Wandern (not literally wandering this time . . . Hiking in Oberstdorf!)

Other Adventures . . . .

A few kids from my class and I went to see a Benefit concert last Friday night, and as we watched these really amazing folk singers, we realized our converse were the colors of the German flag. I found that quite entertaining.

I visited Altusried, a small outlying city where I will live for half of my time here, the weekend before last. Ulla and I went to the "Alternativ Markt", with everything possible from around the world. My favorite was the vendor selling traditional musical instruments from Australia. I also enjoyed the best Kuchen Ive had yet there. Ive seen these cows everywhere though, and just had to get a picture as we were there. "Die Faire Milch" = The Fair Milk. Farmers in Allgäu have been protesting recently in regard to the extremely low price they are getting per liter for their milk, since its their entire life support and they put so much work into it. These cows are raising awareness of that. The Finance crisis exists in Europe too.

Hiking in Oberstdorf . . .

I was talking to an old counselor of mine from Waldsee the other day, who now lives in Hamburg (Waldsee is the summer german immersion camp where all this started). He said something that just made me laugh. You really should know this Sonja, but nobody likes Bayern. I a smiled a little and told him I liked Bayern. He then responded by saying well ok . . .either you love Bayern (basically, if you live there), or you hate it. Theres no in between. I love Bayern. I also love Allgäu, my cow-laden "county" that I am currently living in. Last weekend Büchters took me to what some might call the "Paradise of Allgäu", or the heart of it - Oberstdorf. Oberstdorf sits right along the Austrian border and is home to farmers, hikers and ski jumpers. There really isnt anything else. We didnt take a very difficult hike, no mountain climbing with picks or anything, given that Ulla was sick, but we did take a hike up one of the mountains in Oberstdorf. It reminded me a lot of home, pine trees and maples and colors, rivers with pebbles, fresh air. It ws definitely good to be outside. After living so long in the country, I never realized how suffocated you can feel constantly living in a city. In all mannerisms it was different than when we go hiking back home, but also quite wonderful. We stopped for lunch at a mountainside restaurant with plates, silverware, and Reibekuchen for me (like a hashbrown/pancake with applesauce on top) after we got back, and I slept on the drive back to Kempten. Mila, Kathis friend joined us on our adventures, as well as Maxi the dog. We walked with the cows on this last Sunday, litrally. I leave you here then with a few pictures of "Paradise Allgäu".

Mila, Theresa, and Dieter prepared for our hiking adventure.

On our way to the top (with Maxi) Me, Ulla and Katharina.

the Bahn (Gondola) we took to the top, then hiked down. (called BREITACH Klamm)

Looking down at Oberstdorf, across at the border to Austria.

My face plastered against the Austrian border.

Theresa and Ulla stop to pet the little guy as we got through the fence to get down the road. He didnt like me as much, I had to run to catch up with him. You could hear them from miles away though with their monstrous bells around their necks . . .

Walking right next to the cows . . . typical Allgäu.

The family :)

I dont really look like a fit do I? Germans are always prepared for anything. Theresa put mascara on to go hiking, and Katharina brought her glasses case and wore pearl earrings hiking. It wasnt very intense I admit, but I guess I was just prepared for more. Wolf Ridge has left me unprepared for Europe.

Chillin next to the cow . . . After coming down from the highest part of the mountain and the protected state park area, we hit a farmers cow corral. Like everywhere in Allgäu. I was kind of scared this one was going to fart on me or kick me or something . . . but he was quite nice to me. Just hanging out sleeping in the sun, next to all the hikers.

Not many birch trees (birken baume), but the Bücher trees are very common. (Beech trees!) They turn a yellow color, then brown. Unfortunately, most of the leaves are about gone by now. Of course, the colors arent near as pretty as back home - but theyre pretty sweet (just like glucose!).

Mila (Katharinas fellow Rotary exchange student in Argentina last year, currently back in her home town of Essen, Germany) and Theresa stopping for a rest. Mila stayed with us for the weekend, to spend some time with Kathi.

Fall Colors! Allgäu (my "county") is experiencing a "Golden Oktober" right now, similar to the Indian Summers back home (which for some reason they absolutely love. Oh, your from the States? I heard theyre experiencing a wonderful Indian Summer right now.)

The Ski Jump - Oberstdorf is home to one of the primary ski jumping training and competing areas in all of Germany. There are two jumps in the area, and we passed right by this one. I can ski, but I dont think I would ever have the guts to do that. I think the record set there was like 270 something meters . . . eek.

Just like Minnesota! A small lake we passed in the late stages of our hike.

Looking across at the Alps - Austrian border.

I hope its still sunny back home! Its started to rain here again - the November cold is here. Novermber gales are the worst here as well apparently, only in massive amounts of rain. Just like Gordon Lightfoot so memorably said about Superior.

Zürich.

So blogs take some time to write. I will not say they dont. But nonetheless, I apologize for not having written about my Zürich adventure that happened three weeks ago earlier. On a Friday some time ago, Germans celebrated Unification Day, or Unity Day. This is a national holiday celebrating the unification of Eastern and Western Germany after World War II. School is then, naturally, off. My family took the opportunity to visit Zürich on this valant occaision.

Zürich is a truly beautiful city. Loved by much of Europe for its shopping, food, romantic atmosphere, and culture, I was very excited to see it. Switzerland is a land that has been relatively unlplagued (if that word exists) by war and strife. Switzerland has a policy in almost any war to remain neutral. Romans occupied Zürich in earlier years, but most of the very old buildings are still very much intact. We took a tour of the city on Friday upon getting there which was awesome because we really learned a lot about how laden in culture it is. At the Zürich institute, Albert Einstein lived and studied for some time in the city, and Lenin also lived in one of the small apartments on top of a Cafe we visited. The city is very expensive, with no lack of shopping. Large name brands and little ma and pa shops line the tiny (only walking streets), and lights adorn every path at night. The people are all fairly sweet, and all together the family had a very nice weekend in its central.

Crossing the Swiss border (from Austria, which I didnt even realize when we had crossed the border). Ah Europe.

I must warn you: NEVER attempt to drive anywhere in Zürich. Katharina was driving us to the grand city, and although new driver and all, I dont think it would have mattered if Dieter had been driving instead. Driving there is complete chaos. Im so glad I was not behind the wheel. With traffic and such a difficult time finding a place to park, our first impression of Zürich was defnitely not a good one. Walking is a spectacular thing, it really is. Its so gorgeous to walk around the city, there are all of these tiny little streets and new things to discover around every corner. Just dont attempt to drive.

Me in Zürich ! :)

At the beginning of our tour looking back at the main train station, which is really big in comparision to most of Europe. Millions of people travel through there every day. The entire weekend was very wet and cold, I had my rain jacket with me - but was stayed relatively wet the entire time. And therefore cold.
Ulla at a break we were taking on our tour next to the river. There we got to try a very special syrup that you drink with plain water, almost like an Italian Soda without the bubbles. The water was even freshly purified from the Zürich River. Apparently cinnamon was the best, but I had some sort of Rasberry or something. It was also really yummy.

Along the river, It was quite fun - Zürich reminded me a lot of Duluth, if maybe a little older.

A small street in the city, looking up more closely at St. Peter.

At the gardens overlooking the entire city where the Romans held a fortress as the occupied the city in earlier teams. In walking through other small streets in the city, our tour guide also made sure to point out (as we walked over one), that Romans were the first the think of Public Baths, running ingeneous canals next to the river.

Our tour guide, showing us the ins and outs of the city. (She spoke English and German, so I understood a lot of the tour, which was quite cool).

Starbucks is everywhere! (I thought Ben H. may appreciate that)

A city model, the Zürich river running through the middle. The city used to be surrounded by a large moat in Roman times, but as Switzerland developed as a country and the capital Bern became such a popular city, Zürich of course tried to keep up. They filled the moat in and turned it into the main sreet, and main shopping center. This new main street was designed like the "Boulevardes" in France, with trees bordering the cobblestone ways and lights on the buildings at night, to increase tourism.

Songbirds (which are somewhat cute but somewhat annoyingly everywhere) flying over Großmünster. I was just glad not to be pooped on.

St. Peter, to the right, houses the largest clock face in all of Europe upon it (Im pretty sure the largest, maybe second). In German, and sometimes used in English as well, its called a Glockenspiel.

Out to dinner on Friday night for Swiss food, so incredibly yummy! I had tortellini, from the Italian roots. Switzerland has about four different cultures it embodies, French, Italian, German, and Romanian, each culture dominant in relation to which country it borders. The German spoken in Switzerland is not normal German though, it sounds like a completely different language. Theresa could barely understand it, let alone me. German is the prodominent language however, of which about 40% speak. It was interesting to see in all of the public places, like the main train station, directions and signs would be written in German, then French, then Italian - but no English. We finished dessert off with Shokimousse (Chocolate Mousse), in case you were wondering.

Looking out at the streets of Zürich as we wandered through the city. I defnitely got blisters this weekend. It was so funny though, the Swiss flag is absolutely everywhere. Every building has the flag on it, and there are shops everywhere where you can buy clothes or all manner of material things with swiss emblems on them. The country is relatively small, but full to the brim with national pride. There is a cliche about Swiss as well, as in every culture, that all Swiss are good looking and rich. To some extent, I could definitely see that when I was there. Switzerland is very expensive, in every aspect. A shirt I bought at home that was fairly expensive was almost 70 more Frank in Switzerland, more I think. The currency is Swiss Frank. Switzerland is not part of the European Union. It is close the the one place in Europe (at least Eastern) where you need a passport.

We unfortunately werent able to participate in the film festival, but the Zürich Film Festival is known worldwide for its artistic representations in filming. It was just ending I think when we were there, or just beginning.

Looking from across the river at Großmünster, a famous Zürich fountain in the foreground.

There is also a smaller church, Fraumünster, across the river. In the early stages of Zürich Abbeys existed in the surrounding area, and one of the biggest and most famous was Münster Abbey, although it isnt there anymore.

The awesome stained glass windows inside Großmünster.

Inside the Crypt of Grossmünster, a statue of Karl Ludwig, a very famous German Kaiser/German leader from the early times. I cant remember exactly, but I think this statue is from the 1200s or so.

Looking at the first bridge built in Zürich (to the right, where the Carasol is). At the time the city was beginning, this bridge was the only one that ran across the river, so was always very packed. It sits right next to the town house. Now there are more bridges across the river though, and not as many horses riding across either. Mostly people on foot, bicycle, and some vehicles.

At the top of Großmünster, the largest church and main attraction in Zürich. It has two towers that look over the city, and I hiked one of them up to the top (only 187 steps). At least it was shorther than the "Stairs of Death" back home, and I hiked those almost every week this past summer. The Büchters didnt have the energy to hike with me. It started to rain though, and I was sort of scared. It was REALLY high up.

Looking over Zürich river and to Zürich lake.

Drinking from one of the many fountains in Zürich. One of the coolest things I found about the city was that there was about 1200 fountains throughout, and everyone was fresh, cold water you could safely drink.

You light up my life.

So many of you have commented on my lack of photos from ordinary life. You know . . . school, eating, sleeping, pooping. Just like a baby. I have forgotten to take any pictures of the bathroom, but I thought I would share a few tidbits of life in Germany with you all.

A typical day(in the week):

6.15/6.30 wake up shower/get ready for school

7.00 Breakfast with Brochen (rolls) or Müsli (cereal/granola/bowl o' nuts) and Coffee

7.45 School starts, usually my least favorite class, French, happens to be first

12.35 School is out, walk home

13.00 Eat a large lunch with some potatoes and meat

Afternoon - Some sort of random activity, Art class today for example and Choir tomorrow

Also maybe take a walk with Maxi (the dog), go on the computer, do homework . . .etc.

8.00 Eat dinner, which nearly always consists of Bread in an open-faced sandwich with cheese and meat, as well as this non-sweet cream cheese like butter called Buko. Nutella, and luckily for me, Peanut Butter, is also an option. Tea is normally the drink at dinner

9.00 Watch a movie/Have a long conversation with Theresa/random evening activity

10.30/11.00 go to sleep

The Büchter family dinner table

One half of the living room - Theresas piano (Klavier) is to the left

The other half of the living room, where I have been fortunate enough to enjoy Harold and Maude in Germany, as well as certain Bayern soccer games :)

Looking out to the front lawn (while the grass is still green!)

The Büchter family refrigerator . . . wooo . . . . spooky . . . .

Stopping for a "Pause" with some of the girls from my class, we had Kaffee and Küchen on Wandertag(hiking day).

(Martina, Monika, Britta, Lena, Tamara, Carmen, Annegretl [from left>right])

Walking home one day, almost at the house looking over the city of Kempten.

At Katharinas horse tournament (she placed 4th), Dieter and Katharina are standing here before shes about to jump with Mylou.

Carl-von-Linde-Gymnasium (My school coming upon the main entrance)

Jenny and Lena in 11a (our classroom, where we spend most of our time but will once in a while switch around to the Physics room, etc. I sat by Lena the first week.

Julia, whom I sit by, giving me a surprised look as I snap a picture of her and her pencil case before English. Our classroom is right by the main entrance, with windows on the right side of this picture and a sort of library in the back. Students keep their (very small if I may add) books at school under their desks, and bring a binder (sometimes notebooks) to school everyday with them. One large binder should fit most of their work for the entire year, given that in Germany students arent taught, they "learn". I was absolutely amazed when I realized that I only had 3 questions of homework in Math, but then I grew to understand that the Homework isnt whats important, its that you learn and understand how everything works. They memorize everything! For those of you who may understand, it is similar to have Mr. Casper in every subject. In this manner, we have to memorize every small city and river in Bayern for Geography, and every tense of certain French verbs. Every day. It is quite refreshing to know that 30 minutes is about the most the spend on "learning" though a day. Another quick note: Students in high school "learn", Students in University "study". I find their use of the nouns/verbs quite interesting . . .

The steps leading up to further levels of the school, C-v-L has 3 floors and about 80 people in each grade, grades 5-13. The last two years of highschool, The Kollegstuffe (12th and 13th), are years that actually "count". During these years they study very hard to perform well on the Arbitur, or Final Test, that any student who goes to Gymnasium has to take. The test has different subjects you can so-to-speak major in, and then some that are required. My best comparision is that it is very similar to the SATs or SAT IIs. Half, or maybe a fourth, of your Arbitur grades are the ones you recieved in Kollegstuffe. The Arbitur determines where you can go to college, what you should study/are able to study . . . etc. Katharina, my older host sister, is in her first College level year (K12) right now.

There are basically 3 different types of schools in Germany: Hauptschule, Realschule, and Gymnasium. Every student starts out in the Gründschule from the 1st to the 4th grade. Categories are then split up according to your performance as a child. If you are placed in the Hauptschule, you probably have a hard time learning or very lax study habits (even at age 8), and are stuck there until you graduate in the 9th grade, when you can start mediocre work. Those students with middle-ranging scores are placed in the Realschule, and if they are exceptional smart or work very hard they can be moved up to the Gymnasium. Gymnasiums are the most rigorous of the highschools, but you are also able to be moved down to the Realschule if you do not perform properly. Both Realschule and Gymnasium graduate after the completion of their Arbitur in the 13th grade, but if you graduate from a Realschule you could not go on to study law or medicine in University. Going to University is very cheap for natives in German, it used to be free.

There are also "Trade schools" where you can learn a certain craft, like woodworking or Police work. In every school however, you have to do some sort of internship to learn how the work world works.

Not every member of the German state find this a good system, Ulla (my host mom) for example, but it has been a system that has worked for the country for many years. During World War II the system was still intact, only in either West/East Germany (I cant quite recall) There was only two options for school, Realschule and Gymnasium, instead of three. C-v-L (where I am) isnt the smallest Gymnasium in Kempten, there are two others that are both much bigger.

Looking out at the backyard/courtyard of the school, where we spend our 20minute morning break (that is until it begins to snow).

Anne and Moni at the Herbstball (not the type to normally come, but they performed a Juggling act that I unfortunately missed)

Britta and I making fun of the table decorations, and apple that we eventually decided to eat.

I do not have many pictures of the Herbstball, an event occuring only every 2 years at C-v-L, but I must tell you that it is nothing like a school dance. There are performances by the Juggling group, Theater, and dance group. A band "Babel and the Goodman" (including the leader, our math/physics teacher on sax) played, and food and drink is offered (for a price). All the teachers are there in their finest, as well as parents when they feel up for coming. The Ball took place in the old wheat storage hall in Kempten, now renovated as a sort of Ballroom with a great room/wooden dance floor and a large balcony surrounding it above (where most of the students had tables). Waltz, Fox trot, Jive, and Cha-Cha were all enjoyed before midnight, where "Freestyle" dancing took ground and really kicked its shoes off, bellowing large steps of triumph until approxiamately 2.30am. I can not recall any hip-hop hitting the loud speakers however . . .

If any of these facts are incorrect, please let me know for I wrote this blog fairly quickly and with so much to concentrate on everyday, my memory has farts once in a while. So I apoligize.

Life is overall good here, the days get steadily colder (but not as wet anymore). I miss home of course, and for those of you living life up at William Kelley and reading this, embody double the amount of school spirit I would have if I was there for Homecoming this week. It may surprise you, but Silver Bay is something I have grown to miss very much here. When you are away, I believe you grow to appreciate where you come from just a little bit more.

The title comes from a very long story regarding sunshine and cedar trees that I was just reminded of, if you were wondering . . .