Freitag, 30. Dezember 2011

Just something I thought of at 3 in the morning......

        i just recently watched "Midnight in Paris" and it tells a story about a young writer who wants nothing more, then to live in Pairs in the 20's. he then travels back into what he thinks is the "golden era." whilst in that time, he meets some interesting characters and they all play a role, but when meeting one in particular, that characters divulges what she thinks is the "golden era." then more characters pitch in their ideas of what they think is the "golden era." it turns out to be that our protagonist thinks that the 1920's is the golden age, but others beg to differ. one says that she would rather spend her days in the 1870's or so, then her friends think it is in the Renaissance time.
        what i saw here in this film is that different people of different times think that about 80 or so years in the past, or when a new era or even an eon washes over like a wave, it was the hot spot in our time line. and in the specific place where someone wants to go, lets say to the 20's for an example; the people there would think you are mad to think that here, in their time, is the time to live in. then they would tell you that the time to live in is in their past. it would end up going all the way back to where civilization began if the mind set would aloud.
        what im trying to get at here, is that in about 80 years or so, people are going to look back upon this decade, or even this year and say, "i wish i could go back in time and live there and have loads of fun." don't we all want that? just to be with our favorite friends, our family and just have fun with one another? well, i propose two choices. one, we can all lay down our hats and say, ahhhh screw it. it just another year, or throw the towel in, as my late teacher used to say. or, we could all have one hell of a year that people would not take to forgetting about. and would want, and hope to return to our time and live in our way of life. well, of course some would say that some of our lives are boring and should live like "we used to."
      so heres my point. why not make this year the best year anyone could imagine. imagine, that is one word that can create anything in our minds. and why not? we can create a better future, and we can create a better lifestyle for all of us. let's make 2012 one good f-ing year people!!
                                               

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

For auld auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup of kindness yet, 
for auld lang syne.

Have a wonderful New Year everyone!



   








  HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL!!!!!!

Samstag, 24. Dezember 2011

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!! i hope each and every one of you will have a great christmas and holiday week.
me on the other hand, im going skiing so ill post with picture and all that.
once again, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!!

O Tannenbaum

on the 23rd of december, my neighbor, his son and i went out to get his and my host families christmas trees. however, we did that by rowing across the lake that is next to the house. the rowboat could fit about 6 persons so it was a decent size. the way over way was actually very warm and there was no wind so it was smooth. it was my second time out on the lake, the first time it was fall and the foliage was at its best. but what do you know, i forgot the camera. but here are some photos:





ANYWAYS, we didnt cross the lake and chop one down (which i hoped to do, but it would have been illegal), we went to a tree lot. no, it wasnt on the water, it was across a busy street. so the trees there are not the 7, 8 footers that im used to. they are about 2 meters, or  about 6 feet tall. it surprised me, so i wondered if the world is running short of trees. here is a picture of the trees:
The trees


FACT: every year in Germany, 25,000,000 christmas trees are sold. 25 MILLION!! i was blown away by that. i mean, so much for "going green."
in the lots there is kind of a rating system, where depending on what the value or condition of the tree is.
Here are the prices, and if its a "T" tree, then its a good one

but we purchased two very nice looking trees that are about my height, and rowed back home.


now its all decorated and up on a stool so it can tower over all of us. we decorated it with ornaments and candles:

and now, on christmas eve, it is lit:



Freitag, 23. Dezember 2011

Füßball!!!

      about a week ago it was my host brother's birthday. i got offered to go to a Hertha Berlin game (its pronounced hair-T-a. "th" is pronounced like a "tt" sound in Deutschland). Hertha is a Füßball team in the second Bundesliga (league). their games are played in the Olymipiastadion in west Berlin. if you didn't know, the stadium was used in the 1936 summer Olympics, in two Fifa World Cups, the German Cup, and many more events. it is so cool inside,  the atmosphere is soooooo amazing!! and since it is an open stadium, it was very cold. we were sitting, so the cold was even worse.

     during a Füßball game here in Germany or Europe for a larger scale, there are no load speakers urging the crowd on with chants, there are the fan mobs shouting, screaming and singing them. there is no music like the you might here at a baseball game, or a basketball game, there is only the music of the crowd. it is a sight to see. and when they start to jump, oh my god it is cool. it is like that section of the stadium is one breathing creature, all of them moving as one. then they incorporate giant flags, signs and what not. sometimes, there are the random fires that "suddenly appear" in the stands. and sometimes they are the color of the team: red, green, blue, purple, orange, etc. they only do that when someone scores a goal (TÜR!!!) or they win or do something else. its all so very crazy. 

     in Babelsburg, which is a suburb of Potsdam, and there is a Füßball team. i go to as many games as i can get to with my host brother and friends. but i usually go to the crazy fan mob section because it is WAY more fun then just sitting. i have learned most of the cheers, both english and german. the object is to shout and sing louder than the opposing team. it concludes with a horse voice the next day. but it is worth it. and when Babelsburg gets a goal, the mob goes crazy. every time i have to hold on to something or someone because i would get trampled by random drunk people. 

     as i watch the games on tv, and live on the field, there is one thing that i find absurd. all European soccer players are drama queens. all of them. they get touched, they immediately fall on the ground as if they have some mortal wound. it is really funny, but sometimes its just plain stupid. 

PICTURES:

The outside of the stadium.

Hertha fan mob.

Hertha fan mob.
Hertha fan mob.

Sharlke fan mob (biggest fan community
in all of the Bundesliga). And here is an example
of "fires that suddenly appear."

Players.

Hertha scores!

Playing the game.

Hertha fan mob.

Kicking the ball.

Might have been a corner kick.

Great view.

Shalke fan mob.

Hertha fan mob with scarfs up high.

Herth fan mob.

Players.

Number 7 is Raul, from Spain. He is one of the best soccer players.

Sharlke scores again.

Sonntag, 18. Dezember 2011

Weihnachtsmarkt im Duetschland

hi! sorry i haven't written about anything in a while.
in the next few posts, there will be a lot of info about what i have done in the past few weeks starting with this one. so, without further adieu, i will dictate to you all what my adventures and findings have been.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS......
in Germany, there are the infamous christmas markets. they are so fun to go to. (it is like fiesta for those gloucester, ma folk) they consist of many stalls of accessories, lanterns, glass animals, hats, gloves, wooden toys (like the ones in waldorf), glühwine, which very tasty, christmas carols playing from the pine boughs and streamers spanning across the street. and there is SO. MUCH. FOOD. there is so much good food there. there are these fried dough balls with powdered sugar on top, and it is soooooo delicious. of course there are the bratwurst which is always good, then the candy stalls with literally gummy everything, and candied apples and cotton candy, and these giant cookies with writing on them. for the record, i think they are a waste of money; and much, much more.

so enough of the food.
there are two kinds of markets. the modern, and the old fashioned. at the more modern christmas markets, there are small amusement park rides. but in every one, there is a ferris wheel. in some, there are huge ones, but in the one in Potsdam, Germany, it is pathetically small.  there are so many markets in Berlin. they are all very interesting (at the end of this i will put up pictures. have no fear). so on to the old fashioned ones. its all the same, but no rides. the one i went to i had to pay, which was ridiculous. its was small, had all the same vendors as everyone else, but there were actual restaurants constructed inside the complex. there was a live nutcracker ballet performing. i think there were about 5 actors/tresses. it got boring so we left.

hold on, hold on, time out. i just want everyone to know that i just had one of the best dinners in a long time. it was mashed potatoes with green beans wrapped in i want to say bacon, yeah it was bacon. it was also with sausage and salad. it was so good.

ok back to where i was.
so christmas markets are very cool, it is unique german culture. the germans celebrate christmas way different then anyone else. its cool, and fun to walk around in. but i have to say, the most creepiest things about these markets, are the talking, and singing animals around the area, or street where the market is established. i hate them. in Potsdam, there's a giant talking moose head which scares the crap out of most everyone. and he also has very bad english.
oh! there is also a guy who dresses up as St. Nikolaus and traps people into taking a picture with him, then purchasing the picture. i don't like him.
here are the pictures:

Potsdam Christmas Market

Potsdam Christmas Market

Potsdam Christmas Market
When The Sun Is Down

I still don't know what this is
called, but its cool

The city of Berlin by while on a ferris wheel.

Christmas Market at Alexander Platz

And, here is one of those creepy talking animals.
This one is especially creepy because one eye is shut. Its a
drunk mouse
and one of my friends posted this on facebook. its the contrast of the english and german languages. i find it funny:

Samstag, 3. Dezember 2011

Today was just one of those days

i went to a concentration camp today. very depressing, but interesting to actually be standing in one. the camp is a little larger than 5 soccer fields, and it is filled with bunks, wash houses, work places. most of all, it was raining the whole time. so it really set a mood for our tour. sadly, i forgot my camera so i have no photos of the place. the name is Sachsenhausen. it was one of the first to be built.

ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE........
i missed my train.

just kidding........

i woke up this morning very, VERY tired, and i went downstairs to eat some breakfast. i get the milk for my cereal and a juice cup. i'm so tired i pour the milk into my cup, instead of into my cereal.
next i told myself; GO TO BED ON TIME.
good night people of the world. sleep well.


Donnerstag, 1. Dezember 2011

For the win!

my school has smart boards now. it would be the first time for me experiencing this. it is phenomenal. and it is very, very entertaining. physics is now fun