That was said to me this week, if I said it, it would be," Go for Platinum." because gold is for people who want soar high but are afraid of heights. This week was a of firsts; I gave my first presentation in German, I got into my first German fight, and I played mechanic willing. The presentation I gave was over the cultivation, harvest, and production of Tobacco. I can now say I consider myself somewhat fluent because I nailed the presentation. In that same class I also got into my first fight in German. It was over whether table tennis is a sport or not. I say it's not and so do a few other people. There was once a Beretta more reliable than this bike in the Sikorski family. I am not sure why, but every week there is a new problem with it. So Saturday, after my language curse, I was excited to be mechanic because it gave me something to do, unfortunately all I need to do was hit the bike to fix it. I didn't even get to swear or throw a wrench or two. I have learned that you can never fix anything with swearing and throwing things.
I spent my Thanksgiving in a German Immigration office. I guess you can call me a real American. I didn't miss Thanksgiving because all that holiday is, is the feast before Black Friday. It is just a day to come together with family, and my family does that every weekend; the difference is that on this day we have a giant turkey. I got my residents permit card, and it is pretty cool. There's a giant holograph of my face in the middle. I am now a legal German Resident until it expires on August 31.
Tuesday, Rotary had some kind of group meeting at a local business, Pietsch (Peach). Pietsch is next to Tobit, and if you ever come to Ahaus, the people here will make sure to tell that in 2008/2009 Flo Rida had a concert inside of Tobit. Tobit is a big software company, and it actually cool that Flo Rida came to this small town of 20,00-35,000. Anyway, Pietsch sell bathrooms. We started out in the showroom, and I got Yeli to ask one of the showroom staff where the toilet was. It cracked me up when the Ceofeld rotary club members spoke extra slow to me at first until they realized I can have a normal speed conversation.
On Wednesday, Daniel, Petra, and I went to Logo for a photo show. Michael Martin travelled the world for 30 years and is now going around Germany giving a presentation over his travels. It was pretty cool, and I couldn't believe I understood everything. It would be definitely something I would see again. I think it is because I want to travel africa in an old VW bus.
My new name is Wattum Sitzodski. My name was some how got screwed up in the transfer to Europe, but they think I am Warren Hunter Sikorski. In fact was my name for the Terhalle event. I signed all my paper work(all 800 sheets of paper, and that's not an exaggeration) with Hunter Sikorski, and My name in the documents all say Hunter Warren SIKORSKI. I am not sure why but Rotary made us use all caps for the last name. Wattum was my name for the Pietsch event. I am not sure who to blame, so like everything else, Steve this is your fault.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Hollanders are OK!
It is week eleven or so, and I already know what I am doing when I get home. Monday night I had a dream about Grande Jakes. I don't know why because I like the tacos at Tacos El Norte so much better. But anyway, in this dream I ate a chorizo egg burrito, 15 steak tacos, and 3 chicken gortidas. It was the best dream ever.
Tuesday night, I went with the Rotary club to a Deutschland vs. Holland soccer game. One thing that cracked me up was that we went with our sister rotary club in Enschede, Holland. I was surprised there weren't any fights after Germany killed Holland, 3-0. Germans don't speak Dutch, and Hollanders speak german like there tongue is swollen. It was a night of english speaking. I don't know if I can say this, so I will just type it instead, The Hollanders were more fun than the Germans, oops. That is not completely true, but the Dutch club is just a younger crowd.
Petra is awesome, nuff said. For the four hour bus ride to Hamburg, Petra bought me candy to eat on the way. It was an awesome, unexpected surprise. Then the next morning whatever was leftover was eaten by Albert. The Hollanders also gave us boxes of food. These boxes had schnitzel, two sandwiches, meat balls, and a couple sausage links. There were also an Apple and Orange, but who cares about that. They also passed around boxes of the great doughnut ever, and some kind of almond coffee cake thing.
Speaking of soccer, I might have finally of chosen a German soccer club. Petra's friend gave Petra a Bayern Muenchen jersey that was too small for her kid, so that was passed to me. They are in the first place spot so it wouldn't be a bad bandwagon to jump on; Daniel would be proud, but I am not going to say anything. My Rotarian is Shalke so that might not go over well.
This week in English we finally got to talk about the downfalls in America. Guess who was the best? I don't think it was my first hand knowledge or anything. I felt so good to say those things too. My english book only talked about everything good in America and like it was written by a Uncle Sam himself. It is as if the crazy train crashed itself into the bullshit factory causing an explosion that spewed douchbagery everywhere. It makes me want to puke, but then it nice that we can celebrate our country. In the words of a german,"We can't be patriotic because if we do, then we are called nazis." That is sad, every country should be able to celebrate there heritage, but some need to know how to tone it down. I know I will sport a german flag and not think twice about it.
I had Liederkäse this week. Can I still get Extra Credit for that? It's not like lieberkaese was that exotic. I like liverwurst so it wasn't a surprise that I would like lieberkaese. If I had to describe the taste I would say Oscar Mayor Wiener Hotdog. Which made me wonder, is there liver in Oscar Mayor Hotdogs? It wouldn't shock me if there is, it's cheap meat.
Now that I have come pretty close to mastering German, I have taken on a new task, learning Spanish. I don't know why I am trying so hard to master Spanish. I think it is because I am in a spanish class too advanced for me, and I feel bad I don't completely understand everything. Yeli makes sure to tell five times a day that I am a gringo, but yo soy el gringo de favorito de Yeli.
Tuesday night, I went with the Rotary club to a Deutschland vs. Holland soccer game. One thing that cracked me up was that we went with our sister rotary club in Enschede, Holland. I was surprised there weren't any fights after Germany killed Holland, 3-0. Germans don't speak Dutch, and Hollanders speak german like there tongue is swollen. It was a night of english speaking. I don't know if I can say this, so I will just type it instead, The Hollanders were more fun than the Germans, oops. That is not completely true, but the Dutch club is just a younger crowd.
Petra is awesome, nuff said. For the four hour bus ride to Hamburg, Petra bought me candy to eat on the way. It was an awesome, unexpected surprise. Then the next morning whatever was leftover was eaten by Albert. The Hollanders also gave us boxes of food. These boxes had schnitzel, two sandwiches, meat balls, and a couple sausage links. There were also an Apple and Orange, but who cares about that. They also passed around boxes of the great doughnut ever, and some kind of almond coffee cake thing.
Speaking of soccer, I might have finally of chosen a German soccer club. Petra's friend gave Petra a Bayern Muenchen jersey that was too small for her kid, so that was passed to me. They are in the first place spot so it wouldn't be a bad bandwagon to jump on; Daniel would be proud, but I am not going to say anything. My Rotarian is Shalke so that might not go over well.
This week in English we finally got to talk about the downfalls in America. Guess who was the best? I don't think it was my first hand knowledge or anything. I felt so good to say those things too. My english book only talked about everything good in America and like it was written by a Uncle Sam himself. It is as if the crazy train crashed itself into the bullshit factory causing an explosion that spewed douchbagery everywhere. It makes me want to puke, but then it nice that we can celebrate our country. In the words of a german,"We can't be patriotic because if we do, then we are called nazis." That is sad, every country should be able to celebrate there heritage, but some need to know how to tone it down. I know I will sport a german flag and not think twice about it.
I had Liederkäse this week. Can I still get Extra Credit for that? It's not like lieberkaese was that exotic. I like liverwurst so it wasn't a surprise that I would like lieberkaese. If I had to describe the taste I would say Oscar Mayor Wiener Hotdog. Which made me wonder, is there liver in Oscar Mayor Hotdogs? It wouldn't shock me if there is, it's cheap meat.
Now that I have come pretty close to mastering German, I have taken on a new task, learning Spanish. I don't know why I am trying so hard to master Spanish. I think it is because I am in a spanish class too advanced for me, and I feel bad I don't completely understand everything. Yeli makes sure to tell five times a day that I am a gringo, but yo soy el gringo de favorito de Yeli.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
I found Siri
This week, Yeli's Iphone arrived. She bought an 4s without knowing that it had Siri or what Siri even is. I have spent the week showing her how to use it, and yesterday I found Siri. There's no app for Siri, and when you search the phone for it; the phone has no idea what it is. Yeli set her phone to German, so Siri will only recognize German when you speak to Siri. I thought my German was pretty good; everyone says it is. Siri can't understand me or Yeli. It is kind of depressing.
I was parented for the first time this week. I am not sure if Petra knows what she is doing because she is not my mom. She made me skype for the first time in three weeks because when I said it was three weeks since I last skyped, she crapped her pants. She also tried making me go to bed early on Sunday.
Tuesday night Petra made Matzo Ball soup. I don't remember the German name for it because I was shocked that she didn't know it was a typically Jewish soup. There were a few other Jewish specialties that she didn't know of. She is not Jewish, so that isn't a surprise she wouldn't be familiar with them, but German has a dark history with the Jewish people so I guess that I assumed German people know something about them.
Wednesday while Petra and I were driving to Coesfeld to pick up a package, Petra asked me if I could fly home by myself or If I had to fly with a group because that is how I arrived. I am not sure of that answer, I believe yes because I considered an adult in the airline rule book, and I bought the ticket; I should have control over when I fly. Then I asked why because that was random. She said I could stay longer if I wanted to go to Spain with my friends. That was probably the coolest thing Petra could of ever done because I didn't even have to ask, and she knows I love it here. I am not sure yet if I will stay, if the rooster promises to stop crowing ever Saturday, than yes I will. The most depressing sound you can here on a Saturday morning is a rooster crowing because it reminds me that I am up early enough to hear it, and that the night before, I only got somewhere between 3-6 hours of sleep.
Thursday was Studien Tag; that is where all the kids the 11th-12th grade (we are a combined class) go to the college in Muenster for an exciting day of learning. Fun fact, Fresno University (College?) is in a partnership with the University here. They bused us all there and then the teachers disappeared and we were left to our own devises. We sat in a Biology class for an hour than wandered the city for four hours. I am not sure what they expected us to do. The highlight of that day had to be riding all the escalators in the Galleria. Bet you can't guess how much fun the overall day was. We ended up taking an earlier bus back.
The one class I actually sat threw was over the Evolution of Animals or something like that. It was kind of interesting, but I also spent a good 40 minutes of that class staring out the window so I am not sure. Evolution is the way of creation taught in Germany. It is nice to know that a country can get past the insufficient things that stop a country from actually getting something productive accomplished. This is a picture from my English book. I love it because it is true. (read America's bubble last.)
Petra asked me later how was Studien Tag and what I did. I said it was boring and that I learned Law, Architecture, and Bio because that is what I was signed up to do. She then said, you didn't just do one hour of classes and then 5 hours in the city. She knows us too well, and that kind of sucks. I guess it's what I can expect because she has known my friends longer than I have. A person who doesn't know me that well, would be Daniel. Daniel works 12 hour days, 5 days a week. He is always tired and stressed out. If only he had a temper, he would be the perfect host dad.
Speaking of Steve, there is a man named Steve in my German class on Saturday. He is from Nigeria, and you know how they say Nigeria, in Nigeria? Well they say "Niegearia." So all those years of people telling you to say it the other way so that you didn't sound racist were kind of wrong. I am not saying to go around saying it the other way, but that is how people from Nigeria say Nigeria. Bet you can't guess how people from the country, Niger, (or people from Germany) say Niger?
I was parented for the first time this week. I am not sure if Petra knows what she is doing because she is not my mom. She made me skype for the first time in three weeks because when I said it was three weeks since I last skyped, she crapped her pants. She also tried making me go to bed early on Sunday.
Tuesday night Petra made Matzo Ball soup. I don't remember the German name for it because I was shocked that she didn't know it was a typically Jewish soup. There were a few other Jewish specialties that she didn't know of. She is not Jewish, so that isn't a surprise she wouldn't be familiar with them, but German has a dark history with the Jewish people so I guess that I assumed German people know something about them.
Wednesday while Petra and I were driving to Coesfeld to pick up a package, Petra asked me if I could fly home by myself or If I had to fly with a group because that is how I arrived. I am not sure of that answer, I believe yes because I considered an adult in the airline rule book, and I bought the ticket; I should have control over when I fly. Then I asked why because that was random. She said I could stay longer if I wanted to go to Spain with my friends. That was probably the coolest thing Petra could of ever done because I didn't even have to ask, and she knows I love it here. I am not sure yet if I will stay, if the rooster promises to stop crowing ever Saturday, than yes I will. The most depressing sound you can here on a Saturday morning is a rooster crowing because it reminds me that I am up early enough to hear it, and that the night before, I only got somewhere between 3-6 hours of sleep.
Thursday was Studien Tag; that is where all the kids the 11th-12th grade (we are a combined class) go to the college in Muenster for an exciting day of learning. Fun fact, Fresno University (College?) is in a partnership with the University here. They bused us all there and then the teachers disappeared and we were left to our own devises. We sat in a Biology class for an hour than wandered the city for four hours. I am not sure what they expected us to do. The highlight of that day had to be riding all the escalators in the Galleria. Bet you can't guess how much fun the overall day was. We ended up taking an earlier bus back.
The one class I actually sat threw was over the Evolution of Animals or something like that. It was kind of interesting, but I also spent a good 40 minutes of that class staring out the window so I am not sure. Evolution is the way of creation taught in Germany. It is nice to know that a country can get past the insufficient things that stop a country from actually getting something productive accomplished. This is a picture from my English book. I love it because it is true. (read America's bubble last.)
Petra asked me later how was Studien Tag and what I did. I said it was boring and that I learned Law, Architecture, and Bio because that is what I was signed up to do. She then said, you didn't just do one hour of classes and then 5 hours in the city. She knows us too well, and that kind of sucks. I guess it's what I can expect because she has known my friends longer than I have. A person who doesn't know me that well, would be Daniel. Daniel works 12 hour days, 5 days a week. He is always tired and stressed out. If only he had a temper, he would be the perfect host dad.
Speaking of Steve, there is a man named Steve in my German class on Saturday. He is from Nigeria, and you know how they say Nigeria, in Nigeria? Well they say "Niegearia." So all those years of people telling you to say it the other way so that you didn't sound racist were kind of wrong. I am not saying to go around saying it the other way, but that is how people from Nigeria say Nigeria. Bet you can't guess how people from the country, Niger, (or people from Germany) say Niger?
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Oktoberfest in November!
It took me till November before I went to an Oktoberfest. It wasn't the greatest party in Germany, but it wasn't bad. They went a little overboard on the blue and white diamonds. There is more to Bavaria then the blue and white diamonds. I was hoping to see a Glockenspeil or two.
This week wasn't the most exciting week I have had in Germany. It was the second week of the fall break, which means I have school tomorrow. I spent this week sleeping. Petra made fun of me because I would sleep in till 11:30, except today that was 2. All my friends had to work this week so we didn't really do much during the week. German kids only work during the breaks from school, that kind of sucks because there isn't really a source of income.
It was a family week, my host cousin Helena came over Monday-Tuesday. On Monday we went to Enschede, its a small city in the Netherlands. It kind of makes me laugh sometimes, I am an exchange student to Germany, but I spend enough time in the Netherlands. I am really an exchange student for both countries, although I won't be learning Dutch. Anyway, Monday night, Rotary had a Halloween night Statlohn history tour. It was interesting for the Rotary people, I spent the night people watching. I have noticed that, I have perfected the perfect fake laugh. I got home around 11 and everyone was asleep. The next morning, Petra told me that last night Helena kept asking when I would be home or when I was getting up. Helena and I played a lot of board games to keep her occupied. Helena is 7 and scared of dogs, I felt like I already knew her.
Tuesday was my Two Month Deutschland Anniversary. It wasn't spent at the Kooks concert because the tickets sold out, and Niedersachen had school the next day. Instead it was spent with petra's side of the family. Helena and I made waffle batter earlier that morning, so we ate waffles. Then we biked to Alstätte and talked some more with my host aunt and uncle. I will never forget "Hi hUntair" that is how my Host uncle says my name, and it's always loud enough you can hear it a block away.
When Rotary picked my host family, they picked right. This family and I just get along perfectly, it's like my own family. Petra's parents are like my mom's parents, and the family on both sides is like how my family is.
I can't believe it has been two months. Time is flying by and it needs to slow down. I have learned a lot in the two months. I love biking, that isn't something I learned, but it is something I knew I liked. It really isn't easy to bike places in the US. They don't have endless bike paths like they do in Germany. I have learn sliced bread is only good for toast. Effing Bakery is the Starbucks of Ahaus, Wessum. I am going to miss rolls everyday. I have learned that less is more.
My house here has a smaller foot print than my house in the US, but the house here is bigger. We have four floors including the basement. This is a seven bedroom, 4 bathroom house. Everything is smaller and yet somehow bigger.
I like having a smaller fridge. Unlike America, grocery shopping is done every two-three days. It's nice because food doesn't go to waste, ok thats a lie, we were throwing out yoghurt yesterday. You don't put your leftovers in the fridge, you put them on the counter or in the oven, so that they will get eaten. Food safety in the us is too strict. I had day old lasagna that stayed in the oven for a day, and I am not dead.
I was an SUV person when I left. I am still an SUV person, but I have learned that you don't need a big car for the one time you will actually use it for the purpose. I have learned that you really only need anything for what will actually use it for. I europe a tiny geo looking opel can tow a horse carrier. When I saw that I pretty much shit my pants. Why can't cars in the us do that. Then we wouldn't need so many trucks. I hate my Truck, I did before I left so nothings new there. Opel has made a dent in the Germany auto market, and I think they need to bring Opel to the US. Yeah Opel is GM, and they are in the US, but you want more people to drive a Buick, drop the Buick name and make it Opel. The Buick Regel definitley looks better with an Opel emblem on it.
Finally. The best thing I love about Germany, there are no classes. My host dad is a surgeon, but he said that a dentist in Germany makes more than surgeons. My host grandpa is a blue collar worker, i think, he has a Mercedes E-class and a giant house. It is not like that in the US.
I am not going to lie, I am not missing home. My friend Suchi and I were talking about how we both feel the same way. Suchi is an inbound from India. She can speak three indian languages but english is her first language, that is cool. My family here and everyone I know have bonded so well, that Germany is my new home. Germany is how I wanted/want America to be. I am an American but I am by no means in love with America.
This week wasn't the most exciting week I have had in Germany. It was the second week of the fall break, which means I have school tomorrow. I spent this week sleeping. Petra made fun of me because I would sleep in till 11:30, except today that was 2. All my friends had to work this week so we didn't really do much during the week. German kids only work during the breaks from school, that kind of sucks because there isn't really a source of income.
It was a family week, my host cousin Helena came over Monday-Tuesday. On Monday we went to Enschede, its a small city in the Netherlands. It kind of makes me laugh sometimes, I am an exchange student to Germany, but I spend enough time in the Netherlands. I am really an exchange student for both countries, although I won't be learning Dutch. Anyway, Monday night, Rotary had a Halloween night Statlohn history tour. It was interesting for the Rotary people, I spent the night people watching. I have noticed that, I have perfected the perfect fake laugh. I got home around 11 and everyone was asleep. The next morning, Petra told me that last night Helena kept asking when I would be home or when I was getting up. Helena and I played a lot of board games to keep her occupied. Helena is 7 and scared of dogs, I felt like I already knew her.
Tuesday was my Two Month Deutschland Anniversary. It wasn't spent at the Kooks concert because the tickets sold out, and Niedersachen had school the next day. Instead it was spent with petra's side of the family. Helena and I made waffle batter earlier that morning, so we ate waffles. Then we biked to Alstätte and talked some more with my host aunt and uncle. I will never forget "Hi hUntair" that is how my Host uncle says my name, and it's always loud enough you can hear it a block away.
When Rotary picked my host family, they picked right. This family and I just get along perfectly, it's like my own family. Petra's parents are like my mom's parents, and the family on both sides is like how my family is.
I can't believe it has been two months. Time is flying by and it needs to slow down. I have learned a lot in the two months. I love biking, that isn't something I learned, but it is something I knew I liked. It really isn't easy to bike places in the US. They don't have endless bike paths like they do in Germany. I have learn sliced bread is only good for toast. Effing Bakery is the Starbucks of Ahaus, Wessum. I am going to miss rolls everyday. I have learned that less is more.
My house here has a smaller foot print than my house in the US, but the house here is bigger. We have four floors including the basement. This is a seven bedroom, 4 bathroom house. Everything is smaller and yet somehow bigger.
I like having a smaller fridge. Unlike America, grocery shopping is done every two-three days. It's nice because food doesn't go to waste, ok thats a lie, we were throwing out yoghurt yesterday. You don't put your leftovers in the fridge, you put them on the counter or in the oven, so that they will get eaten. Food safety in the us is too strict. I had day old lasagna that stayed in the oven for a day, and I am not dead.
I was an SUV person when I left. I am still an SUV person, but I have learned that you don't need a big car for the one time you will actually use it for the purpose. I have learned that you really only need anything for what will actually use it for. I europe a tiny geo looking opel can tow a horse carrier. When I saw that I pretty much shit my pants. Why can't cars in the us do that. Then we wouldn't need so many trucks. I hate my Truck, I did before I left so nothings new there. Opel has made a dent in the Germany auto market, and I think they need to bring Opel to the US. Yeah Opel is GM, and they are in the US, but you want more people to drive a Buick, drop the Buick name and make it Opel. The Buick Regel definitley looks better with an Opel emblem on it.
Finally. The best thing I love about Germany, there are no classes. My host dad is a surgeon, but he said that a dentist in Germany makes more than surgeons. My host grandpa is a blue collar worker, i think, he has a Mercedes E-class and a giant house. It is not like that in the US.
I am not going to lie, I am not missing home. My friend Suchi and I were talking about how we both feel the same way. Suchi is an inbound from India. She can speak three indian languages but english is her first language, that is cool. My family here and everyone I know have bonded so well, that Germany is my new home. Germany is how I wanted/want America to be. I am an American but I am by no means in love with America.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)