Kultur 11, Carolyn Kodis

When I went to Germany, I definitely noticed a difference between North and South, just like the author of "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide."  On my tour, we went straight from Berlin to Munich.  While Berlin was very similar to an American city--very modern, very artsy, very cool--Munich was more like what I pictured Germany to be: lederhosens, heavy beer drinking, and polka music.  And although both were so different, I loved them both in their own ways.  Berlin reminded me of home and was absolutely beautiful.  While in Munich, I was able to dive into the culture of my ancestors by trying on dirndls and dining in beer gardens.  I see a similarity here in the states.  While I prefer living my northern lifestyle, when I do go to the south I try to dive into the culture down there (grits, anyone?).  I know I would probably do the same if I were to live in Germany: I'd live in Berlin but vacation down in Munich and become one with the people.  Maybe the Germans should do that too.

Kultur 10, Carolyn Kodis

Man, those Germans really do know how to celebrate Father's Day.  If I'm lucky, my dad and I will go fishing, but that usually doesn't happen.  However, this German celebration does remind me of a "holiday" that recently occurred.  I write for the Michigan Daily, and twice a year, we have elections for editor-in-chief (the election held in October is for the regular EIC who runs the paper for the school year, the election in March is for the summer EIC).  Regardless of which election it is, precedent has it that these elections will run 9-10 hours.  So how do we pass the time and keep our sanity?  By bringing and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.  (Not me, I choose to stay sober for these elections.  Who wants to stumble home at three in the morning when it's already as dangerous as it is?)  Like the Germans, somehow my fellow writers are able to remain courteous to the poor candidates standing at the front of the room, answering question after question.  But on the occasion that we do get a break, the newsroom does become quite rowdy.  Luckily, the police have not been sent to tend to us.

Carolyn Kodis AMD 5

Ich habe Hunger.  Also beschloss ich, an deutschen Nahrung zu suchen.  Ich fand foodbycountry.com.  Nicht nur, dass sie die Geschichte und die Einflüsse für deutsche Lebensmittel, aber sie hatten auch einige deutsche Rezepte.  Leider konnte ich diese Rezepte nicht machen, weil ich in einem Wohnheim.  Allerdings sind die Rezepte erinnerte mich an meine Reise nach Deutschland.  Ich war überrascht, dass die Website nicht über einige meiner deutschen Lieblingsgerichte wie Spätzle und Döner (gut, das ist türkische Döner trotzdem, so ...)  Aber jetzt bin ich auch informiert und hungrig.

Carolyn Kodis AMD 3

Ich sah eine andere Folge von South Park. In dieser Episode spricht Al Gore über Schweinebärmann. Schwenebärmann ist halb Mensch, halb Bär, halb Schwein.  Etwas, das ich in dieser Folge aufgefallen war, dass Al Gore Akzent wurde in der Übersetzung verloren.  Das war eines der Dinge, die diese Episode lustig gemacht.  Andere als die, es war gut.

Carolyn Kodis: Kultur 9

When I first started reading "Love Thy Neighbor: German Law Tells You How" I asked myself, Wow, aren't these people a little excessive?  And then I realized, I would be the perfect German neighbor.  First of all, I am a cat person, so no barking.  Second, I can't grill to save my life, so no barbecue.  Third, I value sleep over everything, so no parties.  I'm a German's dream.
Oh, but how I wish I could have the German neighbor court system to back me up when it comes to roommate issues.  She's a German's nightmare neighbor (comes in late all the time, likes to party, etc).
On a side note, wouldn't "German Neighbor Court" make a great TV show (think Judge Judy, but more ridiculous).

AMD 3, Carolyn Kodis

Zu Ehren der Olympischen Spiele, Ich bin über die Deutsche Eistanz schreiben.  Germany has two pairs in Eistanzen: Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi and Tanja Kolbe and Stefano Caruso.  I am focusing on Zhiganshina and Gazsi.  Nelli is from Russia but has citizenship in Germany, hence why she is able to skate for them.  (Her younger brother is an ice dancer for Russia).  Alexander ist Deutsch.  When Alexander is not skating, he serves in the army.  The two paired up in 2005 when Alexander was looking for a new partner.  That's how he found Nelli, and Nelli changed her citizenship in order to train and compete with Alexander.  Achten Sie darauf, diese beiden Wettbewerbs fangen.

Carolyn Kodis, Kultur 8

When I started reading "You Have What?: Mysterious Illness in Germany" I laughed.  These Germans are so ridiculous.  But then, as I kept reading, I realized: I'm just like the Germans.  I refuse to get a flu shot every season.  Whenever I have a headache, nine out of ten times I'll take a pass on taking aspirin.  I'd much rather wander the Earth while sick than confront a doctor or go to a pharmacy.  And I'm not the only one in my family like this.  My father is the exact same way, as is my 90-something-year-old great grandmother.  Why?  Part of me thinks that aspirin and flu shots don't work.  Another part believes that if you overuse these things, your body builds a resistance which means you'll have to continue increasing your dosage until you eventually overdose.  But I guess it's also some good ol' German stubbornness too.

AMD 2

Aus diesem AMD ich eine weitere Episode von South Park gesehen.  In dieser Episode, jeder in South Park kauft Hybrid-und weil es sie selbstgefällig geworden.  Eine Menge von Stereotypen wurden in dieser Episode angesprochen, und ich frage mich, was die Deutschen denken, der Amerikaner, wenn sie beobachten South Park.  Glauben sie, dass Menschen, die Hybrid-Autos fahren selbstgefällig sind?  Glauben sie, dass jeder, der in San Francisco lebt, ihre eigenen Fürze riechen?  Was halten sie von George Clooney denken?  Dies sind wichtige Fragen, die beantwortet werden müssen!

Kultur 7

For this Kultur post, I've decided to focus on the article "What Discipline?: Of German Lines and Pythons."  I, like my many German ancestors, cannot stand to wait in line.  And while in Germany this past summer, I didn't seem to have any problems with lines--that's the one benefit on doing an organized tour, your tour guide makes it so that you almost never have to wait in a ghastly queue--but one occasion did come to mind towards the end of the article.  While in Köln, I decided to go on a search for some of the latest German trends.  I finally found a store and some cool clothes to try on, but all of the dressing rooms were full.  Now, side note, as a swimmer, I am a professional at doing public quick changes.  So I decided to start doing that, because, like my German ancestors, I am very impatient.  I almost didn't notice other people filing in, also waiting for the next open dressing room.  What happened next took place over about five seconds.  I was doing one of my signature quick changes into a dress.  I had the skirt part of the dress on over my shorts when one of the dressing room curtains opened up.  Then, we locked eyes.  A girl about my age was also waiting for that same room.  She was closer in proximity, but I was a python, ready to strike.  In one fluid movement, I scooped up everything from where I was standing, which included my purse, shoes, and shopping bags, and long jumped my way into the open dressing room.  That other girl didn't stand a chance.

Oddly enough, I'm super proud of this moment, and I have a feeling my German ancestors would be proud too.

AMD 1

Ahhhh AMD, we meet again.  Per usual, I watched the show that is the voice of our generation: South Park.  Today, I revisited one of my favorite episodes, "Dances with Smurfs."  In this episode, Cartman becomes the reader of the school announcements.  He slowly transforms into Glenn Beck and uses the announcements to verbally lash out against the school's president: Wendy.  Cartman quickly gains a following and convinces people that Wendy's agenda was to "Kill Smurfs."  Eventually he turns it into both a book and a movie, but Wendy strikes back and gets the last laugh.
One of the first thoughts that popped into my head while watching the show was whether or not Germans understood all of the American references.  First of all, they have a character, Casey Miller, who is supposed to be like Casey Kasem.  In the American episode, the voice acting was flawless and I immediately knew who they were impersonating.  But the voice actor in the German version didn't sound anything like him.  So I wonder, did they get the joke or was it lost in translation?
Second of all, like I said before, Cartman transforms into Glenn Beck.  I remember when I first saw this episode, I had no idea who Glenn Beck was.  I later looked him up and formed my own opinion of him.  Did German viewers do that?  Do they even know who Glenn Beck is?  I will admit, though, South Park's portrayal of Glenn Beck isn't too far off...
I wonder, is there a German version of Glenn Beck?
Lastly, I noticed something else, something I've also noticed from the movies that we watched in German 101: for certain English phrases, there are more than one way to say it in German.  In this episode, that phrase was "Oh my God."  Not only was there the literal translation ("Oh mein Gott") but the subtitles also translated "Nicht du fassen" (sp?) as "Oh my God."  Although I find this really fascinating, I also find it strange that they use these different phrases instead of using one translation.
Maybe we'll learn about that later on in class...

Test Post

Mein Lieblingswort ist Eishockey.