The Final Countdown

My girls Mandy and Abby and I in New York, Summer 2010.

It's hard to believe that nearly a year ago I was sitting outside of a bar in Manhattan with a bottle of wine at hand, having a sloppy, yet an emotionally charged conversation with my brother Robert. Tears were not slowly trickling down my face, but a river that became a raging torrent.  I was scared shitless (einscheissen) of what was to come in the future. The next day was my day of departure for Germany. At the time of pure distress, I thought a year was an eternity. My fear of the unknown was unbearable, and I cried outside the bar like a baby. I am sure the mixture of alcohol and emotions was what triggered this freak show, but hey, I am only human. I couldn't bare the thought of being gone for a year without my little Ruby (dog) and my family. At the last moment, I thought, "why did I sign up for this?" A year??  Boy was I wrong! A year flies by, and in fact, it's not long enough. I wish I could stay in Germany for a few more years, but unfortunately I must return to California. I see myself returning for a year, finishing up my studies, closing a chapter in my "life book," then moving again. I realized the things I have done in this past year gave me more courage to take on any challenges or new opportunities. Starting a new life is the most invigorating and rewarding thing one can do. It's exhilarating and challenging all at once. After I graduate in 2012, my hopes are to return to this great land we call Germany. I don't want to give up on this whole German thing quite yet. I am not completely satisfied with my German skills, so therefore, I must return to conquer the language.
Although I do feel like my German has improved greatly, I want to be at that level of "Academic/Philosophical" German. We will see if that ever happens. I've come to conclusion that no matter what, you will always make mistakes, act like a fool, and do embarrassing things while living abroad. It's bound to happen. I've accepted the fact that everyday I do or say something stupid. But I also think that is what  also builds character. One needs to laugh over oneself . I am convinced my German friends are entertained by my German skills on a daily basis. I am like their talking parrot that mimics everything they say. Sometimes the German I speak is useful, but most of the time I speak and know the most USELESS German of all time. Of course I know the most random words in the German dictionary.

Picnic time in Germany.

Fruehlingsfest in Stuttgart.

My experience here has been the best thing I have ever done in my life. It's the best investment I have ever made. It was an investment for my mind, body, and soul. I would work all over again and save up the money to do this program once more. My new life in Germany was fulfilling and yet somewhat of a tease. I have been surrounded by brilliant minds that constantly stimulate my intellect, and now I am being torn away from them. In this wonderful place we call Tuebingen, I've connected with so many different nationalities, yet that is also the source that strips me away from these incredible people. My nationality. One can't just hop over the pond so easily. Visas, residency, green cards, our national identity is what also separates us from continuously living harmoniously together. It's unfortunate that it is such a process to live abroad. I guess I just have to marry a German : )

Kuckucks Bar

I had the most typical college dorm lifestyle that completely ruled. Before I moved to Germany, I loved having my own space and I wasn't the biggest fan of sharing. Now, it pains me to leave my 17 floor mates, smelly/disgusting kitchen, and this crazy student dorm area we call WHO. Oh I must not forget our incredible bar we have right outside our door call Kuckucks. That place will forever live in my heart. From dancing on the tables to taking Euro shots in this scurvy environment, it will always be a magical place.
 Most think I am crazy when I say I never want to leave my quaint little town called Tuebingen. Germans definitely think I am nuts, because in California I live one mile from the beach, and that is their fantasy land. When one asks me, "what city is your favorite city?"  I always answer, "Tuebingen of course!" That is also an answer that gets weird remarks. Everyone who hasn't lived in Huntington Beach thinks it would be like pure heaven on earth, but I guess for me the grass is always greener on the other side. I am looking forward to see my friends and family again, sit on the beach with my dog, and eat killer (hammergeil) Mexican food. But in reality I have moved on from my hometown and I am ready to continue this path of exploration.

Rube Tube and I at the beach.

Who knows where life will take me. I must keep my future somewhat open, because you never know what will happen. I am not a fan of fixed plans or having a "5 Year Plan" because in reality, things change! If there was some sort of concrete path in front of me, I would somehow veer off of it, or branch off into many other paths. Lets face it, everything I have done in my life was never conventional. I am okay with that. I always look for an alternative way to go about things. Maybe it's because I have four older brothers and I always felt the need to never conform to do what they did. I always tried to distinguish  myself  differently from them and what they did with their lives. Of course we are different because they are boys and I am a girl, but I never wanted to be like them or follow their paths. Don't get me wrong, I love my brothers.... most of the time ; ) but if they did or said something, I would do the complete opposite. Maybe that is my stubborn side of dealing with things.

Colorado

Last year I told people in a "joking/ it could be possible," tone that I would return to the states with a German husband. Everyone laughed, but everyone also thought I wouldn't return home either. Instead of returning back to the states with a German husband, I am bringing home 2 of the coolest guys I have met in Tuebingen. It's even better! It feels like Christmas! Not only am I bringing one European, but 2! I am a lucky girl. I can't wait to show these boys my hometown and how I grew up. Then they will get a better sense of me and understand why I am the way I am.  It will all make sense. Crazy Julie = Crazy California. I know these boys will be eaten alive by the girls in California. I mean, any guy with an accent will be eaten alive in Cali. Girls dig accents and foreign men. These boys  have no idea what is to come. It will be entertaining for me. I can't wait!!

Cali Girls... here they are. Patrick and Dan.

Galway, Irland with the French Canadians. 

A few weeks back I traveled through the British Isles with 3 other California girls (Jenna, Alexa, and Erika) and one token Englishman name Dan. It was pure chaos to say the least, but so much fun. We started off the trip with no shelter. We had a destination, but no place to stay. We were hoping to just go to a bar in Dublin and befriend someone in the bar and hope that they would invite us to stay with them. Instead, we met 3 Irish guys on the bus heading to the airport in Memmingen, Germany. We shared a few laughs here and there, small talk ruled the conversation, and that was it. Once we arrived in Dublin, these boys which completely kicked ass, offered for us to stay with them in Dublin. They invited 5 random strangers to stay at their place. They showed us an incredible two days in Dublin and true hospitality.  We shared music, stories, drinks, and pure "craic" together. Don't let the "craic" disturb you. In Irish slang it means "fun." Who knew, that strangers on a bus would become fantastic hosts to 5 desperate travelers. Thanks guys!

Dublin

We then headed off to Galway, Irland. It is on the opposite side of Dublin on the other coast. It was a beautiful, colorful little town. There we couchsurfed with a guy named Paul. By the way, Couchsurfing is the greatest thing ever. I highly recommend it. You meet people from all around the world, share experiences, and connect in so many ways. So during our stay, Paul also hosted 3 French Canadians. These Frenchies were pure "craic" as well. The boys were so much fun, and all of them were hilarious. I have never laughed so much over random shit before in my life. We drank wine in a park next to the coast, played games on the grass, sang songs around the dinner table, and made some funkadelic hummus. Hummus was the theme of our stay in Galway. Everyday we ate containers of hummus, and in fact we even had a hummus party where the Frenchies made their own hummus. It was a chickpeas extravaganza! It was hard saying goodbye to all the people in Ireland. Memories were made!

Scotland 2011. 

Next stop Edinburgh, Scotland. Which is probably one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The city is fantastic. Through rain or shine, I was constantly surrounded by incredible buildings and architecture. The city just consumes you with its beauty. To my vegetarian and vegan friends, you might want to skip to the next paragraph. So in Scotland, I had to do what the Scottish do. Drink excellent whiskey and eat Haggis. One must do what the locals do, to completely immerse yourself into a culture. Okay, not everyone in Scotland eats this stuff, but I had to try it. Even though Haggis is made out of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis   sheep's stomach, lungs, and mixed with oatmeal, it was delicious!! I was surprisingly overwhelmed with the wonderful flavors in which this delicacy contains. The texture wasn't weird or gritty, it was perfect. Most of my time in Germany, I've been trying to cut back on the meat intake, but I had to splurge in Scotland and try the local culinary delight. If you think Haggis is nasty, I also ate Black pudding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pudding. That was also surprisingly good. My friend Dan and I enjoyed a day away from the city and went to the Highlands and we were on the hunt for Nessie. We visited Lake Loch Ness. Unfortunately Nessie didn't want to come out to play, but we expected that. Dan and I experienced a wonderful day of whiskey tasting and haggis eating. Even though there was no Nessie, we still enjoyed a drunken adventure on the boat.

Because we are so mature.

If you want to see more pictures of our adventures, simply click below.
https://picasaweb.google.com/108612241084682808265/BritishIslesTrip2011?feat=email

Well Ladies and Gents, thanks for checking my blog out. I will try to be more regular. I am worst the blogger ever.
Peace and Love!
Yours Truly,
Julie

Joe and Glo's WILD European Adventure

Dad, Mom, and I in front of the Tübinger Rathaus.

    After five kids and forty-one years of marriage, Joe and Gloria finally did something for themselves. They packed up their bags and came to Europe to visit, who else, but their one and only daughter, ME! I'm quite the lucky lady to have such adventurous parents (depends on how you want to interpret it, but their is some sarcasm to that). I don't think the idea of traveling abroad came to their minds until their last three children actually did it. First Robert ( fourth in the line), traveled in 2005 throughout Europe and also played volleyball in Slovenia, then I followed suite in the summer of 2006 and backpacked. Kevin ( third in line) and his wife Megan jumped ponds and moved from Seattle, Washington to Prague in 2006. For those of you who are completely confused with the order of my family it goes like this: first born- Joey, Andy, Kevin, Robert, and then me (das Küken ).
Mom and pops tried to visit my brothers Robert and Kevin while they were living in Europe, but life just got in the way, and they weren't able to do so. So in March of 2011, the parentals made the leap and flew from Colorado to Deutschland! I was so proud of them. But after their visit and seeing my new life in Germany, I think they were more proud of me. They thought it was impressive that I could be so independent (self sufficient) and live in a foreign country. Grandma always says, " She's seen the world, she's seen Paris, how are you gonna get this girl back to the farm?" Which translates to... how are you going to hold me down, keep me in one place? The answer to your question Grandma, you won't. I will probably be moving around till I am ready to settle down. We'll see when that is. In the meantime it's study, travel, and work.
Driving home from the Stuttgart airport, my father was not only impressed by the non existent Autobahn speed limit, but was also scared shitless. You can tell the man was uncomfortable with the way my friend was driving. He is used to the annoyingly slow and pointless speed limits in Aurora, Colorado .  I introduced my parents to my floor mates and showed them "Hotel Julie". A four star Hotel in WHO the student dorms in Tuebingen. My room is an 8x13 sardine box. It fits three in "extremely" comfortable and tight circumstances. I had an air mattress fully equipped for a luxurious stay. I have to admit, it was great seeing my parents, but I think they can agree with me... we probably shouldn't do that again. Making three's company and squeezing ourselves into my room. But hey, it was for only two nights. We survived. My parents enjoyed Schwäbisch food and drinks in my quaint little town. They also loved my friends. It was a pleasure showing them my new life and the things that I love about this country. By the end of the trip, my parents could understand why I love Germany so much, and my father even said, " I guess it would be o.k. if you marry a German, just do it for love!" Wise words from a wise man : ) But yes, he saw how happy I was and how beautiful this country is. 

Mom and Dad boozing it up in Neckarmüller.

They're  pretty cute .

     But we didn't just stay in Germany. The parentals and I traveled to Vienna and through out Italy (Venice, Florence, and Pisa). 
Five years ago when I backpacked through Europe, I fell in love with Vienna. I was captivated by the culture and the arts. I had to go back. This time, I brought mom and dad. I think they might have been a little overwhelmed by not only the beauty of this enchanting city, but also by the size. I enjoyed using my German in Vienna. Everyone warned me about how difficult it would be to understand the Viennese dialect, but somehow we managed. I didn't think it was that difficult to understand. My German came in to use when my parents and I missed our train from Vienna to Venice, Italy. That was fun. Apparently we never got the memo that the time changed by an hour. Ooops! We were wondering why all the clocks were different from ours. Weird. Anywho, after freaking out for a minute, I had to take control and figure out Plan B. This trip made me   step out of passive mode and take control of all the situations. I was the boss lady, the one in charge. I was the planner, negotiator, communicator, and leader. Usually when traveling, I like to sit back, relax, and let others take control. Not this time. I had to be the tour guide. And it was great, because now I feel like I can travel anywhere. It gave me even more confidence in my travels. So back to the missing train situation.... 

Stephansplatz, Wien.

I went to the ticket counter, explained my situation "auf deutsch" and managed to switch our tickets to Venice. The only problem was, instead of a 10 hour trip, the duration was now 14 hours with more train changes. I was quite impressed with how my parents kept up with the travels. My father was literally "Super Dad." At the age of 70, this man was running after trains, carrying not only my mom's bags, but mine as well. He literally made sure the women were on board first and then basically threw our luggage onto the trains. He is in better shape than me.

Feeding rats with wings in Venice.

Victory sign in Venice!

 We arrived in Venice, ate, and then hit the sheets. Out of all the Italian cities we visited, we all could agree that Venice was our favorite. Even though the food sucked in each city (probably because we were in super touristy areas), the "Floating City" won our hearts. We all were back near the water which I think we all craved and missed. I always thought I would visit this historically rich and romantic town with a boyfriend or husband or whatever, but no, I was there with my parents. Hey, who needs romance anyways?

I think in the beginning my parents were a little worried we would get lost in this city of canals, waterways, and confusing streets, but street signs are useful and so is a good sense of direction. Again, I impressed myself with my navigational skills and basically knew the city like the back of my hand. You don't need a map in Venice, just read the signs. 

Our next destination was Florence, Italy. I was excited to see "The Athens of Italy, the Birthplace of the Renaissance." Plus I wanted to have some great Italian food. Again, we were disappointed. Tourists flock the streets of Florence and the food and restaurants as well have become mainstream and we were quite unimpressed with the food. But we didn't let the food ruin our perception of Florence. How could we let the lousy food spoil  the essence of this art capital? Forget the food situation, we set out for some culture and history. I couldn't believe I was walking around in the same town as once did Mr. Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and of course the famous Medici family. To me, Europe is a magical whimsical place. I am stepping back in time. I am a dreamer and with a huge imagination. So it's probably a good thing I study Art History. I like to learn about the past and pretend I am living in another time. The atmosphere consumes me and in my mind I pretend to be Italian noblewoman discussing theological issues as well as political ones with my other noble counterparts. As my mother would say, "dream on girl!" The most impressive monument and most famous is Michaelangelo's "David." As Germans would say, "Wie die Nase eines Mannes, so auch sein Johannes." Americans say, " It all depends on the size of the hands and feet that determines one's size." Well the statue of David had large hands and feet and even a decent size nose, but he was lacking in a certain body part. Michaelangelo worked diligently on this piece from 1501-1504 and maybe didn't feel the need to give the "Beloved One" a reputable package. Come on Ladies, we all know that David wasn't known for his male parts, but was a biblical hero and favored subject in Florence. So get your minds out of the gutter!

On a lighter note, lets discuss the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. It is the cathedral (Duomo) of Florence, Italy. The construction of this cathedral begun in 1296 in a Gothic style and was completed structurally in 1436. The dome was engineered by Signor Fillipo Brunelleschi.  Walking up to the enormous cathedral, you are completely enthralled by the beautiful polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white.  It has a 19th century Gothic revival facade by Emilio de Fabris. This by far was my favorite attraction in Florence. My parents and I had to laugh at how Italians are so enamored with the male form. Outside the cathedral, vendors are selling everything and anything with a penis on it. Their fixation was somewhat comical and a little disturbing. I just wanted to go into the holy cathedral and feel clean, instead I came out of the cathedral and was bombarded with too many phallic images, that contaminated my mind : ) It's always fun having a good laugh over these things. 

It's art, right?

One happy family. Who do I look like, mom or pops?

Florence, you were a fun town, but it is time to move on. Next stop, Pisa. We only stayed in Pisa for two days, and that was probably enough, because it is an extremely small town, but of course it has the Leaning Tower. We thoroughly enjoyed the quaintness of Pisa. It was easy to navigate through and there were great street vendors. Of course the Leaning Tower was amusing as well. This cute little town is located on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno in central Italy. It has around 88, 000 residents and contains more than 20 historical churches.  Again, as always I forced my parents to drink and mom got drunk again. It only took a shot of lemoncello and she was "schnockered"  that means drunk. It was amusing for me every time, I think that is why I encouraged the drinking. But hey, we are in Italy, we must enjoy ourselves and also the great alcohol in which the Italians provide. It would be rude to turn down a great bottle of wine or lemoncello, and of course we don't want to be rude. So SALUTE or Cin cin!

41 years of marriage. I hope I will be like that too one day.

Bye bye Italy, Hello Deutschland! It was nice to go back home. I wanted to be around a "familiar" language and back to my security zone. I missed Germany. After traveling around non-stop for the past two months, it was nice to return back to familiarity. But before returning to Tuebingen we made a stop in Ravensburg, where my mentor's family lives. The Buchmaier family. It was a true treat introducing my real family to my German family in Ravensburg. The two cultures connected and it was a true honor to experience that. My parents were a little apprehensive and nervous at first. They were a little intimidated at first, but once they met the Buchmaiers, they were completely at ease. The Buchmaiers always welcome with open arms. We stayed the night and ate the greatest food and drank plenty of delicious Baden-Württemberg wine. My parents said that this part of the trip was their favorite. Two families, two different countries, together at a dinner table= a beautiful thing. I agree with my parents, it was my favorite moment too. 

Mom and her Dirndl

                                                   Mom and Dad with the Buchmaier Family


So I leave you with this. A happy ending to a happy vacation. Next time my parents come out to Europe is when I marry my European man in a castle of some sort.... I should probably start saving my money now. Till next time my fellow blog followers. Much love!


Yours truly,


Julie a.k.a Julietta/Jewels/Jules/Juli

                             This is when their excellent adventure began. Mom and Dad looking quite dapper. 

Where is my MIND???

I might have lost it some time ago. Lets be real, the decisions I've made in the past year, are not only completely insane, but will there ever be a time when I stop this nonsense...? Probably not. I am one crazy broad and I hope the shananagans continue till the day I die.

I've been traveling nonstop for the past two months. No joke. I left right after my last final and headed straight to the airport. Destination- Beijing, China. No time to waste, travels must begin!  This story will be fun to tell....

A nice message from class.

 On February 11, 2011, I flew to China to visit a German boy I have only known 2 days IN PERSON (but kept in contact via Skype), staying with him for 2 weeks, and traveling through out China with him. That is just to sum things up. Usually normal people would visit someone in a foreign communist country if they knew them longer than 2 days. Not me, the opportunity was there, so I took it. The experience was a good one, and I love telling the story of my 2 week adventure in China. So while we are on the subject of China, I will fill you in on what I experienced.
Seeing how the other side of the world lives, especially a communistic side, is quite interesting. I don't think anyone will truly understand unless they have experienced it themselves. After experiencing China, I can't really remember what my expectations were prior to my trip, except for that I thought of China as being the land of hazy mountains, panda bears eating bamboo, and chaotic subway systems. But it's more. Peking is on the outskirts of Beijing, and the place where we spent our first week. The  foul smell of stinky tofu and fried mystery meat along with fried eggs and other questionable foods in vendors outside the train station will never leave my mind. I will always remember wanting to puke before  I entered or left the train station. In fact I did puke, but that is another story... one I will spare you. I would hate to leave a bad impression of Peking on you, because it is more than just it's smelliness. The chaos and confusion of millions of people piling into the buses and subways everyday is probably the reason why Beijing's air is incredibly polluted. Die Luft ist wirklich verschmutzt. After only being in China for 2 weeks,  I believe that was the source of my cough, the "Beijing Cough." Again, I need to stop leaving these bad impressions of Beijing upon you fellow blog followers. Beijing is more than just it's smelly train stations, contaminated air, and highly over populated forms of transportation. China is a country for people who want an experience of a lifetime. It's a country for people who can accept other social norms besides their own. It's a country for people who can live outside their comfort zone. It's a country for people who want to learn how other people live in the extremes- extremely poor and extremely rich lives. It's an experience I would never take back. Like I said before, it was an experience of a life time.

1st night in Club Mix. Germany, China, and America unite!

Forbidden City

As "Westerners" we stuck out like a sore thumb. Germans read this:
 http://www.allwords.com/word-stick+out+like+a+sore+thumb.html
Even though I am blonde, blue-eyed, European decent and looking completely out of the norm, I always felt safe. Even in the less touristy areas where my friend liked to frequent such as the ghettos/shanty towns,  I never felt threatened or worried. Maybe because both of us were living in oblivion without a care in the world, or maybe because China is a reasonably safe place.

The first week in Beijing we went to all the touristy destinations such as Tiananmen  Square, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and the Hutongs! All of which I throughly enjoyed, but I really enjoyed our trip to the south. We traveled from Beijing to Guilin and Yangshuo. Guilin is still a populated city, but not as big as Beijing. It has a southern flare. The sun actually shines in the south and it's warmer! The air is cleaner  and the atmosphere is less chaotic. Maybe deep down in my heart I am a country girl. I enjoyed  seeing the thousands of Karst peaks cascading between towns and farmland, water buffalo grazing along the water dwellings, chickens running  in and out of homes, and the dusty country roads that somehow met up with the concrete jungle of Guilin. The south was peaceful, relaxing, and somewhat untouched.  In Yangshuo, we rode our bikes through various villages hidden behind the rolling peaks and the Li River. Since our off-roading adventure took us through several towns, we didn't know how to get back to the other side of the river. That's when my trusty friend put his Chinese skills to the test and paid a local to take us and our bikes on his raft across the river. That was one of the highlights of the trip. It was a Chinese version of "Stocherkahn" (German) or "Punting" (English).

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat.

Let the "Stocherkahn" negotiating begin.

  Eastern toilets vs. Western toilets. For those of you who aren't familiar with eastern toilettes, they are the fun little porcelean holes in the ground. One must squat in order to relieve. At times it can be a complicated process when you don't have a good sense of balance or when you have had a few drinks here and there, but in the end... it is a good work out for your thighs.

This is the way we ate everyday.

  Is Chinese food good in China? That is the question I hear the most. Yes, real authentic Chinese food is quite good. There were times where I didn't know what I was eating, but then, sometimes I didn't want to know. I was a big fan of the steamed  seasonal veggies. I was also a fan of the MONKEY salad. At first, I was resistant to the idea of monkey, especially because the movie "Outbreak" starring Dustan Hoffman and Renee Russo, it scarred me for life. Ever since I saw that movie, I have been afraid of those cute little spider monkeys  in fear that one might contain the Ebola virus. Rest assure, I am still alive and I don't have the Ebola virus. The salad itself was quite tasty, and who knows if it was really monkey. I highly doubt it, because it would have been a lot more expensive on the menu, being that it would have been  considered a delicacy. "Monkey" most likely dryer pieces of duck, was placed on top of cilantro and fresh field salad doused in a vinegary soy dressing. It was yum yum fantastic. We also enjoyed the fried taro rolls. Who knew that this root vegetable would pack a punch of flavor, probably because it was deep fried. Lets face it, everything tastes a little bit better when deep fried.
I guess what I found most interesting was just the extremely different social norms between China and the "Western World." In China, it's not a big deal to spit anywhere you are. I saw men, woman, children hock loogies on the street, in the train station, basically where ever and whenever they needed to release their bodily fluids. You constantly hear the loud vibrations in one's throat before they project the phlegm on various surfaces. Always watch your step, you might end up slipping on a wad of mucus!
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-it-mean-to-hock-a-loogie.htm

Stinky food.

Riding the metro was always an interesting experience. Most of the time is was completely packed. So if you have a social anxiety disorder and don't like people or crowds, avoid the public transportation in China. Sometimes we would score seats in the train and I saw a child pee in the train. My friend told me to watch out for the stream flowing from within the train. Hey, it's China!
Bargaining. Is not my favorite thing. Before I traveled to China, I thought I could handle people constantly harassing me to buy things, then bargain with them for an extremely cheap price. Come to find out, I am a terrible bargainer and I still don't understand the procedure. I guess I am lazy when I shop. I like it to be easy.  Bargaining is exhausting and somewhat stressful. People constantly grabbing you saying, " Sexy boy,  pretty lady, sexy boy, I have a good price for you. Tell me how much." In the beginning, it was entertaining, but towards the end of my stay I was over the constant negotiating.

One form of transportation.

Real Taxis vs. Fake Taxis. Transportation is extremely cheap in China. The metro system is quite good and convenient, but the taxis were always an experience. In China, it's not a big deal to catch a ride with some random person who sees you are in need of a ride. But of course, there is a price you have to pay.People are always looking for a way to make a quick buck. It's always good to know what the going rate is for a real taxi and again, bargain with the driver. So I guess it's good to know someone who lives in China or speaks Chinese to help you in these situations. We got rides from random people who spotted us in need. Somehow it always worked and we got to our destination.
Our bus ride coming back from the Guilin Yangshuo Longji Rice Terraces and Guizhou Minority area was interesting. Our bus was hit twice in one hour. The roads were heavily congested and the way people drive is incredible. They are always trying to maneuver into the ridiculously small spaces between cars. Anything goes when you are driving in China. People drive their motorcycles, E- bikes (electric bikes), rickshaws, and mini taxes (motorcycle engine powering a tricycle), at various speeds between large buses, speeding cars, and people. Always be aware of where  you walk. Most of the time, we always walked between parked cars stuck in traffic or we took our chances and walked with the masses dodging traffic. There wasn't a day, where I didn't scream in fear of getting hit. I guess I am used to the German way of  properly waiting at a stop light for the little red man to turn green.

Rice Terraces

The Great Wall. The Great Wall of China is great, but it was a bitch to hike. That was something I could experience once in my life and be content with. If I wanted to get in shape for a marathon or just have an ass of steal, sure it would be a good method of exercise. The steps were incredibly uneven and steep. One step could be one foot high and the next two feet high. I felt like I was on the never ending stair master. This extensive fortification extends 8,851. 8 km (5,500.3 mi) and is visible from the moon. This experience wasn't just a strenuously physical challenge, but also a psychological challenge. Will I ever make it to the top? It took us 3 hours to make it to the top of the tourist section within Beijing. Even though I bitched and complained and was completely satisfied with stopping halfway, my competitive friend made me finish, and in the end I was actually happy I completed it. So that is one thing I could check off my bucket list, "The Great Wall Challenge 2011."

It was quite the accomplishment. We hiked the entire trail behind us.

I still want to ride the camel.

I think the thing I enjoyed the most was walking through sections of towns that were not for the tourists. We got to see a real side to how people live in China. It was the forbidden path that we took. Walking down the residential streets and looking into people's homes was incredible. I was a little nervous, but felt safe with my trusty companion, so I went along with it. We went into areas that tourists would never consider, and I liked that. It was invigorating. Seeing the children's faces light up when they saw foreigners in their neighborhood was spectacular. The children were eager to say "hello" to us, and then run away. It was a game we had with them. Coming from "Western" countries, we are so used to the protection, safety, security, and cleanliness of which we are accustomed to. I was definitely out of my comfort zone, but realized that this is the norm to them.  I understand a little bit more a piece of the other side of the world. That was my goal. To see as much as I can possibly see in a life time. To experience, to share, to connect, and to understand. Plus it's always fun to tell crazy stories of my travels and experiences. Life is all about making memories, learning, exploring, and having an endless amount of laughs. 

Taming the wild beasts in Yangshuo.

Cute kids.

Long haired village.

So I leave you with this. An end to my China stories. I have many more, but this blog would be a novel. I hope you enjoyed my little tidbits here and there.
Stay tuned for my European travels with the parentals. I should post that sometime within the next month.. at the rate I am going.

Take care my fellow blog followers. Much love!

Yours truly,

Julie

                                                            

The Catch Up

Attempting to play the Accordion in Paris

Dear Blog,


   It's been awhile since I have last written in you. Please forgive for I have not abandoned you, but I have been away discovering far off places (Switzerland 3 hrs away and Paris 4 hrs away) while meeting new people. Some of which I adore and miss, while others are just a great story to talk about.... I sit here on my 24th birthday drinking a jug of Vin Rouge De France and eating Karamell Nuss Ritter Sport chocolate.. keeping it classy.
Some might wonder why am I not partying my ass off. The reason is, it's a Monday night, the first day back at school, and to be honest with you, now that I am 24 years old, I need to save my energy for the "party machen" on Wed at our local "Disko" called Top10. One must be quite intoxicated to go to the place. Sorry mom and dad, but it's true. Drinking heavily is a must in this type of club. So I sit here tonight and write to you, dear blog.

I guess I never took myself seriously. 1988 with mama!

  If anyone remembers what I was like as a child, you would have never thought I would be living in another country so far away from home. Well, times change and people grow up. I am still amazed by this. I guess some people are ready to leave the nest earlier in life and for those like me, we realize it later. For those of you who didn't know me as a child, I was seriously attached to my mom. I was attached to her hip. I couldn't leave her side, and when she would leave for work, I would run to the front to of our house, which had a mail hole, and cry through the mail hole, hoping she would hear me and come back. Now, let me remind you, I was like 2 or 3 years old, so it's normal for a toddler to cry when a parent  leaves. My problem was, I had this separation anxiety till the age of 19. I didn't cry until that age, but I feared leaving my parents. Then something sparked in me and I had to cut the umbilical, leave the nest, and travel to Europe. Since my European trip in 2006, I worked my ass off to get back here to this wonderful continent.  Now that I am here, I am trying to find ways to stay. I tell people I want to marry a German and stay... they laugh at me, but I am serious : ) I guess I should marry for love instead of permanent residency, but this country  kick major ass. So any sort of alternative to stay... I might consider it. Otherwise it's back to the states for Julie. Don't worry my European friends, I will return again, maybe next time I will stay even longer : ) Maybe I could come back and get my Masters here. It's a lot cheaper to get your Masters here in Germany than in the states, even if you are an international student. The average cost to get your Masters is around 500-600 Euros a semester. So we are looking at around 500 Euros = 680.45 USD or 600 Euros= 816.54 USD. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than in the states, considering the fact that an average Masters program in the states is around $20-30,000. I am heavily considering this. It's incredible that nowadays one must get their Masters to get a decent job. No longer is your Bachelors the most valued degree. Times are changing and so are the standards, they keep getting higher and higher. Can I keep up?
   On a lighter note, steering away from financial and academic aspirations, lets talk about traveling!

Basel, Switzerland, Rhein/ Rhine River

So I have been a neglecter to this whole blog situation and "es tut mir leid= sorry." I have been on the go since December. My friend came out here, we traveled through die Schweiz (Switzerland) and Frankreich (France).  Switzerland is extremely over priced. Basel is a cool city, but one must be smart with their money, because it goes fast. We lived off of Döner and wine the entire time.  Unfortunately, our time was limited and we couldn't check out the array of museums. When I say array, I mean the continuous spectrum of museums from the most random "Kutschenmuseum" which displays coaches and sleighs of the 19th and 20th century  to the "Kunsthalle" which opened in 1872 and is one of the leading houses for international contemporary art. Instead we just explored the city and sat next to the Rhein River and listened to beautiful Zach Condon from the band Beirut sing one of my faves "Rhineland." My infatuation with that man has grown deeper... We also were trying to avoid our psychotic room mate from the hostel we were staying at. His name was Joseph and he was from Sicily. I could tell you the story, but this blog would turn into a novel.

Notre Dame

       PARIS! The greatest city in the world! But they should definitely reconsider the name, "City of Romance , and rename it, "The City of Stairs." My "glutes" were at their "maximus" while climbing up hundreds of stairs. At one point in one of the metros, I had to pull over to the side and take a breath. 
Every time I go to Paris, I never want to leave. I truly think it is a city I could live in. The people, culture, food, and architecture are incredible. I have never had a hard time in Paris. As long as you are an open-minded individual willing to learn about their culture and respond with a "Bonjour or Merci" you will be fine. In fact, one of our waiters explained the entire menu in English and in French. It took him like 20 minutes to do so.... need I say more? Paris rules! My goal was to meet a cute Frenchie name Jean-Luc and walk along the Seine, gazing into one another's eyes.. him saying sweet nothings into my ear........ but that never happened. Instead Jackie and I did the complete touristy thing and jammed packed our days to the max with sightseeing. If anyone is considering going to Paris, check out this link. It is the best guide to the Paris metros, and if you follow it, you will never get lost. If you get lost, you are an idiot, because even I could follow this with no problem.
http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/
We arrived in Paris on a Saturday night, and the first thing we did was go to church! Mom and dad you would be so proud. We went to the Notre Dame and attended the Saturday evening mass. This Gothic masterpiece took 170 years to construct.  Pope Alexander III laid the first stone in 1163 which marked the toil by armies of Gothic architects and medieval craftsmen. Who would have thought this cathedral would attract millions of tourist like ourselves... standing in the freezing cold weather, fearing frostbite. The cathedral was spectacular, but my favorite part was mass...really. I enjoyed standing in one place, listening to the priest in French, instead of walking around and fighting the crowds. The choir was spectacular. Their voices echoed, deep and powerfully through every portal within the church.

Jackie and I after church, we felt rejoiced and cold.

After a dose of religion and history, we checked out the Latin Quarter. This vibrant and lively quarter is great for drinking and eating. When traveling, sometimes I am a little shy, so when owners of the restaurants come running out and offering us a spot at their restaurant, I take it. It's so much easier when the owners seek you instead of you seeking a restaurant. Paris is an expensive city, so Jackie and I were convinced when the owner offered us salad, pizza, and drinks for 15 Euros. Done and done. After stuffing our faces we decided to go to bed and get a good nights sleep. We stayed in the Bastille Quarter with the coolest Frenchies ever! They are actually a friend of a friend of a friend.... if that makes sense. It's like the 6 degrees of separation with this one. Anywho... they were complete gentlemen and great hosts. I even got a free accordion and ukulele lesson. Although I don't think there is a future for me in the music industry, it was pretty fun pretending to play. Did you know that in France, there is a special cake for every month and some sort of traditional event that goes along with it? Just a little trivia for ya.
So anywho... we filled the rest of the week with extreme sightseeing and extreme all you can eat fromage and baguette eating. The French know how to make damn good cheese and damn good wine. 

Louvre

Eiffel Tower

Arc de Triomphe

The Eiffel Tower was great as always. It's still romantic and it still has millions of stairs to climb. But here is a little advise for the Louvre.... go first thing in the morning. Don't even attempt what we did and go to the Pantheon and then Montmartre - Sacre Couer  and finally the Louvre. Because by the time you reach the Louvre, you will have no desire to stay there longer than 2 hours. And for this museum you need an entire week to see everything. Lets just say, we saw the  famous pieces and then headed out the door. We were exhausted. 
My favorite section of Paris is the Montmartre. By the end of the 19th century this area was the mecca for artists, writers, poets, and musicians. Between 1890 and 1920 this was home to some of the most talented and influential artists such as Picasso, Van Dongen, Marie Laurencin, and Juan Gris who all resided at the Bateau-Lavoir and its squalid conditions. I guess it gives a new meaning to "stuggling artists." Artists gathered to sample the bordellos, cabarets, revues, and other exotica which gave the Montmartre it's reputation. I enjoyed walking up the tiny squares and winding streets, to long stairways, that led to the Sacré-Cœur. This Romano Byzantine basilica was built from 1875-1914. The reason behind the construction of this church was behind the minds of two Catholic businessmen who made a private religious vow. It was to build a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Christ, should France be separated by the Prussian onslaught. The idea was conjured at the outbreak of the Franco Prussian War in 1870. Here's a little insight: During the Siege of Paris when Prussia invaded France in 1870 that lasted for four months, Parisians became so hungry that they ate all the animals in the city..... you know what that means... any kind of animal, horses, dogs, cats, you name it, they ate it. 

Sacre Coeur

   Versailles Versailles Versailles. Well, it's everything you imagine it to be. Big, beautiful, and very pink...? This flamboyantly decorated Château is a must see! The courtyard of the Chateau is decorated with pink marble paving, urns, busts, and a gilded balcony.  Who knew that King Louis XIV had such a flare for style.  The continuum of construction began in the 1660's by Louis Le Vau. The series of envelopes to this grand Château grew and grew until 1770's. Inside the Château the main apartments were richly decorated by Charles Le Brun with coloured marbles, wood carvings, velvet, gold, silver, stone, murals, and gilded furniture. Whatever sparkled and shined brightly, was used, and used heavily. I was inspired to decorate my own home like this. Sorry for whomever lives with me in the future, but I like glitz and glamor  and so did my boy Charles Le Brun. My favorite part of the palace was the gardens. Even though it was freezing outside, and the wind didn't help matters, it was really cool seeing the dozens of fountains frozen. It seemed as if time had frozen as well. I love the geometric shaped flowerbeds and hedges. I was just envisioning Marie Antoinette strolling through the gardens on a sunny summer afternoon eating cake : ) The fountains were incredible. Highly stylized and dramatic. Strolling through the vast gardens, you can understand why it was the glory of the Sun King's reign. I highly recommend visiting Versailles anytime of the year. No matter what time you go from the dead of winter to the intensely hot summer days, you will get a different effect each time. It's a magical place. Oh! I recommend going on a Wednesday morning in early January.... there were no lines! 

Versailles

Fountain of Neptune

Well our seven days in Paris came to an end and we had to say Au revoir! But rest assure Paris, Julie will be back. Our love affair will never end. Back to the Tuebs!
       24th Birthday! Wow, I am 24, but I feel 16. Will I ever grow up? Time to be serious...? Never! I definitely realized through this journey that my priorities have changed. I no longer want to stay the super senior, I actually want to graduate and move on with my life. Like I said before, I am considering a Masters program... but I still dream about my own Travel Channel Show..... we will see. Shoot high, dream big, and succeed! So the big B-Day was a success. I danced my arse off and shared the day with great friends. They took care of me the entire night, making sure my drink was full, and that I was having a spectacular time and I did...from what I remember : )

24th B-Day wooo hooo!

Top10 Disko

     Berlin Berlin Berlin! I always treated this city like the red-headed stepchild. Every time I visit this city, I was never completely satisfied. I guess I never fully understood the Berlin culture until now. My program traveled to Berlin for a weekend, and lets just say, memories were made. I now really appreciate the city, and I think we now have an understanding between one another. The girls I roomed with were so much fun, and we all shared a common appreciation for my good friend Teddy. After that weekend, the girls were convinced to start a Ted Fan Club. No joke, he changed lives that weekend with his never ending jokes and charming ways. The entire weekend was cultural, historical, and party machen experience. The woman in charge of our program in Tuebingen is part of the  Grünen Partei, which is the green environmental political party in Germany. So she pulled some rank, and we were able to sit in the Bundestag which is Berlin's parliamentary quarter. The members of the Bundestag represent the people of Germany. So we got to hear to speeches about transportation and soldiers in Afghanistan by all the political parties. It was really cool. I felt very important, to be permitted to attend such a political experience. Not only did we listen to the speeches, but we saw Angela Merkel twice. For those of you who are not fans of the Merkel, I understand, but for me, it was a unique experience. I am partial to her views, but it's still an experience to see someone who is at the head of a country. We saw her in the Bundestag and the Bundesregierung. There she was only 15 feet away from us. I slapped my friend Ted when I saw her, then I started to wave. No words came out of my mouth, but she noticed the wave. We were on the go the entire weekend. Walking tours of the city, visiting museums (entirely hungover) and also traveling to the East side of Berlin to see the Stasi prison.  This prison was a former Soviet special camp and remand prison of the Ministry of State Security. This was a depressing day. Hearing the torture that was endured by the prisoners. 

Brandenburg Gate

Blick von der Kuppel. The dome in the Bundestag.

Not only was the Berlin experience a political, historical, and monumental success, but it was a eating success. Gluttony 2011 we are on our way! Wow, anything that looked good, no matter if we were hungry or not, we ate it. First, we gorged ourselves with free 
continental breakfast, then moved onto "California" Burritos, Doners, Chinese food, and the best Burger Restaurant in the world..... "White Trash Fast Food." I was there in August, and it changed my life, so I made it a mission to spread the joy and tell my friends it is a must! That place never lets me down. It's always a magical experience. The decor is fantastic. It's a rock n roll, punk, alternative, musical vibe with musical memorabilia decorations and random items- fish tanks, underwear, and skeleton decor. The burgers kick major ass! I had the Warm Goat Cheese Burger with Walnut Pesto Sauce. My friend had the Extreme chilly cheese burger, and then there was the King Elvis Supreme Burger with sour kraut, bacon, BBQ sauce, and cheddar cheese. The menu states, " Eat this burger tonight and fart like a king tomorrow." Don't go to this restaurant without eating. That would be one of the biggest mistakes of your life.

The real deal.

So Yeah, Berlin was a fun time. Now it's back to work and studying. There is no time for shananagans. In like 11 days I leave for China. I know I know it sounds crazy, but I am convinced I might be a little nutty : ) You might be wondering, Why China? Well, I have always wanted to go there, and I know someone living out there, so why not? This is the time to experience these things. Who knows what the future will bring, so do it now, while you can. The situation is probably the craziest thing I have ever done. I am traveling to China to visit someone I have known for a few days in person, but have kept a daily/weekly contact with him. So yeah, CRAZY, but it will be fun. I have no doubts, it will be a good time. It will be a memory making time. That's what life is all about. If you want to do something, do it. If you want to see something, see it. Experience all you can that life has in store for you. So I leave you with this. A little piece of what is about to happen. Don't worry, I will return with tons of stories and photos. 
                                                                               TO BE CONTINUED.........




Ciao my friends and family! I love you and can't wait to talk to you again!


Yours truly,
Julie