I'm just a curbside prophet

So I had a really great talk with one of my friends Adrian last night; we were talking about how people outside of Germany see Germans as either Nazis or Bavarian. Which they are not at all and so its really hard in away to watch American films cause I notice anything German related in a movie is something with Nazis. So I recognize the hurt for them that if someone says Germany they instantly think of something negative or just something that isnt even really considered German. Where as when someone says Italy you think of sexy italian men on mopeds, pizza, gelato, pasta, wine, and romance. I told him I can kind of relate in the sense that when my friend Romain had said to me I dont get what the big deal is about your president being black. I was like well obviously it shouldn’t matter but it IS a big deal because of our countries history. Its sad but honestly when I think of the south I dont always dont think positive things right away. I think of its history…its bad history…not how sweet or homely people are there. However I know that they are but its not something that can be erased so easily. Especially in the case of when it is apart of who my families history. I think one of the hardest things too for alot of Germans is that Hitler wasnt even German he was from Austria. Adrian had told me he is like yeah I went to Austria and they were like Oh Germany! You are a nazi and he is like yeah yeah we are all nazis but you know Hitler came from your country right? I get how annoying it is to defend something you care about when everyone just has a bad/wrong impression of a place. Not to say that things that had happened should be forgotten but its sad that Germans are instantly thought of as the way they should. Which is really homey nice people who love to cook together like a family. I mean what group of college 20 year olds invite you over and cook for like at least 6 people and I mean cook. Not like throw a frozen pizza in the oven but like make things from scratch like a mom or grandma would do. Also may I add its not that they do this just for a special occasion or someone’s birthday. Like its a normal regular casual thing. The only people I know who do that is Germans haha.

Another thing I was telling Adrian is how I was watching Beerfest with Tiffany the other day but the last half of it which was the  world championship beer drinking games “in” Germany. Tiffany and I were watching it and she is like you realize out of all the people who play the Germans in this movie 3 our actually German speakers but 2 of them are Austrian and one is actually German. Also then I’m watching as they play these games and Im like…I think they just shot this in a bar in Wisconsin man haha. Like pretty sure none of those games Germans actually play/know, and the majority of them are truly just American games.

I can’t tell you how glad I am I came to Germany. This place really grew on me, and in away I didn’t know it would. I was just kind of like ok its Europe, but not any place I was dying to live in for a year. So when I watch things like Beerfest its funny for me to realize how much my view has changed. I mean I was never one of those people that was like oh Germans are nazis. I dont like to do that with any country good or bad because I know how it feels for people to view Americans. They think we are something we are not…well yes we are idiots but not all of us haha.

So Im so glad I came here, it’s so incredible the things Ive been able to see and do. The friendships Ive made and the way I’ve been able to connect with others.

So I leave this entry with the lyrics from my man Nat King Cole

“Unforgettable
That’s what you are,
Unforgettable
Tho’ near or far.

Like a song of love that clings to me,
How the thought of you does things to me.
Never before
Has someone been more…

Unforgettable
In every way,
And forever more
That’s how you’ll stay.

That’s why, darling, it’s incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am
Unforgettable, too.


Unforgettable
In every way,
And forever more
That’s how you’ll stay.

That’s why, darling, it’s incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am
Unforgettable, too.”

So today I went to the rathaus (townhall) to extend my visa. Can I just say how much I love how easy it is for me to do this. I just have to get proof of insurance, passport and 20 euros. Then he goes clickity click click away on the computer for a few minutes and print wah-la!

I hope its this easy to get a visa when I want to come back to Europe haha. However it was really cute cause when he was handing my validation slip. He says “This date here shows you are guilty until then.”, he pauses for a second “wait…no not guilty…hmm whats the word.” and stares at me for a moment and says the word in German. “gültig..?” I wasn’t sure of the proper translation but I figured then it must mean something like its good till then haha however I couldn’t even think of the word valid. Then finally he asked one of his coworkers and they all had a good laugh that he had said to me you are guilty till August 22nd.

I mean in away it makes sense there are alot of words in German where even if you dont know it, it sounds so close to the english version you can guess. So apparently gültig is one of them, lesson learned by all. 

I’m just saying me having to wear a fall jacket and scarf outside in the middle of summer is unacceptable Germany. Figure it out! I want sunshine in my life during these tragic times.