I have to say,... Not only is the SUMMER German landscape beautiful... It is also quite breathtaking in Winter. I wish you could all see how pretty it is to drive the winding roads through snow covered hills and along the rivers in Southern Germany :)
So tonight we have plans for CLUB DEEP in Heidelberg!!! I expect a crazy underground German New Year’s Eve techno/house party. I’ve been to Club Deep before… so not that exciting… But still, I’ll be with Matze and a never ending flow of various German beers and imported Russian vodkas. I’m going to use my new makeup tips from YouTube makeup vloggers…. Hoping my look will blow away all the entranced techno-dancing Germans.
Did you know, in Germany today is a ‘half holiday’, and tomorrow is a full holiday? Maybe that is why all of the grocery stores were so busy and empty by 5:00!! No more food for the weekend!! AAAHH!! Get all the sausage, bread and cheese you can carry!!!!
Jeeze they have so many holidays here!! Matze’s whole family and I have vacations until the 10th of January 2011!! LOL!! Not sure if it’s my American blood… but this is getting to be too much! I wanna go back to school/work!!
On another note, I’m impressed with the increasing flow of spam posts on my blog. Why is this happening? Must be a sign that my fan base is growing. Are there really enough readers to validate spam posts on the netherjen blog…? hmmm. Probably just a computer that got a hold of my blog address. **sigh** I mean… it’s not like I ever get comments from REAL people… I wonder if anyone still reads this blog??
The hunt for an awesome apartment in Charlottenburg Berlin is still on people! I’ve found some very nice looking places and have high hopes!! I would love to live in a ‘WG’ with 2 or 3 other students. Either way, I believe it will definitely be worth seeing in person! ;o)
Ooouuu OOouu!! Look at these pics of the Charlottenburg Palace!!
yyyeaaahhh... probably could walk there everyday from my house in Berlin :p
Expect pictures of tonight’s German-beer fueled adventures soon. I’m starting off with a couple Eichbaums (so far my favorite German beer brand). Oh,… and… did I mention my ticket to the party includes an ‘all-you-can-drink’ pass?? *GASP*
So… as they say in good ol’ Germany…
Ich wünsche euch allen einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
Have you ever heard the idea that the ‘average’ American eats a surprisingly high amount of meals outside of the home? We'll Ive read and heard that around 50% of American meals are eaten outside of the home. Of course this depends on level of income, household type, and a variety of other factors. Yet on average, the amount of money spent on prepared foods and meals in restaurants is very high in America.
I subconsciously realized that after moving to Holland. All of my European friends could cook, yet sadly, I could not. Finally I’m getting into the swing of things, and although I’ve always been INTERESTED in cooking, now I’m finally doing it!! I asked Matze what percentage of meals in Germany are eaten outside of the home and he guessed around 10. Woa. Maybe thats why we have an extremely long list of fast food restaurant chains in America. And in Germany they only have McDonalds and Burger king. Oh yeah, maybe thats also why 2 out of ever 3 Americans are overweight or obese. *barf*
So I made this really delicious meal today and wanted to share it with you. Fortunately there is a nice video- so you can all watch how easy it is to make this dish. >Click here for the video. It has a wonderful flavor- very exotic tasting. And I must repeat- SUPER easy to make!
On another note, YouTube is wonderful! If you have a desire to make a certain kind of dish- you can just type it in the search bar, and someone probably has made a video on how to cook it. Here is a lady who does videos for Mediterranean foods (Matze says she sounds JUST like me). On YouTube there are endless videos on how to do all kinds of things (like makeup, travel advice, technical advice.. etc.).
Lately, I’ve been throwing around the idea to start MY OWN YouTube channel. There are a lot of people who have YouTube channels and make money from them! I definitely know at least ONE regular blog reader who may benefit from this information!!! Problem for me is that I’m not sure what kind of theme my Vlog/ YouTube channel should have : / Traveling? Studying abroad? Living in Berlin? Hhhmm….
Due to technical difficulties, the previously mentioned 'video' will not be uploaded in the near future.
Unfortunately the video is now deleted! So, please enjoy the few pictures I am uploading to this blog update.
Christmas in Germany was definitely enjoyable. :) Thankgoodness to Matze's mother who definitely made an effort to include me in English conversations.
However, I have to say it was nice to be able to speak a bit with Matze's grandmother in German. She is a very nice lady with a VERY strong German 'dialekt'. WOW! Really hard to understand her, as it is for the rest of the family.
During my Christmas vacation I have been eating EXTREMELY delicious and authentic German food. YYUUMM YUUUMM!!!! I love home German cooking!!!
On another note... I'M MOVING TO BERLIN!!!! I'm so excited! I've already started looking at apartments and I can't wait. I'm also very glad that I am limiting my time there to 4 months instead of 6. This is because of various reasons.
I plan on picking out a very nice apartment in the same area of Berlin I will be working in. This area is called "Charlottenburg". You see, its like New York, there are different areas to each major European city. Charlottenburg is swanky with a lot of expensive homes and high end shopping. All the more reason to come and visit me :)
I find out tomorrow if I get the job in Berlin!! I talked to Herr Scheunemann today. I have to say he sounds like a pretty stressed out guy. Yet on the other hand, it is clear he is successful. He has a lot on his shoulders.
I am also working on a video. Unfortunately Matze and I are taking a break to watch the New Harry Potter online. MUAHAH! Tomorrow I will upload the video.
It's true! My blog readers really love me!! :) So as you can see from the results of my survey, Europe WON!!! Whhheeww! You want to come visit me!!!
Unfortunately I have to disagree with you :p
The next continent I want to visit is ASIA! Followed by South America!
So, now I have to tell a quick story :)
In Groningen Netherlands, there are a bunch of international students, I'm sure you know this. On introduction day, the steps of the old school mansion,... I mean house, are filled with eager students from all over the world. Everyone is excited and ready to party,... I mean study!!
The students also belong to a group called the ESN, Erasmus Student Network. Nick and Auke are part of the management of the ESN, as well as University-lyfers. Basically being college students is their life career. I dont even wanna guess how old these guys are. HEHE. They took care of me when I came to Groningen, and many students before me, and they are still welcoming new students today!
But I just have to say, what a cool life!! They welcome international students into their city. They party with them. They learn about culture. They are always traveling to different countries..... And that is their life! That is what they do. They are constantly experiencing new things, trying new things, doing new things. And they go all over the world, and they have a great time, and they are always smiling!! Its always cool to look at the latest pictures of their travels with new friends :)
Ok I'm done.
Tomorrow morning I'm taking a train to Berlin. Its a 5 hour ride. I have to navigate the train stations and tram stations and sidewalks all the way to the front door of Scheunemann PR Berlin. I'm a bit nervous, but I have plenty of time so I know I'll make it there just fine. Unfortunately we are expecting a storm tonight. I hope there are no delays or too much ice on the ground.
Thanks to my family and Matze for convincing me to go :) Even if I dont take the job, it will be an adventure. I mean, when some company wants to pay like 300 bucks just to have me for an interview, can I complain!?!
Yes thats right PEOPLE! You wanna talk to me!??! PAY $300!!
Tomorrow I will bring my camera, and my game face. (Sorry I had to say it).
I will take some pics of Berlin and post you all a nice slideshow. Hopefully I see some cool stuff there. I'm hoping for a weinachtsmarkt where I can pick up a few small gifts. Usually they have some nice ones in the train stations.
Please send me some nice mental vibes for tomorrow!!! WWWHHEEWWW!!! Here I go!!
P.S. Here is a link to the PR company's website:CLICK ME!
Today I had German class!! WOW! So much better than the other A2 class. Interesting group of people, great teacher! It feels good to be out in the city again. I met a nice lady from the US in my class, as well as a guy from Macedonia, and another girl from Malaysia!! We only spoke in German :p Some guy in the class asked me why I was speaking German on the break?? LOL!! I said, uhm DUH! We're in a German class!!
On Friday, I have the opportunity to travel (12 hours round trip) to Berlin for an interview. I haven't decided whether I'll do that or not. Unfortunately the company is rather small. So far, I've only received information regarding administrative duties.
With the larger companies I've been contacting, I will be working with talented professionals on global projects. No answering phones, making copies, translating documents, or delivering packages... the duties I've discussed with the Berlin internship company.
P & G (direct competitor of Clorox) is offering a marketing internship in a city not far from here. I would be developing a framework for a partnership with a laundry care manufacturer. LOL! I would also analyze the efficiency of past marketing events! Plus a bunch of other cool projects! Guess what, P&G will be getting an awesome cover letter from MMEEEE! Perhaps they would benefit from my Clorox Marketing plan! WOOOAAAA:p
Above pic is the view from Matze's window. Rather beautiful :)
Im back in Eberbach! Matze had to come here to get 2 wisdom teeth out today --- and I even got to watch it! AWESOME!!! It was cool. The dentist said he was impressed because I handled it so well. Actually he also confessed he secretly wanted me to faint so he could save the day by reviving me back to life.. hehe
So Matze’s parents have ALREADY been spoiling me by offering delicious German foods, home baked German Christmas cookies, expensive wines... yyeaahh … lovin it!
Tomorrow we get to take THE CAR!!! WWWOOWW!! And go shopping in the city :o) Then we might FINALLY go see Harry Potter at the show. I’ve never planned on seeing ONE movie in the theater so many times in my whole life!!!
Last night I had SO MUCH FUN in Mannheim. I got to see some old friends and even made some new ones :o) We went to the Mannheimer Weinachtsmarkt for some gluhwein and met Olivia from New Zealand and my old friends Jess from Texas and Amy from Australia. They are both AMAZING women and we get along very well. After the gluhwein we went to a pub across the way (HAHA), ironic thing was the bar was having ‘American night’. There were some American soldiers there who seemed pretty eager (and rather annoying) to talk to some English speaking women.
Here is a pic from left: Amy, Olivia, Frank, Jess, Katje
The Mannheimer hockey team was also there, and they had a player from Canada, Frank! What a very nice guy!! Frank bought all of us girls a few rounds!! Oh by the way- my friend Katje from Finland met us there for drinks. She’s a little young but very well traveled after having lived in Hungary, Croatia, Finland, and now Germany. Her English is fluent. By the end of the night all of us girls were having a GGREEAATT time and enjoying the free drinks. As we stepped outside we heard a few cat calls in English, some guys must have heard us speaking. Come to find out these two guys were from Detroit!!! I was very (more like overly) enthused with this—but come on people! What a small world! They were boxers traveling around and doing some international fights.
All in all- I had a wonderful night and glad I reconnected with my friends. Next week I start an intensive German language course and may be taking a trip to Berlin for an interview with a PR company. Sadly it’s a 5-6 hour train ride, ONE WAY! Additionally, it costs 90 Euros for a one way ticket, but thankfully they will be taking care of that :p
Yeah so upon the reinvention of my blog I've decided to once again attempt to increase the frequency of my posts. Not only is my blog a pretty frickin cool chronicle of my life (which I've noticed lately after reading over awesome old posts) but it also helps develop my communication and writing skills (good to do considering my new marketing career track) and its pretty cool to write about in a cover letter (which I haven't done YET, but possibly could). ***DEEEP EXXHHALLEEE****
So! On another note! I NEED HELP! I've been working on this crazily involved and long marketing plan for Clorox which is supposed to be a staple of my marketing portfolio. WOW. I recently realized that I have no access to places like Target and Walmart which sell products like Green Works, Method, 409 and other household cleaning products. Pitty, because I would love to know current prices of such products to include in the analysis and ultimately recommendation and objective parts of my marketing plan.
WHOS GOING SHOPPING?! Ok, Ok, I WAS going to name names, but in order to make my blog appear to be a little bit more cool,.. I wont (naming names makes it look like I only have like, 6 readers, not that I do, well.. maybe some number around that, but its probably like way more so...).
Think about it, whoever helps me out probably will even get to talk to me on the phone! WHO WANTS TO BE THE LUCKY vEEner!!!
WOW Do I need to give you all an update! So far behind here..
Most of you probably don’t know, but last weekend I was in Copenhagen Denmark!! The REASON you don’t know is because it was a complete and total SURPRISE!! Yes that is right, my most amazing and wonderful boyfriend planned us a surprise trip to Copenhagen for the weekend!
At first he played it off as a visit to a city in Germany called Mainz to meet up one of his friends… he said we would stay for, “at the MOST three days”.. so I should “pack heavy just in case”… then he repeatedly mentioned how COLD it was going to be… OK not going to lie, I became a little suspicious.. but still was unaware of what awaited.
As we road on the cozy and comfortable Deutsche Bahn ICE train to ‘Mainz’ … first we changed trains at the Mainz main station because he lived a bit outside of the city. Then we found ourselves in Frankfurt AT THE AIRPORT where he was supposedly going to pick us up. Hhhmmm…..
Before I knew it Matze brought us up to the self-check in machine, pulled out the tickets and our passports and then I realized! :p COPENHAGEN HERE WE COME!!! After our short one hour flight, we landed at the airport and took a short train ride to the city. Within walking distance to the train station was our hotel. LET ME TELL YOU IT IS COOLLLDDD in Copenhagen! Well the temp was about 32 but it was pretty windy as well!
Our hotel was gorgeous! But of course nice and small, on the fourth floor with no elevator, real door keys, and lots of little hallways (seems like this is pretty common in Europe anyway). We were lucky to have our own bathroom. But you have to look at the pictures! In our tiny bathroom we had a toilet and shower, but the funny thing was where they were located. If you sat on the toilet, your head was in the shower… basically the shower drain was 12 inches from the base of the toilet. And there was only a small curtain…. Okay how to explain…. Uhm, if you want, you can take a crap and a shower at the same time! Actually this could be a good invention for men all over the world!!! LOL!
Anyway enough about crapping… we bought a ‘Copenhagen card’ with access to most museums, public transportation, discounts on food, and entrance to other events and venues. It was great The city offers many museums and activities. We went to the National Museum to learn about the history of Denmark and also got to visit a local Danish design museum. Really cool was the modern art museum.. you will see some pictures. We even got to see an interpretive dance! My first one! Then we painted our own original piece of artwork (see pics).
Denmark puts on a Christmas market… little different than the German ones, but same idea. You get to eat delicious food, do some shopping, look at ice sculptures, and stroll around in the snow with someone special ;)
Did you know the word Smörgåsbord is a Danish word? Its actually one of their most famous types of food! The word comes from the meaning ‘open-faced sandwich table’. Basically its like a bunch of different vegetables, meats and cheeses on different breads. So I suppose it goes in line with the English meaning of the word, being a synonym for ‘array’. COOL!
The Danish language is quite beautiful. Matze thought it was funny because he could understand A LITTLE bit.. but not as much as he can understand in Dutch! Dutch, Swedish, German, Danish, and Norwegian are all Germanic languages… Oh yeah, and so is English. Matze was excited because he finally felt like he knew what German sounded like to foreigners. Have you ever wondered what English sounded like to someone who had never heard it before? I HAVE!
We did a little bit of shopping, oh I got some new boots because mine were soaking wet. Unfortunately they don’t seem to clear the streets in Copenhagen, so you are constantly stomping around in slush through the city streets, or slipping around on ice in the less busy areas of the city.
I’m glad in Copenhagen there were more museums to visit. In Zurich, it was all about the shopping!
In Copenhagen we got to visit a palace- it was beautiful… I LOVED IT! I really felt like I was a queen in a past life and I was back in my home :p We even saw the crown jewels.. OOOO MMMMM GGGGG!! We saw the King and Queens thrones, beautiful rooms full of precious and valuable things like china, figurines, religious artifacts, diamonds, trinkets made of gold *sigh*…
At least Matze had given me a beautiful ring on our first night there… Took my mind off of breaking into the fortress and stealing all the jewels.
For some reason in Copenhagen there were a lot of families with young babies. In addition, there seemed to be a lot of Muslims at the airport… Dunno what the deal with that was. All in all Copenhagen was very diverse, and obviously many travelers were there, so I cant really tell you how ‘real’ Danish people are.
But there was a nice vibe from the city, dunno if that was because I had already heard it was supposedly one of the, ‘happiest countries on earth’ … Well, Im not sure if I could live there (Denmark) and deal with the cold, snow, and extremely small number of inhabitants (only 5.5 million).
Anyway- Those are my thoughts on Denmark… Enjoy the pics and share any thoughts!
BTW- this is a slideshow so if you press the stop button you can look at the pics at your own pace. Otherwise they go a bit fast :p
