Language Circus
I just need to remind myself that I came here for a challenge and adventure - and that I need to keep my sense of humor...
During my Choir rehearsal on Monday night I was floored when asked "Wo warst du Gestern?" (Where where you yesterday). Upon clarification, it appears that I missed our first Concert of the season. Somehow amidst the German babbling that critical piece of info slipped thru the cracks. When asked why I didn't ask for clarification if I was confused, I had to explain that I didn't know there was anything that I should be asking about in the first place.
Honk if you love language barriers!
Personal Update
G'day and Servus!
Just wanted to deviate from my usual blogs of thoughts, observations and experiences to throw out an update on what's coming up in the next 2 months.
This Wednesday I'll be heading out to Hamburg to stay with some friends of my American Grandparents and their daughters (all about my age). The parents will give me the day-tours, and the girls are going to show me the NightLife. I'll be gone until Tuesday the 7th. This will be my first ICE experience (but I made off with a killer price!). Look for lots of photos next week!
Then on the 20th of December I participate in my first German Choral Concert -
Bach's "Weinachtsoratorium" (a massive Christmas choral/orchestral work). Let me just say "Thanks" to Mr. Revier for all the choral experience - otherwise I'd be completely confused every rehearsal.
A couple days after that I'll be off to the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), Buhlertal to be specific, to visit relatives of my Great-Grandmother (94 years old in Florida) in the house she grew up in before fleeing Germany as a 19 year old, for Christmas. Should be a revealing experience.
On the 27th 3 of my friends (Justin, Alaina, Michael) are visiting me in Regensburg. We'll enjoy Germany for a couple days before heading off to Prague for the New Year (Silvester). Will be a total blast (albeit Freezing)!
Later in January I'm going on a trip with my Choir for the weekend to Windberg to sing a concert, check out the town, and party with a bunch of musically inclined students!
After that, my first semester ends, I go with the CU students on an official trip to Berlin for several days, and then its my 2 month semester break (approx. Feb 15- April 15). No specific plans for that as of yet.
Wish me luck, safe travels, and an inexhaustible well of energy!
Thanksgiving in Germany
[Ed. New Photos Posted, Read First]
Excepting my beloved Family and Friends in Boulder, Thanksgiving in Germany was far more elaborate and important than ever before. Not just to grasp a sense of American identity and connection, but primarily because I had to represent our culture on this side of the Pond.
I partook in not 1 but 2 big Thanksgiving feasts. A smaller, intimate dinner (15 strong, but only 4 of which were American - the others German and ERASMUS), requiring lots of explanation as to the customs, the food, and the meaning of the occasion. The food turned out really well, and the evening was a big success.
Over 100 people attended the second event, Saturday night. Host families, Professors, Administrators, Americans, and Friends were all invited. CU organizes this event every year to foster good relationships with Regensburg, critical to sustaining such an extensive and successful program. Of course the food was ganz Lecker (delicious)! But the evening was particularly significant because every year the CU students organize a skit, and sometimes other forms of entertainment. Most of you won't be surprised to hear that I was very much involved with all of it: Played a clueless American in the skit (sadly not hard to do...), which compared our adventures here to that of the pilgrims; I also helped put together a Power Point Slideshow of my and another's photos from our 3 months here - which then aired over head of myself singing an original song with 2 amazing guitarists (they were the centerpiece, I was the backup :-) ). You can find photos
HERE, behind the shots from Passau. Reviews were good, esp. from veterans of the fest, who were heard to remark that it was the best in years. Not that I'm going to brag how great our year is...
Whereas Halloween was a disappointment abroad, Thanksgiving was an excellent experience.
(Cheese alert!) Being away from family while trying to explain the significance of family for our Holiday was a sad paradox. I also feel like I've developed a new appreciation for the importance of Holiday's in defining one's identity and perspective. Whenever we question why immigrants are so taken with continued celebration of occasions from their Motherland after they've willfully relocated (drive around Denver on
Cinco de Maya...), we forget how important it is to have one's own identity - be it hobbies, professions, or national origin. Celebrating something personally meaningful is all the more important and defining when you're the only one.
