And one more thing...

I just referred to an earlier post that promised extensions on the following subjects:

• My trip to Nijmegen √ check
  
• The New Place √ check
  
• Das Große Kinder Lexikon
• The Death of my Trees
• New Arrivals
  
• Why Germans don't make Friends Easily and
• The Ridiculousness that is Currywurst

To tie up the loose ends:

Das Große Kinder Lexikon is a book that I recently purchased. It's an encyclopedia geared towards the 8-14 crowd. I bought it in hope of improving my German reading level (to that of an eight-year-old). I also bought it to learn more about Germany, thinking that the articles titled "Hauptstadt" (Capital) and "Denkmal" (Monument) would have interesting things pertaining to the country in which I'm studying... instead, I got an article about Washington D.C. and Mount Rushmore.

One of my Australian Chestnut trees died in the move... both of my pine trees died... and my English Ivy looks like it was ran over. My cactus and two remaining Chestnut trees are doing just fine though. (I realize this is all terribly boring... but you have to keep in mind that I've been jobless and school-less for the last two months... something that hasn't happened since I was five. I hardly know what to do with myself.)

As far as new arrivals go I'm of course referring to the new exchange students, many of which I've met. Another Iowan joins us while I remain the sole Nebraskan. Five more students from New York are here along with another student from Ohio. There also seem to be several students from Italy and Spain, a few from Hungary, a Finn, a Brazilian, a Swede, two Ottomans, and a girl from Mexico. I'm sure I'm missing a great deal of the group in my list, such as the girl from ? whose name no one seems to be able to agree on.

Under the heading, "Why Germans don't make friends easily," one need only to come to Germany to understand that statement. I think I was particularly frustrated with the culture at the time, but just so we're clear, I'll provide with the following example:
A few weeks ago I went to meet a friend of mine at a cafe/coffee shop that can only be described as "the norm." I came in, sat down, opened the menu, made a decision, and proceeded to flag down the waiter who was all but a table away and slightly staring. When I attempted to give him my order he instructed me to go to the counter and order there. (It's now the appropriate time to note that I'd been to this cafe at least four times previously, and although I've become quite accustomed to the poor customer service in Europe, knew damn well that waiters still took food orders.) Just the same, I went the counter and ordered from the barista who very matter of factly told me to go sit down and order from the waiter. Shortly after Laila arrived and I explained what had just happened. She then approached the counter and received nearly the same treatment. The only difference being that the barista first laughed at her before telling Laila to go sit down.
On a side cultural note, Germans are also horrible Que'ers. They couldn't form a line if paid to do so. A trip to the bakery or the grocery store should be viewed as an event where elbow pads are not only suggested, but necessary. I've seen respectable looking women cut in front of and nudge each other for the chance to order their chosen loaf or pastry before the other.
Ok... I'm done ranting...

Ahhh... finally, the ridiculousness that is currywurst. This is again more of a cultural comment, but an amusing one rather than a critical one. For those of you who've traveled to Germany, you know that currywurst stands are every bit as common as Starbucks and McDonalds. You then also know what currywurst is and have been equally as unimpressed as I and many others have been. Most Germans (and I've been told Berliners in particular) will tell you that currywurst is the best food ever invented and, "was created right here in (insert wherever it is the German who's telling you this is from)".
So what is currywurst then? Cut up chunks of hot dog drowned in ketchup with curry powder mixed in eaten on a tissue thin plate with an impossibly small platic fork which admittedly is at least half of the "currywurst experience." That's right, the food you ate when you were five is such a national treasure here that there's dispute as to who invented it, where and how.
*You can't see me right now, but I'm rolling my eyes.