Day 35 & 36: From Dresden to Berlin

Hallo! And greetings from the capital of Germany: Berlin! I have safely made it to my host mother's apartment and am currently sitting in my very own room! Wahoo! I finally have some peace and quiet!

So, let me first give a bit of an overview of the past couple of days so you can get a feel for our travels. Well, yesterday we drove from Prague to Dresden. Dresden or "Dre's Den," was absolutely amazing! I loved the city's character, it's architecture, and the spring festival that was going on (across the street from the anarchist's rally, of course). To give a little background on Dresden, it was (basically) completely destroyed by the Allies at the very end of WWII. The bombing of Dresden is viewed by many as completely unnecessary because it was evident that a Nazi loss was preeminent and it appeared as if the Allies just wanted to get rid of the last of their weapons supplies/seek revenge on Germany. So, since the 1945, Dresden has seen a complete transformation. It is now a modern city with historical personality. It was sad, yet interesting to see how the main church in the city was rebuilt and how it's weathered foundations serve as a reminder of the past. I very much enjoyed our own little "Springfest," although the weather was a bit more overcast in Dresden than in Schenectady!

After visiting the festival, we made our way to a currywurst stand. Currywurst is a type of sausage that is very popular in Germany, the sauce it is dipped in is favored with the spice, curry! So, this currywurst stand is very well known for its extremely spicy sausages. And so, a contest ensued amongst our group. Almost all of us decided to try the hottest possible wurst (it burned like no other food I have had in my life!). But since our van driver was paying, we could not refuse to finish the wurst. So, it ended up that it became a contest between Paula and Professor Nelson to see who could eat the most currywust. They both had 5 pieces (not 5 full wursts!) and tied. After our explorations of the city, we headed back to the hotel to rest up a bit before dinner. We then walked along the other side of the river and found an interesting "Tex-Mex" restaurant. I thoroughly enjoyed the food and the conversation! After dinner, some of the group headed out to other adventures, while the rest of us rested up at the hotel. And that was that!

So, this morning we woke up pretty early and got ready for our journey to Berlin. WE drove for a bit and came to the capital of Germany: Berlin! It was sad to say goodbye to our driver, Andy, but it was nice also to finally be here in the city. We toured the Goethe Institut and they contacted my host mother, so I was able to go to her apartment. And that is where I am now! I actually have reliable internet for once! And it's nice! So, tonight we are headed to the "Three Penny Opera" to see a supposedly interesting musical number. Hopefully, I will be able to make my way there on the subway without any problems! Well, I hope that all is well at home! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 33 & 34: Prague

Hallo everyone! And greetings from Prague/Praha! Hopefully, I will be able to post this blog, our internet has only been working off and on for the past few days. So, since the last post, we have seen Munich and Prague! And what a busy couple of days it has been. Yesterday (and today), we began our day with an amazing German breakfast complete with every possible bakery item (yes, pretzels, pretzel rolls, and pretzel sticks!), so many different types of fruit, etc. It was amazing! So, in Munich, we headed to Marienplatz and had a little bit of time to walk around before our bicycle tour of the city! The tour itself was very neat. We saw a lot of Munich that I hadn't seen on our trip to Germany five years ago. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet up with the family we have here because the day was so busy. But it was really neat to ride through Munich and to hear the tour in German. We were all able to pick up on the basics of what was being said, which is a good thing! One neat thing in Muenchen's Central Park (other than the gorgeous landscape) were the surfers at the foot of a tunnel. Very cool!

So, after the bike tour, we drove to Dachau, past the outskirts of Munich. Dachau was the first concentration camp to be established by the Nazis, so the experience was very poingnant and heart-wrenching. Two days ago marked the 65th anniversary of the camp's liberation, so it was definitely a very important time to commemorate the event. It was difficult and emotional to see all of the history textbooks and films come to life. In some ways, I see myself as calloused to the pictures of the atrocities since I have spent so much time studying the Second World War. But as soon as I stepped foot on the premises I knew that no amount of reading could have prepared me for witnessing the where it all happened first-hand. I know that the other people in my group were influenced by the trip, also. I am very glad (although also saddened) that we were given the opportunity to visit Dachau.

Afterward, we headed back into Munich. Andrea and I decided that all we wanted was to grab a bite to eat, so we parted ways with the rest of the company. We stumbled upon a neat little Vietnamese restaurant and just in time. As soon as we sat down, it started pouring outside! It was a nice dinner and quite an interesting way to end an interesting day.

So, this morning, we headed to Prague! And it sure is a good thing that we ended up getting to come here because our other plans could have been a bit more worrisome. We almost went to Leipzig and not Prague because the Czech Republic has recently passed some travel insurance requirements that complicated the matter a bit. But it all worked out and we ended up here anyway. The scary thing is that today in Leipzig, two pipe bombs went off. Today is the "Tag der Arbeit" or the "Day of Work/Labor Day/Day of Struggle" in Germany. This day can be both a peaceful commemoration, but it also can serve as a means of violent demonstration. I guess Leipzig has often been a popular meeting ground for rioters and the likes, so we are happy that we made it to Prague and were not present for the bombs in Leipzig today.

It was a nice and peaceful day here in the Czech Republic (as far as I know at least). We took a walking tour of the city and saw some very beautiful sights. I did a little bit of practical shopping for clothing, so I was glad to have some new walking shoes, etc. Tonight, I definitely did not want to go out anywhere and stay out until 3 am. So, it ended up that Andrea, Professor Nelson, and I hopped the nearest streetcar and headed to a random restaurant somewhere in Prague. It was an interesting experience to see an area less populated by tourists and to have to figure out the car schedules in a country whose language none of us knew. It ended up that the people of Prague are actually very knowledgeable when it comes to English! Who knew?!

The dinner and conversations were very nice. It has been a neat experience to get to know a professor on a more personal level. Wow, it has been a busy couple of days! We have just one more stop along the way before Berlin: Dresden (or Dre's Den, Andrea's nickname, as I like to call it). I am definitely looking forward to Berlin, although I still haven't heard back from my host family about arrival times! Hopefully tomorrow...Well, enjoy the afternoon. Hope to write again soon! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 31 & 32: Munich!

Hallo all! And greetings from Munich! Wow, it's been an interesting couple of days! I wasn't sure if I would have internet while we travel, but it ended up that our hotel has free wireless.

So, it almost seems like longer since we departed Freiburg, but we left just yesterday, right after class. It was a bittersweet departure, there were many hugs and farewells to be had by all. It was nice to have the opportunity to get to know a little city like that one and I would definitely like to go back there some day!

After our departure from the Gaestehaus, we made our way to what I like to call "Neuschwansteintown" because it is the home to the beautiful castle of King Ludwig II. The scenic ride through Bavaria was beautiful, I am so glad that I did not sleep much during the bus ride. On the way, we stopped on the Boden See (a lake) and saw some more gorgeous examples of nature's wonders. Once we arrived in our hotel for the night (just a little ways from "Cinderella's Castle"), we found a nice restaurant-hotel and sat and ate traditional Bavarian food. It was neat to get to know our van driver. He looks like Bruce Willis! So, we resided last night in a cute little Victorian-style hotel, one of the nicest ones I have ever stayed in!

Well, we woke up this morning fairly bright and early, and headed to Neuschwanstein. It was a gorgeous day and we really lucked out that we had such a nice hike up the mountain to the castle. It was very neat to be back in Bavaria, I even recognized some of the sights we had seen on our family trip five years ago (we have relatives in the area and I had visited for two weeks with my family). We took a tour of the castle, walked to the nearby bridge, and saw many paragliders in the area. We even looked into going paragliding, but it was a bit too expensive for us students.

After a bit of a bus ride, we made our way into Munich! Tonight, we spent the evening in the Hofbraeuhaus! It was a lot of fun and we really lucked out in getting a table! The food was good and the atmosphere was really neat! That's about it for now, I'm headed to bed! Tomorrow, we are going to be doing a bike tour and visiting the remains of a nearby concentration camp. More news to come shortly. Hope all is well! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Day 31: Last Night in Freiburg

Hallo everyone! It is our last night and Freiburg and I guess you could say that it's bittersweet. It will be nice to travel a bit, have the chance to get to know Berlin, and live with a host family, but I will definitely miss the people here and the beautiful sights of Freiburg!

So, today we had class as usual. My mind was pretty much elsewhere and I could not wait for the day to be done. Currently, it sounds like there's a big soccer game on tv because I am out on the Gaestehaus balcony and there are sports announcers yelling and people alternately cheering and booing. Anyway, after Goethe, I had a bit of downtime before our class came together for a little city tour and Kaffee trinken (coffee). It definitely was a nice way to spend my last afternoon in Freiburg. I got to talk a bit with my friends from South Korea and Thailand (and I even got offered an apartment in case I decide to live in Freiburg some time over the next ten years!). I definitely learned a lot and it was fun to end my stay here the same way I started it: with a historic tour! We had a nice stop at a cute cafe in the center of town before heading back to the Gaestehaus to finish my packing.

After a bit, Andrea and I headed out to find the last restaurant we wanted to try. We ended up at a little Thai place and it was very neat to sample this "ethnic" food in another country. I would have to say that it was a little different than American Thai food, but I definitely enjoyed the curry chicken and glass noodle soup. We had an interesting encounter as we were paying the bill. Although they don't really tip here in Germany, usually the thing to do it round up. It's interesting how things work over here and how we all are still getting adjusted to it!

Well, now I am back in the Gaestehaus for the last time. I might have the chance to go to an informal Stammtisch (student get-together) tonight, but I might instead just enjoy the last of my time here in the "lovely dormitories" tonight. Plus, I think it might be a good idea to be well-rested for all of the traveling. So, that's about it. I am a bit restless and just looking forward to getting on the road. I really would prefer not to go to class tomorrow, but it will be nice to say goodbye to everyone too. I am happy for the change in scenery and for the new experiences that lie ahead of us! And I am also excited to meet my host family (although I still don't know who they are...). I am not sure if I will have internet access over the next week, so I will try record our travels and upload some pictures and comments whenever I have the chance. In case I do not have the opportunity to write again for a while, I hope that all is well and that you all have an enjoyable week! 'Til next time...signing off from Freiburg...Tschuess!

Day 30: The Everlasting Milk

Part 1: Hallo! Wie geht's? Wow, it's Day 30! So hard to believe we've been here for so long! Today went by fairly quickly, although at times I was a little bit distracted in class and just wanted to get outside! Only two more days left here in Freiburg! I am very much looking forward to our short week of traveling, but I wish that we were already on the road. Today, Matt and I had a little conference with our teacher. She gave us some advice for speaking German and told us that she was passing along high recommendations to Berlin. It was interesting to hear some of her opinions and it was good to know that she recognized that fact that I could possibly be put in a higher class.

After class, I went grocery shopping for some food for the road. I finished my homework and then Andrea and I rented bicycles! We road around for about 2.5 hours and saw some beautiful scenery! We biked along the Dreisam River and then road a bit through the city. The second half of the ride definitely was a bit more stressful than the first. We had to dodge street cars and lots of pedestrians! But it was definitely a great experience and I am so glad that we went!

So, we're now back at the Gaestehaus, filled with dinner and ready to go out to "Schlappen" with our Chilean friends (they're the ones who talked to me until 2 am one day a couple of weeks ago). It will be quite an interesting experience, I am sure! I think that it's a restaurant or something by the university. Andrea already got her housing information, but I haven't heard from Goethe yet. And it looks like we are definitely going to Prague, so I am very happy about that! Well, so that's about it for now. I am counting down the days until Munich (2!). Hope all is well! 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Part 2: Quick update about the night: It wasn't too shabby! It was neat to talk in German for most of the evening, and I basically understood all that was being said. The Chileans are very nice guys and I am glad that we ended up being able to go to Schlappen before we left Freiburg. It was interesting to hear their opinions on worldly things and their version of the American stereotype. In many ways, I agreed with a lot of the things they said. I do wish that I could have spoken a bit more! Well, I better get some sleep. 'Til next time...Tschuess!

Note: Yes, I left the milk out of the fridge for 24 hours (accidentally) while I was in Italy and it was still fine to drink. And it wasn't even the crazy butter-tasting stuff that some Germans tend to leave on the counter. Just thought that was interesting and title-worthy!

Day 28 & 29: Milano!

Hallo everyone! Hope all is well! I did not have the chance to write a blog entry yesterday for the first time all term! So, this will be a combined post for today and yesterday. Well, yesterday we woke up very early and traveled to Mailand/Milan/Milano, Italy. The place has so many names! I really don't understand why we fail to pronounce the true names of cities and places in English. Is it really that hard to say "Mil-a-no?!" Anyway, the bus ride took exactly (and when I say exactly, I mean German punctuality exactly) 5.5 hours (5 hours plus 30 minute break). So, I was traveling for 10 hours yesterday!

But we actually had a full day in the city. We were in Milano from 11 am to 9:30 pm! It was very interesting to see the differences between the German and Italian cultures. Even though Freiburg and Milano are fairly close in proximity, there are some concrete differences between them. The second we stepped off the bus, we were "bothered" by those who make their living by following tourists and trying to get their money. We were pegged right away as possible targets for some cash-making. So, a guy came up to us and tried to give us bracelets. I just ignored him as he was talking to Andrea. But he said that the hand-woven little bracelets were free as a gift from Kenya, so we thought we were safe. But as soon as he had put them on our wrists, he started asking us for donations. We were trying to listen to what our Zivi, Maxime, was saying, but this guy would just not leave us alone. I gave him a Euro "for the people of Kenya" and he finally went away. Andrea was pretty appreciative that I got him to stop bothering us. People seemed a bit disapproving of him and maybe what we did in handling the situation. But my take on things might be a bit different than some. I mean, if this guy is trying to make a living on the streets, he probably is not very well off. I really don't care where the money went to...I mean, I would prefer that it would go to the poor souls of Kenya and not drugs, but really, what difference will my Euro make, anyway? So, maybe I bought him a piece of pizza. Or maybe I funded something more sinister. It was a situation in which I was not comfortable and I knew the only way to get rid of the problem was to give a single Euro. I think I know better now than to let myself be cornered like that. It was interesting to see how many people like this guy were in Milano. There were so many street vendors and beggars and the likes. It made me sad in a way. Maybe this was the only way these people could make a source of living. And there are so many tourists in the area that I am sure that they do pretty well. I makes me feel badly to just ignore them. I wish I could tell which ones were the honest people in need and which individuals are just looking to make a quick profit. I wonder how a big city like Berlin will be different...

So, after our first impression of Milano as a tourist trap, we headed to a market (very chaotic!) and then the famous "Dome" the city is known for. There, we saw one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen (see pictures above). This beautiful monstrosity was bigger than any cathedral I have ever seen. It amazing me that something like it could be constructed so many years ago! In some ways, it put the beautiful Muensters of Germany to shame! But each church is unique and they are all amazing in one way or another. It was interesting to see body of a dead cardinal from the 1500s. I really didn't know how to react to it...It kind of confused me exactly what one is supposed to do when they see this old corpse with a metal face. Interesting stuff.

After our self-tour of the Dome, we headed out onto the streets of Milano. Lisa (from California), Andrea, and I walked back down the main street to the place the bus dropped us off. We went inside the grounds of a very old castle and saw some beautiful gardens along the way. During that time, I was on the search for a piece of authentic Italian pizza. The task was actually more difficult than one might expect! I finally stumbled upon a little bakery that had pizza in the window. It actually wasn't fresh, so it wasn't as delicious as I'd hoped it would be. But at least I can say I had pizza in Italy! So, we slowly made our way back through the less popular side-streets of Milano. Somehow, our sense of direction proved its worth and we stumbled back into the grounds of the Dome. But things were a bit different there than it was several hours before. This time, there were police blockades, huge crowds, and limousines! We're still not sure who of fame was making their way to the famous opera house in that area, but from what I gathered, it appeared to be a diplomat of some sorts. It was interesting to see huge crowds waiting for the person to show up. There was some sort of chanting and the police had riot shields for some reason...But when the person rolled up in the car, he waved at the crowd and everyone broke into applause. It was a very neat experience to see something like that--whatever it was. The Associated Press was even there...I think I will have to look up what/who exactly we saw.

After all of that, we met up with the group again and did a little tour of some churches and the local university. We saw another five hundred year old body (this time, just the skull, not a silver face) and sat in on a church service for a little bit. We walked for another half hour (yes, I admit that my feet were pretty tired by that point!) and headed to a little restaurant on the other side of the Dome. It was a neat little place, sort of self-service type of establishment. But you get the food made right in front of you...pizza, pasta, the works. It wasn't that inexpensive as one might think, but it was interesting to see another type of place and to just have the chance to sit down for a bit. We headed back to the bus and enjoyed a long ride home, complete with even some half-awake type of sleeping! It was a pretty neat day, but I was glad also when we returned to the Gaestehaus at 3 am and I was able to get a full night's sleep!

So, quite an interesting and long day yesterday! Today, I didn't end up going to the brunch that was available this morning, but I made omelets for me and Matt so that I could use up some of the eggs before Wednesday. I cannot believe that I have only three more days left in Freiburg! It still feels like I have so much to do before we leave! Today is going to be a day to just catch up on work and relax a bit. My teacher gave us a lot of homework and I have some things to do for the Union class, too. It is a nice day outside, but I am content just staying here for once and still working in the fresh air. It will be nice to get ahead with my work, too! We're headed for Munich on Wednesday after class. We are also going to be visiting Dresden and hopefully Prague on our way to Berlin, too! The Berlin Goethe Institut has not given us our housing assignments yet! I really hope that living with my host family is going to be a fun experience! Well, I hope you are all having a nice weekend, also! I better get to work! 'Til next time...Tshuess!

Day 27: Titisee

Hallo all! Hope all is well! Es ist Freitag! Ja!! I am very glad that it is the weekend! Last night was quite a different experience. I ended up hanging out with some different Union girls than I usually do. They were very nice and welcoming, and they all accepted me and made sure that I felt comfortable interacting in a new social setting. I stayed up a bit late, so I was slightly tired this morning. But class went by and then it was the weekend! We headed to a nearby lake: the beautiful Titisee region. The group made a full hike around the lake and spent some time in the town relaxing, shopping, and eating. It was a pretty nice afternoon!

We came back and I've just been catching up on things and packing for our departure. We only have five more days in Freiburg! It's crazy! Tomorrow morning (very early) we are headed to Milan, Italy! I am very excited! The trip does not cost very much (comparatively) and I will be able to take in a different culture! It's definitely going to be interesting to go to a place in which I know next to nothing of the language. I wish more of the Union people are going, so that we might have the chance to spend some more time together. But it will be nice to meet new people, too, and I am looking forward to it! Well, I should probably get some sleep. I don't want to get sick like everyone else seems to be! I still have some more interesting information to contemplate, but for now this will suffice. Enjoy the Wochenende! 'Til next time...Tschuess!