Since a few of you had things to say and the comments box is too small for me to respond...
Having been here almost five years, I am no longer shocked or frustrated by the attitude or actions of anyone in this country. (Not sure if that's a good thing though!) Three years ago I would have been appalled, and would not have told the story as it would have been too painful to re-live. Interestingly, I told the same story in the office, and here were the German colleague responses:
colleague one: (in the middle of doing something but half listening, mumbles) private insurance....doctors in Germany....more appointments....pfui....make money...
colleague two: (never lived outside of Germany, but has locally dealt with a lot of things for non-Germans so tends to see things as such, and was the one who set up this appt). This is why I don't like doctors here. They think they're gods.
colleague three: (also never lived outside of Germany, but used to my occasional rants on living here, so he no longer takes it personally, but earnestly tries to educate me when he thinks I've missed the boat) This is how you know that German doctors are serious about your eye health, when they are serious with you. Only a good doctor would take the time to say such things.
I found colleague 3's thoughts to be most thought-provoking, as it is something I never considered. I dread this appointment weeks in advance, in general because I don't like people poking around my eyes, especially cranky ones who seems to be bent on bringing a dark cloud into everyone's day. Although based on the #3 above, I imagine the guy spoke to me like he speaks to every other person visiting his office, (although I think he's perhaps an extra bit curmudgeonly in general, even by German standards).
If you're not living in Germany you may wonder why I don't just switch drs. A few simple reasons I guess.
1. There are no 'American-style' doctors within 20 minutes from where I live. I consider it a win when I get one who can speak some English words.
2. The guy seems competent in measurements. He picked up that one eye is slightly weaker this year without me mentioning it.
3. The office staff is superb. In particular when they are explaining something unfamiliar that we don't have in the US, they have no problems repeating their instructions a second time with different German words and then listening to me repeat them back. (One drop of these special drops in each eye every 20 min for one hour prior to coming here next?)
4. I don't consider this to be a life-long relationship, as I don't plan to stay in Germany forever.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Heather's trip to the eye doctor - year 2
If you were Heather today, it went something like this...show up at the eye doctor's office. Tell the nice desk person who you are and what you're there for (an annual appointment--right as rain), and have them squint at a book of tiny handwritten printed names...and ask for your name again....and peer at the book, and finally say, well, no matter, that may have been you right there erased...go take a seat.
eye dr: (handshake and then reading the chart) you were last here in march last year. i told you to come every six months. it's important. the eyes are like windows, we must take care.
heather: (once a year does me fine in the US) uh, yes..
eye dr: you're wearing contacts...(back to chart, frowning)...you only wear these only 8 hours a day?
heather: actually, no, i wear these (putting box on table) for a month at a time.
eye dr: (multi-tasking by peering with some magnifying thingy into my eye) no, no, I told you last time. (break from multi-tasking for direct lecture in German) You must not wear them more than 8 hours a day.
heather: but they're made to be worn always.
eye dr: (loud sigh.) I told you once, I tell you again...(then I get the same as previously, a second time in German, then in English also for good measure--except for words unknown in English, like 'oxygen', are kept in German) You cannot get these from a place that sells glasses, only an eye dr can say...if it gets to the point where the glasses seller can say don't wear, then it's too late, your eyes are damaged for good.
These 'all the time ones' (finally looking at the box)--they are for old people or small children, people who cannot put in contacts well (somebody better inform the Ciba marketing team)...and people like that need to come to an eye dr every month (oh really).
heather: (well actually, they came from plus.de not the glasses seller, and the whole point is not to have to take them out every night) um, yes...
eye dr: (grudgingly) but if you are going to wear contacts, these are better than most. more oxygen to the eye, less dirt--but you must not more than 8 hours wear! 8!
heather: yes...clear..windows...8
eye dr: come back on Monday to dilate the pupil. then i see if my measurements just taken are correct. and don't wear contacts the day before. or until one day after that is done or else your contacts will turn yellow. and your world will be yellow, and a yellow world is not good. (handshake)
-->Well, a yellow world seemed to work a while back for Bono, as I recall...
eye dr: (handshake and then reading the chart) you were last here in march last year. i told you to come every six months. it's important. the eyes are like windows, we must take care.
heather: (once a year does me fine in the US) uh, yes..
eye dr: you're wearing contacts...(back to chart, frowning)...you only wear these only 8 hours a day?
heather: actually, no, i wear these (putting box on table) for a month at a time.
eye dr: (multi-tasking by peering with some magnifying thingy into my eye) no, no, I told you last time. (break from multi-tasking for direct lecture in German) You must not wear them more than 8 hours a day.
heather: but they're made to be worn always.
eye dr: (loud sigh.) I told you once, I tell you again...(then I get the same as previously, a second time in German, then in English also for good measure--except for words unknown in English, like 'oxygen', are kept in German) You cannot get these from a place that sells glasses, only an eye dr can say...if it gets to the point where the glasses seller can say don't wear, then it's too late, your eyes are damaged for good.
These 'all the time ones' (finally looking at the box)--they are for old people or small children, people who cannot put in contacts well (somebody better inform the Ciba marketing team)...and people like that need to come to an eye dr every month (oh really).
heather: (well actually, they came from plus.de not the glasses seller, and the whole point is not to have to take them out every night) um, yes...
eye dr: (grudgingly) but if you are going to wear contacts, these are better than most. more oxygen to the eye, less dirt--but you must not more than 8 hours wear! 8!
heather: yes...clear..windows...8
eye dr: come back on Monday to dilate the pupil. then i see if my measurements just taken are correct. and don't wear contacts the day before. or until one day after that is done or else your contacts will turn yellow. and your world will be yellow, and a yellow world is not good. (handshake)
-->Well, a yellow world seemed to work a while back for Bono, as I recall...
Sunday, January 20, 2008
English movie theaters in Cologne
I went to see a film over the weekend, The Darjeeling Limited at Off Broadway which is a theater that is very close to the tram stops of either Zülpicher Platz or Barbarossaplatz. Most of the English speakers that I know go to The Metropolis, but I personally think Off Broadway is actually a better theather (for me anyway) than the Metropolis for a few reasons:
- they show both the mainstream + independent films
- more film times rather than more films. (Nothing irritates me more than when the film I want to see is offered only once daily, at 21.50.)
- ticket prices are less expensive by a few euros (unless you go for the 4 euro Thursday Metropolis special)
- the lobby is much more spacious with built in window seats along the entire length of the lobby, and as a result, I do not end up squashed in the middle of a throng of 30+ people.
- tickets are sold with assigned seating, which you choose when you purchase your ticket. It seems to alleviate the stampede that occurs at the Metropolis, when the doors are opened and the throng rushes forward. The last time I was at the Metropolis, someone was so close behind me holding a tray of nachos that I ended up with nacho cheese in my hair.
- it's close to two restaurants I like: the all veg go! vindam and the very veg friendly Habibi at Zuplicher Strasse 28.
- there is a resident cat who sleeps in one of the windows, so I imagine the place is rodent free.
- In general, it's a lot cleaner than Metropolis inside the theater.
- The area is much more lively, so leaving the late show on foot seems safer as the area has plenty of people, as opposed to the area around the Metropolis, which is a little more desolate late in the evening.
Before you swear off the Metropolis, however, a few negatives for Off Broadway:
- Sometimes seats for the film you want will be sold out, especially on a Friday or Saturday during evening hours when you walk up 5 min before showtime.
- It's a little on the non-mainstream side, so instead of Coke, you can only get Afri-cola which seems to smack against years of American marketing, associating a movie with a cold Coke.
- It doesn't show as many different English films weekly as the Metropolis
Want to find other English movies showing in Cologne? Try here, keeping an eye out for the ones marked OmU or OV, but check that it's not an original in another language, like French. :-) Here: http://www.choices.de/heute.php or here: http://www.koeln.de/ausgehen/kino/kinokalender/index.php
- they show both the mainstream + independent films
- more film times rather than more films. (Nothing irritates me more than when the film I want to see is offered only once daily, at 21.50.)
- ticket prices are less expensive by a few euros (unless you go for the 4 euro Thursday Metropolis special)
- the lobby is much more spacious with built in window seats along the entire length of the lobby, and as a result, I do not end up squashed in the middle of a throng of 30+ people.
- tickets are sold with assigned seating, which you choose when you purchase your ticket. It seems to alleviate the stampede that occurs at the Metropolis, when the doors are opened and the throng rushes forward. The last time I was at the Metropolis, someone was so close behind me holding a tray of nachos that I ended up with nacho cheese in my hair.
- it's close to two restaurants I like: the all veg go! vindam and the very veg friendly Habibi at Zuplicher Strasse 28.
- there is a resident cat who sleeps in one of the windows, so I imagine the place is rodent free.
- In general, it's a lot cleaner than Metropolis inside the theater.
- The area is much more lively, so leaving the late show on foot seems safer as the area has plenty of people, as opposed to the area around the Metropolis, which is a little more desolate late in the evening.
Before you swear off the Metropolis, however, a few negatives for Off Broadway:
- Sometimes seats for the film you want will be sold out, especially on a Friday or Saturday during evening hours when you walk up 5 min before showtime.
- It's a little on the non-mainstream side, so instead of Coke, you can only get Afri-cola which seems to smack against years of American marketing, associating a movie with a cold Coke.
- It doesn't show as many different English films weekly as the Metropolis
Want to find other English movies showing in Cologne? Try here, keeping an eye out for the ones marked OmU or OV, but check that it's not an original in another language, like French. :-) Here: http://www.choices.de/heute.php or here: http://www.koeln.de/ausgehen/kino/kinokalender/index.php
Friday, January 11, 2008
Shopping Sunday at Venlo Tref this weekend - Jan 13
I love the smell of commerce on a Sunday. My tiny, black, rock-hard heart is gently warmed and softened by the thought of a supermarket being open on a Sunday in Europe.
Venlo Tref: http://www.trefvenlo.nl/site/nederlands/openingstijden/
And of course, every Sunday is shopping Sunday at Jumbo Roermond.
Which one is better? Six of one half dozen of the other. Both are large supermarkets selling a wide range of items. Just going on size--I'd say that Tref is bigger and thus more choices.
Buying toilet paper on a Sunday with more than 5 options, how decadent.
(Where I live in Germany the standard supermarket options are somewhat limited.)
Venlo Tref: http://www.trefvenlo.nl/site/nederlands/openingstijden/
And of course, every Sunday is shopping Sunday at Jumbo Roermond.
Which one is better? Six of one half dozen of the other. Both are large supermarkets selling a wide range of items. Just going on size--I'd say that Tref is bigger and thus more choices.
Buying toilet paper on a Sunday with more than 5 options, how decadent.
(Where I live in Germany the standard supermarket options are somewhat limited.)
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Heather's new toy
Before:
After:
You'll notice the disappearance of Mr. Coffee Thermos in the second photo. He was frightened by the loud grinding noise and the occasional splatter of juice. The photo of the juice in the second photo really doesn't do it justice as you can't really see the color mixture of the basic orange with the red bits of the blood orange speckled throughout.
Since I came back from the US and shifted into flu mode, I've been extra careful to eat well these past few days. Shortly before I left for the US, I bought this handy little machine at Pennymarkt (damn them and their low, low prices!).
I've considered going all out and getting a mega juicer that does fruits and vegetables, but as a vegetarian, I have vegetables all day long, and fruit consumption is where I've been lacking.
Since living in Germany, I've become accustomed to fresh-squeezed, natural, no sugar added, not from concentrate, relatively inexpensive juice. It severely pained me during the two weeks in the US to pay Wholefoods prices to get the same level of juice.
One juice that I particularly like actually comes from a Carrefour in Belgium, where I don't have an opportunity to go so often. It's made with:
7 oranges
2 mandarins
.25 lime
I used the above as a basis to start and then modified a bit. I've been avoiding mandarins, since Mausi's post a while back, so I didn't have any on hand. From my local Turkish market, I used:
2 oranges
1 blood orange
.5 lime (I'm a big fan of limes)
All told, a worthwhile investment of time, effort, and money.
After:
You'll notice the disappearance of Mr. Coffee Thermos in the second photo. He was frightened by the loud grinding noise and the occasional splatter of juice. The photo of the juice in the second photo really doesn't do it justice as you can't really see the color mixture of the basic orange with the red bits of the blood orange speckled throughout.
Since I came back from the US and shifted into flu mode, I've been extra careful to eat well these past few days. Shortly before I left for the US, I bought this handy little machine at Pennymarkt (damn them and their low, low prices!).
I've considered going all out and getting a mega juicer that does fruits and vegetables, but as a vegetarian, I have vegetables all day long, and fruit consumption is where I've been lacking.
Since living in Germany, I've become accustomed to fresh-squeezed, natural, no sugar added, not from concentrate, relatively inexpensive juice. It severely pained me during the two weeks in the US to pay Wholefoods prices to get the same level of juice.
One juice that I particularly like actually comes from a Carrefour in Belgium, where I don't have an opportunity to go so often. It's made with:
7 oranges
2 mandarins
.25 lime
I used the above as a basis to start and then modified a bit. I've been avoiding mandarins, since Mausi's post a while back, so I didn't have any on hand. From my local Turkish market, I used:
2 oranges
1 blood orange
.5 lime (I'm a big fan of limes)
All told, a worthwhile investment of time, effort, and money.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Public transport Disney style
One of the perks of my job is that I get to go, company paid, to an annual conference each spring, of professionals in my industry. It's a lot of fun to hear what challenges other people in similar jobs face, as well as it's always an interesting group of people and new ones to meet. As well as lots of free industry give-a-ways, which make it look like a 5 year old lives in my apartment when I first get back with the amount of free highlighters, light up bouncing balls, and cheap calculators that somehow come back with me.
This year's conference will be in Orlando, at a Disney conference center. I'm not a big Disney fan, but this is a billion times better than some past venues such as Houston and Reno.
One exciting notion of this whole trip (besides the opportunity to slip in a cheap side trip to Philly and stuff myself silly on Cheez-its) is the 'airport transfer' offered by the Resort.
Keep in mind that my usual trip is to arrive on a plane from Europe into Philly jetlagged and carrying 10 USD in coins for the Septa (Philly regional train) trip that deposits me a 5 min walk from Grandma's house. It's not such a grand trip as the Septa trains were not really made for luggage, even the airport train. So it involves hoisting a suitcase and camping backpack onto the train, stowing the backpack on the skinny overhead rack while a conductor is yelling at everyone who just got on to keep suitcases out of the aisle, hopping off in Center City, then going down the stairs as the escalator is inevitably broken, looking for the next regional local time, and then climbing the stairs with luggage to a differnt track, doing the same luggage stowage as previously, and then managing to get down the train stairs to disembark at my local destination and walking five to seven minutes to the house.
Contrast the above to the complimentary (with mighty expensive hotel room) Disney's Magical Express where I do not need to collect my luggage upon arrival, but instead they will whisk me to the hotel and luggage fairies will look for the magic tags in order to identify and later bring my luggage DIRECTLY TO MY ROOM. (Up to three hours later), but hey, that's a billion times nicer than having to wait for it, cart it into a place not designed for it, and then drag it all over a hotel I will inevitably be lost in, all while being jetlagged.
I may become a fan of Disney yet.
This year's conference will be in Orlando, at a Disney conference center. I'm not a big Disney fan, but this is a billion times better than some past venues such as Houston and Reno.
One exciting notion of this whole trip (besides the opportunity to slip in a cheap side trip to Philly and stuff myself silly on Cheez-its) is the 'airport transfer' offered by the Resort.
Keep in mind that my usual trip is to arrive on a plane from Europe into Philly jetlagged and carrying 10 USD in coins for the Septa (Philly regional train) trip that deposits me a 5 min walk from Grandma's house. It's not such a grand trip as the Septa trains were not really made for luggage, even the airport train. So it involves hoisting a suitcase and camping backpack onto the train, stowing the backpack on the skinny overhead rack while a conductor is yelling at everyone who just got on to keep suitcases out of the aisle, hopping off in Center City, then going down the stairs as the escalator is inevitably broken, looking for the next regional local time, and then climbing the stairs with luggage to a differnt track, doing the same luggage stowage as previously, and then managing to get down the train stairs to disembark at my local destination and walking five to seven minutes to the house.
Contrast the above to the complimentary (with mighty expensive hotel room) Disney's Magical Express where I do not need to collect my luggage upon arrival, but instead they will whisk me to the hotel and luggage fairies will look for the magic tags in order to identify and later bring my luggage DIRECTLY TO MY ROOM. (Up to three hours later), but hey, that's a billion times nicer than having to wait for it, cart it into a place not designed for it, and then drag it all over a hotel I will inevitably be lost in, all while being jetlagged.
I may become a fan of Disney yet.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
awake at 3 AM
due to a bit of a cold that started upon arrival back in Germany.
however, as I had over 12 hours of sleep yesterday due to fine American drugs (Tylenol cough and cold, nighttime), i'm not so stressed that i need to be awake for work in 5 hours.
i was so out of things yesterday, that I went to bed around 11 and slept through all new year's firework activities, which in Germany, is hella lot.
however, as I had over 12 hours of sleep yesterday due to fine American drugs (Tylenol cough and cold, nighttime), i'm not so stressed that i need to be awake for work in 5 hours.
i was so out of things yesterday, that I went to bed around 11 and slept through all new year's firework activities, which in Germany, is hella lot.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
from America
memo to self: it's the blue container that holds the real coffee with caffeine, NOT the red one which is 50% caffeinated.
Half caffeinated=half awake=half pleasant.
Greetings from America.
Half caffeinated=half awake=half pleasant.
Greetings from America.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
German translation - Schwimmkerzen
I was going through the store adverts and happened to notice Schwimmkerzen at Ikea.
Normally I don't give most German works a second glance, as they seem so clear and orderly in their logic.
This one gave me pause, however, because I had only learned
'Schwimmen = to swim' and
'Kerzen = candles'.
So literally 'Schwimmkerzen = Swimming candles'
But in reality they are not swimming, they're floating, so more passive than active.
If you go and ask Leo for 'to float' in German you'll get a plethora of translations in a variety of connotations, including 'Schwimmen'. If you putz around long enough, you'll find
'Schwimmen = to be afloat'
How about 'floaten' then? 'Floaten = to float' but in a financial sense.
'Floessen'? 'Floessen = to drive, to float, to raft' which sound rather in control of your water ways.
Hmm. I'm left with an uneasy feeling, as 'swimming' and 'floating' are two entirely different actions, so something seems off to me by having one general 'catch all' word in German.
Or what do I miss here?
Normally I don't give most German works a second glance, as they seem so clear and orderly in their logic.
This one gave me pause, however, because I had only learned
'Schwimmen = to swim' and
'Kerzen = candles'.
So literally 'Schwimmkerzen = Swimming candles'
But in reality they are not swimming, they're floating, so more passive than active.
If you go and ask Leo for 'to float' in German you'll get a plethora of translations in a variety of connotations, including 'Schwimmen'. If you putz around long enough, you'll find
'Schwimmen = to be afloat'
How about 'floaten' then? 'Floaten = to float' but in a financial sense.
'Floessen'? 'Floessen = to drive, to float, to raft' which sound rather in control of your water ways.
Hmm. I'm left with an uneasy feeling, as 'swimming' and 'floating' are two entirely different actions, so something seems off to me by having one general 'catch all' word in German.
Or what do I miss here?
comment posting is back....
i had broken it putting up a new profile photo. (oops) it's hard to believe i make my living working with computers all day long.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Packing it up
It's the last weekend before I leave for the US, so plenty to do. At least the weather finally feels like winter, the car tells me it was 2.5 C when I was driving to work today. Fortunately D leaves on a work trip Sunday and then goes directly to the US where we meet up again on Thursday. Therefore I can be uninterrupted in my packing frenzy that late this weekend through early next week will certainly be. Also, it's time for the semi-annual bottle return clean-up.
The packing should be easy this year, since I plan to do a lot of shopping with my euros. It's not so easy though, on the return trip packing, since earlier this year the US Postal service simplified their international shipping offerings, and removed the slow, but cheap boat shipping in favor of the more expensive air option. So everything will be fitting in the suitcase this year and purchasing will need to be limited.
The packing should be easy this year, since I plan to do a lot of shopping with my euros. It's not so easy though, on the return trip packing, since earlier this year the US Postal service simplified their international shipping offerings, and removed the slow, but cheap boat shipping in favor of the more expensive air option. So everything will be fitting in the suitcase this year and purchasing will need to be limited.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The spirit of Christmas
H: Look what I found in the recycle bin while throwing out my newspapers. Pretty barely used wrapping paper and ribbon. It was probably for St. Nick's day. Score!
D: Do you really need to be picking out of the trash?
H: It's not the trash, it's the recycle bin. I'm going to wrap my Nana's gift in it. She'll love it.
D: How much do you love your Nana, to give her trash-picked ribbon?
H: Nana grew up during the depression and taught me everything I know about trash-picking. She'll be so proud. Besides, being green is in this year.
D: (Sigh)
D: Do you really need to be picking out of the trash?
H: It's not the trash, it's the recycle bin. I'm going to wrap my Nana's gift in it. She'll love it.
D: How much do you love your Nana, to give her trash-picked ribbon?
H: Nana grew up during the depression and taught me everything I know about trash-picking. She'll be so proud. Besides, being green is in this year.
D: (Sigh)
Monday, December 03, 2007
This Wednesday at 11.45 AM
Feel free to mentally have a glass of champagne with me and throw some confetti; it will be the ending time of my last German class.
The company has generously paid for quite a few Berlitz hours while I've been here. It's paid off to the effect that I can generally understand what goes on the office, and that is sufficient for what I need at this time. I spend 8+ hours a day/5 days per week there, so that is the bulk of my time in Germany.
Sometimes I marvel at the fact that my vocabulary is so far skewed to office words. I knew the words for 'works council', 'interface', 'department', and 'woman boss' long before I knew basics like 'toothpaste,' 'toilet paper,' and 'Sunday shopping'.
Although I did pick up 'toilet brush' quite early by studying the various 'informational' cartoons in the office ladies' bathroom. Not sure why these 'public service announcements' must always be accompanied by a cartoon in Germany. I've been tempted to sneak into the mens' room to see if they have the same or similar, but never did. ;-)
The company has generously paid for quite a few Berlitz hours while I've been here. It's paid off to the effect that I can generally understand what goes on the office, and that is sufficient for what I need at this time. I spend 8+ hours a day/5 days per week there, so that is the bulk of my time in Germany.
Sometimes I marvel at the fact that my vocabulary is so far skewed to office words. I knew the words for 'works council', 'interface', 'department', and 'woman boss' long before I knew basics like 'toothpaste,' 'toilet paper,' and 'Sunday shopping'.
Although I did pick up 'toilet brush' quite early by studying the various 'informational' cartoons in the office ladies' bathroom. Not sure why these 'public service announcements' must always be accompanied by a cartoon in Germany. I've been tempted to sneak into the mens' room to see if they have the same or similar, but never did. ;-)
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
George drives the bus - a German political view
Over the weekend I went to a work colleague's going away party (she's moving to the UK). It was quite interesting as I was the only foreigner, although I had met many of the friends/family previously, so it was ok.
There was a small child there, perhaps 2 years and some months old. He seemed very excited by being at the restaurant with all of the people and things, and being up past his bedtime. At one point the waiter carried him back to the table as he had taken off on foot to the kitchen.
His grandma decided to try to calm him down a bit and picked up a free Italy travel magazine and put him on her lap to show him the pictures. We all watched expectantly, to see if Grandma could work her magic. She watched to see which pictures caught his eye, and started to tell him about them, by whatever she could make up on the fly.
- You see the little boy on the beach? His name is Pablo and he is also two!
- Here is an old church, isn't it pretty?
- Oh, see the bus! There is the bus driver, George Bush, and the passenger on the bus, Angela Merkel. (ok, so it wasn't actually them) They go together in the bus, where George the bus driver wants to go. But not for long, because it will be someone else's turn to drive the bus very soon.
(I imagine the political commentary would have continued in a less polite way, had I not been there and listening--something to the effect of--and we're all happy that there will be a new bus driver, as we don't like the way that one drives.)
There was a small child there, perhaps 2 years and some months old. He seemed very excited by being at the restaurant with all of the people and things, and being up past his bedtime. At one point the waiter carried him back to the table as he had taken off on foot to the kitchen.
His grandma decided to try to calm him down a bit and picked up a free Italy travel magazine and put him on her lap to show him the pictures. We all watched expectantly, to see if Grandma could work her magic. She watched to see which pictures caught his eye, and started to tell him about them, by whatever she could make up on the fly.
- You see the little boy on the beach? His name is Pablo and he is also two!
- Here is an old church, isn't it pretty?
- Oh, see the bus! There is the bus driver, George Bush, and the passenger on the bus, Angela Merkel. (ok, so it wasn't actually them) They go together in the bus, where George the bus driver wants to go. But not for long, because it will be someone else's turn to drive the bus very soon.
(I imagine the political commentary would have continued in a less polite way, had I not been there and listening--something to the effect of--and we're all happy that there will be a new bus driver, as we don't like the way that one drives.)
Monday, November 26, 2007
More on 'no love for the Germans' - the Dutch perspective
After yesterday's events, I asked my Dutch work colleague about the topic, knowing that he would give me the straight scoop. He also thought it was some slightly peeved Dutch people, just trying to irritate a German.
He is Dutch guy married to a German and working/living here for many years. However, he goes back over the border quite often with his company J car with its German license plate to work, visit family, and shop. He was telling me of one time, when he was driving this car in Holland.
A Dutch car with some 18 year-olds gave him the popular hand gesture in reference to a leader who was very popular in Germany in the late 1930's-early 1940's (not wanting to drive searchers to that topic here.) They both happened to leave at the same exit, and ended up next to each other at the red light at the bottom of the exit.
He couldn't resist to roll down the window and gesture to them to do the same. He then proceeded to rip them a new one in Dutch, his native language. He said the looks on their faces was absolutely priceless. Here they thought they were sticking it to a German, and instead they chose a fellow national.
He then gave me the tip--I should always keep something representing Holland handy in my car trunk for times when I go over the border, such as something orange to put in the back window, or something for one of the sports teams, or perhaps some Dutch reading material to have lying in the back seat. That will present the image, especially as I don't tend to go too far into Holland, that I could be a Dutch person working just over the border. And it will perhaps lower the possibility of future negative incidents.
He is Dutch guy married to a German and working/living here for many years. However, he goes back over the border quite often with his company J car with its German license plate to work, visit family, and shop. He was telling me of one time, when he was driving this car in Holland.
A Dutch car with some 18 year-olds gave him the popular hand gesture in reference to a leader who was very popular in Germany in the late 1930's-early 1940's (not wanting to drive searchers to that topic here.) They both happened to leave at the same exit, and ended up next to each other at the red light at the bottom of the exit.
He couldn't resist to roll down the window and gesture to them to do the same. He then proceeded to rip them a new one in Dutch, his native language. He said the looks on their faces was absolutely priceless. Here they thought they were sticking it to a German, and instead they chose a fellow national.
He then gave me the tip--I should always keep something representing Holland handy in my car trunk for times when I go over the border, such as something orange to put in the back window, or something for one of the sports teams, or perhaps some Dutch reading material to have lying in the back seat. That will present the image, especially as I don't tend to go too far into Holland, that I could be a Dutch person working just over the border. And it will perhaps lower the possibility of future negative incidents.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
'The funky chicken' or 'No love for the Germans'
One of my German work colleagues was recently telling me about his visit to Vegas, and how he went with a few of his 20-something aged German friends, and how the desk person said, "oh no, the Krauts are here" recognizing their Germanness even before they opened their mouths.
I tried to explain to him that it probably wasn't meant as an insult, but rather as American friendliness of making jokes. He said that he knew that, and he likes Americans and their friendly casual humor, and they enjoyed their trip to the US. He then said, "America is not like some other countries that absolutely do not like Germans at all." I wanted to hear more, but didn't want to push a topic that probably wouldn't be so nice for him to discuss, so I didn't. Besides, I've heard quite a bit from my other European colleagues on the topic of 'the Germans' so I already had an idea that they aren't liked a lot in certain countries.
On Sunday, D and I drove to Maastricht for reasons that belong in their own post. I parked in a public parking lot in town, one where you must buy a ticket from the little machine and leave it on your dashboard, but as it was Sunday, a ticket was not needed. We came back eight hours later and I went to the trunk to get out the map.
I noticed that while we were gone, someone had carefully placed a KFC bucket with all of their food trash in it directly behind the back wheel, so logically I would not see it, and then back up over it. In addition, there were chicken bones immediately in front of the same tire, I guess in the event that I happened to pull forward (which would not be necessarily expected, as I would need to go out on an angle that would put me going 'out' a row that was one way in the other direction.) In addition, the remaining chicken bones were scattered under the car, like someone made a serious effort to wing (intended pun) them there. Looking around we noticed no other German cars in the lot, and only one other in town.
My only guess on this one is that they saw the German license plate on the car and decided on a low level prank. Maastricht gets plenty of Germans as it's not so far from the border, and only around one hour, 15 min from Koeln. This situation was ironic on multiple levels to me, namely:
-I never eat at KFC as they don't have so many vegetarian options. I have no veg info in the car so they would not know the car belongs to a vegetarian. The use of chicken bones would be moderately offensive if the person would have known I am a vegetarian.
-While the car is registered and lives in Germany, I am not German. It's actually quite funny, knowing my lack of enthusiasm for Germany life that they wasted their energy trying to send an unfriendly message to a German and instead chose the German car not carrying Germans.
Next up: more details as to why we were there.
I tried to explain to him that it probably wasn't meant as an insult, but rather as American friendliness of making jokes. He said that he knew that, and he likes Americans and their friendly casual humor, and they enjoyed their trip to the US. He then said, "America is not like some other countries that absolutely do not like Germans at all." I wanted to hear more, but didn't want to push a topic that probably wouldn't be so nice for him to discuss, so I didn't. Besides, I've heard quite a bit from my other European colleagues on the topic of 'the Germans' so I already had an idea that they aren't liked a lot in certain countries.
On Sunday, D and I drove to Maastricht for reasons that belong in their own post. I parked in a public parking lot in town, one where you must buy a ticket from the little machine and leave it on your dashboard, but as it was Sunday, a ticket was not needed. We came back eight hours later and I went to the trunk to get out the map.
I noticed that while we were gone, someone had carefully placed a KFC bucket with all of their food trash in it directly behind the back wheel, so logically I would not see it, and then back up over it. In addition, there were chicken bones immediately in front of the same tire, I guess in the event that I happened to pull forward (which would not be necessarily expected, as I would need to go out on an angle that would put me going 'out' a row that was one way in the other direction.) In addition, the remaining chicken bones were scattered under the car, like someone made a serious effort to wing (intended pun) them there. Looking around we noticed no other German cars in the lot, and only one other in town.
My only guess on this one is that they saw the German license plate on the car and decided on a low level prank. Maastricht gets plenty of Germans as it's not so far from the border, and only around one hour, 15 min from Koeln. This situation was ironic on multiple levels to me, namely:
-I never eat at KFC as they don't have so many vegetarian options. I have no veg info in the car so they would not know the car belongs to a vegetarian. The use of chicken bones would be moderately offensive if the person would have known I am a vegetarian.
-While the car is registered and lives in Germany, I am not German. It's actually quite funny, knowing my lack of enthusiasm for Germany life that they wasted their energy trying to send an unfriendly message to a German and instead chose the German car not carrying Germans.
Next up: more details as to why we were there.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
The hidden subconscious - more on language acquisition
I am coming to the conclusion that language acquisition is mainly mindset and exposure rather than talent driven. If I was dating a German and imagining a long-term future here, I'd probably actually make an effort. As it is I go to class each week for 1.5 hours because company J. is paying for it, it's private lessons from Berlitz with only me in the class, and it's during work hours. I spend around an hour each week on homework, mainly because I rather like the teacher and would feel bad by attempting nothing.
A few weeks back, I was talking to my Spanish colleague, whom I rarely get to speak to these days. My Spanish is quite comfortable, I have facilitated meetings in Spanish where I am the only non-native speaker, I've done meetings where the other speakers know almost no English, and I am able to read and discuss in Spanish high level topics like religion and philosophy. My exposure to Spanish these days is limited to a handful of work colleagues with whom I interact occasionally and 30 min per week in the car when I catch a Spanish news broadcast on Monday nights after Polish class. When I speak and read it, however, it's pretty well cemented. There is no longer 'lead time' while I get back into the feel of speaking it and I can read a newspaper pre-coffee without thinking.
Imagine my absolute surprise, then, when I am speaking to my Spanish colleague and some German words sneak right into the sentence. It was like they were slipping over the Polish border under the cover of night. The construct of the sentence was Spanish as were the bulk of the words, but 'wie immer' slipped right in, in place of the Spanish equivalent. As it is I don't really like the sounds of German in general and the best you'll get out of me on a good day is that I will listen to your German spiel and then respond in English to you if you are someone in my office. If I'm in tiny town of B I will move around completely in German on Saturdays, although it's often of a Turkish flavor over here.
Then over a weekend I was at a vegetarian restaurant in Koeln and picked up a soya hot chocolate on the way out. I was in line behind some people so it was taking a few minutes. While I was waiting, I could hear the coffeebar woman talking with a customer sitting at the counter and they were talking in Spain Spanish. I started off my order in German as that is what I am used to doing here, but midway it converted to Spanish automatically, I think because I was listening to the ladies.
The woman pauses for half a second, somehow understanding my half-baked sentence and then responds to me in Spanish. I carry on a conversation for some minutes with the customer in Spanish. But again, every once and a while a German word started to creep in, perhaps because I had spent some hours the previous night mainly around German speakers, and also speaking German.
My inability to control such slippages mainly tells me that the influence of living here is quite heavy.
A few weeks back, I was talking to my Spanish colleague, whom I rarely get to speak to these days. My Spanish is quite comfortable, I have facilitated meetings in Spanish where I am the only non-native speaker, I've done meetings where the other speakers know almost no English, and I am able to read and discuss in Spanish high level topics like religion and philosophy. My exposure to Spanish these days is limited to a handful of work colleagues with whom I interact occasionally and 30 min per week in the car when I catch a Spanish news broadcast on Monday nights after Polish class. When I speak and read it, however, it's pretty well cemented. There is no longer 'lead time' while I get back into the feel of speaking it and I can read a newspaper pre-coffee without thinking.
Imagine my absolute surprise, then, when I am speaking to my Spanish colleague and some German words sneak right into the sentence. It was like they were slipping over the Polish border under the cover of night. The construct of the sentence was Spanish as were the bulk of the words, but 'wie immer' slipped right in, in place of the Spanish equivalent. As it is I don't really like the sounds of German in general and the best you'll get out of me on a good day is that I will listen to your German spiel and then respond in English to you if you are someone in my office. If I'm in tiny town of B I will move around completely in German on Saturdays, although it's often of a Turkish flavor over here.
Then over a weekend I was at a vegetarian restaurant in Koeln and picked up a soya hot chocolate on the way out. I was in line behind some people so it was taking a few minutes. While I was waiting, I could hear the coffeebar woman talking with a customer sitting at the counter and they were talking in Spain Spanish. I started off my order in German as that is what I am used to doing here, but midway it converted to Spanish automatically, I think because I was listening to the ladies.
The woman pauses for half a second, somehow understanding my half-baked sentence and then responds to me in Spanish. I carry on a conversation for some minutes with the customer in Spanish. But again, every once and a while a German word started to creep in, perhaps because I had spent some hours the previous night mainly around German speakers, and also speaking German.
My inability to control such slippages mainly tells me that the influence of living here is quite heavy.
Monday, November 19, 2007
i am back
from iceland. total hours of daylight there--currently around 6 hours per day, (from roughly 10 or so in the morning, until 16ish in the evening.) good thing they make good coffee.
the air and water are so clean, it is remarkably fresh. add in the below zero temps during the past few days, and it's so beyond fresh it's perfect.
the air and water are so clean, it is remarkably fresh. add in the below zero temps during the past few days, and it's so beyond fresh it's perfect.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Friday night: Kristallnacht remembrance in Germany
On Friday night, Nov 9 (the anniversary of Kristallnacht) we went to an evening program of a local church. Neither of us have any affiliation with this church, nor do we know of anyone who attends this church as it is not near where either of us live, but rather it's near the office. However, it was also noted in the local newspaper in advance, so we went.
The evening started with an overview of the number of children in the Cologne Jewish school before Kristallnacht and then today, and then an introduction of the main speaker whose name is Henry. He started off by telling us that he was born in Cologne and about his early childhood years of playing soccer in the streets of Cologne Ehrenfeld with his friends. However, all of that changed one day when his Catholic friends told him that he could no longer play with them.
On the actual night of Kristallnacht he remembers (the SA or SS, I missed which) came to his house. They threw the family's furniture out the window. He remembers their neighbors just standing there and watching, not saying anything. At this point there was a musical break, and a pianist played something from Bach.
Fortunately, he was sent on a Kindertransport to the UK where he made many friends. At the end of the war, these friends scattered around the globe: to the US, Canada, Israel, etc. His sister was a bit older so she didn't get to go on the transport, and was killed in Auschwitz. Around this part my German started to go downhill, so I missed a bit as to what he did next, beyond stay in the UK. However, he decided to return to Germany 35 years ago, and both D and I missed his reason for coming back then.
Next the Jewish choir from D'dorf sang with piano accompaniment. There were some short readings after that by children in the local school, who went in pairs to read some historical data. Then Henry came back and had a scripted interview with two of the children who asked him such questions as 'do you hate the Germans for what they did?' (the answer was no). Finally, the choir sang again a few songs, but this time in German, with a closing song in in Hebrew or Yiddish, inviting the audience to join in the hand clapping.
The evening closed with the church leader (I think), thanking each group for their contribution to the evening while the audience continued to clap during his two minutes of thank yous. As the crowd filed out, there were two unattended baskets at the exit where people could give money. Having come from the Catholic tradition, there are plenty of baskets for money, but never unattended where I come from. I was further surprised that there were large bills in the unattended baskets, such as 50's. The choir had a bus waiting to ferry them back to D'dorf.
Overall it was an interesting Friday evening. There were perhaps 200 people in the audience, and only 2 people left during the entire evening. We lingered a few additional minutes to read some of the materials they had posted on the walls. They had some local histories of other people who were in this Cologne school and who had also gone on the Kindertransport, and what had happened to them since. Most featured were now living in Israel. They also had some historical info on the school, before/during/after Kristallnacht.
The evening started with an overview of the number of children in the Cologne Jewish school before Kristallnacht and then today, and then an introduction of the main speaker whose name is Henry. He started off by telling us that he was born in Cologne and about his early childhood years of playing soccer in the streets of Cologne Ehrenfeld with his friends. However, all of that changed one day when his Catholic friends told him that he could no longer play with them.
On the actual night of Kristallnacht he remembers (the SA or SS, I missed which) came to his house. They threw the family's furniture out the window. He remembers their neighbors just standing there and watching, not saying anything. At this point there was a musical break, and a pianist played something from Bach.
Fortunately, he was sent on a Kindertransport to the UK where he made many friends. At the end of the war, these friends scattered around the globe: to the US, Canada, Israel, etc. His sister was a bit older so she didn't get to go on the transport, and was killed in Auschwitz. Around this part my German started to go downhill, so I missed a bit as to what he did next, beyond stay in the UK. However, he decided to return to Germany 35 years ago, and both D and I missed his reason for coming back then.
Next the Jewish choir from D'dorf sang with piano accompaniment. There were some short readings after that by children in the local school, who went in pairs to read some historical data. Then Henry came back and had a scripted interview with two of the children who asked him such questions as 'do you hate the Germans for what they did?' (the answer was no). Finally, the choir sang again a few songs, but this time in German, with a closing song in in Hebrew or Yiddish, inviting the audience to join in the hand clapping.
The evening closed with the church leader (I think), thanking each group for their contribution to the evening while the audience continued to clap during his two minutes of thank yous. As the crowd filed out, there were two unattended baskets at the exit where people could give money. Having come from the Catholic tradition, there are plenty of baskets for money, but never unattended where I come from. I was further surprised that there were large bills in the unattended baskets, such as 50's. The choir had a bus waiting to ferry them back to D'dorf.
Overall it was an interesting Friday evening. There were perhaps 200 people in the audience, and only 2 people left during the entire evening. We lingered a few additional minutes to read some of the materials they had posted on the walls. They had some local histories of other people who were in this Cologne school and who had also gone on the Kindertransport, and what had happened to them since. Most featured were now living in Israel. They also had some historical info on the school, before/during/after Kristallnacht.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Saturday lunch: Vegetarian Thai green curry
I fell in love with green curry when I first had it at a Thai restaurant in Milwaukee. I ate the same dish multiple times just to cement in my head the full taste so that I could (try to) recreate it later.
Before I became vegetarian I used to always get Pad Thai when as my Thai food of choice, but as it tends to be made with fish sauce, I've since abandoned ship on that one unless I'm at a completely vegetarian restaurant. I've tried making it at home but it never quite has the right flavor.
However, you can easily make a green curry without fish sauce without compromising on the flavor. A lot of recipes for green curry are very complex, but here is a simplified version that I make in 15 minutes.
1. The most difficult part-find vegetarian green curry paste. I buy mine in Holland, this tends to be the main one sold in Asian food shops there. It is an import from Thailand to Holland, and it will set you back a few Euros, but with one this container you can make this meal at least 20 times.
Maybe Christina G knows where to buy it in Germany. I have seen the Thai Kitchen and Blue Dragon brands have it, but it's more of an oily sauce than a dry paste, and both contain fish sauce.
2. Fry tofu squares in oil. Then set the tofu aside.
3. Open a can of coconut milk. Personally I go for the 'light' coconut milk, but regular is also ok. I buy a refrigerated version from an Asian shop in Koeln or from Holland, but you can get the non-refrigerated kind also.
4. Put the coconut milk into a skillet on low heat. Put 1 or 2 tablespoons of the curry paste into the skillet also (depending on how strong of a curry taste you like). Keep stirring constantly. One clove of chopped garlic can also be added now, if you like.
In the meantime put the container of unused curry paste into an airtight container or ziploc baggy and put it into the refrigerator.
5. Throw in a few handfuls of chopped up mangold (chard), including the chopped up stems. Any dark, leafy green thing could also be substituted if you're not in Germany where mangold is currently abundant.
6. I like my dark, leafy greens to be barely cooked, so at this point I throw my tofu back into the skillet, so that it gets coated with the sauce. Stir some more.
7. If you're feeling especially adventurous, throw in a chopped up green Thai chili pepper (optional). Throw in a few basil leaves (optional). Take off heat.
8. Serve over rice or noodles of your choice. Today I was in the mood to have some Japanese noodles.
The final result:
Before I became vegetarian I used to always get Pad Thai when as my Thai food of choice, but as it tends to be made with fish sauce, I've since abandoned ship on that one unless I'm at a completely vegetarian restaurant. I've tried making it at home but it never quite has the right flavor.
However, you can easily make a green curry without fish sauce without compromising on the flavor. A lot of recipes for green curry are very complex, but here is a simplified version that I make in 15 minutes.
1. The most difficult part-find vegetarian green curry paste. I buy mine in Holland, this tends to be the main one sold in Asian food shops there. It is an import from Thailand to Holland, and it will set you back a few Euros, but with one this container you can make this meal at least 20 times.
Maybe Christina G knows where to buy it in Germany. I have seen the Thai Kitchen and Blue Dragon brands have it, but it's more of an oily sauce than a dry paste, and both contain fish sauce.
2. Fry tofu squares in oil. Then set the tofu aside.
3. Open a can of coconut milk. Personally I go for the 'light' coconut milk, but regular is also ok. I buy a refrigerated version from an Asian shop in Koeln or from Holland, but you can get the non-refrigerated kind also.
4. Put the coconut milk into a skillet on low heat. Put 1 or 2 tablespoons of the curry paste into the skillet also (depending on how strong of a curry taste you like). Keep stirring constantly. One clove of chopped garlic can also be added now, if you like.
In the meantime put the container of unused curry paste into an airtight container or ziploc baggy and put it into the refrigerator.
5. Throw in a few handfuls of chopped up mangold (chard), including the chopped up stems. Any dark, leafy green thing could also be substituted if you're not in Germany where mangold is currently abundant.
6. I like my dark, leafy greens to be barely cooked, so at this point I throw my tofu back into the skillet, so that it gets coated with the sauce. Stir some more.
7. If you're feeling especially adventurous, throw in a chopped up green Thai chili pepper (optional). Throw in a few basil leaves (optional). Take off heat.
8. Serve over rice or noodles of your choice. Today I was in the mood to have some Japanese noodles.
The final result:
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