AFS: Wonder of wonders

Hello dear people. Just wanted to let all of you know that this blog has not been abandoned at all. I have had one incredible weekend involved only in the AFS universe, and of course I was away from the internet. I met so incredible people, you can not imagine how amazing they are. Both students and coordinators manifested how capable humans are to establish kind bonds, regardless any condition unrelated to the personality. I spent three awesome days with students from all over the world, I could notice strong differences between each other and I could find, however, that everybody had the same feeling, pursued the same goal, expected the same thing: share and learn.

It was a strange feeling inside. I used to say and repeat over and over again that we are all equal, no differences, but I had never been in a place with so many different people and in such an incredible mix of cultures before. It is quite hard for me to explain in words how I felt it. Despite the diversity, it was as I said: 'same objectives', so I felt fully equal to all, no superiority or inferiority, no shame, no bother... just equal, and you don't know how good it felt. I think it was the first time I felt like that, so impartial. I realized how many good squialities you can find in a person if you move away from any stereotype and you just let yourself go purely by the instinct that the humans naturally have, haha I don't want to sound like a philosopher at all, it is just I have never experienced the good feelings of this weekend and I want to share them with all of you.

I am absolutely convinced that the main reason for all this great thing is AFS. All the people related to this organisation have a special lifestyle, a different way of seeing and understanding the world, and particularly an amazing ability to enjoy life. When I am among AFS people I think the problems are insignificant compared to how much we can enjoy the good things that happen to us. And there is something really weird yet stunning: whenever you meet someone from AFS, he or she is related to someone who you know in advance from your country or from another place in the world, as if everything was connected to you somehow... I know it sounds like fantasy but it is not the first time it happens, and it is becoming more usual each AFS contact I have.

The last great thing of this weekend I want to remark before I go to bed (yesterday I slept about three hours) it is that after one month of being among foreign people, I met with my Argentinian friend Eli (you can see her in the picture), I hugged her strongly, and we also drank mate. I had forgotten how good it tasted. Thank heaven she reminded me of my accent, my way of pronouncing the Y and my droll habit of hugging everyone at every moment.

The only little thing I have left to say is how much I'm going to miss these great people. I look forward to seeing them all again soon. At least I hope so.

Firsthand

It is 12 o'clock and a crowd remain seated in the auditorium of my school. The last three grades are gathered, waiting, looking forward to see her. Finally, is the vice director of our school who speaks: 'Please all stand up to welcome Brygida Czekanowska'. Everyone cheers a little old lady who walks towards the stage, weak, but brave. It is the first time she speaks in front of so many people. She is the one. A survivor, a witness. A woman who lived the History personally. With soft speech, she starts to speak. 'I have only felt fear...'

Brygida Czekanowska is a former inmate of the concentration camp Ravensbrück, who survived the Holocaust and is now dedicated to informing new generations about her experience. She was born in Poland and lived her first years in Warsaw. When the IIWW started and Poland was conquered by Germany, her father didn't wanted to sign the 'Eindeutschungsvertrag', a sort of contract which made him German, because he said he was Polish and nobody could change that. Because of this, after uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto, she was deported with her mother. Every woman was placed in cattle cars and taken to Ravensbrück, where Brygida was imprisoned for 8 months. She was placed with the other women in tents with straw mattresses. The next day she and the others were taken to barracks where they made ​​them undress and then get their heads shaved. Brygida had never seen a naked woman before. The men gave them blue-gray suits like as seen in movies and they told them they had to work hard. Finally, the SS men took away them the last vestige of dignity they had: their names. They were replaced by numbers they had to sew to clothing.

She said that it was not so hard for her because she spent almost the whole time with her mother, and she luckily had a supervisor who took pity on her and sometimes gave her an apple (they were allowed to eat only rock-hard bread). She also was treated in a better way than the others because she was able to speak German. But the worst of all is that she witnessed all the atrocities done to others, and she felt very helpless especially with older people. I could not understand much of what he said but my brother translated me the main things. Despite she talked for about two hours, I noticed that no one moved even a hair. They had goose bumps.

The conference was actually all about racism, and before she left the place, she thanked everyone and once again reminded us that all people are equal. When she was over, some students were allowed to debrief her. One girl asked her what would she do today if she had the opportunity to sign the contract pleading as a German to avoid all the horror time. Brygida glanced at everybody in the room and then she answered: Of course I would not!

All in good time

When I was a child I used to ask myself if a stone thrown into the river would reach one day the sea. I also thought about what I would be when the time passed. Both questions had no answer. Later I realised there are no answers just because we don't need them. In fact I learned to wait. I learned to see everything in its right place. Everyday is an opportunity to go out and face the wind. Some dreams come true, all in good time.

Someone once told me to be careful what I wished for, because I could get it someday, and that would be only my own responsibility. I know now that where there is a will, there's a way, no matter the tools you have available. Nevertheless, nobody will come and bring down the stars of heaven for me. I am now responsible for my decisions, for my choices. I am responsible for solving my problems or learning to live with those I cannot solve (and that is the hardest part of the issue). Now I am in such a mission to find the pleasure in daily activities, just because I am going to spend most of my life in daily activities, and I won't waste the week time only to live at weekends. Why do I have to wait for the weekend to feel alive? What about all the time we spend during the weeks? Why wouldn't I not seize the day? Accidentally I return to the same subject as always... Will I be finding the meaning of life?

Today I can recognize that the first days here were really tough. I found myself in the middle of a confused world, listening to stuff that I was unable to understand, walking in wholly unfamiliar places, and feeling that my deepest and loved mores were uprooted. Notwithstanding, Rome wasn't built in a day. The thing started to change when I accepted that if I was in Rome, I had to do just what Romans do. And little by little I started to feel better and in symbiosis with the society around me. In the end, the sun always rises again everyday, and the moon shines equally everywhere.

So, as the saying goes, well begun is half done. I have now to complete the other half of the job. It will take the whole year... but luckily I am not alone: I can say I am in family... and that is what most strengthens me.

Transport in Germany

With estimated 81.8 million inhabitants, Germany is the most populous country in the European Union and ranks as the 15th largest country in the world in terms of population. Therefore, and with a developed economy, Germany has a dense and modern transportation infrastructure.

As I could see, public transport is excellent. The German rail network is comfortable, reliable and fast. All major cities feature impressive public transport systems. Subway, tram and buses assure reliable transportation. The trains don't stop working at night, and there often exists a network of night buses, all cheaper alternatives to taking a taxi. Almost all the places I've been have designated bicycle lanes which encourages people to grab their bikes and go out. Punctuality is a matter of first order in the majority of cases, although some buses I took were tardy because of road repairs. The train stations are actually modern buildings with sophisticated designs, but above all the are functional.

Germans are known to be a nation of car lovers. Hence, Germany boasts an excellent road network. However, I don't want you to think I am in the perfect world: one way streets and traffic jams often take the enjoyment out of the journey, and if there is anything I really learned here is to be patient... getting from a small town to other one often takes rattling a lot of time, not because the means of transport are slow, but because you have to wait long until you can make a connection between bus, train and subway.

What about prices? Well, I have to say moving is very expensive. So you can make a comparison, a ticket for one bus trip cost a little more than three beers in a disco. Another example... The same amount of money I pay monthly for my telephone fee is about two bus tickets. That is really dear. However, you can draw cards to move around a particular region for a low cost, and the good thing is that you can choose between bus, train, subway or tram with the same card, provided you move within your region.

What you can see on this photo is such a train in a city called Wuppertal. This particular flying train was built aloft because the city was already established when they wanted to set the rails and they didn't find any free space. So, the answer came from the river: as seen, the railroad tracks were installed on a structure on the river and there were no more space problem. Can you imagine the cost of that technology? And it works for an only one city! Now you are able to understand a bit the real meaning when I say the words: developed country.

Remnants of war

The pudgy fingers of Adolf Hitler gave a soft and squashy handshake to all his luncheon guests, on a distant 1th of September. They had together decided to invade Poland... and that was the first of a series of events we would later call Second World War. That was roughly about 65 years ago. It could be a lot of time... but since I am here I think it is not enough. The wounds have not healed yet.

There is something that caught my attention since my arrival: Germans don't fly their flag. This could be a minor detail but I asked about the issue. They neither are used to sing the National Anthem. So, I discovered a certain relation between nationalist events and the Hitler's universe that, implicit, reach in the true that the German society still feels guilty for the horrors of war, in particular the old people, as my German teacher, for example.

When I was in Argentina I studied a lot about the German History, in particular about the time of the war. And it is a fact that the Holocaust was a consequence of the congruence of four major factors: the personality of Adolf Hitler, the Economic and Political situation of that time, the Culture, and the behaviour of the German society. And this last remark is the one who I am interested today. Some people say that Adolf Hitler's plans would not have developed in a different context, and that is why the Germans feel ashamed. Their parents, grandparents or great grandparents who might have voted for Adolf Hitler in the last free elections in 1933 could still be held accountable, even indirectly, for the war, the Holocaust and Nazi crimes.

I think all nationalities have done atrocities, some more than others, and I am frankly ashamed because I have to say in my country really horrible events happened during the military dictatorships. Every nationality has something in its past that it is not proud of. Americans have black slave trade and the near genocide of the Native Americans. Spanish have the Spanish Inquisition. Russians, Chinese, and Japanese have their fair history of atrocities. Chile, for example, shares some similarities with Argentina, and I am sorry because I know I am leaving a lot of other countries out.

From the moment I arrived I have never heard someone neglected work or speak bad things about it. I noticed that Germans like to work... they see it as a blessing and not as a sacrifice. That is really to highlight. I think we have to base our pride on those things that we have to be proud of, and don't worry about people who we can't change. The History is full of war genocide and plundering, and it is sad, but any people can resort to that behaviour if the situation is there. The History is not to make us feel embarrased, but to prevent things like that from happening again.

The magic of the little things

Today it was a revelation day. I was in the train looking trough the window and suddenly I felt a mixture of admiration and respect for the world. Since I am here I could not help observing everything, from the minimum stone in the way to the most incredible landscape. Everyday, on the way to school, I am just stunned looking out. I am drawn to the smallest detail, everything catches my attention. And unfortunately, I can see that I am the only person with that feeling. All the other people are too busy or habituated, they can't notice the greatness of the moment. However I feel identified with those people because I was used not to care about my routine surroundings in Argentina. Now I think my mind behaves as a child one. Everything is great. Everything could be a wonderful thing, just because everything is new.

And when I realized that, I thought about my country. I thought about my old bed, my old bedroom, my old copybook. I thought about the countryside and the things I was used to be surrounded by. And although those things have nothing to do with my new way of life, I could see the magic which had been lost, here, 10 thousand kms far from home.

So I wonder... Why do humans beings get used to things? Why do we lose the ability to get surprised? Why don't we value anything around us? As the people here can't see the magic I see, I am afraid I wasn't able to see it in my old home. And I would feel very selfish if I don't share this great feeling I have right now with all of you.

Actually, you are reading and that lets me know that you can see, you can differentiate and appreciate the colours and you can notice if something is beautiful or it is not. So... what about your place? Now, right now. Wherever you are. Check out the things around you. If you are travelling, look through the window... look at the landscapes, look at the animals or at the buildings. If you are at home, pay attention to your desk, to the pictures hanging on the wall, go out for a walk and try to find the magic of the little things. You will be glad when you discover that everything that surrounds you has its own fantasy, its own perfection. Your life is wonderful, just as mine is too. Just because the answer lies in the depths of our being, and it is about how can we feel good admiring our surroundings and letting ourselves surprised, like a child, like being ten thousands kms far from home.

Germans also pray to god

Today I have finally been face to face with the way a lot of Germans pray to Jesus. I have been in the church, and it was very interesting. I want to clarify that I do not feel part of any particular religious stream and I actually believe that all religions in the entirely world pray to the same 'thing' in order to go home in peace, fulfilled in some sense.
Christianity is still by far the largest religion in Germany, with the 'Protestant Evangelical Church in Germany'(Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland) comprising the 30% of the population, and Roman Chatolicism comprising another 30%. However, many of them take no active part in church life with Sunday church attendance. Protestantism is one of the three major divisions within Christianity. It is a movement that began in northern Europe in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices. Horst Köhler, the last Federal President of Germany, and the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel are active members of this movement.

Today it was my first time in a protestant service. I liked it. I noticed that there are lots of shared doctrines between Protestants and Catholics. The protestant doctrines include justification by grace through faith and not through works, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and order, known as Sola Scriptura. The pastors can marry and have children, and they don't celebrate the Eucharist, or Holy Communion as we know. There is a part of the mass when the father read the gospel and then he gives the sermon, and also the people sing praises. A huge organ is played while the people sing (in this case, my mum was in charge). Are you a foreigner and you don't know the songs? That does not have to be a problem if you know how to read music (everyone here does), just because there are a lot of song books in the church and you can look up for the song you want to sing and voilà! There are the scores of each song sung.

The service was exciting because it was taking place the presentation of the gospel choir I told you I had been being part of. I feel bored during the homily just because I am not able to understand so much German. Even though that, and as expected, everything was great and the choir performed wonderful. My German mum, who was the responsible for the rehearsal and the general performance, was really happy. Of course I filmed the practice of an hour before and you can see the video after all this pile of words (imagine that the live acting was far better).



I am pretty happy because I found out that a lot of people is following the blog, and I received tons of nice messages from them. So, thank you, thank you because today my blog has almost a thousand visits and so I have now almost a thousand reasons to keep writing. You make me feel sure everyday about what I am doing here, too. Welcome, welcome all and from everywhere.

A giant leap.

All along this fifteen days I had to think a lot. I am getting used to this new life. The first days I thought it would be difficult. Sometimes I thought I would go ape. However, as time went on, I had a change of heart. I began to scratch the surface of this culture, and I am fascinated with this new way of life. My German is still improving, time to time, I would say quite slowly, but I am not crazy about that. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. I know that the fluency will come without me realizing it, and by now it is not a real problem.

During this time my emotions were multiplied by 10, or even more. The process started about fifteen days before my departure, so I can celebrate today one month of the whole issue. I know that the things in my old place will remain almost the same, and the people I used to be loved by will continue loving me when I return. If you want to know what I exactly feel nowadays, I am afraid I am not able to tell you, because I really don't know that. I only know that here my mind is open to everything, just because everything is the rule here and I have to accustom yes or yes. I feel comfortable every time, I don't miss many things and the people here give me good vibes, even though they don't know me. Some situations outside home are still a bit strange, but I try not to care about that. I give it the benefit of the doubt. My brother is great as well as my parents and everyone here. I won't bite the dust.

I know I took a big leap. But it is no time to regrets. I don't want to turn back the clock. That is not my purpose. I am sure I am making a safe bet. I spent a lot of time planning this project. Now, it's time to get the ball rolling. Cheers!

Schooldays

I came across the school yesterday, it was my first time in Germany, and it made me able to see the light about the roots of a country that has never ceased to amaze me.
The German education system is different in many ways from the one I used to be, starting with the fact that in my country the level of classroom content is far much lower. Here, the system produces high-performing students who graduate with almost a university level of knowledge, and makes possible for all kids to keep studying or working, regardless of their families' financial status.

The school works like a university... there are specific classrooms for each subject and even for each teacher. You can choose the subjects you are interested in, and attendance is taken individually. You can go in and out the room wherever you want. The arrangement of breaks is quite similar to ours, they have 45-minutes-long modules and breaks of 5 minutes and 15 minutes each time (these last are called Pauses).10 If the subject takes two modules, the students stay inside the rooms and eat food they bring from home. Some pupils drink coffee they purchase in the school cafe. During long breaks, they go downstairs and meet in a common room where they can gossip, play around or flirt with their partners. Approximately a thousand students attend dialy to this institution.

My first class was Musik. What a coincidence! The teacher welcomed me. Brief description of the room: a grand piano in the front, blackboards with staves, a score projector, the tables arranged like an U, sound equipment. We had to analyze a musical composition and recognize the different types of variation. I was surprised that everyone could read music, and it was a Schubert's piece of music, not anyone.

Concerning to the infrastructure, they have for example boards that slide up and down on a unit so the teachers can write without bending or being on their toes... All the rooms have it own overhead projector and I have not been in any class in wich teachers have not used it. To hold the chalks and write with them there are a kind of plastic covers so teachers don't end the day with their hands full of white powder. Every room have a sink and a tap to wet the dusters so whiting does not spreads. Well, these are the things that more attracted my attention, I think I will discover more wonders as time passes. I deeply believe that the education has to do with the development of a country, and Germany is a prime example of what I am talking about.

Karneval is over, the magic remains.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am still impressed. Some days ago I talked about the Karneval in Germany. Well, I have to say that I didn't imagine it would be so important and so great. They were five incredible days of celebration. Everyone was crazy about Karneval, as we are used to be during the World Cup time. Oficially, the Karneval starts am elften elften elf Uhr elf (11th November at 11:11am) and continues in a fairly low-key for about three months before the Tolle Tage (crazy days), a huge party that starts on Thursday and ends on Tuesday with the burning of the spirit of carnival to atone for the sins committed during the carnival session. The Monday of carnival it is called Rosenmontag and incredible parades take place this day. I think I did not see many colors together since my kindergarten. Such a party!

Everyone was dressed up, incredibly dressed up, with amazing costumes and outfits. The people's faces were painted, their visages were full of joy and delight. A lot of sweets and another strange things were thrown into the crowds lining the streets by the ones who were in the floats at the cries of 'Kamelle!!!', it was really awesome. Maybe you are interested in hearing some German karnival music. I have inserted a well-known song of karnival that you can listen while reading if you press Play further down. It is called Viva Colonia, and I am sure there is no one here who don't know this song.

Carnival is not a national holiday in Germany, but in this region the schools were closed during almost all Tolle Tage. It always occurs immediately before Lent. I searched for the etymology of the word, and I discovered that Karnival derives from the Latin "carne vale" (meat and farewell), in fact marking the beginning of Lent.
Rightly the people says it, and not only among Germans, that Rheinischer Karneval is one of the most exciting festivals around the whole world. There is a passion here, you can feel it. I am glad to be here, once again.

Frühstück

Here is a particularity: if we decompose the word Frühstück we obtain two different words: on the one hand we have früh that means early in the morning. On the other hand we have stück that means something like a piece or a portion of anything. So, Frühstück would mean 'morning meal' if we want to have a specific translation, but usually we call this moment just breakfast.

Ok... everything you see in the picture is used to be eaten here at morning. A typical German breakfast falls somewhere between what we would call a 'picada' and a continental breakfast. Germany is renowned for their bread and they sport over 200 varieties. For breakfast, crusty rolls know as Brötchen (small bread) are most common. The Germans have a knack for adding flavorful seeds to their breads. Sesame seeds, caraway seeds and poppy seeds are often sprinkled on rolls just before they are placed in the oven to bake.
In addition to the bread, here is typical to have butter, jam, ham, marmalade, peanut butter, some types of cheese and soft-boiled eggs. Many Germans will tell you it's not the topping or filler you put on or in bread that makes a tasty breakfast, but rather the way these toppings and fillers highlight the flavor of the bread. I think that is because the bread really tastes good here.
The most common German breakfast beverages are coffee, hot chocolate, tea and fruit juices. Cereals are popular too, specially one type that it's a collection of grains, seeds, dried fruits and other wholesome ingredients. It's basically granola that was never baked and browned. That tastes good. Yoghurt, chocolates and fresh fruit would round out this large breakfast.

Can you imagine all that stuff on your table everyday morning? It is crazy to us, but that is it. So, if you are a breakfast lover, you will be glad if you travel to Germany. In the end, you won't feel hungry anymore.

Don't worry mum, I won't gain weight. Or so I hope, anyway.

Time flies.

Wow! A week has past. Surprisingly quickly! I can not get used to think that this is my home now. I feel like just travelling. I have not thought about the fact I will live here for whole year. There is something really interesting and it is that I feel like it would have past a very long time since my departure. I feel far away from home but I am not sad about that, I mean, I miss some things but it feels good, there is no sorrow, and that makes me strong and sure about what I am doing.
The uncomfortable situations have been disappearing and I feel more confident with my family and the Germans in general. I shared many amazing situations and I have been in contact with enough people to make myself sure the adaptation is in progress.
Karnival continues all the weekend long, so today I have another big party and I will dress myself like the other day again. I know now I won't feel ridiculous any more.
I kept on eating good food and during these days I have received more letters than in my whole life in my country. Here there are cards for everything, for morning transport, for afternoon transport, for trains only, for school students, for being part of the city... I have also received a number of identification in Germany... that number will last forever (as they told me) so since I got it I can say I am a bit more German and that feels good haha.
As many of you know, my family is made up of musicians, and all of them are very good in what they do. My brother can play the electric guitar amazingly and my father plays really good piano, I will ask him if I can film him performing and then I will show you what I am talking about. And as you can imagine, they have instruments, many instruments, guitars, recorders, an electric piano and yes... a grand piano!!! I am crazy about that. So, as a present, I give you a video of me performing an extract of the National Anthem in the grand piano, just to show you that I won't change my feelings for my country being here... In fact, being away helps you to appreciate the good things you have.



I think I had lots of incredibly amazing weeks in my life, but I have to say that this have been one of them, surely, and I can't wait for the next ones.
Hope you all can feel my bliss. Bye.

Santiago.

Say yes.

There is a kind of rule in AFS that says you can not deny what your family proposes you, at least within the first month. One of the last movies of Jim Carrey is called 'Yes Sir!' and satires the life of a man who starts to say always yes to everything and his life becomes magically full and cool. When I saw this film I thought it was rubbish. I was not used to recommend it, but now I can understand the meaning of the whole thing.

As the rule established, I had to say yes to every proposal since I am here. And I have to say I've done things I never would have thought I would be involved in. Thanks to this rule I have played badminton, and it was a great experience. Specially because I have always thought that badminton was almost equal to tennis, and I discovered a totally different sport which the only similarity it shares with tennis is you have to trough the ball into the opponent's court.
I have been part of a gospel choir like in my dreams, singing all together at the rhythm of snapping fingers and in English, and removing concerns out of our heads, and letting the joy come into our lives.
I have been in a LAN party, such a meeting in where many young guys gather to play network games together. They all bring their computers to the host house and spend some hours playing and laughing loud and drinking beer, of course. And that is rare for us but I found it very interesting, yes sir.
I've tried thousands of drinks and meals and I realized that I like a lot more things than I thought. It was a bit embarrassing just during the first days to say no to a meal, so I closed my mouth and ate everything they offered to me haha. The most interesting part is that I liked everything, including carrots with apple or a kind of cheese burgers with marmalade for dinner, things I was not used to eat in my country.
I found myself dressed with a custom and my hair painted almost without knowing it, just because I had said yes, and I felt comforted when I saw all the people was just doing the same, honouring karnival. I had really so much fun.
So people, if you ask me for advice, I say you: 'Don't say no to anything. You can't imagine how many doors it can open in your life. Say yes!

Santiago.

A short one

Ok, this entry will be short because I just arrived from my first karnival party and I am really exhausted, but I can't go to bed without telling my experience today. I have got that annoying sound you have in your ears after being in somewhere with loud music... You know, it is like a piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, and I have to say it is making me crazy. Please don't laught seeing the photo. It is really normal here to dress and comb as you can see in it.
There are two things I want to remark. The first one, the security. I accompanied my brother because he had catched a job in this party as the lighting engineer. We got to the place at four o'clock in the afternoon because he had to pre-set the patterns he would use during the night. We stayed there for almost 12 hours!!!! The party started at seven, but before the doors opening, a gang of firemen arrived on the scene and controlled every detail you can imagine just for the safety of the party. We were at the stage so I could take a walk around the scenes and I found an elevator for almost 40 people, to be used in case of an emergency. I thought: wow... I have another reason for consider Germany as a first world country.
The second thing that caught my attention was the age of the people: the most of them were adults, around 30 or even more. However, they behaved as I behave normally in a disco of my country. I was fascinated. They all were disguised, with wonderful fancy dresses, and they danced and jumped and shouted until the music stopped. I was impressed... how different can be the people from different countries? Why that is not so common in my country and someone of there might see it ridiculous?
I will try to find the answer this year, here, far from my first bed, but surrounded by people interested in my wellness, I am sure about that.

Karneval arises

The original idea was that today I would talk about the german food, but this country never stops surprising me.
Yesterday I was the whole afternoon in a nearer city with my brother buying our customs for karneval. I never thought this would be so big party. Today at the train station I started to understand what is about (I took a photo of the situation in question, you can see what I am talking about).
Everyone or almost all the people were wearing customs, but no the customs we are accustomed to see: they were great and stylish customs, plenty of colours and brightening things.
I was lucky since I came here because this region is the Karneval region for excellence. There is no person who don't feel the Karnival, they all know Karnival and they seem excited every time they speak about it. I've heard that the Cologne Karneval is one of the most exciting parties in the whole world. I will be able to say if it is true or not in only a few days, what exciting!
During Karnival there are no clases and all the people have to wear customs, everytime, everywhere they go. It is funny because we are not used to see adults with their faces painted or wearing colorful underwear over their trousers haha.
There is some traditional music for Karneval too. They are really catchy rhythms although the lyrics are a bit simple or repetitive. It is the kind of music we would dance if we were drunk and we just wanted to jump and shout for nothing more than having fun. I like it. I find it quite familiar, don't ask me why.


This is truly interesting: everything has been great since I arrived, so I ask myself... How better the things can go from now? I don't want to know it, I will just let myself surprised, as I did until now. Schüss!

Santiago.

Here I am, 'wieder'.

I am in a train, going back home after my German class of today (I took a photo of the railways by the way). It was very interesting. I was in a bad moment when a partner of Colombia spoke me in such a bad way just 'cause I had said that I found boring the Hitler's book Mein Kampf, and he answered that was just because my people were unable to understand it. I felt insulted and I have been a bit dissapointed until I met an old woman in the bus later and I discovered myself talking German with her because she could not speak english. That madame brightened my day.
There are some girls next to me laughing at something that I can't understand yet. I am watching the landscape trough the window. It is wonderful.

Architecture
Germany have a particular architecture, generally seen in the places it snow. Every roof is gabled, almost all are black and the walls of the houses are coated by a thin grey rock like the ones we use for covering the ground. That is really characteristic, at least in this area. All the buildings follow the same style, with a lot of thing in common. Everything seems to be dark, black or gray-toned (the frontages you can see in the photos are not so common), but overall it looks like really nice, the darkness of the architecture contrasts with the sky and the hills and gives to the region a charming appearence. I feel like I were within a fairy tale, or a movie like Harry Potter or Mary Poppins (there is some similarity between German and British way of building).
All houses have at least two floors, excluding the basement and the attic. I have seen houses of more than four floors, and the most of them have no elevators. I don't know how the elder people manage to go up and downstairs everyday.

Something about doors
Since the day I arrived I noticed something really strange about all the doors of the house: they remain closed all day long. I tought it was particular of my family, but I realized that here the Germans only warm the rooms they use. So, they have to close all doors just after passing through them.
Ok, there is another problem for foreign people like me we are not used to close the doors, even the entrance ones. I waited about 5 minutes near the toilet door because I thought there was someone inside. Then I remembered the fact we were only four people in the house, and everyone was downstairs. Actually there was no one in the bathroom and I could have been waiting there all my whole life. I asked to my German teacher how she knows if someone is inside, because I had been watching the Germans getting inside without knocking the door. She just said to me: 'Well, this is a key and it is used to'... and you know the rest of the sentence.

Keep in touch.

Santiago.

First impression.

Well, after four days living in Germany I decided to write a blog to narrate all the wanderings and adventures I have every day, and to show to you the analysis of the fascinating and ancient culture that is immersed in this country.

I arrived to the international airport of Frankfurt on a rainy and freezing day. It was Saturday and my new family was there, waiting for me, smiling, a bit nervous, a bit anxious, a bit excited about my arrival. We were talking for almost 5 months before, but that moment was strange... I didn't know how to greet them but they quicly hug me and said Hallo!!! Santi!!! I had lunch there, in the airport, with them, and talked for first time face to face. We laughed a lot. Then we droved home and I finally knew my new city, my new neighbourhood, my new house. It was great. I had not thought about the place I was going to live and when I arrived I tought it was a dream. Therefore I was so happy.

There were some moments I felt unconfortable, just because when you are between your people you realize what is the other feeling or thinking, or at least you suppose it, but in a totally different culture (like this), you can't guess what the people think, how they will react after a phrase or a movement, or simply if you will be educated behaving as your way. Despite this, my family have been always polite and truly trying to make me comfortable and remove my doubts. I have to say the are wonderful people, interested in learn as much as I. I am learning about them and the same thing happens to them. Every day I feel better than the previous, more adapted, more identified with my daily activities and the new language. The German course is great and I think I'm learning fast and soon I will be able to have a conversation all in German with my brother, for example, who is the person with whom I spoke more and whom I feel free to talk about everything. I am really looking forward that moment, because I think the language is now an obstacle to get involved into the society.

Maybe you are asking yourself why I am writing in English. Well, here is the answer. I am learning a new language, totally different to mine. The classes are taught in English. Every time I had contact to Spanish I lost the speech once I returned to English. So I want to release from the Spanish language just to help my improvement in German and my development in the German society (speaking better English and then even better German).

I had not time to miss my country yet. I guess that will come much later, and I know then I will be ready to handle it. Bye for now.

Santiago.