American in Berlin

Study Trip Part II

We are on the road once again—traveling today from Munich to Stuttgart. I love traveling by bus! What better way to see the German countryside—the rolling hills, windmills in the distance, farmers’ fields and towns dotted with traditional red roofs? Billowing “Michigan” clouds fill the sky.

As we approached Ulm, I could see the cathedral standing tall in the distance. Memories of my first visit to Germany came flooding back. I can still remember the first time I saw the cathedral—as a 17 year old, on her first trip abroad, who would had no thought of living in Germany as a young adult. Had it not been for Ulm and Schleckers, what other turns would my life had taken? What an awesome adventure learning German has been!

Our stop in Munich was wonderful. Friday’s meetings included an information session at IFO, a tour of the Modern Pinakothek art museum and a modern ballet performance. I was planning to hate the ballet because it was “modern” (whatever that meant.) Instead, I LOVED IT! William Forsyth’s “Limb’s Theorem" combined computer generated music, large geometric shapes and flood lights that could be moved around the stage and a cast of 45 dancers who moved with a delicate yet purposeful fluidity. I am still thinking about how amazing the performance was!



Saturday was our free day. Since this was my third visit to Munich, I decided to steer clear of churches and castles and do a bit of exploring. Just by coincidence, I was at the Marienplatz at 11am and watched the Glockenspiel play. The moving characters are charming, though as a friend said to me, the song that plays sounds like “an out-of-tune 8th grade hand-bell choir.”



Next, I wandered over to the Viktualienmarkt, where the smell of spring flowers, fresh fruit, fresh baked bread and antipasti filled the air. The beer garden was filled (before noon) with soccer fans eager to watch the Cologne-Munich soccer game. I enjoyed the sites and then bought some bread and cheese and walked into the English Garden for lunch. The park was filled with people enjoying one of the first warm days of the year (though it was a bit too cold for the nudie patooties to be sunbathing.)


So now I am in Stuttgart—in Schwabia, which means I had cheese spaetzle for dinner. Our hotel is very close to DaimlerChrysler, where our first meeting is tomorrow. The hotel is a kick—the sound from the television plays in the bathroom and the pool/sauna is described as being “textile free.” Fun times:-)

the hotel information was written in Schwabisch, German, English and French! How cool! Is this German?

posted by Erin @ 3:44 PM