Of Elections and Halloweens Abroad
[Ed. I tried to post this last night, but Blogger's Net crashed due to excessive election posting]Jetzt sind Wahltag und Halloween vorbei.
This week has been a ride.
First (and on a lighter note) I experienced my first Halloween abroad. Though the traditions originated in Europe, the Germans have only recently started getting into the Anglo-Halloween (which includes costumes, trick-or-treating, etc). On the bus ride to and walk home from our party I (A Pirate, see the photo gallery - it's after the Garmisch pictures) got more than one queer look. As a matter of fact, none of the Germans at our party dressed up (and over the course of the night there were as many of them as us Anglos). Though I'm sure I only saw a sliver, the Germans that were dressed up (few and far between) were all very morbid. Dracula, Zombies, Skeletons, the Dead, etc. Were the oder of the evening. Where the Brits and the Ami's had an emphasis on fun, the Germans had an emphasis on scary. Perhaps this stems from the German Brother's Grimm Fairy Tales (which are much much much more graphically violent and twisted than Disney wants you to believe).
Actually, now that I think about it, the Germans were so scary and morbid that I was actually attacked by some guy dressed (to the 9's) as a Zombie. I was walking another American to her apartment when we passed his group. He saw we were also dressed up (she as the "Devil with a Blue Dress On") and ran after me Zombie-Style, grabbed my arm very vigorously and attempted to bite my neck. But what's a good Pirate without his sword? I proceeded to whack at the guy's head 'till he let go and ran back to his dour group. Madness.
***
Oh, so we just finished some sort of election right? Yeah.The feeling over here in Germany upon very recent news of Kerry's Concession is akin to Selbstmort (one of our favorite German words, meaning 'suicide'). I was asked by someone State-side if the Germans were really angry at Bush's Re-Election. I don't see anger as much as I see perplexion and disappointment. One of the hardest things for me to explain (regardless of my personal beliefs) to the Germans regarding the Election is why people vote for Bush. They have a hard time grasping how personal feelings about candidates and morals can weigh in just as heavily as policy issues (among other reasons, of course). For example, you don't see the families of candidates and politicians over here. Its seen as rather unprofessional - it has no bearing on sending troops to war or adjusting inflation.
I was lucky enough to attend a special function hosted by the Uni last night about the election. Several professors and a United States Navy Rep gave speeches regarding this year's and previous elections. We also watched a great CNN documentary about the 2000 Election fopahs before turning on the Live CNN for this year's coverage. It was a great experience to hash out with German Professors on the spot about the events transpiring. I was even lucky enough to be interviewed by the local TV station as an American living abroad. You know, its a lot harder to explain your views in front of a German camera crew on the spot than you'd think...
posted by Jason @ 11:34 am
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