Steffi’s Blog

In this entry I want to let the world know how a foreigner, an Englishman, deals with the difficulties awaiting him in Germany . Although it is already quite a while ago that Felix visited me here in Freiburg I want to write some lines on it since we had such a great time here together and somehow it is unbelievable how well he handled the situation.
The first thing I remember when I try to think back to that time is that fortunately, as well as surprisingly, we had quite a lot of snow in the time from 20th to the 29th of January (the time Felix was here). Every time I think about this I can barely hide a grin…you should have seen that. As if it was the first time in his life that he had seen this white beauty called snow…if I should have a guess I would say he was about 7-9 years old when he saw that it snowed !
Anyway, of course, his visit in Germany was not only about snow. I was really a bit nervous about him coming to Germany. I mean, of course, as you would expect, I was sooo happy and I so looked forward to that but on the other hand I wasn’t sure at all that he would like it here: Germany, German, Germans etc. and his knowledge of our language being rather, well…, tiny ! But now, almost a month later I have to say that I am proud that he managed it soo well and I am really happy about that fact since we had an amazing time (at least in my opinion and I hope it was the same for him).
Though what was quite funny was his shyness…usually he can manage to survive in every country of this big big world but here in Germany I had to order everything, I had to buy all the things he wanted to buy etc etc. Well, I can certainly understand this…I guess my knowledge of German is quite alright and I know it is a lot easier to let the other person do all the stuff (especially in his or her own country).
Tja, what did we do…I really wanted to show him a lot and wanted to make his stay here as good as possible…and we did do quite a lot (without getting stressed, of course). In a sum up we did the impossible: three countries in seven days…wow, that sounds almost like ‘Around the world in 80 days’ ! Okay okay, I have to admit that this includes Germany but other than Freiburg we went to Basel and to Strassbourg. However, of course, these trips were not only all easy and smooth. This was quite adventurous for me as well although I have been to both cities before but, I mean, both of them kind of speak a different language. In Basel I had to make a really weird experience. Although everybody always says that the Swiss speak German - believe me when I say: They do not!!
Okay, the story to this is quite funny. Since both of us are addicted to books we spent ages in different book shops. Well, I forgot my hat in the last of them (it was huuuuge). Luckily, I realised it soon after we had left the shop. So, we went back and searched for it. Apparently one of the cashiers found it already and took care of it. She came towards me and asked me in ‘German’ if I speak German - I said yes, I do. And I’m not kidding when I say that from this moment on I didn’t understand a single word of what she said to me although she spoke German with me - well, Swiss German. I had the big question mark in my face and simply nodded and said yes to everything she said ! I know, I know this must have looked sooo funny. Anyway, from now on (the latest) I will never say again that the Swiss people speak German…nope!
And did you ever try to speak different languages with different persons? From now on I will honour everyone who can manage to do this! It took me about 1.5 days and I mixed up the two languages, I so messed it up. I wanted to order a coffee for the two of us in a cafe in Basel and I ended up speaking English with the attendant and German with Felix and I guess I wasn’t the only one who was confused !
Ja, and then we went to Strassbourg as well. Tja, everybody who knows me will know that I don’t have the best relation with France…I can’t really name the reason for that, maybe I am ashamed that I was never able to get this beautiful language hammered into my head ! Anyway, brave as I am I went there anyway, I trusted in the French Felix said he knows. When we arrived there we realised that we chose a very bad day for the trip - a Sunday and everything was closed and the town was more or less empty and the weather was more or less horrible as well. Anyway, we wandered around for a good while and we even went inside the Münster!! This is a very striking thing because Felix is of the opinion: If you have seen one church you’ve seen all of them. In the end I was a bit pissed because I was hungry and and and but we still needed a French coffee and a croissant for Felix ! In the end we were so desperate and indecisive that we bought that stuff in the train station shortly before we went off to Freiburg again!
Well, at least this time Felix had his passport with him…unlike the time we went to Basel. Before he came to Germany he asked me whether he will need a visum for France or Switzerland - well, I guess he was joking…Anyway, he wanted to get a visum and then he forgot his passport when we went to Basel…but we managed to sneak through the passport control there !
The rest of the time we spent in Freiburg, one day we went on a long walk through Freiburg and I made him try as many different German beers as possible, we watched the Bundesliga in an Irish pub with some of my friends and Felix even met my brother who did a very good job regarding his English. The two guys did really get along with each other quite well.
Anyway, I probably forgot a lot of stuff we experienced together but since it is such a long time ago and I’m already counting the days until I will fly to Dublin (Sat 03/03/) I guess I just point out that there are some nice pictures in the gallery !
The last thing I want to say about the holidays: I would like to thank Fips for the great time I had with him here in Germany and I so hope that he will come back again soon!

Okay, what else is there to tell about life in Freiburg?! The weather here is just crazy: on some days we have almost 15 degrees Celsius and sun sun sun and then about 5 degrees, wind and rain. But unfortunately the weather is not really that important for me anyway since the only thing I do is: work, work, work - well, at least so it seems. Either I spent my days at work (the university hospital) or in university or at home in front of the books. Tomorrow will be the day of the days…I will officially start with my dissertation. From then on I will have four months to finish it !
Well, and finally, probably the most important thing at the moment is a very sad event: Last Saturday (24/02) our beloved dog Carry had to be put down. She was so dear to us and I guess it is appropriate to speak for the whole family when I say that we miss her a lot and that we hope that she will be alright wherever she may be now!

Hm, I guess that’s all for the moment but I hope I will find the time to write again soon! Until then take care everybody and be hugged!
Your Steffi