My parents' visit has come and gone. It was an interesting experience. Homesickness seems to hit me hard every 3 to 4 months (whether I admit it to myself or not). Seeing as it had been 5 months since I had been to states and 3 months since I had seen anyone I know from there, I was very ready to see my parents. So that aspect was very nice. But it was a very interesting time for me for several reasons:
1. I live a pretty solitary existence here and like to not stand out as American, or really any foreigner for that matter. That's really impossible to do with my mom (no offense Mom).
2. This is the first time I was ever out of the country with my parents. I have been to Germany 3 times in the past 7 years so am pretty used to things looking European. The last time my parents were in Europe was like 30 years ago. I didn't think of how much more of a culture shock it would be for them. (not that anything 'shocking' happened)
3. I was sort of hosting them, but at the same time they wanted to find their own way around and do their own thing and let me work and do what I needed to do. So this was also the first vacation I've ever been on with my parents where I was in the lead.
I didn't consider any of these things ahead of time, which lead to my getting kind of annoyed, and not finding some things as funny or entertaining, and my feeling a bit exhausted. In hindsight, I felt bad for the low tolerance I had and how unprepared I was at times. I really wanted to plan a good visit and some of the stuff I didn't have time for or I didn't research enough ahead of time. Thinking back now I wish I had been more laid back. My parents sure were, and they enjoyed themselves tremendously. I didn't realize how much of a perfectionist I am. I mean, I was definitely one in high school. But in college I had so much on my plate that I was just happy to get things done. And now I don't care too much about PBDE's and intern work is pretty tedious, so I just kind of do my thing, I'll admit, sometimes half-heartedly. As I told my parents, I'm learning a lot about myself this year Granted some things are a bit superficial like I could eat pizza for just about every meal, and I could never be a vegan because I like cheese too much, other things are deeper, like when I really care about something I put a lot of time and energy into it and am a total perfectionist (i.e. my parents visit, from the past: the Marching 97, and from very recently: helping plan Mel's Bachelorette Party) and I'm way more of a family person than I ever realized before. I miss being with my parents more than anything even when I get annoyed at my mom after like two days for asking lots of questions (again, no offense).
This was deeper than I expected. I hope you brought your floaties.
Showing posts with label visitor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label visitor. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Visitors
My parents arrived safely, though a bit delayed yesterday morning. They got bumped to the first class (or whatever politically correct terminology they're using nowadays - Business economy?) so they were well rested and very full upon arrival. Since the seats recline like lazy boys and they give you a 4 course meal. Today is their first day on their own. The test will be whether or not they make it here for lunch.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Oktoberfest
I've started several entries about my trip to Oktoberfest, but for some reason, I'm just not in the creative writing mindset to give an accurate description. Here's a lame and pretty boring version:
On Sunday after the Blasorchester preformance I rode down to München. Now that the trip is over, I can tell you how I got there, since this is probably one of those things that Mom would rather hear about after it happened so she doesn't worry. In Germany (and many other parts of western europe) they have something called Mitfahrgelegenheit which is where people are driving somewhere, and they offer the other seats in their car. It's much cheaper than any other form of transportation. It cost me € 30 to get to München and € 28 to get back. This is something Paul told me about and I did a google search for it and found several different websites.
The ride down was legitimately just a lady who was driving down to München in her little car and offered the other three seats if people wanted to ride along. And they were all full. The driver was a 27 year old actress going to München to film something for TV. She was very nice and obviously offered her ride because she liked the company because she kept the conversation going the entire time. The guy in the passenger seat was 31 and in some sort of experimental electronic rock band. He lives in Berlin but was originally from München. He talked to me in English during the breaks and rambled on and on in the car. I sat in the back with a 24 year old who had recently had a baby. It was quite a trip.
The way back was more roomy, but also much more quiet. Glen rode along this time and everyone kept to themselves and just wanted to get back to Berlin. This guy ran this van service as a business every week day from München to Berlin. There were 9 people including the driver.
Oktoberfest itself was pretty much how I'd imagined it. The beer tents are like any Brauhaus you go to in München only they squeeze in twice as many tables, so you're literally sitting back to back and you have to climb on the benches and over people to get out to go to the bathroom. And they have a brass band playing starting at noon. The frequency of Ein Prosit increases dramatically as the night goes on. (of course, so does ones awareness of how fast time is passing, so it probably seems worse than it is). I'll give more details later if I'm so inspired.
On Sunday after the Blasorchester preformance I rode down to München. Now that the trip is over, I can tell you how I got there, since this is probably one of those things that Mom would rather hear about after it happened so she doesn't worry. In Germany (and many other parts of western europe) they have something called Mitfahrgelegenheit which is where people are driving somewhere, and they offer the other seats in their car. It's much cheaper than any other form of transportation. It cost me € 30 to get to München and € 28 to get back. This is something Paul told me about and I did a google search for it and found several different websites.
The ride down was legitimately just a lady who was driving down to München in her little car and offered the other three seats if people wanted to ride along. And they were all full. The driver was a 27 year old actress going to München to film something for TV. She was very nice and obviously offered her ride because she liked the company because she kept the conversation going the entire time. The guy in the passenger seat was 31 and in some sort of experimental electronic rock band. He lives in Berlin but was originally from München. He talked to me in English during the breaks and rambled on and on in the car. I sat in the back with a 24 year old who had recently had a baby. It was quite a trip.
The way back was more roomy, but also much more quiet. Glen rode along this time and everyone kept to themselves and just wanted to get back to Berlin. This guy ran this van service as a business every week day from München to Berlin. There were 9 people including the driver.
Oktoberfest itself was pretty much how I'd imagined it. The beer tents are like any Brauhaus you go to in München only they squeeze in twice as many tables, so you're literally sitting back to back and you have to climb on the benches and over people to get out to go to the bathroom. And they have a brass band playing starting at noon. The frequency of Ein Prosit increases dramatically as the night goes on. (of course, so does ones awareness of how fast time is passing, so it probably seems worse than it is). I'll give more details later if I'm so inspired.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Why isn't the French Horn a Universal Instrument?
This is what I thought I knew about the French horn:
There can be either an E flat horn or an F horn, depending on the size of the one tube.
There are single and double horns. Double horns have a trigger for the thumb which you press when using B flat fingerings. If you don't use the trigger, you're using F fingerings.
Apparently there's more to know, or I have something wrong. When attending my first rehearsal of the Blasorchester, I got my instrument from Micha (whom I have to call to find the place, but that's besides the point) and was relieved to find it had a trigger. For you see, every horn I have ever played was a double. So the fingerings I am used to are in F until the A above middle C, at which time I utilize the trigger and play with B flat fingerings. Even the one time when I was 16 and in Germany staying with Florian, and I played his uncle's horn; the fingerings I was used to worked. But of course they didn't this time. I had prepared myself for the possibility of playing a single horn, by printing out french horn fingering charts that I found via google. I printed out two because I found two that were slightly different. Here they are:
Number one
Number two
Upon further inspection of the horn, I see that chart number two has the fingerings I need to use. I can only use the second set of fingerings, the trigger doesn't move back and forth between the sets like it would on chart number one with a horn I played in the states. At least now I know the fingerings, but it still frustrates and confuses the daylights out of me.
Aside from the weird horn thing, practice was good. I jumped right into the performance time of the year (the first one is tomorrow) so during rehearsal we pretty much just ran through things ones, occasionally stopping to fix something. Those are my favorite type of rehearsals. And it was someone's birthday, so as is the German custom, she had brought beer and sweets for everyone. There's one other woman who plays horn (Karen). I was too busy consentrating on figuring out the new fingerings to really pay attention to how well she plays. She's certianly not bad (though during the warmup the band as a whole as the intonation akin to a middle school band). During the first half of practice she played first, and I played second, then after Pause, she asked me to play first. So I'm not quite sure what part I've playing tomorrow. I guess I'll find out when I get there (if I can figure that out too).
After the concert tomorrow (it's at 10:00am) I'm going to Munich to see Uncle Glenn. It's Oktoberfest. You can't have an extended stay in Germany and not go to Oktoberfest. In honor of Oktoberfest, I had my first German Bratwurst the other day from one of the venders by the S-bahn station. It was everything you'd imagine it to be. I took Monday and Tuesday off of work and Glenn is coming back to Berlin with me on Tuesday.
Oh, and I'm sorry to hear about the US economy.
Apparently there's more to know, or I have something wrong. When attending my first rehearsal of the Blasorchester, I got my instrument from Micha (whom I have to call to find the place, but that's besides the point) and was relieved to find it had a trigger. For you see, every horn I have ever played was a double. So the fingerings I am used to are in F until the A above middle C, at which time I utilize the trigger and play with B flat fingerings. Even the one time when I was 16 and in Germany staying with Florian, and I played his uncle's horn; the fingerings I was used to worked. But of course they didn't this time. I had prepared myself for the possibility of playing a single horn, by printing out french horn fingering charts that I found via google. I printed out two because I found two that were slightly different. Here they are:
Number one
Number two
Upon further inspection of the horn, I see that chart number two has the fingerings I need to use. I can only use the second set of fingerings, the trigger doesn't move back and forth between the sets like it would on chart number one with a horn I played in the states. At least now I know the fingerings, but it still frustrates and confuses the daylights out of me.
Aside from the weird horn thing, practice was good. I jumped right into the performance time of the year (the first one is tomorrow) so during rehearsal we pretty much just ran through things ones, occasionally stopping to fix something. Those are my favorite type of rehearsals. And it was someone's birthday, so as is the German custom, she had brought beer and sweets for everyone. There's one other woman who plays horn (Karen). I was too busy consentrating on figuring out the new fingerings to really pay attention to how well she plays. She's certianly not bad (though during the warmup the band as a whole as the intonation akin to a middle school band). During the first half of practice she played first, and I played second, then after Pause, she asked me to play first. So I'm not quite sure what part I've playing tomorrow. I guess I'll find out when I get there (if I can figure that out too).
After the concert tomorrow (it's at 10:00am) I'm going to Munich to see Uncle Glenn. It's Oktoberfest. You can't have an extended stay in Germany and not go to Oktoberfest. In honor of Oktoberfest, I had my first German Bratwurst the other day from one of the venders by the S-bahn station. It was everything you'd imagine it to be. I took Monday and Tuesday off of work and Glenn is coming back to Berlin with me on Tuesday.
Oh, and I'm sorry to hear about the US economy.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sonntag 31.August
Fun Fact: You can't go grocery shopping on Sunday in Germany.
I'm stuck without food now until tomorrow or Tuesday depending on when I get home from work and when the draft is over. The stores all close at 8pm on weekdays and aren't open Sundays. It's like the olden days!
I spent the day with Bryan Auslander yesterday. We saw most of the classic monuments that are must see if you only have one day in Berlin. We spent an extended period of time at the Wall memorial, the Reichstag (we went up into the dom), and the Holocaust memorial (we went in the underground meuseum. Then we went to Pottsdomerplatz to see how much tickets for the Blue Man Group are, and there was a sweet deal for students. Probably because it was an hour before the show. But we got third row seats for 19,90 euro. The Blue Man Group is absolutely ridiculous. They don't talk, but they do have a stuff playing over the loadspeaker at some points. Of course it was in German. I understood almost all of it exactly, and I got the jist of the things I didn't get. The Blue Man Group is a show based on rythum. There's a lot of drumming...and paint. Sitting in the 3rd row, we were given raincoats to wear (because of the paint). Sadly, I didn't get any paint on me. It's got to be interesting to be one of the Blue Men. There's a lot of eating that goes on in the show. And the ending, was ridiculous. Not in a "wow, that's amazing!" sort of way, but in a, "this is really silly" way. It was funny and very entertaining. Good news: I am writing this online in my apartment. However, I'm sitting in the hall because the ethernet cable is really short. So, in theory, the internet is working. I might have to be plugged in all the time though. Either way, it'll work for the draft tomorrow.
I'm stuck without food now until tomorrow or Tuesday depending on when I get home from work and when the draft is over. The stores all close at 8pm on weekdays and aren't open Sundays. It's like the olden days!
I spent the day with Bryan Auslander yesterday. We saw most of the classic monuments that are must see if you only have one day in Berlin. We spent an extended period of time at the Wall memorial, the Reichstag (we went up into the dom), and the Holocaust memorial (we went in the underground meuseum. Then we went to Pottsdomerplatz to see how much tickets for the Blue Man Group are, and there was a sweet deal for students. Probably because it was an hour before the show. But we got third row seats for 19,90 euro. The Blue Man Group is absolutely ridiculous. They don't talk, but they do have a stuff playing over the loadspeaker at some points. Of course it was in German. I understood almost all of it exactly, and I got the jist of the things I didn't get. The Blue Man Group is a show based on rythum. There's a lot of drumming...and paint. Sitting in the 3rd row, we were given raincoats to wear (because of the paint). Sadly, I didn't get any paint on me. It's got to be interesting to be one of the Blue Men. There's a lot of eating that goes on in the show. And the ending, was ridiculous. Not in a "wow, that's amazing!" sort of way, but in a, "this is really silly" way. It was funny and very entertaining. Good news: I am writing this online in my apartment. However, I'm sitting in the hall because the ethernet cable is really short. So, in theory, the internet is working. I might have to be plugged in all the time though. Either way, it'll work for the draft tomorrow.
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