Allison Goes To Germany

Friends in Germany

[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 06.23.10 under Uncategorized

During orientation, the program advisor said something that totally warmed my heart and Michaela even agrees with this assessment: In Northern Germany especially, the people tend to be a little reserved and when you throw that on top of the language barrier and my shyness anyway, making friends is very difficult. However once you make a friend, you have a friend for life.

I met Michaela two years ago when we lived together in Campus 4 (Our WG rocked) and we ended up being FB friends and over the past two years we would send Facebook messages, etc.

Now back in Germany I see her like once a week because she works in the Lg and we eat lunch/cook dinner together, and she’ll spend the night if it is dinner because she still lives in Berlin and it’s a terribly long commute and plus  I like having her here, etc.

Last night was a dinner night. I made a pizza (pesto, edam, green onions, crushed garlic, and basil leaves), and a cucumber salad, and she made a flourless chocolate cake that hit my chocolate craving for like the next year, and then we stayed up late watching soccer (omg Korea and Nigeria and LOL Argentina and Greece), and then we talked until maybe 1:30 or 2? and it was great. It was seriously like a slumber party.

It really made me feel better. All the stress from yesterday dissipated. I have been really stressed because of school. I forgot how incredibly stupid language classes make me feel, and the super accelerated pace just exacerbates the situation. It is so bad for me that I am probably going to get a C if I am very lucky and a D if I’m not lucky, and I am just going to take German Conversation for 3 credits next summer session to make up for the crap grade I will be getting this session. I feel like in any other situation, a C in advanced language class is no big deal but I’m applying to grad school for uh - German (comp lit, but still). It is a huge deal. Also learning Grammar again is making me rethink things as I say them. I dislike that. I am now second guessing myself.

Future travel plans:

This weekend is Bonn for Es birthday

Monday-Friday might be Austria. Waiting to hear back from Doug and Katie now.

Friday-Sunday is Berlin to see Michi. I am looking forward to it!

Meh. Again.

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.22.10 under Uncategorized

I was going to post a really happy cheerful post about Augsburg, but I am not in in a happy and cheerful posting mood so none of that.

I had to go to the Deutsche Bank to get money and then to the store to get groceries and I had to gift for someone.

I went out and bought a birthday gift for E, since I am going to Bonn since weekend for her B-day. Also bought a little gift for A, her younger sister. I think A is too young to understand why her sister gets a gift and she does not. I wouldn’t say I ended up breaking the bank on this one. I bought E. a pencil with horses on it, horse stickers, and band-aids with horses since she is super into horses.

I bought A an small ABC coloring book and some stickers too.

I hate buying gifts for anyone, I’d much rather throw a gift card their way. Shopping for kids is more stressful. “HM IS THIS A CHOKING HAZARD?” I thought in all caps when I saw tiddlywinks, which is an awesome game. Yes, yes it is - both awesome and a choking hazard. I mean 2 might be a little old to stick things in mouths, idk. Whatever.

I’m still depressed and tired - If Rebecca weren’t coming over to do her laundry I would take a nap. I think actually the next time she asks I am just going to say no. I know the machine is broken thus making laundry free (at least washing) but it’s 2.5 hours I could have to myself to feel like crap. I kind of want some alone time. At least I don’t have class tomorrow. I am going to sleep in and relax.

:(

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.21.10 under Uncategorized

I am so tired I could cry. Actually I did cry earlier but that’s because the realization that I really won’t see my mother  and the rest of my family until August 2011 set in. I could see them sooner if they fly to see me, but I doubt it.

Heh. Heimweh.

This is why I dislike people.

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.17.10 under Uncategorized

I’m still happy about my job, but I’m also mad about the jerky behavior of other USAC students.

Basically once a week I’ve been doing a dinner on Thursdays. People RSVP, bring ingredients, and then I cook. This Thursday 4 people (out of 6) backed out to go to Hamburg to gay bar hop and shop. They RSVPd LAST WEEK. That’s really great for them, but I did not know being in Germany was an excuse to put on the asshats and prance around and cancel a previous commitment just to get drunk and go shopping. P.S. Hamburg is always there.

But my dinner parties aren’t. As a result I’ve canceled all open dinner parties. Now they are VERY select and by personal invite only. But GRRRR. Really. Being young is no excuse, especially since out of 18 people invited, only 6 can RSVP because I ain’t cookin for 18. Those spots could have been open for someone else. And they literally canceled at the last minute. Had I known about this I would have had time to change my plans for travel but it was too last minute for me to get my travel plans together.

Speaking of  cooking for 18, I cooked pancakes for 8. I did not get a single buttermilk pancake. Some inconsiderate jerk ate like 3 buttermilk pancakes, then grabbed the last one off the platter while I was making scrambled eggs. I said to Nathalie (roommate) “sometimes people only think of their own stomachs so if you want another pancake, tell me and I will make one for you.” The guy who ate the last buttermilk pancake (USAC student), may have understood but I did not care.

To make matters worse, I’m also PMSing. I’ve eaten my feelings in general in the form of 2 Rittersport bars and 1 bag of chocolate covered raisins. Not in the same day, more like over a 14 hour period. But still. All the weight I’ve lost is probably going to be packed back on :(

No more chocolate for me.

Also I fixed comments without Craig’s help. Now anyone can comment, I just have to approve it. So please, comment away.

This is a heart-splodey post.

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.15.10 under Uncategorized

I did not blog about my trip to Bonn yet, but I will now.

It is quite a long train ride to Bonn - Bad Godesberg, about 5 hours and 3 minutes to be exact. So I left at 9:07 to catch the bus to the market so I could go grocery shopping before I had to be at the station. I left my stuff at Rebecca’s house  since I did not have time to go back to my place (Baerlauch Pesto, Sweet potatoes, whole wheat pasta, and 3 kilos of apples for 2 euro and that’s a lot of  apples).
C. met me at the Bad Godesberg train station and we drove back to their place. The neighborhood was built around the beginning of the 20th century and the house was built in 1907. It is four stories, and at least 6 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. C. showed me around and I think my jaw dropped on the way up to the third floor. My Au Pair digs would be rather luxurious  but this is not the point of my post.
After a Kaffee und Kuchen break, where we ate a really funny desert titled Amerikaners,
the entire family and I walked down to the Rhine (WHERE LORELEI COMBS HER FREAKING HAIR OMG). E. scootered and A. tried to scooter like her big sister, but ended up going about as slow as a snail so C. went back with A. to get the bike with the kiddie seat (E. coincidentally has a pet snail collection. E. and I went ahead of A. and her mom to catch up with her Dad and his coworker who was visiting when E. fell off her scooter. I was like “oh my god, what do I do?” but I comforted her and told her it would be ok and it was only a skinned palm and I bet her dad might have a bandaid. I talked with E. when we got to the river and she is a very cool little girl.
Then A. wanted to run around this  circular bench and we sat down and played the German version of Duck Duck Goose, which is a song and when you drop something behind the person (the plumpsack) then they have to run around the circle and tag you before you get in their seat.
der Plumpsack geht um!
Wer sich umdreht oder lacht
kriegt den Buckel blau gemacht.
After that we walked back and E. and I even played tag. I don’t think I’ve played tag in at least 14 years and I had no idea I could run that fast. My legs definitely hurt until today.
Once back we ate a nom dinner and the kids went to bed while the adults watched the World Cup. Booyeah England.  The next morning I woke up at like 6:00 because A. was crying, but I went back to bed until 7. I went downstairs and E. (husband) was awake and making coffee and A. was downstairs too. I read to A. and played “got your nose!” and she really loved that game and warmed up to me which was nice because she ignored me on Saturday when I arrived. I sat under the dining room table with her and read and played and it was totally awesome. She was grabbing my hand and leading me around the house too!
After breakfast I met B. (current Au Pair) and her family since they are visiting. We all then went around Bonn proper. The plan was to bike to Bonn, but the bike seat was about 2 inches too high for me so I was spared the humiliation though I did ride a bike for about 30 seconds total. Bonn was freaking lovely. I was treated to a tour, and lunch, and ice cream  and then ferried to the train station where. . . I was offered a job. I told C. that right then my answer was yes, but I really wanted to think it over and talk to everyone like my dad, who would essentially be in control of my affairs were I gone. I slept on it and I e-mailed them on Monday morning that it was definitely a yes.
I had not heard back from her so I called her today to make sure I had not hallucinated this whole thing. It really is amazing. After less than 24 hours together the girls made their ways into my hearts and so did the rest of the family. They are just good peoples. I will not a glorified babysitter, I will be a member of the family.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy I could cry but I feel that way now, even though this is a huge responsibility. I am already looking up things to do with the kids. . . I cannot wait until I begin!
Also I have to go to Bremen to the embassy sometime soon. Boo.
And I need to go buy a suitcase because my backpack is not going to cut it.
And I need to do a happy dance.
But first I need to finish all the homework I have to do. It is unbelievable.
And I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in my life. Not even on graduation day was I this happy.
I really just. . . I think this might be the most amazing thing that ever happened to me.

I am married to your charms & grace

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.11.10 under Uncategorized

I have come to accept that I am just not the type of gal who takes pictures. I bring my camera with the best of intentions, totally meaning to take pictures, but it stays in my bag. I am just not into that sort of thing I guess. I’d rather mail postcards of the places I go (which I did), then take a photo. It’s so hard to capture the essence of a place anyway.

This happened today when I went to Celle with Rebecca and Corey. I really wanted to go to the beach and Luebeck, but Rebecca really wanted to see a palace. I’m put off by anything Baroque, so I felt Celle was a good compromise. 16th century and older Altstadt, Baroque palace. Corey was just along for the ride I think. He did not have an opinion either way.

So, Celle. I came, I saw, I ate.

That’s the best way to describe it. After the museum/palace I was hungry and my cranky pants were on and I wanted traditional German food. The place we found was only ok, but the schnitzel there owned the hell out of the schnitzel they serve at the Mensa. I just realized that my Grandma might not understand that phrase, so by that I mean “was way way better.” Afterwards I ate an ice cream sunday with Eier Likor (blech) and Toffifee on top (yum!). I really need to offset all of this crap with a huge salad. I just wish I liked lettuce more.

Anyway here are the few pictures I took in Celle.

The French Garden in Celle. I had to take this picture through a fence, since for some reason this was fenced off. Boo

The French Garden in Celle. I had to take this picture through a fence, since for some reason this was fenced off. Boo

I just thought this was cool.

I just thought this was cool.

And that’s about it.

And now, homework and laundry. Woohoo.

Tomorrow: Bonn!

Sunday: Coming back from Bonn!

Monday: Class. Whoopdedoo. If I could enroll in beginner German I would. I think I would say “you see, I did not really come here to think. I came here to be in Germany, not do 4 hours of homework a night” but I really should be thinking and learning.

Let’s discuss a legit issue while traveling/living abroad.

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.10.10 under Uncategorized

I am drinking Glauber’s Salt now.

It tastes like a memory.

Once when I was four my dad took me to Pismo beach to let me play in the ocean. He called my name when I was playing in the waves and I turned around and a wave knocked me over and salt water got all up in my mouth.

He laughed at me.

When I drank a sip the undiluted dose of Glauber’s Salt (1 TBSP in 500ml water) , I almost threw up because it reminded me of the traumatic childhood even that would scar me for life. 1 tablespoon ended up in 750 ml water.

Why am I drinking this filthy concoction?

Because I can’t poop. I understand a lady is not supposed to talk about these things in public, but good thing I am not a lady and after talking to some friends this is a serious issue so I am going to enlighten you all now as to what I have done before reaching this near-vomit inducing low in my time here.

I have not pooped since Sunday. I tried on Wednesday since I was super gassy and thought I could, but it was not a full evacuation if you know what I mean.

Normally pooping is not an issue for me. I think it’s my lack of Kashi AKA “super colon blow” and my morning cup of coffee coupled with the fact that I am taking birth control which apparently can cause constipation. I’ve been hydrating like a mofo (4 liters aka half my body weight in ounces a day so lets all figure out how much Allison weighs now), I have been drinking hot water with lemon juice, I have been drinking hot water with cinnamon, I tried massaging my stomach, I tried doing situps and going to the bathroom, I tried doing squats then going to the bathroom. I drank two cups of coffee last night in order to uh, get things moving - NOTHING.

So when Michaela came over for lunch and I asked her if I had to buy fiber at a pharmacy, and she said that yes I did, she was kind of clued in to the issue. So naturally we talked about poop and what to do.

She suggested Glaubersalz and after she left I immediately caught a bus to town to buy this miracle laxative and a scoop of ice cream to make my imminent gastro intestinal hell a little more bearable because you know, once you eat ice cream the world can be a better place (especially when it’s humid and you’re melting, but I digress).

So I came home and mixed up the dose and almost puked.

I doubled the water and with 500 ml more of water to go, I type this and wait. If I don’t die from not pooping, Glauber’s Salt might actually kill me.

Really. This stuff is VILE. I was eating bread with it to soften the blow but now my pretzel roll is gone and this stuff goes straight to the back of your tongue so I think I’ll eat a piece of toast too. If I don’t poop tonight I am going to call a doctor. RIDICULOUS.

>.<

ETA: Ok, the Glauber’s Salt works. It’s not  as thorough as say, a good old fashion colon scrub, but it works.

Am now fasting.

Also: Beach tomorrow without looking fat and pregnant with a food baby! more woohoo!

A cat found me yesterday

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.09.10 under Uncategorized

Yesterday after my post about the Gothic romance type weather, I was getting ready for class at at 9:15, 5 minutes before I walk out the door to catch the usually late bus (so I could probably leave at 9:25 and make it in time), I saw a cat stretching up against my window like Patches does. It was also black and white so I literally did a double take.

Because I love cats and am homesick like crazy for my own bed and Blackie curling up under the covers with me, I opened my window to pet the cat.

The cat came in my room like it was only natural, and then rabidly started hissing at me from the corner of the room, back arched and fur on end.

Just kidding, actually. The cat was very friendly and it was purring and rubbing against me and exploring, but the problem was that I had to go to class and no matter how friendly the cat was being I did not want to pick it up and chuck it out the window. That only invites disaster.

So I said “Ok you damn cat, I’m leaving my window open so that you can walk out of here when you want to go. You seemed to know how to get in, so I know you know how to leave.”

So I left my window open and went to class.

I was sort of disappointed when I came home to find it gone.

I thought it was a phantom cat that my delusional homesick mind had fabricated, especially when I realized my window ledge is a g00d 6 foot jump off the ground.

But then I remembered I took pictures of the cat.

dsc02588

And now: A photo dump of epic proportions.

Heinrich Heine!

Heinrich Heine! Ich bin nicht wie eine Blume, trust me on this one.

Hamburg!

These smelled divine.

These smelled divine.

Sad to say that without my flash uploader functioning, this is a photo dump. I asked Craig AKA many things to fix it and he told me to do it myself. That means it won’t get done. Comments are also still broken and I think he told me to fix that myself too. Ha.

Possibly my favorite funny thing in Germany. Michaela thinks mushy is a hilarious English word. . . I think this is a hilarious German brand.

Just like me.

Just like me.

And speaking of Michaela, my first weekly WG dinner was a success. I cooked Chili Chicken (omg so spicy and delicious), made a German style cucumber salad which is a lot like the recipe my Nana gave to my mom (but with yogurt and dill, no sour cream and parsley), and I made a cobbler.

Yes dear readers, Allison made a bomb cobbler. In fact, I enough for 10 people. Sucks for Dominic that he procrastinated in preparing his Referat (report), because I gave him like 3 hours to eat his piece of cobbler along with the whipped cream I beat by hand (actually more like by sheer strength of will and arm because we don’t have a real electric mixer), so Michaela and I ate his piece. Chump missed out.

WG dinners are every Thursday now, since I did not get any homework done yesterday due to cobbler stress. Plus now I can go to the market on Wednesday for ingredients for Thursday. Win!

And now I am going to alternate sips of hot water and cold water. Whoever can guess why I am doing this, please pray for me. This is hell.

Like waking up in Jane Eyre

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.08.10 under Uncategorized

If I had a different view, this would be a very Gothic novel type place. Actually maybe if I were living in Campus 4, and not overlooking the sport field and the cafeteria.

Very foggy, cup of earl grey 3 lumps please type of morning.

I completely forgot to mention I ate Indian food yesterday! There’s a place that does Vegetarian meals for 5.50 euro, and meat meals for 5.90. Which is cheap, unless you get a mango lassi (2.80), then you’re like “wtf and this isn’t even a lunch buffet!”

Anyway time to hit the books. I find myself waking up at 7AM to finish my homework because I just don’t have time at night and I have long since realized I cannot pull an all-nighter.

Quex, not really like Chex.

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.07.10 under Uncategorized

In German Cinema, we watched snippets of Hitlerjunge Quex. The one thing Heini’s death scene brought to mind is the Prioress’s Tale from The Canterbury Tales.

For those not familiar with either or, Hitlerjunge Quex ends with Heini, a member of the Hitler Youth, being killed by the communists. This is based on an actual death that happened during the street fights between members of the HY and the young communists. Anyway, Heini’s last words are “Our flag flutters before us. . . ” which is a part of a German Nationalist song.

This movie really reminded me of The Prioress’s Tale in that there is faith without knowledge. Heini is drawn to the HY just as the boy in the Prioress’s Tale is drawn to the  Alma Redemptoris Mater and like the boy in the Prioress’s Tale, Heini is murdered by enemies of the faith. . . which in the case of the Nazis were communists.

Anyway it’s not a very fun thought, but one thing I don’t think we ever touched on in Germany and Its Past was how the Nazi rise to power really reflected a religious fervor, and it is something I had not thought about before tonight. It’s probably why the Nazis were so down on religion, because they wanted the faith of the people to lie in them and not God.

Anyway, no super happy fun time entry from me tonight. I got a D on my first advanced German exam and am kind of pissed with myself. My professor said she did not get it because I obviously do the homework and I got an A on my essay and a B+ on the quiz. At that point I tore into our textbook which provides crappy examples and is not very clear on some exercises. I also tore into her not giving us notice as to what would be on the exam until the night before, which was Wednesday. When I have cinema and am in class from 6 until 9 and cant get much studying done the night before. I told her that it was terribly inconvenient heh. Anyway, if I do well on the quiz tomorrow and the exam on Friday, I might get an A or B+ in the class. I was really hoping for the A. . . I don’t think I will be wasting my time with advanced German next semester. I don’t feel like I am learning anything except how to b.s. my way through the homework assignments. She doesn’t even really review this stuff in class in an in-depth manner.

I’d be better off taking German conversation and teaching myself new vocabulary by reading Effi Briest (which I bought on Saturday. I enjoyed Anna Karenina and this is supposed to be similar).

Tomorrow night is the big group dinner. Michaela is spending the night and some other USAC students will be joining me and my WGers, which feels like an awkward situation sometimes. My German is not very good unless it’s pertaining directly to me, so I have no idea how to join conversations when they are all hanging out and watching TV, etc. But I like them. . . just weird language barriers. I hope they don’t think I’m standoffish.

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