Lunch at the Hochschule (09.06.2008)

Lunch with some friends, courtesy of Mathias!

[Andreas, Benjamin, Mathias, Tino]

[Benjamin]

[Mathias]

[Me & Sebastian]

[Andreas & Thomas]

Sommerfest, 31 May 2008

The annual Lutherische Theologische Hochschule "Sommerfest" was held this past Saturday... there was beautiful weather, volleyball in the afternoon, an outdoor worship service in the evening, followed by a "Schwarz und Weiß" themed party, with lots of food, music and skits!

60. Jubiläum (19.05.2008)

Today is the 60th anniversary (60. Jubiläum) of the beginning of theological instruction at the Lutherische Theologische Hochschule in Oberursel! The official celebration is in three weeks, but after chapel this morning, a photo shoot for the new Hochschule brochure provided the perfect opportunity to sit in the sun with friends and enjoy some "Kaffee und Kuchen" - two of my favorite things! (The "props" for the photo shoot were, in fact, delicious! Andrea has been busy taking photos this spring for the new brochure.) So, on this special occasion, I wish you God's peace. Soli Deo Gloria (to God alone the glory)!

[L-R: Andreas Otto, Ryan Loeslie, Roland Johannes, Andreas Berg]

[Foreground: Tino Bahl, Helmut Paul; Background: Andrea Otto, Thomas Beneke, Anna Bartelt]

[Sebastian Anwand, me]

[Little Sophie asked Adreas if she could try on his "Brille"]

Der Hausmeister

You can hear him before you see him. The caretaker for the Hochschule is a gentleman in his 50s. He's always got a smile on his face when you greet him - but communication proves difficult (even for the Germans); he's got a heavy Hessian accent. (Hesse is the state I live in. When I flew to Germany last fall, I was sitting next to a couple for almost 20 minutes thinking "what language is that" before I found out they were German and from Hesse.) The students and residents here laugh that we never need an alarm on Saturday morning. Every Saturday he's out with his leaf blower - a large gas-powered apparatus - at about 9:30 - to the bane of any student who reveled into the wee hours on Friday night. (Last fall I saw him blowing the leaves out of the trees in a preemptive strike.) So, here is how I will always remember Herr Reichel, "der Hausmeister" (this picture is worth the "click" to see a larger version):

Brunnenfest

This weekend is Oberursel's "Brunnenfest" (Fountain Festival). It's a lot like the Christmas Market - except fewer booths selling gifts and more booths selling beer and food. It's nice - they block off all the streets in the "Altstadt" (the old part of the city). In front of every building and shop is a food or beverage stand and it seemed like every street also had some live music. It started Friday, so that evening, 14 of us from the Hochschule walked downtown and enjoyed the weather, the food, the beer and some good conversation!

Sankt Johannes Gemeindechor (14.05.2008)

One of the truly wonderful experiences this year has been singing in the the church choir - "Gemeindechor" - at St. John's. Directed by my good friend, Roland Johannes, many of them have gone out of their way to help me feel at home in Germany. Wednesday night, after a brief rehearsal, we grilled. So, here are some pictures of some of my favorite people. Peace to you.

[Hilbert and Heinz getting it started.]

[Andreas, Frau da Silva, me.]

[Back: Hilbert, Helmut, Mathias; Front: Roland, Benjamin]

[Thomas (front) and Sebastian (back, white shirt) playing "Tischtennis" with Pastor Wenz's kids; little Johannes spectating.]

[Johannes]

[Helmut, Heinz, Renate. (I'm not sure what causes what: are The South Africans attracted to barbecues? Or, will a spontaneous barbecue break out when The South Africans get together?) My kind of people.]

[Thomas, Helmut, me.]

[Sing-along with Frau Eichmeier, Herr Pick, Andreas, and Roland (playing the piano)]

Großer Feldberg (09.05.2008)

Saturday Hilbert - my Brazilian friend and fellow exchange student - and I took the bus up to the top of Großer Feldberg. It's a big hill that's a bit higher than Altkönig. There's a couple restaurants and a walking trail around the top. I was amazed at the number of motorcycles we saw on the road winding up to the top - and how many were parked on top. It would be a cool ride.

[Frankfurt am Main. "Bankfurt." "Main-hattan."]

der Igel (29.04.2008)

Did you know that hedgehogs live in the wild in Germany? Me either. They do. I saw one tonight on my way to pick up my laundry. I noticed a small shadow ambling across the driveway just as I was walking by. So when he stopped in front of the Mensa (cafeteria) I went over to get a closer look. From about two feet away, I thought he looked a lot like a hedgehog. (Not that I can tell the sex of a hedgehog at night; I'll continue to use the third person masculine singular pronoun just to be consistent.) But I had not idea they were German. As I bent over to get a good look he just stood there. I went to pick up my laundry and sure enough, he was still there when I came back two minutes later. I saw my neighbor's light on - Tino - and thought he might get a kick out of it. When I described what it was, he guessed that it might be an Igel (hedgehog). Of course he was gone when we got there, but Tino used the opportunity to take a smoke break. He said you usually see them in the Fall, but usually on the street... run over (übergefahren).

Altkönig V (07.04.2008)

"Thwack!" As soon as I stepped out onto my stoop, Mathias, my friend and neighbor who lives over my apartment, caught me square on top of the head with a snowball. It's snowing again. Yesterday and again today. Any sign of spring we've had so far this year was a tease.

"Where are you going?" he called down from the balcony as I headed out into the falling snow. "Altkönig," I said as I stuck my ear buds into my ears.

"You're crazy," Mathias insisted.

"Stimmt." ("certainly") I said.

Today I hiked Altkönig in a snowstorm. Which was cool because hardly anyone was out - until I neared the trailhead upon return, I had only seen one person - on top. Where two days earlier were beautiful shades of green from the moss and the pines was now covered in a pristine layer of snow. On the way up I listened to Bach's "Mass in B Minor" (what's been called one of humanity's crowning artistic achievements - and part of my friend Roland's attempt to culture me). Hiking uphill in 3-7 inches of snow, it took a little longer to make it up (and was a great calf workout). It was great because some parts of the trail hadn't yet been walked through. Once on top, a low ceiling and near white-out conditions meant no view. But it was kinda cool.

By the time I got back to the bottom, the temp had climbed up above freezing, so the snow was dropping from the trees and had turned to slush on the trails - but it was still fun. Better than an afternoon indoors - well, depending on what you're doing, I guess.




Peace to you.

Geburtstag

My birthday - yesterday, 32 - continued this year's theme of "better than I deserve." I was treated to a great day. It began with Frühstück (breakfast) with The South Africans. Then Roland and I booked a flight and accommodations for a trip to Dublin next week. Then, my birthday being April Fool's Day, I was treated to an impressive practical joke in the form of a very official-looking letter from the administration notifying me of a 400 Euro ($600) utility bill. That evening was a joint birthday party with Frau da Silva, wife of one of our professors, who happens to share the same birthday. She hosted and took care of the food. I just had to help cook for a few hours the day before (by "cook" I mean fry some meat and try not to burn anything) and buy some beer. It was a great party with around 25 friends and neighbors from the Hochschule!

(From left to right: Martin, Thomas, Naemi, Benjamin, me, and Mathias.)

(Party at the da Silva's!)

(Roland and me.)

(Dr. and Frau da Silva)

Perhaps Spring must wait...

I awoke this morning startled by the brightness of the world outside my door. It reminded me of being a kid and knowing the forecast the night before called for snow, and when you awoke, you could tell by the light coming in through the shades that there was snow on the ground reflecting the pale morning light. Though, being completely unaware of the forecast, this morning was a pleasant surprise.




It is late in an afternoon
More grey with snow to fall
Than white with fallen snow
When it is blue jay and crow
Or no bird at all.

(Robert Frost, from "War Thoughts at Home")

Peace to you.

Frühling is Coming!

Peace to you.

Erntedankfest

Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving Day is possibly my favorite holiday. The focus is on three of my favorite things: family, friends, and food. Over the last ten years, I think I've spent two or three Thanksgivings at home in Minnesota. What I've learned is that when you travel and live away from family, the definition of "family" expands. Friends become as close as family. My friend Lee and I had a stretch of four of five Thanksgiving days spent together in three different states and one foreign country. (More than one of those involved a Thanksgiving morning trip to the Super Walmart.) This year I have to thank my friends the Ottos, Andreas and Andrea, for hosting a feast for us Americans (both of us), and a few German and South African friends of mine here at the Hochschule who have studied in the U.S. Andrea put together quite a spread of food! (And, some good German bier, of course!)

Peace to you. Thank you for your friendship.

Altkönig II

The remnants of Autumn still linger at the Hochschule. (I spent all afternoon Friday raking.) But when you get higher up into the hills overlooking Oberursel, several inches of snow remain from last week. Today, Andreas, a classmate, and I took a quick hike up to the top of Altkönig. It was brisk at lower elevations, but downright cold on top. As we got within 50-75 meters of the hilltop, we walked out of the trees into a "Winter Wunderland." I hope all is well. Peace to you.





Today's Box Score
Total Distance: approx. 15km
Elevation Gain: approx. 510 meters
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Glasses of Glühwein upon Return: 2