Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Oh Tannenbaum

Winter Wonderlands

Dear All,

I am back home in Storkow now after my very long but totally worth it trip to Austria for Christmas. When I left here it was just rainy, but when I got back, it had snowed, so I went from one snowy landscape to another. It's great. Last week my last few lessons went alright, but once the project was over on monday, I was pretty much on vacation in my mind. As were my students, so that worked out about right. Except for the ones who had to take an english test on the last day before vacation. But that meant I didn't have any lessons on that day, which was nice for me! Thursday I spent cleaning up and packing for my trip, and that evening I visited with Familie Florschutz. We played Rummy and I didn't win a single round. Oops. But they are very impressed that I can shuffle cards the fancy way. This is not as widespread in Germany as I feel like it is in the states, because my students get pretty impressed by it too. Thanks for teaching me, mom! :)

Friday Lars took me to the train station at 4:30 in the morning so I could get my train. The train ride went as smoothly as it could, considering how long it was. I make friends everywhere, so on the first half of the ride I met an ethiopian freelance magician and actor, and on the second half a very shy professor of greek-catholic theology, which is a mix of orthodox and catholic that came about after one of the failed attempts to reunite the catholic and orthodox churches. I know a lot about it now, because that was sort of the only thing he knew how to talk about without being really nervous. Anyway, I didn't have to pay for my own cup of coffee the whole way, which I consider a success. Gerald was there to pick me up at the train station when my train made it in to St. Poelten surprisingly on time. In austria they like to show that they are not as fanatically detail oriented as the Germans are. We picked up Park a little later when his train got in, and then drove to Gerald's parents house. If you want to find where I was on a map, it'll take a little estimation. Once you see St. Poelten, look for Krems to the northwest a little. Then look for a big hill behind Krems, away from the Danube. Somewhere in there is where his parents live. The name of the town closest to it is Traunstein, not to be confused with the bigger Traunstein in Germany. Once we had stopped making hairpin turns in the snow driving up the hill to his parent's house, it was easier to enjoy just how beautiful the landscape was. I took pictures, but getting to see it all first hand was a real treat. It was great to be with friends from wooster again, especially when the whole point was to eat cookies, decorate the tree, drink gluehwein, and eat some more. And take a nap when you felt like it. I got to sing in the choir on Christmas eve, but I didn't make it to the other services when I was there because I was sort of fighting a cold. And singing in an unheated church isn't really the best for that. Gerald's parents were very nice hosts, and by the end of our stay there, I could usually understand half of what they said, most of the time. I have a hard time with Austrian dialects, but I managed ok. His parents helped by speaking more clearly for me. And repeating. a lot.

On the 26 (Stephanestag, St. Stevens day, which explained to me finally why "Good King Wenceslas" is a Christmas song) we went to Vienna to pick up Angelica at the airport, also a language assistant from Woo last year. I got a recomendation from the theology prof to see what the exhibit at the Albertina art museum was, and it turns out they were showing drawings by Egon Schiele, one of my favorite expressionist artists. I was really excited, but since lots of drawings of naked people colored blue and orange wasn't everyone's cup of tea, I went to the exhibit while the others walked around vienna some. It was so great I bought the catalog (some also because for a catalog it wasn't really expensive, even though it was really nice). Then we went on the giant ferris wheel in Vienna, which is about as kitschy as it gets, but still a tradition. Still, the highlight of the trip wasn't any activity we undertook, but definently getting to be with friends and catching up. Talking to people with so many of the same reference points was so refreshing, not having to explain life wooster or life here, just being able to say "you know?" and knowing the other person does. Ahh. I couldn't have had a better reminder at Christmas of just how important friends are. And thanks again Gerald, for inviting us to spend the holidays with you!

So on that note, I will wrap this up. If I can I will see about uploading a picture or two some time in the near future. I hope that you all had a very merry christmas, and I would love to hear more about what it was like when you find the time to write me an email! Until then, all the best.

Monday, December 19, 2005

3...2...1...Christmas!

Hello again! Well, it is snowing now, with the really big fluffy flakes, and it is really pretty to look at. Two major events are now past. Yesterday was the final Chorus performance for 2005. It went really well, and no one in the audience got up and left like they have done in years past when it went too long. It was almost 2 hours, and did I mention the church is so drafty it basically isn't heated? That's why in the waiting room for us there was coffee, tea, and glühwein. So we could be warm enough to perform! My duet went well, and I have already ordered the DVD they were making. So I won't tell you any more about it, for fear of ruining the anticipation when you ALL watch it when I get home. ..Just kidding!

Today was our christmas project. Finally over. Over 50 sixth graders descended on us. We baked a whole lotta cookies today. Mostly the kids were really sweet, if a little over excited. A few were really terrible. The whole idea was that it was an English project. We would do christmasy things from America and England, and speak english while doing it. Well this one kid yelled at me "Deutsch! DU musst Deutsch mit mir reden! Verstehst du? D-E-U-T-C-H Deutsch." First of all, he never should have used the informal "you" with me. Second of all, he misspelled "Deutsch" when he spelled it at me. A real charmer. I am really glad I am at a high school and not at an elementary school.

My train tickets are also all in order now for me to go to Austria on the 23rd. I will be coming back on the 27th, because I want to be here for new year's. I asked Gerald if I should bring nice clothes for church on Christmas eve. He said it wouldn't be a bad idea, and that we'll be going to church the 24th, 25th, and 26th. Um, a little different from "o come all ye faithful" being unspeakably churchy. And I should bring warm things, cause it is cold. And where I will be isn't really on a map, since it's made up of 15 houses. I can't wait. I have to go now, I'm a little late for Marlies's birthday party. In case I don't get back online for a while, Everyone have a Merry Christmas! I will be able to read email again after I get back from Austria. Maybe in Austria, too, but You never know.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Phew!

Well, like I had hoped, December is going by very quickly, because there is so much to do. I think I have gotten to at least one Christmas market every weekend so far, and been to Berlin twice (once to shop, once to dance.) We're working on a christmas project here at the school that will finally be done on Monday, and Sunday is our last choir performance. With that out of the way, at least the work load will slow down, but not the calendar. Marlies's birthday is Monday, as is the teacher's christmas party. The choir party is that tuesday (I think...) and Wednesday I am going to the bowling christmas party of Marlies's sports group. Thursday I head down to Austria for Christmas itself. Then when I get back if it is a little quiet, I think I will be ready for the break!

I need to scoot now, but I have some stories that I hope I have the time to send to you all. My conversation group is starting in just a minute! Hope to hear from you soon!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Nikolaustag!

Happy Nikolaustag everyone!

I am having a lovely day, since St. Nick found me at home and at school. So I have three boots full of chocolate, a little toy reindeer, and a music box full of lebkuchen. I must have been a very good girl this year. My reindeer is coming with me to my classes today (he or she is sort of beanie baby sized) and I feel very festive.

So this has been a pretty busy week. Last week we had two very long choir rehearsals since our first performance was Friday afternoon. At Thursday's rehearsal I got a real treat. I get to sing with music! I don't have to memorize the words! Life got a lot better after that. Friday's performance, however, was a little disappointing. But I sang my duet for the first time in front of an audience, and everyone said that it went well. Saturday was christmas baking day. First we made pumpkin pie, for the first time with Familie Florschütz. We rolled the pie crust very thin and it turned out lots better. Everyone was stunned that it actually tasted good, because it doesn't taste like pumpkin, and we all had two pieces. Then we also made christmas cookies, which no one here thinks is very american. alright. Nice sugar cookies cut out with cookie cutters and then baked with almonds on top and then with a chocolate rum glaze. Oh, yes. I still have a bowl waiting for me at home. Saturday night I went out to the dance club/disco in town, Capitol, which used to be a movie theater. I was there with friends I met through Rayk, who can't believe I'm only 22. Surely I am in my thirties like them. I just take it as a sign of how young at heart they are, and as a compliment that they want to include me in their social group. I couldn't stay out so very late though, because Sunday morning we had another concert in Frankfurt, which went a lot better. But I had been invited to lunch with the family of the woman I am singing a duet with, so we had to leave a lot earlier.

Frankfurt (Oder) is about an hour away and one of the main border crossings with Poland. The church we were singing technically still belongs to the Swedish crown, that's right, from the 30 years war. When Sweden took over this part of Europe. It had lovely stained glass windows that were stolen by the russian troops in world war II, and have only recently been recovered and are being slowly bought back by the oragnization that is restoring the church. It is only in the last few years that the church has gotten a roof back. It was hit by a bomb in WWII during a church service and 500 people were killed. It was left as a memorial for a long time, but now they are trying to rebuild it. They were able to recognize the stained glass windows because they are very famous. They have the only depiction of the anti-christ that was displayed inside a church (at least as it was explained to me). They have one window restored and placed in its frame, others are being restored now, and some still have yet to be bought back.

The christmas market was inside the church, since it is so big and empty, and was very nice. Lots of lovely things to see. I'm getting lots of christmas present ideas!

I need to run off to a lesson now, but I hope you all are well, and that if you have the chance you'll write to me.

Zu meine andere Chormitglieder(innen) die auch ab und zu mal hier lesen: ich bedanke mich für Eure besuch! Ich hoffe, dass es euch gefällt!