You know what's annoying? Earworms in languages you don't understand. Right now, I have a song in an unknown African tongue.
Spring has sprung, guys. I am excited. I slept in until 8, and I went to school and Bio was funny because Herr Wittmeier would ask a question, and go through the whole class, and not a single one of us knew it, and he'd get so frustrated. He explained how to make alcohol to us for a while. I am scared because there is a small test on Monday and I don't understand this stuff very well because it is organic chemistry- do any of you have a decent grasp of the subject and want to help me study?
We really wanted to have math class outside, but Frau Mannhart said no. It reminded me of Frau Velle's class, except with numbers.
In German, Herr Friedl was in some sort of really terrible mood, and it was so hilarious. He was constantly saying the grumpy sort of things that old men say, and we all giggled and giggled. He asked "should next week's test just be 'write whatever you want and I'll grade it? A nice little story about Panama?'" I'm also really proud that I can read his handwriting when he writes on the board now, because dude has some crazy bad handwriting.
I have to play guitar in church on Sunday, and Piff has to play drums, and he brought some guitar back for me when he dropped his drums off, and it turns out that guitar is the easiest instrument ever. I mean, I haven't touched the thing in two weeks, and I can still play this song as if I've been doing it forever. I am most disappointed that there's no work involved.
I'm going to Nurenberg tomorrow, the boys are going snowboarding, my host parents are out somewhere, so there will be no one home to take your calls. Assuming you have a random need to call my house.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Ghosts Appear and Fade Away
Yesterday was a really really great day. I started it off with an e-mail from the right person, and I got to pet a kitten when I was walking to the train, and I saw some duckies when I was walking to school. I found out that there are some things people in my Reli class don't know immediately: the Prodigal Son, the Lord's Prayer. I found out that I don't know the German words for these things immediately, so it makes it hard to show off my knowledge. I swear to you, we are doing organic chem in Bio, and it makes me sad. I don't like Chemistry. Just 4 people again in history. I painted a gray gray painting in art (because I was too lazy to get paint that was neither black nor white) and called it Buenos Aires. I am entertained in German when Herr Friedl gets all specific about the way people read lines when we read dramas, and then they don't do it right anyway. I am practicing drawing on my calculator. I giggle when the Germans talk about superstores and having selection. When I go into a Wal-Mart again, it is going to be culture shock.
My mommy got a letter that said Swarthmore wait-listed me, so that is it on college news. My Wellesley financial aid packet came today, and it is incredibly attractive. I can only hope Hampshire will propose something equally pretty, or I am going to be going to Wellesley.
Today, in Sozi, Herr Lang said "Germany had 2 dictatorships in 40 or 50 years, but the 2nd one wasn't our fault." I got a free Leberkässemmel in my free period. It was delicious. I also had Leberkäs for dinner. It should be noted that Leberkäs is neither liver nor cheese. In history, Strobel determined that Patrick was a better person to copy notes from when you've been absent, and Jakob determined it would be great to copy from Patrick tomorrow, when there is the Schulaufgabe.
Schulaufgabe means I get to sleep in. I like that.
My mommy got a letter that said Swarthmore wait-listed me, so that is it on college news. My Wellesley financial aid packet came today, and it is incredibly attractive. I can only hope Hampshire will propose something equally pretty, or I am going to be going to Wellesley.
Today, in Sozi, Herr Lang said "Germany had 2 dictatorships in 40 or 50 years, but the 2nd one wasn't our fault." I got a free Leberkässemmel in my free period. It was delicious. I also had Leberkäs for dinner. It should be noted that Leberkäs is neither liver nor cheese. In history, Strobel determined that Patrick was a better person to copy notes from when you've been absent, and Jakob determined it would be great to copy from Patrick tomorrow, when there is the Schulaufgabe.
Schulaufgabe means I get to sleep in. I like that.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Been Looking So Long At These Pictures Of You
I almost believe that they're real.
Butterfly Paper has been updated.
It was really, really beautiful yesterday. 20°, sunshine. I was all happy.
It rained today.
There is a grown-up man in Aichach who rides a grown-up sized tricycle. It's neat.
Happy Dada Month!
In the Pause today, there were some 6th graders staring at us through the window, so Zimmy put Geli's phone number up. They all scrambled to save it in their cell phones. It was quite funny. He was going to add a "Your Momma Stinks" sign, but the bell rang.
Butterfly Paper has been updated.
It was really, really beautiful yesterday. 20°, sunshine. I was all happy.
It rained today.
There is a grown-up man in Aichach who rides a grown-up sized tricycle. It's neat.
Happy Dada Month!
In the Pause today, there were some 6th graders staring at us through the window, so Zimmy put Geli's phone number up. They all scrambled to save it in their cell phones. It was quite funny. He was going to add a "Your Momma Stinks" sign, but the bell rang.
Monday, March 27, 2006
SOMEBODY
Sent me a song from Aladdin in Spanish, and it has attacked my ear and settled there like some sort of worm.
I'm not really complaining, but I don't know Spanish, so it makes for an awkward earworm.
I'm not really complaining, but I don't know Spanish, so it makes for an awkward earworm.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Did You Remember?
To switch your clocks?
Planning a lock-in for Daylight Savings Time weekend is a pretty silly idea.
I have pictures, Nadja has pictures, I'll work on this.
Planning a lock-in for Daylight Savings Time weekend is a pretty silly idea.
I have pictures, Nadja has pictures, I'll work on this.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Have I Told You
How much I love Perfect Stars?
Allow me to elaborate.
As far as I know, it is the only webcomic that regularly involves Oscar Wilde.
The art is simply beautiful to look at.
Sometimes it is profound.
Also, Romantic is a classy and pretty person, unlike those Romantics of Literature!
So read Perfect Stars and enjoy the sweet kicks and lipsticks.
(I get excited about all the references in this one. Billy, it is your challenge to spot as many as you can. I have three.)
Allow me to elaborate.
As far as I know, it is the only webcomic that regularly involves Oscar Wilde.
The art is simply beautiful to look at.
Sometimes it is profound.
Also, Romantic is a classy and pretty person, unlike those Romantics of Literature!
So read Perfect Stars and enjoy the sweet kicks and lipsticks.
(I get excited about all the references in this one. Billy, it is your challenge to spot as many as you can. I have three.)
Friday, March 24, 2006
Sneaky Like a Spoon
I didn't have class until 4th period today due to very awesome scheduling of an English exam I didn't have to take, so I got to sleep later than Piff. This is a wonderful accomplishment.
In Bio, Andre and I did the best job on our experiment that involved making the various types of chlorophyll and stuff seperate out of leaves. A chromatograph?
We made Venn Diagrams in math.
German: Robert: "What if I guess the question before you ask it, Herr Friedl? What grade do I get then?" We're reading a play that has no scholarly agreed-upon order because some dude pieced it together decades after the author died. I don't really agree with this system.
Tonight, at 11 pm my time, I will find out for sure if I got into Wellesley. I will update you.
UPDATE: ACCEPTED.
In Bio, Andre and I did the best job on our experiment that involved making the various types of chlorophyll and stuff seperate out of leaves. A chromatograph?
We made Venn Diagrams in math.
German: Robert: "What if I guess the question before you ask it, Herr Friedl? What grade do I get then?" We're reading a play that has no scholarly agreed-upon order because some dude pieced it together decades after the author died. I don't really agree with this system.
Tonight, at 11 pm my time, I will find out for sure if I got into Wellesley. I will update you.
UPDATE: ACCEPTED.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Feeding the Vultures
You guys are terrible, you know. All jumping on me when I miss an update.
So, uh, Pro Christ. It was one of those big Christian get-together arena things. Like Awakening but not for youth, if that tells you anything. Olympic stadium, big choir, preacher dude, disabled guy with a puppet, songs I didn't know. No singing along because I guess it is only Methodists who really like to all sing together? That's what Erhard told me anyway. Apparently the preacher dude was Germany's Billy Graham, and he talked about health, which mostly isn't my concern at the moment, but it was a good night for me, faith-wise. Sleep-wise, not so much, as I got home at about 10:45.
It was cold and rainy yesterday. I spent all day at school with soaked pants- they did not dry until it was time to go outside and walk back to the train station, 9 hours later. In Reli, we agreed that the Catholics are the best scapegoat for everything. Sorry, Catholics. I don't like that the German word Konkurrenz means competition, because I think the English word means the opposite? I'm not totally sure, and the internet is only giving me Spanish words no matter how I try to spell it. I'm getting tired of painting in art. Paint is not intuitive. It doesn't do anything that I want or expect it to do. Deustch quote of the day: Michi: "Herr Friedl, is that word that you wrote on the board Wienberg or Wienburg?" HF: "I don't care; it's in the book."
It was still cold today, but not as wet. They say it will get warm again tomorrow, but it is supposed to be very wet. Herr Lang is not as good at reading infographics as I am, and Jakob is also skilled like me, and pointed out Herr Lang's inaccuracies because I feel weird doing that here in Germany. Quote: Herr Lang: "When you say, 'Don't run in front of a car,' that's enough. That would keep my daughter very happy. She's 18. Months." I wrote the sentence "it doesn't take too long of reading and rereading for everything to sound funny" in my planner during English. That sentence came from my head. Clearly, my English skills remain in tip-top shape. My free period was spent listening to Andre and Strobel discuss their schedules for next year, and figure out which classes to take and which to ditch, and it was entertaining. I explained how much more awesome school is in America with our classes about movies and our ability to stop taking math and take science online. In history, Jakob started this nice conversation with "I know we're learning these things for general knowledge for our lives, but we're also learning for a test, so. . . " and later "somehow, I seem to learn too much for my life and not enough for the test." Germans have the word "Smithians," it seems. I like this word.
Is my life really so fascinating?
So, uh, Pro Christ. It was one of those big Christian get-together arena things. Like Awakening but not for youth, if that tells you anything. Olympic stadium, big choir, preacher dude, disabled guy with a puppet, songs I didn't know. No singing along because I guess it is only Methodists who really like to all sing together? That's what Erhard told me anyway. Apparently the preacher dude was Germany's Billy Graham, and he talked about health, which mostly isn't my concern at the moment, but it was a good night for me, faith-wise. Sleep-wise, not so much, as I got home at about 10:45.
It was cold and rainy yesterday. I spent all day at school with soaked pants- they did not dry until it was time to go outside and walk back to the train station, 9 hours later. In Reli, we agreed that the Catholics are the best scapegoat for everything. Sorry, Catholics. I don't like that the German word Konkurrenz means competition, because I think the English word means the opposite? I'm not totally sure, and the internet is only giving me Spanish words no matter how I try to spell it. I'm getting tired of painting in art. Paint is not intuitive. It doesn't do anything that I want or expect it to do. Deustch quote of the day: Michi: "Herr Friedl, is that word that you wrote on the board Wienberg or Wienburg?" HF: "I don't care; it's in the book."
It was still cold today, but not as wet. They say it will get warm again tomorrow, but it is supposed to be very wet. Herr Lang is not as good at reading infographics as I am, and Jakob is also skilled like me, and pointed out Herr Lang's inaccuracies because I feel weird doing that here in Germany. Quote: Herr Lang: "When you say, 'Don't run in front of a car,' that's enough. That would keep my daughter very happy. She's 18. Months." I wrote the sentence "it doesn't take too long of reading and rereading for everything to sound funny" in my planner during English. That sentence came from my head. Clearly, my English skills remain in tip-top shape. My free period was spent listening to Andre and Strobel discuss their schedules for next year, and figure out which classes to take and which to ditch, and it was entertaining. I explained how much more awesome school is in America with our classes about movies and our ability to stop taking math and take science online. In history, Jakob started this nice conversation with "I know we're learning these things for general knowledge for our lives, but we're also learning for a test, so. . . " and later "somehow, I seem to learn too much for my life and not enough for the test." Germans have the word "Smithians," it seems. I like this word.
Is my life really so fascinating?
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Vanilla Smile and a Gorgeous Strawberry Kiss
I was in a super-super good mood on the way to school this morning (the reason doesn't concern you). . . a little girl decided to randomly talk to me, which was cute! She was like "Hi! Are you going to school, too? What school do you go to? I have this game where you have to get the balls to go through the holes, see?" and it was adorable. Ah, the joys of walking past an elementary school every morning.
I wasn't very attentive at school today. Sorry. Highlights:
History:
Herr Schäfer: "5th grade geography, guys. . . Simon. . . I remember your class. . . ."
Simon: "I don't."
Sozi:
Herr Lang: "What's beeping? Does one of you have a car alarm? My bike doesn't."
I am heading off to Pro Christ tonight in Munich, which is, well, I'm not really sure what it is, but I'm going with Nadja and Anja and Iris and Erhard and I'll tell you about it after I've been! But if you're looking for me tonight, I'm there and not here.
I wasn't very attentive at school today. Sorry. Highlights:
History:
Herr Schäfer: "5th grade geography, guys. . . Simon. . . I remember your class. . . ."
Simon: "I don't."
Sozi:
Herr Lang: "What's beeping? Does one of you have a car alarm? My bike doesn't."
I am heading off to Pro Christ tonight in Munich, which is, well, I'm not really sure what it is, but I'm going with Nadja and Anja and Iris and Erhard and I'll tell you about it after I've been! But if you're looking for me tonight, I'm there and not here.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Schon Leuchtet ein Stern- Yea, I See the Light
Happy Spring, Readers!
It hit temperatures as high as 13° here today, and I celebrated by walking home without a coat. It was heavenly. Too bad Aichach totally stank like farm, making having the windows open very unpleasant (at school).
Have I told you about the scooter lady? The scooter lady is this little old lady on my train, and she has a little razor scooter, the kind 8-year-olds have. Every morning, she gets off the train and gets on her little scooter and goes to the phone booth and makes a phone call. Adam made up the most beautiful story about her, and now she just breaks my heart every morning. Oh, scooter lady.
English was interesting for once, but I am sick of hearing Germans tell me about the West. I am becoming more and more attached to the East Coast the more I hear about whoever's trip to the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park and southern California- seriously, is there nothing else in the US? I would hate everything west of the Mississippi if Kacey wouldn't kill me, so I shall leave the Pacific Northwest out, because I hear it's nice. But I am ready to disown the rest of it, man.
I also got to spend half of English half-cheating with Tinta on the reading assignment- some crazy National Geographic article on public use of federal land, and I'm the only one in the class who got it (basically) and people are pretty jealous that Tinta sits by me and they don't. Sorry, guys!
We did an experiment in Bio today, involving mashing up lettuce with acetone for some highly scientific purpose. I used a mortar and pestel! I didn't know such things still existed!
Like I said, my walk home was wonderful, and I was actually glad that Babsi couldn't drive me to the train today because the weather was that nice.
This terribly attractive picture of me and Piff is from Friday at the concert, where some dude wandered around and took pictures of everyone. I found his card in my pocket today. You can check out www.cityreporter.de to find more pictures and feel like you were there (in case you're incompetent or don't know German, try under "partyshots" and "aktuelle Woche" and "Kantine 17.03.06 Bolzplatzheroes")
BEGIN LIFE PHASE SPRINGTIME
It hit temperatures as high as 13° here today, and I celebrated by walking home without a coat. It was heavenly. Too bad Aichach totally stank like farm, making having the windows open very unpleasant (at school).
Have I told you about the scooter lady? The scooter lady is this little old lady on my train, and she has a little razor scooter, the kind 8-year-olds have. Every morning, she gets off the train and gets on her little scooter and goes to the phone booth and makes a phone call. Adam made up the most beautiful story about her, and now she just breaks my heart every morning. Oh, scooter lady.
English was interesting for once, but I am sick of hearing Germans tell me about the West. I am becoming more and more attached to the East Coast the more I hear about whoever's trip to the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park and southern California- seriously, is there nothing else in the US? I would hate everything west of the Mississippi if Kacey wouldn't kill me, so I shall leave the Pacific Northwest out, because I hear it's nice. But I am ready to disown the rest of it, man.
I also got to spend half of English half-cheating with Tinta on the reading assignment- some crazy National Geographic article on public use of federal land, and I'm the only one in the class who got it (basically) and people are pretty jealous that Tinta sits by me and they don't. Sorry, guys!
We did an experiment in Bio today, involving mashing up lettuce with acetone for some highly scientific purpose. I used a mortar and pestel! I didn't know such things still existed!
Like I said, my walk home was wonderful, and I was actually glad that Babsi couldn't drive me to the train today because the weather was that nice.
This terribly attractive picture of me and Piff is from Friday at the concert, where some dude wandered around and took pictures of everyone. I found his card in my pocket today. You can check out www.cityreporter.de to find more pictures and feel like you were there (in case you're incompetent or don't know German, try under "partyshots" and "aktuelle Woche" and "Kantine 17.03.06 Bolzplatzheroes")
BEGIN LIFE PHASE SPRINGTIME
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
My Poor Fingers
So Friday was St Patrick's Day, but the Germans don't know that. So little green. It confused me.
JUST FOR KACEY
I had a total Mr Cox flashback in English! My teacher kept saying things like "Meeting WHAT?" and "Attempts to do WHAT?" It was wonderful.
English also included the suggested future job of people who get drunk for those who are unhappy with their lives, and would like to drink away their sorrows, but are teetotalers. I'm sure it will be a growing field!
In my free period, Nadine and Eva and I got the pleasant surprise of getting to watch the chemistry LK go outside and blow things up. We were safely inside the K12 room, and that boom was very loud. It was funny!
Biology is still getting to close to chemistry, meaning I'm bored, but at least there are lots of colorful pictures to draw.
In German, we discussed how cinematically terrible the movie we watched was. It was nice. It reminded me a little bit of mass comm, except that no one there had any idea how to talk about movies.
Friday night, Piff decided that there was some band playing that he wanted to see, and that he didn't want to go alone, so I went along. The opener was some moany-style girl with a guitar whose voice made me think of the lady from Garbage being really mellow, and whose songs were sometimes just ok and sometimes more fun, but not really concert-stuff, because concerts need to be loud and danceable. Fortunately, the band we came to see was this, and we had a good time. Apparently, the lead singer's brother takes lessons at the same music school as Piff (does his drum lessons). We decided not to stay for the final band, becuase Piff had no clue who they were or what sort of music they make, and it was 11 and we had the guitar workshop in the morning.
So the guitar workshop meant getting up before 9 am on a Saturday and Piff packing his drums into the car and we headed off to church, where I bummed a guitar off somewhere and quickly determined that the guitar and the mandolin have very little in common. Fortunately, no one else was really sure what they were doing either, so I got someone to show me chords as we went along and I was not the worst (Piff has less of a clue what to do with a guitar than me, because he is a drummer). My fingers ache quite a bit because it has been 6 months, and I spent the whole day playing, but it was good fun and we are playing tomorrow, which means I can play one song on a guitar. I'm bummed that we couldn't pull Lord I Lift Your Name on High together, because it was so easy when I played it on mandolin, but, man, it is hard to do the G-C-D-C thing on a guitar. How do you guys manage this? Why do you play such a terribly difficult instrument. Also, I learned that the Germans call the B string an H. I was sitting there and the guy was all "You can just leave the H7 chord out because it is hard to play." and I was just sitting there thinking "I am pretty sure H is not a note. I bet it is really hard to play a note that does not exist." Crazy Germans. Also, Piff's drums are a lot louder when they're in the room with you, not three floors below you. He's all excited that he gets his very own solo as the postlude tomorrow, though, and we are pretty sure it will work to chase people out of church.
JUST FOR KACEY
I had a total Mr Cox flashback in English! My teacher kept saying things like "Meeting WHAT?" and "Attempts to do WHAT?" It was wonderful.
English also included the suggested future job of people who get drunk for those who are unhappy with their lives, and would like to drink away their sorrows, but are teetotalers. I'm sure it will be a growing field!
In my free period, Nadine and Eva and I got the pleasant surprise of getting to watch the chemistry LK go outside and blow things up. We were safely inside the K12 room, and that boom was very loud. It was funny!
Biology is still getting to close to chemistry, meaning I'm bored, but at least there are lots of colorful pictures to draw.
In German, we discussed how cinematically terrible the movie we watched was. It was nice. It reminded me a little bit of mass comm, except that no one there had any idea how to talk about movies.
Friday night, Piff decided that there was some band playing that he wanted to see, and that he didn't want to go alone, so I went along. The opener was some moany-style girl with a guitar whose voice made me think of the lady from Garbage being really mellow, and whose songs were sometimes just ok and sometimes more fun, but not really concert-stuff, because concerts need to be loud and danceable. Fortunately, the band we came to see was this, and we had a good time. Apparently, the lead singer's brother takes lessons at the same music school as Piff (does his drum lessons). We decided not to stay for the final band, becuase Piff had no clue who they were or what sort of music they make, and it was 11 and we had the guitar workshop in the morning.
So the guitar workshop meant getting up before 9 am on a Saturday and Piff packing his drums into the car and we headed off to church, where I bummed a guitar off somewhere and quickly determined that the guitar and the mandolin have very little in common. Fortunately, no one else was really sure what they were doing either, so I got someone to show me chords as we went along and I was not the worst (Piff has less of a clue what to do with a guitar than me, because he is a drummer). My fingers ache quite a bit because it has been 6 months, and I spent the whole day playing, but it was good fun and we are playing tomorrow, which means I can play one song on a guitar. I'm bummed that we couldn't pull Lord I Lift Your Name on High together, because it was so easy when I played it on mandolin, but, man, it is hard to do the G-C-D-C thing on a guitar. How do you guys manage this? Why do you play such a terribly difficult instrument. Also, I learned that the Germans call the B string an H. I was sitting there and the guy was all "You can just leave the H7 chord out because it is hard to play." and I was just sitting there thinking "I am pretty sure H is not a note. I bet it is really hard to play a note that does not exist." Crazy Germans. Also, Piff's drums are a lot louder when they're in the room with you, not three floors below you. He's all excited that he gets his very own solo as the postlude tomorrow, though, and we are pretty sure it will work to chase people out of church.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Oh, Lay Off
I've been busy drawing pictures all week, so the blog didn't happen. I have to keep them sort of secret for game-related reasons, but if you're curious, drop me a line and I'll hook you up, because they are awesome, and I think you would forgive me for not blogging when you see them.
MONDAY
German: The Sandman is a pretty interesting book, as it happens, and I learned this from it: "getting caught up in self-analysis only leads to egomania and ultimate self-destruction. Analyzing the world around you leads to self-understanding and altruism."
English: We spent 20 minutes discussing how to translate one sentence. In the entire double block, we made it through two paragraphs. I wanted to cry. I've noticed that my English teacher completely abuses the term "borderline case-" can someone tell me what it really means again? Also, can I tell him that "relo" is not a real word?
Biology: I got ausgefragt, meaning I had to explain last class's lesson. I don't know plants inside and out like genetics, but I did okay. Photosynthesis is insane.
The Wigu book came out! I got super-excited and ordered a signed and numbered special addition!
TUESDAY
It was Pi Day and I forgot. It was also my host mom's birthday! Cake! Cake and card games! (I won at cards, and Basti and Piff were completely convinced that I cheated. I DID NOT.)
German: I was the only person in my class who knew who left Sodom and Gomorrha. And these people have religion class at school their whole school career! Crazy Catholics.
Free period: Viktor really loves his Chuck Norris jokes. Really.
Math: We started doing prob and stat instead of calculus, which makes me happy because I understand things. So much for new high scores in puzzle frenzy.
History: Herr Schäfer: What results when a society follows the Calvinist ideas? Strobel: Boredom. Also, we referenced Who Wants to be Millionaire (Wer Wird Millionär) from the previous night, and I had totally watched it and totally knew the capital of Wales.
Sozi: Brand new books about sociology! We started by examining the table of contents, which was pretty strange. I have never really looked at the table of contents of a textbook before. Student: Herr Lang, there are 2 ls missing from that word. HL: It's just a little abbreviation, is all.
It was super-sunshiney and I felt like spring, so I was in a great mood.
WEDNESDAY, IDES OF MARCH
I woke up to the coldest morning I can remember. It was -9 outside, and my room was somehow totally frozen. Not pleasant.
Wednesday is the day I'm super-sleepy, so I don't have any interesting recollections of Reli, Bio, or History, other than trying not to fall asleep.
Art: Jakob: I don't know what I should paint. Zimmie: Paint me! Jakob: I want to paint something that looks good.
German: The Sandman is certainly among the worst movies ever. I know why I slept through the first half now.
Math: We spent most of class talking about Kursessen, a great German tradition where you go out for dinner with your class.
English: Boring. Herr Künz: Start wherever you'd like. . .perhaps with the doughnut? Annette: I think I'll start with the doughnut.
I finished knitting my poncho. It is pretty, Adam is already bugging me for pictures, we shall see.
THURSDAY
Sozi: Student: Herr Lang, did you have long hair when you were in college? HL: No, it was actually shorter than now. Student: Ha-ha, you were a skinhead!
English: We discussed walking off a cliff. Translation makes me want to do this.
Free period: Andre continues to think my calculator is a GameBoy, which is funny. Andre also found a random French dictionary and tried to see if Strobel could guess the meaning. Of course, this quickly fell apart when Andre realized that he does not, in fact, know French, and the dictionary was French-French. There were still Chuck Norris jokes.
History: We've realized that Stief is suddenly some sort of History genius. It's crazy. Herr Schäfer was trying to tell us where something in Augsburg was, and was getting blank looks. "Alright, you know where Königsplatz is? Okay, so the McDonald's on Königsplatz?" Class: OOOOOOOH! Also: Herr Schäfer: "Jakob, when did it happen?" Jakob: 1840. HS: Cloooose. . . Patrick [Stief]? S: 1803. [No typos there, I promise.]
I threw some pictures from the blizzard up on Butterfly Paper. I don't remember what order they go in because they're over a week old, but there are views from windows other than my own! That should make you happy!
Richmond-Area Kids and Kiddoes: I've heard that Y101 has already picked up OK Go's Latest Single, "Oh Lately It's So Quiet!" Now, I'm not a huge fan of Richmond-area radio, but this song is great and if you want to call them up (345-Y101) and make a request, and also listen for this song because it's good stuff, that would be cool! Mostly, what I am saying is that I like OK Go and if you listen to Y101 you might hear their music.
MONDAY
German: The Sandman is a pretty interesting book, as it happens, and I learned this from it: "getting caught up in self-analysis only leads to egomania and ultimate self-destruction. Analyzing the world around you leads to self-understanding and altruism."
English: We spent 20 minutes discussing how to translate one sentence. In the entire double block, we made it through two paragraphs. I wanted to cry. I've noticed that my English teacher completely abuses the term "borderline case-" can someone tell me what it really means again? Also, can I tell him that "relo" is not a real word?
Biology: I got ausgefragt, meaning I had to explain last class's lesson. I don't know plants inside and out like genetics, but I did okay. Photosynthesis is insane.
The Wigu book came out! I got super-excited and ordered a signed and numbered special addition!
TUESDAY
It was Pi Day and I forgot. It was also my host mom's birthday! Cake! Cake and card games! (I won at cards, and Basti and Piff were completely convinced that I cheated. I DID NOT.)
German: I was the only person in my class who knew who left Sodom and Gomorrha. And these people have religion class at school their whole school career! Crazy Catholics.
Free period: Viktor really loves his Chuck Norris jokes. Really.
Math: We started doing prob and stat instead of calculus, which makes me happy because I understand things. So much for new high scores in puzzle frenzy.
History: Herr Schäfer: What results when a society follows the Calvinist ideas? Strobel: Boredom. Also, we referenced Who Wants to be Millionaire (Wer Wird Millionär) from the previous night, and I had totally watched it and totally knew the capital of Wales.
Sozi: Brand new books about sociology! We started by examining the table of contents, which was pretty strange. I have never really looked at the table of contents of a textbook before. Student: Herr Lang, there are 2 ls missing from that word. HL: It's just a little abbreviation, is all.
It was super-sunshiney and I felt like spring, so I was in a great mood.
WEDNESDAY, IDES OF MARCH
I woke up to the coldest morning I can remember. It was -9 outside, and my room was somehow totally frozen. Not pleasant.
Wednesday is the day I'm super-sleepy, so I don't have any interesting recollections of Reli, Bio, or History, other than trying not to fall asleep.
Art: Jakob: I don't know what I should paint. Zimmie: Paint me! Jakob: I want to paint something that looks good.
German: The Sandman is certainly among the worst movies ever. I know why I slept through the first half now.
Math: We spent most of class talking about Kursessen, a great German tradition where you go out for dinner with your class.
English: Boring. Herr Künz: Start wherever you'd like. . .perhaps with the doughnut? Annette: I think I'll start with the doughnut.
I finished knitting my poncho. It is pretty, Adam is already bugging me for pictures, we shall see.
THURSDAY
Sozi: Student: Herr Lang, did you have long hair when you were in college? HL: No, it was actually shorter than now. Student: Ha-ha, you were a skinhead!
English: We discussed walking off a cliff. Translation makes me want to do this.
Free period: Andre continues to think my calculator is a GameBoy, which is funny. Andre also found a random French dictionary and tried to see if Strobel could guess the meaning. Of course, this quickly fell apart when Andre realized that he does not, in fact, know French, and the dictionary was French-French. There were still Chuck Norris jokes.
History: We've realized that Stief is suddenly some sort of History genius. It's crazy. Herr Schäfer was trying to tell us where something in Augsburg was, and was getting blank looks. "Alright, you know where Königsplatz is? Okay, so the McDonald's on Königsplatz?" Class: OOOOOOOH! Also: Herr Schäfer: "Jakob, when did it happen?" Jakob: 1840. HS: Cloooose. . . Patrick [Stief]? S: 1803. [No typos there, I promise.]
I threw some pictures from the blizzard up on Butterfly Paper. I don't remember what order they go in because they're over a week old, but there are views from windows other than my own! That should make you happy!
Richmond-Area Kids and Kiddoes: I've heard that Y101 has already picked up OK Go's Latest Single, "Oh Lately It's So Quiet!" Now, I'm not a huge fan of Richmond-area radio, but this song is great and if you want to call them up (345-Y101) and make a request, and also listen for this song because it's good stuff, that would be cool! Mostly, what I am saying is that I like OK Go and if you listen to Y101 you might hear their music.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Sail the Seven Seas
The melting snow plus two days of rain meant the fields were lakes yesterday. It made me super-cheerful, becuase I am convinced spring is coming. The fact that the weather man is predicting temperatures as low as -10 in the coming days does not deter me.
I am still excited about Brit History in my history class- we are talking about John Locke, whom I love, and all the words for things are in English, so I know them. The fact that we only barely mentioned the Revolutionary War made me feel sort of weird, though- I mean, we were discussing important wars for England in the 18th century, and did not say the Revolutionary, not once. It got dropped in as an afterthought after noting that Britain was becoming the main colonial power, since they'd lost some of their colonies.
I'm getting tired of being asked how to pronounce names in my English class. I do not know this random hick from Steelville! How should I know how he pronounces his name?
I learned that plants breathe in biology. Breathe oxygen like you and me. I didn't know this because nobody ever bothered to tell me. I like knowing this now.
I feel halfway guilty for spending math class seeking a Dino Puzzle high score, but only halfway.
Poncho status: half done. So so pretty.
I am still excited about Brit History in my history class- we are talking about John Locke, whom I love, and all the words for things are in English, so I know them. The fact that we only barely mentioned the Revolutionary War made me feel sort of weird, though- I mean, we were discussing important wars for England in the 18th century, and did not say the Revolutionary, not once. It got dropped in as an afterthought after noting that Britain was becoming the main colonial power, since they'd lost some of their colonies.
I'm getting tired of being asked how to pronounce names in my English class. I do not know this random hick from Steelville! How should I know how he pronounces his name?
I learned that plants breathe in biology. Breathe oxygen like you and me. I didn't know this because nobody ever bothered to tell me. I like knowing this now.
I feel halfway guilty for spending math class seeking a Dino Puzzle high score, but only halfway.
Poncho status: half done. So so pretty.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Wear a Short Skirt
I don't have much to say today, apparently.
I learned that the cultural difference between the US and Germany is that America's strongest interest group is the NRA, and Germany's is the ADAC (basically equivalent to AAA).
We are doing British history in History right now, and it excites me because I understand and am on the same level as everyone else. WHEEE.
It rained like springtime today, which meant it was pretty mushy to walk to school. My pants only dried, like, an hour ago.
The yarn I have been waiting forever for showed up today! I am excitedly knitting my poncho. One yarn is a ribbon yarn and it is all sparkly, and the other is a soft eyelash and it's all blue and green and it is very pretty.
I learned that the cultural difference between the US and Germany is that America's strongest interest group is the NRA, and Germany's is the ADAC (basically equivalent to AAA).
We are doing British history in History right now, and it excites me because I understand and am on the same level as everyone else. WHEEE.
It rained like springtime today, which meant it was pretty mushy to walk to school. My pants only dried, like, an hour ago.
The yarn I have been waiting forever for showed up today! I am excitedly knitting my poncho. One yarn is a ribbon yarn and it is all sparkly, and the other is a soft eyelash and it's all blue and green and it is very pretty.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Ice Age Upon Catastrophic Ice Age
Yes, it's still snowing. No, I'm not dead. Relax.
So, Monday, as you've probably heard, we had a snow day. The immense piles of snow covering Augsburg made people decide that Augsburg couldn't go to school. Aichach went to school, but I wasn't there. Piff stayed home, I stayed home, I doubt the trains even ran. We baked cookies. They are delicious.
Tuesday, I went to school. Now, I was 100% certain I would not make it to first period, and since I have 2nd free, I wanted to sleep an hour later and just take the train that would get me there for 3rd. But no. I got up early and made my way through the snow to the train station, only to discover that the train wasn't coming. I went home, chilled for 15 minutes, and left the house again (at the same time as Piff this time) to see if the next train would come. It did. Got to school, told people my exciting story, went to class. My history teacher, who is certainly in his 50s, said he couldn't remember ever seeing so much snow. Snow in March, yes. So much snow ever, no. The weather itself remained undecided, alternating between amazing blue sky and sunshine and snow that looked like hurricane force rain.
This morning, I got up and discovered the world looking very pretty. Frozen trees, blue sky, sunshine. I almost believed in spring again. Found out I got a 3 on my Bio Ex, which is what I was expecting, really. History: Jakob: "Aww, I wanted to do the project on the women's movement. Can I do the men's movement, them?" I also still get all surprised when Germans don't know things about lobbying, then I remember that it is either illegal or very much frowned upon or both here. How lawmakers know what is up, I have no idea. I think these huge "Ministries" have something to do with it, though. Grabbed lunch at the Berufschule since Johannes wasn't there today (so I didn't have to tutor him), had movie day in German (meaning nap day for me- I mean, the movie was called the Sandman, what do you expect?). . . played calculator games in math, and noted that it started snowing again in English. On my way home, that snow probably accumulated to 5 cm.
I'm sleepy because it's Wednesday. We are painting in art and I would like to paint on paper that does not get all wavy when it is wet, so maybe something that is not paper. Maybe.
So, Monday, as you've probably heard, we had a snow day. The immense piles of snow covering Augsburg made people decide that Augsburg couldn't go to school. Aichach went to school, but I wasn't there. Piff stayed home, I stayed home, I doubt the trains even ran. We baked cookies. They are delicious.
Tuesday, I went to school. Now, I was 100% certain I would not make it to first period, and since I have 2nd free, I wanted to sleep an hour later and just take the train that would get me there for 3rd. But no. I got up early and made my way through the snow to the train station, only to discover that the train wasn't coming. I went home, chilled for 15 minutes, and left the house again (at the same time as Piff this time) to see if the next train would come. It did. Got to school, told people my exciting story, went to class. My history teacher, who is certainly in his 50s, said he couldn't remember ever seeing so much snow. Snow in March, yes. So much snow ever, no. The weather itself remained undecided, alternating between amazing blue sky and sunshine and snow that looked like hurricane force rain.
This morning, I got up and discovered the world looking very pretty. Frozen trees, blue sky, sunshine. I almost believed in spring again. Found out I got a 3 on my Bio Ex, which is what I was expecting, really. History: Jakob: "Aww, I wanted to do the project on the women's movement. Can I do the men's movement, them?" I also still get all surprised when Germans don't know things about lobbying, then I remember that it is either illegal or very much frowned upon or both here. How lawmakers know what is up, I have no idea. I think these huge "Ministries" have something to do with it, though. Grabbed lunch at the Berufschule since Johannes wasn't there today (so I didn't have to tutor him), had movie day in German (meaning nap day for me- I mean, the movie was called the Sandman, what do you expect?). . . played calculator games in math, and noted that it started snowing again in English. On my way home, that snow probably accumulated to 5 cm.
I'm sleepy because it's Wednesday. We are painting in art and I would like to paint on paper that does not get all wavy when it is wet, so maybe something that is not paper. Maybe.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Tunnels
If the snow buries my,
My neighborhood
And if my parents are crying then I'll dig a tunnel,
Yeah, a tunnel, from my window to yours.
You climb out the chimney and meet me in the middle,
The middle of town.
And since there's no one else around,
We let our hair grow long
And forget all we used to know,
Then our skin gets thicker from living out in the snow.
You change all the lead sleepin' in my head,
As the day grows dim I hear you sing a golden hymn
Then we tried to name our babies,
But we forgot all the names that,
The names we used to know
But sometimes,
We remember our bedrooms,
And our parents' bedrooms,
And the bedrooms of our friends.
Then we think of our parents,
Well what ever happened to them?!
You change all the lead sleepin' in my head to gold,
As the day grows dim,
I hear you sing a golden hymn,
The song I've been trying to say
(more pictures of the blizzard at Butterfly Paper
Yep. "Bayern Versinkt in Schnee" to quote the news. So much so that we had no hope of getting to church this morning (cause there is no way that car is coming out of the garage). So much so that they're cancelling school tomorrow, in a roundabout way. See, Piff's school is cancelled. And in our logic, if Piff cannot get around the corner to his school, there is no way I am going to get to the train station and all the way through Aichach to my school. Even if my school is technically open.
Be jealous. I mean, I just had last week off, and now we're extending that. It's supposed to keep snowing through Wednesday, at which point it should switch to rain.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Cowboys
Ferien makes me lackadaisacal and I don't get things done. Sorry about the disruption in blogging.
Anyway, it's been snowing all week. I wanted to go shopping Wednesday, but the snow made me wimpy, and I stayed home instead. Piff and I made a very large Reeses cup using some box mix that my mom sent me months ago and I found on Wednesday. It was delicious. We ate it while watching Germany lose to Italy in their first pre-WM game or something- I am unclear on how it relates to the World Cup, but it does, and it proves that Germany's got some huge issues if they don't want to be terribly embarrassed in something less than 100 days. I mean, Italy got 2 goals in the first 7 minutes, and ended 4-1. Pretty embarassing.
But enough sports talk. Thursday, I got excited about buying music at iTunes, and picked up Stew's Guest Host for just $4.49, which is a deal. It is good music! I also bought a little Johnny Cash and I discovered Willie Nelson's new song "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other." It is everything the title promises and more. It is the most amazing thing my ears have heard since Nickel Creek doing "Toxic," and it is my Original Song of the Year (Toxic being Cover of the Year). It is only available at iTunes, but Willie's hanging onto it for his next album, and I require you to own this song about cowboys and ladies and boots and manly men.
I went shopping yesterday, too, and discovered the cutest skirt at H&M for only €10, and stripey tights and stripey knee socks and I still really love H&M.
Lent started on Wednesday! Did you remember? No more Milkas or Ritter Sports or Kinder chocolates for me until Easter. . . I'm not cutting out chocolates entirely, just the ones in bar or egg form. Or hippo, in the case of certain Kinder treats.
This does not mean you cannot have any! My offer of chocolate to anyone who e-mails and requests it still stands. Billy, I need to throw some Milkas together for you sometime this week.
Piff bought a new handy, so I've stolen his old one. If you want the number, drop me a line in the usual ways.
Anyway, it's been snowing all week. I wanted to go shopping Wednesday, but the snow made me wimpy, and I stayed home instead. Piff and I made a very large Reeses cup using some box mix that my mom sent me months ago and I found on Wednesday. It was delicious. We ate it while watching Germany lose to Italy in their first pre-WM game or something- I am unclear on how it relates to the World Cup, but it does, and it proves that Germany's got some huge issues if they don't want to be terribly embarrassed in something less than 100 days. I mean, Italy got 2 goals in the first 7 minutes, and ended 4-1. Pretty embarassing.
But enough sports talk. Thursday, I got excited about buying music at iTunes, and picked up Stew's Guest Host for just $4.49, which is a deal. It is good music! I also bought a little Johnny Cash and I discovered Willie Nelson's new song "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other." It is everything the title promises and more. It is the most amazing thing my ears have heard since Nickel Creek doing "Toxic," and it is my Original Song of the Year (Toxic being Cover of the Year). It is only available at iTunes, but Willie's hanging onto it for his next album, and I require you to own this song about cowboys and ladies and boots and manly men.
I went shopping yesterday, too, and discovered the cutest skirt at H&M for only €10, and stripey tights and stripey knee socks and I still really love H&M.
Lent started on Wednesday! Did you remember? No more Milkas or Ritter Sports or Kinder chocolates for me until Easter. . . I'm not cutting out chocolates entirely, just the ones in bar or egg form. Or hippo, in the case of certain Kinder treats.
This does not mean you cannot have any! My offer of chocolate to anyone who e-mails and requests it still stands. Billy, I need to throw some Milkas together for you sometime this week.
Piff bought a new handy, so I've stolen his old one. If you want the number, drop me a line in the usual ways.
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