Here we Go

Heya,

First, congratulations Faye and Amber. Welcome to the `Motherland´(that one was for you, Corinna!)! Hopefully I´ll make it up to Berlin one of these weekends. I hear it´s not really that far of a journey.

I´ve started my first full week here at interculture.de. It´s still a little slow because the semester doesn´t start until next week, I think, so more of the people who work in the IWK department will be around more often then. I feel like the atmosphere won´t change that much, though. It´s one of those you-set-your-own-hours type of places, which is both a good and bad thing-kind of like classes!

I have been assigned one big project and have been trying to gather a bunch of information on it. It basically entails setting up a virtual-type classroom through videoconferencing and a whiteboard. In addition, I may have to translate some of the content from the main portal site of interculture from German to English so in the future, the site can be offered in both German and English. Also, James, the American master´s student in IWK has asked that if I have time, perhaps I could take a look at what he´s been working on. Everyone in the department is responsible for developing material on the particular region they are an expert in. I think most people are from the region/country they are responsible for with perhaps maybe one exception. Anyway, James, being an American, is responsible for American culture and asked if I could give him some feedback on what he has so far. Lastly, I have the freedom to develop anything else I want to. That is, I can work on other projects that I have an interest in. I emailed all of the people in IWK telling them a little bit about myself and that I if there are any projects which they need help with to email me back. Hopefully I will get to work on a non-technology related cultural education project, maybe dealing with Africa or Asia. Yeah...that would be swell.

I didn´t make it to Oktoberfest this past weekend. Most Germans I´ve talked to haven´t really been there, and based on their view of it I decided to see the city/region when there are less tourists there and it´s more in its natural state.

The leaves are starting to change color, although you wouldn´t guess it´s the beginning of Fall by how gorgeous the weather has been lately. I was told one of the most beautiful times in Jena is Fall because there are several trees that are plainly visible in the distance(because of the mountains), so in the Fall it´s supposed to be really amazing. I haven´t been to the tourist information center to get my own copy, but I´ve seen a map of all the hiking trails in and around the city. I would like to get a few hikes in before the cold starts to set in. Also, Marion said if she ever takes a weekend trip, to Bonn or someplace, that I could come along.

Other than that, I´m discovering what there is to do in the city. I spent a lot of the weekend walking around and finding different things-the few places open on Sunday here, a Sushi place(Will), and the German version of Aunt Carmella(I swear she had the same pursed-lip look and everything!). I also took some pictures, but I think it might be a little while before I post any. Oh! And this morning I saw an accident! Some biker tried to cross the street when his light was red, and took his sweet time doing it, and the car had to screech it´s breaks to a halt but couldn´t come to a full stop in time. Luckily, the car had slowed enough to wear the biker was just knocked over. I´m pretty sure neither the bike or person wear damaged, because after everyone asked their "are you okay"´s, everyone just went their separate ways. Just goes to show that if you´re going to break the law, you´d better do it damn fast!

Other than that all I have to say is that for those of you who might not have noticed, there is a place for you to post comments. They don´t have to be long or deep or anything. Perhaps if you just have a simple question like, "LB, do they have bratwurst in Thüringen?" And I´d say, "Yes, so and so, they do. As a matter of fact, the people in Thüringen claim theirs is the best bratwurst in Germany, and they are damn proud of it. At the bbq I went to, I was asked if I liked the bratwurst at least five times, and each time my answer was followed with the person telling me how Thüringen bratwurst can´t be beat." My only request is that you keep those posts clean(relatively), because I know how you guys are! Except, Sheena, you have my permission to tell poop jokes; and NO pirate jokes, Will!