Dear Diary

           So I guess I would call this blog a self reflection post, being that I haven't gone anywhere crazy, but have had plenty of time to think and reflect on the things in life.
I've been in Germany for over 3 months and the expectations I set for myself in the U.S. were a little too high. I thought by now I would be fluent in German and having intellectual conversations about philosophy and art history in German. But that isn't the case. German is a hard language, and with everything in life, it takes time and practice. I am not naturally a "Sprachgenie" though I wish I was. Somethings take more work than others. Being here made me realize how little I actually do know, and how much more I need to learn. Everyday I am learning something new about the language, culture, history, and people. That is what this whole experience is about. It's definitely an eye-opener. It's not easy living in a foreign country, but then again the challenge is fulfilling. I am constantly doing or saying something wrong, and have come to terms with the fact that I am not always right. Everyday I am in some sort of funny or awkward position, but hey, humility is humbling.
I've been really lucky to have met such great people here in Tuebingen. The Germans have been very helpful and take the time to practice German with me. Even though it takes me an eternity to say one sentence, they patiently wait. It makes me realize that I need to be more patient.
I started my Aufbaukurs which are the intensive language courses here in Tuebingen. I am learning so much, and feel completely overwhelmed. As crazy as this sounds, I think I thrive off of stress. How does one relieve stress in Tuebingen? Well I walk a lot. I have a lot of time to think, which is a good and bad thing. When I was in the U. S. I worked two jobs and had 16 units of classes per semester.  Where was my free time? I still managed to have a social life as well. Here in Tuebingen, I am filling my time with school, homework, walking,partying, friends, and a little program called "Rent an American." Yes, that is the title of the program. People can literally rent me, for free! I go to schools and talk to the students about American culture and history. It's a great program because not only are the students learning about my homeland, but I am learning so much about them. It's a rewarding and gratifying program. Last week I talked to 15 year old students from Balingen. We bonded over American television shows like "The Simpsons, Family Guy, How I Met Your Mother........and oh yeah, Two and a Half Men."  If you want to sum up Germany's form of entertainment, just say the show "Two and a Half Men." I think every German watches that show. Without Germany being strong supporters, that show wouldn't exist. So Charley Sheen and Jon Cryer should thank the country of Germany for keeping the show afloat for so long.
At the age of 23 this is my first time living away from home. I realized how lucky I was to be able to live at home and save up money for this adventure, but at the same time I realized 23 is kind of old to be living at home. The complete responsibility of taking care of myself 100% is stressful and worrisome, but satisfying. I am a big girl now, an adult, and it is starting to freak me out. I still feel like I am 16. I guess there is a time to finally grow up and cut the umbilical cord.
Grocery shopping is a new endeavor. I mean I did it in the states, but now I take the time to see what's on sale and what is feasible. Being on a budget, makes you creatively resourceful. For example lettuce was so expensive this week, so I bought a huge bag of brussel sprouts (Rosenkohl) for a fraction of the price and I am coming up with new and innovative ways of cooking them since I am going to survive off of brussel sprouts for the entire week. I have also found new ways to doing laundry. How about in my sink...yes, sometimes I do hand wash some items in the sink. Most of the time I do wash them in the washing machine, but it costs a whopping euro 1.50!! So I air dry my clothes all throughout my room. It's really interesting when   neighbors and friends come over unexpectedly and there are socks hanging from the lamp or underwear drying off the bookshelf. I thought I stopped relying on mommy and daddy, but I think I will always rely on them no matter what. Being a parent is a life long commitment, and well, they had 5 commitments. So thanks mom and dad! I know I can count on you for mental and emotional support, even a place to stay when I return back to California completely broke.

First day of snow!

   Winter is here. Deutschland looks like a "Winterwonderland" aka Winter wonder land. You see how similar German and English is..... put it's the damn grammar that gets me every time. The snow is falling and the degrees are dropping. Right now it's pretty cold, but I hear that it gets worse. So far, I am freezing my ass off, but throughly enjoying it. My outfits are looking more and more unusual. Again, trying to be resourceful. My fashion sense has gone out the window. It's all about warmth and trying to stay acrobatically stable. Snow is slippery, and well, I have experienced a fall or two. I think I am just going to dress like a marshmallow so  if I fall, I will have extra padding.

      My friends. I have made so many. I am a very lucky girl to have met such genuine people. This is what I love about Germany, social status is recognized by education, experience, knowledge, and individualism. I am so used to the Orange County mentality where one has to be rich, gorgeous, and brainless to thrive in the social spectrum. Now, it's not all of Orange County, but a good amount. It can definitely mess a person up psychologically. At the same time, Orange County is beautiful, safe, and the laid back surfer mentality will always be embedded in my system. Even though I am not a surfer, I will always recognize the So Cal culture. It's definitely hard, because I feel torn between two cultures. I would love to stay in Germany, but at the same time how realistic or feasible is it? I can easily get a job in the States ...well at least I hope so. But Germany's education system is far superior than that in the States. If I have children, I think Germany would be a better environment to raise them in. Health care, retirement, and education are fantastic in Germany. I think living in another country has definitely made me understand what it is to be an American and to understand my country from a different perspective.
    I am a person who constantly lives for the future. It can be a problem, because I am always thinking ahead and trying to plan my next step.I need to learn to live in the moment, instead of stressing myself out and constantly thinking about my next move. Ambition and motivation are mantras that dominate my life. All sorts of ideas run through my head, and not one fixed rule can determine what I do. I always find a way to bend the rules or find new ways. Everyday I worry about leaving Germany, when I should be relaxed, cool, and content. I need to be satisfied with my accomplishments instead of freaking out about what I need to do with my life. I will figure it out. I have already told everyone I have encountered that I am looking to marry a German to stay in Germany..... everyone laughs... but I am serious : ) Well, maybe slightly joking, slightly...

Anna and I with our chocolate balls at the chocolate festival

   German Generosity. The double G. Every German that I have hung out with has been extremely generous. They are people pleasers. Some more than other, but all in all I do have to say they are very generous people. Some Germans are harder to crack than others, that's just because they don't know you yet. Once they feel that level of comfort, they will give you the world. From my host family to my mentor and his family to my friends here in Deutschland, they are all so very generous. The nice thing is, they don't expect anything in return. They give and welcome you with open arms out of kindness. I love it. I have really learned from this. They are always trying to make you feel comfortable, and they feel like it is their duty to satisfy you. It is completely selfless and thoughtful. I know that I must become more generous, not just by giving items, but by going out of my way to make sure someone else is at ease and happy. It is a chain effect, you don't expect anything in return, but in some shape or another you will get something in return either gratitude, respect, a true friendship, or the fact that they have taught you something... the act of kindness. If you are welcomed into a home, the German hosts will make sure to always ask you what you would like to eat or drink, no matter how long you are there for. I thought I was a generous person, but I realized I could step up my game a little more. Like I said before it isn't just being generous with material items, it's a matter of being generous and offering comfort and ease to your guest... that is the most important thing.
    Some of you are probably wondering "How is this California girl surviving in the freezing cold temperatures in Germany?" well that is a good question. Surprisingly enough, I have adapted well. It's only December, and I heard it gets worst, but so far so good. Yeah the coldest temperatures have reached a whopping -12 degrees. It's funny to think that the other day my friend Anna and I were warm in 5 degree weather. The sun was shining and we were waiting for the bus. We said to one another, " Damn, I am warm, maybe sweating." We literally thought 5 degree weather was warm. Maybe the coldness has gotten to our heads.  Apparently it gets real cold in February... we will see how I survive then.

     Tis the season! Germany looks like Santa's village. There are tons of "Weihnachtmarkt" Christmas markets all through out the country. It is so cute and a true Christmas sense fills the air. I tell my friends that in California there are palm trees covered in Christmas lights and every house is in competition with one another of who has the most Christmas decorations and lights. Then they refer my comment back to Chevy Chase's "Christmas Vacation" which is soooo awesome! I tell them, yes, yes America is like that and then laugh. The air here smells of roasted almonds and cinnamon. Glühwein is an important factor to the Christmas season. If you don't know what Glühwein ,it is pure genius. It is warm wine filled with an array of spices and goodness. This delicious treat can be found in all the Christmas markets. You can make it at home, so just look it up online. I highly recommend it. Here is a link to the recipe in English and in German, so if you want to practice on your German, here you go!


http://www.altfrankfurt.com/Weihnachten/
    

    For Christmas I was fortunately invited  to spend the holidays with my mentor and his family. I will be in Ravensburg celebrating a true Schwäbisch Christmas. I am celebrating Christmas with good people, a good environment, and good food. I am so thankful and happy to be celebrating the holidays with a family. A real German family. Ich freue mich! I know my family back home are more concerned about me and if I will be homesick for the holidays, but to be honest with you... I am so content and happy here in Germany. Once my family will see where I am living, they will understand. I just wanted to let them know that without them, this whole adventure wouldn't have been possible. Especially to my mom and dad, they are my biggest supporters, but also the ones who are most concerned. I am truly thankful for my parents in every way. Without them I wouldn't have been able to see world or live this life.  So this is a shout out to mom and dad! Thank you for letting me live in your house and save money for this trip, thanks for your support, and thanks for supporting me with all my crazy ideas or endeavors.... because there has been a few here and there. You have been my biggest fans, and I am truly grateful to have you as wonderful parents.  I Love You!  

My mom and dad and I at my pseudo graduation

  So this is probably going to be my last blog till after the first of the year. I will be traveling around France with my friend Jackie. Bonjour, Au revoir, Oui, Merci! Oh I love the French! So I won't be talking to you till next year. But I wish all of you a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year! Be safe and take care! 


Viele liebe Gruesse,
Julie

Happy Holidays 1988 The Kijewski Family. 

  

Tuebingen/ Praha

Tübingen

My beautiful town called Tübingen…. How I love it so.  It is the perfect place to start my new life in Germany. It’s not too big, or not too small. Just right, easy enough to navigate through without getting lost or overwhelmed.  Tübingen is still surrounded by country, which I absolutely love.  Being able to look at the sun shine down into the Black Forest every day, or whenever the sun is shining, is wonderful! Right now it is fall, so all the trees are changes colors. Autumn  is here and so is the weather. Every day  I wear a thick coat and boots, so I can only imagine what it is going to be like in the winter. Perhaps a winter wonderland… Tübingen is a hippy chic medieval university city. Students dominate this town.  All kinds of students and styles. The majority of people ride their bikes, so it is considered a bike start. I noticed that a  lot of people don’t even lock their bikes….that would not fly in California. It would for sure be stolen. I live in the student living area called WHO. Apparently it gets pretty wild when school starts. I can’t wait to see. I have my own room and my own bathroom. Gott seid dank= thank god!!!! Because I share a kitchen with 17 other people, and the kitchen can get pretty nasty. I had other ideas of what my living conditions would be like. My room and building is great, but I learned that people pretty much stick to themselves. People are very private and cook, then just take their food to their rooms. Being a crazy American, I thought I would be cooking dinner with my fellow floor mates, drinking wine, and shooting the shit. That’s not the case here. But things will change, because already I met 5 other floor mates, and last night I drank with a couple. So apparently you just need to be outgoing  and offer wine, and then you will make friends.  So far so good. I made friends on my floor! Some people have lived in my building for 2 years and still don’t know their neighbors. That seems odd to me. People just stick to themselves.  In the dorms in California, people leave their doors open for other to come in and chill. Here in Germany, that is not the case. But like I said, I have made friends on my floor, so that is good. Oh and I live a minute away from a bar. Literally, I walk outside my building into another building and then I am there. It’s kind of a shitty bar, but lots of people go, so it’s good to meet and greet.

I am a big fan of the public transportation. Most of the time it makes my life a lot easier, but there are certain situations when a car would be nice. For example if you go out partying on the opposite part of town, the buses stop running at midnight, so you have two options: walk home in the cold or take a taxi which can be expensive.

Prague/Praha/Prag

Night One, Saturday October 3, 2010

            After a long night of dancing in a drum and bass club called Roxy (the only way I can describe it as Techno, but that is further from the truth, maybe electronic, I don’t know, it all sounds the same to me) we thought it was a good idea to indulge ourselves with Smažený sýr, literally translates to fried cheese. Mmmmmm … a Czech specialty. And yes, it was a specialty indeed. It was quite the special treat. Who doesn’t like fried cheese placed in a bun and smothered with whatever condiments you like? The toppings vary from mayonnaise, curry ketchup, regular ketchup, and mustard.  I chose all 4! This street meat (joke) satisfies anyone’s need for artery clogging goodness. It’s basically a staple in the Czech diet. After my first Smažený sýr, I realized I had to go back for more, but not in the same night, no no that would be going overboard. I must make a day of it.  So tomorrow will be the day, Sausage Sunday and Smažený sýr. We walked through the Old Town Square at night, which was so amazing. It was our first taste of the city. At night it was even more special, because everything is dark, but these spectacular buildings that surrounded us were lit, giving the town an entriguing, captivating appearance. Once I walked around, I wanted more. I needed more of this city. I was so enamored by the beauty and tranquility of the city at night. The streets were empty and the quite. I must have more of Prague!

Fried Cheese Please!

At the Roxy

 Sunday October 4, 2010

St. Vitus Cathedral

            All of us were feeling kind of slow, lethargic, achy, and completely useless. So we decided to stuff our faces with a Czech brunch. What better way to cure a hangover than to eat more greasy, cardiac inducing food? I thought it was a great idea! We went to Fraktal, which became our favorite place, because we went there every day while in Prague. The food is good and cheap. They even have Mexican food and Cholula sauce!!!!! I guess I have to travel to Prague to have good Mexican food. Since I didn’t have my fried cheese fix from the night before, I decided to just order the hamburger with fried cheese on top. Why not? You get the best of both worlds right? We planted food babies into our systems and then decided to explore Prague. Well technically we didn’t explore, we had tour guides. Our new awesome friends (hosts) Ryan, Marketa, Lauren, and Abe (minus Lauren and Abe, the night before was kinda rough for them) showed us around Prague. The weather was pretty cold, and it seems that Prague rarely sees the sunlight. So no wonder Kevin and Megan do so well in Seattle. That is their kind of weather. The weather was cold, but that seems to add to the character of the city. We walked around most of the town, covering most of the bases. From Charles Bridge to Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock (Praha Orloj) Tyn Church, and St. Vitus Cathedral (a Roman Catholic cathedral which contains many tombs of Bohemian Kings and Holy Roman Emperors) it is a prime example of gothic architecture. We even got to eat Staroceske Trdlo which translates to “Old Bohemian Muff” haha muff. We all know that “muff” in English translates to something else that can be a little naughty…okay, maybe not everyone knows that, but my friends and I sure do. This sinful discovery stole my heart.  Staroceske Trdlo is a thin coil of dough wrapped around a metal cylinder that rotates over an open flame and then coated with butter, cinnamon, and sugar. This heavenly pastry runs for about 35 czk ($1.50). One must pair this sweet creation with Svařák (Mulled Wine). One might say,” what is Mulled Wine?” Well, it is a heated and spiced red wine. It’s quite popular in Germany (Gluhwein) around Christmas time, but the Czechs know how to do it right and serve it all year around. No matter where you go throughout Europe, Europeans will have their own version of this wine. The Swedish call it Glogg, Germans call it Gluhwein, the French enjoy Vin Chaud, the Polish sip on Grzane Wino, Italians like Vin Brule, and the Hungarians like Foralt bor. Okay Americans, what is our version? When are we going to come up with our own version of hot wine? Maybe I will just have to travel around, taste all the different kinds and come up with one of my own….maybe that will be my future career….?

Fried cheese on top of a hamburger

Staroceske Trdlo 

The Gang

Astronomical Clock , Praha Orloj

Svařák (Mulled Wine). 

Tyn Church

Charles Bridge

Monday October 5, 2010

 

            On Monday we ran errands and shopped!!! You know how I love to buy souvenirs. The conversion war throwing me off a bit, and I paid a little too much for a beautiful candle holder and a mug. Oooops! This is the conversion 1 CZK = 0.0594 USD (1 CZK = 0.0594 USD)
1 USD = 16.826 CZK (1 USD = 16.826 CZK) lets just say 20 Czech crowns equals one dollar, roughly. The tricky thing is 20 crowns comes in coinage. Coins mean something in Europe, unlike the US, coins get you really far. So anywho… I paid 299 crowns for a candle holder = $15. It’s a beautiful candle holder though.

I don’t know what my infatuation is with Marionettes, but I seem to enjoy then quite a bit. They are creepy, eerie, somewhat disturbing, but I just like them. I wouldn’t buy one, because I have a fear that at night it might come alive and kill me, but I can look at them in the store. They are all over Prague. It is an art of the Czech people. These hand carved wooden creatures represent all kinds of characters, from devils, witches, to politicians and celebrities. You can even go to a live puppet show, we obviously skipped out on that one.

Tuesday October 6, 2010

 

          This was the first day we were truly on our own. Everyone else had to work, so we hit the streets hard. We navigated through Prague like no other. By the end of the day, we were pros. Metro, no problem, trolley no problem, buying street meat = sausage and fried cheese, kudos for us!!! It was our last day in Prague, so we were going to eat our way through the city. Our goal for that day was to do a double dose of street food, which later on became a problem….to be continued…..

National Museum in Wenceslas Square

Budweiser is originally from the Czech Republic. ...sorry Missouri.

Wednesday October 6, 2010

   Guess who woke up 4 hours before departure with the stomach flu...? Yep, that's right. I woke up at 5 a.m.  violently sick. Our train was at 9 a.m. Talk about a chaotic morning... I was too sick to travel. Heather and Angela scrambled  around frantically trying to figure out what to do. They rushed to the train station to see if we could get a reimbursement on our tickets. Well, to make a long story short, we had to stay an extra day in Prague. Thank God we were staying with Ryan, Marketa, Lauren, and Abe, although I highly apologize for consuming your bathroom. You guys were great! The next day was still rough, but I managed to fight through it and travel 7 hours by train. We were very happy and relieved to be back in Germany. Being home feels good. Prague you will always be in our hearts and memories!

Stuttgart/Konstanz/Heidelberg/Tuebingen

09-16-2010

Stuttgart/Konstanz/ Heidelberg/Tübingen

                CHANGE is never easy. I am starting to realize that. Sometimes it seems exciting and other times it is incredibly intimidating and frightening. My life has flipped upside down, right side up, inside out, and every which way.  It has taken so many new directions, sometimes I feel a bit confused, but never lost. Chapters in my life are coming to an end, and new beginnings are ahead. My life in Nordstetten has already come to an end too soon. I am a bit sad to think that again my life will change and I will have to leave my new family. These past six weeks have come and gone so fast I realized that a year is going to fly by.  That freaks me out. I want to be ready to leave Germany, and not like I was torn away too soon.  I feel that way about my German family. Finally I feel completely and utterly comfortable in every possible way, and now I have to leave them. That saddens me beyond belief.  Once something is perfect, it has to end. It’s probably for the best, ending something on a good note. You have to end it before it goes bad. It’s like a great T.V. show, it has to end in a good way, otherwise the following seasons will just suck, and then it will be known as having a shitty ending. Does that make any sense?

                I just want to thank my family for giving me the best experience in Germany. When I think of Germany I will always think of the Bok family, and my life in Nordstetten. No matter if I go through some crazy bizarre experiences in Germany, I will always think highly of my family and the time I spent in my Schwäbisch region of Deutschland.

                I have been in Germany for seven weeks, and I can say this year is going to fly by. Life is crazy busy, but very fulfilling. I am starting to miss Mexican food and Ruby. Every time I see a little dog, I wish she was with me.  I am even starting to like the cheesy American pop songs from Katie Perry to I hate to admit, but Enrique Egalsias. I looked at my friend’s pictures of LA and I am surprised to say that I do miss some parts of my So Cal life. I am starting to miss the Southern Cali culture, and yes, there is a So Cal culture, even though it flashy, extreme, exaggerated, and 95% fake, I do miss it.  Some of the CSU students and I were discussing how much we miss the Cali lifestyle. We understand each other’s lives’ so much more and feel at ease. We reminisce of our lives in Cali from the music, humor, clothing, food, TV shows (Flight of the Conchords) classic American movies (Ace Ventura, and Dumb and Dumber) we talk about everything!  I am definitely not homesick, just coming to grips with the fact that life is very different here. It’s different, but not hard. It’s  Germany! Everything I have done, they  basically  have spoon fed me. Most things are very organized and precise. I definitely come across as the bubbly, out-going, and sometimes airheaded American, but it seems to be working in my favor. I have met so many great people here. It’s fun being in a classroom of mixed cultures from Thailand to Georgia (not the state in the USA, but the country that is situated at the juncture of Eastern Europe and Western Asia), Italian Swiss and French Swiss students. Since all of us are here to learn German, we only speak to each other in German, and that can be very interesting.  I sound like a two year old speaking German, but hey, I am here to learn. You have to start somewhere.

Stuttgart

                A few weeks back we traveled to Stuttgart.  Stuttgart is the capital of Baden Württemberg, a state within Germany.  Germany comprises 16 states “Bundesländer” within the country of Germany. Berlin is the largest city within Germany, and also the country’s capital. Here is a picture to give you a better understanding.

(www.nationsonline.org)

We went to the Fernsehtum. It is a huge tower that overlooks Stuttgart and the rest of Schwäbia. You can see the Black Forest for miles and miles. It was quite beautiful from the top. Right now there is a huge issue in Stuttgart with the Bahnhof (train station) and the citizens of this area. Protests are conducted in the Stuttgart mixed with Fuβball games = a lot of Polizei (Police). Swarms of police bombarded the station as well as protestors and drunk people from the soccer games. It was an interesting scene. I liked watching a drunk guy try to find his train ticket, but was having issues because his hands were full with his sausage and beer. So the man gave the sausage and beer to the police officer for him to hold. The police officer was super cool and laughed at the man, while he was sloppily searching through his pockets for his ticket. The police officer didn’t care. For some reason, I don’t think they would have worked in the states. In the states, the police probably would have arrested him for being drunk in public. The police here have a different mannerism. I don’t think they sweat the small stuff, which is good.

We saw the Schlossplatz in Stuttgart and explored various buildings like the opera house and an art museum. It is lovely city. There are cute parks to lie down and people watch or eat lunch. In Stuttgart we checked out the wine festival. There were loads of tiny little vendors where one could buy typisch=typical Schwäbisch essen (typical Schwäbisch food) wine,  and other goods. My friend Heather and I opted for the ½ meter long Fuerwurst=fire sausage. It is a long thin red sausage that is longer than the bun it is placed in. I usually smother mine with Send= mustard and either curry ketchup or regular ketchup depending on the mood I am in. Since living in Germany I decided to declare every Saturday “Sausage Saturday.” Where ever I am, I must find a sausage on Saturdays. It’s a fun concept.  

Fernsehtum

Sausage Saturday

Sclossplatz

Stuttgart is the main center where we pick up the train or connect to. So we are often in Stuttgart.

If you would like more information regarding the Stuttgart protest here is a link in English.

“http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,717575,00.html.”

This is a pretty big issue right now in Baden Württemberg, so check it out!

Konstanz

              
        You wanna know a place where you can see Austria, Switzerland, and Germany? Konstanz of course! Konstanz is at the southern most tip of Deutschland and is separated by the Bodensee. Don’t mistake the word See for Sea. See auf deutsch  is “lake.” The Bodensee is a huge beautiful lake that separates the countries towards the south. In summer, Konstanz is absolutely gorgeous. The weather is nice, people are in the lake doing various water sports, and the town is a chic classy city with chic people. It is quite an international destination. I saw a lot of beautiful  people who had some unique Euro style.  In Konstanz we went to the Müsterturm  in the church. It is a large tower that overlooks the entire city and various areas around Konstanz. Again, one can see Austria, Switzerland, and Germany from this tower. The view was absolutely incredible. The town reminded me a little bit of California. I told a couple of Germans this, and they thought I was crazy.  One even said, “don’t ruin my vision of California.” I think he said that, because he envisions California only palm trees and everyone is walking around in their bikinis. But the Bodensee mixed with the various trees that grow along the water reminded me of northern California. I loved it. It was a very relaxing place.

http://commons.wikimedia.org

The view from the Muesterturm

The view from the top was incredible, but the walk up there was another story. Walking up this narrow wooden staircase was an adventure in itself. Take a look of what I am talking about.

 

                                                               The church where we saw the incredible view from.

On top of the Muesterturm

Die Imperia Statue

    The Imperia statue stands at the entrance of the harbor of Konstanz. This sensual woman commemorates the Council of Constance  that took place between 1414 and 1418. It was created by Peter Lenk who also created the incredibly voluptuous woman in Horb that I took tons of pictures with. This statue is a satire of the of the Catholic clergy's morals. The Imperia shows a woman holding a man in each hand, Pope Martin V and Emperor Sigismund. The statue refers to the story by Balzac "La belle Imperia" where the Imperia seduces cardinals and princes at the council of Constance and has the power over them all. This seductress knew what she was doing.

Heidelberg

                If you want to feel like you are in a period film from the middle ages go to Heidelberg. Walking through the town made me feel like I was walking back in time several centuries ago. This enchanted city has quite the essence that could captivate anyone who enters its quarters. But this town wasn’t always so enchanting, it also had a very dark past throughout several centuries. Heidelberg has gone through many harsh endeavors and many parts of city were destroyed during the 30 Years’ War and the Palatine War of Succession. Even up to WWII, Heidelberg was a stronghold of the NSDAP (Nazi Party).  This city played a leading role in the era of Humanism and the Reformation and the conflict between Lutheranism and Calvinism in the 15^th and 16^th centuries. You can trace this town’s beginnings as far back as the  5^th century.

Old Town

The Heidelberg Castle is a mix of styles from Gothic to Renaissance. The interior of the castle is in Gothic style. During the Heidelberg Castle of Festivities in the summer, one can go to the courtyard to experience  open air musicals, classical concerts performed by the Heidelberg Philharmonics, and theatre performances. We got to enjoy a  real life fairy performance. Although, I thought fairies were supposed to be small. These fairies were quite large, so I don’t think it was a very accurate performanceJ.

Photo by Whitney Stouse

I enjoyed the little shows that were performed in the courtyard by whimsical fairies frolicking around.  People dressed in “mittel alter” attire walked around and talked to the tourists. I even took a picture with one. Whoever is in charge of the live performances in the Heidelberg Schloss should get an award. You are literally walking back in time. We visited the “Deutches Apotheke” where we got to see medizin =medicine from the middle ages. I am pretty happy I live in the 21^st century, because some of the medicine was BS if you know what I mean. 

The University of Heidelberg is the oldest university in Deutschland. It was founded in 1386, and is a prominent research university. A couple of famous thinkers associated with the institution of Heidelberg were Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (a German philosopher- one of the creators of German Idealism) and Karl Jaspers  (a German psychiatrist and philosopher).

part of the university

Oktoberfest in München

                This year was the 200^th anniversary of Oktoberfest in München, so of course we had to go. It is the quintessential foreigner hot spot when traveling around Europe. One must go and explore the wonders of Bayern and the endless amounts of beer . Since I have a traditional Dirndl I had to wear it to Oktoberfest. I felt like the St. Pauli’s girl, but with alcoholic beer. I didn’t really know what to expect for Oktoberfest, but millions of people wearing Lederhosen and Dirndls and the ever flowing amounts of beer in huge beer steins. The funny thing is, they are not called beer steins in Germany. That is only an American thing, well maybe they do, but every German I have talked to doesn't call it a stein. They call it Maßkrug . “Stein” actually translates to “stone.” Anywho… yes, Oktoberfest did meet my expectations. Millions of foreigners dressed to impress, and 10 Euro beers that taste much better than any other. You are probably thinking, 10 Euros for a beer!! That is incredibly expensive! Well, yes it is, but in that 10 Euro payment, there is a deposit for the glass, so you get like 2 or 3 Euros back when you return the glass. If you don’t return the glass, like me, then you will pay 10 Euros.  My older brother Andy insisted on me bringing him a beer  “stein” back from Oktoberfest, so I had to carry through with his wishes.

We never got into the tents, but we didn’t really try. There are so many beer stands and areas that sell crazy amounts of beer, so it wasn’t a desire of ours. We were completely content drinking our beer outside and walking around. There were so many vendors and delicious treats for us to explore. The air smelled like baked goods from enormous bigger than my head Bezels (pretzel) cookies,  and  cotton candy. It was like walking through candy land. I did a lot of random dancing to traditional German folk music, and consumed about 5 beers. My brothers would call me a rookie for only drinking 5 beers, but I am still a girl, and can’t consume as much as those behemoths.

Coming back from Oktoberfest was more than a little stressful. We were traveling in a large group of 10 people, so things got a little hectic. We purchased the cheapest tickets possible. The tickets were called schönes Wochenede tickets. You must have a group of 5 people to purchase these tickets. It cost us 7 Euros each, but a headache at the end. Half the group wanted to make the 5:30 p.m. train home and the others wanted to take the 6:30p.m. home. I didn’t care at this point which time I was leaving.  So one half of the group split off to go home. The only problem was they had our tickets with them. So we had no way of getting back, otherwise we would have to purchase another set of tickets but the price increased tremendously…like to 200 Euros. We were not paying that. So we rushed to the train station to meet up with our friends. They missed the 5:30 p.m. train and waited for us so we could all go on the 6:30 p.m. train. The huge problem with the 6:30p.m. train was that this train had many more stops on the way home than the one going to München. Instead of traveling 2 hours we traveled like 7 just to get home. The second to the last train we took was extremely late, so we missed our final train back to Horb. There were no other trains going back to Horb till 5 a.m.  It was a very draining adventure. Since the train was so late, it wasn’t our fault that we missed the final train back to Horb. The Bahnhof (train station) paid for us to take a 50 min taxi ride home. So all in all it worked out. We were dropped off at the Bahnhof in Horb and then walked home in the rain and pitch black night. It was kind of scary walking home that late in the dark through the Schwarzwald. Yet, it was an adventure in itself that I am glad I experienced.