Old Habits Die Hard

I think I'm usually pretty good at keeping things fun and easy-going in my writing, so I will try and discuss something that is a little bit darker in German history as lightheartedly as possible. I always enjoy having fun writing and it's important to cover a broad range of different topics.

As such, today I'm going to talk about the Holocaust. Well, not directly, but I will certainly express my own experiences with the aftermath of it as a post-WWII in Germany. It's been a little less than eighty years since the end of "The Big One" and most of us who have an understanding of the internet extensive enough to get to my blog easily often were not even a sparkle in our father's eyes at that point. That doesn't prevent the troubling (for me at least) reality that Germany has had a hard time escaping its haggard past. I'm just going to put forth a few observations I've had thus-far, maybe I'll amend this post after the entire year but what I've seen is probably not going to change in nine more months.

She's got ruby red lips blonde hair blue eyes; an' I'm about to bid my heart good-bye

I was very adamant in my belief that there was a huge misconception of the amount of blondes in Germany, I'd come to believe it was simply an oversimplification of the horrors that happened during the Holocaust and a tepid description of German culture. Now, however; there may be a little bit more to it. In my experiences during my university studies so far, I am confident to say that 60% of all the girls in my classes are blondes. There are other puzzling things about it though. Although I've seen a fair share of blonde guys during my time here, it's not even close, the blonde haired girls have to have at least a 5:1 advantage over their testosterone-laden counterparts.

Let's be clear, I'm at a single university in Germany, in a single state within the country...this is by no means a representative sample of all Germany, but it's certainly more than enough to open my eyes to the possibiity that anti-semitism may have had a greaeter effect on the proliferation of genes in the post-WWII era.

Hmm...I'm still not sure about it but I really think it's something that I'm going to continue to study because it's something very interesting. 

Does that star-spangeled banner yet wave...

I used to think that the constant wearing of American paraphernalia was a sure sign of someone in Germany who had some sort of origins in the United States. It would only make sense, right? That someone would be proud of the country even across the seas and wear an article representing the said country ever once in a while.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Fact: 91% of statistics are made up. Fact: 97% of people you see in Germany wearing American paraphernalia are not from the United States.

It's one of the stranger phenomena I've ever discussed with Germans. It's such a constant problem in their lives, the fear of being identified as anti-semetic or having a secret swastika chilling in their basement, and so instead of wearing their country's flag with pride, they decide to borrow the next best thing, America's flag. Now I'm so happy that (for the most part) German's don't have too, too much negative to say about America, at least the one's with the intellectual/personal experiences that allow someone to objectively examine but it's really not okay with me that the only time I see a German flag is during international soccer* competitions.

I understand the fear of big government, I get the overcompensation for a dark past, but I really wish Germany could exhibit pride for its beautiful development since WWII, wave your flag with pride Germany, you've swayed my heart and I wear your colors proudly when I'm feeling spiteful towards my own country for whatever reason, you should be able to do the same.

Wave that Flag.

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes...

If a twenty-two year old were capable of going through her life without gaining any history of the second world war and Germany's situation during it, she may be very quick to notice the interesting phenomenon that occurs within German universities. Now being a twenty-two year old, with exceptional intellect, she would quickly notice that there was something different about the German's and their call and response hehaviors with their professors. Their hands would raise, but perhaps the palm would be tilted to the side, a slightly clasped fist perhaps, or maybe a single finger up into the air. A favorite of the curious German students would be to raise a slightly cupped hand into the air, palm facing back towards their own bright, brilliant visages while waiting patiently for the professor to address their concerns. She'd also be interested to see that while fist pumping to music, or in situations where hand-raising is seemingly acceptable, the Germans would be very hesitant to do so. It would, without question, be a very interesting event to her.

 

Never in Germany.

We all assume such a twenty-two year old doesn't exist in the United States--and as such, we all know the reason for why the hands are raised differently in Liebe Deutschland. This one I have a little less condemnation for than the lack of flags. Yet, it's still one of those things that I have to wonder, will this generation change the habit? Probably not, of course not, they'll mimic the behavior of their peers but it's something that I can't help but sadly accept as a grizzly part of German history. It would be, I think, like hearing the "n-word' in the United States--some might suggest that the word has exhausted any of its historic stigma, but it still doesn't appear to have a place in society--pretty similar situations if you ask me.

Though this be madness there's a method in't...

You receive money for returning empty plastic bottles to their designated disposal machines, beer and bread are valued commodities that many Germans couldn't live without and the thought of leaving food to waste is as foreign to most Germans as American Football is.

But there's reasons for all of it, extreme poverty is something that the generation of our grandparents in Germany faced, that means their kids were raised under the practice of conservatism and it seems to have rubbed off on their children as well. It's an amazing thing really, to examine some of the organizational things that seem to have be a direct byproduct of the second World War and it's really been for me, a paradigm shifting phenomenon.

Hopefully all this critical observation will carry on through the rest of my stay here and I'm curious to see what I can learn about America upon return and some of the roots of our practices.

Travel around enough and you never know what you'll learn.

Bikes of Passage

Left to pit his wits and will against nature's fury. It was his initiation...his time in the wild for he would return to his people a Spartan or not at all.

So here I am, sitting in my lecture hall, waiting for the most compelling class "Social Structure & Culture" to start when a future colleague of mine, sitting a few rows behind me asks: "are you in this class as well?" I answer with a solid "Yeah" too tired from staying out way past my recommended bedtime in order to make some new German friends to formulate solid German sentences. "Well it apparently starts next week the 18th of October" I chuckle to myself and, recovering from the haze of tiredness that's consumed me the entire morning respond with a, "That really sucks, I guess we could have checked that earlier." Now I am here, in my lecture hall completely alone, writing a blog post. Things you will learn if you ever come to study in Germany (or any other foreign country for that matter), but primarily things you were learn about biking culture because bikes are Münster's primary form of transportation. So, without further ado....

 1. Like Learning to Ride a Bike 

Promenade

There are some things that are really invaluable lessons parents give there kids. I know in this modernized world bike riding doesn't seem to be too prevalent in the United States, perhaps because the cities are too big, the time to get places is too small and the people are too impatient but I cannot stress enough how awesome it is to ride my (my guest family is awesome, I can't stress this enough and were kind enough to buy a bike for my usage while I'm here) bike here. Germany is known for these stretches of sidewalk that are designated bike paths, but Münster goes above and beyond with its very own bike promenade. In addition, there's rules, right is slow traffic, left if passing traffic, you ring your bell if you want to pass someone and you use your arms as turning signals. All pretty basic stuff, but there's something seemingly intimate about being able to simply hop on a bike and ride into the elements.

2. 0 Degrees Celsius 

Speaking of the elements, I was not prepared for this nonsense. Why yesterday, when I was out with Dexter and my new group of German friends did I not bring a jacket? I thought, "Hey, it's a nice 50 degrees, I just played Lacrosse in Germany, everything's okay!" Everything, my friends, was not okay I practically froze and only survived because of the kindness of Philipp, my new German buddy, and Dexter who loaned me gloves and a beanie respectively. This is all fine and dandy when you're just standing, or drinking seemingly comfortable locations, but the wind tearing into your face and reminding you that it really is zero degrees Celsius (32 F for you who may not know middle school science). I have my gloves, thank goodness, and a jacket and hat from my host family but just know I still don't think I'm going to survive this winter.   

3. Hot Wheels 

One of the most necessary steps every college aged student must take in Münster is being under the influence of alcohol (no, I am not saying incapable or pass out drunk, simply under the influence) and riding their bike to or from a party. It's just simple fun. It's a terrible practice and I do not suggest anyone making it a practice as much as I do not suggest anyone driving under the influence, but it was certainly a good feeling to ride along with the compadres and see how simple fun riding a bike while drinking a beer can be. These crazy Germans. 

4. All That Junk in the Trunk

Since I spoke of Lacrosse briefly...Münster has a Lacrosse club/team and we had our first practice yesterday. Aside from having to spend close to 200 Euros for the deposit it was awesome. Our first game is this coming Saturday and it couldn't be more exciting. The practice isn't the real highlight of my life though, it was the biking back from it with all my newly rented equipment. So I hooked up everything, strapped it onto my backpack and made my way back home. It was an experience, I'll say that, but it was definitely something worth merit. Seriously though...who needs a car when you can bike?

5. Cum Tempore 

It was really awesome learning how to bike to class in less time than it took me to drive to campus last year. Class starts fifteen minutes after the hour, in this case it's scheduled time is 10:00 (had it really been held today) which means the lecture would have been held today it would have started at 10:15. I woke up at 9:43. Got here at 9:59. But to be clear, Germans, who are known for their timeliness have so far disappointed. My lectures with my British and Venezuelan professors have definitely started more punctually than the others. But That's okay, I'm cool with it. Gives me more time to relax. I'm not mad at you German professors, do your thing. 

But in addition to my punctuality successes, it's so awesome learning new cities and new places. Being able to direct someone through Münster is going to be an awesome experience, and it won't be too long until I can do that, seeing as I bike everywhere. I think I need to name my bike. If anyone has suggestions feel free to lay 'em on me. Just know that I name all my objects females. Just one of those things, I think it ties us together more closely.

6. Water Weight

I sweat like the dickens on my bike. I don't know if there's any other way to say that. It's just ridiculous how much I sweat. Dexter and I talked about this last night and he revealed that he brings a towel with him when he's biking places. It might be a genius idea. Even when it's ZERO DEGREES CELSIUS, I still sweat. Of course I'm usually not an idiot and I wear a jacket but that's besides the point, it's still so cold and to be sweating through my multiple layers is just astonishing. I had a temporary, irrational fear that I'd come back to the states an obese human being because of the fact that my guest father and I cook marvelous meals everyday, and even when I'm not cooking, he does it. (which would be the ultimate irony, wouldn't it? Leaving America and coming BACK obese, impossible.) But then I realized with all the biking, walking, Lacrosse-ing, there's no way.

I Eat Like This Daily

7. An Apple a Day

Scarves, Jackets, Tea, Cough Drops, Soup. All of these are good protectors from cold. But I am going to be superstitious during this winter (I'm really not joking about this winter stuff) and I'm going to go ahead and be sure to keep up with the old adage. Every day I eat an apple. Every. Single. Day. Why you ask? Because that one day I don't eat an apple, and I'm blogging, sickly and depressed someone would come along and say that stupid saying and make me feel dumb. So if I get sick, in spite of all the apples, then screw you, screw your cute rhyming phrases, I'm going straight to the doctor.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

No man is an Island, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.

Promptly at 6:50 I wake up, it's still dark thanks to the beautiful ability of my new room to block out every facet of light that would love to creep into my room. Even though I'm up, partially conscious at such an early hour I have absolutely no desire to get out of bed, no, I lay in darkness for a little while before tuning in to Season 2 of The Wire. I don't know how I went so long without seeing this excellent show but I say I silent prayer of thankfulness for my sister and Bradley for bringing me into the light about it before I left. It's so peaceful here, Münster, Germany, a little ways north of Cologne, still in the state of North-Rhine-Westphalia.

The morning is a great time for me, it's invaluable really. Morning and late at night are the two times you can really just absorb yourself in your own thoughts, uninterrupted by other influences. So during the mornings I delve into thoughts, and this morning I was very consumed in the thoughts of Münster and my amazing experiences here so far. 

I thought about my amazing host family, the whole package and how excited I am to get to know my host-dad, -mom, and brothers so well in the next ten months and how awesome it's going to be to be talking German for a majority of the day, interacting in such a friendly setting. Some of the best moments I've had so far have been cooking with my host pop. He worked as a chef for some time after studying so he knows his way around the kitchen and since I love to cook we've made it a quasi-tradition. I can only imagine how the cooking is going to develop over the next few months. 

I thought about how beautiful Münster is. In a lot of facets, there are beautiful people, who ride around the town, known for its ferver for bike riding culture, a beautiful city, influenced by roman and gothic architectures, a beautiful environment, even though the clouds are often haunted by rain clouds, and a genuine beautiful personality of the entire university town culture. I smile to myself when I think about how lucky I am to be in such an amazing place and I can't imagine being anywhere else at this juncture. 

As the wind wisps gently through my slightly ajar window, I think about my family, friends, loved ones at home. I think about how I wish they could experience some of these things with me, I think about how great it is to have such a wide support system and I think about how much I am happy I have found new friends here and new people to share experience with. I chuckle lightly to myself in the morning darkness about how I thought, even for a second of foregoing this opportunity, and I think of how great it is to have great guidance both here and above. 

For one more second I think about my classes and the university which I will start attending next week as an international student, my blood boils with excitement, almost enough to fight the sleep from the corners of my consciousness  And then right around 7:40 or so, I stop thinking. Sleep has overtaken me. Strange phenomenon indeed, waking up for a brief moment, maybe just to take some time and reflect on life, maybe to take to be happy  genuinely happy and then to submerge myself once more into sleep. It doesn't last long though, eight o'clock calls and the bell tolls, a daily orchestra of church bells in the morning, bringing me back to life for the day and I can't be upset. For in my short time in Münster, those bells have come to symbolize the start of another great day and when they start to ring, I have no hesitations to get out and go.