Fußball

If you haven't been paying attention to the world of soccer, you need to. I have been watching so many games with friends here lately that I am beginning to turn into a bit of a soccer fan now. Tonight we went to a huge park and watched the game with what seemed like half of the city. When it was over, the real fun began. You had the normal groups of people running into the streets, but the weird thing being with how the cops and drivers were reacting. Most of the cars were joining in and weren't honking horns and trying to run over people, and the cops weren't arresting evey person and trying to be mean. In fact, one of the cops on a horse was keeping the crowd held back off the street for a minute when a guy came by waving a flag in his face and jumping around. So, what does the cop do? Not what he would in America which would be try to run the guy off. He grabs the flag and waves it around for a minute as well, then hands it back to the guy who steps back out of the way. Turns out that when Germany wins, everyone likes to celebrate. I can not wait for the next game, and I am also curious to see the U.S. play again. We have done good so far, and there is a chance that us and Germany could play sometime, so, if that does happen, I will be in a really bad spot trying to pick a team to cheer for.

Well, we didn't make it far enough to play Germany. We have been beaten since my initial post. Viel Glück Deutschland. Oh, and an added note, Germany won their next game, and this time the cops just closed the streets and re-routed public transport, a celebration like nothing I have seen before.

A jungle in the city

Last night I did something I haven't done for a long time, went to a play. I was invited by one of the guys I go to church with to a play his highschool was putting on. It was a new style version of the jungle book, even with some of the teachers having a place in it. They did a great job, and managed to make it extremely funny by actually finding a way to put in dancing male teachers in liederhosen doing a Bavarian dance. Get outside of your comfort boundaries and go places with the natives and hang out with them, don't just stick around the tourist attractions. I had a blast, and during the intermission I had a snack that was basically beef stew with bread, but named something else of course, and it was GREAT. I really do not want to go home now.

Concentrate

The title says it, and I tried to, but when I went to the Dachau Concentration Camp a little outside of Munich, I could do anything but concentrate. The emotions you feel as you enter the same gates that so many would enter and never exit alive, is enormous. I couldn't think straight as we were shown the route that so many people had to go through for only their political beliefs or religion. I could barely enter as I read the words on the gate that every single prisoner had to see "Arbeit macht frei" which loosely translated means "Work sets you free". I learned for my first time how many German citizens and Russians that were placed into these camps, and I also learned that they actually had repeat offenders, so, some people were released and would later return, contrary to the belief I always had that once you were placed in one you were there to stay no matter what. I am glad that I got to see some of the lighter side of Munich as well with some of the festivities that could cheer me up. I also was able to meet up with some family friends from home who were vacationing and could bring some things that my family sent. I'm starting to count the days till I'll be back in Starkville. I can not wait to be home, but I do not want to leave here. I hope I can stay in contact with the friends I have made.

I never would have tried

Well, this past week I did something here that I never would have tried back home. It's called mitfahren, a really cool way of car pooling from one place to another. I was able, for less than the price of a one way ticket by train, to make it to Berlin and back by car. I met some pretty cool people and had a great time.

A day in Lauffen

Wow, today has just been one of the best days of my trip. I woke up this morning and met some German friends of mine in a nearby city, Lauffen. We went to a parade and festival there, and I can not come up with enough words to describe it. After we watched the 30 minute long parade, twice, it circled where we parked, so we were blocked in by it after it went by the first time...LOL We drove around and my friend's parents showed me the entire city. We went back to their house and ate snacks and they showed me pictures of different trips that they have made in Germany. I have so much more that I want to see here now. After that we said our goodbyes and they brought me back to my place. On the way back, I watched gasoline get purchased for Euro 1.33 per liter which, if I did the right math, comes out to around $6.25 a gallon, and we wonder why everyone laughs when we complian about it hitting $3 or higher. Ich glaube heute habe ich mehr Deutsch gesprochen als die ganzes semester nach hause. I just want to say it one more time, AWESOME.

Dorm Life

The dorm life here in Germany is very different than that of America, but in some really good ways. Basically an apartment on campus, with guys and girls in the same flats. We now have a native German living with us, which is pretty cool. If you want to really learn a language just sit down and talk for a few minutes with a native speaker. It's cool because now I get some really good practice daily, and also we are having a German cookout soon, yes I know, it's not much different than back home, but it's still a good time, and you have to remember our only rule here, "Nur Deutsch auf dem Balkon". This rule has been a big help, and has helped me to gain confidence in my German. Next week we have a break and I have big plans. Monday I am supposed to go hang out with a friend's family, the fun thing is that her family speaks no English, then late during the week I am riding to Berlin with a native German. What will be the most fun about that is that I do not know them at all, it is very common here to "mitfahren" or carpool. I worked out a round trip to Berlin for around 60 Euros. Roughly two weeks after that I am going to Munich for a weekend with some friends from the States. There are plenty more adventures to have here, and I definately want to come back one day.

Pictures

This link should take you to my Facebook page, the pictures I have been taking are in the Study Abroad folder. I believe I have included plenty of pictures from a trip to the Mercedes Benz Museum. I had an awesome time getting to see the cars there. I never could have imagined that I would get an opportunity to see cars both that old and expensive. Please comment if it will allow you to. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2047134&id=1048811323#!/photos.php?id=1048811323