Wikipedia

I have been getting back into the academic swing of things this past week, all my favorite websites are being used again: dict.cc, leo.com, dictionary.com etc.  All of my classes have finally started and there is a common theme between them all, and it is more than that they are all in German.  

The common thread connecting all of my classes is that the only online source that the teachers are ok with you using for papers, reasearch and such is wikipedia.de.  In my classes where I will have to write papers we have been told to avoid using the internet because you don't know how reputible the sources can be, except for wikipedia, that is ok.  Do they not realize that ordinary people can write and edit the articles posted?

I guess the first thing on my to-do list for tonight is to add a new bookmark to my computer.  

Morocco, That's in Africa

This weekend I booked tickets to go to Morocco, that is on the continent of Africa. The flight there and back costs a convenient 99 Euro. I had a gift certificate for 100 Euro. Katherine and I will be flying to Morocco on June 11 and coming back the 13th. I know, a short trip. But that just means that there is less time for me to get into trouble.

First Week of Classes

I find it a bit comical that as I am beginning my semester here in Germany, all of my friends in the states are ending their semesters and entering finals. To you I say "Good luck". This past week was my first week of school at the University of Tuebingen. I know you are thinking that I am a huge bum. Maybe so.

My classes are really intimidating, especially the seminars. There are two basic categories of class in Germany. The seminars and lectures. In the lecture classes everyone just listens to a professor lecture for an hour once a week. You take notes and that is the end for most people. The lectures just serve to provide background information that you may need later on in your studies. There are no tests, except in my case. Normally, you don't get a Schein, a certificate of completion, for the lecture courses. I have to have one to take back with me so I will have to take a test of some sort. Normally, it isn't too terrible. Professors often choose to have an oral exam where you talk about what you learned in the class.

The seminars are a bit of a different story though. They meet for two hours once a week and are small discussion based classes. You have to do a presentation, write a ten to twelve page paper, and take a test to pass the class and get a Schein. I have two Seminars that I am taking. One is a german literature Seminar over the book "Wahlverwandtschaften" or "Elective Affinities" in English by Goethe. The other Seminare is a sociology course called Gender and Biography. I haven't said much due to the fact that the Germans talk really fast and I have to think too much just to keep up. By the time I have figured out how to say my opinion in German they have moved on to another point.

I am kind of happy to have work to do again, I know strange. I am a little stressed right now, just because of the new system and I am unsure of what the expectations of the professors are. But the atmosphere seems to be much more relaxed than at WashU, something that is an extremely welcome change.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is another beautiful city that I wish I had more time to explore. I only had about twenty hours here, there was a delay with my train and the trip from Amsterdam lasted seventee hours. No, I did not have a bed for that journey, a seat the whole way.

I had read in my guidebook that the best way to see Copenhagen is by the water. So I took a canal tour. It was a great decision. The sun was shining, but the weather was quite cool and it was a lot of fun to be out on the water.

Fun fact: Denmark and northern Germany receive 20% of their total power from windmills that dot the countryside.

Amsterdam Pics

I was only in Amsterdam for one day, so I didn't have time to do a whole lot. And let's face it, most of the time it would probably be better not to be alone in Amsterdam.

I saw the Anne Frank house while I was there. It was one of the best museums/exhibits that I have ever been to. There were quotes from Anne's diary in all of the different rooms explaining what they were in her own words.

The house has remained unfurnished because the furniture was taken by the Nazis after the Franks were discovered. It was Otto Frank's wish that the house remain unfurnished.

Amsterdam is really a beautiful city. Yes, there are some parts that are a little to hippie and are geared toward the weed smoking crowed that flocks to this city, but once you get outside of that it is truely a gorgeous city.

I was able to spend part of the afternoon eating cake and drinking hot chocolate with an old couple who was on their way to the movie theater. We spoke in German. It was awesome.

Paris

I had to go to Paris a day early because the train from Rome to Paris was full on Easter Monday. So I travelled on Sunday instead. That meant that I didn't have a place to stay on Monday night. My wonderful brother kindly booked a hotel for me to stay in. It was the nicest place I stayed the entire trip. Thank you, Joseph.

Upon arrival in Paris, I checked in and hit the streets. I went to Notre Dame and the Arc de Triumph on my first day.

Day two: I moved into my hostel which happened to be right around the corner from the Maubert Market. I stopped at the market to get some stuff to take along with me for lunch and headed off to the Eiffel Tower. I had to wait in line at the Eiffel Tower. After approximately 45 minutes of waiting I finally reached the security checkpoint.

I opened my bag for the guard to look through and he found the fork that I had so smartly packed to eat my market food with. His eyes got wide and he started yelling at me. "Forbidden! Forbidden! This is forbidden! OUT! OUT! OUT!"

I offered to give him the fork, he looked at me like I was offering him a bomb. I offered to throw the fork away. He grabbed me by the shoulders and threw me out the door.

It all worked out for the better though. I went back to the Tower later that day, sans fork, and I timed it in such a way that I got to watch the sun set over Paris from up top.

The next day I took the train out to Versailles. It was beautiful. The grass was absolutely amazing. All I wanted to do was run around barefoot. Too bad you weren't allowed to be on the grass.

I came back and met up with a friend from high school and we went out to dinner at a fondue restaurant. The owner thought we were his good luck charms because the restaurant filled up after we came in and started eating. Good luck charm in french translates to free food and drinks. I was okay with that. After dinner Lauren and I went to the Louvre where we got in free.

The next day I got to see Lauren again and we chilled out, ate a crepe, had some hot chocolate until I had to catch my train to Amsterdam.

Rome Pics

Zurich Pics

Vienna Pictures

I already pretty much filled everyone in on what went on while I was in Austria. Here are some pictures though. Enjoy.

Amsterdam

Paris was great. But French keyboards suck hence the no "I'm alive post". This also isn't going to be very long, I only have 24 hours in Amsterdam and I plan to make the most of them. Starting with a shower. My hostel in Paris didn't have a curtain on the shower, so I was mildly hesitant to use it. Here there is a locking door. Yes please.

While I was on the train today I started brainstorming the different stories that I have to tell, such as getting thrown out of the Eiffel Tower. When I get back to Tuebingen I will work on posting these stories in chronological order for your entertainment and enjoyment.

Until then, know that I dominated Paris. I saw the Arc de Triumph, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Market Maubert, Notre Dame, Catacombs, Versailles, and most of the subway system. I have two cities left on my Epic European Adventure. I am sad that this trip is coming to an end, but I am looking forward to being back in clean, little Tuebingen. My snot has been black since Vienna. TMI? Maybe so.

Pope Sighting Numero Uno

The Colosseum has been the venue for some of the "greatest" entertainment in Roman history. People flocked to this place to watch gladiators fight against beasts and other men. It was a bloody scene, but the people couldn't get enough. They were held captive by the stories unfolding on the arena floor.

Last night, this place was once again the spot where thousands of people flocked to take part in one of the greatest stories ever told. Last night, at the Colosseum, the Pope celebrated The Way of the Cross with the massive amounts of people gathered there.

The Way of the Cross is the story of the crucifixion of Christ. Once again, what was going on at the Colosseum held thousands of people captive. Arguably, one of the greatest stories ever told was read for the people. People were pushing to get a better view, to hear more clearly. The concentration on people's faces was incredible as everyone strained to understand the Italian. Each station was introduced in seven different languages, it was truly a global experience.

While we stood there for a little over an hour, smashed up against other people, I didn't hear another conversation. It was absolutely amazing to hear how quite a crowd that large can be. There was no talking, no cell phones, no sirens, only the collective breathing of everyone there.

To really be able to see what such a global church looks like, to be united with thousands of other people who believe what I do, was truly an eye-opening experience.

Rome wasn't built in a day...

...But you sure can see it in one. I got into Rome today at nine in the morning and my friend Stephanie from high school was there to meet me at the train station. We went back to her apartment and I took a much needed shower. Then we hit the streets of Rome.

We literally saw all of Rome today. We went to the Pantheon, Colosseum, Vatican, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, legit all of Rome. The Pope was kind of messing things up though because the Colosseum and the Vatican were both closed because he was going to be there.

Tonight we are going to the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum. Should be pretty sweet. We have tickets to Easter Vigil and Easter Mass on Sunday. By the end of this trip the Pope and I are going to be like best friends.

Zürich

The last day in Austria was spent wandering around the gardens at the Schloss Schönnbrunn. The weather was once again phenomenal and I thouroughly enjoyed just soaking up the sun. After I had spent eough time at the castle. I went back into the city center and what do you know, I got there just in time for the German culture meal of coffee and cake. Naturally, I went back to Demel and got some Trüffeltorte. It was great. I got a painting from a street vendor. It was listed as 18 euro but I got it for four. Yeah for only having coins in my pocket, being a student, and speaking German.

My train for Zürich left at nine-thirty and I was at the train station with plenty of time to spare. I boarded the train and found my assigned seat. When I went into the compartment there were already two people seated, a woman and her son. They were some of the strangest looking people I have ever seen. As soon as I walked in they loudly informed me that place 26 was reserved. I told them that it was reserved for me. They then started jabbering in very fast, high pitched German. They wanted to talk about US somking laws, Canada, and Obama. I didn`t have much to say about any of the above.

The son got the bright idea to lock the door from the inside, yes people were still boarding the train, so that no one else could come into the compartment. I went to "sleep" at this point. People would come to the door, try to open it, fail and then walk on. All the while the mom and her son were cackling with glee.

Then someone came, tried the door, failed but didn`t leave. The boy finally got up and opened the door and said that he hadn`t heard her. She came in not happy, and started telling the boy how rude he was and saying that the mom must be deaf and dumb to have raised such a ill-behaved child and then to not take responsibilty for his actions.

As the train started my original companions left me in the car alone with two angry Austiran women. I could hear them contemplating my fate as they walked down the car. My German quickly got very good, and I managed to talk my way out of what could have been a very awkward train ride.

We saw the mom and her son heading back towards our car because they couldn`t find a seat anywhere else so we quickly locked the door and pretended to be asleep. They quickly realized that the tables had turned and continued on to another car.

The moon last night was almost full so it provided beautiful ghost like views of the Austiran mountains and towns as we passed through. Godd thing I enjoyed looking at them because I wasn`t able to sleep much.

I did finally fall asleep and when I woke up there was a blond haired, blue-eyed swiss boy next to me. Well, on the other side of the car asleep. Nonetheless, it was a nice surprise.

I got to the Zürich train station at six-twenty in the morning and realized that I didn`t have the right money, and nothing was open for me to change money. I waited around for a bit, got my money changed, reserved a place to go to Rome tomorrow, and then got myself a tasty breakfast.

As I was sitting eating, a drunk in a wheelchair rolled up to me and sang, "Schöne Frau" and then took a swig out of his vodka bottle before the waiter chasd him away. It was rather entertaining.

This morning I went to five of the nine major churches in downtown Zürich. In one there was a secret prayer room in the basement and when I walked in the air was so thick that you could literally see prayer. It was really, really cool.

In the afternoon I took a lovely stroll along the banks of the lake. And got a fantastic hot chocolate from a place recommended in my Lonely Planet guide book. It was a good day.

Vienna, Austria

Museum Quarter: check. Spanish Riding School: check. Demel Bakery: check. People watching in the park: check. Picture with the Mozart statue: check. Free Bach concert: check. Rathaus: check. Yep, Vienna and I are getting along just fine. This morning and into this afternoon I spent at the Museum Quarter where I went to the Leopold Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.

Not really sure that I am into or understand modern art, I just don't see the aesthetic value of a torn up piano that you aren't allowed to play with. But it was a good museum and I was glad that I went.

After I was museumed out, and my legs were worn out I went into the city center and got an amazing baguette sandwich and ate it in the park while enjoying the sunshine. I people watched for a while and saw a guy juggling who was really good.

After my legs had rested enough I went on the hunt for the Mozart Statue. And I was successful. Then I went and saw the Rathaus (city hall) and some other big impressive building. Actually that describes most of the buildings that I have seen in Vienna.

Tomorrow my train leaves for Zurich at nine at night. In the morning I will go and check out the Schloss Schoenbrunn. I have heard that the gardens are pretty spectacular.

Vienna

I have successfully made it to Vienna, Austria, the first stop on my Epic European Adventure. I left Tuebingen last night at nine-thirty and got to Vienna at six-forty this morning. I found my hostel without any problems, it is really close to the train station, not so close to the city centre. After I dropped my backpack off I went in search of some breakfast. Austria is still very German in the sense that not much was open on a Sunday morning.

After breakfast I attempted to find a mass to go to since it is Palm Sunday. After finding three separate masses, all of which were ending as I got to them, I gave up and headed into the city center.

I did a lot of walking around and investigating the area. I took a tour of the Spanish Riding School, where they have the Lipizzaner horses. It was pretty nifty.

Tomorrows agenda is to visit the Museum Quarter and hopefully Demel, a bakery my father kindly informed me of. Tuesday I would like to go to one of the castles that has some pretty fantastic gardens. Somewhere in there I need to go to the Mozart Statue as well so that I can get a picture in front of it for my mom. So much to do, so little time.

My hostel rocks. The location is very convenient for the train station and it is very clean and quite a cool place. Hopefully all of them are like this.

Car Porn and some other stuff too

Yesterday was the last day of Deutsche Kompakt. We went as a group to Stuttgart to the ballet. On the way into Stuttgart we stopped at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. It was amazing. I don't even know anything about cars and I knew that the things that I saw there were beautiful and amazing. After we finished oogling the cars that we would never be able to have we went into Stuttgart. We had some free time to walk around, grab some dinner, and enjoy the weather before we went to the ballet.

The ballet is in the Opera House in the town center of Stuttgart. It is really a beautiful building and it overlooks a gorgeous park. The ballet was really good as well. I wasn't so sure that I would enjoy it, but I really did. We saw "De Widerspenstigen Zaehmung" or "The Taming of the Shrew.

In a few hours, at nine-thirty German time I will be boarding a train in Tuebing, heading to Stuttgart and then on the Vienna for the frist stop of my Epic European Adventure. Europe doesn't even know what is about to hit.