Verloren in Leipzig

After almost five weeks of traveling and five cities visited, it’s now time to say ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to Deutschland.

More than a month ago today, 6 jet-lagged MU strangers stepped off a plane in a foreign country with absolutely no sense of direction and no clue what was in store for the rest of the summer.

But now, we are masters of public transportation, champions of the quest for finding Döner and defenders of the German language.

Leipzig is where call home, but we’ve made our acquaintance with the charming and unique cities of Berlin, Dresden, Eisenach and Weimar.

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Spending a summer in Leipzig allowed me to practice my German, learn some history, experience a different culture, and of course, learn tons of new German words!

Here are a few words that are really important to know for anyone visiting Leipzig, particularly with the lovely people who make up the University of Missouri Study Abroad Summer 2011 class.

das Apfelwasser: apple flavored water — not recommended.

der Döner: a cheap, delicious, and often sketchy Turkish dish.

das Eis: Ice Cream — abundant in Germany, and only costs about a Euro for a Kugel (scoop).

die Eule: Owl — not to be confused with cyclops.

der Hoffi: an abbreviation for Hauptbahnhof, which is Leipzig’s main train station.

der Meino: possibly Saxon slang for ‘bro,’ but honestly nobody really knows.

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They weren’t kidding when they said this trip would be an intellectual and cultural experience.

That’s why I saw the play Casanova at the Gohliser Schlößchen — a little castle tucked into a residential street of Leipzig not far from one of my classes.

This really wasn’t your typical play. I learned a lot about German life — still possible despite the fact that I’ve been in Germany for more than a month now.

Which reminds me — this trip (and this Tumblr!) has almost reached its end. Stay tuned, but don’t worry if your attention span is short like mine, because this blog is about to say ‘Auf Wiedersehen!’

Ich bin ein Berliner (not really), but who wouldn’t want to be after visiting this fantastic city?!

Things I checked off my Berlin to-do list:

• Ride a high-speed train
• Get a crash course on the government district
• Visit the Holocaust Memorial
• Walk through the Brandenburger Tor
• See a person dressed as Yoda in front of said Brandenburger Tor
• Tour inside the Reichstag
• Climb to the glass dome on top of said Reichstag
• Have a quick sun-bathing session in a romper in the park
• Have a private reception at the Office of Foreign Affairs
• Spill coffee all over said Office of Foreign Affairs

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Every day is the best day ever, but can you compete with this?

Morning: Amazing lecture on the EU and journalism

Midday: Work on newspaper article about German museums — got hung up on twice because even native Germans don’t understand valley girl German

Afternoon: Radio and voice training — most painful and fun experience of my life 

Evening: Private reception at the American Consulate in German — ate my first pretzel in Saxony on American soil, ironic?

Night: Bar hopping with our MU German professor and University of Leipzig Journalism Professor. And when there was no way I could finish a massive beer, Herr Professor Machill finished it off for me.

Now give me one reason why I should go back to Germany.

Taking journalism class at the University of Leipzig was a brilliant idea.

Our main professor is adorable, literally a genius, and lives my dream life. MDR Station is the classiest newsroom I’ve ever been to in my life. And German journalists are exceedingly passionate about their careers.

My mind is blown.

Hohe 4: The Top 4 Student Foodies in Leipzig

Sure, you’d like to eat at Auerbachs Keller, but is that really logical when you’re studying abroad in Europe? Answer: No. Instead, here are the top 4 most convenient, cheap and tasty foods in Germany.

4. Bakerei: There are bakeries everywhere, eager to serve some fresh baked bread and pastries. Grab a Doppelsemmel (about 50 cents!), slather some Nutella on it, and you are good to go!

3. Bier: Beer — it’s cheaper than water, and they even serve it in the student cafeteria.

2. Döner: Known as gyros to all Americans, this stuff is served on probably every street, and is just part of the Turkish influence in Germany.  And when you’re vegetarian, they’ll fill it with falafel or french fries instead of lamb.

1. Eis: Germans love their ice cream. Spaghettieis, ice cream shakes, goblets of ice cream, you name it. Eiscafes are everywhere. When you’re a college student late for class, grab a scoop of Eis (usually less than 1 Euro!) and eat it on the go.

Guten Appetit!

Photo of Vita-Cola — it didn’t make the cut on this list, but it sure is delicious!

Since I’m living in Leipzig roughly 4 weeks, this series is dedicated to the top 4 of everything and anything that is memory worthy, Euro-savings worthy, or just giggle worthy.

The Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts — home to forks hanging from the ceiling, your average guy landscapes, overly sensitive sensors and some really questionable modern pieces, such as this mountain covered door with a pumping brain inside. 

Guys and gals, check it out.

Weimar is a great little German city, but seriously Weimarians, why does everything have to close at 6 on a Saturday afternoon?

At least we squeezed in a visit to the Bauhaus museum which was spectacular but too small, a trip to Goethe’s garden house and a rainy walk through the park.

Thank goodness there was one place open past 6 —  a German rendition of a American 50s diner — where I could finally bask in the glory of a grilled cheese sandwich. Happy 4th of July weekend!

Buchenwald is a reminder of the horror of things that happened in the world’s past and still today, a tribute to the many people who sacrificed themselves to liberate the victims of Nazi terror, and a reason to know that is important to fight for peace and freedom.

Just 6 miles from the city of Weimar, Buchenwald was a German Nazi concentration work camp during World War II. 56,000 people died here.

A sign in the front reads “Jedem das Seine” which means “To Each His Own” or “Everybody Gets What He Deserves.” The clock in the front is permanently set to 3:15 — the time when the camp was liberated on April 4, 1945.

This camp is powerful and emotional, and with photos it’s hard to compare the ironic beauty of the surrounding scenery with the deep sadness of the camp.

Today, Buchenwald can bring people together and show us that, whether it’s today or 70 years ago, there is no place in the world for intolerance.