After hearing of my friend's experiences at EDC Las Vegas this year, I'm being convinced more and more to get my own slice of the action at Lollapalooza. After all, should I go, this will be my first Lolla!
So, if you'd like to re-live EDC yourself, download these free recordings from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway! And these (as I'm told) were all spectacular sets, so you will be anything but disappointed!
Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Düsseldorf, Germany: Day 4
It's official. It takes me approximately four days to be comfortable with a foreign country. I am finally beginning to get my bearings in this land: where to go, how to behave, how to socialize, etc.
In fact, all the foreign students I study with at my language institue in Düsseldorf (IIK) either have no clue where I am from or have guessed various European nations. I suppose this goes to show how heavily influenced German clothing style is from American shops and designers. I am somewhat thankful this is the case because anonymity is the best thing one could ask for in Europe, where long, judgmental stares are commonplace. However, I am insulted when I see people wearing American baseball caps for simply the "style" of it and nothing more. Most Germans have no idea what baseball is!
Speaking of the foreign students I study with, I find it funny that students from all the European nations (Spain, Italy, Greece, etc.) that are currently in the midst of economic turmoil are the ones coming to Germany to learn the language so they can one day live here. Conversely, the students from nations with relatively stable economies are few. I believe myself included, there are only three American students in total and one Canadian student. It seems there is a distinct influx of foreigners immigrating to Germany so that they may enjoy its prosperous economy.
Today had to be my best day. Everything simply seemed to work. I went early to IIK to change my course from afternoons to mornings. That worked. I went to purchase a monthly train and bus ticket. That worked. I went to buy peaches and ice tea. That worked. It was miraculous how fluid everything was today and I think having already gone to college for a year and being on my own has made a world of difference.
I'm keeping a close look on my expenses and [trying to] keeping them to a minimum. I'm meeting new people and challenging myself to talk to as many people as possible, and that's no trouble either. There's something about the German language that removes all the barriers I have in English. And in a way, German is more universal than English because in English, one's identity is exposed to moment a person opens his or her mouth. But in German, everyone is striving to speak with the same accent and there's a degree of universality to that. Something, at least, that is missing in English.
Also unlike America, when you look at a pretty girl, she's not afraid to look back!
Check out these pictures of my temporary home while you're processing that last statement:
Tchüß Kumpels!
In fact, all the foreign students I study with at my language institue in Düsseldorf (IIK) either have no clue where I am from or have guessed various European nations. I suppose this goes to show how heavily influenced German clothing style is from American shops and designers. I am somewhat thankful this is the case because anonymity is the best thing one could ask for in Europe, where long, judgmental stares are commonplace. However, I am insulted when I see people wearing American baseball caps for simply the "style" of it and nothing more. Most Germans have no idea what baseball is!
How badly is this place trying to be the German equivalent of Forever 21. I don't remember being 18 was ever that great...
Amerika, the influential!
One way America has NOT influenced Germany is bathroom sizes. I could maybe fit two toothpicks in here!
Speaking of the foreign students I study with, I find it funny that students from all the European nations (Spain, Italy, Greece, etc.) that are currently in the midst of economic turmoil are the ones coming to Germany to learn the language so they can one day live here. Conversely, the students from nations with relatively stable economies are few. I believe myself included, there are only three American students in total and one Canadian student. It seems there is a distinct influx of foreigners immigrating to Germany so that they may enjoy its prosperous economy.
Today had to be my best day. Everything simply seemed to work. I went early to IIK to change my course from afternoons to mornings. That worked. I went to purchase a monthly train and bus ticket. That worked. I went to buy peaches and ice tea. That worked. It was miraculous how fluid everything was today and I think having already gone to college for a year and being on my own has made a world of difference.
I'm keeping a close look on my expenses and [trying to] keeping them to a minimum. I'm meeting new people and challenging myself to talk to as many people as possible, and that's no trouble either. There's something about the German language that removes all the barriers I have in English. And in a way, German is more universal than English because in English, one's identity is exposed to moment a person opens his or her mouth. But in German, everyone is striving to speak with the same accent and there's a degree of universality to that. Something, at least, that is missing in English.
Also unlike America, when you look at a pretty girl, she's not afraid to look back!
Check out these pictures of my temporary home while you're processing that last statement:
The Dorf where I'm living is located near a "horse farm" Pferdfarm, could you tell?
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Düsseldorf, Germany: Day 2
The tranquil neighborhood I'm living in! Super schön!
Only in Germany would a business man ride a scooter to work... Ehrlich?
My minuscule room, only for two days though.
While taking the test, I racked my brain to recall various grammar and syntax rules, but it was to no avail. I can chalk this up to taking only two full years of German, but whatever the cause, I will forever be a painfully poor test taker.
After the exam, I went to the nearby Arcaden for some food. I was so desperately hungry, I was willing to eat virtually anything. I saw a fast food/carry out Asian restaurant, fittingly called "Asia Haiky" (don't ask me what "Haiky" means). As soon as I spoke to the Chinese woman at the register, with a "hi," she knew I was an American. My interactions with her only went downhill from there as she continued to speak English to me as her accented German proved fruitless. I was insulted the way she condescended me as an American and never gave me an opportunity to speak German. Her food was alright.
Then as I returned to the S-Bahn, a lovely piece of gum that sat in the hot summer sun stuck to the bottom of my new pair of Sperrys. Mist!
I rubbed the gum off, boarded the S-Bahn and was on my way. Until all of a sudden a conductor needs to see our tickets. I thought to myself "Ah, last time they never checked our tickets," so I was reluctant to insert my ticket in the machine so that it could be stamped, saving me some money (which is crucial in Europe, where nothing but the air is free). The man asked me where I was going, and again exposed my American-ness. But I was steadfast in my not-caring-who-knew-I-was-American. I begrudgingly inserted the ticket, rendering it now useless for future trips to school. Scheisse!
I walked home with a lump on my back, feeling as though everyone in Germany hated me. I realized this wasn't the case, however, as I returned home to my Gastfamilie, where I felt loved yet again.
I then realized I probably didn't do as well as I would have liked on the placement exam and clumsily revealed my identity because of how tired I was. I hopped in my bed, without any intention of sleeping for long, but I slept for three hours.
What made my day was a run I went on. I couldn't tell you how long it was because this was my first time running in a country where miles are weird. Speaking of weird, I felt weird because I took my shirt off midway through my run. I wasn't fazed the number of stares I received. For me, it was just like America because there, I never bike with a shirt. So if the German public wants to check me out, so be it.
An unusually patriotic German household. Brings back memories of 'Merica!
Culminating into a not-so-bad-day was the pizza parlor my Gastfamilie took me to. The margarita pizza I ordered was fabulous, albeit greasy, and good times were had by all. I especially appreciated the European pace of dining, where unlike America, we don't leave as soon as we are done.
Is this pizza zu groß for Gina?
Um das Ende des Tages, nicht so schlecht!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)