Last week

In a week I'll be touching down in Houston for the summer.  It'll be the longest stretch of time I've spent at home in about a year and half.  It will also mark the end of my first year in Germany.  Most of you who read this probably already know that I'm not one to spend a lot of time on these entries (except on rare occasions where it's necessary).  Seeing as I'm spending at least another term here I don't feel like giving a big summation just yet but I do think that some amount of reflection is in order.

I think my expectations for this year were maybe more realistic seeing as I'd already spent time in Berlin.  But really after spending a year in NRW I can honestly say there is no comparison.  Berlin was a wonderful, truly life changing experience, however there really is no comparison.  My time in Berlin hardly counted as time in Germany, I barely associated with German people and the only measurable improvement in my German was that I could cram words together faster than most people in my seminars.  A year living in Germany and not actually being apart of an exchange program has been a much more enriching experience.  Yes most of my friends were Brits(with a couple of Americans thrown in) but they were amazing people all the same.  And yes I met most of my German friends at a bar, but it was a bar filled with people who I would get along with anyway so I don't see why it matters.  I can say with some certainty that I made an impact on the lives of some people here.  I know that when I come back next September I'll have people to hang out with and a good idea of what will be expected from me at work.

Working at the RvW Berufskolleg was a great experience.  I feel like the working atmosphere was mostly relaxed and genuinely enjoyable.  The students were at all different levels, but I hope that in some small way I was able to make a difference in their English.  At the very least I stopped hearing "My English is not the yellow from the egg," as often as I had at the beginning of the year.  I grew attached to a couple of classes, and saying goodbye is going to be hard.  I've already had a breakfast in my honor in one class, not one but two cookbooks gifted to me and of course a collection of Schlager hits, which will be using to annoy the rest of you for years to come. 

Tomorrow I'm going to the Abiball, which is like their prom.  It's funny because I didn't even go to my own prom, mostly because I didn't see the point.  This time however not only was I invited, I was not really given a choice.  I'm not trying to be arrogant and say that I'm the best TA that my school has ever had, but it is nice to feel appreciated. 

As to personal growth, I mean beyond the cliched self-discovery that Americans always feel when they go abroad, I think I've actually become a more patient and understanding person.  There were plenty of times here when I felt that I was going to lose it, but I was able to work things out civilly and ultimately positively.  I think the most important thing I've learned about myself though is how I can function without a ridiculous amount of stress in my life.  I've learned that I'm not actually as cynical and bitter as I thought I was.  Christmas for example actually brought out a child like joy that I can't remember really ever having before.  Sitting around a table in the kitchen watching a 4(5?) year old squirm around waiting for the Christkind made me realize that I'd been a Grinch about Christmas all these years.  I'm not saying that I like American Christmas (I still hate it), but Christmas in general doesn't piss me off anymore. 


And for those of you worried that 9 months abroad has robbed me of my Americanness, let me assure you that that is not the case.  Sure I'm different, but I'm still louder and more opinionated than most of you.  I miss America dearly and it's going to be great to be back, even if only for a little bit.  I look forward to sitting out in the Biergarten at the Gingerman, or catching a ballgame at Minutemaid (I know that it probably isn't worth it anymore) and hell getting some tacos at Taco C.  

I know I'm not much for blogging (or putting up pictures) but I hope that those of you who stuck it out in between the unacceptably long breaks in writing did enjoy reading what little there was.  I don't know what form this project will take next year.  I'm thinking I need to let my pictures do the talking. 


In any case, this has been a hell of a year and I look forward to what the next one will bring.



Bis später (I know that's really cliched, but whatever)


-John

Karaoke

I am a karaoke legend. 



last night was (the annual???) karaoke night at Gorilla Bar, where everybody knows my name.  There are two regulars named John (my friend John Palenski).  He's John #2 and I'm Little John.   There is no John #1.


Anyway even though it wasn't a competition, I think I came out on top.  I certainly dominated all those other losers who couldn't even sing over the backing track. 

I was pulling out all the stops: head banging, fist pumping; high fiving; using the crowd as a chorus; and finally just flat out having a natural sense for showmanship.  At several points people from the crowd jumped up to join me.  I take this as a good sign!

everything next year will be exactly like last year


except I gots to make more friends...



Also need to find a different place, one that meets basic requirements such as: having a kitchen and maybe room for a couch.


and I need to buy a bike.


and make sure that bike wasn't stolen, though I probably won't care a lot about this.




A couch would be fun, so would an oven.  Hell even like a proper stove?



People are leaving soon, Americans don't jet for a little bit.  Yesterday was Vatertag (father's day) here.  We celebrated by drinking and boat racing (not at the same time) as well as cooking at least 2 tons of meat.  Life has been pretty good lately. 

staying in Germany

 for another year anyway.  Don't know if I'll be staying longer than that.


This blog has slowed to a grinding halt recently.  Mostly because my life (believe it or not) has grown pretty routine.  I'll keep this up in some form or another, maybe under a new name or a new format.  Who knows!


There might be a trip down to Bayern sometime in June.  Going to party it up with some Army dudes and maybe drink some good beer. 

so a bunch of stuff happened

Hey I went to Düsseldorf for Eurovision.  It was great!  Loads of bad pop music and excited Europeans, what could go wrong?


Well it did rain, and Azerbaijan won.  Also Germany's entry was kind of weak.  The Russians had this amazing disco pop thing that had a thumping beat and was sung in appropriately broken Russian-English.  The Italians basically took the show with their slinky cabaret style Jazz, which is why I'm glad they at least placed. 


Jedward was terrible, this is Jedward:

What the hell Ireland?


Anyway I also spent last weekend in Amsterdam, well just Saturday.  Amsterdam is a really nice city that unfortunately has to play host to a bunch of jackass British stag parties.   We saw some dutch dudes go down one of the canals in a make ship plank raft.  They basically took a giant flat piece of wood and attached a motor to it.  They were also drinking heavily.  OBVIOUSLY



So yeah also Preußen Münster was a really fun game, can't believe I didn't hit that up more often.  Winning soccer for only 7,50?  What kind of country is this?  Afterwards we got to run onto the field and scream a bunch of things about the team.  I can't say I actually knew what we were screaming. 

so you guys should be jealous

look I know I ignore this thing but here's a quick rundown:

I went to Prague/Dresden on my own and met some amazing people, update to follow as soon as I have some time

My parents were here and we had great adventures!

Tomorrow I'm cheering on Schalke 04 (last German team in the Champions league and seriously SCREW MAN U)

Thursday I'm going to see Woyzeck staged with songs by Tom Waits (though Mr. Waits himself will not actually be present)

Friday I'm going to see Preußen Münster secure (if they haven't done it already) it's place at the top of the Regionalliga West, thus ensuring a place in 3. Liga!  This is a big deal because 3. Liga is a fully professional (and thus legitimate) league.

Saturday I am more than likely making an insane day trip to Amsterdam (need to call those Dutch girls I made friends with in Prague). 

Sunday I'm grilling

Monday I've got the day off.



Yeah, you guys should probably be jealous.  


Also belated congrats to Nathan over at L’histoire de sa vie for getting both a job and an apartment!  Real life awaits!

Berlin Berlin Berlin

Just got back from my 3rd trip to Berlin since I've been here.  I'm planning one more trip before I leave.  I need to move there or something.

Holy crap!

I haven't updated this with a substantial entry in forever.  I have failed as a blogger utterly and completely.



For this I apologize. 


Anyway I'll try to sum up as much of my life as I can.  I realize that most of you probably gave up on my blog a while ago so I'll try and get you up to speed!



Heidelberg is a gorgeous city in the south of Germany in Baden-Württemberg.  I spent a weekend there with some Fulbright chums.  Most of them went to a ball where the music was lame and the people were dressed up.  My friend Christine and I, being Grinnellians averse and naturally averse to such things, decided to go wondering instead.  The city is gorgeous and there are many beautiful sites, some of which I managed to photograph.  I will post these IN THE NEAR FUTURE.  They include a crazy beautiful church, a crazy charming statue of a monkey and a majestic bridge.



DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRTMMUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNND




Yeah I'm pretty much a BvB fan now.  My roommate is a Gladbach fan.  This means nothing to most of you, all you need to know is that we are rivals.  Except his team is probably getting relegated to 2.Liga next season as they've been in dead last since, well...forever?


I went on a class trip with one of my classes.  They did a model UN type game where they all had to pretend to be various regions of the world and try to work together.  I think Arabia ended up petitioning to join the EU.  It was pretty nonsensical but the kids seemed to have a good time doing it.  During the evenings we played Schocken (a dice game that I am now addicted to, it is like poker but easier to move through) and the students bought me beers and asked me about America.  I told them the truth, that it was full of monsters the size of Godzilla.  I might have mistaken it for Japan.  I have been gone a long time.


This past weekend was Karneval.  It's the German version of Mardi Gras, except that for the biggest parade happens on Rosenmontag, which for those of you who don't speak German means Rose Monday.  It is basically an opportunity to dress up in silly costumes, drink beer with friends throughout the day and ultimately regret doing both of those things by the time you have to go back to work.  I unfortunately was to worried about the crowds to take my camera with me.  Suffice it to say that through my own obliviousness I almost got run over by several floats and I got hit in the face by a candle.  I thought it was a stick of caramel so I tried to take bite out of it.  The Germans thought it was hilarious.  I also screamed so much that I lost my voice.  Here is my costume (minus the banjo, I just thought it looked cool):

My t-shirt says "Ride the Tiger," which is a nickname I acquired through a pretty long story. 


Anyway my roommate made too much delicious Moroccan food, so I have to eat it.




Happy Ash Wednesday!

So this was my Saturday

My boy Pete and I went to the Dortmund v. St. Pauli game today.  Though I (like everyone here in Germany really) really love St. Pauli and their fans, I just couldn't stick out in a sea of black and yellow like that.  Dortmund is at the top of the table right now, which means a lot because Bayern (the traditional powerhouse) is struggling to catch up to 2nd place.  Dortmund won 2-0 and it was probably the most fun I've ever had at a football game.  Seriously, that's the single largest fan section in Germany and the noise they created was just incredible.  Also this picture was taken before the game had started, like half an hour before.  Much love to my coworker who made it possible to go, even if we were way in the back row.

So I've got an idea

Look, blogging just isn't working out really.  I don't mind keeping people updated and I don't mind telling my stories it's just that the process of working them out into the written word has become quite tiresome.  Also some stories I just prefer to tell orally instead of in blog form.


Which is why I'm thinking of turning this into a podcast.



I know that might seem kind of silly, but it's not really.  It gives me to tell stories and relate events the way I want PLUS I can churn out a podcast much quicker and easier than a blog entry which despite what you may think requires some careful thought and energy. 

I also have the necessary tools (computer, Garageband) and can easily explain to anyone how to download podcasts.  It's a format I've been wanting to try for a while now, and I think this is a really great opportunity.  But I'll leave it to you, my loyal readers (Nathan and my parents) to decide.  Please leave me a comment or an email if you think this is a good/bad idea.  I'll probably update through iTunes but I'll make sure that I update here as well when a new one comes out.  The idea would be that it would come out once a week, probably on my day off so that I have time to record/edit. 


Feedback would be sincerely appreciated. 

so I am sick

not like I have a fever or nausea sick, just I have a million tissues littered around my room and I keep hacking up strange substances kind of sick.  I'm guessing it has something to do with the season?  I've been sucking down orange juice, oranges, water and inhaling nasal spray like there's no tomorrow.


Anyway I'm bothering to waste your time with this update dear reader, is that Klaus, Astrid's husband, on finding out that I was sick recommended a hilariously German solution:

"Du sollst heißes Bier trinken John" which translates to "You should drink hot beer John"




You see in Germany beer is apparently used for everything, even curing colds or allergies or whatever it is that I have.  He said that for it to really work, I needed to boil the beer until it got really hot, then cover myself with two very thick blankets and drink it right before I went to sleep.  Allowing myself to sweat a bunch in the process. 




Let me just stop this right now before I go any further and say for anyone who might want to try this after reading the above description, that this absolutely did not work.  Either because I did it wrong or because the solution itself is really stupid.  I woke up feeling no better than the previous night though I didn't feel any worse.




Anyway back to the narrative




So I picked up a Heineken from the case of generic European beers that Klaus gave me for Christmas, because he told me to use a bad beer.  I was going to use the Spanish stuff, but I opted for neutral tasting piss over actual piss.  Also Heineken comes in slightly smaller bottles, which meant less beer would be wasted. 


I set the beer to boil and went to go prepare for bed.  I took out my contacts and brushed me teeth and talked briefly with my roommate Rachid, figuring the beer would need time to boil properly.  I grossly overestimated the amount of time necessary to boil ,25 L of beer and when I got back the beer was way hotter than it needed to be.  I managed to save most of it and pour it into one of my Glühwein mugs. 


Now if you've ever had Heineken you know it to be nothing special in terms of taste.  If you're looking for a Dutch beer you should always pick a Grolsch.  The reason being that Heineken has no flavor whatsoever.  I had expected the hot variety of Heineken to be bad, but I thought at least it would retain some beer flavor.  I was wrong.

What I managed to choke down before going to bed was probably one of the worst concoctions I've ever tasted in my life.  Imagine boiling grass for a couple of hours and then throwing only enough salt to make you uncomfortable into it.  It was gross.

Now I'm not sure if I was supposed to drink all of it in one go, or if sipping was ok.  In any case I couldn't swallow more than a little at a time (it was really hot!) and by the end of swallow 4 or 5 I had had enough.  I quickly poured what was left down my throat, grimacing as I did so, and immediately settled in under my thick blanket.  I expected to start sweating immediately, but I did not.  Roughly 20-30 minutes went by before I realized that the whole thing was bullshit.  If the whole goal was for me to sweat out the sickness (not really the best treatment anyway) couldn't I have just had some decaffeinated tea or hot chocolate?


Anyway I had a better ending for this, but now I've forgotten it.  I'll try and post some pictures later, but that probably won't happen.