Classes started yesterday, and so far they're going pretty well. My German class has more than one student(I originally thought it was just going to be me and the teacher), and I already feel like my German is improving--I actually have to use it here.
The CF class started with a brief overview of German history prior to the rise of Germany as a nation, and today we started to talk about Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther". I'm enjoying the book so far, but haven't gotten to read much because I had a lot of German homework.
Yesterday we took a walking tour of the city with a man named Dieter as our guide. He was German, but spoke fluent english with a heavy British accent. He was really into the tour and asking about Dallas. My favorite part of the tour was the big park situated around the Ilm river. I'll be spending a lot more time there during the rest of the trip, and pictures will come soon. I'd describe it to you all myself, but despite my interest in language, I wouldn't say that I am a great writer. And reading Goethe make's me feel like I shouldn't really try. It's kind of hard to beat. So I'll just let the old saying speak for me and write volumes by posting pictures on the internet.
I am a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of history that is all packed into this small city. Hitler's youth was started here, and I walk by his favorite hotel daily. But also here are the homes of great writers Goethe and Schiller, and legends of the music world like Bach and Wagner. Both the best and the worst of human nature existed here in Weimar.
In the interest of not overstaying my welcome in my favorite cafe(It's called Frischback), I'll end the post.
Tschüss,
Beau
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Made it to Weimar
I finally got into Weimar yesterday at about 12:45 p.m. German time. The flight flew by very fast, but the train ride seemed to last forever. The train system was easy enough to handle and I got out at Weimar Main Station after changing trains a couple of times at Frankfurt Main and Fulda.
One of our tutors, Bea, met me at the station and showed me to my dorm. A bed, a table, a desk, a fridge, some shelves, and a closet to put my clothes in. Don't really need much more than that. I share a bathroom with some other people living in the dorm. I've only met one, Ahmed from Pakistan. The other SMU students are scattered throughout the same dormitory.
After going across the street to get a big bottle of water I drank a bit and then crashed on the bed. I woke up to Bea knocking on my door at about 6:20. She took me and the other students that had already arrived to the grocery store. Our kitchen at the dorm was not open yet so nobody was really sure what to buy. I bought water, milk, cheese, some tuna, a bag of bread, and a couple of sweets I had never tried before.
After I got back I went back to sleep and woke up today at around 7:30, but I wasn't really feeling very well so I didn't get up and going until about 10. I showered, and searched the town on foot(weimar is a small city) for a cafe with internet. I haphazardly ran into Travis, who happened to be doing the same thing I was. We walked through the town while he checked his Ipod touch periodically for signals.
After a few false hopes, we got a signal from Frischback-Haus, a nice little cafe on Schillerstrasse. I am still waiting on my aid money so I am pretty broke. I ordered water(water is not free in germany like it is in the states.) Travis got coffee and Apfelkuchen.
And that's where I am now writing this entry. It's a lovely day outside. It's sunny, but actually pretty cool outside. I think I am going to get up soon and explore some more.
Bis bald,
Beau
One of our tutors, Bea, met me at the station and showed me to my dorm. A bed, a table, a desk, a fridge, some shelves, and a closet to put my clothes in. Don't really need much more than that. I share a bathroom with some other people living in the dorm. I've only met one, Ahmed from Pakistan. The other SMU students are scattered throughout the same dormitory.
After going across the street to get a big bottle of water I drank a bit and then crashed on the bed. I woke up to Bea knocking on my door at about 6:20. She took me and the other students that had already arrived to the grocery store. Our kitchen at the dorm was not open yet so nobody was really sure what to buy. I bought water, milk, cheese, some tuna, a bag of bread, and a couple of sweets I had never tried before.
After I got back I went back to sleep and woke up today at around 7:30, but I wasn't really feeling very well so I didn't get up and going until about 10. I showered, and searched the town on foot(weimar is a small city) for a cafe with internet. I haphazardly ran into Travis, who happened to be doing the same thing I was. We walked through the town while he checked his Ipod touch periodically for signals.
After a few false hopes, we got a signal from Frischback-Haus, a nice little cafe on Schillerstrasse. I am still waiting on my aid money so I am pretty broke. I ordered water(water is not free in germany like it is in the states.) Travis got coffee and Apfelkuchen.
And that's where I am now writing this entry. It's a lovely day outside. It's sunny, but actually pretty cool outside. I think I am going to get up soon and explore some more.
Bis bald,
Beau
Friday, May 1, 2009
Introduction
I'll keep simple things simple.
Name: Beau Edison
My birth name is actually Robert like my dad. But things got confusing (apparently), and I don't ever remember being called anything but "Beau". And so, that is my name for all non-bureaucratic purposes.
Age: 22
Sex: Male--In case you can't tell by my name.
Occupation: Student at SMU
Major: Markets and Culture
Minor: Japanese
Minor: German
Fun Facts: I am also the president of SMU's Video Games Club.
I won the Texas State Japanese Speech Competition(College Division) earlier this year
I work at the FLTTC at SMU
I'm going to use this blog to record my thoughts and experiences during my 5 week trip to Weimar, Germany. So if you're interested read on. I'll probably make a post or two before I go so stay tuned!
Name: Beau Edison
My birth name is actually Robert like my dad. But things got confusing (apparently), and I don't ever remember being called anything but "Beau". And so, that is my name for all non-bureaucratic purposes.
Age: 22
Sex: Male--In case you can't tell by my name.
Occupation: Student at SMU
Major: Markets and Culture
Minor: Japanese
Minor: German
Fun Facts: I am also the president of SMU's Video Games Club.
I won the Texas State Japanese Speech Competition(College Division) earlier this year
I work at the FLTTC at SMU
I'm going to use this blog to record my thoughts and experiences during my 5 week trip to Weimar, Germany. So if you're interested read on. I'll probably make a post or two before I go so stay tuned!
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