wonder world!: Sep 8, 2008

Deutsch (amendment)

Ok. So Jana would also like me to fess up to the fact that the
remainder of my pocket list of german words consists mainly of the
various kinds of "fleisch" (or meats) I might find on a menu.
Important, no?!

Johnkim... I think you should reconsider coming. By time you get here,
I will be a pro at ordering. Ha.

Deutsch

Jana is off for a message, n I am relaxing over a cup if tea with my
travel books. She is leaving to head back to Nuremberg tomorrow
(stupid work!), and I'll be left to fend for myself for a few days.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous, but the time will be
good for me to truly decompress, and rely on my own abilities to
communicate.

I studied german for three years in high school, and I am impressed at
how much is still floating around in this brain of mine, but it is
also quite jumbled. Listening to full conversations, I am pretty lost
in the full combinations of sentences, but can usually figure out the
gist of what is being discussed if I pay attention. it is fun to have
a basic clue, but found it is also pretty exhausting on the brain to
work so hard to process.

I am curious about putting myself to the test in the next few days to
use a little german. I try it now and then (ordering coffee, beer,
etc), and am fine with the most BASIC exchange... But never fail, I am
lost when follow up conversation is presented, and just about everyone
switches to English to speak with me. Much appreciated, but in a sick
sense, a little disappointing that I don't have to try harder.

Jana has been wonderfully patient doing a lot of talking, and
answering my questions about what word mean (when I forget them a
minute later!), or to translate what someone said. I have been writing
a few basics down, and have a little list in my pocket.

-"please repeat slowly": didn't understand you the first time, I'm
sure it'll make more sense slowly?! Ha. :P

We'll see how it goes in the next few days! Yikes. Pretty sure I can
find a toilet, and have enough words to feed myself, so you have
nothing to worry about... But it could be sheer amusement getting the
rental car back to the airport!

Day in neustadt and pletzerhaken

After all the traveling around in the past few days, my brain has
gotten saturated already. Today was good and mellow. After checking
out the beach and kite surf place, we jumped into the car, and drove
back to the little town of neustadt (5min away). We got the car
parked, and headed towards the town center when it began to rain.
Thinking it would be light rain, we soldiered on. As soon as we were
far enough from the car, it started pouring. Of course. Popped in and
out of a few shops, grabbed coffee, a few munchies at the grocery
store... We were going to bail and head back to the hotel to chill,
but the rain stopped, so we walked around a little more and found a
place along the water for a beer and dinner. Under an awening for a
lovely sunset, we sat out a second rainstorm before hearing back.
Weather seem to change often, but at least it clears pretty quickly.