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Tag: Germany

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Greetings from Freiburg, Germany! After several weeks of writing about my “experience abroad” I am finally in Freiburg. I arrived late Monday night and stayed at the Kruezblume hotel, which is actually a small bed and breakfast located above a restaurant. I would highly recommend staying here as the manager really helped me with all 50 lbs of my luggage and extended breakfast for me as I am a severely late riser in the mornings. The following morning I checked into my program at the IES center (which fun fact: Uber does not work in Freiburg) after lugging my suitcases a little less than a mile down cobblestone streets. Once I met with the director of the program, I was immediately taken care of and sent to my apartment where I unpacked and immediately went to sleep. After traveling to 4 countries in the span of 2 weeks, I was exhausted and simply could not explore the city that night. Luckily my housing tutor invited myself and the other IES students in my building to dinner, so I had an incentive to leave my room.

Since Wednesday we have had several city tours and have gone through the basic orientation steps necessary to start the program such as completing a residence permit application and going through security precautions. Nothing too exciting or different from your typical freshman orientation week, which is a bit bizarre considering I am turning 22 in a few months and will be living on my own in a little over a year. I would describe this week as the typical freshman first week on campus reincarnated, but in a different country. On the other hand, one excursion that stood out was this Sunday - as in today - my program director took us snowshoeing on the Feldberg Mountain. Although I am quite outdoorsy and active, prior to today I had never been snowshoeing, so it was quite the experience. Basically snowshoeing allows you to hike in deep snow during the winter time by strapping your hiking boots into a snowshoe that maximizes your surface area, so you do not sink into the snow with every step. We hiked approximately 7 miles in a little less than 5 hours and were able to grab some hot soup on the mountain top. I must say that I am a pretty experienced and well versed hiker, but this hike made my Top 5 Favorite Hikes list easily. I would highly recommend if you were in Freiburg and had a spare day to spend. The conditions were perfect as it had just snowed the night prior and was not terribly cold. Tomorrow I have my second German class at the ungodly hour of 9:15, so I will be promptly going to bed soon as that hike completely exhausted me. Included is a picture of Feldberg Mountain! Til next week -

 

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By frenezeder

Greetings from Paris, France! The theme for this post is strictly divine food. While I am a pescatarian and dairy sensitive individual, I nearly threw every rule out of the book this week in France. I mean this is the home of Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, so I for sure was not going to miss out on all the dairy filled desserts.

This is the tale of two eclairs. Both were filled with a delicious milk chocolate cream and most likely severely over priced, but each was so incredibly different and one was clearly better than the other. The first was from the classic Laduree on the Champs de-Elysees, which is exactly how I imagine Bell’s feast in Beauty and the Beast. The inside is embellished with old school French white and turquoise crown molding with golden accents. This is definitely not the place to have a budget at, but absolutely phenomenal food. Paris is truly the city that never sleeps as we went to dinner at 9 pm and finished dessert at 11:30. The eclair was divine and more on the fluffy pastry side.

In contrast, the very next morning I went to Angelina’s, which I believe is in the 8th district, and had my second eclair there. Yes- two eclairs within a 12 hour period. Angelina’s is exactly how I imagine a bougie Paris cafe to be. The room was full of elegant furniture reminiscent of King Louis XIV. This eclair was the single best thing I have ever consumed in my life. It was flaky and covered in dark chocolate, yet perfectly chilled and soft on the inside. This place is much less touristy than Laduree and an absolute must splurge.  When in Paris eat every eclair and savor every moment. I am already planning my run and cleanse, but definately worth it.

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Greetings from London! Since my program does not start until February 27th, I am traveling a bit before hand. Although there are several iconic London tourist destinations - like Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, I have found a few hidden gems. Here’s my list of must sees while in London -

1. Greenwich Royal Observatory

Located right outside the heart of London is the Greenwich Royal Observatory where you can not only glance at the stars and take in the beauty of the city, but also stand on the historic Prime Meridian line. Super unique experience and I would highly recommend if you are looking for something off the beaten path to do.

2. Hyde Park - Serpentine

Hyde Park within itself is quintessentially British and is one of my favorite public parks in the world, but I recently discovered the artificial Serpentine Lake - unfortunately not a real lake, but alas beggars cannot be choosers. During the summer seasons I am told you can rent paddle boats, which is just absolutely precious. Entirely not a winter recommendation, but I thought I would add it because it simply sounds divine. ...continue reading "Least Seen Must Sees in London"

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After having studied Arabic at GW for 5 consecutive semesters, the idea of picking up another language abroad was exciting, yet daunting. For the next 5 months, I will be taking intensive German classes in Freiburg and return to GW in August with a single Arabic credit left to complete. While this may have just been poor planning on my part, it was important to me that I know more than solely conversational German.

Part of the reason I chose to study in Freiburg was the fact that my family is originally from the Black Forest region of Germany. As WWII refugees, my Omi and Grandpa left their families and homes in an effort to start a new promising life in California. It was important to me that at least one grandchild knew more than conversational German and live in the region my ancestors lived in for hundreds of years. While I do know some regional sayings and have basic conversational skills, I do not have the ability to test into any other class other than Beginners German because I know next to nothing.

Since I have had a rather long break (surprise! I am actually not even in Germany yet as my program begins at the end of February), I was able to spend a few weeks with my Omi and Grandpa picking up as much German as possible before leaving. Because my program is not sending a representative to pick up the other students, I have to not only navigate the airport by myself, but also take a 2 hour train to Freiburg in Southwest Germany from Frankfurt International Airport. While almost most people in Germany speak English, I am not traveling to a big city like Munich or Berlin. Rather, I am studying in what I compare to rural Indiana. Like Notre Dame in Indiana, Freiburg is a college town, but surrounded by absolutely nothing but farmland. So, I picked up a few phrases and sentences like - “I do not speak German”, “Where is the train stop?”, “Which way to Freiburg”, and “Please help me”.

...continue reading "From Advanced Arabic to Beginners German"

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From obtaining a residence permit to packing for four vastly differing seasons, planning to study abroad can be stress inducing to the highest degree. Luckily, most programs give you a detailed list of instructions on how to complete the basic paperwork (ie. visas, health insurance, etc.), but I have found that there are a few matters that should be added to this list. So here is a compiled list of things to accomplish a week or two prior to your departure.

1. Notify your bank!

As twenty-somethings, some people still have their parents manage their finances while others do not, but I severely advice you to set up your own travel notice to your bank prior to leaving. This way when you plan a last minute weekend trip, you are able to do it on your own without having to call home. It is rather easy to do and allows you to feel a bit more ready to live on your own in another country.

2. Prepare a First Aid kit.

This may seem like an over cautious addition, but it is important to always be prepared! You never know when you may need some antiseptic or motion sickness medication. My program specifically mentioned that students bring a tick remover as we will be hiking in the Swiss-Alps several times a week for class and the tick population is apparently abundant in Freiburg. Again, better safe than sorry.

...continue reading "How to Prepare for Departure"

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It's April 25 today, and Easter term has finally begun. It's been a really long break - 5 weeks to be precise. But these past few weeks have also been really exciting and adventurous, while simultaneously being quite tiring from constantly moving about. My wallet's also taken quite the battering, but the memories made and the places I've seen, smelled, and heard were unforgettable and worth every penny.

Before heading back to school-related matters, I thought that I'd dedicate this last blog post to one more travel experience that I had. This past weekend, I visited Geneva, Switzerland - an astoundingly beautiful and clean city. The city struck me as beautiful, less out of the organized structure and classy modern architecture and more out of the remarkable scenery, from the crystal clear waters of Lake Geneva to the snow capped peaks of the Alps. I was shocked by how clean and transparent Lake Geneva was - never had I witnessed a body of water next to a metropolis so untouched by pollution.

I've lived next to the Han River of Seoul, the Potomac of DC, and the Thames of London, and anyone can tell you at first glance that these rivers do not exactly seem like the best place to take a dip. Naturally, these cities are significantly larger and much more industrial than Geneva, so perhaps this would not be a fair comparison. Nonetheless, I was impressed by how pristine Lake Geneva looked, as well as the efforts made to keep the city clean and the surrounding natural landscape environmentally healthy.

On Lake Geneva, I took a ferry to a small Swiss town called Nyon. I walked through the small, yet lively marketplace and sat down for a fantastic lunch special at a French eatery. The dessert that concluded the course was to die for - a mouth-watering sampling of creme brulee, raspberry pudding, and chocolate mousse, along with an excellent cup of espresso that woke me right up. Despite being a lunch special, the price of the meal was quite pricey.

...continue reading "One last stop at Geneva"

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By bmlee18

Prague was possibly one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen, especially during the day, when the sun shone brightly and accentuated the orange tiled roofs of homes and buildings. What was particularly convenient about the city was how easily accessible all the main sites were on foot. It certainly helped to have booked a centrally located accommodation (a charming studio right next to the train station), but generally, I found the city relatively easy to navigate. Now, there's no doubt that Prague could, at times, be rather confusing because of the winding roads that seemed to be devoid of organisation and planning - which could perhaps be said of many older European cities. But thanks to Google Maps, I was able to traverse from one end of Old Town to the other without much problem.

Walking along Charles Bridge was one of my favorite moments. Many have called the Charles Bridge as possibly the most beautiful bridge ever constructed, and true to this statement, the Gothic architecture did not fail to impress me. Adorned with Baroque statues and providing an exceptional view of Old Town behind and Malá Strana and Prague Castle up ahead, the bridge was packed with excited visitors and lined with street musicians and souvenir stalls. The particular day on which I had crossed the bridge and back was beautiful, with the Vltava River glistening from the sun and the pastel colours of nearby buildings all the more highlighted. The chit-chat and lively music further added to the animated atmosphere.

...continue reading "A colourful city – Prague"

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By bmlee18

I remember first watching the classic film, Roman Holiday, starring the beautiful Audrey Hepburn and the charming Gregory Peck. The Rome that I saw in the film was spectacular, and who would've thought then that I would be able to see Rome for myself? After my travels to Capri, I spent four fantastic days touring the Italian capital, marveling at Roman ruins, sampling delicious dishes, and passing by famous Italian fashion brands and gaping at the price tags.

Rome was similar to, but nonetheless uniquely different from the other Italian cities I had visited such as Florence and Venice. While all of these places were bustling with large groups of tourists from all around the world, Rome was especially packed and busy. And given the large amounts of tourists, there were plenty of salesmen and tour guides, waving around their goods and approaching you from all angles possible. I was especially shocked at the Vatican, where I must have encountered at least 50 tour guides trying to sell me special tour packages and skip-the-line tickets as I was walking the relatively short distance from the St. Peter's Basilica to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.

I tend to be a pretty spontaneous traveller, ready to encounter and learn about a new place without extensive planning beforehand and figuring out things along the way. This worked out quite fine at the other destinations I had visited, and certainly added an element of adventure and surprise, but for the Vatican, I was totally wrong about choosing to go with the flow.

...continue reading "My ‘Roman Holiday’"

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By bmlee18

Sapphire seas bluer than the sky, amber sunset blanketing the town, emerald trees providing a welcoming shade, and white brick houses reflecting the warm rays of sunshine. This was Capri, a beautiful island situated in Italy's Bay of Naples. As part of my travels to Italy, I decided to visit the small island famed for its lush and rugged landscape, breathtaking coves and grottoes, and boutique shops selling breezy linen shirts and handmade sandals that come attached with a "Made in Italy" tag.

My visit to Capri was particularly special because I was able to fulfill a small childhood dream of mine. As an elementary student, I was assigned to write a research paper and to present on the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), right off the coast of Capri. I remember collecting facts and pictures of the grotto, with the photos being particularly memorable because of their portrayal of the stunning blue color of the cavern's seawater. I had never fathomed that I would one day be able to take a small wooden rowboat through a narrow and tiny opening of the cave, witness the crystalline sapphire water light up the grotto, and hear the guide singing a few opera tunes and explaining how the grotto had once been the personal playground of Roman emperors.

The experience was much too short - perhaps no more than 10 minutes (probably more like 5 minutes) gawking at one of the most beautiful natural phenomenons to exist. While the cost advantage of the experience was somewhat questionable for the length of time we had spent, I can no doubt say that the Blue Grotto I saw that day was more stunning than the photos that I had used for my presentation 10+ years ago.

...continue reading "Capri – a gem off the Italian coast"

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By bmlee18

Berlin has always been a city that I've wanted to visit. As an elementary student, I first learned about World War II and the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. I remember taking great interest in this dark history of the 20th century and wanting to expand my knowledge on the subject, thus taking up lots of reading on the matter.

Last year at GW, I took a course on German history before and after reunification, which was one of the most fascinating courses I've ever taken. The class not only focused on the Nazi era, but also the period of divided East and West Germany and the subsequent reunification upon the "fall" of the Berlin Wall in 1989. It could be said that Berlin was at the forefront of the battle between the East and the West - a symbol of the split between the communist/autocratic and capitalist/democratic halves of the world during the Cold War (another era of history that I've taken a great interest in).

So to finally be in Berlin and to see for myself some of the sites that my professor had spoken about, from the infamous Berlin Wall to the various memorials reminding Berliners of the city and the country's past so as to never repeat them again, was truly powerful. Unfortunately, I had less than 24 hours to spend in this intriguing city, as it was a short layover during my journey from Prague to Milan. Despite this, I was able to see from the exterior some of Berlin's main sites and to hear a local's perspective on the city through a walking tour. With another friend who was visiting Berlin, we joined a group of around 15 people from various English speaking countries and traversed the city on foot.

Our tour guide had previously studied history in school, and we certainly benefited from his extensive knowledge on the city's past, from the powerful Prussian Empire to Hitler's rise to the division of the city into quarters - with the French, British, and American sectors eventually coalesced together as West Germany and the Soviet sector forming East Germany. Our guide was also able to share some personal family stories, as his parents had been East Berliners before the Wall came down.

...continue reading "Where past and present blends immaculately – Berlin"

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