Can anyone tell me why Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East Berlin leader Honecker kissed?
It has been over ten days since I last posted a blog, how have you all made it so long without my witty banter? You are all obviously very strong people to have made.
So whats new in our world. Well it’s a bit of the same old stuff, just trying to figure out our rolls here in the fatherland (as my German friend Stephen calls it). After 3 weeks of paper work..uh I mean training, Erin finally got
kids in her classroom. She has this awesome ability to make even the coldest classroom (I say that because her school looks like a bunch of bunkers stacked next to each other), look all warm and fuzzy. Her kids are different then what she was used to, her students in the past did not have the money to travel so when Erin would ask what they did this summer she would get answers like “went to Wal-Mart”. When she asked her new students that question she got answers like, India, Italy, and America (probably to go to Wal-Mart). The educational system is set up so that if you are not on top of it from 4th or 5th grade you don’t get to go to all 13 grades (yes 13) and therefore would end up in a career that they did not love, or even like.
Today is our one month anniversary of being in Berlin. I have spent the free time just trying to get my head around all the death and destruction that went on right where I live. It is completely fascinating to me, how a whole society can have a radical idea and it ends up killing 60 million people across the globe. I have really wanted to just give myself time to take it all in and then start to research the battles, castles, and memorials on a deeper level. It’s really quite perfect that school started for me last week and I am taking a class on Modern Western Civ. So am studying where I live and the culture that surrounds each event in history.
So whats new in our world. Well it’s a bit of the same old stuff, just trying to figure out our rolls here in the fatherland (as my German friend Stephen calls it). After 3 weeks of paper work..uh I mean training, Erin finally got
kids in her classroom. She has this awesome ability to make even the coldest classroom (I say that because her school looks like a bunch of bunkers stacked next to each other), look all warm and fuzzy. Her kids are different then what she was used to, her students in the past did not have the money to travel so when Erin would ask what they did this summer she would get answers like “went to Wal-Mart”. When she asked her new students that question she got answers like, India, Italy, and America (probably to go to Wal-Mart). The educational system is set up so that if you are not on top of it from 4th or 5th grade you don’t get to go to all 13 grades (yes 13) and therefore would end up in a career that they did not love, or even like.Today is our one month anniversary of being in Berlin. I have spent the free time just trying to get my head around all the death and destruction that went on right where I live. It is completely fascinating to me, how a whole society can have a radical idea and it ends up killing 60 million people across the globe. I have really wanted to just give myself time to take it all in and then start to research the battles, castles, and memorials on a deeper level. It’s really quite perfect that school started for me last week and I am taking a class on Modern Western Civ. So am studying where I live and the culture that surrounds each event in history.
So to get to know this town I have found my self on my bike trying to get lost. Yesterdays adventures found me lost in the down town part of Berlin. Now all over Berlin there are 100’s if not 1,000’s of these bears. They are pretty tall and usually out in front of businesses. Erin and I have always wondered what they heck they are all about. Yesterday I found out that they are “United buddy bears” if you want to learn more go to http://www.buddy-bear.com/. Anyway I guess they are intended to promote peace and fundraise for the poor kids of Berlin. Not a bad idea and they are really pretty unique.
We get our first guest on September 13th. Erin’s mom is flying on over to hang out with us for a week or so, then my mom is coming over for Christmas, and my brother at Spring break. The reason I am telling you this is so that you feel pressured to book your room in hotel Forster early (it’s cheaper that way)
Hope you are all doing well
Patrick
Hope you are all doing well
Patrick
2 comments:
I missed seeing your blog and especially the photos. Do you have a photo of the outside of your apartment building? Moms like to see those things...
Im looking forward to my Christmas in Berlin...please make sure there is a light snowfall (which I havent seen in my six years in Alabama!), lots of lights and perhaps Kris Kringle (sp?). (For some reason this Blogger wont let me insert any apostrophes in words!! The Quick Find thingie keeps popping up.)
I think Ill brush up on my WW II history too. You know, Granddad read so many books about the war...he would have loved to see Berlin Im sure.
So glad Erin actually has students now...are they both German and American?
Love to you both,
Mom
I have been thinking about Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker for about 5 months now. Erich and Leonid are kissing in the traby BECAUSE they are in a traby. Trabants make you feel happy, gay even. Wouldn't you kiss a soviet leader if you were cursing around in a 601 S with optional external fog lamps. I never realized a convertible version existed. I tried to import a Trabant when i was in high school. The car was cheap, the shipping (UPS) would have been unreasonable. When you come back to the states... if you come back, you are each allowed to bring a personal vehicle. Many friends of mine have made a killing off this. Not so much with trabants but with diesel range rovers. However, diesel range rovers make you feel like shooting lions not kissing men. what is better for the environment. I say the Trabant even the 2 stroke versions.
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