Happy New Years from Berlin!!
In a week or so I'll be back in Kassel, where I'll work on an update about the Christmas and New Year adventures from Kassel to Loburg to Berlin and back!!
Hope all is well! <3
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Weihnachtsmarkt
One of the main reasons is because of the Weihnachtsmarkt- or the Christmas Markets! The smells of the roasted almonds, the Glühwein (the warm, spiced wine), and the Bratwurst that fill the streets just adds to the atmosphere of laughter, live music, and happy chatter from all those making their way through the market!
It's just an amazing time of year! I love it!
...and of course, pictures don't do it justice!!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
New Page!
Hey Everyone!
I created a new page called "Outside my Window!" It's a fun way to see how the landscape around me changes with the seasons!
It's December 9th today, and so far since I've been awake it hasn't stopped snowing! I'm so excited!!
Love from Kassel!
I created a new page called "Outside my Window!" It's a fun way to see how the landscape around me changes with the seasons!
It's December 9th today, and so far since I've been awake it hasn't stopped snowing! I'm so excited!!
Love from Kassel!
Friday, December 7, 2012
My Speech for 500 People
(To see my actual speech, please check the "Auf Deutsch" page- I put it there, but mind you- it is in German! I'll translate it soon enough, I'm sure!)
Part of my scholarship obligations is to give a speech at the annual fundraiser- and Advents Tea- that is hosted by the Inernational Women's Club Kassel. Each club member gets a table, to which they decorate it to their personal style. All of the tables were very pretty- I love the German style of decorating!! Then the members send out invitations, as the event is invite-only, and they invite other women to the afternoon tea, which is doubling as the fundraiser. While it's invite-only, there is still a cost for the place at the table and there are also some raffles.
All in all, there were about 500 people there, roughly 498 of them being women. (The only men I saw in the room, besides the servers, was the president of the VDAC and one of the former German students that went to the US.)
No pressure, right?
Well- like a champ, I got up there, gave the speech the best I could with trying to ignore the nerves! Everyone was very impressed, which made me feel really good! The VDAC President is also from Michigan, so we had a good little chat about back home! He knew the area where I am from and also were Central is! (Fire Up Chips!)
I'm really glad I was "forced" to get up there and talk in front of so many people.. auf Deutsch! It really shows me that I am doing well with my language learning and that I can do anything I put my mind to!
....the tea and cake didn't hurt either! :)
Part of my scholarship obligations is to give a speech at the annual fundraiser- and Advents Tea- that is hosted by the Inernational Women's Club Kassel. Each club member gets a table, to which they decorate it to their personal style. All of the tables were very pretty- I love the German style of decorating!! Then the members send out invitations, as the event is invite-only, and they invite other women to the afternoon tea, which is doubling as the fundraiser. While it's invite-only, there is still a cost for the place at the table and there are also some raffles.
All in all, there were about 500 people there, roughly 498 of them being women. (The only men I saw in the room, besides the servers, was the president of the VDAC and one of the former German students that went to the US.)
No pressure, right?
Well- like a champ, I got up there, gave the speech the best I could with trying to ignore the nerves! Everyone was very impressed, which made me feel really good! The VDAC President is also from Michigan, so we had a good little chat about back home! He knew the area where I am from and also were Central is! (Fire Up Chips!)
I'm really glad I was "forced" to get up there and talk in front of so many people.. auf Deutsch! It really shows me that I am doing well with my language learning and that I can do anything I put my mind to!
Excursion: Erfurt
Erfurt is such a pretty place, in my opinion! It was only about 5% damaged during WWII, which is not "typical" of most larger German cities. (Kassel, where I am, for example, was more than 50% destroyed.) Because it wasn't really "touched" during the war, a lot of the historical buildings are still in tact and are just beautiful! Pictures just don't do it justice!
When we arrived on Friday, we were hosted at a little dinner from the club in Erfurt, with the highlight being the opportunity to tap a barrel of beer! A real, vintage-style beer barrel! It was such a fun experience! We had a few rounds, some more than others, and enjoyed talking to the members of the club, as well as each others company.
Saturday was a trip to Wartburg, which I was "geeking-out" about on the inside! A little known fact is that I love history, especially German history, so this was really exciting for me! We went around the Christmas market there (I'm going to have to create a post purely dedicated to this tradition- it's amazing!) and got some Glühwein (mulled wine- think warm red wine with spices...yum!) and some delicious honey-bbq'ed ham! After filling our tummies, we had a tour of the castle and museum.
The castle where Martin Luther once stayed during his exile from the Pope...where he translated the New Testament- therefore laying the foundation for the modernized German language and Protestant religions! Ahh! Yes! I was there!!! Amazing!
On Sunday we finished off the weekend with a walking tour through the cold and windy Erfurt! We couldn't leave without popping into the Christmas market there as well, getting some Bratwursts and more Glühwein, of course!
Overall it was a great weekend to get to see each other and explore Erfurt and Wartburg!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Visa Extension
So... Going through hoops and hurdles with the whole Visa process isn't something that only happens in the US, it can happen in Germany as well. The best line of defense? BE PREPARED!
I walked into the office with cash in hand, all the forms that were required (Thank-you Google search!), and extra copies of the documents that needed to be turned in. I also got to the office shortly after it opened. All in all, I was only there for about half an hour!
Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom!
It was the typical, movie-perfect situation sitting in the waiting room. Babies crying, couples arguing in multiple languages, people looking nervous and stressed. (All of this before 9am, mind you!)
The actual process of giving the information wasn't too difficult, although it probably would have been helpful if my local advisor was there, but I was able to communicate what I needed to on my own! (Win!)
The odd thing for me though, was that they had a file of all my paperwork from when I was an exchange student- a copy of my (then) passport picture and all my YFU forms- talk about a blast from the past! Just wasn't something I was expecting them to have!
To top off the entire experience though, was the reaction to my (now) passport picture she scanned into the computer for my Visa card, a new thing since September 2011. Her exact words, "Das sieht aber nicht so gut aus." ("That doesn't look very good.")
What do I even say to that?
I did the curtsey-yet-awkward laugh and made a comment about how passport pictures never look that good, to which she replied, "Well, good thing it's just a little picture on the card."
That bad?
Overall though, it was a pretty easy process. After paying 100 Euros, I'm only left to wait for it to come in- hopefully in the next 2 weeks before I go on Winter Break!
Fingers crossed, or thumbs pressed, depending on your form of sending good luck! :)
I walked into the office with cash in hand, all the forms that were required (Thank-you Google search!), and extra copies of the documents that needed to be turned in. I also got to the office shortly after it opened. All in all, I was only there for about half an hour!
Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom!
It was the typical, movie-perfect situation sitting in the waiting room. Babies crying, couples arguing in multiple languages, people looking nervous and stressed. (All of this before 9am, mind you!)
The actual process of giving the information wasn't too difficult, although it probably would have been helpful if my local advisor was there, but I was able to communicate what I needed to on my own! (Win!)
The odd thing for me though, was that they had a file of all my paperwork from when I was an exchange student- a copy of my (then) passport picture and all my YFU forms- talk about a blast from the past! Just wasn't something I was expecting them to have!
To top off the entire experience though, was the reaction to my (now) passport picture she scanned into the computer for my Visa card, a new thing since September 2011. Her exact words, "Das sieht aber nicht so gut aus." ("That doesn't look very good.")
What do I even say to that?
I did the curtsey-yet-awkward laugh and made a comment about how passport pictures never look that good, to which she replied, "Well, good thing it's just a little picture on the card."
That bad?
Overall though, it was a pretty easy process. After paying 100 Euros, I'm only left to wait for it to come in- hopefully in the next 2 weeks before I go on Winter Break!
Fingers crossed, or thumbs pressed, depending on your form of sending good luck! :)
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