“Ich bin ein Berliner”
When JFK visited Berlin in 1963 he famously proclaimed, “Ich bin ein Berliner!” to show his support for the city and all of West Germany two years after the Berlin Wall was constructed by the Eastern side. Unfortunately, what this actually translates to in English is, “I am a jelly-filled donut.” Berlin, Photo courtesy of http://www.travelpluto.com I visited Berlin for the first time this summer, with high expectations. I must admit, I’ve... Read More
In my blood
Gotta get back. It’s been six months since I left Germany, and I’m stunned. Not only has it been six months- I’ve also officially lived in Colorado longer than I lived in the beautiful Deutschland. My mind is reeling. The transition to Colorado has been far easier than expected. It’s so outdoors-y here. I speak the local language. All the little things I missed about the States- non-irradiated milk, romaine lettuce, streaming... Read More
Breztels and Katrin
Maybe it’s recent beer talk amongst friends, or rehearsing the Brahms’ Requiem (complete with German pronunciation lessons), or maybe just a nostalgic desire to cuddle up with a dear friend, but I have been missing my sweet heart Katrin. She and I met in class while studying in Spain and we became good pals after a few nights out dancing. We eventually shared our love of running , when it was a totally unheard of pastime in Barcelona,... Read More
A simultaneous “auf Wiedersehen” and “Guten tag”
Dear world: Ugh, I’m moving again. As explained in my recent post for GoGirl’s one-year anniversary, the fickle nature of government contracts and work visas has resulted in my partner losing his job and, thus, his ability to live and work in Germany for the next calendar year. Useful information for anyone planning to relocate to the beautiful Deutschland: if you want to be SOFA status (work for the Americans), you can’t be in Germany... Read More
Die Wurstmarkt
Kegfest? Depends on your nationality. One of the best things about living in Germany, thus far, has been the sheer volume of festivals happening around town. The joke amongst the Americans in the area is that it’s Sunday, or Thursday, or summer, or afternoon, and therefore there needs to be an excuse to hang around and drink beer and wine- thus, we say, runs the German logic. But to a certain extent it’s been true here. There are festivals... Read More
What a long, strange trip it’s been…
A late-night dinner on vacation in Alghero, Sardinia, in June. In some ways, it feels like nothing has changed. Three weeks ago, my partner and I moved from our furnished apartment in Nanzdietschweiler to a new, unfurnished, beautiful little apartment in Bann. Two weeks ago, my partner had to start looking for new jobs when he got the news that his company might lose its government contract. One week ago, we discovered that if his contract doesn’t... Read More
An American in Deutschland
My friend and I made this photo as a joke in high school, yet it seems oddly appropriate for this article. I had to laugh when I saw Beth’s post earlier this week about the Big American Family. For the past couple of weeks, in spite of everything else that’s going on in my life, I’ve been subtly preoccupied with the same balance of being an American abroad. The conclusions I’ve been reaching, both consciously and subconsciously in my thoughts... Read More
In the heart of the Forest
Being fabulous in the Forest “I wonder why they call it the Black Forest?” I say aloud as we wound our way through the streets. It’s a Sunday- the day when everything is closed in Germany- and the three of us have decided to celebrate a day off by going for a walk in the infamous Black Forest. A quick Chrome-assisted Google search (instant translation for the win!) has given us dozens of walking trails to choose from, and we’ve selected one... Read More
Giving Great Advice
Good advice, like fondue, is worth savoring. “Germans don’t have friends the way you do here,” Hannelore tells me as we sip our lemon ginger tea. “Here, you call someone a friend when you hardly speak to them. We call that bekannte, and you know their name, maybe where they live, and you won’t speak to them much. But when you make a freund, well, you’ll be freunde for the rest of your life.” She pauses, and... Read More
Breathing Through the Fear
If crocuses can bloom in the snow, then so can I. By Day Two in Germany, I’ve already fallen in love with it. It’s beautiful here- chilly, yes, but the sun is nice and the neighbours are friendly. The town is quiet on Sunday, because everything is closed, and every evening at Vespers we get a beautiful chorus of bells from the church across the valley. Every day we try something new- German yogurt that’s a rich mix of tangy and sweet,... Read More
