Hallo! Business has precluded me from updating this thang right. Epic post about my OKTOBERFEST experience last weekend still to come, but until then some minor updates.
Today is my second-to-last in Bremen. On Thursday I train it to Erfurt for the next stage of this program. It's usually hard for me to let go, but now I'm more excited and ready to move than anything. I have enjoyed spending time with the other CBYX participants here in the lovely town of Bremen, but I think for my Deutsch to get to the next level I need to stop hanging out with so many Americans! I will sure miss my host family though. They have been extremely welcoming, and my morning half-hour breakfasts with them have helped my German immensely.
Recent German adventures have included another weekend trip to Hamburg with a night of going out in the neighborhood of St. Pauli, former home of the fabulous foursome named the Beatles. Tons of fun. We've also continued to stomp around Bremen, having dinner at the wunderwar Ratskeller last night. I heart German food and Riesling.
Last week was our last in language school, and this week has been full of activities in its place. On Monday we visited local high schools (gymnasiums) to answer the curious kids' questions on everything American. Number one stereotype: all we eat is fast food and we are all fat. Halfway true, I suppose. I love interacting with students, so that day was especially fun for me. I observed yet again (barring the fast food stereotype) what generally positive ideas Germans have about the US. The kiddos were exuberant upon meeting us bonafide Amerikaners and rejoiced when we used the German word guile (roughly translates to cool). All said they really want to visit the US, and most spoke very good English...comments to come on the German school system and language classes in a future post.
Today we took a wee field trip to Bremerhaven to see the Auswander Haus, the museum documenting the millions of European emigrants who went through the town to reach the US. I was very impressed with the museum and managed to find 9000 Mosers from Switzerland who apparently left Europe from Bremerhaven back in the day.
Now gotta make myself look real nice for one last night of ausgehen with the Bremenites. Next post will be from my new home in Erfurt!
No comments:
Post a Comment