And the Snow is never ending
Posted on | February 11, 2010 | 2 Comments
For the past two days I’ve done real work! I even have one of the fancy keys to get in our office, I cannot get in to the lab because an ID card takes two weeks.
What I’m currently doing at work is what I was most nervous for. Not because I was scared I couldn’t do it, but because I was scared I wouldn’t enjoy it. I like sitting in a lab playing around with things, not playing around with numbers on a computer. But it’s been surprisingly interesting and complicated. Therefore fun. So that’s good. Also, the ladies in my lab are all really nice and that makes everything much better. I do spend a fair amount of the day speaking in German although I still can’t follow most of the Science-y German conversation. But I do manage everything else pretty well. Which is good and next month I’m taking an Intensive German course (5-8 three days a week) so my German should be wonderful by the time I leave (right….).
Today was one of those days where everything went well. I had my Spanish final today so no work so I got to wake up late. Went to class and the exam wasn’t too hard. Only a few questions I didn’t know. Then it’s all the stupid small things that are wonderful. 50 cents off my Doner (yay), both my U-bahn and S-bahn coming around a minute after I got to the platform (never happens) and lots of random conversation while knitting on the train. Knitting on the train is a wonderful conversation starter.
Yesterday was one Toytown event and tomorrow is another. I know it’s a horrible thing for a PPPl’er to do, as it’s all English speakers, but everyone is really nice and it’s a lot of fun. So oh well. I need to see if I can take a Spanish course at the VHS on weekends. But Friday and Saturday I’m doing TUMi things so that’s all international kids.
NOTE: I just signed up for Spanish on Tuesdays from March till July. So my week will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday German (only for March), Tuesdays Spanish and Sunday Salsa. YAY!
All in all, everything is wonderful (other than the Snow which, as stated, is never ending )
Germans Love Paperwork
Posted on | February 7, 2010 | No Comments
That is a stereotype that is true. Very true. Annoyingly true.
This past week I started work, didn’t do much at all because of Supervisor things (aka she wasn’t there). But I did find out the project I thought I was doing, I won’t really be doing. I now have a few projects I will be doing instead. I’m excited for that because, as they informed me, I will learn several techniques rather than just one. So, that’s always good. It’s always quite cool because I’ll be using a few techniques that I learned about in Genomics class here in Germany. One of which my Professor sounded ridiculously excited about.
Paperwork was Friday. Lots of signing. Lots of bring this paper to this office, this paper to this office. This paper goes to this office to get signed, than you go somewhere else now that you gave them this paper to get your ID, than when you get your ID go back to that first office and get a different paper signed making your ID into a special ID. Then you go somewhere to get a key, but that document needs to be signed by some office first and the key place is only open at 15 minute intervals at three points during the day. So yes, I don’t have an ID nor do I have a key (a really cool fancy key actually) because of paperwork. And I made the Administration (Verwaltung=Admin right?) sad because American Universities don’t provide (mmatrikulationsbescheinigung (paper that says you are attending Uni from this date to this date).
This past weekend was fun, I babysat yesterday. I learned how to change a diaper on my own and how to feed an 18-month old (which was quite the challenge). I did not, however, read the 92 page Thesis paper (auf Deutsch) that I was supposed. I will do that at some point this week. Now, I should be off to work. Yay. By the end of this week I should actually do something. Today we’re supposed to discuss what I’ll be doing. Exciting.
New Phase
Posted on | February 2, 2010 | No Comments
This past week has been so much fun. I discovered Toytown Germany which I shouldn’t really be spending all my time with because it’s for English speakers, but I don’t really care at this point. Anyways. I found this site and the people are so nice and so moving forward on actually attaining more of a social life. Last time I mentioned Stitch n’ Bitch (I made Mom happy with that), that was from this website. I went back this past Sunday too. I might actually finish this sweatshirt that I’ve been working on for two years, finished the dress for Anna, and found a new one that I want to make for myself.
This past week, I had my exam (ah!) and went to classes. Just my Foreign Languages. Thursday night was a Toytown Meeting and that was quite fun. Friday was a different one and I also met up with my Tandem partner which was nice. Lots of people here have tandem partners, you do a mix of German and English to help both improve. To any future CBYX-ers, I majorly recommend it. My partner and I correct each other a lot on Skype and it helps with grammar (and German grammar is impossible). Saturday I babysat (yay!). This is the only way I could think of earning money other than tutoring. I’m nervous about tutoring, because I’d need to relearn English grammar (like the why and the names of tenses and all that fun stuff). But Babysitting was a lot of fun, the kids are really cute and they speak with a British accent. Combine that with all the Brits I meet at Toytown and I do truly think I’ll return with an accent. It’s a problem.
Today will be trying to sign up for a German course at school or Volkshochschule and maybe a dance class as well. I will then return home to crash study as much as possible for tomorrow.
Tomorrow is my first day of work. That means this year is in its final phase. That’s horrible and depressing. I don’t want it to end. I will soon have to start thinking about next year and registering for classes and AH. I don’t want to leave. I’ve already looked into returning for Grad school but we’ll see how that goes. I kind of want to to check out Semester at Sea maybe. We’ll see. Anyways. Tomorrow is work, and you will definitely 100% get a post about that. Mostly because I will probably either freak out or scream or any combination thereof when I return.
Good Luck!
Posted on | January 25, 2010 | 2 Comments
For any future-CBYX’ers out there, I know the interviews start this week so Good Luck to everyone!
Small mini-update before Breakfast:
Last week was the Mid-Year Seminar, which was great for meeting everyone again and full of seminars ranging from rather boring to fairly interesting. It’s pretty depressing to see that this year has gone by so fast and that our final seminar is in June and that’s less than five months away. NOT POSSIBLE.
Before that in January was… I went to Rothenburg ob der Tauber which is really cute and made me want to travel more before tourist season starts… OH Dad came to visit me! We went skiing for a few days at Garmisch (Zugspitze!). So we can now both say we’ve been to the top of Germany.
Yesterday was exciting, I went to Salsa classes and the local Stitch n’ Bitch chapter. I met a lot of people and although everything was in English (bad me) it was nice to get out. I’m hoping to keep up with the Salsa, although because I want to go to Stitch n’ Bitch I’ll have to take the beginner Salsa lessons. We shall see. I also am looking into babysitting for people in the coming weeks. Yay!
Work starts next week! CRAZY scary. Today (actually, more scary) is my only final exam. I still don’t know if I’m registered for it. I applied to be registered, but it still doesn’t show it online. So… I’ll go there and see how this all works out.
Almost January
Posted on | December 27, 2009 | No Comments
And that is quite scary. But December was an interesting month at least.
Christmas was this past week. That was exciting and new. My host mother’s mom and aunt came and the next day her cousin’s family came. That was on Christmas Eve (or Heiligabend) which is the time when you open presents here in Germany. It was kind of weird, because Christmas has never just been one day for me. It’s always just kind of a large period of time that eventually fades into New Years. So actually having a culminating day where something happens was kind of strange.
Anyways, Christmas Eve consisted of opening presents and Dinner. Dinner Bavarian style. We had Turkey, Knödeln, Blaukraut (Red Cabbage), and stuffing. Yum. The family was all really nice although I did have to disagree with a lot of the things they knew occurred in America. But okay. That I’m rather used to by now. Opening presents was pretty cool. Felt like a little child. I gave my host mom a present by I’m still working on my host father’s scarf (I’ve remade it like five times). Everyone gave me a small something which was really nice AND I got a Santa Hat. Yay! Next day (1. Weihnachten… Which by the way is what they put in the newspapers as the date, as well as on the tv, which to me was totally bizarre. They also put the first or second advent as the date when they occurred) we played lots of Wii and had Raclette (which I wikipedia’ed and it said it was Swiss). Yum. Lots of Wii and some Wizard spiel-ing.
I didn’t really write about what Christmas season is like here in Germany. But it’s everywhere. And in Bavaria it’s very religious as well. But it’s like in the states but more. It’s not just a tree in the corner and ornaments everywhere it’s St. Nikolaus and Weihnachtsmarkt (or Christkindlmarkt) and all the traditions that go along. It continues till Three Kings Day (here in Bavaria at least).
Update
Posted on | December 17, 2009 | No Comments
I really need to work on the consistently updating thing. I can’t believe I’m almost done with the Schooling phase. I feel like I should have more time left in this year. I don’t want it to end! (Granted, I’m not even half way done, I don’t care)
Updates!
Thanksgiving in Erfurt was amazing. It was so awesome to see other PPPl’ers. I got to see a bunch of the people from Saarbrucken, I think we had a third of the group there. I mitfahrgalegenheit-ed it over there, which I hope exists in the states. That was really nice and wicked cheap (so yay!). First night we all went out. Next day traveled around Erfurt, going shopping actually. Then Thanksgiving dinner which was absolutely delicious. Yum! Turkey, stuffing, green beans and mashed potatoes. Next day most people had left so we went around Erfurt and were touristy. Although, I learned that they have the oldest still standing Temple in Europe, so I want to go check that out one day.
Next weekend was Teisendorf! Oh my god, what a fun weekend. I have gone with my host mother to the Mother Center in our town, where once a month single mothers can bring their kids for breakfast. So I spent the weekend babysitting the little kids. Absolutely adorable! I will be uploading pictures to webshots (from thanksgiving and from Teisendorf). We drove down there Friday night. Saturday morning bright and early breakfast then we had to find the kindergarten. I then spent the next several hours with 7 or 8 little kids. They were between the ages of 3 and 5. Afternoon didn’t do as much kindergarten time but it was still fun. The most beautiful scenic views. It was just, wow. I just meandered around with my camera for awhile. After dinner I had my massage! 
Wunderbar. Kind of awkward though. Next day we left after lunch back to Munich (sad).
This past weekend. Friday I WENT GO-KARTING! I still have the bruises to prove it. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so no one gets to see Jen in a one-piece looking ridiculous. But it was absolutely awesome. It was my host dad’s business’ Christmas Party. Then went out to dinner with his business. Fun night! I thought I did a fairly good with my German that evening. Sunday we painted the house. It was fun. I got to paint the room with Baby in it. (Baby is a BHKW, don’t know the english translation, which uhm… gives us energy, we call it my host dad’s Baby) My host dad sells it, so people go into that room a lot, so I made it pretty and nice and white.
Now it’s almost Christmas. Which is exciting! My first Christmas. I have an Adventskalender. (It sits right next to my Menorah, makes a lovely combination) Christmas here in Germany will get its own Post in a few days. Cause it’s really hard to explain. But that’s coming up. Then my Dad is coming to visit after New Years then there’s Mid Year Seminar. I start work and then in February I go skiing with my host parents (ON A GLACIER!) so wow. It should be a really exciting month or two. Not that it’s ever really boring but yeah.
Thoughts
Posted on | December 15, 2009 | No Comments
Reasons why I hate Germany at the moment:
- My Train decided that as it pulled into my station it was not going to go to my school’s stop, in fact it is impossible to go to my stop today without buying a taxi
- It is -4C, with a wind chill of -11C (for all you Farenheit people out there, that is 25 and 12 degrees respectively)
- I’m supposed to go back just to fill out more forms and hand in some more forms, cause Germany loves paperwork
Reasons why I love Germany at the moment:
- The random German guy who took the time to separate his cup from its top to put one in the paper and one in plastic (the world might end if they mix)
- I spent half an hour sitting on the train (see above) that didn’t go to where it was supposed to, chatting with a German, a British guy, and some Americans
- A Brezl’n for late breakfast (which is actually why I love Bavaria)
- I got to go Go-Karting on Friday (amazing)
- Finally: because I’m working here
Photos
Posted on | December 1, 2009 | 2 Comments
Praktikum
Posted on | November 22, 2009 | No Comments
So Friday I went to an Interview with Dr. Binder, although it was more like okay you will work here what would you like to do? And by what would you like to do, it was clear which one she really wanted me to do. So I have a job but I’m so nervous about it. I’ve never done any practical Genetic lab work. She gave me a paper that is another study that they did which is pretty much what I’ll be doing except this one studies Anxiety disorders and I’ll be looking at a gene that effects Depression. Its a fascinating topic but I’ve never done any of the work. I work with rats! I’m really excited and I’ve started to read the paper so I can read as much as possible on the techniques. I’m just ridiculously nervous about this. Not that it’s different than any other beginning at a lab, but five months! I guess to me that makes it more serious? A 9-5 job (cause that’s approximately the hours according to Dr. Binder). We shall see. I begin January 11th or something like that.
Yesterday I went to the Bavarian National Museum. I kind of wish it had more history inside, alas it was all art and items. No stories. But it was quite interesting and lots of fun. I love TUM International. If anyone does a study abroad at a University go to EVERY international event. The places are awesome and the people are a lot of fun and it’s always an interesting mix of cultures. I tend to become representative of the Jewish religion wherever I am so that didn’t surprise me yesterday. I feel bad cause I’ve discussed things so many times that they all end up so rambly and all. It’s interesting, but nice cause people are actually interested in the religion. I haven’t gotten any face-to-face anti-semitism. Anyways, the museum was quite lovely and interesting. We did the entire Museum and then went to a cafe near the Uni and had hot chocolate (and beer and tea). Then I ended up spending close to an hour talking to one of the girls in the subway before returning home for a yummy dinner.
Today I woke up wonderfully late at 10am, and got a call from my host mother asking if I would be willing to be ‘babysitter’ for a weekend. Once a month there is a breakfast where single mothers can take their children. Lots of food and people who take care of the kids. We’ve gone there and I was planning on going every month and using it as my Volunteer work (CBYX requires 20 hours of volunteering). In two weekends, the mothers and kids are going on a retreat to this gorgeous hotel near Salzburg. I will be coming along to be a babysitter for the smaller kids who are all incredibly adorable. HUGE test of my German, so we shall see how it goes. I’m quite excited. It’s my volunteer hours and the mothers all put in a little money so I get a massage there Wonderful thank you. The place looks amazing and the area is gorgeous. So excited! And next weekend is Erfurt for Thanksgiving. Coolios.
Praktikum!
Posted on | November 17, 2009 | No Comments
So, it’s been a really long time since I posted. Almost a month! What has happened since then? Classes… Lots of classes. A trip to Neuschwanstein, a Halloween Party, a few Stammtisches, a lot of Nintendo Wii playing and Soap Opera watching, and a german movie.
Most exciting news first: I think I found a Praktikum! And an awesome and amazing one at that (if I get it). http://www.mpipsykl.mpg.de/en/research/groups/binder/index.html Check it out. If I get that (I had one other offer as well) it would be amazing. Cause I absolutely love the subject and it’s 20 minutes away. The head went to Emory for her Phd, so I’m assuming my bad German is okay. The other offer I have is an hour away working on Neurological Migration. Although interesting, but not quite exactly what I wanted like the first group is. So we’ll see where this goes. I just got an email saying that they should have stuff for me, so I’m kind of jumping the gun by being super excited. But I can’t help it.
Less exciting news… Classes. I’ve slowly settled into a routine. It’s hard to settle into a routine when you only have class once a week (except for German which is twice a week). I have Philo/Soc of Tech on Monday which is interesting but the teacher is really hard to understand and he makes jokes a lot that go over my head. We have no exam and I can do all the homeworks in English. So I’m happy. Tuesday is German (just ended). Wednesday is free day. Thursday is 8am French, level C1, and then Spanish, level A1. C1 means we focus on a subject and just talk a lot and there’s no grammar instruction except for homework and when you’re being corrected. For example, we have been discussing electronic books (aka Kindle) and Telescopes. A1 Spanish means we’re learning Tener and Querer, but it’s a fun class and it helps me learn German, so I don’t want to move up. Friday is lots of classes. Genomics then German again then Genetic Development of Animals (which is fascinating but my energy levels usually putter out at that point and I’m half asleep) and finally my Neuro class. My Neuro class is fascinating but way over my German levels, so thankfully the slides are in English otherwise I’d have no idea what they were saying.
