This blog is where I will share my experiences while I am abroad in Germany from August 2011 to July 2012 with the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals Program. Email questions or comments to claytonwollner@gmail.com or comment on a post.
So one of the girls in my program has been to Germany before. It turns out that she studied abroad in Heidelberg. She decided to take us there on Saturday the 27th of August. It took about 5 or so hours by train to get there from Radolfzell. So we spent 10 hours on a train (roundtrip) to walk around the city of Heidelberg for 6 hours...totally worth it! The city's really beautiful and has a castle at the top of one of its hills that you can walk through. One of the main streets in the city is really touristy. We ran into a bunch of english speaking people and there are two Starbucks on this one street! They had a lot of cool little shops with candy, clothes, steins, and the like. So before we went to the castle, we treated ourselves to a little picnic. We all bought food at the local Aldi (yes Aldi originated in Germany) and sat in the town square and ate before we trotted up the hill to the castle.
Me after a picnic in the square in Heidelberg
The incline of the hill to the castle had to be something like 47 degrees. It was so steep!
A very steep hill to the castle
The castle grounds are pretty big. There is this really nice park situated at the top of the hill where you can just sit in the shade of all the trees and relax. It was pretty awesome.
View of the castle from the foot of the hill
View out of one of the castle's windows
Just beautiful
Me in front of the entire city
Mote-like park area surrounding the castle
View of all of Heidelberg
Best fountain ever
Heidelberg
So once we were done running around the top of the world, we ventured back down into the city found something to eat and, most of us, went back home on the train. But before we left we saw this awesome baboon-monkey looking statue that you could put your head into and be a part of it.
Me as a monkey
This is what it looked like from the side
So that was my trip to Heidelberg. I hope I get to go back again because 6 hours did not do it justice. I can't believe how much stuff I have gotten to do so far and today (August 31st) is the one month mark for my arrival in Germany. I have been so blessed with so many unforgettable experiences so far and I can't believe I get to have 11 more months of this!
I have died and gone to heaven! Germany has the best selection of Ritter Sport! There are like a bagillion different varieties and they are sold everywhere! I loooove it. The best thing, too, is that they come in these little squares that you can buy in variety packs at the store so that you can try a ton of different kinds without having to eat too much chocolate. My favorite is probably Pfirich-Maracuja Joghurt which is white chocolate with a peach-passion fruit yogurt inside. I think everyone in the program (myself included) has had at least one piece of chocolate a day since arriving in Germany. At any given moment one can ask, "Does anyone have some chocolate on them" and at least one person does! Love Germany for this and many other reasons.
**Update since returning to the states. You can find Ritter Sport in various places in the states. Higher end grocery stores tend to carry it as well as Walgreens. My favorite place to get it is Trader Joe's. They don't have a huge selection of it but they have the cheapest price.**
It is official. I am an eBayoholic if that is even a word. When I was back in the states, I would buy everything I needed from eBay. That is not to say I bought more than the average person. I just avoided going to the store and found what I needed/wanted on eBay for a way better price! You can find exactly what you want (instead of settling for what the department store has) and it is usually so much cheaper than the store even when you factor in shipping costs. So I had thought and hoped that moving to Germany would put an end to this madness but I blog to you now in a state of shame. I have failed miserably. My first 2 weeks in Germany I realized that I needed one more pair of sneakers. I had brought a pair but designated them my "city walking" sneakers. Don't pretend like you don't have them. You know what they are. They are those sneakers that CAN go anywhere but you really only like wearing them on dry, clean pavement since you love them so much and don't want them to get dirty. Well I was not about to get my "city walkers" all dirty hiking up one of the many mountains in Germany. So my search began for an affordable, nice pair of sneakers that I could wear on many a muddy slope. I found dead end after dead end. I finally decided just to check out eBay.de (Germany's website for eBay). I was able to find a new pair of Asics for 36 Euros including shipping. That is incredibly cheap considering the brand of the shoe and that fact that shoes are insanely expensive here in Germany! One might even say nuts! Germany's idea of a shoe sale is lowering the price to 89 Euros (and Euros are worth more than the dollar right now). I shudder to think what the original price was! I now have a nice pair of sneakers that I can hike up a muddy path with. Score! So, the moral of the story is that, sometimes, giving into your obsessive behavior can really be a good thing...but use your best judgement!
I am not, in the least, one bit embarrassed to say that The Holiday is my favorite film of all time. It is not my second favorite, nor does it tie for first place with another movie. The Holiday is my number one favorite film! I love it! The movie is about two women who exchange houses after experiencing heartbreak. One lives in Los Angeles and the other lives in England. While they are away from, for lack of a better term, their lives, they discover something surprising about themselves as people. The movie is one of the reasons I decided that going abroad for a year would be life changing. Don't get me wrong, there were other reasons that influenced me but the fact that a movie even slightly influenced me to want to travel abroad is a big deal. I mean, after I saw Apollo 13 I didn't want to sign up for the Space Program (not that that is an option right now). Anyway, I only packed one physical DVD in my luggage and, you guessed it, it was The Holiday. I watch it here over in Germany and it reminds me what and adventure I am on. I have the opportunity to be whoever I want while abroad. Nobody here has known me for that long and I don't know anyone here for that long. Every once and awhile I think I recognize someone from the US until I think "Oh wait, I'm in Germany there's no way I know them!!!!!!!!" That's kind of what the movie is about. Removing yourself from your usual, everyday people and surroundings and you might just discover that your were a different person...a better person than you thought. If your were the wallflower, become the confident, conversational one in the room. If you were bullied stand up for yourself. If you were the gossiper become the person who steers clear of drama. If you were the sheltered one get out there, make a ton of mistakes, and have an adventure!
The push over, cheated-on columnist (Iris played by Kate Winslet) realizes that she can and does stand up to people who don't care for her. She calls it having "gumption". And then there is the workaholic movie trailer producer who can't even cry even when she finds out she has been cheated on (Amanda played by Cameron Diaz) who doesn't think she has ever really been in love. Amanda realizes that she is capable of loving and by the end of the film is simply full of happy tears. By the end of the film, both women realize who they really are...and that they have, become better people. I said it before but I will say it again. Being abroad is a great chance to be whoever you want to be. I'm not talking about dressing up like a fictitious character or pretending to be a celebrity or even trying to work against your personality. I mean this. If you have acted in a way you thought was not really you like saying something mean about someone or just not living up to your full potential, NOBODY where you are going knows any of that. You have a fresh slate to be the person you want to be and the mistakes of the past, no matter how big or small, do not follow you. It is a great feeling and, so far, I am happy with the person that I have been while here in Germany. I am actually really happy with the person I have always been back in the US but NO ONE is above improving themselves...even just a little. I leave you now with the trailer to my favorite movie of all time. If you have not seen it before, watch it and if you have seen it before, watch it again!
Gelato is everywhere and it is not expensive! 0,80 Euros for a scoop! The reason I am posting, however, is because I had popcorn gelato the other day and felt the need to post about it. Yes, popcorn gelato and it was delicious! Keep in mind that Germans put sugar on their popcorn, not salt. It's like kettle corn. So this gelato had that amazing sweet, light flavor of kettle corn. Heaven!
So, sometimes CDC (my language school) doesn't publicize their excursions well enough and I almost missed this one which would have been a shame. It was a trip to this city called Stein am Rhein. It is in Switzerland and, as the name indicates, is situated right on the Rhein river. The town is very small. Like, really small but it is so beautiful. All the buildings have writings or murals of some sort on them. Their sewer covers even have beautiful artwork on them. It's just amazing. There is also a fountain in the center of the city that has water coming out of it that is clean enough to drink.
We only had like 2 1/2 hours in the city but it was really nice. we walked to this island that had this really old cloister on it. It was gorgeous and had a labyrinth on the grounds. It was a place where people could just sit, relax, and take in the fresh air. I have never in my life seen so many swans in one place at one time! It really was magical!
The Cloister
Schwäne (swans)
Mehr Schwäne (more swans)
The water is unbelievable clear in the Rhein. I wanted to jump in!
I got a couple more pictures from afar of Stein am Rhein.
Another one of the outings that CDC (my language school) planned for the CDC students was this trip to Bodensee-Wasserversorgung (Bodensee-Water Supply). It is the water treatment facility that treats the water from the Bodensee and sends it to millions of Germans. The tour was pretty cool. When we got to the facility we all had to get badges to come into the building. Security is a top priority. If something were to happen at the facility, millions of Germans would be without water. When we finally get into the building, we sit down to a light breakfast of butter pretzels and, of course, delicious water. We got these cute little glasses that we got to keep as souvenirs and, if you were thirsty, you just got up and got some water at this cool blue water fountain that supplied fresh clean water. It was so delicious!
The tour continued and we got to see where they sent the disinfectant gas through the water and where the water ran through the filtering silt, sand, and gravel. We also got to see where they stored the water that was ready to drink.
As you can see, the facility is situated on top of this big mountain. We got a bus ride to the facility but we walked down the mountain when we left. I wouldn't have normally minded but the trail was muddy and I was wearing what I call my "city sneakers". You know, those sneakers that are comfortable but that you don't want to get dirty. I was careful and my sneaks survived the trip. I got some awesome pictures on the way down. Take a look. It was gorgeous!
Actual picture from my camera. Awesome right?
The views in Germany are awesome! Another actual picture from my camera.
Black forest!!!!!! Okay, who hasn't imagined going to the black forest. This magical place covered in the most beautiful tress. I mean, this is where cuckoo clocks are made! So cool. The CDC (my language school) organizes outings for their students every Saturday. On Saturday, August 6th the CDC gave the choice of 2 trips. The Shwarzwald or a trip to Zuruck. I love nature so I chose the Schwarzwald. It was a decision I did not regret. The Schwarzwald covers a large area so there are multiple places to see the Scwarzwald. The CDC took us to a town called Triberg which is about an hour away from Radolfzell (the Bodensee) by train.
Once we get to Triberg, we had to walk...but it was more like climbing. You see, we were going to see the highest waterfall in Germany. Not the biggest, just the highest. So we had to walk uphill. Way uphill...into the Schwarzwald. My gluteus maximus was burning after that day. It was a nice way to burn off all that Nutella I ate for breakfast. So we walk up through this town, Triberg, to get to this waterfall.
The main part of Triberg. Lots of shops that had things made out of Schwarzwald wood (like cuckoo clocks). Also, a lot of delicious pastry shops. Do you see how steep it is?!
It was so worth it. You are so high up that you feel you could just fall off the earth. At the entrance to the waterfall park they were selling Erdnüsse (peanuts) to feed to the Eichhörnchen (squirrels). I was under the impression that they were so used to human contact that they would just come up to you and grab the peanuts...I did not see one Eichhörnchen the entire trip except for the wooden statue outside the entrance to the waterfall.
The only squirrel I saw all day. WB carved into the statue. Was someone from West Bend, Wisconsin here?
There are actually several waterfalls that make up the entire waterfall in Triberg. All of them extremely beautiful. The forest was so green and lush and the waterfall sent mist all through the air. It was beautiful.
German paradise
Me at the top of the world
Me and my fellow CBYXers at Triberg Schwarzwald. Such a happy family!
So, in all of these seminars before Germany and even once we got to Germany, the program warned us about culture shock. The entire time, however, they were talking about culture shock we would experience in another country. I had no idea, however, that I would experience culture shock with my fellow CBYXers that were from the same country as me. We come from all over the country. The first hour I was in D.C. with my fellow CBYXers, one of them asked me where I was from. I said "I'm from Wisconsin" to which she responded "That explains it". I asked her what she meant and she said "Well, that explains your cute little accent". I hadn't really travelled to other places in the country before so I guess I never really thought about whether or not I had a Wisconsin accent. I always thought I didn't have one...but I guess I do. At first it was really getting on my nerves that everyone was bringing it up and asking me to repeat the words "bag" and "go". I was about to scream. But then I realized that I wasn't the only one with an accent in the group and, really, what is an accent anyway besides a slightly different way of saying a word. I realized that they were not bringing it up to hurt my feelings but merely to have some fun with me. Me and my fellow CBYXers go "oot and aboot in the city" together and have so much fun now. So now I play along with the joke and have even been compared to Bobby's mom from the show Bobby's World (see video below). Having an accent doesn't mean you are uneducated or any less sophisticated than anyone else. It just means you are more special and MUCH more interesting than those without accents. Dontcha Know!
This just in! I just found out who I will be staying with and where that will be for the last 10 months of my year in Germany. I will be staying with Familie Dulz in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt. That is the capitol of Sachsen-Anhalt. Score! I feel so bad, however, because they had sent a really wonderful email to me way back on July 25th and I only saw their email today. I had to set up a gmail in order to set up this blog. I don't usually check it since I really only set it up to blog. But I checked it today on a whim and saw their email. I feel so terrible that I didn't respond sooner. I am definitely going to check that email much more often. I also found some other emails in their too! My friend just finished her thesis for graduate school and she sent me an email about that and an acquaintance of mine in Germany sent me some tips on studying abroad. I promise to check my gmail more often and treat it like a real email. Feel free to write to it!
Radolfzell is arguable to the most beautiful little city I have ever been to...but the insects here are out of control. The city is really old and has huge flowering plants. Seriously, Radolfzell has some of the biggest rose bushes I have ever seen! They are huge! Because of this, the city has tons of insects. The yellow jackets are out of control and really persistent. They get in your face and will not leave you alone. I was eating a sandwich and one just landed on my sandwich and started to eat it. I blew on it multiple times very hard to get it off but it just hung on and acted like I wasn't even there. I eventually had to take my saran wrap and pick it off and squish it. I also got stung for the first time in my entire life here in Radolfzell by the lake. I was a little worried at first since I didn't know if I was allergic (since I had never been stung before) but I was glad to find that not only am I not allergic but also that bee stings aren't even that bad. I would prefer, however, not to be stung. One of the members of our group even resorted to buying a swatter and carrying it around with him. One would think that that is ridiculous but I am actually mad that I didn't think of that myself first. He has killed 23 yellow jackets so far.
And then there are the spiders! They are huge. I live on the 3rd floor of my house and they just sit outside of the windows. I used to be deathly afraid of spiders but am now simply disgusted by them. Twice now, I was just getting into bed when I spotted one in my room and had to get a chair and heavy folder of mine to end it's life. Ewwwwww! They don't disgust me so much that I am unwilling to open my windows but they are annoying nonetheless and wish they would just go away. Can't wait for winter!
The Germans love fresh air! I don't think they would mind it if their windows were incapable of closing. They always have their windows open. The first few days I lived with my current host, I would accidentally leave my windows closed when I left my room only to return home to find them open. I actually really enjoyed it accept the one my host family would always open was the one all the spiders were by. I have since learned to open the other window so that they don't feel the need to open the spider ridden one. But yeah, even in the middle of the night, the window in my Toilette is open. I often sleep in my room with the window open. My lungs love the fresh air!
And now, for the moment you have all been waiting for. This is the post about my living conditions for the first 2 months of my year in Germany. As I have said before, all the CBYX participants stay with one host family for the first 2 months of the program while they attend intensive language school. For me, this host family lives in Radolfzell. Okay, I have to tell you the best part of my living arrangements first. I live literally one block away from language school where I have to go every morning. One block! Most of the other participants have to take a train or bus to the city. I am so lucky. The Carl Duisberg Centren (CDC) here in Radolfzell is a well know part of the city (because the city is so small) and a lot of the host families have hosted students before. My family is no different. they basically host one student after another. They are an older couple and are really nice. They speak no english which is really good for my German language progression. I live in a 100 year old house on the 3rd floor. As I said before, the couple takes in one CDC student after another. The door to my room even has CDC inscribed on it to denote that this is where the CDC student stays. My set of keys also has CDC written on it. This is not to say that they don't value me since I am one of many students that they have hosted. They treat me very well but I am well aware that I am not the first or last student they will host. They have been hosting for at least 15 (if not 20) years. I have asked them why they decided to host so many students. They said they do it for the culture and experience. I think that that is very nice of them to accommodate so many students.
I have my own room at this hosts house. It is pretty big. I have a bed, two desks, a sofa and my own attached bathroom with sink and shower. My Toilette is just down the hall. Germans often have separate rooms for showers and toilets. Although the Toilette is not attached to my room, I am pretty sure that I am the only person who uses it. I also have a kitchen area! They turned the room into a sort of dorm for the person who stays in it. I have cupboards, a counter, a countertop burner, and a mini fridge! I also have my own set of silverware in my room. My host mother sets my breakfast outside of my door every morning at 7:30 so that when I wake up, I just open my door and eat it in my "dorm" room. She is also very generous with her breakfasts. I always get yogurt, lots of bread, Nutella, cheese, and deli meat. I am stuffed when I walk to school.
My sofa
My bed (don't hate on the wood paneling)
Desk #1 (although it might help my German, I have not watched one bit of TV since I got here. There is so much else to do!)
My kitchen area
View from my sofa window
View from my sofa window
Desk #2 (I usually eat breakfast here)
View from my Desk #2 window
Die Toilette
My attached shower
Disclaimer!!!!!! Although my room is nice here in Germany, it still doesn't hold a candle to the room that I call home back in the US. So there you have it, my home for the first 2 months in Germany.
