Southern Germany: A Hikers Paradise

The majestic mountains of Germany attract all kinds of lovers of the outdoors all year round whether it be to explore the winter wonderland or bask in the glory of a majestic lake.  All over southern Germany there are beautiful slopes that can be visited with the use of many trails with varying degrees of difficulty that are sure to make for an unforgettable experience.  There are many iconic places to visit in the German Alps such as the Castle Neuschwanstein which can be visited with a short ride out of Munich.  Aside from this iconic castle there are many other examples of beautiful buildings and villages that dot the mountains and make for a quaint stay in your adventure around the peaks.  Regions such as Allgäu are home to especially breathtaking scenery that is sure to please the heard of the most experienced mountaineer, or anyone looking to view something spectacular.  



For the sporty individuals the Alps of Germany offer lots of skiing/snowboarding opportunities from beginner level slopes to those geared for more extreme individuals.  Fishing and camping are also plentiful in the area.  How does sleeping 6,562 feet from sea level in the tent hanging from a tree sound?  In Waldseilgarten Mountain Resort located in Bavaria you have the opportunity to camp high up in the craggy peaks from a hanging tent, sure to be a thrilling experience!



If travelling to Southern Germany be sure to take a visit to the Schwarzwald for more hiking and forest adventures.  The Schwarzwald lies in southwest Germany bordered by the Rhine valley.  There are numerous paths that can take you through the entirety of the forest if you wish to take an adventuresome multi-day trek through the region. There are many historic villages through the forest that would also make good places to rest on your journey and to relax with some excellent German food and beer. Villages such as Schiltach make for interesting stops on such an adventure.




Steven 

Movie of the Week

Many movies coming out of Germany revolve around WWII, East Germany, and conflict, including at least eight of the movies submitted by Germany for the Academy Awards since 2000. Perhaps this genre could be perceived as cliché, however it nonetheless provokes an undisputed emotional response and maintains reliability to modern affairs around the world.

The 2012 film, Barbara, directed by Christian Petzold, competed in the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February of the same year and won The Silver Bear for Best Director. The film was selected to be the German entry for Best Foreign Film at the upcoming 2013 Academy Awards.

TRAILER AND SYNOPSIS

Barbara takes place in East Germany in 1980, revolving around a physician Barbara (Nina Hoss, who also starred in A Woman in Berlin), who was employed at a prestigious hospital in East Berlin until receiving a disciplinary transfer because of having applied for an Ausreisantrag wishing to leave East Germany. She is placed near the Baltic Sea where the Stasis order the chief physician to spy on her as she attempts to flea East Germany to be with her lover in the west. The film is full of dramatic suspense, surprises, romance, struggle, and oppression. I'll leave the rest of the plot up for you to discover

Dorothy

The Trials and Tribulations of Being a Fan

For anyone that has followed the German National football team in recent years, you know that it has been a wondrously glorious and terribly frustrating time.  Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup and won third place.  They finished in second place at EURO 2008 but since have failed to add more trophies to the cabinet.

There's a lot of potential but not a lot of solid results.  Today, the team allowed sloppy late goal in their World Cup qualifier against Sweden, resulting in a draw that should have been a win for Germany.  Perhaps part of it is complacency, perhaps part is that the team doesn't know how to seal the deal.  The current coach Joachim Low has stacked the ranks of the national team with young blood from around Germany, many players with immigrant backgrounds are changing the face of the team and the style as well.  With so much youth, perhaps it could be argued that the team doesn't know what it feels like to win a national championship.  But many have scored at the club and youth national team levels so why should they stutter now.

I wish I knew the answer to this question.  I'd appreciate knowing why this team, whom I love so emphatically, always seems to choke when it really really REALLY counts.  I've got the jerseys, I know the players, but I still can't brag that my team is reigning European (or World) Champion.

I was in Munich during the Champions League Final, where Bayern Munich lost to Chelsea in penalty kicks, and there was no doubt in my mind that for many Germans football is a critical element of daily life.  I'm curious to see how the enthusiasm and support of these fans is affected if Germany continues to come up empty on the world stage.

My entries on Tuesdays will focus on German sports (perhaps with a heavy emphasis on football but I promise to try and diversify).  For those of you who know nothing of this realm, I hope that I can share my passion with you and for those of you who know a little something about the Bundesliga, I hope to bring a smile to your face.

Bis bald,

Sarah

Why Germany? Warum Deutschland?

When growing up, I never had an interest  in German culture and language. When I dreamed about traveling to Europe, I thought of Paris, London, Rome, and Barcelona. I grew up as a Seattle-American with Polish and English blood running through my veins.  I adopted my father's witty, British sense of humor and my tastebuds yearned for my Papa Topoleski's traditional, polish cooking. There was nothing in my background whatsoever that would trigger an interest in Deutschland. I grew up without curry wurst, brotchen, St. Niklaus Tag, and saying the word "or" or "achso" at the end of every sentence. 

That changed, however, during my sophomore year of High School when I heard about a once in a lifetime study abroad opportunity in the school announcements one morning. "Want to live with a welcoming host family, travel the world, and gain a diversity of friendships?" asked the announcer. "Then this is the program for you! Become a Rotary Youth Exchange Student today!"

"Could this really be my calling?" I thought to myself. I hated high school and wanted out of it as soon as possible. I thought I would regret passing on an opportunity like this. Who needs homecoming and prom when you're living in another country, learning a foreign language, and immersing yourself into a culture different from one's own? 

My mind answered those questions for me. Before I knew it, I was in the process of applying for this said study abroad opportunity

The application process was long and strenuous, but it was rewarding. Three months after submitting all of my doctor, school, visa, and parental consent forms, I received the long-awaited letter in the mail from Rotary International about my country assignment. 

 "Congratulations!  You will be living a year in Oldenburg, Germany!" 

I didn't know a lick of German. The only foreign language that I knew was high school level Japanese. I will admit,  I was scared to go abroad. What if nobody liked me? What if I couldn't immerse well? What if I couldn't emotionally handle my new change of lifestyle? What about my friends and my family? Before any of my questions were answered, I was on a plane from SeaTac to the Bremen Flughafen. 

I remember my first day at German school. I was so nervous and scared. My peers would not even glance at me, let alone greet me with a warm "guten tag" or "hallo". As the American, or "Ami" as Germans call us, I felt like a pariah.  Living in the same town my whole life, I had no clue what it was like to be a new kid until then. Not only was I the new kid, I was the annoying foreigner.  I felt lonely--like a dunce sitting in the corner of a classroom. I remember coming home everyday crying my eyes out and wondering what I have gotten myself into. 


As the year progressed, however, my new German life improved. By mid-year, I had friends at school and I was able to converse in German. I ate brotchen and käse and rode my bike to school every morning without a fuss. By January 2008, I had enough courage to intern at Staatstheater Oldenburg, the local theater in town,  where I sorted musical pieces and found props for upcoming plays. In June 2008, I participated in my first Model U.N conference at the Oldenburg Model United Nations (OLMUN) where I represented Switzerland on the Human Rights Council. I loved Model U.N. so much, that I ended up joining the Model United Nations team at my university when I returned. 


So I would like to return to my original question: WHY GERMANY? In other words, why do I feel the need to promote German/American relations as well as German/American heritage? 

 At the age of sixteen, I went to  Germany knowing nothing of the language, having no friends or family, and having nothing but a suitcase in my hand.  Being the shy little girl that I was at the time, I felt completely lost in this new world. Though the experience was difficult, I would never go back in time to change anything.  Germany transformed me from a mommy's girl into a confident individual. Being a Rotary Youth Exchange Student was my calling; it was my destiny. It has made me the human being that I am today. I don't need German blood to love Germany and to celebrate German customs. Germany is apart of me and always will be--genes or no genes. 

And, for that reason, I feel the need to help preserve German/American culture and heritage in the United States. Through blogging, I am hoping to fulfill this need.  Every monday, I will write a piece about German heritage in the United States. Throughout this school quarter, I am hoping to interview German/Americans, attend German related events in Seattle, and to promote the Think Transatlantic campaign. 

AUF GEHTS DEUTSCHLAND!!!!!


Bis Montag 
Hilary