So, I guess I'll start doing comparison posts. I'll probably keep doing them by theme like this, but just don't expect me to start posting regularly!
My town here in Germany is a bit different from my hometown in the states. For starters, it's a bit smaller. There are only 5513 people compared to my hometown's 19750. There's only one set of traffic lights (that I'm aware of). In my hometown, there's one road that has six. Here there is a clear center of town. My hometown not so much. There is a pretty decent public transportation system (trains and buses) here that I can easily use to get around. Otherwise, if it's not too far, I can just hop on my bike and go. Living in my hometown doesn't work without a car.
However, they are also a bit the same. There are a lot of fields and pastures in and around both. The majority of people live in little suburbs (not all the houses here look identical, however). There's not much that goes on as far as nightlife, but both are fairly close to a larger town or two when you need to get out.
I guess that's all I have for now on that topic. I think the next comparison will be my life in general in both places.
Bis später!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Denmark and Birthdays
My visit to Denmark was amazing! Louise was an awesome hostess and took me to many amazing places. We were in Copenhagen, Tivoli, Rømø, Ribe, Legoland, and Kolding (where Jutland's biggest mall is).
My first weekend was spent in and around Copenhagen. We went to some pretty typical tourist-y places. First stop was the Little Mermaid statue. It's not really something too impressive (Louise warned me about that from the beginning), but it was kind of cool to see. Plus, seeing the expressions of the excitable tourists was fun. Later that evening, we went to the Tivoli amusement park. It was all decked out for Halloween (Denmark seems to be trying hard to adopt that holiday). It was really fun! The next day we went to the east coast before visiting a Cold War military base and heading home.
On Tuesday, we chanced the weather and took a trip to the island of Rømø. It was windy and cold, but the rain managed to hold off. It was really amazing! I saw a few (dead) jellyfish, and people were actually swimming in the water. I guess Wisconsinites aren't the only ones to like polarbearing! After that, we went to Ribe. We climbed the tower of an old cathedral and got an amazing view of the town!
Thursday was Legoland. Yeah, it's kind of aimed toward little kids (and there were a ton there, but we still had fun. It's kind of amazing what people can make with Legos!
Then on Friday, we went shopping! Despite the near-fiasco with Louise's bag, we had a lot of fun. Maybe we could have spent a bit less money, but we didn't go totally overboard. It's a good thing I wasn't there alone. I would have gotten so turned around!
In between those days, we carved pumpkins, went to a relative's birthday party, to a small get-together and even just relaxed a bit.
Sunday morning, I was woken up by a group of crazy Danes, singing to me in their language that I don't understand. They wished me a happy birthday and gave me gifts. I got some traditional Danish things made by Danish companies. They're going to be really great keepsakes! After that was breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon and toast) before relaxing, repacking and heading off.
My trip back to Germany went smoothly. I made all my connections in time and had no troubles with my bags. When I got back to my hostfamily's house, my hostmom told me to set down my bags and go in the kitchen. I knew something was up. I opened the door to find my hostdad, hostsiblings and hostsister's friend sitting at the table with a cheesecake, champagne and gifts. They wished me a happy birthday and we all sat down together. We ate some cake, drank some champagne and I opened my gifts. I told a bit about my trip to Denmark and gave them hard candies made to look like the Danish flag. In all, it was a really nice welcome.
So, that was my first week of Herbstferien. It was amazing! Thank you Louise and her family for taking me in and being such great hosts! Thank you hostfamily for a great evening!
Bis später!
My first weekend was spent in and around Copenhagen. We went to some pretty typical tourist-y places. First stop was the Little Mermaid statue. It's not really something too impressive (Louise warned me about that from the beginning), but it was kind of cool to see. Plus, seeing the expressions of the excitable tourists was fun. Later that evening, we went to the Tivoli amusement park. It was all decked out for Halloween (Denmark seems to be trying hard to adopt that holiday). It was really fun! The next day we went to the east coast before visiting a Cold War military base and heading home.
On Tuesday, we chanced the weather and took a trip to the island of Rømø. It was windy and cold, but the rain managed to hold off. It was really amazing! I saw a few (dead) jellyfish, and people were actually swimming in the water. I guess Wisconsinites aren't the only ones to like polarbearing! After that, we went to Ribe. We climbed the tower of an old cathedral and got an amazing view of the town!
Thursday was Legoland. Yeah, it's kind of aimed toward little kids (and there were a ton there, but we still had fun. It's kind of amazing what people can make with Legos!
Then on Friday, we went shopping! Despite the near-fiasco with Louise's bag, we had a lot of fun. Maybe we could have spent a bit less money, but we didn't go totally overboard. It's a good thing I wasn't there alone. I would have gotten so turned around!
In between those days, we carved pumpkins, went to a relative's birthday party, to a small get-together and even just relaxed a bit.
Sunday morning, I was woken up by a group of crazy Danes, singing to me in their language that I don't understand. They wished me a happy birthday and gave me gifts. I got some traditional Danish things made by Danish companies. They're going to be really great keepsakes! After that was breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon and toast) before relaxing, repacking and heading off.
My trip back to Germany went smoothly. I made all my connections in time and had no troubles with my bags. When I got back to my hostfamily's house, my hostmom told me to set down my bags and go in the kitchen. I knew something was up. I opened the door to find my hostdad, hostsiblings and hostsister's friend sitting at the table with a cheesecake, champagne and gifts. They wished me a happy birthday and we all sat down together. We ate some cake, drank some champagne and I opened my gifts. I told a bit about my trip to Denmark and gave them hard candies made to look like the Danish flag. In all, it was a really nice welcome.
So, that was my first week of Herbstferien. It was amazing! Thank you Louise and her family for taking me in and being such great hosts! Thank you hostfamily for a great evening!
Bis später!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Ab Nach Dänemark!!
... gleich. In less than two hours, I'll be on my way to Denmark! Not much to say at this point except that my bags are packed (I think I'm starting to become a pro at this packing business!) and I'm ready to go!
I'm really looking forward to this trip for a number of reasons. First of all, I'll be getting to see one of my best friends again, in her country, in her hometown. Second, Denmark will be the second foreign country I've set foot in. And third, I think it will help me to get over this week. This past week has been a pretty rough one for me. It will be nice to get a change of pace.
Here's to a sure-to-be-awesome week!
Bis später!
I'm really looking forward to this trip for a number of reasons. First of all, I'll be getting to see one of my best friends again, in her country, in her hometown. Second, Denmark will be the second foreign country I've set foot in. And third, I think it will help me to get over this week. This past week has been a pretty rough one for me. It will be nice to get a change of pace.
Here's to a sure-to-be-awesome week!
Bis später!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Der bester Hund
I started writing this post and it turned into a novel. I've decided to condense it. To keep it simple and short and to the point. So, here goes.
My dog was put down yesterday. He was old and developing problems. There was nothing to be done for him. My family decided it would be best for him to let him go. I'd give almost anything to have been there. It kills me to know he's gone. The last time I saw him, pet him was early on July 18th. It sucks. I miss him. I can't imagine coming home and having him not be there. That will probably be even harder than what I've gone through the past couple of days in terms of dealing with this loss. These have been the worst few days of my life. All I can say is that I am so grateful for the network of friends and family I have in both countries. They're there for me, even if they're an ocean away or across the language barrier. They care about me and want me to feel better. I couldn't ask for more at this point. I just need support. I know I'll get over this, thanks to these amazing people.
So, thank you to those who have been there for me and continue to be there for me. I don't know what I'd do without you.
Here's to the memory of Kingsford, King, Ferd, Ferdy, Bird, Bear, Bearford, Grampa Bear, Lumpy, and all the other insane names I called him (and he responded to). He was the best at catching pizza crusts, hogging balls and failing to jump ditches. He was a good Grampa Bear, always the protector, though he never truly had a masculine bark. He was always a good one for warming couches and beds (even on my dad's side of my parents' bed, the side he never should have been on). He was a chicken when it came to the vacuum cleaner or the dead cyote skin, but he always held his own when it came down to it. Toward the end, he might have started slowing down, but you could never get a tennis ball past him. He even knew there was a stash in the desk drawer. He found the ones I had in my suitcase to give my hostdogs.
You might think your dog's pretty great, but there's a reason mine was named King.
I'll miss him.
My dog was put down yesterday. He was old and developing problems. There was nothing to be done for him. My family decided it would be best for him to let him go. I'd give almost anything to have been there. It kills me to know he's gone. The last time I saw him, pet him was early on July 18th. It sucks. I miss him. I can't imagine coming home and having him not be there. That will probably be even harder than what I've gone through the past couple of days in terms of dealing with this loss. These have been the worst few days of my life. All I can say is that I am so grateful for the network of friends and family I have in both countries. They're there for me, even if they're an ocean away or across the language barrier. They care about me and want me to feel better. I couldn't ask for more at this point. I just need support. I know I'll get over this, thanks to these amazing people.
So, thank you to those who have been there for me and continue to be there for me. I don't know what I'd do without you.
Here's to the memory of Kingsford, King, Ferd, Ferdy, Bird, Bear, Bearford, Grampa Bear, Lumpy, and all the other insane names I called him (and he responded to). He was the best at catching pizza crusts, hogging balls and failing to jump ditches. He was a good Grampa Bear, always the protector, though he never truly had a masculine bark. He was always a good one for warming couches and beds (even on my dad's side of my parents' bed, the side he never should have been on). He was a chicken when it came to the vacuum cleaner or the dead cyote skin, but he always held his own when it came down to it. Toward the end, he might have started slowing down, but you could never get a tennis ball past him. He even knew there was a stash in the desk drawer. He found the ones I had in my suitcase to give my hostdogs.
You might think your dog's pretty great, but there's a reason mine was named King.
I'll miss him.
Friday, October 7, 2011
My School is a Biker Gang's Hangout
Okay, not really. However, saying there's a ton of bikes at my school everyday is an understatement. Here are some pictures to prove my point.
There's even a bike rack area I didn't see when I took these.
What can I say? Germans love to bike. They don't just do it because it's ecofriendly and good for one's health. They do it because they can. It's just more practical to hop on the bike than wait for a bus or start up the car. I can't say I don't love it!
Oh yeah, my school has a mini skate park, too. Be jealous! Now, if only I knew how to skateboard...
Bis später!
There's even a bike rack area I didn't see when I took these.
What can I say? Germans love to bike. They don't just do it because it's ecofriendly and good for one's health. They do it because they can. It's just more practical to hop on the bike than wait for a bus or start up the car. I can't say I don't love it!
Oh yeah, my school has a mini skate park, too. Be jealous! Now, if only I knew how to skateboard...
Bis später!
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