Clara in Germany!

Yesterday, my theater group and I embraced the cold, and put on an outdoor promotional show for our musical at the local Christmas market! I don't have an actual role in the play, but I am pretty vital in terms of zipping up dresses, and placing things on hangers. Sure, there were points in the evening where I couldn't feel my face, but it was nothing some hot apple punch and crepes couldn't fix (as if anything can't be cured through crepe magic. I mean really.) Me and all my theater buddies after the show! MARZIPAN AND NUTELLA CREPE??? SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. Don't worry, it's just hot apple punch! Which by the way, was soul warming and delicious. 

Today I went to the movies with a few girls from my soccer team, to see Die Mannschaft . The movie is basically behind the scenes footage of the German 2014 Weltmeister team, showing their journey to being super awesome winners. There was one point where Thomas Müller was clad in a Dirndl (the dresses that girls, and apparently Thomas Müller, wear for Oktoberfest). I am still a little foggy on exactly why that occurred, but it was all very German and enjoyable. Also, this song is basically the anthem of Germany, and it played about 3 different times in the film. Here is a live version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMSEm3xKMNI Later in the afternoon, we celebrated my host Oma's birthday! She made a wonderful kale dish, and I tried to explain that where I come from, people wear shirts not just suggesting, but down right demanding that others consume more of the green stuff. That just confused everyone, including myself. Oh, and kale in German is Grünkohl. I ...

Yesterday I bought indoor soccer shoes, all by myself. Coming from America,I was expecting an eager employee to latch onto me and listen to the long and involved history of my feet. In fact, I had already prepared a small speech explaining my tendency to get blisters, and my preference towards men's sizes. But in Germany, there is no need for that. I just wandered into the store, took a few pairs off the shelf, tried them on, and bought the ones that fit me best. There was no "oh, let me go out back to look for that obscure shoe size of yours young lady!" I don't even think they have an "out back" in Germany. And considering the constant look of confusion that I now wear so well, I didn't even get a "do you need help there?" No sir, it was just me, and the shelves, and luck. It was all quite thrilling. Also, I learned how to correctly peel an orange today. I really enjoy oranges now. Every day is full of hidden wonders.

6:15 A.M) Get up, and try to meditate. Get stressed out that I am not zen enough. Sleeping another five minutes usually leads me more to the path of enlightenment. 7:30 A.M) Ride my bike to school. Pat myself on the back for not striking a small child, or form of metal. Witness 3 year olds trekking to kindergarten in the morning fog, clad in headlamps. Feel less proud of my ability to be a (barely) functioning 16 year old. 8 A.M-????) Considering the fact that substitutes are not really a thing here, every day is like a new little surprise (like a Kinder Egg! YAY CHOCOLATE). Today I had 4 hours of school, instead of 6. Teacher simply was not there, and we all went on our merry way. Nobody asks any questions, and nobody gives any answers. I like Germany. Around 1:30 P.M) Eat a warm meal in the middle of the day, Mittagessen, which usually has a potato chillin in it somewhere. This is the time to be with family, and talk about your day. 3:00-10:00 P.M...

Today I stumbled into an improv theater class, and decided to take a crack at it. All of the skits we did were based around Christmas (since there is no Thanksgiving buffer in Germany, it's basically Christmas time the moment you start to think about thicker articles of clothing . I dig it.) Thankfully, each skit had a "child" character, so I was able to take on that role confidently. "What is that?" "Can I eat now?", were what my lines usually consisted of. That, or silent yet inspired head nodding. Type-casting at its best. On a less good note, I am currently trying to get through my Geography (Erdkunde) homework in one solid piece....oh god, what.... "Arbeitsschutzbestimmungen"?? That's a word I have to handle right now .  

-Soccer Clubs: Showed up. Pretty sure my pants were inside out. Sprinkled in "dude" more times than necessary for social purposes. Did not die, or even break things. ALMOST killed a girl's face though, due to an unfortunate and unskilled pass, but she muttered something that seemed reassuring in response, so I don't think I'm on her hit list yet (aha. hit list. like HIT. IN THE FACE.) And ok, my pants were definitely  inside out. Show up again Tuesday.  Consensus: Good -Amusement Parks: Showed up. Strapped myself into the seat that the people told me to sit in. I think I met Jesus. Afterwards, it was casually mentioned that I rode the highest wooden roller coaster in Europe, with a max slope of 61 degrees, and that the Guinness Book of World Records paid a visit to say so. When it was time to head home, pulled an Usain Bolt to catch the bus. An erratic man in a leopard skin train conductor cap proceeded to...

While flipping through channels today, I stumbled upon the magical and twisted world of Die Simpsons. Just to let you know, Flanders still says "okely dokely", but just a little more Germanishy. It sort of made me question my existence on this earth, but I think that's a normal reaction. But to make myself feel better, I'll talk about cake. The other day, I got to try Buchweizentorte, which is a specialty from the Luneburg Heath region. It consists of layered whipped cream, chocolate shavings, heather honey, and cake made from buckwheat flour. Buckwheat cake doesn't sound quite as inviting though. That's sad. Sort of like German Flanders...