Lost in Translation...

On our way to Amsterdam. Amazing how you can travel 14 hours away and how similar things still are. I wouldn’t say that I was expecting things to be completely different, but the things that are similar are those that I am best at. Being polite, smiling, laughing, enjoying company and family, eating, drinking and sleeping. Alicia’s family is amazing, warm, inviting and extremely accommodating. I will make sure to take back their sense of hospitality. Her Oma (Grandma) is the cutest in the world, second only to mine of course. The weather is cold, but nothing we can’t handle.

It is 0-5 degrees Celsius, so freezing basically. I am enjoying the change right now, but have a feeling it will wear on me, like the Santa Ana winds we all know and love. I am quickly picking up Deutsch (German). Oma and Alicia’s Aunt Miggie, Aunt Ana and Uncle Rudiger seem to be quite impressed. Their praise gives me the motivation and encouragement to continue learning so that I may better communicate. It’s weird how you just manage to make due in situation’s where language is not a barrier, but rather a dissimilarity. I have begun to use my hands when I talk and choose my words carefully. I have learned that not all words translate throughout the various languages. For instance, there is no such word as “stuff” or “actually” in Deutsch. We use those words so often that attempting to translate or explain such common English words proves to be quite a task. We were able to explain “stuff” as “things” which there is such a Deutsch word for. “Actually” proved to be more tedious. I attempted to explain as “rather” which apparently there is not a Deutsch translation for either. Alicia explained it the best should could in Deutsch.

It snowed on Thursday, the day we traveled to Koln (Cologne). I have only been in snow twice, up until now. Once in Big Bear, my second time in Whistler. This however was my first snowfall. It was gorgeous, for the first five minutes. Then just an added annoyance in our quest to reach the Cathedral. The Cathedral in Cologne is amazing in size and the pictures really do not do it justice to it’s size. “Behemeth” is the only world I can think to describe it’s overwhelming size. We walked through the Cathedral admiring not only it’s size, but the somber ambience. There are places for people to pray and tea candles which to light. It smells of cheap wax and stale air. The stained glass provides the only muted light to enter. The colors of the stained glass and how intricate they lay is enough to take even the most ignorant tourists’ breath away.

It’s amazing how even the most simplistic social discrepancies add such complexity to a traveler’s journey. For instance, the graffiti or tagging on passing trains and overpasses is so gorgeous. Many elders may find it the work of deviants, but to a naïve 24 year old (Happy Birthday to me) it is a calming commonality amongst such new surroundings. I have always been in awe as to the talent of most graffiti, but from what I’ve seen in California, most is done with black spray paint. Here it is an art. Pink, yellow, green, white, purple, teal cast a rainbow amidst the grey, brown, green and black background.

I know it has been almost a week since I have gone and am sorry that I have not called, emailed, made contact sooner, save for my parents of course. Alicia and I are diligently working on finding the best route in which to communicate. “Best” of course being the least expensive. We have found some people that have an internet connection and have decided upon getting pre-paid phone cards in each country which we will be staying for a duration of time. On Monday or Tuesday we will be getting a phone card for Germany in which we will have cell phone number. Then it will be free for us for you to call, or a few cents per minute for us to call home.

I still feel like I am just on vacation and that this trip will be over soon, like most vacations. I am having so much fun seeing everything I have only heard about. I have not had a bad meal yet either. Everything is so fresh from the farmer that it takes differently. Even though we eat mostly meat on bread with a slice of cheese, it is so much richer tasting. One night we had beef and potatoes and cauliflower. Of course after riding bikes for a few hours anything would taste good, but trust me even if I was zat (full) I would have thoroughly enjoyed my first “real” Deutsch meal. My favorite meals are those that are the most simple. Prosioutto (sp?) on ze (the) Baguette mit (with) a cup of Kaffe (coffee).

Our train is about to stop in Centrum (Central) Amsterdam so I will sign off. In the next few days we will visit the Anne Frankhaus, the Rembranthaus, the Van Gogh Museum, the Hemp Museum and take a stroll through the highly commercialized Red Light District. I have already seen a few people smoking “hash” since crossing the Holland border, which I can not help but giggle at. Also you can walk on the streets with an open bottle of alkohol (alcohol). Amazing how places where people don’t completely condemn those individuals who consume what we consider a “controlled substance” they are used nonchalantly and infrequently. I read that hash is only sold legally here if people don’t abuse their privileges and it does not become a public nuisance.

Leads me to believe that by placing restrictions and limitations on individuals is that which drives human nature to seek and rebel. The drinking age in Deutschland is 16 and I wouldn’t be surprised if alcoholism is less apparent here. Drinking is so prevalent among that Deutsch that I would be amazed if someone would feel compelled to drink more than they already do. Then again, alcoholism is a disease, so maybe I am wrong.

On Thursday, I visited my first authentic Deutsch pub, for the first day or Karneval festivities. I strongly believe that everyone I know would have hated it. I was about 90 degrees inside a crowded bar. Everyone was bizoften (drunk). They played Deutsch Karneval muzik which everyone but Alicia and I know the words to. Aunt Miggie will describe to me in English what the song is saying. One was “the water in Cologne is good,” another “we will stay friends forever.” Since I don’t speak Deutsch, I instead sing my version of the song. “THE WATER IN COLOGNE IS GOOOOD!!!” Only to the rhythm and melody of the blaring Deutsch chant. Quite a sight.

I miss you all, but be rest assured that I am eating delicious and healthy food, and working it off with all the walking and farat farren (bike riding). Hopefully I will come home 10 pounds lighter! Chooss (Goodbye)!