Kultur 11

The Spiegel timeline was very interesting. I wish in school we had been taught more world history, instead of only focusing on America's. We learned about WW2 but never what happened to Germany after it. I wonder why they chose to include Hildegard Knef's nude movie scandal as an important historical moment? I see why the soccer win and Elvis' arrival were significant though. I can't believe that during the 50's, when America was trying to tell everyone that everything was perfect, German protesters were being killed in East Germany by Soviet tanks. I can't believe West and East Germany actually competed in the World Cup as different teams. Germany just seems like one entity today, it's hard to imagine it being split. Growing up during that time, whether it was in America or Germany, would have really been something.
I can't believe there are people who are for the wall. That is crazy. I wonder how credible those people are. Are they the German version of people in American who think interracial marriage should still be outlawed?
"Ostalagie" reminds me of people in the south who still support the confederacy. I wonder if it is actually at all similar? I also wonder what the significance of the crosswalk man wearing a fedora is.
It's funny that in American we sort of have the same stereotypes of the North and South, with the South being backward and uneducated and the North being unwelcoming.

AMD 6

I read Mark Twain's "The Awful German Language." There are tons of references to it in my CompLit class and so I finally read it. I used the link here:
http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/awfgrmlg.html
It is a pretty funny essay. I wouldn't have understood a lot of it if I hadn't known German already. He talks about verb placement, adjective endings, and genders of nouns. They are things that seem very strange to native English speakers. Although Mark Twain makes fun of German, he is still very proficient in it and has studied it extensively. It is more like a roast of an old friend than a mean-spirited hate letter. He talks about the word "schlag" and how it has so many different meanings.He discusses the length of some German words, and how "also" often slips into spoken German (at least when Mark Twain visited).
I would recommend other students of German to read this essay, it is informative and funny, and Mark Twain says a lot of things I think we have all been thinking to ourselves.

AMD 5

I followed the "Germans and Americans talk" link on the suggested AMD ideas page but I couldn't find what was described. Instead I found a "German Pictorial Lexicon" that uses pictures to describe exactly what a German speaker means to say when they say a word. For example Americans might think of Wonderbread but Germans might have a totally different picture in their minds of the prototypical "bread." I'm currently taking a CompLit class and so this is relevant to what I learn in that class.
First I looked at the University-related words and saw a picture of the complicated recycling bin system. It was a good idea, but the site really isn't that good at all. It is woefully incomplete and there are double entries. Some of the pictures are blurry, vague, or pretty universal. I wouldn't recommend checking it out.
Next I followed a link: http://www.fln.vcu.edu//menu.html to a bunch of German stories. I tried to read "The Frog King" in German but I switched to English. I recognize a couple of details from this Grimm version that I think I read in the edited version I read as a kid. It's interesting that we call it "The Princess and the Frog" instead of "The Frog King." I read all of the stories that I didn't recognize. My favorite was "'The Turnip" because it didn't really make that much sense and ended abruptly. In "The Brave Little Tailor" there is a funny little moment when the tailor tells the flies to stop eating his jam but they "understood no German." I recognize a lot of these stories as ones I've read by Hans Christian Anderson, so I wonder where they first originated.

Kultur 10

The first article I read was the one about Christmas markets. There was one in Kerrytown and I had really wanted to go, but there was a time conflict. I really want to visit Germany during Christmastime now! Glühwein sounds really yummy and Christmas-y. The phrase "Bavarian bar wenches" needs to be used more often. "These temples to Christmas spirit" sound like a great time, although I'm sure I'd spend too much money. The medieval themed market sounds cool, although the erotic one sounds a little strange. There's one for the long-term unemployed?? Sounds like it'd be good for me.
The one in Berlin doesn't sound like it'd be my favorite one. "Berliners have long been renowned for having an attitude, for being rough around the edges, and for having little respect for authority" Huh I didn't know that. So it's like an alternative Christmas? Lava lamps are still big in Germany? I definitely don't want to go to Alexanderplatz.
Chocolate museum!!!! Sounds awesome. It'd be great to be able to tell my mom I was drinking Meth. Quedlinburg sounds awesome, I would love all those old buildings. Schneeberg is the perfect name for a Christmas village! What are rotating Christmas pyramids? I researched them and they aren't real pyramids like I was thinking, like Egyptian pyramids. My grandma has some of them, not from Germany I bet. I've included a picture.

AMD 4 "Riquet à la Houppe"

For my Comparative Literature class, I am translating a French story into English, and I thought it would be interesting to try to retell it (much shortened) here, in German.

Riquet mit der Haarwirbel

Es war einmal eine Königin mit ein Sohn. Er war sehr hässlich. Eine Fee hat ihn intelligent gemacht. Er hat ein Schopf von Haare, damit alle ihn "Riquet mit der Haarwirbel" heißt. Riquet war seine Familiename.
Eine andere Königin hat zwei Töchter. Eine ist sehr schön und eine ist sehr hässlich. Die Fee hat die schön Prinzessin dumm gemacht. Die Fee hat die hässlich Prinzessin sehr intelligent gemacht.
Alle liebe die hässlich Prinzessin, wenn sie ist eine Frau. Die schön Prinzessin wunschte dass sie hässlich und intelligent sein. Sie hat der hässlich Prinz in den Wäldern getroffen. Er liebe sie und er sagt "Sie können intelligent sein weil ich Sie liebe." Die Fee hat das gesagt. Die schön Prinzessin hat intelligent gewurden.
Jetze liebe alle die intelligent und schön Prinzessin. Sie möchte ein gut aussehend Prinz heiraten. Sie hat der hässlich Prinz vergessen. Sie hat ihn zufällig in den Wäldern getroffen. "Sind Sie bereit? Wir werden heiraten." hat er gesagt.
"Nein, Sie sind zu hässlich." hat sie gesagt.
"Wenn Sie mich lieben, ich gut aussehend sein werde." hat er gesagt.
Er ist richtig und er hat gut aussehend gewurden. Aber niemand weißt ob er wirklich attraktiv ist. Vielleicht die Prinzessin liebe der Prinz und dann sie denke dass er nicht so hässlich ist.

Das Ende

Kultur 9

My friend who is in an advanced-level professional German class right now was telling me about the resumes they have to make, and how detailed they have to be. He said that on their resumes they have to put things like their martial status and religion. I would initially be offended if someone asked me that in a job interview, but now I know that that is customary and no offense should be taken.
I did think it was odd that certificates of completion for classes were given in a physical format. I guess this explains it a bit better, if that is how everything is run and that everyone has a binder full of the necessary tickets. I would be so bad at that, I lose everything, especially things like bills and letters and homework.

Eleven 11-year-olds? I think my blood pressure just rose. I know it is sweet, but I can imagine that that could be VERY loud. I still don't think it's right to complain about though. Those other cases sound funny. It seems like a waste to put so much time, effort and money into something so silly. But if it's what it takes to keep the peace--!? I think in America people generally put up with it, and it is hard if they want to try to take action against a neighbor. Wait, you can't use "house or garden appliances" from 8 pm to 7 am???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I just absolutely cannot believe that. No one would live in Germany if that were true. That would be seriously so inconvenient and it seems like such an invasion of privacy. And an infringement upon freedom. Is that rule only for specific areas? Like maybe one cul-de-sac??? You're not usually allowed to wash your car because of the chemicals? Do they drink from puddles? Who hates the smell of barbeque? Woah how can I make noise outside until 10 pm if "quiet time" starts at 8? I think this guy/girl is making this up. We don't have the same sidewalk rules, they are owned by the state, not us. That would suck if someone could sue you for not doing your lawn chores and shoveling snow quickly enough. In summary: I think this article is a load of baloney, more so than usual.

The one about flags was very interesting. I think that part of it is that in general Americans fly more flags than some parts of Europe. France for example, doesn't use flags as often as America does. (At least according to my own experience and the people I've talked to). It's so odd to think of shying away from your own flag, because here it is incorporated so much into our lives. I even have a little metal flag hanging outside the house I'm renting here in AA. It wasn't to make a statement, it's just...that's what you do. And there are flag lights and flag plates and flag-colored jello and flag dresses. It's something that you learn to identify with from a young age.
It's sad that loving your country in Germany has such negative connotations. Which makes me wonder about something I have thought of before: how is the Holocaust taught in Germany? Do they learn in kindergarten, in 7th grade like me, or do their parents tell them? How would you even go about telling kids about the terrible things that happened where they live? Do they use harsh, accurate words or do they say it in a paraphrased way? The article mentions how hardly anyone alive now was responsible for the Holocaust, so it makes me wonder how the story is told among themselves. Is it a story children grow up learning, the shame passed on to them from a young age? I guess that I actually grew up learning some pretty gruesome stories from the Bible, and I wasn't scarred. Do most Germans carry guilt about the Holocaust?

Questions to ponder.

AMD 3

If I ever go to Germany, Ich werde wohl über mein Vögel sprechen. So I need to look up some words that are relevant.
Here is an example of a conversation I might have in Germany:

Ich: "Weißt du? Ich habe ein Sittich.”

Unbekannte: “Oh, ich habe ein Hund-’”

Ich: “Er hat blau und weiß Federn. Er ist sehr klein. Er hat ein rosa und blau Wachshaut.”

Unbekannte: “Ich muss gehen…”

Ich: “Er ist sehr zickig. Er liebe die Hirse. Er beißt nie. Niemand, der ein Herze hat, hasst ihn.”

Unbekannte: “Das ist sehr nette für Sie. Aber jetze muss ich arbeiten.”

Once I lose the interest of one passerby, I will just have to find another!

Kultur 8

I used an online translator to see what "Es zieht" means, and it said "it attracts." I can't believe that people would shut the windows that were letting in a breeze on a stifling train ride. They aren't crazy! I believe the story they tell, but the other passengers must have been at a comfortable temperature and/or didn't want it mussing up their hair. Ok... "Germans love fresh air." That totally contradicts what they were just saying.

The one about mysterious illnesses wasn't surprising at first. It's not crazy to think that different cultures would have different explanations for certain feelings of malaise. But do they really not use medicine? That sounds very dangerous.

Aren't saunas where you go to be hot and humid? Sounds horrible. And they're UNISEX?!?! "Im Schwitzkasten" sounds like a cool movie though.

Being a student forever sounds like a good idea, but how do the Germans have "little financial pressure to finish their studies." Ah that's right, college costs almost nothing in some of Europe. Why do any Europeans ever come here to study then? I can't imagine graduating at 30. Graduating with a PhD or something, yeah, but not just a basic degree. "Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life: living on the dole." Well that's really depressing, thanks for that.

AMD 2

For my AMD 2 I read the blog about the student's experience in Germany. Ich habe gedacht dass sie hat viele Dinge zu sagen. Ich glaube dass sie werde froh sein, weil sie hat ihre Geschichte geschreiben. Sie kann ihre Reise nicht vergessen. Sie hat viel, viel geschreiben. Ich habe gesehen dass sie hat Dinge im Franzosisch geschreiben. It was at the end of the post called "material things." Ich will nicht uber die Reise in Deutschland lesen, sondern ich will in Deutschland gehen. Ihre blog braucht die Bilder. Ich bin kein Kind, aber mir war langwellig mit die viele Worter und keine Bilder. Es gibt auch keine Farben. Ich mich frage wer liest diese Blog? Hat sie die Blog fur spaß gemacht? In "plagues and pests" sagt sie dass sie hass die Video-Spielen. Sie spielt wohl nicht die richtig Video-Spielen. Sie erinnert mich an eine Frau dass ich habe in Gymnasium gekennen.

AMD 1

For my AMD7 I watched the rest of Bella Martha.
I liked it. I wanted to see what happened in the end, even if the other students thought it was a bit predictable.
I think it was harder to hear the German when I was reading the English, but I still heard a bunch of phrases I recognized. When Martha forgets to pick Lina up at school, Lina says "Du hast mich vergessen." I always thought it was strange that the past test of vergessen was its infinitive but the repetition of the phrase in the movie helped me to remember it.
I also noticed words that weren't German- the Italian spoken by Mario. "Scuzi" was one that I remember, but I heard others. I don't know how likely this is, if I was in Germany I'd be sure to say excuse me in a way that I was sure German speakers could understand. But most fictional "foreigner" people in books and movies do that, to remember the audience that they are different.
I thought that it was odd Lina was going to go to her father, after never having met him. I think that living with an aunt she already knew would be much more likely. Also, what kind of a woman lets her child go away with a man in a truck she just met?!?!?!?! Yeah he ACTED nice, but who knows what he was like!! And isn't there a legal transfer of official guardianship? Martha would have had to know Lina's father for a month or so, have met his wife and kids and visited his home, before she ever just GAVE her child away. I don't even think that's legal. Also, does Lina speak Italian? Do her stepmom, teachers and classmates all speak German? That is another large flaw in Martha's plan to send Lina to Italy.
And finally, I didn't realize that there was such a recognized difference between Italy and Germany's climates, but it makes sense. Mario talks about how Lina would be leaving beautiful sunny Italy for cold rainy Germany. And now that I think of it, they are portrayed very differently in pictures and movies. I guess Italy must be a popular vacation spot.

Kultur 7

The description of the cheap supermarket was beautiful, almost poetic. It was straight out of a dystopian or apocalypse novel. One with a humorous tone, I guess. The part about the produce not being fresh, that is nothing unique to Germany or any cheap place. That food that wasn't German-made was labeled "American-style" was interesting. I didn't know we had our own kind of rice....or ice cream.
I read the article about "Super Bowl Party" on USA Kulinarisch. American football isn't very popular in Europe, and so I bet it is interesting to them that the Super Bowl is such a big deal to Americans. It is sort of like the World Cup to us. The writer said that they were going to have a party and watch it, even though it would be in the middle of the night for them. One commenter said "Wenn du dich mit dem amerikanischem Bier gar nicht zurückhalten kannst, kann ich dir Samuel Adams empfehlen." I think this means "If you can't stomach American beer, you can have Samual Adams."
"How Not to Die on German Roads"- I can tell this one is going to be cheerful. My dad has told me that Germans are actually very good drivers, and they think that when you are driving you shouldn't be doing anything else, and they often don't have cupholders. "You might not get a ticket but you'll incur the wrath of those beautiful people in chic tweed jackets and well-coifed gray hair" ahhahahaha. I don't think I understand that reference completely but it is still funny.
"Germans cannot stand the smell of garlic"-- VAMPIRES??!?!?

Mein Lieblingswort ist "Weihnachtengurke"