Been home for only two days, and I think I'm going to go insane. Football season is here in all its glory, and it's doing a good job of reminding me exactly why I hate living at home in the fall. In fact, I've made it a priority to never, ever be at home again during the fall. That way, Dad and Alex can watch and play and talk about football all they want, and I don't have to suffer through a minute of it. It's not like my company is at all important during football season, nor would it be missed. For example, on the way back from Seattle today after the Husky game, Dad had the post-game radio show on full blast. I asked him a few questions about the game, which he answered. Then I asked him if he was tired, since we had left the house at 5 that morning to get me to work on time at 6. His response was "Kyla, I'm trying to listen to the post-game show. We can talk in a little bit." Fine. So I was silent for a little while, and then the moment I opened my mouth again, he replied, "I haven't had football since last season, I'm hungry for it. Why don't you sleep or something." Great. Glad to see that I'm appreciated around here. I tied a handkerchief around my eyes and did my best to stay out of the way so Dad and his beloved radio show could bond.
Then at home, Alex and three of his friends were watching more football in the theater room in the house. Dad walks in the door, turns the TV in the other room to football, and pulls out food from the fridge, adding it to the piles of food already on the counter. I stop to make myself a quesidilla, which as you probably know consists of two ingredients: cheese and a tortilla. Well, Dad looked at me, looked at the food covering the counter, and said, "hey, can you clean some of this up?"
What am I, a live-in maid? None of that mess was mine. Sheesh. I'm going to Seattle the next chance I get. Next weekend can't come fast enough.
So, on a more positive note. Seattle was wonderful today, with beautiful 90 degree weather. Unfortunately, I spent the entire morning selling parking passes again. I told myself at the end of sophomore year that I wouldn't ever go back to that job, but turns out that traveling in Europe is expensive. Who knew. At any rate, it's a job and it'll earn me some money for the year. After I got off work, I went up to Ashley's apartment and saw Ash, Fletcher, and Andy. I was so happy to see Ashley again! We're all going to be roommates and it will be peachy. We went to the house today to meet the landlord and move in a bit. Rondar came! In a Kermit shirt! It made me happy! As for the house, I hereby declare it fabulous. My room is on the top floor in the back of the house, and has a large closet space for all my junk. Our landlord is also pretty much the coolest landlord ever. So all this makes me very excited to live in the house, and I can start as soon as I want! So, I will... next weekend. Woo! And every day, our house will be host to Naked Disco Happy Hour, and due to the abundance of mini-fridges in the house, we will never, ever be more than 10 steps away from a cold beer. Best. House. Ever.
Settling back into the American way of life is going pretty well. I'm not used to sales tax yet, or the new 10 and 20 dollar bills, or getting carded. (Bought my first 6-pack today in Seattle. What did I get? That's right, Pilsner Urquell.) But things are going well. When I was talking to him on the phone about cultural differences, Jeff pointed out that we can say "Sieg Heil" in the US without repercussions. Thanks, Jeff, for helping me remember the most important differences. But really, it made me laugh really really hard, and made me miss my boyfriend even more than I already had. Come back to Washington, baby!
(Oh, and by the way, we can technically deny the Holocaust in the US without getting thrown in jail, too. So that's another difference.)
One more thing before I go: I found my Arrested Development DVDs!!! They were in the attic among boxes of other things that belong to me. So tonight, I'll probably watch about 10 episodes. Maybe not that many, but I'm sure I'll watch more than I intend to. Joy!!!
Okay, I'm tired of typing. Til next time.
2.9.06
31.8.06
So I'm back in the States. After spending the night in the Stuttgart airport, flying to Frankfurt, going through ridiculous security checks, and then flying 10 hours to Portland, I finally made it off the plane. Dad picked me up in Portland and within minutes, I was whisked away back into a life I haven't seen in a year. My brother's football team plays tonight, so we drove straight to Corvallis. We checked into a hotel, and Dad handed me a Beavers cap and an orange t-shirt. The hotel is right across from the stadium, so the lobby is busteling with proud parents and cocky college kids turned game day officials, in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly. It's a world that I'd almost forgotten about. Something tells me that I don't quite fit in here. Is it because I'm a Husky? Is it the dreadlocks? Is it the jet lag? Or is it simply a stage in my readjustment period, of readjusting to life as an American?
I guess I should leave a little bit of time between touchdown and speculation, but I can't help but offer some quick observations. I'd forgotten what culture shock is like, and reverse culture shock is another flavor of the same thing I went through last fall. Normal culture shock means being surprised by the little things that are done differently, but in reverse culture shock, it's stuff that you are shocked by, and then feel dumb about it because you already knew about it, but had forgotten. So far, it's just been little things: using the US plug-ins again, receiving embarrassed smiles when you catch somebody staring at you, strangers asking "how are you?", unnecessary small talk, dollars instead of euros, having to apologize when you brush by somebody, asking officials questions in English instead of German. Things like that. I can imagine it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Anyway. I've been doing nothing for the past 24 hours but sit, eat, and sleep. I think it's time to go to the hotel gym and work out, and maybe even get some laundry done while I'm here. A month on the road in Europe has not been friendly to my hygiene. Then it's off to the football game, that good old American institution. More on all this later.
I guess I should leave a little bit of time between touchdown and speculation, but I can't help but offer some quick observations. I'd forgotten what culture shock is like, and reverse culture shock is another flavor of the same thing I went through last fall. Normal culture shock means being surprised by the little things that are done differently, but in reverse culture shock, it's stuff that you are shocked by, and then feel dumb about it because you already knew about it, but had forgotten. So far, it's just been little things: using the US plug-ins again, receiving embarrassed smiles when you catch somebody staring at you, strangers asking "how are you?", unnecessary small talk, dollars instead of euros, having to apologize when you brush by somebody, asking officials questions in English instead of German. Things like that. I can imagine it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Anyway. I've been doing nothing for the past 24 hours but sit, eat, and sleep. I think it's time to go to the hotel gym and work out, and maybe even get some laundry done while I'm here. A month on the road in Europe has not been friendly to my hygiene. Then it's off to the football game, that good old American institution. More on all this later.
26.7.06
Andrea is here! Which means that our trip has officially begun, and I am now forced to use the official travel blog. Well, not forced. But you know what I mean. So here's the link:
http://kaineurope.blogspot.com/
Expect little or no updates on this blog for the next month or so. Instead, you can follow our exploits on the aforementioned blog, as we leave Tuebingen, travel with my dad and sister across Germany to Austria, and then spend about 3 weeks moving through Croatia, Italy, and Spain. It's going to be a great time! And now, I have to go to my last class. Ciao!
http://kaineurope.blogspot.com/
Expect little or no updates on this blog for the next month or so. Instead, you can follow our exploits on the aforementioned blog, as we leave Tuebingen, travel with my dad and sister across Germany to Austria, and then spend about 3 weeks moving through Croatia, Italy, and Spain. It's going to be a great time! And now, I have to go to my last class. Ciao!
22.7.06
i come from that which I know not of. things are at once confusing and exhilirating. water is the most important thing on this earth, according to every single living thing. I'm going to read this post tomorrow and wonder what the heck I was thinking.
like yesterday, tomorrow I have to sing with my choir. Sadly, it will be the last time.
tomorrow, i must go to the gym and work out. I must also prepare pasta salad. and at half past 5 i must be at the stiftskirche to start warming up for our concert at 8.
what a stressful life I lead here in tuebingen. and it has to come to an end, oh so tragically. sad.
back to drinking water, it's the best decision i can make for myself at the moment.
like yesterday, tomorrow I have to sing with my choir. Sadly, it will be the last time.
tomorrow, i must go to the gym and work out. I must also prepare pasta salad. and at half past 5 i must be at the stiftskirche to start warming up for our concert at 8.
what a stressful life I lead here in tuebingen. and it has to come to an end, oh so tragically. sad.
back to drinking water, it's the best decision i can make for myself at the moment.
21.7.06
Remember how in my last post I said I was going to go to the store? and it looked like it was about to rain? Well, it did start to rain, and hard - but only after I was in the grocery store. I came back out with my cloth bag full of groceries, and was greeted with a full-on rainstorm. Wonderful. I love thunderstorms, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather not run through them, especially when hail is involved. But that's exactly what I had to do, since after 10 minutes the storm showed no sign of letting up, and I was hungry and wanted to create me some sandwiches. So I ran to Jeff's dorm and hung out with him for a while, and ate my food, and we watched Viva La Bam. When I came back out, the sun was shining again. Yay.
Then it was choir-time. I first went to our dress rehearsal for the KHG choir at the Stiftskirche. Then I cut out early to perform with the International Choir at our concert with the theater group. It was actually pretty fun, and afterwards we went to a nearby bar where the proceeds from our show (donations from the audience) went towards buying us unlimited French fries with ketchup and mayo. Delicious and certainly fattening. Mmmm.
Ronda and I stopped by a party in Haus 3 on the way home, but the people were drunk and we didn't know many of them, so we stayed for about 15 minutes before coming back here to watch Conan (me) and use the internet (Ronda). All in all, it was a pretty relaxed day, and I think most of my Tuebingen days will be like that, right up until the end, which is very soon.
Tomorrow is the KHG choir concert in Balingen. Since Jeff has relatives there, we'll probably go hang out a little beforehand, and then I'll go to rehearsal while Jeff spends more time with them... then he'll eventually come to the concert at 8. Afterwards, we'll come back to Tuebingen for the big party-palooza at Joker and Kuckuck. Fun times.
Andrea comes on Tuesday!!! I am sooooo excited! Our trip is about to start, the one we've been planning and dreaming about all year!
Then it was choir-time. I first went to our dress rehearsal for the KHG choir at the Stiftskirche. Then I cut out early to perform with the International Choir at our concert with the theater group. It was actually pretty fun, and afterwards we went to a nearby bar where the proceeds from our show (donations from the audience) went towards buying us unlimited French fries with ketchup and mayo. Delicious and certainly fattening. Mmmm.
Ronda and I stopped by a party in Haus 3 on the way home, but the people were drunk and we didn't know many of them, so we stayed for about 15 minutes before coming back here to watch Conan (me) and use the internet (Ronda). All in all, it was a pretty relaxed day, and I think most of my Tuebingen days will be like that, right up until the end, which is very soon.
Tomorrow is the KHG choir concert in Balingen. Since Jeff has relatives there, we'll probably go hang out a little beforehand, and then I'll go to rehearsal while Jeff spends more time with them... then he'll eventually come to the concert at 8. Afterwards, we'll come back to Tuebingen for the big party-palooza at Joker and Kuckuck. Fun times.
Andrea comes on Tuesday!!! I am sooooo excited! Our trip is about to start, the one we've been planning and dreaming about all year!
I got up this morning (afternoon) to go get my lunch from the fridge and eat while working on some stuff in my room. So I went to the kitchen to fetch the pasta that I had made yesterday.
And it was gone. Just like that. Not there anymore. Somebody either wanted it for themselves or needed the Tupperware or something, but whatever the reason, it was gone and I couldn't eat it.
I. Am. So. Pissed. (and hungry)
I guess I shouldn't complain, because yesterday Jeff and I had an absolutely fabulous dinner at the Greek place up the street. We used to go there a lot for gyros and a great appetizer platter, but lately we've been trying to save our money. But in these last few weeks of life in Tuebingen, Jeff's dad decided he wanted to treat us to a nice night out at a restaurant. So we chose Greek and ate til we couldn't eat anymore. It was great. Too bad I didn't wake up still full, because now I could really use that pasta. Grr.
I suppose this means I should go shopping and get some food for the next few days. Yup. And then write my letter of cancelation for the people at 02 so I can get out of my 2-year cell phone contract with them. And then print off travel information for my upcoming trip with Dad, Jamie and Andrea. And then clean my room. And then go to a never-ending night of choir (first dress rehearsal for the KHG choir, and then a performance for the International choir). Ooh, and it looks like it's going to rain outside. Fun.
Alright, off I go to Treff for groceries.
And it was gone. Just like that. Not there anymore. Somebody either wanted it for themselves or needed the Tupperware or something, but whatever the reason, it was gone and I couldn't eat it.
I. Am. So. Pissed. (and hungry)
I guess I shouldn't complain, because yesterday Jeff and I had an absolutely fabulous dinner at the Greek place up the street. We used to go there a lot for gyros and a great appetizer platter, but lately we've been trying to save our money. But in these last few weeks of life in Tuebingen, Jeff's dad decided he wanted to treat us to a nice night out at a restaurant. So we chose Greek and ate til we couldn't eat anymore. It was great. Too bad I didn't wake up still full, because now I could really use that pasta. Grr.
I suppose this means I should go shopping and get some food for the next few days. Yup. And then write my letter of cancelation for the people at 02 so I can get out of my 2-year cell phone contract with them. And then print off travel information for my upcoming trip with Dad, Jamie and Andrea. And then clean my room. And then go to a never-ending night of choir (first dress rehearsal for the KHG choir, and then a performance for the International choir). Ooh, and it looks like it's going to rain outside. Fun.
Alright, off I go to Treff for groceries.
18.7.06
Almost forgot: I really liked this blog post today from one of my favorite bloggers, Opinionista. My original post today was going to read something like "I'm too lazy to blog because it's so hot out right now so read this instead" but then I got carried away with typing about my day. Oh well.
It is so hot out right now. So hot. Like Hansel.
Seriously, I want to stick my head in a bucket of ice water and leave it there for half an hour. It didn't help that I decided to go staple-food shopping today. While that means that most of the stuff I got was light (pasta, rice, dumplings, etc), I went to the cheapest store in town for it, which is in South Tuebingen. And of course on the way back I missed the bus, so I just walked back to the bridge to catch a different one back to my dorm. (It's not very far, but there's a slight upgrade to most of the walk, and I DID have lots of groceries.) Result: I sweated buckets.
I think I made a good choice, though, because shortly before going to the grocery store, I was in H&M trying on clothes that were 50 to 70 percent off. I almost got two different items, and then aborted my purchase at the last moment. I'm trying to go funkier with my wardrobe, so I was thinking about getting this cute front-lace-up shirt with a bit of lace on it (I'd describe it as "hippy flare") and a super-short blue and black ballet poof skirt that would have looked great over jeans or even leggings. I was especially happy with the skirt because it fit my hips more perfectly than any skirt ever has, and I'm not being sarcastic here. But I dropped the top before getting to the register because it was way too low cut for me to ever wear in public, and the skirt (which had a "50% off" tag on it but not the original price), which I thought would be about 5-8 Euro, was going to be 12 Euro. And I just don't have money right now to spend on clothes unless they're going to be functional, i.e. shorts I can wear on a month-long trip through Europe, or flip-flops I can wear in dirty communal showers.
So I think the money was better spent on food, which is usually the decision I come to when the choice is between clothes and food. (Okay, okay, between ANYTHING and food.) However, the clothing would have been easier to carry...
Today was my last bio seminar, which meant a lot of summary and a lot of feedback. It was one of the harder sessions for me, since everyone was throwing out ideas all at once. Trying to catch all of this in a foreign language, even if you're fluent, is like watching a World Cup soccer game through a kaleidiscope. It's easy to focus on one player at a time, but you're not going to see what the goalie is doing, or who's coming up the side of the field, or who's rolling on the ground faking an injury. Besides, in the seminar, even if you're doing a good job of keeping up with the discussion, what happens when you want to say something that you're thinking? It might have been said already, and you missed it. Or you might not know the word for something. What if you oversimplify, and it comes out sounding dumb? Or what if you don't articulate it correctly and everyone looks at you like you just headbutted somebody? (Not to slip back into the soccer analogy... but I couldn't help it. hehe.)
Bottom line, it's hard. After getting out of there with a whirlwind of German swirling in my head, it was time to take a break, and that's when I got the idea to go shopping. And it's weird, because I don't usually like shopping for clothes. Go figure.
I think it's about time to start studying for my exam, which is tomorrow. Or eat dinner. Hmm, dinner...
Seriously, I want to stick my head in a bucket of ice water and leave it there for half an hour. It didn't help that I decided to go staple-food shopping today. While that means that most of the stuff I got was light (pasta, rice, dumplings, etc), I went to the cheapest store in town for it, which is in South Tuebingen. And of course on the way back I missed the bus, so I just walked back to the bridge to catch a different one back to my dorm. (It's not very far, but there's a slight upgrade to most of the walk, and I DID have lots of groceries.) Result: I sweated buckets.
I think I made a good choice, though, because shortly before going to the grocery store, I was in H&M trying on clothes that were 50 to 70 percent off. I almost got two different items, and then aborted my purchase at the last moment. I'm trying to go funkier with my wardrobe, so I was thinking about getting this cute front-lace-up shirt with a bit of lace on it (I'd describe it as "hippy flare") and a super-short blue and black ballet poof skirt that would have looked great over jeans or even leggings. I was especially happy with the skirt because it fit my hips more perfectly than any skirt ever has, and I'm not being sarcastic here. But I dropped the top before getting to the register because it was way too low cut for me to ever wear in public, and the skirt (which had a "50% off" tag on it but not the original price), which I thought would be about 5-8 Euro, was going to be 12 Euro. And I just don't have money right now to spend on clothes unless they're going to be functional, i.e. shorts I can wear on a month-long trip through Europe, or flip-flops I can wear in dirty communal showers.
So I think the money was better spent on food, which is usually the decision I come to when the choice is between clothes and food. (Okay, okay, between ANYTHING and food.) However, the clothing would have been easier to carry...
Today was my last bio seminar, which meant a lot of summary and a lot of feedback. It was one of the harder sessions for me, since everyone was throwing out ideas all at once. Trying to catch all of this in a foreign language, even if you're fluent, is like watching a World Cup soccer game through a kaleidiscope. It's easy to focus on one player at a time, but you're not going to see what the goalie is doing, or who's coming up the side of the field, or who's rolling on the ground faking an injury. Besides, in the seminar, even if you're doing a good job of keeping up with the discussion, what happens when you want to say something that you're thinking? It might have been said already, and you missed it. Or you might not know the word for something. What if you oversimplify, and it comes out sounding dumb? Or what if you don't articulate it correctly and everyone looks at you like you just headbutted somebody? (Not to slip back into the soccer analogy... but I couldn't help it. hehe.)
Bottom line, it's hard. After getting out of there with a whirlwind of German swirling in my head, it was time to take a break, and that's when I got the idea to go shopping. And it's weird, because I don't usually like shopping for clothes. Go figure.
I think it's about time to start studying for my exam, which is tomorrow. Or eat dinner. Hmm, dinner...
16.7.06
Matt's blog had this video on it, and I thought I'd add another one that popped up on YouTube. They're about Tuebingen and they both capture it pretty well. The first one captures more of the everyday sights and sounds, while the second is just pictures to music.
My choir sang at a Catholic mass this evening. I'd say we did a fine job, and it was a nice mass to boot. Tomorrow I need to go out and buy a black folder (thanks to Matt for lending me his for tonight) so that I can have something to hold my sheet music in. Also, I need to hang up some posters advertising our concert next Sunday! If you would like to come, it's on Sunday evening at 8 in the Stiftskirche. Admission is 5 Euros for students/children, 8 for adults. You know you want to!
My choir sang at a Catholic mass this evening. I'd say we did a fine job, and it was a nice mass to boot. Tomorrow I need to go out and buy a black folder (thanks to Matt for lending me his for tonight) so that I can have something to hold my sheet music in. Also, I need to hang up some posters advertising our concert next Sunday! If you would like to come, it's on Sunday evening at 8 in the Stiftskirche. Admission is 5 Euros for students/children, 8 for adults. You know you want to!
15.7.06
Wow, today was a long day! Kara, Jeff and I went to Freiburg today for a day trip. We left at 8.30 from Tuebingen Main Station and didn't get back again until 9.30 at night. Not to let this post get boring, but Freiburg was very nice. The old city was pretty, they had these cute little streams running through the city, and the Munster was an elaborate church much like every church in Europe.
I also went to a goodbye party in the French Quarter that was sweet. Met a lot of people, had some fun conversations, and got back late. So now I'm watching an episode of Scrubs before I go to bed. Tomorrow includes a trip to the gym and singing at a church service at St. Johannes with my choir. Yay!
I also went to a goodbye party in the French Quarter that was sweet. Met a lot of people, had some fun conversations, and got back late. So now I'm watching an episode of Scrubs before I go to bed. Tomorrow includes a trip to the gym and singing at a church service at St. Johannes with my choir. Yay!
14.7.06
Weird. Today I talked to Addy on Instant Messenger. She just left Germany yesterday and is now back in Denver. It's like talking to someone a whole world away, when they should be three dorms away from you. Crazy.
Addy's departure marks the beginning of the end. She's the first of all the Americans to go back. Her leaving makes me dread my own imminent departure. And it's sad.
Well, better go back to enjoying the last weeks of Tuebingen life. Today there's a few festivals in town, and tonight there's a concert put on by the international choir. Time to go have fun!
Addy's departure marks the beginning of the end. She's the first of all the Americans to go back. Her leaving makes me dread my own imminent departure. And it's sad.
Well, better go back to enjoying the last weeks of Tuebingen life. Today there's a few festivals in town, and tonight there's a concert put on by the international choir. Time to go have fun!
11.7.06
9.7.06
Once again, the Italians have won and have crushed my hopes and dreams.
And now they're celebrating by taking off their pants. On live television. Still on the playing field. What the heck?
Isn't it funny how 3rd place is a happier place to be than 2nd place? I'm pretty sure there will be no reveling in the streets tonight in France like there was last night in Germany.
At least Zidane went out like a true bad-ass. Last game of his career, and he goes out by head-butting Matarazzi, or however you spell his name. He head-butted him. In the chest. And he was stealthy enough that the ref didn't see it. But the Italians complained, and he got the red card.
The French were supposed to be the victors in this final World Cup game. Not the Italians. Not the Italians.
Not the Italians.
And now they're celebrating by taking off their pants. On live television. Still on the playing field. What the heck?
Isn't it funny how 3rd place is a happier place to be than 2nd place? I'm pretty sure there will be no reveling in the streets tonight in France like there was last night in Germany.
At least Zidane went out like a true bad-ass. Last game of his career, and he goes out by head-butting Matarazzi, or however you spell his name. He head-butted him. In the chest. And he was stealthy enough that the ref didn't see it. But the Italians complained, and he got the red card.
The French were supposed to be the victors in this final World Cup game. Not the Italians. Not the Italians.
Not the Italians.
Things I like today:
This picture
This show:
This composer (and his work, Ave Maris Stella)
And finally, this quote:
Adulthood is the ever-shrinking period between childhood and old age. It is the apparent aim of modern industrial societies to reduce this period to a minimum. -Thomas Szasz(1920- )
This picture
This show:
This composer (and his work, Ave Maris Stella)
And finally, this quote:
Adulthood is the ever-shrinking period between childhood and old age. It is the apparent aim of modern industrial societies to reduce this period to a minimum. -Thomas Szasz(1920- )
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