I love being home!
My place is GREAT, and it's all clean and ready for tonight's party. I've felt so much love in the last few days, and I am reminded how blessed I am with the people that are in my life. I had an epic movie-esque hug with my friend Topher, I've been to the park with Tiana, there's been a game night, and a day of running into friends on campus.
Jessie and her crew are rolling into town around 2:30, Nattles and Anjali around 5ish (?), Tim and his crew sometime around then, Alexander around 9, Jacob shortly thereafter! I can't stop smiling. :)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
On being back.
I landed in PDX not only on time, but a merciful 20 minutes early! I sat next to the perfect people all the way home. Either they were dead to the world or they were pleasant and polite. I took codine and slept through most of my 11 hour flight, and the best part? When I wasn't sleeping, I was eating- and vice versa. Hahaha, that's my type of flight right there!
In texas, I ordered some mexican food and Cat and I watched Glee until our plane was ready to board.
By some act of God, Mom and I found her car and I made it with all of my bags without collapsing, haha. We checked into our awesome hotel room and then headed to the Roxy for really, really delicious burgers. I passed out around 10 while watching the Grammy's. (Did anyone else watch them? Talk about awesome performances, damn!)
The next morning, Mama and I headed South. I got a cell phone and two pairs of pants in Woodburn, and a haircut in Eugene. But. The best thing I got that day was my nephew! What a gorgeous specimen. He is so happy and mellow, even I'm not scared to hold him, and that says something! =]
Roseburg was a baby-filled blur. It was definitely the best first few days back in the US I could have had. Last night I drove back up to Eugene in terrible weather. Most of the time, my visibility was about 10 meters. :\ I set up my laptop, put on some tunes, and spent the next two hours moving in. All of my stuff is put away and I got my bed set up. I'm home! I still need to go grocery shopping, but other than that, I'm good to go.
Last night a few friends came over. I had the most epic hug with my boyfrann, Topher. We sprinted towards each other and then I jumped into his arms like in the movies, hahaha. Terrifying, but epic.
Laughable mistake I made yesterday? I forgot my electric blanket (although I do have the cords for it lol) and my comforter. Yeahhh, my sorry butt froze last night.
TIME TO GO HUNT AND GATHER. I HUNGER.
In texas, I ordered some mexican food and Cat and I watched Glee until our plane was ready to board.
By some act of God, Mom and I found her car and I made it with all of my bags without collapsing, haha. We checked into our awesome hotel room and then headed to the Roxy for really, really delicious burgers. I passed out around 10 while watching the Grammy's. (Did anyone else watch them? Talk about awesome performances, damn!)
The next morning, Mama and I headed South. I got a cell phone and two pairs of pants in Woodburn, and a haircut in Eugene. But. The best thing I got that day was my nephew! What a gorgeous specimen. He is so happy and mellow, even I'm not scared to hold him, and that says something! =]
Roseburg was a baby-filled blur. It was definitely the best first few days back in the US I could have had. Last night I drove back up to Eugene in terrible weather. Most of the time, my visibility was about 10 meters. :\ I set up my laptop, put on some tunes, and spent the next two hours moving in. All of my stuff is put away and I got my bed set up. I'm home! I still need to go grocery shopping, but other than that, I'm good to go.
Last night a few friends came over. I had the most epic hug with my boyfrann, Topher. We sprinted towards each other and then I jumped into his arms like in the movies, hahaha. Terrifying, but epic.
Laughable mistake I made yesterday? I forgot my electric blanket (although I do have the cords for it lol) and my comforter. Yeahhh, my sorry butt froze last night.
TIME TO GO HUNT AND GATHER. I HUNGER.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Wow, it's here.
It is Saturday morning at 10 am and I just woke up from my last night in this bedroom.
These last three weeks have flown by, and the best part is, I didn't even try. I never really felt that panic of "oh no! I don't want to go home!" or "oh no! i need more time!" but on the other hand, I also wasn't crawling out of my skin and freaking out that there was STILL 10 days left.
My room's all naked now, and just as I had suspected, it took about half an hour to pack, lol. I'm taking a night train tonight from 11pm-4am. From there, I'll hang out at the airport by myself until 8:10 am, meet up with Cat and her sister, check in and try to sit together on the plane, and then I'm hoping I can pass out somewhere until 10:00.
Today, we're FINALLY exploring a distant hill that I've had my eye on for months. Yesterday, I figured out how to get there after a 3 hour hike, and today, we're going! At the top of this lovely hill, I found out via googlemaps that there is a jesuit castle/monestary thing. Maybe we'll hike to the top, maybe we'll just enjoy the beauty of a small town surrounded by grassy fields. Can't wait! After that, we're meeting up with the test-takers, buying a few drinks, and laying out by our lake one last time. (It's sunny here, suckahs!) I'm hoping someone will feed me dinner, and tonight we'll probably play cards and chill like we usually do, lol. I hate saying goodbye, so I genuinely hope no one takes me to the train station.
I am really happy to be coming home. Freiburg might not have been everything I had hoped or wanted, but I think it was everything I needed. I really had to challenge myself to survive, and I had to take control of my own happiness, which is a difficult task we all have, but most don't choose to do it. I'm hoping that I can see these changes when I go back, and use them to help e do better in school, with friends, and find a job. We'll see!
Mama's picking me up at the airport, despite poor decisions on my behalf, so for that I am so, so grateful. I was hoping to dress up for the flight, since I hate how sloppy most people are these days, but the truth is, I'll be wearing the same clothing from 40 minutes from now, until 42 hours from now. Soooo... no. I'ma took homeless, haha. From there, we'll check into a hotel in downtown Portland, and walk to The Roxy, which is a deliciously greasy diner owned by a drag queen. The next day it's a slow journey south filled with shopping, a haircut and tattoo appointment, and setting up my apartment. Most importantly, I'm excited to spend a few days in Roseburg and SEEING MY GORGEOUS NEPHEW. Thursday is the Elton John concert, and from there it's time to start job hunting.
So much life! I'm a happy girl. Wish me luck on my crazy next 48 hours :-S
These last three weeks have flown by, and the best part is, I didn't even try. I never really felt that panic of "oh no! I don't want to go home!" or "oh no! i need more time!" but on the other hand, I also wasn't crawling out of my skin and freaking out that there was STILL 10 days left.
My room's all naked now, and just as I had suspected, it took about half an hour to pack, lol. I'm taking a night train tonight from 11pm-4am. From there, I'll hang out at the airport by myself until 8:10 am, meet up with Cat and her sister, check in and try to sit together on the plane, and then I'm hoping I can pass out somewhere until 10:00.
Today, we're FINALLY exploring a distant hill that I've had my eye on for months. Yesterday, I figured out how to get there after a 3 hour hike, and today, we're going! At the top of this lovely hill, I found out via googlemaps that there is a jesuit castle/monestary thing. Maybe we'll hike to the top, maybe we'll just enjoy the beauty of a small town surrounded by grassy fields. Can't wait! After that, we're meeting up with the test-takers, buying a few drinks, and laying out by our lake one last time. (It's sunny here, suckahs!) I'm hoping someone will feed me dinner, and tonight we'll probably play cards and chill like we usually do, lol. I hate saying goodbye, so I genuinely hope no one takes me to the train station.
I am really happy to be coming home. Freiburg might not have been everything I had hoped or wanted, but I think it was everything I needed. I really had to challenge myself to survive, and I had to take control of my own happiness, which is a difficult task we all have, but most don't choose to do it. I'm hoping that I can see these changes when I go back, and use them to help e do better in school, with friends, and find a job. We'll see!
Mama's picking me up at the airport, despite poor decisions on my behalf, so for that I am so, so grateful. I was hoping to dress up for the flight, since I hate how sloppy most people are these days, but the truth is, I'll be wearing the same clothing from 40 minutes from now, until 42 hours from now. Soooo... no. I'ma took homeless, haha. From there, we'll check into a hotel in downtown Portland, and walk to The Roxy, which is a deliciously greasy diner owned by a drag queen. The next day it's a slow journey south filled with shopping, a haircut and tattoo appointment, and setting up my apartment. Most importantly, I'm excited to spend a few days in Roseburg and SEEING MY GORGEOUS NEPHEW. Thursday is the Elton John concert, and from there it's time to start job hunting.
So much life! I'm a happy girl. Wish me luck on my crazy next 48 hours :-S
Friday, February 11, 2011
Boooooo!
Not only did I have to fork over 200 euro for worthless insurance, but I also didn't get my 240 security deposit back because I came too late on a Friday afternoon. I am literally coming home with no money. Raaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhh
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Fast fertig!
(Almost done!)
I've spent the last 3 hours running around town and jumping through hoops so I can go home. I broke up with the Uni Freiburg, the state of Baden-Württemberg, my gym, and my insurance company. However, the insurance company took it pretty hard and decided to beat me up. (AKA- they charged me for three months of insurance, even though I won't be here-- 200 euros!!) I literally almost cried because that was the rest of my savings (in my German account). So what did I do to cope? Buy an ice cream cone, of course. lol =]
Now I'm off to break up with my internet company, and hopefully they won't have the same idea as stupid AOK.
Tomorrow I'm doing nothing but shopping and hiking. ughhhhh
I've spent the last 3 hours running around town and jumping through hoops so I can go home. I broke up with the Uni Freiburg, the state of Baden-Württemberg, my gym, and my insurance company. However, the insurance company took it pretty hard and decided to beat me up. (AKA- they charged me for three months of insurance, even though I won't be here-- 200 euros!!) I literally almost cried because that was the rest of my savings (in my German account). So what did I do to cope? Buy an ice cream cone, of course. lol =]
Now I'm off to break up with my internet company, and hopefully they won't have the same idea as stupid AOK.
Tomorrow I'm doing nothing but shopping and hiking. ughhhhh
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Beth Moyer does not say goodbye!
...willingly.
I did, however, say goodbye to my US History classmates and tutor today, and I was surprisingly sad afterwards. I also closed my Deutsche Bank account and bought my last set of groceries. Once again, events are being posted around town that will now be taking place after I leave. Tis a strange feeling. It is also still sunny here! I'm going to go take a walk out by my lake and then come back and make something with a pound of ground beef, lol.
Tomorrow: get my Schein for the immigration class, exmatriculate with the Uni, and sign out with the state. I think I'm getting a free dinner from my Brit, too, haha =]
Thurs: Pick up Schein for (faux)history, break up with my insurance company and with my gym.
Friday: Check out with my Hausmeister, pick up security deposit, change euros --> dollars, party hearty for the last time.
Saturday: Spend with friends outside, if the weather permits. Head to Frankfurt around midnight or so.
I did, however, say goodbye to my US History classmates and tutor today, and I was surprisingly sad afterwards. I also closed my Deutsche Bank account and bought my last set of groceries. Once again, events are being posted around town that will now be taking place after I leave. Tis a strange feeling. It is also still sunny here! I'm going to go take a walk out by my lake and then come back and make something with a pound of ground beef, lol.
Tomorrow: get my Schein for the immigration class, exmatriculate with the Uni, and sign out with the state. I think I'm getting a free dinner from my Brit, too, haha =]
Thurs: Pick up Schein for (faux)history, break up with my insurance company and with my gym.
Friday: Check out with my Hausmeister, pick up security deposit, change euros --> dollars, party hearty for the last time.
Saturday: Spend with friends outside, if the weather permits. Head to Frankfurt around midnight or so.
Monday, February 7, 2011
100th post?
Crazy!
Nothing monumental to say except that I'm nearly out of my hermiting obligations- my final final (US History) is tonight at 6pm. At 8pm I will be a free woman and an unbelievable weight will be off my shoulders! Freiburg has chosen to celebrate my last week by giving us 14 degree weather! (high 50s F)
I think tomorrow I will figure out how to get that slip of paper that says I'm leaving the state/country and start cracking on my chore list (exmatriculate with the school, sign out with my gym, sign out with my insurance, close my bank account etc etc).
Other than gorging on bakery goods and basking in the sun, I'm not sure how to say goodbye to Freiburg, but then again, maybe it's just that simple.
Oh! And I started packing today. The bag Ma&Pa sent me is so big, it fits all of my stuff (clothing, posters, nicknacks, pillow, shoes EVERYTHING) as well as my backpacking backpack from August. Crazy, eh?
It's 3pm. Gotta:
Eat.
Bank.
Gym.
Study outside before my
Final at 6:00.
Movie by myself tonight?
Nothing monumental to say except that I'm nearly out of my hermiting obligations- my final final (US History) is tonight at 6pm. At 8pm I will be a free woman and an unbelievable weight will be off my shoulders! Freiburg has chosen to celebrate my last week by giving us 14 degree weather! (high 50s F)
I think tomorrow I will figure out how to get that slip of paper that says I'm leaving the state/country and start cracking on my chore list (exmatriculate with the school, sign out with my gym, sign out with my insurance, close my bank account etc etc).
Other than gorging on bakery goods and basking in the sun, I'm not sure how to say goodbye to Freiburg, but then again, maybe it's just that simple.
Oh! And I started packing today. The bag Ma&Pa sent me is so big, it fits all of my stuff (clothing, posters, nicknacks, pillow, shoes EVERYTHING) as well as my backpacking backpack from August. Crazy, eh?
It's 3pm. Gotta:
Eat.
Bank.
Gym.
Study outside before my
Final at 6:00.
Movie by myself tonight?
Friday, February 4, 2011
What a bum day!
At least part of it was-- I failed my Germany and the EU class because I am not a good bullshitter when it comes to governments and politics. He failed me because I missed 3x (once for Ma&Pa, once for Pneumonia/Bronchitis, and once because I'm a punk... aka two of them shouldn't have mattered). Also because I "finished my test too soon"- either I know something or I don't, how long it takes me to finish shouldn't matter! And, because I didn't write enough. Again, I could write about Woolfe or Hemingway all day, but how do I elaborate on the fact that the President of the European Parliament is Jerzy Buzek? Ughhh. It was more than slightly mortifying to find this out. I wrote Anja because Silvia is "away from her computer" and I'm desperately hoping for something to happen.
However, Tiffany is in town for a few days, we made oreo milkshakes to cheer me up, and I've just been studying my buns off for my history final. That is why I haven't written; my life has consisted of nothing but eating and studying the last few days. I will be SO HAPPY when this is all overrrrr.
However, Tiffany is in town for a few days, we made oreo milkshakes to cheer me up, and I've just been studying my buns off for my history final. That is why I haven't written; my life has consisted of nothing but eating and studying the last few days. I will be SO HAPPY when this is all overrrrr.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
What? I didn't quite hear you-
My stupid tinnitus is really, really loud today for some reason. Like, nonstop iPod bad. Thank goodness it didn't start until after my class today. Not quite sure what to do.
I'm going to the library now to return all my books and to spend some (ironically) quiet time in the library studying for my Monday/final test. After Monday I'm freeeee! But. Until then. Must. Study. :|
I'll probably hit the gym after that (Must combat fatty habits, hahaha) and tonight, I'm making my remaining leftover meatloaf into a meatloaf toasty. I shall bake a brötchen roll, melt some gouda, heat up my meatloaf and add some spices and voila! I have a delicious but simple dinner. Heck, maybe I'll even make some soup to go with it since it won't break 30 today.
Man, I live quite the exciting life, don't I? ;-)
I'm going to the library now to return all my books and to spend some (ironically) quiet time in the library studying for my Monday/final test. After Monday I'm freeeee! But. Until then. Must. Study. :|
I'll probably hit the gym after that (Must combat fatty habits, hahaha) and tonight, I'm making my remaining leftover meatloaf into a meatloaf toasty. I shall bake a brötchen roll, melt some gouda, heat up my meatloaf and add some spices and voila! I have a delicious but simple dinner. Heck, maybe I'll even make some soup to go with it since it won't break 30 today.
Man, I live quite the exciting life, don't I? ;-)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday= Funday
It is another abysmal 30 degree day outside, but I decided to conquer it nonetheless! I got $$ out of the bank (thank god for monthly money haha!) and headed to the gym for an hour and a half. And, I'm sorry to say, I don't think I'll ever stop being emotionally scarred by women's' locker rooms. 
I was visually assaulted by like, 4 naked women within 15 seconds of walking out of my shower. ooof :\
I then went SHOPPING like any decent 21 year old with money to burn. AND, to make Aunt Mary and Mama proud, I got four tops for less than 30 euro! They're mens button-up collared shirts, but they're XS so they're still form fitting. The benefit of men's tops? They're made sturdier. Fact.
On the way home I got a mini-döner (gotta eat 'em while I can!) and now I think I'll edit my paper and perhaps finish season 1 of How I Met Your Mother. =]
I was visually assaulted by like, 4 naked women within 15 seconds of walking out of my shower. ooof :\I then went SHOPPING like any decent 21 year old with money to burn. AND, to make Aunt Mary and Mama proud, I got four tops for less than 30 euro! They're mens button-up collared shirts, but they're XS so they're still form fitting. The benefit of men's tops? They're made sturdier. Fact.
On the way home I got a mini-döner (gotta eat 'em while I can!) and now I think I'll edit my paper and perhaps finish season 1 of How I Met Your Mother. =]
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Pics/Dinner
Pics are up! Click on this Link to see them!
Cold but lovely walk, and now I'm curled up by my heater for two reasons: 1) it is 30 degrees and 2) it is thawing my ground beef, and I want to keep an eye on it. Bahahaha I love being a college student; we get to do silly things =)
Meatloaf and "The Reader" shortly and then I'm meeting my girls at the train station around 9:00.
Cold but lovely walk, and now I'm curled up by my heater for two reasons: 1) it is 30 degrees and 2) it is thawing my ground beef, and I want to keep an eye on it. Bahahaha I love being a college student; we get to do silly things =)
Meatloaf and "The Reader" shortly and then I'm meeting my girls at the train station around 9:00.
12 degrees
That is how far off the weather people here were on today's high. It is 27 degrees at 2pm, and I'm FINALLY leaving my house after lounging and scrubbing the kitchen. I think I'll go up to Schlossberg
(Click on the link to find out what I'm talking about, pictures upon my return!)
(Click on the link to find out what I'm talking about, pictures upon my return!)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
DONEDONEDONE
As of 7pm precisely, I am done with a 15 page research paper! To celebrate, I talked to Mama on Skype and made some home made chicken strips which were unbelievably good. And you know what made them taste that much sweeter? Two weeks of freedom, baby.
It is 4:30pm
AND I AM SICK OF WRITING THIS PAPER!
Please don't misunderstand- I love my topic, and I find it to be very interesting and worth writing. But after 4 days of 6-8 hours of writing each day, a girl's gonna get cabin fever.
I'm on my last section now, and then I'll pray to the Conclusion Gods that they'll bless me with a coherent conclusion. I think I'll actually finish this before I go to bed tonight, and then tomorrow I'm going to Titisee, or up to Schlossberg (hiking hotspot just above Freiburg) or something.
Please don't misunderstand- I love my topic, and I find it to be very interesting and worth writing. But after 4 days of 6-8 hours of writing each day, a girl's gonna get cabin fever.
I'm on my last section now, and then I'll pray to the Conclusion Gods that they'll bless me with a coherent conclusion. I think I'll actually finish this before I go to bed tonight, and then tomorrow I'm going to Titisee, or up to Schlossberg (hiking hotspot just above Freiburg) or something.
Bizarre moment of the day
I was in the middle of doing a day's worth of dishes, I can't stress this enough- in. the. middle. I had headphones in, I had my pile of dishes, I was standing in the middle of the sink, doing my thing, and the weirdo german who's like, 7 feet tall and never talks to me walks in, hovers over me for a sec, says nothing, and then takes my sink. Generally I don't move, but he's ginormous, and I"m not fluent enough to be an a-hole in another language.
Back to dishes, I guess?
Back to dishes, I guess?
Friday, January 28, 2011
Well then
That test was much different than I had expected. Things he didn't mention since October were all over that test. I blame nothing but my lack of experience with these types of classes. I did the best I could, and after speaking with other Americans, I feel I did just as well as any of them so hmph! It's a shame that unlike every single one of our other classmates, we did not grow up with EU stuff taught in our schools or shown on our news, but c'est la vie!
I also returned all of those bottles I've been hanging on to and had just enough money to buy a few chicken breasts, some bread, eggs, lunchmeat, speghetti sauce mix, and broccoli. I shall make it to February yet! haha
Now I gotta get back to my research paper. My friends have all left for Berlin, so I have no distractions for this lovely weekend, and I couldn't be happier! =]
Home in 16, leaving Freiburg in 15.
Here's my gorgeous city as of 4 minutes ago:
I also returned all of those bottles I've been hanging on to and had just enough money to buy a few chicken breasts, some bread, eggs, lunchmeat, speghetti sauce mix, and broccoli. I shall make it to February yet! haha
Now I gotta get back to my research paper. My friends have all left for Berlin, so I have no distractions for this lovely weekend, and I couldn't be happier! =]
Home in 16, leaving Freiburg in 15.
Here's my gorgeous city as of 4 minutes ago:
So here's what I know:
I've made a weird little study guide to help me with my EU final in an hour. Here's what I know:
In 1951- a Big Friggin Giant Invaded Little Netherlands (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg & Netherlands formed EU)
In 1973- everyone was getting DUIs (Denmark, UK, Ireland joined)
In 1981- Greece came along (81G, AIG)
In 1986- Spain/Portugal (no helper thing for this one)
In 1995- I would have said Eeeeeek! A Furry Spider! (Austria, Finland, Sweden joined)
In 2004- CCR EST HUGARY for Lil' LATkas and MALted milkballs.PS: pSyche! (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Maltha, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia joined)
2007- Romania and Bulgaria finally got on the bandwagon.
EU Treaties: RoMAN-L
Treaty of Rome- Esatblished EWG and EAG
Treaty of Maastricht- "EU" as we know it, is born
Treaty of Amsterdam- vague things were done
Treaty of Nizza- reform and prep for eastern expansion
Treaty of Lissabon- defines modern EU, but not a constitution. Gives a common set of rules
Pres of ERat- Rumpoy (Neth)
Pres of Parliament- Polish guy... Jerzy Buzak
Head of Ministerrat-Hungary
Pres of Kommision- Portugal... Jose Barroso
Founders of EU: Joe Montana, Regina Spektor, Portland Hates Squares, and AnDy Griffith
AKA Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, Paul Henri Spaak, Alcidi de Gasperi
BRING IT ON! I'm so ready to ace this test and get back to my paper. Which will be difficult, as it is gorgeous outside. Arctic, but gorgeous.
In 1951- a Big Friggin Giant Invaded Little Netherlands (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg & Netherlands formed EU)
In 1973- everyone was getting DUIs (Denmark, UK, Ireland joined)
In 1981- Greece came along (81G, AIG)
In 1986- Spain/Portugal (no helper thing for this one)
In 1995- I would have said Eeeeeek! A Furry Spider! (Austria, Finland, Sweden joined)
In 2004- CCR EST HUGARY for Lil' LATkas and MALted milkballs.PS: pSyche! (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Maltha, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia joined)
2007- Romania and Bulgaria finally got on the bandwagon.
EU Treaties: RoMAN-L
Treaty of Rome- Esatblished EWG and EAG
Treaty of Maastricht- "EU" as we know it, is born
Treaty of Amsterdam- vague things were done
Treaty of Nizza- reform and prep for eastern expansion
Treaty of Lissabon- defines modern EU, but not a constitution. Gives a common set of rules
Pres of ERat- Rumpoy (Neth)
Pres of Parliament- Polish guy... Jerzy Buzak
Head of Ministerrat-Hungary
Pres of Kommision- Portugal... Jose Barroso
Founders of EU: Joe Montana, Regina Spektor, Portland Hates Squares, and AnDy Griffith
AKA Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, Paul Henri Spaak, Alcidi de Gasperi
BRING IT ON! I'm so ready to ace this test and get back to my paper. Which will be difficult, as it is gorgeous outside. Arctic, but gorgeous.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Doin' WORK!
That is my first 50 notecards for my research paper. I estimate that by the time I'm ready to write, I'll be looking at somewhere between 250-300 notecards. Woo! I worked on my paper for approx. 7 hours today; I love it. FINALLY, something to work on!
I've decided to push up my "due date" (self-induced) to next tuesday, as opposed to the Friday after it, just so I can have it completely out of my hair.
Nothing else to report, really! It's freezing over here, and there's no end in sight. All that's left to do is burrow and study.
OREGON IN 19 DAYS!
Monday, January 24, 2011
I want you!
Guten Tag, liebe Familie-
Ok, I'm cooking on a shoestring this week (you know how it is at the end of the month), so I need all your best cheap recipes.
I stocked up at the store and have 1 lbs of ground beef, two chicken breasts, noodles galore, rice, eggs, all the baking stuff (flour, salt, baking powder etc) so lay 'em on me!
I'm meeting my friends down at starbucks in an hour and we're going to study for a couple of hours. It's frustrating not to have a study space where I live; the kitchen is always full of people, our rooms are off limits (too easily distracted/cabin fever) so we have to make a 20 minute commute in order to find a spot with tables and free wi-fi.
I think I'm also studying with a history classmate tonight, so that'll be great (he's German!).
Things to do:
Shower, eat lunch
Study/Read for no less than 2 hours
Mail $$ to Mama
Go to the gym
Study s'more
Ok, I'm cooking on a shoestring this week (you know how it is at the end of the month), so I need all your best cheap recipes.
I stocked up at the store and have 1 lbs of ground beef, two chicken breasts, noodles galore, rice, eggs, all the baking stuff (flour, salt, baking powder etc) so lay 'em on me!
I'm meeting my friends down at starbucks in an hour and we're going to study for a couple of hours. It's frustrating not to have a study space where I live; the kitchen is always full of people, our rooms are off limits (too easily distracted/cabin fever) so we have to make a 20 minute commute in order to find a spot with tables and free wi-fi.
I think I'm also studying with a history classmate tonight, so that'll be great (he's German!).
Things to do:
Shower, eat lunch
Study/Read for no less than 2 hours
Mail $$ to Mama
Go to the gym
Study s'more
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Three more weeks!
Hey kids-
It's another Sunday night, so naturally I'm doing anything I possibly can other than read for my history paper, lol.
This weekend was mixed, but it included bowling, so I'll claim it as a positive experience. ;)
Friday my EU class went to Strasbourg, where the Americans and Brits spend most of the day making French jokes and playing with the fancy microphones that were in front of us. I'm not entirely sure how much this trip will help us on our final this Friday, but it was fun, so mehhhh.
Saturday the (future) roommates and I missed out on going to a football game, but went instead to town to watch it at a bar. I got delicious schnitzel and pretended to care about the games at hand, haha. Later that night we formed a group of 8 and went down to the bowling ally (just across the pond, actually!) and bowled from 12:00-3:00am for 99 cents a game. Scoooore! Unfortunately, it was not a smoke free place, so all of my clothes smell wretched now. I was the only one that didn't drink, and yet they all kicked my butt at bowling. Explain that to me! :P
Today I rested, read, and went to the gym; nothing too exiting. Oh wait! I also applied to Ducks Village as an office assistant and I really hope I get it. I mean, how awesome would it be to 1) have a respectable office job that was 2) right where I lived? :D I made a killer cover letter on the spot and edited my resume to make it look more relevant. Wish me luck!
PS- Full disclosure on the subject of a future tattoo. Yes, I am going to get one when I get home and am financially able, and yes, I have been thinking about it seriously for about a year now. I've researched tattoo artists and High Priestess (the most respectable tattoo artists in Oregon) and have chosen a man named Nick Porter. I am getting the Made in Oregon sign from downtown Portland tattooed onto my right upper-arm. Why? Because the only thing I love more than my family and friends is my homeland. I feel a deep connection to where I come from, and I want to build my life here. No matter where I go or what I'm doing, a piece of my heart is always in Oregon. Yes, I will cover it up in job interviews, and no, I am not less of a good person for getting one. Tattoos do not reflect the character of a person, only their interests. Here's the sign and the tattoo on somebody else's arm:
And here are some pictures from this weekend!
It's another Sunday night, so naturally I'm doing anything I possibly can other than read for my history paper, lol.
This weekend was mixed, but it included bowling, so I'll claim it as a positive experience. ;)
Friday my EU class went to Strasbourg, where the Americans and Brits spend most of the day making French jokes and playing with the fancy microphones that were in front of us. I'm not entirely sure how much this trip will help us on our final this Friday, but it was fun, so mehhhh.
Saturday the (future) roommates and I missed out on going to a football game, but went instead to town to watch it at a bar. I got delicious schnitzel and pretended to care about the games at hand, haha. Later that night we formed a group of 8 and went down to the bowling ally (just across the pond, actually!) and bowled from 12:00-3:00am for 99 cents a game. Scoooore! Unfortunately, it was not a smoke free place, so all of my clothes smell wretched now. I was the only one that didn't drink, and yet they all kicked my butt at bowling. Explain that to me! :P
Today I rested, read, and went to the gym; nothing too exiting. Oh wait! I also applied to Ducks Village as an office assistant and I really hope I get it. I mean, how awesome would it be to 1) have a respectable office job that was 2) right where I lived? :D I made a killer cover letter on the spot and edited my resume to make it look more relevant. Wish me luck!
PS- Full disclosure on the subject of a future tattoo. Yes, I am going to get one when I get home and am financially able, and yes, I have been thinking about it seriously for about a year now. I've researched tattoo artists and High Priestess (the most respectable tattoo artists in Oregon) and have chosen a man named Nick Porter. I am getting the Made in Oregon sign from downtown Portland tattooed onto my right upper-arm. Why? Because the only thing I love more than my family and friends is my homeland. I feel a deep connection to where I come from, and I want to build my life here. No matter where I go or what I'm doing, a piece of my heart is always in Oregon. Yes, I will cover it up in job interviews, and no, I am not less of a good person for getting one. Tattoos do not reflect the character of a person, only their interests. Here's the sign and the tattoo on somebody else's arm:
And here are some pictures from this weekend!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Ya killin' me, Germany!
11 days ago I went to get my card changed. 7 days ago I got my new card. STILL WAITING ON MY STUPID PIN!
I am completely broke, in essence, because the banks never seem to be open, so I haven't been able to take out cash in five days. I hate being indebted to people. I thought Germany was about efficiency!
I think my friends and I are going to a football game, but since they're all CHILDREN, not one of them thought to go get tickets, or organize a group to go get tickets. They all waited on me, even know they knew I had no access to money. I can't handle this anymore.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Happy Hump Day!
Man, the school week goes by fast when you only have a four day school week! (And when you're stressed about a research paper, haha)
At the beginning of the week, I nearly had a nervous breakdown over the fact that I had no clue how to do research at a different university, and I spent many hours calling the UO and rocking back and forth in front of my laptop, lol. FINALLY, I had a breakthru today by going down to the tech office..thing... on campus. I now am the proud owner of five articles about women and the New Deal. My aim is to fill 8 pages with info. I literally have no idea how to do it, but by God, I'll do it! I'm going to the service center (of my complex) tonight to print them out, and I'll spent allllll day tomorrow reading them, and on Friday I'll write and turn in my Expose'.
Actually, Friday I'm going to France. No big deal. Haha, really though, my "Germany and Europe" prof actually has some title with the EU, but I'm not sure what it is... Anyway, he's taking us to Strasbourg, France to tour the European Parliament. Should be awesome! Our final test for that class is next week, I think. Hell yes!
Well, I think that's about it for right now. I wanna eat some dinner (Joe's Special) and go take care of those articles. Tschau!
PS- The cold is back :( The high for the next week is 0° C. Boo.
At the beginning of the week, I nearly had a nervous breakdown over the fact that I had no clue how to do research at a different university, and I spent many hours calling the UO and rocking back and forth in front of my laptop, lol. FINALLY, I had a breakthru today by going down to the tech office..thing... on campus. I now am the proud owner of five articles about women and the New Deal. My aim is to fill 8 pages with info. I literally have no idea how to do it, but by God, I'll do it! I'm going to the service center (of my complex) tonight to print them out, and I'll spent allllll day tomorrow reading them, and on Friday I'll write and turn in my Expose'.
Actually, Friday I'm going to France. No big deal. Haha, really though, my "Germany and Europe" prof actually has some title with the EU, but I'm not sure what it is... Anyway, he's taking us to Strasbourg, France to tour the European Parliament. Should be awesome! Our final test for that class is next week, I think. Hell yes!
Well, I think that's about it for right now. I wanna eat some dinner (Joe's Special) and go take care of those articles. Tschau!
PS- The cold is back :( The high for the next week is 0° C. Boo.
Monday, January 17, 2011
I have a camera again!
And shall celebrate by putting up a few pics I took when my Brit and I went to Schauinsland (that huge mountain thing we sat outside of for 20 minutes). It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon and I had just finished a final paper when my Brit suggested we go up there.
The cable car ride thing took about 15 minutes and the view... spectacular! We were 5,000 km high!
Also, I want everyone to know that I'm working on my Hausfrau skills. Tonight, I made my own marinade and broiled some chicken breasts, and then I figured out how to make flavored rice, since Rice a Roni doesn't exist here. It was delicious!
The cable car ride thing took about 15 minutes and the view... spectacular! We were 5,000 km high!
Also, I want everyone to know that I'm working on my Hausfrau skills. Tonight, I made my own marinade and broiled some chicken breasts, and then I figured out how to make flavored rice, since Rice a Roni doesn't exist here. It was delicious!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Exactly what I'm talking about!
Sarah Palin, Blood-Libel Hypocrite
Sarah Palin opposes collective blame for monstrous crimes... unless they're committed by Muslims.
By William Saletan
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at 11:55 AM ET
Sarah Palin is outraged. In a Facebook post this morning, she responds to critics who have suggested that her target map of Democrats, which put a crosshairs-like symbol over the district of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., may have contributed to the Tucson shooting. Palin writes:
After this shocking tragedy, I listened at first puzzled, then with concern, and now with sadness, to the irresponsible statements from people attempting to apportion blame for this terrible event. President Reagan said, "We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions." Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them, not collectively with all the citizens of a state, not with those who listen to talk radio, not with maps of swing districts used by both sides of the aisle, not with law-abiding citizens who respectfully exercise their First Amendment rights at campaign rallies … journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.
Sarah Palin (left) and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
That's what Palin believes. Each person is solely accountable for his actions. Acts of monstrous criminality "begin and end with the criminals who commit them." It's wrong to hold others of the same nationality, ethnicity, or religion "collectively" responsible for mass murders.
Unless, of course, you're talking about Muslims. In that case, Palin is fine with collective blame. In fact, she's enthusiastic about it. Palin was the first national politician to join the jihad against what she called the "planned mosque at Ground Zero" (which wasn't a mosque and wasn't at Ground Zero, but let's cut her some slack). In her statement, issued six months ago on the same Facebook page where she now denounces collective blame, she wrote this:
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To build a mosque at Ground Zero is a stab in the heart of the families of the innocent victims of those horrific attacks. … I agree with the sister of one of the 9/11 victims (and a New York resident) who said: "This is a place which is 600 feet from where almost 3,000 people were torn to pieces by Islamic extremists. I think that it is incredibly insensitive and audacious really for them to build a mosque, not only on that site, but to do it specifically so that they could be in proximity to where that atrocity happened."
The last bit is a falsehood—proximity wasn't the motive for choosing the site—but again, let's cut Palin some slack. They key phrase to focus on is "a mosque." Palin used it twice—once in the quote, and once in her own words—so it can't be passed off as inadvertent. Her objection wasn't just to a specific imam or sect, much less to an identifiable terrorist. It was to any Islamic house of worship near Ground Zero.
Palin has never retracted this position. Indeed, she has persisted in her opposition to any mosque near Ground Zero. Her position is that the act of monstrous criminality on 9/11 doesn't end with the criminals who committed it. Its stigma extends to any mosque near the site. All Muslims should yield to that stigma. All Muslims are responsible.
"Blood libel," as defined by The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, is historically targeted not at a country but at a religion. Palin's campaign against any Muslim house of worship near Ground Zero, based on group blame for terrorism, fits that definition more closely than does any current accusation against the Tea Party.
It didn't matter to Palin that the imam behind the "mosque" (which was actually an Islamic community center two blocks from Ground Zero) had denounced terrorism. Shortly after 9/11, the imam, Faisal Abdul Rauf, appeared on 60 Minutes and was asked this question:
Ed Bradley: What would you say to people in this country, who, looking at what happens in the Middle East, would associate Islam with fanaticism, with terrorism?
Abdul Rauf: Fanaticism and terrorism have no place in Islam. That's just as absurd as associating Hitler with Christianity or David Koresh with Christianity. There are always people who will do peculiar things and think that they are doing things in the name of their religion. But the Quran—you know, God says in the Quran that they think that they're doing right, but they're doing wrong.
Palin ignored the imam's denunciation of violence. Now she repudiates the massacre in Tucson and expresses outrage that anyone would associate her with it.
In today's Facebook post, Palin writes: "Recall how the events of 9-11 challenged our values and we had to fight the tendency to trade our freedoms for perceived security. And so it is today." Indeed. But when the events of 9/11 challenged our values, Palin surrendered. A decade later, she remains willing to trade freedom, not for security, but for "sensitivity" to her supporters' anger at Muslims generally. She's willing to issue blood libels and sacrifice people's freedoms. She just doesn't want the same done to her.
Sarah Palin opposes collective blame for monstrous crimes... unless they're committed by Muslims.
By William Saletan
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at 11:55 AM ET
Sarah Palin is outraged. In a Facebook post this morning, she responds to critics who have suggested that her target map of Democrats, which put a crosshairs-like symbol over the district of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., may have contributed to the Tucson shooting. Palin writes:
After this shocking tragedy, I listened at first puzzled, then with concern, and now with sadness, to the irresponsible statements from people attempting to apportion blame for this terrible event. President Reagan said, "We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions." Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them, not collectively with all the citizens of a state, not with those who listen to talk radio, not with maps of swing districts used by both sides of the aisle, not with law-abiding citizens who respectfully exercise their First Amendment rights at campaign rallies … journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.
Sarah Palin (left) and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
That's what Palin believes. Each person is solely accountable for his actions. Acts of monstrous criminality "begin and end with the criminals who commit them." It's wrong to hold others of the same nationality, ethnicity, or religion "collectively" responsible for mass murders.
Unless, of course, you're talking about Muslims. In that case, Palin is fine with collective blame. In fact, she's enthusiastic about it. Palin was the first national politician to join the jihad against what she called the "planned mosque at Ground Zero" (which wasn't a mosque and wasn't at Ground Zero, but let's cut her some slack). In her statement, issued six months ago on the same Facebook page where she now denounces collective blame, she wrote this:
Advertisement
To build a mosque at Ground Zero is a stab in the heart of the families of the innocent victims of those horrific attacks. … I agree with the sister of one of the 9/11 victims (and a New York resident) who said: "This is a place which is 600 feet from where almost 3,000 people were torn to pieces by Islamic extremists. I think that it is incredibly insensitive and audacious really for them to build a mosque, not only on that site, but to do it specifically so that they could be in proximity to where that atrocity happened."
The last bit is a falsehood—proximity wasn't the motive for choosing the site—but again, let's cut Palin some slack. They key phrase to focus on is "a mosque." Palin used it twice—once in the quote, and once in her own words—so it can't be passed off as inadvertent. Her objection wasn't just to a specific imam or sect, much less to an identifiable terrorist. It was to any Islamic house of worship near Ground Zero.
Palin has never retracted this position. Indeed, she has persisted in her opposition to any mosque near Ground Zero. Her position is that the act of monstrous criminality on 9/11 doesn't end with the criminals who committed it. Its stigma extends to any mosque near the site. All Muslims should yield to that stigma. All Muslims are responsible.
"Blood libel," as defined by The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, is historically targeted not at a country but at a religion. Palin's campaign against any Muslim house of worship near Ground Zero, based on group blame for terrorism, fits that definition more closely than does any current accusation against the Tea Party.
It didn't matter to Palin that the imam behind the "mosque" (which was actually an Islamic community center two blocks from Ground Zero) had denounced terrorism. Shortly after 9/11, the imam, Faisal Abdul Rauf, appeared on 60 Minutes and was asked this question:
Ed Bradley: What would you say to people in this country, who, looking at what happens in the Middle East, would associate Islam with fanaticism, with terrorism?
Abdul Rauf: Fanaticism and terrorism have no place in Islam. That's just as absurd as associating Hitler with Christianity or David Koresh with Christianity. There are always people who will do peculiar things and think that they are doing things in the name of their religion. But the Quran—you know, God says in the Quran that they think that they're doing right, but they're doing wrong.
Palin ignored the imam's denunciation of violence. Now she repudiates the massacre in Tucson and expresses outrage that anyone would associate her with it.
In today's Facebook post, Palin writes: "Recall how the events of 9-11 challenged our values and we had to fight the tendency to trade our freedoms for perceived security. And so it is today." Indeed. But when the events of 9/11 challenged our values, Palin surrendered. A decade later, she remains willing to trade freedom, not for security, but for "sensitivity" to her supporters' anger at Muslims generally. She's willing to issue blood libels and sacrifice people's freedoms. She just doesn't want the same done to her.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Ughhhh
I have (most likely) Pneumonia. I feel absolutely terrible, and until I'm well again, I probably won't post much in here.
:(
:(
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