Well, I've been in Germany for two weeks now. I still can't say much "auf Deustch" but I'm getting better quickly, with no English except blogging. And it's not so tiring anymore listening to so much German all the time.
I'm living with very nice family here in Berlin. I have an 18 year old host-brother, Max, and an older guest sister and brother who no longer live at home, but who I have both seen: Hania and Philipp.
I'm taking classes here with a group of 13 students from Dartmouth. German History, German Grammar and German Theater/Cultural Stuff. The last class is pretty amazing. We've only had one full week of class and we've already been to the Berliner Philharmonie for a concert, to the Berliner Ensemble to see "Die Dreigroschenoper" or Threepenny Opera and to the Komische Oper to see Don Giovanni. That was last night and a lot of fun. I'm already starting to feel like a professional opera snob.
Now I just need to start swishing wine around all the time and stop wearing that cut-off sweatshirt...
Seriously though, you do really get that kind of a feeling, and it has been really cool for me. It's something else to get dressed up and go into REALLY fancy, nice buildings and see an opera or something. Makes you feel pretty special and lucky.
Of course, the week before classes started I went to Cologne to visit Daniela and her family. That was great. Seeing her again and especially seeing the kids Leefka, Konrad and Edith, who were all very sweet. See the pictures.
Daniela Konrad and Edith
Ushi, Konrad and Edith
Reading with Konrad
Leefka in her bed which Frank built.Also got to see Hertha BSC, the Berlin soccer team play and that was a blast, even though they lost. The German's are crazy about their (Men's) soccer teams. (The women's World Cup team just won and are now world champions and you wouldn't even know it. Max said that when the German Men came in third last year there were celebrations for weeks.) And they sing a lot during the games. There is a specific "Hertha Hymn" that I need to learn if I am going to go back to more.
Tomorrow is "The Day of German Reunification" so no school. Yay! So some of us Dartmouth students are going to see Harry Potter in the 3D Imax theater here. And then maybe will we "make party" as the Germans say.
8 comments:
Sounds like opportunites are abundant!(just don't get too "swishy" on us, Evan! ha ha)
Mom
You highbrow you! You prance 'tween cultures with such knack! Yet it is my duty as your brother to put forth, that your multilingual "showboatery" and your turgid blog prose force me to ask: Whereto hath gone the Evan yore?
i'm just kiddin yo, sounds like a lot of fun. did you get to try some kolsch down in Cologne? I just found a brewery around here that has some. DEElicious.
great to hear of your adventures.if you get all wrapped up in the opera, Evan you should come here to the historic wheeler opera house in aspen and get treated to an world class opera by your loving aunt evvie.............
hey phil. yeah, i did get to have some kolsch with Frank. I don't know though, it tasted kind of like beer to me...had some Bionade though which was wicked good. It is like a fruit soda (lemon, lime, pomegranate, etc), except that it's not particularly sweet and it's brewed. very tasty.
how was that for turgidity.
hey cleaninglady. seems like i need to get a cool name here, like everyone else. maybe ol' yeller or something.
Wheeler Opera House...I don't know. I'm getting pretty choosy about my opera houses...but I'll think it over.
So the third Brand bro is having an adventure--I'm not surprised. What an opportunity. The photos of Daniela and her children are gorgeous. let me know when the next baby arrives.
I've always loved opera because my mother played it a lot when I was growing up. But it was always the Italian opersa. I'd like to try some Wagner, and maybe we'll get together and listen someday...Love, Mang
Hi, Evan and thanks for the photos and everything. I am eager (almost said "dying" but I don't want to get too dramatic) to know which one in the group shot is THE girl. (Sorry, you know how news travels in this family -- blame Bonnie.)
Have a wonderful time -- it will go so fast!
Love,
Jeanne
THE girl is front middle; purple shirt, green scarf. She's a good one.
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