NPR

I miss NPR. I used to listen to it all the time and am glad that I've recently rediscovered npr.org.

I love how all of their programs are online! I'm such a dork.

Dear American Voter

While doing my nightly recap of the news across the world, I came across a website called Dear American Voter. Apparently it is a website dedicated to people the world over who'd like to send messages to their American counterparts regarding this years election. Might be interesting to see what others outside of the US think about the election. Its really interesting to see how interested non-Americans are in the election.

Just passing on the link.

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day in the US and for the first day since, forever, I am working. Memorial Day in the US signifies the beginning of Summer and all of the great things that come with the end of May. Growing up in N. Florida, that meant BBQ's, a trip to the beach , perhaps even a boat ride with friends. Summer 2004 I did nothing but spend time at the beach, wave running and having a great summer. Needless to say, there'll be no wave running in Germany. Overcast skies and humid temperatures just don't seem like home.

Its also an important day because I'm from a military family. Remembering those lost years before and not so long ago. The American Cemetery in the Netherlands is only about 25 minutes away, I'm thinking about visiting sometime in the next few weeks. Where I live in Germany was the site of the first Allied invasion into Germany. The city was completely destroyed as well as the area surrounding.

This morning while searching for an article of the use of conversation in practice/social settings (e.g. The Art of Conversation) I came across a spot on American Public Media's show Weekend America. The show featured a segment on Reviving the Art of Conversation. It makes me miss American Public Radio. I used to listen to NPR all the time in the car and at home, its just so good. It also made me miss the States because I don't think any of the Germans are going to be putting up free conversation tents anytime soon. Sigh.

A tad bit late for this, isn't it?

Sometimes I think I should have studied design or architecture.

I just love the way buildings are designed in the modern sense to express political and cultural references.

Whats four more years of school?

I'm such a dork.

Spring Leaves

Every time that I am not at my computer or am too busy to write something, I always have the best topics to write about. Of course, now I have no idea what I should be writing about other than the fact that I should just update.

Life in Aachen continues. Thursday is the third and finally holiday in Germany (there are three in one month and then NONE until October...RIDICULOUS). I wish I could say that I had interesting plans to go out and about and do something fun but most likely not. Today I worked eight hours with a one hour break in between. Although by the time I got to my last class I was tired, I prefer this schedule. I was home by 1600 and had time to go to the gym, cook dinner like a normal person and do things that normal human beings do. Tomorrow I'm teaching ten hours. Yay.

I'm beginning to believe that my family isn't going to come and visit me this summer/autumn. As much as I want them to, I keep hearing different excuses. I've got two weeks of vacation ttheime to use this summer and if they're not going to come, I need to look at some other alternatives. I know that for sure I want to go to Croatia sometime this year but I'll probably also just spend sometime hanging out in different parts of Germany and Dresden to visit the amigos.

I'm feeling a bit inadequate as of late. I mean, I know people who are traveling around the African horn region during research, volunteering and what not. I mean, my time in Aachen is important for my future in International Relations but honestly, wouldn't a summer stay in Africa be more influential? I still want to go to Rwanda and do some research there. I've also go this travel bug as of late. My friend Jacqueline and I plan on traveling SE Asia in a couple of years. But what am I supposed to do if I start a career? There is only so much time for someone to do something like that, you know? Yesterday I talked to this guy from FSU who is traveling around 20 something countries in 215 days. I want to do that! Crap like that requires money though. And that is something that I am trying to hold on to when I can.

This summer I am going to be taking some classes at the Volkshochschule (kind of like a community college for people who want to learn different things). I want to learn, I mean really learn how to use Excel, take a wine/cheese class and perhaps a cooking class. I think on their website I saw a politics class too. That could be fun. I just have to talk to my boss and see if they can give me the time off once a week to go to the class. I need to feel like I'm doing something besides working, sleeping and going to the gym. I think it'd be a great way to meet some other people too. Apparently, our schedules slow down a bit too in the summer, summer is quickly upon us. I think if I get something to do and start feeling like an actual citizen and not just existing and start living (like I feel now) then maybe things will look differently.

I'm also Frau shopping, so that can't hurt. Ha.

I just close my eyes

My weekend in Würzburg was absolutely amazing. I haven't had such a good time since my friends from the States came to visit me. Dancing, BBQing, hanging out and walking around the city has never been so fun before. I'll post some photos in flickr soon. For those with access to facebook you can access the photos there. However at left we have the first official photo of the FSU Colony in Germany. Behind us is Festung Marienberg (Marienberg Fortress) with wine fields in front of it! It was an amazing time.


I was reminded why I love Germany so much this weekend. Germany in the Spring is glorious. Great weather, ice cream, hiking, grilling, it all works out to be einfach wunderbar! Even on the train ride home today I was constantly enamored by it all. The twists and turns of the mountains and the rivers were fantastic. It definitely makes me want to stay here longer.
I finally am beginning to understand why so many people like coming out here and just having a low key vacation or what not. I could get used to that life of traveling every weekend.

The combination weather and energizing with friends from home gave me a sense of renewed hope for my time in Germany and further renewed my desire to improve my German skills. I bought three German magazines this weekend and am impressed by how much I understand. :)

What it doesn't take to get a drink in this place

I am plagued with the fact that all of my motivation to do work comes at the wee hours of the night. I've been more productive in the last two hours than I was the entire day. I hate this. Why do my best ideas come to me at 12:30 am. I should be in bed counting sheep, but no, I'm rather researching marketing principles to go along with Unit six of my classes textbook on new product development. Sigh.

In other terrible news, I received a letter from my dream job informing me that they hired someone else. Of course they did. I'm probably too young for the job. Germans are amazed that I'm only 22 and teaching, much less have a university degree. They think for some dumb reason one should spend the better part of seven years pursuing a university degree. Um, nein danke. So, too bad for that, however, the hunt continues. Other applications have been sent out.

Going to the German city of Würzburg this weekend to meet with the FSU Colony in Deutschland. I'm very excited to spend time with my friends from back home. I need some time to just relax. We plan on seeing a lot of old German stuff, eating great food, drinking great beer and going to Vineyards! The area around Würzburg in Franconia is known for its wine producing capabilities. I'm thinking bike tour through a vineyard.

Should be fun. I need this.

Oh, you're a machine.

It was an unbelievably boring weekend. With the majority of my friends busy/out of town, etc I embarked on a self-imposed exile to my apartment with only brief periods of recess permitted.

However, Friday evening did begin with an amazing dinner cooked by yours truly. "Wildpilz Risotto" or better known to the non-Germans as Wild Mushroom Risotto was on the menu Friday evening at Cafe Pechvogel. My guest, my colleague Petra, throughly enjoyed the meal and it was a success. I used the recipe from a Tuscan cookbook I picked up at the bookstore here months ago (in German). I did have some difficulty with units of measurement as I am not a native Metric user. It must have been rather interesting to watch me say "oh, that looks about right." But the best cooks never use measurements exactly. :) The risotto was a huge success (and led to me discovering new cheeses!!!) and I was glad to have the time with Petra.

Saturday was gym and shopping day. I purchased new clothes for myself as spring is here and summer will be just around the corner no doubt. Many sales going on with 20-30% discounts so I was quite encouraged! This is exciting in and of itself because clothes shopping is ridiculously overpriced here in Germany. The average pair of jeans will set you back €100 easily. I was able to find several shirts, socks and a new rain jacket for a respectable price. The exile continued well in Sunday pausing only for a walk with my friend Isabella and her friend. We enjoyed ice cream at Aachen's best ice cream parlor (alleged) and then a stroll through the Westpark, it was quite enjoyable. Home early enough though so that I could prepare for the week. Inevitably, its me looking at my schedule forgetting what I did the week before with the class or not sure what to do with them this week.

I had another conclusion today. I don't think I'll ever be 100% with where I live. Maybe I am just in this strange period of my life but whether I'm in the United States or in Europe there will always be something missing. I remember when I was living in Florida, I couldn't WAIT to get back to Germany. Anything negative about Germany I simply put aside. Now that I've been living here seven months I want to go back to Florida. Okay, I don't really want to go back to Florida but I do miss things from the States that I didn't think I would. When in the States, I miss the sweeping market places and cafes and general attitude of the Europeans. When in Europe, I miss the simplicity of life, ease of shopping among other things. I don't know that I'll ever be happy wherever I am. This bothers me.

This weekend I'm meeting with member of the FSU colony in Würzbrug! It'll be amazing, I'm looking for some time away with great friends of mine, some of which I haven't seen in almost a year. I'm looking forward to time away from Aachen, period. I hope the weather stays as nice as it has been the past few days.

German Toilets

For those who've had the joyful experience of the German toilet, I present to you an hilarious account regarding the German "shelf" toilet.

For those of you who haven't been blessed with the experience, you might learn something new.

"Mein Gott, Zwei Kilogram!"