Bergkirchweih Beer Festival

One of the most fun things I've done since being here in Germany. This beer fest is located in the small town of Erlangen which is a short train ride from Bamberg. many say it's better than the famous Oktober Fest because it's full of locals and cozier...granted it's still big!! Yesterday was the last day of the two week long celebration so I was determined to go. We were there all day! The festival is located against a hill and the whole area is full of Biergartens, rides, HUGE pretzels, chocolate covered fruit, heartshaped lebkuchen, and naturaly, WURST! Although also rained on and off but it definitely didn't stop us from having fun! This is proven by the fact that one can only buy a 1 liter beer and nothing smaller. ;)

Bad Luck in Prague...will have to go back!

Prague....well I'll keep this short because a bit of a sore subject. I must say Prague is gorgeous-it has a very unique allure to it that not many cities have. The food is very yummy, buildings in old part of the city are beautiful, and I went to the mucha museum! Unfortunately we simply received quite a bit of bad luck. Here are a few reasons.....

1. It was cold and rained the entire time, difficult for sightseeing
2. Arrived in the hostel....cheap but not nice
3. Sarah (finland) realized her wallet was gone 5 minutes after we got there...it was stolen when we were in the train station.
4. 7 heads, 1 direction...not easy!
5. Tried out a disco...bad night to go on, it wasn't hoppin'.
6. Eastern European trains and train stations just aren't the same...very confusing, bad bathrooms, slightly dirty.
6. Well....the last night I lost my camera. Can't say it was stolen because it's more than likely my fault

So I was slightly disappointed but we have a lot to laugh about ever since. Despite my camera loss, Katrine (denmark), (denmark), and sarah (finland) made me a scrapbook type album with all Prague pictures. I just wish I had mine too...I get attached to my pictures!

Happy Birthday to me!!

To everyone: thank you from every part of my heart...I can't say how much I appreciated everything. Please know that I think of y'all always and still have all my written postcards to send out...i'm the worst!!! Here's my little collection. you humble me and that's what i appreciate the most.. :)

On Tuesday night there was a beer pong tournament in my honor which was planned entirely by Sean (USA) because he isn't able to celebrate it with me today or this weekend...Everything was so great despite the bad whether and the school night. I owe the world to him..he's more or less my brother here. I'd say that's what we've all become...with some more than others but we are a family. But in the middle of play all of the sudden all the lights went off and they gave me white roses, brought out a brownie cake (brownies don't really exist here by the way), and began to sing "Happy Birthday" in English and then continued in Danish, Spanish, Italian, Hungarian, Polish, Finnish, Swedish, French, Latvian and last German. Atleast I don't think I'm forgetting a language?!

Well I need to do some more updating but unfortunately I have to finish a presentation by today because we're a group of us (the Danes and Sarah-Finland) are going to Prague tomorrow!!

Love you all!!

Well, with out delay...I went to Spain and Portugal last weekend to visit my roommate from home! Until I update with details, here are some pictures

Working on my presentation tonight so hold on a day!

Spain & Portugal

Vienna Waits for You

First things first, I again would like to apologize for my lack of blogger communication...I just get too caught up in all the fun and then class as well, of course! But these past couple of weeks have gone by so fast. Already I can't imgagine going home and leaving these people and this city that I have become so close with. Since my last update, I've been getting wrapped up in class-a presentation and much reading and also made trips to Vienna, Austria and Seville, Spain/Lagos, Portugal. I#m very grateful for both experiences.

In any event Vienna....As every leaf turns and season goes by I'd say Vienna always awaits me. So it was more than a treat to visit my great Aunt, Tante Grete, und uncle, Onkel Friedl in this city full of buildings so white they sparkle when it's sunny, coffee so good it convinces one to never want Starbucks ever again, and pastries so detailed and handeled with care that they are just as priceless as imperial porcelein. But's it's also the street actors dressed as Mozart and Strauss and consistent patter of horse hooves coming from carriages that remind one of a time so rich in culture and royal mystique. I can't help but to stop and let it soak in...I'm in the opinion that the Austrians will forever have the Kaiser (Emporer) in their heart. I think a piece of him might be in me as well...or maybe it's just the Mozart Kugeln that are too tempting to resist.

From Friday to Sunday with a long trade ride, I was lucky enough to have two of my friends, Line and Annemarie (Denmark) accompany me to Vienna. I absolutely love train rides, especially with friends. Although they speak pratically perfect English, we only spoke German together...and their German is much better than mine! It's also very rewarding when someone comments on our German conversation. For example, the old man with smiling with his glassy blue eyes told us how precious a moment he had when we would be speaking about Denmark, the U.S., studying abroad, funny stories, and our excitement over upcoming arrival in Vienna. Being caught up in class and going out at night in Bamberg, it was so refreshing to get a little more breathing room and be a tour guide to two of my closest friends here. Not only that but my mom (aka Margarita) was so kind to find us a room that was in the middle on the Innenstadt close to everything. Pension Perchy is so beautiful...the Danes and I felt as if we were little princesses as we entered our hotel room. The walls were convered with yellow/gold patterned fabric, the curtains a ruby red. The small rose accents on the desk were more than just a special touch, they were touching. Hung above the desk was a watercolor painting of Vienna-I felt right at home. And the bed...heavenly! The down comfortors and pillows were like fluffy clouds awaiting for nightful when we would finally be still and the bright chandelier, the sun of the room, would not shine it's light any longer. After squeezing in as much sight seeing and coffee in our half day on friday, we were tired by 8 and made the greatest decision to buy a bag of origional Mozart Kugeln to share and watched Austria's Dancing With the Stars before we went to bed. It was the first tv we had watched in 2 months!

On Saturday the day after, we did more sightseeing-We saw all the beautiful sights such as the Hofburg, der Graben (a beautiful monument dedicated to the end of the Plague), Stephansdom (St. Stephens Cathedral), etc-pictures make a more interesting sight! And of course we did a little bit of shopping...it's awful in Bamberg! But after that I was had the special opportunity to have Jause (tea time) with my great aunt and uncle. Although nerved by her dramatic ways that have even softened from her theatre actress days, our visit was so sweet and warm. We chatted (all in German!) over tea and Austrian specialties-apfel strudel, dopfen kuchen, sacher torte, unnnnd something i forget! ah

On Sunday the weather was Kaiserwetter (weather fit for a king) and we strolled around the city as much as possible and finally left our dear hotel to the train station...back to Bamberg baby!

A Bit Under the Weather with the Weather...it's raining :)

In recent events, class is in full swing! Unfortunately, I have my first cold here! Ah, it's a good thing motherdearest prepared me with a pharmacy-to-go! It's about 22:00 (10:00) here right now and I'm procrastinating my 50 pages of European Integration homework. eek! But I'm nestled comfortably in my chair and can hear the change of weather from outside. It's a soothing rain. All I can think about right now is a favorite quote of mine by a German poet,
"I beg you... to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually without even noticing it, live your way into the answer..." - Rainer Maria Rilke

This calls for some vanilla green tea! Hopefully I'll be well by this weekend...off to Vienna!

I hope all is well-viele Bussis!

katzlein (little cat), a new nickname

New Faces, New Cultures, New Friends

Without further due, finally a new blog! Unfortunately, the start of school and my vorbereitungs course, the beautiful weather, laying in my favorite park, and being with new friends has stopped me from being blogger productive! I hardly even now where to begin....the life of an "Erasmus" (european exchange) student is truly something else

Essentially, my vorbereitungs course was a month long course that prepared all the exchange students get well aquainted with the town and further their german. Despite the short amount of time, I've already become close with the other exchange students from around the world. It's almost like the olympics! Countries represented include: USA, Spain, Denmark, Finland, France, Bulgaria, Russia, South korea, mexico, Itally, Slovakia, Hungary, Canada, Latvia, Romania...and i might be leaving a few out! I've already asked to hear national anthems several of the countries. Of course I have a close relationship with the other americans (Sean, Cody, Catie, Evelyn)-it's as if we're an understood family, but I've also become close friends with the danish girls (4) who are all just lovely; a finish girl, Sarah, who cracks me up and always has a broken bike; as well as a french girl, Adelaide, who always has a smile on her face and the sweetest disposition; and Sylvia from Poland who is almost just too cool for me but still calls me her little Hase (bunny) . Together we primarily speak german with each other except for Sarah who understands everything but apparently can't speak it. With these people, I've had picnics in the park, visited munich and nuerneberg, gone out all night with, and learned some words of their own language. I've learned Danish from the danes and swedish from Sarah because in Finland she represents 5% of the swedish population. One really interesting example of this sharing of cultures was when we were all out for Annamarie's (Denmark) and Happy Birthday was sung in about 8 different languages :)

So far I'm loving it here, classes just began, and spring has sprung! The summer has even yet to begin and I have had so many stories that I'll be writing about soon. With the prep course over, I'll hopefully have more time and won't be slacking off!

my favorite things about the lifestyle:

riding my retro robins-egg bluebike everywhere

everything is closed on sunday-a true day of rest

buying bread from a bakery

outside cafes

Hain Park

Pictures

This should be easier to view pictures, just click!

A lot of Burgs; Bamberg, Rothenburg, Coburg

Here Comes The Sun...at least for the weekend!

In recent events, the ‘rents came to visit Bamberg after their short stay in Vienna. Thankfully they brought some of that Texas weather with them too. Despite being cold, it was finally sunny! I was thrilled. We were able to have a tour of Bamberg as well as Coburg and Rothenburg. I’ll write about the visit with the rents tomorrow but today is Saturday, the busiest day of the week and the best for people watching too! When the sun comes the town gains life as if the sun were inspiring flowers to bloom. It’s more alive than I’ve seen it! After turning the final corner on my long 45 minute walk from the apartment to the Innenstadt, a cobble stone street that is usually empty was taken up by an outside café, stands boasting off big pots with the smell of Goulash soup, and of course a place to get Wurst! The people here have already been warm and friendly thus far yet their moods are greatly affected on sunny days. Everyone is out and about in lit up fashion. So stylish too! On a normal day I usually would try to as well but after a week of traveling with the ‘rents, I was tired of trying to be fashionable SO on rare occasion, I’m sporting my Adidas track pants-at least my light blue jacket matches my blue New Balance running shoes! Nevertheless, the comfortable running shoes took me to the next corner and I turned into the Grüner Markt (green market). It doubled in size! Overwhelmed with too many options to explore, I paused for a moment, glanced around and…yup! I turned right to seek out the sweets. Surprise surprise right? ;-) My mouth watered with delight but after this week’s Wurst-fest with mom and dad, I wouldn’t give in. Instead I chose one of the many sweetly decorated Lebkuchen (gingerbread) hearts for my visitor, Alexis, who is a roommate from U. South Carolina coming next week to Bamberg. Alexis is currently pretending to be a Spanish senorita in Seville, Spain but unfortunately she’s having a hard time blending in because of her hair color. I know you love the attention, Alexis! Haha. After stuffing her lebkuchen heart in my bag, I strolled on passing a few vendors with scarves which I twirled around in a bit and then went through the many rows of fruits, veggies, and other locally made products. I was also sucked into buying a bag of unsweetened dried apples since I felt inconsiderate for sampling with out intent to purchase…they’re so good!

Still wandering along the Fußgänger Zone (pedestrian zone that doesn’t allow cars), I was suddenly distracted from all the colorful vendors by a cheerful tune. It was an organ grinder! Public entertainment just really adds to the whole mood. Honestly, who couldn’t pass this old man dressed in traditional lederhosen, hat, and stuff monkeys and not crack smile? I popped him a Euro on my way out. While continuing on my path, I went by my favorite part with all the spring flowers, roses, and pussy willows and then went through the area of woven baskets in every, shape, and size made by local artisans. Then finally I decided I was hungry for lunch so I grabbed a square piece of pizza (only 1 Euro!) with a Cola Lite and took it to the steps of St Martin Church, built in the magnificent Baroque style, and basked in the sun. For the rest of the day I just took my time browsing around until it was about 4 or 5 when everything closes.

Well I’m off for now…more of the parent's interesting visit later! Wiedersehen!

Liebe Grüße,

katarin (the way everyone pronounces my name)

The Old and New Converged

A journal entry that became an ode* to my always en vogue big sister...written earlier today

Dearest Allison,

I wish you were here with me right now. It is again a cold rainy day in the month of March (I have a feeling this simply means the more beautiful the flowers will be in Spring), but during this mid morning after my night out in Bamberg I've nestled myself into a place that has your name written all over it. Despite the fact that it's tucked in a small corner on the river canal that separates the most historic charming part of town and the centuries old university buildings, you walk in and it's a sleek yet very cozy nouveau cafe. The area on the canal that's close is known as Klein Venedig (Bamberg's "Little Venice")... As you're entering the cafe, the sweet smell of fresh pastries and coffee allures you. The delight of your own cappuccino or grosse Braune* makes you quickly find a seat so you can warm up and order. Besides the large hanging black chandelier crafted in the somewhat gaudy nuanced french country boutique (still very fun), the lighting is low and arises from the sandy wooden floors that gracefully take you up a step to sleek tables and plush seating. The colors of rust and burgundy on the cubic couches somehow flow elegantly with the streamlined wooden menu panels that are lit up on the wall by a hidden neon green light. Surrounding me is a collective of sophisticates and trendy students. Telepopmusik's "Breathe"* is now lightly playing in the background. I don't think it could be more appropriate for this place and time. If it isn't the feeling encompassing Caffébar Kranen that reminds me of you, then it's the deer statues carved from wood by the bar counter and antlers above the entrance to the Küche*. We're both suckers for woodland creatures. What really hits home is something that just appeared in the corner of my eye. She's a manikin sitting on an old retro green leather lounge chair. Her hair is a big light blond Afro and to keep warm she wears a caramel mink coat. To preserve her vogue dramatic effect, her oversize faded shades look out onto the day lit windows in the front. As you follow her posed legs to the ground her metallic pointed heels direct you to her friend, a stuffed Sharpe attached to chair with a long red ribbon for a leash...I couldn't resist but to laugh quietly out loud to myself. So ironic, huh? I had stop and think about the stuffed Sharpe you had as a cool and much older teenager. For some reason I thought the Sharpe completely surpassed the sophistication of my Eddie Bauer golden retriever/Labrador collection and of course the infamous lions: Braveheart, Nala, and Simba. It's always been that though hasn't it? Glamor girl and nature girl. haha But anyways, I should be making productivity the call of the day...and there's nothing but cold foam left in my cup but I miss you and am thinking of you!

Much Love,
Stink

*Andrew, please do not be offended that this isn't an ode to you...Maybe when I see a toe-headed little boy wearing Lederhosen with scraped knees and a mischievous sparkle in his eye will I write another one ;)
*Breathe: by German Telepopmusik, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdUpxch4F8M
*Grosse Braune: austro-german coffee
*Küche: Kitchen

Making the Transition

I've officially spent two days in Bamberg and have yet to express any of my thoughts. Despite the cold and dreary month of March for Germany, I see that Bamberg is a fairytale sort of historic town...I can safely say that it is the perfect fit for me to study abroad.

Although I arrived timely and in one piece from the train ride into Bamberg, I probably wasn't the most graceful. Here I am, two huge suitcases in hand, awaiting the ICE train. As if it wasn't hard enough to pull the luggage up myself onto the train, it was even more difficult to place them in an open spot. Thanfully the germans have already proven to be very friendly. Going up a flight of steps to catch a connecting train in Wuerzburg is another story but the friendliness of strangers persisted. They must have disregarded the American flag on my back and Tom Petty's song "American Girl" playing around me from an indistinguishable source. ;-) Only joking of course.

When reaching Bamberg after the two hour tour through the country side I called my Tandem Partner (a voluntary program to assist foreign exchange students), Carolin, who was able to come meet me at the trainstation. Thankfully! Once again it reminded me how much I was fulfilling the American stereotype when she arrived because we had to drag my two huge suitcases and backpack through the streets of the town. Since I wasn't able to get my appartment that evening, Carolin took me in like a lost puppy by feeding me and giving me a place to sleep. The next day she also assisted me and my broken jet-lagged German in opening a bank account at Sparkasse and obtain a new German phone! (Way nicer than my beatup, war-torn, and well tailgated red Razr endearingly referred to as "Big Red". Through all of this, Carolin was so accomidating that I didn't even know how to express my gratitude well enough. I felt as if I was an inconvience or rather a big, wet, dirty puppy. To make up for it, hopefully she'll enjoy the "Don't Mess With Texas" shotglass I gave to her upon my arrival.

In any event, the next morning Carolin took me in her small car that was hardly able to fit all my American glory (suitcases) to the Akademisches Auslandsamt (Foreign Student Office)...finally the ball began to roll and I was then able to go to my student appt-Pestheim.

Pestheim isn't considered the nicest of student dorms in Bamberg but it is certainly clean, sufficient, and the shower is really warm and powerful. Seems great to me! I've already tried to make it home by buying some cheap candles, frames, and a soft yellow blanket. Through some direction and advice over coffee from a fellow Gamecock that studied abroad last semester, I've been able to get to know a little bit of the bus system and find my way through the charming Innerstadt of Bamberg. Today I finally filled my room with some food too! Apples, oragnes, tomatoes, lachs, some white cheese, Broetchen, and of course a bottle of red WINE and MILKA (german/austrian chocolate)! Although, oops, I still don't have a wine opener. But for the most part not many people are here because it's a holiday. No worries though, during the next two weeks I'll just be aquainting myself with the city and getting some required stuff out of the way.

As for tonight, Carolin was kind enough to invite me along so we'll see where that goes...

Leb' wohl,

Katherine

And We Have Lift Off

While on Lufthansa...

Endlich, my adventure begins. Up until now the realization of living in Germany never seemed so actual and true to happen. Maybe it took passing the German newspapers onto the airplane, being surrounded by predominantly German speaking passengers, and uttering my first sentence to an old couple "bitte, Ich kann mein Mantel mitnehmen, wenn Sie moechten!" (please I can take my coat with me, if you'd like!) for this all to become real.

Although...looking out of the window has suddenly distracted me to stop and think for a minute. (I'm sure you're not surprised that my thought process happened to change because of a simple distraction.) Not only am I taken away by the striking reds, oranges, blues, and purples of a Texas sunset I'm about to leave and will miss, but also of something greater and humbling-The sense of our shrinking world. Drawn back into perspective, I'm on a German airline gazing out at a Texas sunset with Arabic writing in view from an Emirates airplane. The outrageous amount of connectivity in the world makes me anxious. I still don't know why this bothers me. Does this connectivity hurt or help cultures grow? If it says anything, I'm not the biggest fan of globalization. Instead of concerning myself with the possible dillusion of cultures, I'll just remind myself of the Lufthansa down pillow awaiting my head and sleeping pill ready to go.

Nevertheless, this childhood dream of mine has yet to truly sink in. Hopefully it won't take a nose dive rather than a gradual sink when I'm confronted with words I can hardly understand or search for in the German part of my brain to express myself. Eitherway, my personality won't let it get to me and I'll focus on the exciting things to follow. I'm so gracious for the opportunity ahead of me so for now I'll remain in my little comfort zone. Boots off, ear buds in, book on lap, and a glass of wine on its way-you could say I'm sittin' pretty in my window seat.

Leb' wohl,

Katzi

Don't fret, I haven't joined the European Union yet

Grüss Gott!

As time becomes shorter until I jump over the pond to live with our older more sophisticated friend, Europe, I created this blog in order to let my beloved family and friends know that I'm still alive and well. By doing so I'll be able to share my experiences of new people, cultures, and places during my studies abroad in Bamberg, Germany with you- No matter how ungraceful and humiliating these stories may be. Mami, I'll keep them G rated so you can read them too. This way you'll know for sure that I haven't decided to hide in the Alps living my life out hiking hut to hut with pink cheeked, long bearded, burly mountain men while keeping hedgehogs as pets and sticking to a strict beer, saugsage, and bread diet. (Oh if only) If you know me well, you'll already be expecting stories of 5+ hours in art museums, long walks or jogs of exploration, sitting outside cafes in the sun, and meeting german boys named Hans and Franz over wine and beer inspired conversations about the world as we know it . But oh don't worry, I won't forget my glorious moments that are often followed with reactions of a. hysterical "you-would-do-that-kathy" laughter or b. [pets back] "Aw it's okay". Humility helps us retain our ability to be happy and humble. Don't you think? Regardless, this blog will help both of us through these 5 months to come. In the future I'll hopefully use it to share my voyages in any corner of our ever flattening world I may be so fortunate to visit. Be expecting a postcard!

Countdown: 24 days

Needs:

• Travel sized toiletries
• Stone-faced Passport Pictures (I'm aiming for the Jason Bourne look)

Caution: epiphanies and quotations