Another Note
Dear Constant Readers,
I can't ever think of titles for my notes, so they end up being something like "Another Note" or something not so creative like that. Half the time I have a foggy idea about what I'm going to say anymore, to be honest about it, so a title at the beginning doensn't make much sense, and I never feel like going back and changing it when I'm done, because I'm not sure it's important, and look, now here I'm rambling. Hoere ich jetzt sofort auf! (I'm stopping now!)
Nearly two weeks into December and not a single flake of snow has graced the city, or region as far as I know. Which is a bit disappointing in a way, because I had rather romantic nothings of seeing picturesque Germany covered in a foot of pristine white snow blown off the Alps and all that. Quite streets at night, holiday spirits glowing their invisible glow. All that jazz. When I asked people who either had been here or come from here, or knew something about it, they ususally said snow was something of a rariety in this region. I had never heard of a snowless Germany, so I decided that they probably didn't know what they were talking about to some degree, that certainly, maybe they were exaggerating the "warm" weather. Turns out I was wrong. Bummer.
Of course the weather is warm, everywhere though, not just Rheinland-Palatinate. I had no idea global warming was such a big deal until I wrote a paper on the subject for a PoliSci course last semester. I thought previously that global warming was an environmental concern blown out of proportion by pop-culture science and Captain Planet. Apparently I was wrong there, too. I don't know what to say about all that: it's bad, and I don't drive. And when I do drive, it's damn little, if I can help it. Usually I don't enjoy it (except for the last couple of weeks back in America I drove around the countryside listening to "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" audio book and taking in the scenery which I've come to love before leaving it for the year...and occasions like that to ponder).
Yesterday I was having a fairly decent day. Until a fellow from Spain started chatting with me over MSN telling me how globalization is screwing everything up, and how much we are to blame for it. I didn't have a real response for him, although I did think it a perhaps valuable experience to hear something like that. I don't know what to say about the anti-Americanism in the world. Yesterday a German told me there was plenty of it in Germany, and when I asked her why, she simply said "Too many reasons." How exactly does one make a statement like that and then simply give that as an answer? I will admit, though, that I likely wouldn't have had many responses for her reasons, had she named them. But perhaps responses wouldn't have been good. Generally I try to avoid such political types of conversations because the passion that the people feel, especially against America, makes me feel defensive, like it's almost personal :"You guys, you Americans, your government, your president" and so forth. I am not proud that America doesn't use its power more wisely, or care more for the environment. I'm trying to become more informed on the topics in the news so I can have a better opinion. I try to read the BBC and a few other papers (The Economist, International Hearld Tribune). It's not an easy habit to start for me, as I've said. But I'm developing the interest in it. But I don't think America is all bad either. It's too easy to see the bad of something.
I don't think globalization is a good or bad thing inherently. To say it is one or the other is rather limiting. I think it is simply the way things are, and at this point it's how that situation is handled that makes the difference. Definitely take moves to protect cultures, languages, traditions, and so on. But also barriers are disappearing.
Anyway, that brought my day down a bit. I went for a jog, so.
I am planning on taking an undetermined amount of time off from learning languages. I think I am pressing myself too hard. I was planning on doing this, anyway, after I had learned a few more. Currently I have enough materials at home to give me at least a solid foundation (and thanks to the internet and its radio and chat capabilities) most likely fluency as well in a fairly healthy number of languages. But I need to give it a break, give my mind and will a rest for a bit. Not a complete break, perhaps, but enough to chill out and work on some other things that are interesting to me. Maybe in my time off, I'll think of a more efficient, and self-friendly way to learn. Recently, though, as in the past year or so, I've become interested, or re-interested, in learning a few other skills. Drawing, painting, learning chess, and also maybe knitting/crochetting. I tried that latter last year and it didn't take off the way I hoped it would, but I still want to learn it, because I think it would be a fun and helpful skill to have. Also I am re-interested in learning my overall favorite instrument so far, the piano. I tried the saxophone once, but I can't stand it. Even when it's played well, I think it sounds bad. I am going to try to read more, more regular novels that have been populating my reading list. I also want to work more on my writing. I think dialogue is fascinating, but have a hard time writing it, as well as simply coming up with a plot for a story. I have a much easier time just rambling, like I'm doing now. This stuff comes natural to me, I don't even have to think about it half the time. I just hope it's still being well-received, I haven't heard from many people in a long time.
Even an age old interest in film-making is coming back, although mostly from a writer's perspective. I probably actually have Quentin Tarentino's films to thank for that. He's not my favorite director/film-maker, and his movies that I've seen aren't high on my list of favorites. But something about his style has charmed to want to write fast-paced dialogue. Juxtapose that with Terrence Malick, who did such celluloid poems as "Days of Heaven", "The Thin Red Line" and most recently "The New World" who has very little dialogue, but strongly incoroporates my other (even more) favorite aspect of film: the cinematography. That guy knows a camera like a geologist knows the heartbeat of a mountain. Painting with light.
In any case, I don't know if you wanted to know all that, and but there you do. In a roundabout way it's still talking about my experience here in Germany, although on an internal level, in my own self. But like I've said before, this what I'm writing could be from anywhere, not from Germany.
Regarding my time off from languages: That obviously doesn't apply to German, since I'm here. At the moment I want to focus on it as deeply as I can, but I need to collect myelf a bit in general with the other things I mentioned. I am not leaving languages, and I am saying that more to myself than to you, because one thing that bothers me is will I lose my interest in it, or find something else? I can't imagine that, but it's possible. I don't want to lose my interest in it, but if I don't do this, I might lose my interest and kill all the fun, but turning it into something I stress over rather than enjoy.
Traveling: Last weekend I was in Europa-Park, located in the Black Forest. The forest was beautiful, the amusment park left much to be desired. I spent the majority of the day with to Chilean exchange students, giving German a rest and brushing up on the Spanish instead. The two largest rollercoasters were closed for our tropical winter, but regarding one, I didn't miss it, because you splashed for that one, and I don't like getting wet. I made it back in time for a Christmas party on our floor, which was great fun. Compared to American dorms, the social level is much lower, but despite that there is a general feeling of community when we do those types of get-togethers.
This Friday I'll finally be off to Cologne for a soccer game with an American and two Englishmen. It'll be a one day trip for a soccergame, but I have no idea who's playing. I consider myself a sports agnostic, in that I believe in the possibility it can be fun and exciting, but haven't seen any tangible proof yet. I go jogging, some swimming, do enjoy hockey (the one game I've been to) and enjoy intramurals because they aren't taken seriously, but that's about as far as it goes.
So that's what's new in my life. And that's about all I have to say for now, so I'll call it a night here.
I hope this note finds you well! Keep up the work, break is almost here. The next time I write you, chances are I'll be spending the holidays with a friend of mine and her family here. I hope you all have a fun and relaxing Christmas or Holiday season planned.
Sincerely,
Tristan
I can't ever think of titles for my notes, so they end up being something like "Another Note" or something not so creative like that. Half the time I have a foggy idea about what I'm going to say anymore, to be honest about it, so a title at the beginning doensn't make much sense, and I never feel like going back and changing it when I'm done, because I'm not sure it's important, and look, now here I'm rambling. Hoere ich jetzt sofort auf! (I'm stopping now!)
Nearly two weeks into December and not a single flake of snow has graced the city, or region as far as I know. Which is a bit disappointing in a way, because I had rather romantic nothings of seeing picturesque Germany covered in a foot of pristine white snow blown off the Alps and all that. Quite streets at night, holiday spirits glowing their invisible glow. All that jazz. When I asked people who either had been here or come from here, or knew something about it, they ususally said snow was something of a rariety in this region. I had never heard of a snowless Germany, so I decided that they probably didn't know what they were talking about to some degree, that certainly, maybe they were exaggerating the "warm" weather. Turns out I was wrong. Bummer.
Of course the weather is warm, everywhere though, not just Rheinland-Palatinate. I had no idea global warming was such a big deal until I wrote a paper on the subject for a PoliSci course last semester. I thought previously that global warming was an environmental concern blown out of proportion by pop-culture science and Captain Planet. Apparently I was wrong there, too. I don't know what to say about all that: it's bad, and I don't drive. And when I do drive, it's damn little, if I can help it. Usually I don't enjoy it (except for the last couple of weeks back in America I drove around the countryside listening to "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" audio book and taking in the scenery which I've come to love before leaving it for the year...and occasions like that to ponder).
Yesterday I was having a fairly decent day. Until a fellow from Spain started chatting with me over MSN telling me how globalization is screwing everything up, and how much we are to blame for it. I didn't have a real response for him, although I did think it a perhaps valuable experience to hear something like that. I don't know what to say about the anti-Americanism in the world. Yesterday a German told me there was plenty of it in Germany, and when I asked her why, she simply said "Too many reasons." How exactly does one make a statement like that and then simply give that as an answer? I will admit, though, that I likely wouldn't have had many responses for her reasons, had she named them. But perhaps responses wouldn't have been good. Generally I try to avoid such political types of conversations because the passion that the people feel, especially against America, makes me feel defensive, like it's almost personal :"You guys, you Americans, your government, your president" and so forth. I am not proud that America doesn't use its power more wisely, or care more for the environment. I'm trying to become more informed on the topics in the news so I can have a better opinion. I try to read the BBC and a few other papers (The Economist, International Hearld Tribune). It's not an easy habit to start for me, as I've said. But I'm developing the interest in it. But I don't think America is all bad either. It's too easy to see the bad of something.
I don't think globalization is a good or bad thing inherently. To say it is one or the other is rather limiting. I think it is simply the way things are, and at this point it's how that situation is handled that makes the difference. Definitely take moves to protect cultures, languages, traditions, and so on. But also barriers are disappearing.
Anyway, that brought my day down a bit. I went for a jog, so.
I am planning on taking an undetermined amount of time off from learning languages. I think I am pressing myself too hard. I was planning on doing this, anyway, after I had learned a few more. Currently I have enough materials at home to give me at least a solid foundation (and thanks to the internet and its radio and chat capabilities) most likely fluency as well in a fairly healthy number of languages. But I need to give it a break, give my mind and will a rest for a bit. Not a complete break, perhaps, but enough to chill out and work on some other things that are interesting to me. Maybe in my time off, I'll think of a more efficient, and self-friendly way to learn. Recently, though, as in the past year or so, I've become interested, or re-interested, in learning a few other skills. Drawing, painting, learning chess, and also maybe knitting/crochetting. I tried that latter last year and it didn't take off the way I hoped it would, but I still want to learn it, because I think it would be a fun and helpful skill to have. Also I am re-interested in learning my overall favorite instrument so far, the piano. I tried the saxophone once, but I can't stand it. Even when it's played well, I think it sounds bad. I am going to try to read more, more regular novels that have been populating my reading list. I also want to work more on my writing. I think dialogue is fascinating, but have a hard time writing it, as well as simply coming up with a plot for a story. I have a much easier time just rambling, like I'm doing now. This stuff comes natural to me, I don't even have to think about it half the time. I just hope it's still being well-received, I haven't heard from many people in a long time.
Even an age old interest in film-making is coming back, although mostly from a writer's perspective. I probably actually have Quentin Tarentino's films to thank for that. He's not my favorite director/film-maker, and his movies that I've seen aren't high on my list of favorites. But something about his style has charmed to want to write fast-paced dialogue. Juxtapose that with Terrence Malick, who did such celluloid poems as "Days of Heaven", "The Thin Red Line" and most recently "The New World" who has very little dialogue, but strongly incoroporates my other (even more) favorite aspect of film: the cinematography. That guy knows a camera like a geologist knows the heartbeat of a mountain. Painting with light.
In any case, I don't know if you wanted to know all that, and but there you do. In a roundabout way it's still talking about my experience here in Germany, although on an internal level, in my own self. But like I've said before, this what I'm writing could be from anywhere, not from Germany.
Regarding my time off from languages: That obviously doesn't apply to German, since I'm here. At the moment I want to focus on it as deeply as I can, but I need to collect myelf a bit in general with the other things I mentioned. I am not leaving languages, and I am saying that more to myself than to you, because one thing that bothers me is will I lose my interest in it, or find something else? I can't imagine that, but it's possible. I don't want to lose my interest in it, but if I don't do this, I might lose my interest and kill all the fun, but turning it into something I stress over rather than enjoy.
Traveling: Last weekend I was in Europa-Park, located in the Black Forest. The forest was beautiful, the amusment park left much to be desired. I spent the majority of the day with to Chilean exchange students, giving German a rest and brushing up on the Spanish instead. The two largest rollercoasters were closed for our tropical winter, but regarding one, I didn't miss it, because you splashed for that one, and I don't like getting wet. I made it back in time for a Christmas party on our floor, which was great fun. Compared to American dorms, the social level is much lower, but despite that there is a general feeling of community when we do those types of get-togethers.
This Friday I'll finally be off to Cologne for a soccer game with an American and two Englishmen. It'll be a one day trip for a soccergame, but I have no idea who's playing. I consider myself a sports agnostic, in that I believe in the possibility it can be fun and exciting, but haven't seen any tangible proof yet. I go jogging, some swimming, do enjoy hockey (the one game I've been to) and enjoy intramurals because they aren't taken seriously, but that's about as far as it goes.
So that's what's new in my life. And that's about all I have to say for now, so I'll call it a night here.
I hope this note finds you well! Keep up the work, break is almost here. The next time I write you, chances are I'll be spending the holidays with a friend of mine and her family here. I hope you all have a fun and relaxing Christmas or Holiday season planned.
Sincerely,
Tristan
posted by Tristan | 4:42 PM
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