bad as the first. The first I had seen was in modern-day France, so a lot of the stuff was kept there to show how bad the Germans were, whereas in Dachau everything seemed more historical and matter-of-fact. Rothenburg itself is an interesting middle-ages town that really caters to tourists. I didn't much like it the first time I was there (with the group). I went back a few years later to surprise acquaintances and former students who were on the trip. I was there for 4 days and enjoyed walking around outside of town. The paths connect village to village through fields and forests. It was beautiful. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EGpLOcRM1M/VihwNY79gvI/AAAAAAAAAu8/HNubgOJ21Sw/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EGpLOcRM1M/VihwNY79gvI/AAAAAAAAAu8/HNubgOJ21Sw/s320/IMG_1805.JPG" width="239" /></a>When I was in Rothenburg with the group, I got to sleep in when everyone else left on the bus for Frankfurt to fly home. My family met me in Rothenburg and we took a trip around Germany from there. We started by back-tracking and going back to Waiblingen so that my family could meet my other family. It was nice for my family to get to know the people I spent a year with. My sister and I stayed up the street in Neustadt, and everyone else stayed in Waiblingen itself. I got to visit my friends at a school festival and we had a special Posaunenchor meeting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9qB0GjcmpE/VisCtF5fTNI/AAAAAAAAAxs/JZnk5Hc0FwU/s1600/triberg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9qB0GjcmpE/VisCtF5fTNI/AAAAAAAAAxs/JZnk5Hc0FwU/s320/triberg.jpeg" width="180" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fq3VXl-TNlo/VisCevcKdWI/AAAAAAAAAws/r7l71ZOVWX4/s1600/hohenschwangau.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fq3VXl-TNlo/VisCevcKdWI/AAAAAAAAAws/r7l71ZOVWX4/s320/hohenschwangau.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
After a visit, my family and I drove around the country. We hovered in the south for a while. We went into the Black Forest and walked around Triberg. My favorite town name became Abtsgmünd. <br />
<br />
We went to Neu Schwanstein, but didn't go in at the time. (My parents and I went back in the winter of 2005-2006 - I'll be sure to talk about that trip another time.) We did go in to the other castle there, Ludwig's father's castle. There's a museum there with a lot of information about royalty and the days of knights. You can see the vast amounts of tours that come here in the summer... that was the reason we didn't end up going into Neu Schwanstein at that time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h-scfRMnguQ/VisCdzMb4XI/AAAAAAAAAwk/pv_rkJJVcnU/s1600/fussen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h-scfRMnguQ/VisCdzMb4XI/AAAAAAAAAwk/pv_rkJJVcnU/s400/fussen.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DI1YanGDFLQ/VisCd2YBBuI/AAAAAAAAAwc/Z5v_8qTMpTM/s1600/hohen%2Bschwan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DI1YanGDFLQ/VisCd2YBBuI/AAAAAAAAAwc/Z5v_8qTMpTM/s400/hohen%2Bschwan.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaiIvfb7Lt4/VisCgteTPmI/AAAAAAAAAxY/n6fvd4pXWMM/s1600/munichglockenspiel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaiIvfb7Lt4/VisCgteTPmI/AAAAAAAAAxY/n6fvd4pXWMM/s320/munichglockenspiel.JPG" width="219" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PAw4EPp6OGA/VijmzPomjjI/AAAAAAAAAvk/8afoasXoWJc/s1600/eastwesttower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PAw4EPp6OGA/VijmzPomjjI/AAAAAAAAAvk/8afoasXoWJc/s320/eastwesttower.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We stopped in Munich before driving on to the former East-West German border. We saw the old guard towers and the difference in landscape. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYiapS6Ce20/VisCuuSiWgI/AAAAAAAAAyI/p_A6Q3n5kN8/s1600/wartburg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYiapS6Ce20/VisCuuSiWgI/AAAAAAAAAyI/p_A6Q3n5kN8/s320/wartburg.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We visited the Lutherstädte and toured the Wartburg, went to Dresden, and spent time in Berlin before heading back home. We spent quite a few days in Berlin this time, but somehow I seem to not have any pictures of this one!<br />
<br />
<br />
15 years later, I'm afraid the last couple of weeks of my month-long trip in Europe is mostly fuzzy and all details have been merged between many other travels.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-78317125619382792012015-10-19T21:13:00.003-07:002015-10-19T21:13:28.830-07:00Zürich - an interesting view of integration<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-06nqCA_fXvw/ViW-WHcJkQI/AAAAAAAAAuM/cVdh2-fmHFo/s1600/IMG_4687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-06nqCA_fXvw/ViW-WHcJkQI/AAAAAAAAAuM/cVdh2-fmHFo/s320/IMG_4687.jpg" width="320" /></a>I had been to Switzerland a few times before the summer of 2014, but never for long enough to take in culture, and I hadn't been to Zürich before then.<br />
<br />
My sister chose Zürich for her full Ironman, so of course I went along to cheer her on. The first few days of our trip were about the race courses and seeking out race traditions. Most importantly, I guess, was Mexican food. Across the street from the hotel was a Tex-Mex place, but while my sister was riding part of it with the group, I found a real Mexican restaurant in the center of the city, run by a Mexican man. Quite good, actually.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tf4qupYp7J8/ViW-UIbMMII/AAAAAAAAAuA/xgbkPoafKmw/s1600/IMG_4372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tf4qupYp7J8/ViW-UIbMMII/AAAAAAAAAuA/xgbkPoafKmw/s320/IMG_4372.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdzDzVo8exE/ViW-QFHvaCI/AAAAAAAAAto/5u5g5gKijHM/s1600/IMG_4352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdzDzVo8exE/ViW-QFHvaCI/AAAAAAAAAto/5u5g5gKijHM/s200/IMG_4352.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CoNwWi2UkRY/ViW-Jzyb2GI/AAAAAAAAAtU/TRA4-DLsVIQ/s1600/IMG_4300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CoNwWi2UkRY/ViW-Jzyb2GI/AAAAAAAAAtU/TRA4-DLsVIQ/s320/IMG_4300.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I was quite impressed with the Multikulti feeling, and the language abilities of the foreigners. I have met many foreigners in Germany - many of them struggle with German, struggle getting away from their communities within towns. My sister and I were taking the tram back to the hotel from the city center when we ended up conversing with an "older" couple. I can't remember where they were from, but somewhere in the Middle East. They both spoke pretty decent English (she spoke better than he did, even though he was more of an America-fan than she was), and they spoke German (and understanding Swiss German is still not something I write on my list of skills...). They'd been in Switzerland for quite some time. 26 years? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5t1_6HxyDs/ViW-I0bo1eI/AAAAAAAAAtM/Dsp9xzpCblo/s1600/IMG_4308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5t1_6HxyDs/ViW-I0bo1eI/AAAAAAAAAtM/Dsp9xzpCblo/s320/IMG_4308.jpg" width="291" /></a><br />
We also saw an African family who switched languages more than once. We didn't get a chance to talk with them though.<br />
<br />
We could have eaten at so many different restaurants - we did make it to a Spanish place, and a Bosnian place, there was lots of Italian options, Brazilian, Vietnamese, Latvian...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5ySGuNz_Ug/ViW-Rf0K-LI/AAAAAAAAAt0/tieZD8xEeHY/s1600/IMG_4371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5ySGuNz_Ug/ViW-Rf0K-LI/AAAAAAAAAt0/tieZD8xEeHY/s320/IMG_4371.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Today, German 2 read about minorities in German speaking countries (at the time the book was written, 9% in Germany and Austria, 20% in Switzerland) and how that is reflected in the restaurant options in big cities. I found it an interesting connection. But what really got to me was the timing of this lesson, as is this morning's news was the news that the anti-immigration party is succeeding in Switzerland with the current vote. It seemed so opposite of what I had experienced. Then again, who is voting? Nearly everyone I met while there was a foreigner...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LSLFqtU55lU/ViW-M1qJJhI/AAAAAAAAAtc/RRDUQg0I3SA/s1600/IMG_4320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LSLFqtU55lU/ViW-M1qJJhI/AAAAAAAAAtc/RRDUQg0I3SA/s400/IMG_4320.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vsl4Z7d59tY/ViW-PYKfcYI/AAAAAAAAAtk/vFEJ67wfj9Q/s1600/IMG_4337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vsl4Z7d59tY/ViW-PYKfcYI/AAAAAAAAAtk/vFEJ67wfj9Q/s400/IMG_4337.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-62304563352241038642015-10-18T20:34:00.003-07:002015-10-20T11:23:26.273-07:00Not Every Trip is Perfect... but you should always look for the positive within it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My second trip alone to Germany was brought on when my dad found round trip tickets for a ridiculously low price (under $500). I was in college, so we booked my trip for my Christmas break. I would leave on Friday the 13th and return on Christmas Eve. (I guess that's probably why it was so affordable!) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I only made some basic plans - who I'd visit, and how I'd get there - a rail pass good for 10 non-consecutive days. This was before Facebook and MySpace and all of that, well before I was texting, so our communication was via email. I traveled with my Nokia cell phone, a portable music player (I can't remember which one I had at the time, but it was before mp3 players were very convenient, so it may have been a discman), a camera, and no other technology. Two very small suitcases, because I knew I'd be walking around a lot with everything. I completely ruined the wheels on those poor bags.<br />
<br />
I was supposed to land in Frankfurt and meet up with my host sister, who was studying in Wiesbaden at the time. Well, my first flight was delayed because the mechanics didn't do necessary tests that had to wait until 8 am. We had already boarded, and had to get off the plane for the tests to happen. My second flight should have been an hour and a half of layover, but I ended up landing after the next flight took off. The solution was for me to fly to Amsterdam with KLM, and then on to Frankfurt. A total delay of 14 hours. The flight to Amsterdam was my first experience hearing and reading Dutch. I found I understood it just fine. The flight itself was maybe half-full, and very bumpy. As soon as I got to Amsterdam, I had to quickly learn how to make an international phone call with a pay phone so I could get ahold of my host sister and let her know of the delay. I was in Amsterdam something like 4 hours, so not enough time to leave and explore, and too much time to be a convenient layover. I remember being semi-impressed by the airport, but I was very very tired and annoyed, so it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. </div>
<div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqhPGrCQZ14/ViRaigka0vI/AAAAAAAAAsM/MjDCiedpm4g/s1600/Frankfurt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqhPGrCQZ14/ViRaigka0vI/AAAAAAAAAsM/MjDCiedpm4g/s400/Frankfurt.JPG" width="230" /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9E8AID8zF3o/ViRbFPHa86I/AAAAAAAAAsc/_CL1nRTdQpU/s1600/SCAN0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9E8AID8zF3o/ViRbFPHa86I/AAAAAAAAAsc/_CL1nRTdQpU/s320/SCAN0126.JPG" width="183" /></a>My host sister met me in Frankfurt and we went to Wiesbaden. She showed me around Wiesbaden and Frankfurt over the next few days. It was great seeing more of Hessen. One church we did a tour of is pictured on the right. (I'm not finding the name of this one... I'm hoping this was that trip!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CswfRdTlsUE/ViRaoQX5bsI/AAAAAAAAAsU/l7CnnDG5wtw/s1600/neustadtsiloette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CswfRdTlsUE/ViRaoQX5bsI/AAAAAAAAAsU/l7CnnDG5wtw/s320/neustadtsiloette.JPG" width="222" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j_E4lQsqaxM/ViRbYjqpNBI/AAAAAAAAAs0/0zCHbvZr2ts/s1600/WNwinter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j_E4lQsqaxM/ViRbYjqpNBI/AAAAAAAAAs0/0zCHbvZr2ts/s400/WNwinter.JPG" width="182" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't remember the order of my next visits. I went back to Waiblingen to see the rest of my host family and the Posaunenchor, check in with any friends still in the area. I love going back there and seeing the place I had called home for a year. I spent time in Stuttgart, as I so often did during my exchange year as well. That whole area is beautiful in the winter time. The vineyards with a touch of snow, just perfect.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNLCcER7hqU/ViRbZFU90WI/AAAAAAAAAs4/Mew5t06_Nqo/s1600/winter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNLCcER7hqU/ViRbZFU90WI/AAAAAAAAAs4/Mew5t06_Nqo/s400/winter.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIwo2URfDo4/ViRbSOhiqAI/AAAAAAAAAsk/2cDFTr9q0GM/s1600/Stuttgartcastle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIwo2URfDo4/ViRbSOhiqAI/AAAAAAAAAsk/2cDFTr9q0GM/s400/Stuttgartcastle.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I went to Tübingen to visit with a friend from the exchange program who was studying there at the time. I love the -ingens! I went up to Trier to visit with a college friend who was studying there, but I didn't stay as long as I should have. I was only there for a few hours, and it was dark. But my friend was able to show me some of the historical places she had found. The way out of town was one of the worst parts of the trip - I was trying to move on with the last train, and the last train didn't end up going all the way to the end station. It stopped in an open station (there was a gathering area, but no doors... and it was literally freezing). One of my wine bottles broke as I climbed the stairs, so I smelled like a wino. The first train the next day wasn't until 5-7 hours later. It was a rough night.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also went to Berlin to visit another friend from the exchange program. I can't remember if she was working or studying (or both!) there. She showed me areas of Berlin I hadn't seen yet, including where the synagogue is, and a really awesome candy store where they make the candies in front of you. I have pictures somewhere, but I haven't run across them yet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiwbUp1A1C4/ViRaLbezYkI/AAAAAAAAAsE/8TKAozVssVw/s1600/castle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiwbUp1A1C4/ViRaLbezYkI/AAAAAAAAAsE/8TKAozVssVw/s320/castle.JPG" width="320" /></a>This was also the trip I went to see the villages my ancestors came from. Since I only take public transportation (I've never driven in Germany), it was difficult to get to Jestädt. It's a small village that currently belongs to the city of Meinhard. When my family lived there, it was part of Eschwege. There are still family members living in the same houses that I have records about, but no one was home when I was there, and they never answered the note I left. (That's a completely different story!) My grandmother's German side moved around a lot more than my grandpa's did, but I went to a few of the towns where they lived in Thüringen. The trains in the area run a lot differently because it's the former East. Most of the route has only one rail set, with a pull over spot so that trains going in opposite directions could get by. The trains ran on a loop, one in each direction. Busses went into the towns I wanted, so it wasn't as hard to get to. On the way back to familiar territory, I couldn't stay awake. I had fallen asleep on a train and the conductor came to get me up since it was the last stop. I remember nodding and saying "okay," and then falling back asleep. She got me out a couple minutes later. <br />
<br />
There are so many things I would have done differently knowing what I know now, even given the lack of social media at the time. Instead I focus on how amazing it was to see villages where my family was from, houses my ancestors actually lived in. Figuring out where my German ancestors were from was one of the biggest reason I started learning German in the first place. I am glad I got to see so many of my friends, especially considering the lack of internet communication at the time! I should really consider going back sometime with more plans now that I know a lot more about my family history and the German language in general. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-52814704760882225432015-10-15T14:40:00.003-07:002015-10-24T08:57:08.871-07:00Waiblingen - a year as an exchange studentI was 16 when I was selected to be an exchange student with Congress-Bundestag's scholarship program. (http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org) I wasn't quite 17 when I left home.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HqHHq-fdLkY/Viun-bezJ3I/AAAAAAAAAyg/FFuhbte3uNs/s1600/adenau%2Barea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HqHHq-fdLkY/Viun-bezJ3I/AAAAAAAAAyg/FFuhbte3uNs/s400/adenau%2Barea.JPG" width="400" /></a>The first few weeks of this particular program take place in a small town (then it was Adenau, but I hear it's somewhere else now). The purpose of this stay is to develop language skills as much as possible before meeting the host family. This is especially necessary because language skills and even language classes are not a requirement to be chosen for this program. I spent my birthday at the language camp.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGQij2Cssig/ViuoAFO79wI/AAAAAAAAAzA/-l-c3l-yjuI/s1600/cochum2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGQij2Cssig/ViuoAFO79wI/AAAAAAAAAzA/-l-c3l-yjuI/s320/cochum2.JPG" width="305" /></a></div>
<br />
They took us on some day trips during camp so that we could see more of the country, and probably so that we could experience bigger cities. Cochum was one of those trips. Apparently the castle there is empty. (At least that's what was written in my scrap book...)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWVbwae-Wtk/ViAcheR12qI/AAAAAAAAArc/wecLN9R0E_A/s1600/SCAN0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWVbwae-Wtk/ViAcheR12qI/AAAAAAAAArc/wecLN9R0E_A/s400/SCAN0001.JPG" width="400" /></a>I met my host family in September, before school started. (Some exchange students arrive after their school starts because different states start at different times.) I remember our first meal together quite well. I was talking with them in English because I wasn't confident in my German skills - I had only had one year of German before going over, and I was quite shy around new people. My host parents kept offering more food and drink, and I was quite full. They didn't stop asking until I said "nein danke, ich bin satt." They praised the little German and I didn't have to turn down more amazing food. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xczd8OBITyI/ViuoA4ogquI/AAAAAAAAAzM/456NuHY-_B4/s1600/wnwall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xczd8OBITyI/ViuoA4ogquI/AAAAAAAAAzM/456NuHY-_B4/s320/wnwall.JPG" width="151" /></a>The rest of the early days are a blur. I remember spending a lot of time with one of my host sisters, wandering around town with her, getting a tour, some language advice, and getting to know her better. My host mother took me to get registered as a resident with a student visa and enrolled in the Gymnasium that my host sister would also be at. We decided I should attend the 11th grade even though most of the students would be a year younger than me because this way I would have one set of classmates and get to know them more easily.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UN4Mjm8F2Cc/ViAcmBeDM_I/AAAAAAAAArk/yDFMo2hRYyA/s1600/SCAN0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UN4Mjm8F2Cc/ViAcmBeDM_I/AAAAAAAAArk/yDFMo2hRYyA/s400/SCAN0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
In the beginning, I took all subjects with this class, though I quickly realised I couldn't do French with them (they were in their 3rd year, I believe), Politics was difficult because I didn't understand enough German, and they were in their second year of Physics, a class I had never taken. My schedule was changed slightly to include extra music, German, and English classes in place of the classes I was struggling in.<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed music class in Germany. We analysed music in a way that I didn't see again until my freshman year of college, studying music. In fact, one of the pieces we looked at was our first piece in that music course in college. It was wonderful - I still had all my notes!<br />
<br />
English classes were different from foreign language classes here. We read Animal Farm and analyzed it, just like we do in English here. <br />
<br />
History class was another one that interested me - we studied older history. Pre-America era. I hadn't been exposed to much of that in a school setting, so it was really intriguing to me.<br />
<br />
Religion class in school surprised me too. You still have three choices in Germany: Catholic, Protestant, or Ethics. I went to the Protestant class. <br />
<br />
I still remember one of the first projects in art class - we were to draw an old house. I drew an "old" American house, which of course is quite modern in Germany. I couldn't understand why it wasn't acceptable.<br />
<br />
Because there was no band in school, my host family found me a French horn to play so that I could join the local church's brass band (Posaunenchor). It was my first time having to transpose music while playing it, and on a single horn (I was used to a double). I played with the alto voices - another horn and a couple trumpets. I enjoyed Posaunenchor and the people I got to meet through it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9sORLupgAyw/ViuoAWRA7pI/AAAAAAAAAzI/944phtwVLfo/s1600/wartburg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9sORLupgAyw/ViuoAWRA7pI/AAAAAAAAAzI/944phtwVLfo/s320/wartburg.JPG" width="320" /></a>In October there was a school holiday, so my host family took me on a trip around Germany up to Berlin. It was eye-opening seeing the difference between former East Germany and the west. We saw the Lutherstädte and Dresden, met up with some of their friends, and of course spent a lot of time in Berlin. It was during this trip that they told me I need to be speaking more German with them. Of course, as the shy and less-than-confident teenager I was, I was very upset about that. I couldn't even tell the difference between when they were using Hoch Deutsch (with me) and Schwäbisch (with each other). Looking back on it, I am so happy they drew the line and set out expectations. I needed it, and it changed how the rest of the year progressed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7M8rzBMpZyg/Viun-MRBLXI/AAAAAAAAAyc/OgYWwpjmVuA/s1600/bonnbridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7M8rzBMpZyg/Viun-MRBLXI/AAAAAAAAAyc/OgYWwpjmVuA/s320/bonnbridge.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
For Thanksgiving, the program brought us all back together in Bonn, which was still the capitol at the time. The Rhein had just experienced a flood when we were there, so as we walked along the river, we saw some destruction of the lower park areas. It was fun hearing how everyone else was dealing with language and culture differences, but I will never forgive them for the speech: "By now, you're probably feeling pretty homesick." Well, I wasn't until you told me I should! <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oH19Kr3-SIQ/Viun-e3rPDI/AAAAAAAAAyk/WrhrPUkVCzc/s1600/bonnflood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oH19Kr3-SIQ/Viun-e3rPDI/AAAAAAAAAyk/WrhrPUkVCzc/s320/bonnflood.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJClDTn7Kuc/ViuoBKmPQmI/AAAAAAAAAzY/myPIHEesM4A/s1600/wnweihnachtsmarkt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJClDTn7Kuc/ViuoBKmPQmI/AAAAAAAAAzY/myPIHEesM4A/s320/wnweihnachtsmarkt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Christmas came and that's when my memory of missing home starts. It was weird being away from home for Christmas. I did really enjoy the Weihnachtsmarkt though, and found that I enjoy Glühwein. We decorated the tree on Christmas Eve. I remember speaking with my host mother about the real candles, and how we decorate our tree at home (we were a no-colour-theme family to allow the kids to put on their ornaments). I can't remember how we did Christmas this year (I spent another Christmas there a few years later) - I think my host sister and I went to the kids' service, then we sang Christmas songs and opened presents. I remember my host mother taking me to the adult service as well, but again, I can't remember if it all happened at the same time.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qch349y--_k/Viun_Iw6cGI/AAAAAAAAAy0/k26JO3S_Cgk/s1600/christmaswn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qch349y--_k/Viun_Iw6cGI/AAAAAAAAAy0/k26JO3S_Cgk/s320/christmaswn.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Time went on and I spent more and more time in the German language. I started understanding more of the stories one of our teachers would tell, and made friends with more of my classmates.<br />
<br />
For the Easter holidays my host family took me to Strasbourg, France, and Baden-Baden in Germany. I enjoyed seeing a different culture within the state I was staying in. They showed me that eating in courses was a French-style, and that Germans tend to prefer getting all their food at once.<br />
<br />
In the spring time, the program brought us all together again, this time in Berlin. Berlin became the capitol of Germany again in January, so I got to see both capitols during this one year. I was upset that I had to be there though. I missed a Posaunenchor event for it. Some of my friends were starting to show struggle with their host families. I felt bad for them - my host family was amazing to and for me, and I couldn't imagine being in a foreign country for so long with a family that wasn't even good to you. Soon after this visit, one of my friends got pulled home because of the war in Kosovo. None of us really understood - it seemed so far away to us, but I suppose looking at Germany and Kosovo on a map while in the states, one might think otherwise. Our country is so big compared to anything over there, so wars that distance away would still be home territory. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vltbx-tGjEg/ViAcrAZOonI/AAAAAAAAArs/Rt5PQ3H4xsY/s1600/SCAN0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vltbx-tGjEg/ViAcrAZOonI/AAAAAAAAArs/Rt5PQ3H4xsY/s320/SCAN0010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The hardest thing was leaving. It was mid-June, 6 weeks before their school year ended, but the program was over. My host family became my second family, and I still feel that way about them, even though I don't get to see them much anymore. My friends there became as close as my friends at home. <br />
<br />
But none of that was the worst part... Everyone warns you about culture shock, but nobody talks about reverse culture shock. Coming back to a culture I no longer understood. I asked my mom which garbage to put something in. I spoke German with her when I was too tired to realize what language I was using and I was so frustrated that she wasn't understanding me. I had to retrain my body to eat on an American's schedule. It was hard. It took 3 months before I became "more American" again, and you can ask anybody who knows me now, I'm not exactly American anymore. I tend to prefer the company of Europeans, eat European food, and listen to European music.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968312047668470752.post-49566956864543445082015-10-14T22:22:00.000-07:002015-10-28T14:58:56.174-07:00Creating a Culture of TravelTraveling with an open mind is the key to enjoying your experience. The problem with many travelers today is that we are constantly comparing our experiences to what we call home. Here's how I do it:<br />
<br />
I'm hypoglycemic and have many food allergies, so I bring some basic snack foods to eat while I'm looking for local foods that I can eat. I don't seek out foods from home anymore (I admit, I used to!), but rather I open my mind to what is common. Why? Foods are a huge part of culture. How, when, and what people eat are big clues to how to get by in day-to-day life.<br />
<br />
I walk around. A lot. I explore and people watch. I look at the buildings - when were they built? What are they used for? What views do they offer? I watch the people interact with each other and their technologies. How do people treat kids? Elderly people? "Alternative lifestyle" people? The technologies piece is a bigger and bigger issue as years go on. This is something I didn't notice until 2006.<br />
<br />
I watch and read advertisements. Even if I don't understand the language of the home culture, I can understand what product is being sold, and a price range. What does this mean about the importance of this product? Is this something that people are buying readily, or something that people are still skeptical about? <br />
<br />
I go where the locals go. I love eating in cafes rather than fancy restaurants. The fancy restaurants in tourist areas are often catered to tourists. <br />
<br />
I find that opening my mind and my eyes to the culture around me makes me enjoy my time in foreign countries much more. I always return wishing to bring pieces of those cultures home.<br />
<br />
Something I used to be better at: writing about pictures I'm taking before I get home and get mixed up about where I've been. Making early and detailed notes will help you remember how you felt about each little experience within the greater travel experience. And these feelings mean so much more than that bad experience on the flight home that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.<br />
<br />
Travel, and travel often. Don't assume everyone is American, and don't act like everyone should be. This rule will make all travel more educational, and more enjoyable for all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0