spotless mind
So, to try to catch up a little-
A couple of Fridays ago us Californian kids were schlepped down to the former DDR-state of Thueringen, to the Home of German Literary (and Musicial) Accomplishment, Weimar. I was terribly tired the entire day, but the city was, like pretty much everything I've seen here, beautiful and interesting. That said, I still like Goettingen better. We saw both the Goethe and Schiller House, though I am not sure how much I learned from the self-tour audio tapes (who doesn't want a lesson in architecture auf Deutsch?).
After spending a good portion of the day in Weimar, our grand EAP bus made its way some 20 km out of Weimar to Buchenwald. The site of the former Nazi Konzentrationslager was nothing you expected it to be, though I can't say I was really surprised by anything. I was quite excited when I found out that that was a stop on our trip, because like every other kid even minorally interested in history, anything from the Third Reich surpasses many other things of interest for me. We only had about 90 minutes to look around, and that was definitely not enough time, but I am very glad I got to go. It was an interesting experience, perhaps yet another thing that is hard to put into words. My overall observation was not about the place but about the other visitors there. Buchenwald was giant and sparse, and only a few buildings still stood standing within the camp (and these were recreations, as far as I could tell); every person looked like a lone traveler in a vast desert. There was an innate quietness to the place and every visitor acted accordingly... I don't think I spoke more than a few words the whole hour and a half I was there. I didn't hear very many other people talking, either. There was just a feeling there and once we were back on the bus I was surprised that it hadn't stayed with anyone as it was with me.
On Saturday some my American friends and I had the pleasure of attending some mysterious "Krankenhaus Party" with some of Jacky's floormates. First we all hung out in the living room on Jacky's floor (Americans: Steven, Jacky, Rita, Emily, Keinst, and I, Germans: Bisschen (actually Turkish), Fadi (actually Palestinian), Christian and Martin). We sat and smoked and drank for so long that by the time we were leaving for the party it felt like about time to be going home. But we headed to the party... which was strange. Its sort of hard to explain because even I don't really understand it yet, but they throw massive parties here that are generally sponsered by some mysterious group whose origin I can't fathom. The night is a blur, but our idea of Germans as strange dancers who listen to terrible music was once again affirmed. Afterwards we went to the a German McDonald's (first time I have been to one in so long!). It was pretty much the same as an American McDonald's, but here it was 2:30 in the morning and everyone was smoking.
Then I had a completely ridiculous week of way too much work. On Friday afternoon Jacky, Tony and I went shopping and then went back to the Dorf (where Tony lives) and made Korean food. I mostly just walked around and tried to look like I was being helpful, since the two kids with Korean blood in them were doing most of the work (Tony is full Korean, Jacky's dad is Korean, and her mother is Polish). After eating and hanging out, Jacky and I followed Tony to a Korean barbeque, where I sat and talked with some people for a good while. These are all just normal people I'm meeting, but everyone seems like a genius to me. At the very least all of these people can speak Korean, English and German, and seem like they have brainspace to spare.
The next day I had a Life Moment. I was sitting inside of a German bookstore reading an American book about traveling to Eastern Europe, and then I just stopped and thought. If things like that don't make you realize that here you are, right in the middle of It, I don't know what can. You can go days without it really hitting you, but you can be sure it will again, and then again.
And now I am either going to attempt a nap, or homework, or better yet- both. It is Wednesday night, and because everyone here is insane, its the night that everyone goes out. Middle of the week? Perfect time to usher in some extra sleep deprivation! But this week I am actually accepting Life's sweet invitation, because I've felt too lame not going out the past few weeks. I hope my work and my health will forgive me.
A couple of Fridays ago us Californian kids were schlepped down to the former DDR-state of Thueringen, to the Home of German Literary (and Musicial) Accomplishment, Weimar. I was terribly tired the entire day, but the city was, like pretty much everything I've seen here, beautiful and interesting. That said, I still like Goettingen better. We saw both the Goethe and Schiller House, though I am not sure how much I learned from the self-tour audio tapes (who doesn't want a lesson in architecture auf Deutsch?).
After spending a good portion of the day in Weimar, our grand EAP bus made its way some 20 km out of Weimar to Buchenwald. The site of the former Nazi Konzentrationslager was nothing you expected it to be, though I can't say I was really surprised by anything. I was quite excited when I found out that that was a stop on our trip, because like every other kid even minorally interested in history, anything from the Third Reich surpasses many other things of interest for me. We only had about 90 minutes to look around, and that was definitely not enough time, but I am very glad I got to go. It was an interesting experience, perhaps yet another thing that is hard to put into words. My overall observation was not about the place but about the other visitors there. Buchenwald was giant and sparse, and only a few buildings still stood standing within the camp (and these were recreations, as far as I could tell); every person looked like a lone traveler in a vast desert. There was an innate quietness to the place and every visitor acted accordingly... I don't think I spoke more than a few words the whole hour and a half I was there. I didn't hear very many other people talking, either. There was just a feeling there and once we were back on the bus I was surprised that it hadn't stayed with anyone as it was with me.
On Saturday some my American friends and I had the pleasure of attending some mysterious "Krankenhaus Party" with some of Jacky's floormates. First we all hung out in the living room on Jacky's floor (Americans: Steven, Jacky, Rita, Emily, Keinst, and I, Germans: Bisschen (actually Turkish), Fadi (actually Palestinian), Christian and Martin). We sat and smoked and drank for so long that by the time we were leaving for the party it felt like about time to be going home. But we headed to the party... which was strange. Its sort of hard to explain because even I don't really understand it yet, but they throw massive parties here that are generally sponsered by some mysterious group whose origin I can't fathom. The night is a blur, but our idea of Germans as strange dancers who listen to terrible music was once again affirmed. Afterwards we went to the a German McDonald's (first time I have been to one in so long!). It was pretty much the same as an American McDonald's, but here it was 2:30 in the morning and everyone was smoking.
Then I had a completely ridiculous week of way too much work. On Friday afternoon Jacky, Tony and I went shopping and then went back to the Dorf (where Tony lives) and made Korean food. I mostly just walked around and tried to look like I was being helpful, since the two kids with Korean blood in them were doing most of the work (Tony is full Korean, Jacky's dad is Korean, and her mother is Polish). After eating and hanging out, Jacky and I followed Tony to a Korean barbeque, where I sat and talked with some people for a good while. These are all just normal people I'm meeting, but everyone seems like a genius to me. At the very least all of these people can speak Korean, English and German, and seem like they have brainspace to spare.
The next day I had a Life Moment. I was sitting inside of a German bookstore reading an American book about traveling to Eastern Europe, and then I just stopped and thought. If things like that don't make you realize that here you are, right in the middle of It, I don't know what can. You can go days without it really hitting you, but you can be sure it will again, and then again.
And now I am either going to attempt a nap, or homework, or better yet- both. It is Wednesday night, and because everyone here is insane, its the night that everyone goes out. Middle of the week? Perfect time to usher in some extra sleep deprivation! But this week I am actually accepting Life's sweet invitation, because I've felt too lame not going out the past few weeks. I hope my work and my health will forgive me.
posted by Meredesu at 2:10 AM
1 Comments:
Sounds like you are having a good time, I wish I could go to one of those random German parties and see the bad music/dancing. I miss you! Tomorrow I'm off to Santa Cruz.
<3 Kass
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