Hey Guys sorry I haven't done this in awhile and I am still not updating it now....
However I am about to go to Spain, Paris, and Italy and then I will update you on my life.
A quick update I went to Wiemar a week ago and saw the concentration camp at Buchenwald it was very impacting, we also took a boat ride on thursday to Walhalla (google it if you want to know what it is!)
It's been crazy and exciting and lots of homework...but my bus leaves in 15 so I will update you all later!
~Kacey
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Ahh Regensberg and other things
Europe! Germany! I am here! I can honestly say that I never imagined myself living in a German city for three months, especially such a quaint and picturesque city such as Regensburg. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself so far. Being here is incredible, because I wake up and can take a ten-minute walk from the hostel and be in the center of a city over a thousand years old. This is a new experience for me, because I live in a small town of eight thousands which, I would estimate is less then a hundred and fifty years old. Not in the same time period as Regensberg.
Today we went on a walking tour of the churches, buildings, and bridges of the Regensberg. I was astonished to see so much history in this place, from the towers that guarded the city to the smooth cobbled stone steps that caused many of our groups to stumble. I have never experienced a city like this before. We wandered and crossed the old stone city bridge and entered into the city. Our class saw a variety of different shops and old houses, all different styles and bright colors.
The first church we went to was a prominent protestant church in the city. I liked the inside it was not as ornate as the church in Munich, but it was still amazing. I liked looking around and even signed the book where many had left prayers to God, mainly in German, but some in Chinese as well. It was different then any of the catholic churches, for it didn’t have paintings of Mary, and I didn’t feel like it was quite as ornate. I was still nice to be able to go into a protestant church though because it was unique to see a different sort of church.
The Church of Saint Peter was incredible. I was taken back by how intricate the gothic design was on the outside. The gargoyles reminded me of what I would imagine Notre Dame Church looks like. Yet the inside was my favorite part. I loved the intricate stained glass windows and the paintings and structure of the church. The ceiling seemed as though it was a hundred feet high or something of the sort, I am not very good measuring distances. It was a fascinating church to be in.
One fact that stood out to me about the church and Regensberg was the story about three martyrs. They stood up to the SS because the Americans were threatening to bomb Regensberg if they didn’t surrender the Nazi’s. So these men went to the SS and asked them to surrender to spare the city, and were martyred in the process. I think it is very honorable to lay down your life for your people and your city. The Church had a few tombs that you could go visit underneath and I believe one of them was buried there, along with some of the past bishops. It was very silent in the tombs and the amount of reverence by the people was apparent in how they studied and observed the tombs.
I thought that this experience was a good introduction to the city that we are going to live in. Wendell Berry talks about making the place that you are dwelling in somewhere you care for. In turn this place becomes your own and then you care even more about how you are impacting your place, and in turn it makes a greater impact on you. This is an idea that I am going to incorporate into this trip. My goal is that when I leave Regensberg, I am going to leave a small part of myself here. So that in the future when I hopefully return, for at least a visit, a part of me is going to feel like I am coming home. This is something that I have begun practicing in my life not just in Germany, but in other aspects of my life, I can say I left a little bit of me on the shores of a Nubian village in Aswan Egypt, and on top of a small mountain on the outskirts of San Diego in Ramona California. I think that in order to truly enjoy an experience and get something out of it, you have to be able to put yourself out there to be changed and molded by the experience that is going to encompass you. So far I have really enjoyed my time here!
Today we went on a walking tour of the churches, buildings, and bridges of the Regensberg. I was astonished to see so much history in this place, from the towers that guarded the city to the smooth cobbled stone steps that caused many of our groups to stumble. I have never experienced a city like this before. We wandered and crossed the old stone city bridge and entered into the city. Our class saw a variety of different shops and old houses, all different styles and bright colors.
The first church we went to was a prominent protestant church in the city. I liked the inside it was not as ornate as the church in Munich, but it was still amazing. I liked looking around and even signed the book where many had left prayers to God, mainly in German, but some in Chinese as well. It was different then any of the catholic churches, for it didn’t have paintings of Mary, and I didn’t feel like it was quite as ornate. I was still nice to be able to go into a protestant church though because it was unique to see a different sort of church.
The Church of Saint Peter was incredible. I was taken back by how intricate the gothic design was on the outside. The gargoyles reminded me of what I would imagine Notre Dame Church looks like. Yet the inside was my favorite part. I loved the intricate stained glass windows and the paintings and structure of the church. The ceiling seemed as though it was a hundred feet high or something of the sort, I am not very good measuring distances. It was a fascinating church to be in.
One fact that stood out to me about the church and Regensberg was the story about three martyrs. They stood up to the SS because the Americans were threatening to bomb Regensberg if they didn’t surrender the Nazi’s. So these men went to the SS and asked them to surrender to spare the city, and were martyred in the process. I think it is very honorable to lay down your life for your people and your city. The Church had a few tombs that you could go visit underneath and I believe one of them was buried there, along with some of the past bishops. It was very silent in the tombs and the amount of reverence by the people was apparent in how they studied and observed the tombs.
I thought that this experience was a good introduction to the city that we are going to live in. Wendell Berry talks about making the place that you are dwelling in somewhere you care for. In turn this place becomes your own and then you care even more about how you are impacting your place, and in turn it makes a greater impact on you. This is an idea that I am going to incorporate into this trip. My goal is that when I leave Regensberg, I am going to leave a small part of myself here. So that in the future when I hopefully return, for at least a visit, a part of me is going to feel like I am coming home. This is something that I have begun practicing in my life not just in Germany, but in other aspects of my life, I can say I left a little bit of me on the shores of a Nubian village in Aswan Egypt, and on top of a small mountain on the outskirts of San Diego in Ramona California. I think that in order to truly enjoy an experience and get something out of it, you have to be able to put yourself out there to be changed and molded by the experience that is going to encompass you. So far I have really enjoyed my time here!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
First Weekend in Deutchland
So I made it to Germany, but let me tell you that it has been quite a process getting here!
I drove up to Kristen's house a little past Seattle and stayed at her house for the night. We then woke up at 5:15 am and got to the airport at six forty-five. The airport had messed up our seats and we had figured it out the day before. When we got to the airport there was a power outage so the conveyor belt that carries luggage broke down....so it took like over an hour to check in and then by the time we went through security we had to board right away.
I slept a bit on the first flight and we landed at 4:30 in Philadelphia, and me up with Steven a guy from Philly who was joining us. Then we took about a nine hour flight and arrived in Munich at 8:50am on Saturday. I didn't get to sleep at all on the flight and was absolutely exhausted when we got there. We met up with Jerry and three others and finally got out of there 3 hours later and explored munich.
The one thing that really stands out to me about Germany, besides that they speak German, is all of the architecture. We saw huge old Churches with Massive cathedrals dating back to the 1300's and we also saw many different little shops and bakeries and cute little coffee shops. German city's and towns are very cute and quaint and they have many different colors painted on their buildings, like violet, pink, baby blue, green, yellow and orange...anything but dull! It is just the most amazing place because it is clean and when you drive there are the cutest little houses in the city and everything is green out on the highways with rolling hills and picturesque farm land.
Munich was very fun, to look around. We went to the English gardens, which is basically a park and it was very beautiful. We also saw some river surfers as there are no oceans they have to resort to rivers in order to surf and they actually did a pretty good job….I will post a video on my facebook soon that you will be able to watch it. That night we went to the hoferhouse, which I didn’t spell that correctly, but it is a famous brewery in Munich where they brew beer obviously why else would they call it a brewery? They also have some pretty good food…I had classic brautwurst sausage not too shabby.
Kirsten and I met these german fellows who were probably like 26 but they offered to buy us beer and were appalled that we couldn’t drink, as we are on corban lockdown and drinking is the ultimate downfall to a life of sin….haha. Anyway they told to sneak into a corner and we politely refused…but they were funny. The brewery was funny you just sat down at a table with random people, the Germans ordered tankards of beer and sang drinking songs…it was awesome…some of the guys wear lederhousen the typical german fashion, for no reason it is very unique to see.
After eating we drove to Regensberg and went to our hostel. It is pretty nice and the beds are comfortable…kinda like an older dorm but pretty legit. I am in a room with the fabulous Kristen and a nice girl named Hannah from Montana. Our beds are very warm and nice I was so exhausted when we went to sleep and 7:15 came too early.
Then today we went to church out past amberg to a church outside a military base in English, called High Point Baptist Church…it was nice because everyone spoke English and the majority of the congregation was from the Base. After that we went back to amberg and had lunch at this little Italian place. Kristen and I shared a salad and then I had a Calzone which was delicious. The waiter made fun of me in both German and Italian because I eat weird and tear my food apart and it looks like a carnivorous animal attacked my food but what can you do? So he was funny.
We then went on a walking tour around Amberg and saw more churches and cute little houses, and even an ancient palace where the prince and princess dwelled. We also saw the world’s smallest five star hotel. Which is usually reserved for honeymoon couples. It was interesting because in the olden days you used to not be able to get married unless you owned land. So this hotel would let you buy a room for a day and then the next day you would sell it to the next person who wanted to get married and needed land. I thought it was very cute.
After the walking tour we went up on a hill the overlooks the city and went inside a monastery which was built because many were spared during the black plague and the people promised to build it if they were spared. Even though the black plague hit. Then we went to a small restaurant where we had desert and had cream puffs the size of a dinner plate…so delicious!
After that we returned to Regensburg had a very small dinner in our kitchen and then got our textbooks and syllabus. Let me tell you it is going to be a stressful two weeks full of reading and assignments…not the work load I expected but I will be okay, I’m used to heavy reading work loads…it’s just annoying because I am in Germany and want to be present here you know? But I plan to study out in the city or a café or something, so will be okay.
After that we went on a twilight stroll around our city and saw a huge cathedral and old town. It is amazing to be somewhere with so much history, I think it’s going to be a good semester…but I have to go to bed its almost eleven here and we rise early.
I will try to keep this updated but if you have any questions or something let me know…pictures are to follow soon on my facebook!
Miss you all and I hope you are having a great time, because I sure am!
~~Kacey~~
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