So... I had a ginormous presentation on Tuesday. Actually I'm exaggerating, it wasn't ginormous, but it was my first big "project" I've had to do for a class here. It went very well. Only one mildly embarrassing moment when I read a quote and then realized at the end of it that it was not the quote I wanted to read, and I couldn't find the one I wanted to read. Oops. But my classmates were nice and didn't like boo me or anything, haha. Prof said he liked my thesis, thought my presentation was good and that my German was also good (nice little bonus there). And it was a good start on the big paper I'll have to write for the end of the semester, so that was cool.
Once that was over, I got to make an Advent wreath at church! One thing I think is really cool in Germany is that arts and crafts are not just for kids (or really crafty talented moms). Arts and crafts are for everybody. Our church kicked off the Christmas season by making Advent wreaths together. Cool huh? Making a wreath is actually not that hard, just kinda prickly. =)
Then, on Wednesday, I got in a bus and headed about 3.5 hours north to Lübeck. My German teacher, Karolin, from Penn last semester, grew up there, and she is actually teaching in Cambridge now but brought a small group of students on a trip to visit her hometown, in particular the Christmas market. It was really nice. For one, it was totally a vacation because my presentation was over and I felt like I'd earned it, for another, it was so cool to see Karolin, she's really funny, and the kids from Cambridge were fun too. They speak German with British accents and it's really cute. And Lübeck was sooooo pretty. In the middle ages it was like one of the biggest harbor towns along the Baltic--much bigger than Hamburg--and what's remarkable is how many buildings and such and have been preserved in their original, very old, very German (and if you ask me, very pretty/cute) forms. I will upload my pictures soon and then edit this post with a link to them, so stay tuned.
Edit: here's the link for the photos. :)
by stinaberlin
The Christmas market was fun. I think the whole Christmas market tradition is really cool. Picture like a small-scale fair, plus lots of booths for buying Christmas-y stuff (lots of self-made crafty stuff), and TONS of German roasted nuts, Glühwein (mulled wine, accompanied by the alcohol-free kiddie version), licorice, little things calls Muzen which are basically little pockets of funnel cake dough that are fried and topped with powdered sugar, and of course sausage and pretzels and all that really German stuff. And yes, a few amusement rides for the kids. So cute! The place was literally packed with people sipping Glühwein from their souvenir mugs (you pay 3.50 € for a mug of Glühwein, then if you don't want to keep your mug you can bring it back and they give you 1.50€ back, or you can just keep it as a souvenir, like I did! Where can you get a mug for 1.50€?) and just being merry. What a great tradition. I can't wait to go to the Christmas markets here in Berlin--there's a couple of different ones. Fun fun.
Oh yeah, about the title of my post... so, Lübeck is like the Marzipan Capital of the World... or at least of Germany, or so I perceived it. Lübeck has this big famous marzipan shop called Niederegger, and they seriously sell marzipan in every variety imaginable. I can actually buy Niederegger marzipan in my grocery store here in Berlin here. I think marzipan is a pretty big deal here in Germany. So, my question is... do any of you guys like marzipan? 'Cuz I'd be totally happy to bring some back, particularly something funny made out of a marzipan (like a potato, haha!). Lemme know.
After I got back I didn't have to do much. Spent the day yesterday with the Heimlichs, pretty chill. Their little girl Emily, who is 2 zears old, calls me "Keena" now. Cute cute. And, Manu gave me like the coolest present ever--cilantro!!! And it's like in a pot, so it will like grow and such and I will have more and more cilantro. Now I can make salsa that doesn't taste like ketchup!!! Woohoo!!!
And now, I'm here at the church, just chilling until a prayer meeting tonight. It's weird not to have any particular project hanging over my head. Weird, but nice.
One more thing: I come home for Christmas in 3 weeks. Weird. I'm excited of course to see everyone, but I have no idea what it will be like to be back in the US. It will be interesting to see. Hopefully I'll get used to speaking English all the time and won't keep saying all the goofy things I tend to say in English here. I already get made fun of enough for my "Philly accent". My "Berlin accent" is likely to sound much more ridiculous.
For now, a lovely day/evening to everyone. Post comments!!! They make me smile!!!
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