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Published: June 25th 2007
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Koelsch!
A beer that can only be brewed in Cologne. I don't like beer. And yes, I drank the entire thing anyway (see?). Hi everyone!
This blog has to be fairly short, since I am studying for my big exam tomorrow. I hope everyone’s doing well! It’s strange to think that I will be returning to the States in a little over a week. I’m still not 100% sure what I think of that, to be honest. As much as I want to see family and friends and, of course, my dog, Zoe (aka the Zo-Zo), I will really miss being part of such a global community as the one in which I’ve been partaking these last two months. I’ve enjoyed making friends with people from every continent. It’s reminded me a great deal of my upbringing at an international school, where I constantly interacted with students from all over the world. I’ll miss that. And naturally, I’ll also miss Germany! I’ve enjoyed getting to know the country, and I hope you have, too! We’ve seen a lot of cities, I think, and have had some, um, interesting experiences. This may be my last blog before I return to the States (I leave on Thursday for Norway), so thanks once again, everyone, for reading this and sending friendly notes of support and encouragement.
Michi and I
There we are! Proudly displaying our Koelsch's... They’ve definitely made my experience here a better one!
So! This past weekend! Off I went to Cologne to visit Michaela and check out the city! Although I can’t talk about everything I did, I can cover the highlights, which included:
Friday- going to a cool Spanish tapas bar with Michaela and 14 of her friends! It’s funny; you’d think I’d be constantly stuffing my face with German food, but there’s so much else to try here that I think I’ve only had bratwurst like, once, twice, maybe? Paella’s kinda cooler. And sometimes more trustworthy than from some random bierstand. If you know what I mean. Also, I stand by my belief that Austrian food is better than German food. Hands down. No contest. You are more than willing to debate that with me, but just by invoking the name “Kaiserschmarrn” (an Austrian dessert), I automatically win. So there.
Saturday: Naturally, the big Cathedral in Cologne! But after that, Michi and I went shopping, which was really really fun! I haven’t actually shopped a lot since I’ve been here (gasp!). Well, okay, so I’ve bought some shoes (4 pairs, but they were really cheap! One pair cost less than
Romanesque Church #1
I forget which one this was. But it was also most definitely awesome. my Doener Kebab!)… and two shirts… and a dress…and a purse… and I bought the cutest 3/4 sleeve jacket the other day! Very Jackie O.! But I hadn’t bought any pants or anything yet! See? I’m totally justified in buying a cute skirt and great pants. Now I just need to find some good shoes to go with the pants…And maybe some good accessories. Rings? I don’t have any rings… and I’m getting bored with my bracelets and necklaces, too…
(Random comment: When did I become such a girl? Dangit…The Kira of 4 years ago would be shocked and appalled at my behaviour.)
Sunday: Church-hopping. Literally. I might have been skipping at one point. There are sooo many cool churches in Cologne! Yes, yes, the Dom is very cool and rather grand (is Stephansdom bigger, though?), but I would actually recommend visiting the various Romanesque churches spread throughout the city. For fans of Romanesque architecture, visit Cologne!!! The Church of St. Gereon is officially the coolest Romanesque church I’ve ever seen. And trust me, I’ve seen a lot of churches. One cannot escape Europe without visiting at least, oh, say, 30 churches. Between this summer and the last (2006),
I think I can speak with experience when I say that the Church of St. Gereon is unique and special. So visit it, if you can. It’s slightly in the middle of nowhere, and you may question just why in the world you’re doing this, but it is SOOOO worth it!
Of course, no train ride home could be complete without some crazy, loud, and thoroughly drunk soccer fans making an appearance. Even if it’s on a Sunday afternoon. At 1:30 pm. I didn’t know there WERE crazy loud drunken people of any particular sort (soccer fans or otherwise) on Sundays, let alone in the afternoon. But this group of 20 or so proved me wrong. And with much gusto. And as we already know, no train ride home would be complete without the necessary equipment: a very loud stereo, and cases full of beer. I think when I get back to the States, I’m going to try my hardest to find you guys youtube clips of various German “schlager” songs, so that you can also hear just what my ears were subjected to in Germany. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to hear their drunken and slightly off-key voices
slurring along to the words, but you know what? Just call me and I will happily imitate. I have WEEKS of experience behind me to produce a convincing drunk 20-something German man on his way home from a 4th-leage soccer match, who may or may not have accidentally left his shirt on a stadium bench in Stuttgart. He doesn’t remember. And could you pass him that beer can? He’s going to try and sober himself up with it. He hasn’t had a beer in 30 minutes (light beers don’t count).
Needless to say, my train ride home was amusing again. And I don’t want you to get such a bad impression of these German drunken soccer fans. They’re happy, they’re friendly, they want to hug. And as I was explaining to people earlier on this summer, that’s a little bit safer than the Irish drunken soccer fans of last month, who would cheerfully and really with only the best of intentions, gladly throw beer cans at you. They were friendly; their version of friendship just meant you could get a black eye and beer down your shirt.
Okay. I need to get going. Not only do I have
to practice my much-improved German (really! It’s much better now), but I also have to brush up on my Norwegian and Swedish. This includes learning such important phrases as “Is that a Fjord,” “Where the heck is ABBA,” and, considering my past experience in Hamburg, “I don’t like fish.”
Oh! Oh! I also just realized… H & M comes from Sweden! Eek! More shopping! I’m getting excited about this trip now! Alright. Well, off I go. Off to study! But do drop a line before I head across the sea. It would be great to hear from you!
Bis dann,
~Kira
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Overly Proud Sister
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The Zo sends her love!!
Hi, wonderful!! Your blogs keep getting better and better, and the pictures are fantabulous. Have fun in Norway and Sweden. Make sure to save some money for candy. It sounds like a ridiculous recommendation, I know, but you'll soon see what I mean!! Your blog always makes me miss the drunken, ranting soccer hooligans in Austria... they were also quite friendly, very ignorant (in a happy, blissful way), and a joy always. Take care, and I'll see you soon. I saw the Zo yesterday, and she would definitely chew on your fingers if you were here... that's love.