A movie...

The other night, I watched 'Before Sunrise'. I thought it was really quite good. There's an amusing story that goes along with it, though. I put the DVD in and made sure to go to the menu and change the language from German to English (yes, I do watch movies in German as well, but I can't stand the bad dubbing). I then proceeded to watching, and yet, as soon as the dialogue started, it was German. So I went back to the menu and selected 'English' again. The dialogue was still in German. I think at that point I may have grumbled some choice words, before realizing that the people speaking German had mouths that were moving at the same rate as the words coming out.

Ergo, they were actually speaking German, as recorded in the movie.

Yes, it turns out that the first few minutes of 'Before Sunrise' are actually supposed to be in German. In fact, the entire film takes place in Austria. Way to read the back of the DVD before watching.

What I really loved about this movie was how, at certain parts, I would laugh because something was so European, or so German (well, Austrian, really). I felt like it was mirroring my experience of moving through Europe in this kind of experimental, self-discovering way--minus the whole love story thing. I know that if I watch it again when I'm back in the U.S., it will make me feel nostalgic and misty for this time in my life.

Plus, I got to feel superior to Ethan Hawke's character, because I could understand what the Austrians were saying and he had to look like a clueless American because he couldn't.

A Thought About Home.

I think that, although my current home is here in Germany, the home I will be returning to next summer will still be my home. My city still has my heart and soul, and I can't just divorce myself from that deep connection of knowing where I truly come from. This post makes me sound homesick, and I'm not, really--I just know now, in my heart, that home can never really be replaced. It can be added to, built upon, but for me there will always be a connection to my town in America. It still feels like my place, and I know that when I come back, it will be waiting for me and I will feel comfortable there. I will be coming home.

I don't think I realized that before, but now that I do, it's so very comforting.

Chocolate Chip Saga--Pt. III (A Photo Narrative)

There aren't really chocolate chips here in Germany, so this is what we did instead:

 

Yoga

I'm starting yoga today! I'm quite excited. I think I'm going to take Hatha and Power Yoga. It's raining, and despite my lazy urge to hibernate and drink too much tea, I'm going to get active. I've been having some bothersome aches and pains as of late, and I think stretching and breathing exercises will really help. I also need a stress outlet that isn't furiously writing and filling out forms.

Defending Myself...

Everyone around me, it seems, is suddenly coming down with some sort of cough/head cold/sore throat. It's been a couple weeks, and I still show no signs of sickness. I attribute this to my high consumption of Vitamin C (in the form of Multivitamin Saft), coffee, and a killer immune system.

But I am still nervous. I hate getting sick, and I'm hoping to get through the next nine months here with minimal damage. Bring on the Vitamin C, tea and fruit! And, of course, a lot of hand-washing.

Noteworthy: I got my hair cut yesterday, and managed to convey to the Friseur(in?) in a clumsy mix of Deutsch and English exactly what I wanted her to do with my hair. She was a total pro, and the whole cut only cost me eighteen Euro...unglaublich!

mmmm.

Just thought I'd share.