tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68812858277166121642024-03-27T13:24:03.904+01:00Shelley Pascual<a href="http://www.shelleypascual.blogspot.com"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2677/4365554035_8348b424c9_z.jpg" width="600" height="238" alt=""></a>Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-40371224958880493972015-03-07T09:28:00.001+01:002015-03-10T08:46:06.337+01:00New websiteIt's been fun, but from now on, I will no longer be blogging on this website. Please redirect to <a href="https://shelleypascual.wordpress.com">www.shelleypascual.wordpress.com</a>. Looking forward to seeing you there!
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-40880178112750641392015-02-28T18:50:00.000+01:002015-03-01T19:01:30.317+01:00Bye Bye BlogspotThis blog was born five years ago. Now, it's time for a change. Check back soon for more updates; a new website is currently in the works!
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-76628624950535057272014-12-15T20:19:00.002+01:002014-12-16T07:31:39.975+01:00Celebrating Christmas Abroad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Most people associate the holidays with visiting family and/or going "home." When you live abroad and this isn't always possible, however, you learn to appreciate different Christmas traditions. Most of my students cringed when I told them how I celebrated 25th December in Oz a few years ago. Christmas in the summertime? How outlandish! Looking back, I have nothing but fond memories of how I've spent Christmas over the years.
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Christmas in Canada
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There's this stereotype that us North Americans all celebrate Christmas on 25th December, and I can't speak on behalf of the Canadians that do, because I grew up having a feast in the evening of the 24th with my big fat Filipino family. Uncle Rod had the honours of handing out all the gifts at midnight, and when my cousins and I were kids he even dressed up as Santa Claus!
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For my sister and I, Christmas Day wasn't as big a deal as Christmas Eve. Nevertheless, we loved waking up and running down the stairs to find presents from Santa (aka our parents) under the tree. They also put wee presents in our stockings hanging by the fireplace. When I was much younger I left out cookies and milk for Santa, which he obediently ate haha.
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It almost always snowed at Christmastime in my childhood, though nowadays white Christmases in Toronto are hit or miss. The strongest memory I have of Christmas actually doesn't involve presents, but instead, music. My dad used to blast the Jackson 5 Christmas album as early as November, much to my dismay. The only other album I know all the lyrics to is Mariah Carey's 1994 Merry Christmas album.
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Christmas in Australia
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Truth be told, the main difference between Christmas in Canada and Christmas in Australia is the climate. I was living in Melbourne at the time, and all the shops in the city were decorated with festive lights, adorned in wintery motifs. The city was dotted with artificial Christmas trees, which was appalling because it was 25-30°C at the time! Link to my old blog post [2010] Christmas in Melbourne <a href="http://shelleypascual.blogspot.de/2010/12/2010-christmas-in-melbourne.html" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Sure, Christmas in Oz is a bit tacky, but trust me, everyone back home freezing in -10°C weather is secretly jealous that you get to bbq on the beach in shorts and a t-shirt (a typical Christmas tradition). Surrounded by fellow backpackers, I, too, had a bbq not far from the beach (St. Kilda Beach) back in Christmas 2010. It remains one of the most memorable Christmases I've ever had, not just because it was summertime, but because although it was my first Christmas away from home, I still felt "at home."
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Christmas in Germany
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Everybody knows that the best thing about Christmas in Germany are the Christmas Markets. Steeped in tradition that goes back hundreds of years, you couldn't even begin to compare these markets with the ones that have been popping up in North America over the past few years. The <a href="http://www.torontochristmasmarket.com/" target="_blank">Toronto Christmas Market</a>, for example, lacks a certain charm, I find. Not hating, just saying.
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The tradition of Nikolaus is another thing I love about Christmas in Germany. You're supposed to clean your boot the evening before he comes and leave it just outside your front door. On 6th December, Nikolaus fills your boot with treats such as chocolates, mandarin oranges and walnuts - but only if you've been a good girl or boy. I know this because Nikolaus visited me for the first time back in 2012!
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Yet another tradition I've only seen at Christmastime in Germany is this <i>Weihnachtsplätzchen</i> baking bonanza. Many people dedicate an entire weekend to making Christmas cookies that are meant to last their family and friends at least a few months. Sadly, Germans don't make or eat cookies any other time of year really. I guess after stuffing your face silly with these buttery treats all throughout December, you'd definitely be sick of 'em.
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NB: In Germany, Christmas Eve is referred to as the "Holy Night," Christmas Day is called the "1st Christmas Day," and Boxing Day is called the "2nd Christmas Day." Also, from 27th December up until New Year's Eve, the malls are packed with shoppers returning gifts, only it isn't called Boxing Week.
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Christmas in __________
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The idea for this blog post arose from the current dilemma we have of not knowing what to do this Christmas. The bf's parents are currently in Florida and plan to spend Christmas there, my family's in Canada, and without anyone to celebrate the holidays with here in Germany, I think it only makes sense to celebrate it abroad.
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Admittedly, I'm excited beyond words! I love the thought of seeing something new and celebrating Christmas in a completely different country! What I've learned is that you truly can feel "at home" wherever you are for Christmas, you just gotta have an open mind. It may take me a lifetime but I hope to add more and more countries to this list and experience what Christmas is like all around the world.
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-4406437781684683292014-10-19T22:13:00.001+02:002014-10-19T22:19:45.531+02:00Bunker Kralenriede – Führung 3. Oktober 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In Braunschweig, very few bunkers remain in original condition. The city center was dotted with bunkers during WWII, however most of them were taken down after the war. Others were turned into <a href="http://www.bunker-whv.de/bunkerbraunschweig/braunschweigsalzgittertour150411/bs/raddatz150411%20050.jpg" target="_blank">apartment buildings</a>, none of which still look like bunkers to this day, of course. Bunker Kralenriede is one of the few that remained untouched. Organized by <a href="http://www.kulturteam.de/" target="_blank">KulturTeam</a>, monthly tours are available for those interested in taking a peek inside Bunker Kralenriede.
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The tour lasts about 1 1/2 hours, costs 7€, and is led by a well-informed local (i.e. a Braunschweiger). Though the bunker was not built below ground, it felt about 10 Degrees chillier inside. That's the first thing I noticed upon entering, in addition to feeling a tad spooked out. The second thing I noticed was <i>Rauchen verboten!</i> (Smoking not permitted!) written on almost every wall in an unfamiliar typeface.
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The bunker has a simple layout: ground floor, 1st floor and 2nd floor. Each floor looks identical to the next and consists of long hallways lined with 6 sq. metre rooms. Unbelievably, 20 people fit in each of these rooms, sometimes for days at a time. Despite having vents that allowed fresh air to enter the bunker, ventilation was horrible and made worse by the perpetually foul state of the washrooms.
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Only German women and children were allowed in the bunker. Foreigners and Jews were not permitted to enter. Bunker Kralenriede was mainly for residents in the local area, and most people kept a few of their belongings inside the bunker as there were periods of time when the alarms went off frequently.
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The photos below show stairs leading to one of the bunker's main entrances, as well as the actual door at that entrance. Our tour guide explained that once the door was closed, it remained closed until it was safe to open again. Oftentimes, people who hadn't entered the bunker in time desperately waited at this door in hopes of being let in. The sheer thought of this makes my heart sink.
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Nowadays, musicians make use of Bunker Kralenriede by renting out the space for practice sessions. I've shared this with a few people I know and I've either gotten a raised eyebrow or a shrug of the shoulders. So long as the musicians are comfortable with it, why shouldn't it be tolerated?
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Situated in the neighbourhood of Kralenriede, it's hard to notice the unassuming bunker at first since it's surrounded by normal houses on a residential street. Here's a <a href="http://www.amaot.de/bunker/img/kralenriede2.jpg" target="_blank">photo</a> of the bunker taken from outside.
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While it isn't the most positive time in history to reflect on, my visit to Bunker Kralenriede was admittedly fascinating. The past cannot be changed. As such, I think it's necessary for one to know a thing or two about the place where one lives or the place one calls home, even if this place is temporary. I can't think of a more worthwhile activity to have done on the <i>Tag der Deutschen Einheit</i> (Day of German Unity) earlier this month. *proudly waves German flag in the air*
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-12364378709508872882014-09-19T12:51:00.000+02:002014-09-19T22:31:15.790+02:00Do we still judge childless women?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The level of childlessness in England and Wales is increasing. According to the Office of National Statistics, one in nine women born in 1940 were childless. It is predicted that now, close to <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11026675/Childless-and-happy-Why-aged-40-Im-finally-happy-to-be-a-NoMo-thats-a-Not-Mother.html" target="_blank">one in four women</a> at the end of the childbearing years (age 45) don't have children. Childless women today are often judged for not having any children, however childfree lifestyles are also widely accepted.
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Labelled “child haters” or criticized for not wanting children, many women remain childless due to infertility, which is a problem not exclusive to females. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4243/Infertility-rising-problem.html" target="_blank">One in six British couples</a> have difficulty conceiving and the rate is on the increase. British Employment Minister <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10982028/Esther-McVey-I-want-children-but-no-one-has-wound-up-my-biological-clock.html" target="_blank">Esther McVey</a> recently admitted that while she loves children, similar to other childless women, she hasn't found the right person to have children with.
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Infertile or single women are furthermore expected to either opt for adoption or donor offspring. Jody Day, founder of <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28785054" target="_blank">Gateway Women</a>, a support network for childless women above 35, recalls being berated from a stranger for dismissing the idea of adoption and therefore not desiring children enough. Moreover, plenty of childless women have “mother potential” but simply want to have a baby with a man (or woman) that they love.
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Whilst childless women are largely judged, they are still accepted and defended. It's untrue that the only job a woman can do is raise children. Almost <a href="http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lmac/women-in-the-labour-market/2013/sty-women-in-work.html" target="_blank">35% of UK managers</a> are women, some of whom focused on establishing a career prior to even thinking of motherhood. Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11060022/Dont-worry-Jennifer-theres-more-to-life-than-having-kids.html">prime example</a>. Women are content with delaying childbearing to older ages, at which point it is sometimes too late.
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In terms of costs, raising a child has become nearly unaffordable. A couple spends on average £340/week whereas a <a href="https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/managing-family-finances-when-youve-had-a-baby" target="_blank">couple with a baby</a> spends on average a whopping £578/week. Not surprisingly, mums feel that they now must earn more than <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/jan/23/cost-raising-child-surges" target="_blank">£26,000/year</a> to make it worth returning to work after maternity leave.
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Proven by the UK's <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-151319/Birth-rate-drops-lowest-ever.html" target="_blank">plummeting birthrate</a>, indeed, fewer women are having children nowadays, causing one to question whether childfree lifestyles and unconventional family set-ups should be more embraced. After all, regardless of childlessness by circumstance or by choice, a woman is not less of a woman without child.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768">Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-82605980683553340152014-08-28T11:34:00.001+02:002014-08-28T11:34:45.900+02:00Pascuals in Europe Pt. II<object width="600" height="450"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157646425037290%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157646425037290%2F&set_id=72157646425037290&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="https://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=1811922554"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=1811922554" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157646425037290%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157646425037290%2F&set_id=72157646425037290&jump_to=" width="600" height="450"></embed></object>
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One of the major disadvantages of living abroad is that you see your family on average once per year, depending on how far away you are from them. I've accepted and lived with this fact for a few years now, but saying goodbye after spending time together has not gotten easier. It never does. Who likes goodbyes, anyway?! I hate 'em. But <i>so ist das Leben.</i>
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I'm thankful and blessed to be able to have spent my summer hols with my family in Europe just this past month. In 2012, we visited Rome and Paris together. This year, on Mama Pascual's request, we visited London, Amsterdam, BS and Berlin. The obvious highlight for me was showing my family the city where I live, Braunschweig aka BS, and Germany in general. After all, I've come to call Germany home. Though it felt absolutely surreal while my family was in town, I loved every minute of it. Now whenever I talk about my life, they'll actually be able to picture it, which makes me genuinely happy beyond words.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-25708954831547853692014-08-02T00:00:00.000+02:002014-08-28T10:54:25.771+02:00The Top 10 Mistakes Germans Make in English<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After 2 1/2 years of teaching English in Germany, I’ve developed a good understanding as to why native German speakers make the mistakes they do when speaking English. Like any language learner naturally does, they tend to think in their native language first. The trick, however, is to do the exact opposite. This is because unfortunately, not all words and expressions can be directly translated from German into English. <i>Tipp</i>: By making a conscious effort to think in the target language prior to speaking it, one-to-one translations can be avoided.
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The following is a list I’ve compiled of the top 10 mistakes that Germans make in English due to the characteristics of their native language, be it a grammar, sentence structure or pronunciation matter. By thoroughly understanding the reasons why a German speaker makes the following mistakes, the student may focus on avoiding them and the teacher is able to make well-timed corrections accordingly.
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<b>10. By / until</b>
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In German, <i>bis</i> is used to express either <i>by</i> or <i>until</i>. So for example a typical sentence I often hear is, "My boss told me to finish this task until tomorrow." No. BY tomorrow. I tell my students to remember that <i>by</i> means "not later than" and <i>until</i> answers the question "How long...?" It's just one of those concepts one learns best by doing. In the language-learning world, this means speaking (lots of it).
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<b>9. Adjectives and Adverbs</b>
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Adverbs don't exist in German. Verbs can simply be described with adjectives. If one can fly <i>direkt</i> to Japan and one can sing <i>perfekt</i>, why bother with this <i>-ly</i> business? Even the most advanced English learners struggle with adverbs and I presume because it's so hard to remember to tack on that <i>-ly</i> where appropriate, particularly when dealing with complex words like precipitately or thwartedly.
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<b>8. What means ________?</b>
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You get this question every few lessons. But beware! Get used to hearing it and sooner or later you'll start saying it yourself. In German, <i>Was heißt ________?</i> is used to ask someone what a word means. German speakers forget, however, that they need the helping verb <i>do</i> in order to form a question in English. <strike>What means 'awkward?'</strike> ✓What DOES 'awkward' mean?
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<b>7. <i>Fahren</i> (to drive)</b>
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Germans, as efficient and practical as they are, need only one verb, <i>fahren</i>, to describe a million types of movement. In German, you can drive not only a car but also a boat, a train, a bike, a skateboard, a pair of skiis - you name it. Student: "I'm driving to Dresden next week." Me: "How long does it take to get there from Braunschweig?" Student: "If my train is punctual, 3 hours." *facepalm*
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<b>6. Since / for</b>
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Here's where it gets sort of tricky. In German, one could say <i>Ich lebe in Kanada seit 8 Jahren</i>. One-to-one translation: I live in Canada since 8 years. Correct translation: I've lived in Canada <i>for</i> 8 years. Now do you get why it's so confusing for German speakers? To make matters worse, one could also say <i>Vor fünf Jahren war ich in Australien</i>. One-to-one translation: For five years was I in Australia. Correct translation: I was in Australia five years <i>ago</i>. Ago = <i>vor</i> and for = <i>seit</i>.
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<b>5. Do / make</b>
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Hey, all you English teachers out there teaching German speakers! Don't deny it. When you first heard a student say "I'm going to make party this weekend," you chuckled out loud. You had to wipe that smirk off your face when another student said they "made a BBQ" last week, didn't you? As long as you correct them every time they <i>do</i> a mistake, I guess you're forgiven.
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<b>4. "in the near from"</b>
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This particular mistake had to battle it out with 2nd and 3rd place because it's a phrase I hear not once, not twice, but five times a day. In German, <i>in der nähe von</i> is an expression commonly used to describe how close a place is to another place. That's why German speakers cannot shake the habit of directly translating and saying something like "I live in the near from Berlin." Grr.
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<b>3. "We see us..."</b>
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Every time the lesson comes to an end and I'm saying bye to my students, someone blurts this out. Someone'll say, "We see us next week!" nanoseconds before I slyly sneak in an "each other" and give them a look that says you should know this by now. In German, <i>wir</i> and <i>uns</i> are allowed in the same sentence. In English, <i>we</i> and <i>us</i> are like oil and water; in the same sentence, they repel each other.
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<b>2. Person / people</b>
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I feel like English teachers in German elementary schools weren't/aren't doing their jobs properly because this is the one mistake Germans have ingrained in them that for the life of me cannot be undone. 1 = person. 1+ = people. The word persons may occasionally be seen on signs in elevators (e.g. Max 9 Persons) but it is not used in everyday spoken English. Germans likely think that since <i>Personen</i> is plural in German, persons must be the correct translation. But what about the word <i>Leute</i>?
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<b>1. Clo-<i>thes</i></b>
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Forget squirrel or Porsche or WiFi. Clothes is the #1 English word that German speakers mispronounce. My theory is this: in German, every letter is pronounced the way it looks. Silent letters don't exist. What you see is what you get. This could be why Germans pronounce clothes as two syllables instead of one. The bf has another theory. He says Germans think that cloth is the singular form of clothes, hence the need to create a second syllable and say clo-<i>thes</i>. Beats me.
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-32132788350021892492014-07-29T22:18:00.000+02:002014-07-29T22:30:21.402+02:00Almost German / Not Quite German<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In light of Germany winning the World Cup earlier this month, a question came up that I couldn't help but ponder. The big win left me questioning how German I've really become, in addition to now being a lover of football. Living in Germany has undeniably changed certain aspects about myself, some I hadn't even realized until I gave it a good think.<br />
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<u>5 Signs That I'm Almost German</u>
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<li>I’m not particularly proud of admitting this, but, I eat <i>Wurst</i> almost every day. Now I know what you’re thinking and no, I don’t each sausages every day. But <i>Wurst</i> is also the name given to sliced meat and my lunch almost always consists of a sandwich containing <i>Käse, Gurken, Tomaten</i> and <i>Wurst</i>. Hey, at least I’m not a slave to canteen food like all of my students are. The canteen at the company where I work, by the way, serves <i>Currywurst</i> every day.</li>
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<li>I value ventilation like I’ve never valued it before. When in doubt, open up a window. You’ll automatically feel better. Not only does it remove the lingering smell of cheap cologne worn by businessmen in the office, it also helps to remove the feeling of stuffiness in your flat. I know this because I learned it from the Germans, a people obsessed with ventilation and who throw open their windows (albeit briefly) even in the wintertime!</li>
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<li>I’ve thrown all notions of prudishness out the window. Let’s face it: North Americans are prude. Period. Especially in the eyes of Germans, who are comfortable with nudity and actually open about sex. I feel like I grew up in a completely opposite society and culture, and almost feel liberated now that I live in Germany. Case in point: in the change rooms at my gym, women of all shapes and sizes change and shower with brazen confidence. They don’t bother trying to cover themselves up with towels or what have you. I’ve even seen women have full-on conversations with each other in the nude!</li>
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<li>I ride my bike in spring, summer, autumn and oh yes, even in winter. Expertly too. Nobody thinks I’m crazy for biking in rain or snow because everyone does it. The Germans say <i>Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur falsche Kleidung</i>. In other words, there’s no such thing as bad weather, but rather, inappropriate clothing. While I prefer to wear rain pants, a rain jacket and waterproof shoes, it’s typical to see people donning a poncho or holding an umbrella while riding in the rain.</li>
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<li>When Skyping or FTing with friends and family back home, I have to resist the urge to start off by saying <i>naaaaaa</i> and inserting German words such as <i>doch</i> or <i>egal</i> throughout the conversation, for they’d likely respond with a clueless ‘huh?’ The thing is, there are so many German words that I wish we could adopt in English. The reason why I admittedly enjoy peppering my English with German words is simply because these words fit so well in context yet do not have direct English translations or, when translated, don't express what I'm trying to say as fittingly.</li>
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So there you have it. I'm probably, say, 25% German? Am I therefore a mere 75% Canadian? However which way you want to break it down, there are definitely qualities about me that aren't German-like.
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<u>10 Signs That I'm Not Quite German
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<li>I can’t say I love making small talk but I definitely don’t mind it when the person I’m talking to gives me something to work with. Conversely, Germans hate it. What we believe is essential for networking and for building good relationships, they think is a waste of time. The problem is Germans think that when English speakers make small talk, it’s superficial. It’s hard for them to comprehend that asking someone “How are you?” isn’t necessarily meant to inquire about one’s life in detail. This is because in German, <i>Wie geht’s Dir?</i> is indeed meant to sincerely inquire about one’s (oftentimes personal) life and normally only asked by close friends and family.</li>
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<li>I don’t care if people choose not to follow rules and regulations and I most definitely will not wag my finger nor scream at a jay-walker. Germany is a land of rule and regulation abiders, which is fine by me. But we do live in a free society, no? If someone chooses to jay-walk, that’s his or her decision and I’m not wasting energy or my emotions on denouncing that person.</li>
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<li>I’ll never learn to be as direct as Germans are. Countless times I’ve experienced (mostly old) people scream at me for things like biking too close to the sidewalk and I find it utterly tasteless. Germans have no shame giving you a piece of their mind, whether you’re a stranger to them or not. In the business world, assertiveness is also the name of the game. Some of my students feel uncomfortable saying “could, would or should” because they think these words express uncertainty. When translated into German, these words communicate indecisiveness and therefore weakness. While they're polite to use in English, in German they're not explicit enough.</li>
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<li>Germans are generally wary when it comes to data protection and privacy but unlike them, I don't feel compelled to change my name to Sh Elley on Facebook. I don't blame them, what with the spying going on and all. No one seems worried about their own cell phones being tapped though.</li>
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<li>Döner will never be my go-to fast food meal. I rarely even eat fast food, let alone döner. Nevertheless, I get why it’s so popular. It’s relatively affordable, a <i>Dönerbude</i> is never more than a hop, skip, and a jump away and it's filling. But it leaves this nauseating smell on your hands that doesn’t go away for days. No, you cannot eat Döner with a knife and fork.</li>
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<li>I haven’t been to Mallorca, which the Germans themselves have deemed their “17th province.” It’s such a popular holiday destination for Germans, you don’t have to worry about not being able to speak Spanish if you plan to go there - everyone speaks German. Although the thought of visiting Mallorca is tempting since it’s cheap to fly there from virtually any city in Germany, I’d like my next major trip to be a destination far different from Europe. China, perhaps?</li>
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<li>My 1s don’t look like 7s and I promise you, they never will. Germans were taught how to print certain numbers and letters in school differently from how I remember being taught. If you ever ask a German to write the number 1 on a piece a paper, there’s a 99% chance that instead of it looking like a lower-case l, it’ll consist of two lines, both of which touch the baseline and the cap height. It basically looks like a deformed 7. Ask a German to print out the whole alphabet for you and you’ll see that their letters have loopy qualities, similar to that of cursive.</li>
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<li>If I were able to have one warm meal per day, I’d prefer it to be dinner. Traditionally, German children got off school early enough in time for a late lunch at home where they’d usually have a warm meal. These days it's common for adults to enjoy a warm lunch as they either eat out with colleagues, or as I mentioned before, they eat in canteens. As a result it was and still is common to have <i>Abendbrot</i> (literally ‘evening bread’) in the evenings. To be fair though, due to changes in lifestyle, instead of just bread with sliced meat and/or cheese, nowadays more and more families are having warm meals for dinner as well.</li>
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<li>I don’t believe qualifications are the keys to success and that the more education and experience you have, the more successful you will be. This is very typical German thinking. Germans jeer at the idea of ‘rags to riches’ as being only possible in <i>Amerika</i> (aka the US). They’re super structured people so it’s hard for them to wrap their head around getting to the top without taking the qualified route. They don’t like taking risks and that’s why entrepreneurialism isn’t prevalent in cities that aren’t Berlin. In my opinion, the average, middle-sized German city lacks restaurants and shops that are truly daring in concept because no one is brave enough to open one up.</li>
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<li>Saved for last because it hits home the most, I can never be a true German because I know how to queue. A simple concept but one that has bestowed upon me many aggravating experiences. You may already be aware of such horror stories in German supermarkets where a new cashier opens up and everyone in the original queue tramples over one another to be first in line in the new queue. There exists zero courtesy in these instances. Sheer malarky! I see this all the time and it never ceases to make my blood boil. C'mon, Germans! Look to the Japanese and Canadians as good examples: apparently they're the world's best queuers.</li>
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I've proved that although Germany has moulded me in some ways, much to my sister's relief, I am and I'll always be Canadian. I sometimes wonder how I'd have turned out if I hadn't moved here. Would I still be prudish? Would I have learned how to bike in the snow? Would I have even bothered to learn a second language? I don't think so. And that's why I find the idea of living abroad so fascinating. Without even realizing it, you're influenced by the culture you're surrounded by. This is precisely why I think travelling is so important for one's growth, and also why I think being an expat is so <i>verdammte</i> fulfilling.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" /></div>Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-2679606813782379782014-07-16T09:29:00.000+02:002014-07-16T09:33:40.917+02:00World Cup 2014: Celebrations in Braunschweig, Germany Although the city in which we live isn't a Berlin, a Hamburg or a Munich, it was still good fun seeing and being a part of all the craziness that went down last Sunday. To think that simultaneously, every city in Germany was partying as hard as Braunschweig - if not harder - is beyond comprehension. As soon as <i>Die Mannschaft</i> got their hands on the cup, everyone took to the streets and it only started to really pick up as we were leaving, around 2am (CEST).
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Honestly speaking, I'll always be Canadian deep down. But this one night was the only time I've ever felt pangs of Germanness. Nobody questioned why I was madly flailing my arms and constantly bellowing "WOOOOOOOOOOO" at all the passersby while circling the city centre in a scooter. On this night, it was perfectly acceptable for me to be one of them.
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Donned and waved in every which way last Sunday, the German flag was an essential accessory to have at the celebrations. I lamented the fact that I was ill-prepared and didn't have one <i>dabei</i>, but <i>egal</i>. Ole. Ole. Ole, Ole, Ole! Supa Deutschland! Supa Deutschland! Supa Deutschland, Ole Oleeeeeeee. >>
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...and then fireworks happened. I think it's important to note that fireworks are technically illegal to set off in Germany other than on New Year's Eve. But the <i>Polizei</i> happily tolerated it this night. *honks horn*
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Since it's been a few days since the big win, I've been asking my students whether they think anything will be different from now on. Most of them have simply laughed at the question. They see no reason why everyone wouldn't go back to the way it was before. They recognize that Germans are a modest people and that being patriotic in one's country is something really only reserved for football tournaments. They admit that nationalism will remain a sensitive topic for them. In the meantime, however, I've still been seeing German flags on cars and hanging from balconies, so perhaps there's hope for it yet.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-68184777085587749172014-07-11T17:00:00.001+02:002014-07-16T09:02:29.394+02:00World Cup 2014: Why I Want Germany to Win<img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/14441144617_fcae8ee065_z.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt=""></a>
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I used to hate soccer. Excuse me, I meant to say football. Nobody says soccer here (soccer/football is <i>fußball</i> in German) so neither will I.
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I blame the World Cup for changing my attitude towards the sport I was never good at. It’s simply impossible not to get caught up in all the hoopla here, especially since football is so much more than a sport in Germany. One need only attend a <i>Public Viewing</i> to experience the indescribable energy and passion these football fans have. At the moment, not one of my students hasn’t been keeping up with Germany’s progress in the World Cup. Football is to Germany what hockey is to Canada: respectively, the two are inseparable. Football is very much ingrained in German culture.
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I remember when Italy won the World Cup back in 2006. I was living in Woodbridge at the time so you can only imagine how crazy it was. Last weekend I Skyped with an old friend of mine who still lives in the GTA, and his insight on World Cup fever this year back home was on point. He said to me, “Everybody over here is suddenly Brazilian or Argentinien or Dutch right now.” I don’t doubt it. Eight years ago during the World Cup, everyone in Woodbridge was suddenly Italian even though on any other day they would have deemed themselves Canadian or Canadian-Italian at best. Do Canadians do this because we don’t have a national football team that's good enough to compete in the World Cup? Whatever the reason is, I find it amusing.
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In Germany, it’s a different story. On an international level, Germany's national football team has always been a strong competitor. Germany also isn’t currently what I’d consider an immigrant country. Deciding what country to root for in the World Cup isn't a difficult decision for Germans to make.
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What I believe it comes down to is this: Germans feel comfortable expressing pride in their country particularly every four years. Patriotism is a touchy topic in Germany. This isn't the US; it's awkward and inappropriate for someone to hang a German flag on their porch unless it's World Cup time. As absurd as this may sound to a Canadian, Germans generally have a hard time showing pride in being German.
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But I'm hopeful that things will change in this country. It already has. The younger generations these days feel less and less of a connection with the hardships of WWII, and rightly so. In an ideal world, Germans wouldn't be afraid of showing pride in their culture/nationality all year round. For one, everybody knows they have the strongest economy in Europe right now. Furthermore, speaking from experience a decent standard of living can be had here, even for the average citizen like myself. So what's not to be proud of?
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Perhaps the reason why I've been bitten by the World Cup bug only now is because I can't resist wanting to be a part of it all. On Sunday night, the World Cup <i>Finale</i> takes place and even if Argentina deserves it just as much as Germany does, I'll be rooting for the latter. It's incredible that through sport, Germans can come together and forget about their past even if it's only for a few weeks. I just wish they were able to do that without relying on football. Call me selfish for wanting Germany to win, but all I'd really like to experience is the epitome of what German unity and national pride looks like.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-70938705080758593202014-07-01T23:37:00.001+02:002014-07-02T00:03:54.784+02:00Schrebergärten: Allotment Gardens in Germany<img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2925/14491135425_acee13128b_z.jpg" width="600" height="468" alt="Untitled">
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Until I came to Germany, the concept of Schrebergärten (allotment gardens) was unfamiliar to me. Could I be blamed? I grew up in the suburbs of a big city in North America. Every cookie-cutter house in my neighbourhood came equipped with a front yard and a backyard. Roughly one out of every three backyards on my street kept a modest garden of fruits and veggies and/or flowers. If you lived in an apartment, however, you reluctantly threw the notion of having a garden out the window.
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Nowadays, most of the housing in average-sized German cities (i.e. not Berlin) consist of apartment blocks. We’re not talking buildings up to 30 storeys high, by the way. The tallest buildings that I’ve seen in Braunschweig are maximum 7 storeys high, if that. These apartments are occupied by people from all walks of life. Families prefer to live in apartments just as much as they prefer to live in houses in the suburbs. This isn’t Canada; not every German dreams of owning a house with a white picket fence and two cars parked on the driveway. <i>Gott sei Dank</i> for that.
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The point I’m getting to is that because living in an apartment in Germany (or anywhere, for that matter) isn’t conducive to having one’s own garden, the Germans invented Schrebergärten so that city dwellers could have their own piece of nature just a stone’s throw away from home. Brilliant, no?
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I’m pulling your leg. That actually isn’t the reason why Schrebergärten were invented. In a nutshell, these allotment gardens date back to a period of industrialization in Europe, a time when food security and survival were daily concerns. Sometime in the 19th century, a clever man named Dr. Schreber believed that children deserved a healthy environment in which to play. It was then that the concept of allotment gardens was born.
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A typical German Schrebergarten today is pristine, well-maintained and photogenic. They have to be. There are strict German laws that forbid you from growing your grass too long! Kidding. But it is true that if you have a Schrebergarten you have to keep it in tiptop shape. And you cannot live there, as it’s not to be used for residential purposes.
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Practically in my “backyard,” a large plot of land devoted to Schrebergärten exists just 5 minutes away from my home. It only takes me about 15 minutes to bike into the city so one can suppose these Schrebergärten aren’t too terribly far from where their tenants live. Hop on the Deutsche Bahn and no matter how short your journey is, there’s a good chance you’ll spot at least a few Schrebergärten while riding the German rails.
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I took this photo while biking through my ‘hood a few weeks ago. If I cycle past the same allotment gardens this Friday and the weather’s nice, I’ll probably see families watching the football game outside. Germany’s playing France that day. It’s also World Cup 2014. #NBD
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Those who don’t give a hoot about football may be barbecuing in their Schrebergärten on that day. Why? Because that's what Germans like to do. They like flocking to their Schrebergärten during the warm summer months so they can <i>grill</i> (aka barbecue) and have some beers with friends, do the gardening or simply lounge in the sun. Having a Schrebergarten is the cheaper alternative to having a house! Interested? It may be a while for those of you with green thumbs. Two words: waiting lists.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-2919579297489107212014-06-16T15:36:00.000+02:002014-06-16T15:36:34.545+02:00The one thing no expat/bookworm should live without <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Believe it or not, I was once a technology hater.
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I was anti-eReader, to be exact. I scoffed at the preposterousness of a "pageless" book. If I still lived in Canada, I'd have the same opinion today. But if you, too, are a native English-speaking bookworm living in a country where English isn't the first language, your opinion will change. You start to miss not being able to browse through a vast array of glossy new bestsellers at the local book store. After a while, that one measly shelf devoted to English novels just doesn't suffice. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading the latest issues of Jamie Oliver's magazine in German. But sadly, neither a German nor an English version of Saveur (or Monocle or Bon Appetit, for that matter) can be found in any of the book stores here.
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Good news: there is a bright side. Nowadays I can conveniently find almost every book I'm in search of on my eReader, which happens to be a Kindle Paperwhite. What's more, e-books are usually less expensive than their paperback counterparts. Bad news: most of the aforementioned magazines aren't offered on the Kindle Paperwhite. But on to more advantages... in theory, thousands of books can be stored on this sleek, light, portable device. No more lugging around 3-4 books in <i>my</i> backpack on vacay!
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Even in daily life, the eReader is anything but cumbersome to carry around. Just like my wallet, cell phone and Swiss Army knife, I never go anywhere without it. The reason is not because I'm always in the mood to read, but because as a freelance English teacher, you're bound to have no-shows every now and then. What to do with one's time when a lesson is cancelled on super short notice? Whip out one's eReader, of course! Would-be 90 minute holes in my schedule become opportunities to immerse myself in the world of words, which is never a waste of time.
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Now I know what you're thinking. What about the joy of reading back covers and being enticed to purchase books with convincing blurbs? If you are one to spontaneously purchase books based on their blurbs, I'd find it hard to believe you've never been disappointed before. In contrast, the chances of this happening with a Kindle are slim. If an e-book interests you, you may download a free sample of it (usually the first 1-2 chapters) prior to purchasing it. So far, this feature has meant that I've never been able to put down any of the e-books I've bought. And to think that I'd always incurred charges on overdue library books that I hadn't even read! Let's just say that since I've had my Kindle, there's been no need to renew my membership at the Stadtbibliothek.
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Obvious fact: I am pro-eReader. That's not to say that I don't read classic paperbacks anymore. I often borrow novels from friends and admittedly revel in the feeling of being able to flip actual pages. Truly, the printed page has not died. Yet, that is.
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Aside from their physical differences, there really is just one defining feature between the paperback and the Kindle that I believe puts the latter on a pedestal. Every Kindle comes equipped with a built-in dictionary. Whilst reading, one need only select a word (i.e. touch the word on the screen) before being instantaneously given its definition. Gone are the days of underlining unfamiliar words in pencil, sticking Post-its on the page and vowing to look up the words later (which, let's face it, you never did). The e-Reader has changed the way we read, my friends. There's no looking back from here.
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Let's not get carried away, though. The Kindle is not without its disadvantages. I should be allowed to share my e-books with other fellow Kindle users. Despite all the websites and forums stating how one goes about doing this, I've deemed this impossible presumably because my Kindle is signed up with an amazon.de account. Furthermore, the Kindle's responsiveness to the finger's touch could be much faster than it is. Whenever I touch the screen, it feels like there's a nano second delay before the screen realizes that I've touched it. Hardly comparable to the speed of today's latest Smartphones.
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Without a doubt, there are kinks the Kindle needs to work out. Still, as an expat abroad and avid reader of English books, it's become a product I cannot live without. I've chosen to live in Germany; I've accepted the fact that I have to find alternative ways of quenching my thirst for the things I took advantage of being surrounded by before (namely, books in English). Ordering books online would've been another alternative to buying a Kindle, but since I plan to move to another country next year, what would be the point of accumulating more <i>stuff</i>? It seems to me the Kindle is the perfect companion for every late cancellation sufferer/expat/bookworm/traveller out there. Naysayers may comment below.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" /></div>Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-29988770934313015782014-05-18T18:44:00.000+02:002014-05-18T18:48:01.702+02:00Manchester 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'd been to England once before. Back in 2010, I spent eight hours frantically running around London on a stopover flying home to Toronto from Mumbai. This time around, with the lovely Ali Wilson as hostess, I had my first glimpse of a "big" city in England. And what I really enjoyed the most was experiencing the city from less of a tourist's point of view. After all, who knows where I'll end up in 2 years? (sly face)
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The fun-filled weekend began when Ali made us bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches for brekky on Saturday morning. But before that we did a big grocery shop at <a href="http://www.tesco.com/" target="_blank">Tesco</a> which was pretty much the English version of Germany's <a href="http://www.real.de/" target="_blank">real</a> and Canada's <a href="http://www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca/LCLOnline/home.jsp" target="_blank">Real Canadian Superstore</a>. I could've stayed in that supermarket for hours gawking at all the goods we can't get in Germany, *sigh. Oh, the endless array of cider, cheddar, peanut butter and biscuits to choose from! Note to self: Find out what Banoffee Cake is.
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What patriotism!! ^^
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" /></div>Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-36252509099414630152014-04-20T17:35:00.000+02:002014-04-20T17:35:32.314+02:00Osterfeuer (Easter Fire) 2014 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shelleypascual/13926604571" title="Osterfeuer2 by Shelley Pascual, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/13926604571_2c248a4f0f_z.jpg" width="600" height="376.5" alt="Osterfeuer2"></a>
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First and foremost, HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!
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The epic Easter egg hunt goes down tomorrow, so today I'm sharing with you all a tradition typically celebrated at nightfall on Easter Saturday here in Germany. While biking through the countryside yesterday (about 10km west of Braunschweig), I'd noticed huge billowing wisps of smoke in the air, and not just one, but several. After deciding to investigate the one producing the most amount of smoke, I found out what an Osterfeuer was.
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Since I spent last Easter back home, I'd never really heard about nor experienced this tradition. Turns out it's celebrated for several reasons. Going way back to pre-Christian times, it symbolizes the act of leaving winter behind. For the Church, the light symbolizes Christ himself. But honestly now, isn't it just a reason for friends and families to get together over some good food and drink before the holiest day of the year? See the clusters of people in the photo above? Yeah all those peeps are lining up in front of a beer/currywurst truck. Mo' fyyyyaaaaaa.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-49188797986523579602014-04-15T19:53:00.000+02:002014-04-15T19:53:54.232+02:00Eiermarkt (Easter Egg Market) Braunschweig 2014 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shelleypascual/13875860883" title="IMG_3699 by Shelley Pascual, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/13875860883_e8c4f36651_z.jpg" width="600" height="446" alt="IMG_3699"></a>
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I don't know about you but I personally had never heard of an Egg Market before finding out we were gonna have one in town not one week ago. Gotta love all o' Germany's little surprises. The market itself was held in a cloister, which felt odd because didn't Jesus kick out a bunch o' people who were selling things in a church way back in the day? Nevertheless, the place was hustlin' and bustlin' so I took as many pics as I could before having to hurriedly leave for a breath of fresh air.
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While I find the idea lovely and I truly admire the meticulous handiwork that goes into these eggs, I didn't feel the need to buy any. Why buy when you can make 'em yourself? [insert flashback of having a jolly ol' time hand-painting Easter eggs back in Mrs. Jung's grade 1 class] HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-76484975069361305352014-04-14T19:09:00.000+02:002014-04-15T19:10:49.922+02:00The Alps / Munich 2014<object width="600" height="450"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157643426658083%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157643426658083%2F&set_id=72157643426658083&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="https://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=143270"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=143270" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157643426658083%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157643426658083%2F&set_id=72157643426658083&jump_to=" width="600" height="450"></embed></object>
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5 days.
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Braunschweig --> Munich.
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Crashed at a fellow Canadian's place (the hospitable Kelsey Kappel).
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Visited my first concentration camp in Germany (Dachau).
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Munich --> Füssen --> Hopfen-Am-See
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Stayed in a lovely apartment overlooking a lake for 3 days.
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Went on nearby day-trips (i.e. Neuschwanstein bka the 'Disney Castle').
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Took a cable car up to Zugspitze (the highest point in Germany).
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Remained speechless for a few hours.
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Ate traditional Bavarian food that wasn't über salzig!
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Enjoyed daily highs of 20 Degrees.
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Spotted onion-topped churches.
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Fell in love with the Bavarian countryside.
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Rushed back to Braun Town.
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Urlaub zu Ende.
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<img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" height="6" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-353900022994305972014-03-06T13:05:00.000+01:002014-03-06T13:05:07.469+01:00Quedlinburg 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There's this picturesque lil town about an hour away from us and I can't believe I hadn't heard about it earlier! We visited quaint ol' Quedlinburg just last Sunday and I was impressed to say the least. The Castle and the Old Town are deemed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Not to mention, Quedlinburg has more <i>Fachwerk</i> or "timbered buildings" than any other town or city I've visited in DE thus far. Most of these buildings have been restored, but it's amazing how they're essentially hundreds of years old! I love living amongst so much history!
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-13729274865253553922014-03-05T12:50:00.000+01:002014-03-06T13:03:30.538+01:00Kiel 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's true what they say: Kiel isn't the most beautiful city you'll ever see. Nevertheless I had a wicked time there! I spent a weekend in Kiel last month and had a grand ol' time biking up the Kieler Fjord and along the North Sea-Baltic Sea Canal. 43km round-trip ya'll! And it was a windyass day too!! 'Course I also had to eat as the Kieler do and stuff my face with seafood and Fisch im Brötchen. Without a doubt do I plan to visit Kiel again during <a href="https://www.kieler-woche.de/" target="_blank">Kieler Woche</a> this summer.
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-35467613102664414532014-02-10T19:24:00.001+01:002014-03-06T13:05:23.913+01:00Dresden 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been a minute, ya'll. Time has been flyyyyying by. Since I last wrote, I've been working like crazy and to keep sane, I've needed to make weekend getaways here and there. Hence, not having enough time to write bloggie posts. I spent a very cold weekend in Dresden last month, and it was zooper! Among my favourite sights: the oldest porcelain artwork in the world (a 102m long yellow mural called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BCrstenzug" target="_blank">Fürstenweg</a>), as well as <a href="http://www.kunsthof-dresden.de/" target="_blank">Kunsthof</a> in Dresden Neustadt (an artsy courtyard that has FUN written all over it). </div>
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And this weekend I'm off to Kiel. Helloooooo, Baltic Sea! Next month I'm off to Leipzig, juhu! It's true that I've come to live for the weekends but what can you do. It won't be forever. Let's just say big things are about to happen. Plans are being concocted as we speak! It's about cot damn time I started focusing even more on what I need to do to pursue the career I really want to pursue. As sissy put it, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23upandup&src=typd" target="_blank">#upandup</a>!
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-40233751786214416722013-12-19T21:12:00.002+01:002013-12-19T21:24:30.346+01:00OMG, I'm in an English-speaking country!Surprise, I'm home! Just for the hols though and not even for Silvester. Phooey. And what did I do as soon as I landed? I indubitably got myself a Tim Horton's coffee. French Vanilla to be precise. The morning after I landed, I indulged in this luscious bowl of steaming hot oatmeal topped with maple syrup and berries. It's so damn good to be home, man. Don't get it twisted though: I've missed my mom's homemade cookin' more than I've missed Timmie's. #keepinitreal
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Whenever I fly back into Toronto, I'm always overcome with a strange yet familiar sensation. I mean I'll always consider Tdot "home" but when you're gone for such long periods of time, you just can't help but look at the city differently whenever you visit again. As much as I love my city, I can't picture myself living here in the next while (if ever). The reason being that there's too much of the world I still need to see! Plain and simple as that.
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I don't know if anyone can relate to what I'm about to say... but I'll divulge anyway. I've lived in Germany for almost two years now and I have English-speaking friends in BS but all of that ain't nothin' compared to being surrounded by English 24/7. I'm so used to being surrounded by German, I was thrown off-kilter upon arriving at YYZ. Suddenly, I was forced to switch to English with the snap of a finger. I didn't panic but it felt strange at first.
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Above all, I consider it a treat to be able to freely communicate with everyone around me (even if it's only for another 1.5 weeks). Not that my German's bad at all, but of course one communicates best in his or her native tongue. I'll cherish the brief time I'll have in my home and native land because I can speak a level of English I'm not used to speaking. This observation is not meant to offend because it's the truth. In light of all this, I've come to realize that there are so many nuances, idioms, phrasal verbs, etc in the English language. How refreshing it is to be able to hear/use these words and phrases again without getting a befuddled look from someone!!!!!!!!
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-91698427666678464572013-12-03T21:42:00.002+01:002013-12-03T21:42:49.934+01:00[Night] Bremen Christmas Market 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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While it's true that most Germans don't go Christmas-lights crazy decorating their homes in an over-the-top fashion during the holiday season, they do enjoy the typical things your average Canadian enjoys. They put up Christmas trees in their homes, they like Advent calendars and of course Advent wreathes and candles as well. So it isn't surprising that they, too, like to bedazzle their cities with Christmas lights.
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PS. Don't know what Feuerzangenbowle is? Directly translated, it is red wine punch (containing rum which has been set alight). It's a sweet yet robust drink and it goes down in history o'er here. There's even a movie called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Feuerzangenbowle" target="_blank">Feuerzangenbowle</a>, which was filmed in 1944. What's more, it's a staple at any Christmas Market in Germany, and likely cannot be found at the <a href="http://www.torontochristmasmarket.com/" target="_blank">Toronto Christmas Market</a>. Ha!
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-11945922147401543482013-12-02T21:07:00.000+01:002013-12-03T21:20:41.272+01:00[Day] Bremen Christmas Market 2013<img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/11194109234_3d98620487_b.jpg" width="604" height="819.2" alt="">
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It's Christmas Market time, babbbbbyyyyyyy! Let the rounds of Glühwein begin!!!
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We got outta town last weekend just to see a lil somethin' different. Since Bremen's only a 2-hour train ride away, we thought, <i>why the h-e-double-hockey-sticks not</i>?! I was under the impression that Bremen was about the same size as BS, but it's actually more than double BS's size! An interesting glimpse of the city 'twas indeed, but I'll have to visit again in the summertime to find out what's reallllllyyyy good.
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<img alt="" height="6" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-9828547028271215942013-11-17T10:08:00.000+01:002013-11-17T10:08:38.867+01:00Beet Salad Recipe<img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/10899799026_ce4e1a50b1_z.jpg" width="600" height="370.5" alt="beet_salad">
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I've realized that I haven't been sharing many of my recipes lately, even though I try out new ones all the time. Only about 1/4 of them manage to wow me though, and perhaps that's the reason why. Here's a salad I whipped up recently that I was really happy with.
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First, I prepared the bulgar according to the directions on the package. Then, I cut up some cucumbers, red & green peppers, tomatoes, red onions and some parsley and mixed 'em all in with the bulgar. Next, I cut up some creamy cheese that I found from the local Turkish supermarket and added them to the mix. A little olive oil, lemon juice and salt & pepper are all that you need to season the dish. I topped off the salad with chopped, cooked beets at the very end just so the entire salad wouldn't turn red. Serve chilled for a light & lovely meal, enjoyable even in the chilly autumn-winter months.
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<img alt="" height="6" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-59881755210018325282013-11-02T13:35:00.000+01:002013-11-02T13:41:28.273+01:00Munich 2013<object width="600" height="450"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157637218187276%2Fshow%2Fwith%2F10624410954%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157637218187276%2Fwith%2F10624410954%2F&set_id=72157637218187276&jump_to=10624410954"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=124984"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=124984" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157637218187276%2Fshow%2Fwith%2F10624410954%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fshelleypascual%2Fsets%2F72157637218187276%2Fwith%2F10624410954%2F&set_id=72157637218187276&jump_to=10624410954" width="600" height="450"></embed></object>
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19th Oct 2013 // Just a day-long traipse around München with the ladies... much love to June for hostin'!
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<img alt="" height="6" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4495997128_3d11e67622_b.jpg" width="768" />Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881285827716612164.post-83477462957023417142013-10-27T11:22:00.001+01:002013-10-27T11:27:51.358+01:00Dear Bondz: Goldener Oktober + Litfaßsäule <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sing it, sis!!!
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All these numbnuts pretend to be art fans because it is indeed cool to be "cultured" like S. Carter and KanYeezy. How many nicknames does Mr. West have, btw?! (Fine) Art = Lucrativeness. It's just the way the cookie crumbles.
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Atm, it ain't cold here at all! Over the past two weeks, we've had temps as high as 21° during the day! The Germans call it a <em>Goldener Oktober</em> (i.e. Indian Summer) and I ain't complaining. Last weekend the girls and I drove down to Bavaria and I could've left my <em>Lederjacke</em> at home. We spent a day gallivanting around Munich and I had a grand ol' time. The South is really different from the North, y'see. The culture's different (people are friendlier in the South) and the accents are different (although everyone speaks Deutsch, Germans from the North claim not to be able to understand their counterparts in the South, and vice versa). The leaves have surely fallen from all the trees o'er there, no?
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While in Munich, I took the opportunity to document my current obsession. We call 'em <em>Litfaßsäule</em> and they are - I kid you not - errywhere to be found in Germany. At the end of the day, they're just advertising columns. Or are they? I find it hard not to love everything about them: there's an urban-y sidewalk structure-y feel to them, they're eye-catchy (I always find myself peeking at the ads posted on 'em), they're not billboards (i.e. flat as hell), and best of all, I'm pretty sure that they're nowhere to be found in North America. *sniggers mischievously*
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Just a likkle history for you: the first <em>Litfaßsäule</em> were installed in Berlin back in 1855. And luckily for me, it doesn't look like they're gonna go out of style anytime soon.
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What does advertising look like in Van City? Is it daring or drab???
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Halloween's in T minus 4 days. Why not dress up as a giant carrot? Hahahaha. <em>Biro lang</em>!!!
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[I've reposted this from my other blog, <a href="http://sisterspascual.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">sisterspascual.wordpress.com</a>]<br />
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Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864837599853817439noreply@blogger.com0