School Update Again

This weekend from December 11th - 13th, I had my typeface design class again. The prof. came over from Berlin I believe and his name is Georg Seifert...i think...he made this type design program called glyphs. It kept crashing my my computer every 2 seconds i wanted to rip my hair off, but better now only crashes like once every hour or so, but still it angers me ugh. I have a little rough preview of my typeface, its still very in the works, but its based on lines, circles, a curl and a hook. The prof is super super picky and needs every curve to be perfect perfect perfect. The letter 'H' took me about an hour to perfect to his standards. He comes back sometime in mid-january, till then I have a lot of work to do in this class >_< making a typeface is harder than I thought it would be. But I need name suggestions for my type =)

Today I also had my brochure class and it's moving a bit faster but still slow. We use one computer and a projector to create layouts, I was trying so hard to keep my eyes open. I didn't even go back after lunch >_< so bad since I won't be in next weeks class as well cuz im going back to Toronto in 3 days!

Weihnachtsmarkt!

Its almost Christmas! In Germany there are many Christmas markets and they have stands all over the street during the 4 weeks of advent. There are gluhwein stands everywhere (hot mulled wine) My favourite is Lebkuchen, those super cute gingerbread hearts! Other popular items are Gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds), chocolate covered fruits, fruit cake and langos of course another one of my favs! In the Erfurt market I also found Rahmbrot again, oh gosh are those good the softest bread stuffed to the max with cheesey goodness! Other non-edible items were wooden christmas ornaments, bee wax candles and santa hats and lots of them. In conclusion, i love christmas markets =)

Movie Theatres in Germany

Last weekend a bunch of us went to watch Harry Potter in Jena, a nearby town because they had it in English. and they work awkardly different than Canada

1. You pay for the seat you sit in, not like Canada where its all the same price. You want a better seat you pay for it. It was pretty expensive almost 11 euros!

2. You go in early in Canada to get a good seat, here the doors open the time on the ticket.

3. The commercials and trailers here are 30 minutes long! it was way too much!

4. They don't have salty buttery popcorn, theirs is sweet!

School Update

Last week was my 2nd full week of my project class: Distance Conversation with prof. Yomar Augusto. Im really liking this class! It's pretty much do whatever you want to do...For my project I decided to collect tweets, so my little tweethearts what you write is my project! and i am turning them into posters with a typeface I made myself by folding paper. And also a book with hand drawn type and lots of patterning. I also made a type sculpture but it's not the greatest. I hope Yomar will like it! I never really know what he is thinking >_< but he is super chill. In class we had these great type stamps which I went a little crazy with. I just hope I finish everything by January.

My fachkurs class has changed once again since the last time. I am still in the Brochure class, which is going nowhere. I still feel very uncomfortable in that class, since its all in German and Im pretty sure the prof doesn't know what to do with me and thinks im dumb. But last class we were sorting photos as pictured above. Its a group of 6 making 1 brochure, I still don't know where I really fit in. Not a huge fan of it. My other fachkur is now typeface design with Jay Rutherford (the one on the table in the photo), a prof from Canada so the class is half German half English which makes it so much better =)

Food Porn: Prague

1. A sweet cheese cookie
2. Trdelnik: It is made from rolled dough, wrapped around a stick then grilled and topped with sugar and walnut mix.
3. Karoline's bacon and onion pie and hot wine
4. smažený sýr: fried s cheese topped in a bun
5. Lango, one of my new fav foods
6. Pork with bread dumplings and whipped cream ( which i was very confused )
7.  Beef goulash with rice
8. chicken skewer and sausage on a bun
9. Marlenka: honey cake
10. Prague ham cooked on a fire
11. Roast duck with bread dumplings and sauerkraut
12. Lamb with potato dumplings and garlic creamed spinach
13. First cupcakes found in Europe!

Prague

I haven't blogged in a while but from November 11th - 14th we went to Prague, Czech Republic. What a beautiful city! It was about 5-6 hour train ride from Weimar. And right when we crossed the border you see police and dogs coming in on the train. We stayed at the downtown hostel. Everything is so close to each other! So the first day we wandered the city, through the old town and of course shopping. Everything is so close to each other its great! There were little food stands in the middle! Then we had dinner at a small restaurant but i was so tired i fell asleep at the table and after some gluhwein i felt kinda really sick >_<

The next day we went on a free walking tour. Our tour guide was kinda amazing, he makes learning fun. We saw the big sights such as the astronomical clock, wenceslas square, jewish quarter, powder tower etc. We met up with the others after the tour and went to dinner for some czech food and some beer.

The next day we went to the Mucha and Salvador Dali museum. We also went up the astronomical clock which had a great view and it was so fun to see all the tourists below! Later on the night we went to Charles bridge and to Prague castle. At night we went to some bar with all these crazy contraptions all over the place. The last day was just breakfast, then to see the dancing house by Frank Gehry, souvenir shopping and the train ride home.

Dusseldorf & Köln

On the weekend the international office organized a trip to Dusseldorf and Köln. It cost 40 euros for 3 days and 2 nights. We took a bus there it was almost 6 hours on the squishy bus with my neck hurting from trying to sleep. We first visited an old coal mine, it was nice but so so very cold >_< but I had some yummy fries and currywurst! We also visited a product design museum which was so fun and everything was so pretty! We then headed to our hostel in Dusseldorf, which was so nice it was almost like a hotel! We then walked over to the city center which was across a big windy bridge, it was a 20-30 minutes walk which wasn't so fun. But Dusseldorf has a street full of restaurants and bars, having a great nightlife. We had a yummy dinner which took a while to decide which restaurant and went to a karaoke bar =) arriving back at the hostel at 3.30 am

Breakfast was included and it was great, so much food that we packed a lunch from it! We had a quick morning tour of the city, again cold out of my mind that I couldn't concentrate. But saw the Frank Gehry buildings which were nice. Then the next day heading to Köln. We went to the big cathedral and climbed up the stairs, which were narrow, spiral and packed with people. Then a few of us went to the Ludwig museum of contemporary art. Then for some quick shopping in the city center, which had alot of stores! but so many people and things were not exceptionally cheap. At night we crossed the bridge again to have dinner. Where I had a huge plate of meat, fries and salad it was yummy! except sitting outside was kinda cold. But it was nice to be with my new friends here!

The next morning we headed to some foundation, I forgot the name already. The architecture was beautiful but it was kinda of boring. But we got some great photos. We then went to a planetarium, it was so cold in there, what kind of museum doesn't put heating inside? Then back to Weimar.

First two week of class

Its been two weeks of classes here. The first one was my project Distance Conversation, and its all about calligraphy. We are asked to collected our digital conversations and turn them into whatever we want without using a computer. Our prof is from the Netherlands so we only have class 3 weeks in the whole semester. But in those weeks its 5 days, for the whole day. The first week we practiced our calligraphy over and over again. My writing is so terrible =( We also created our own typeface but stamping objects with ink. Mine was made with a clothes pin =) it was super fun and im really happy with how it turned out!

I also have Brochure Brochure, one of my fachkurs. Im the only exchange student in the class of only 6 people. The prof doesn't speak much english too, so it has been very difficult, especially during discussions where i dont know whats going on and i cant contribute. We have to create a brochure for the photography department, nothing to experimental but it is still interesting to design with a budget.

I had to drop my portrait photography class because i didnt have the workshop. ugh its so annoying here, where one person tells you one thing and one tells you another. It was just a mess and very frustrating. But luckily I found another fachkurs to fill my schedule. It is some art class about the human body. We'll see how it goes next Wednesday!

I have also started german lessons again and its once a week from 9 - 12. I dont know how much I like the new teacher, he goes really fast and I feel like it is really hard >_< but here's the photo of my class from the intensive course back in September =)

Course Selection

This week I chose the courses that I will be taking at the Bauhaus for the first semester. We first looked at the courses offered on the website. There are three types classes: projects (20 credits), Fachkurs (6 credits) and workshops. Then on October 11th, the project classes were presented, and they were speaking in German of course, thankfully Breydon was there to help! Then the next day we go and fill out the yellow and blue sheets where we pick our top 3 choices of projects and fachkurs, then drop it into the box and wait. The next day the results are posted and you see what class you got into! 

At first I only got into one project and one fachkur, and I needed one more class. So I had to go and email a billion people and talk with the profs to let me in one. It was a mission and to be frank it was very difficult and frustrating. I am actually very scared for classes to start because my German is not strong at all and two of my classes are in German. It's all very overwhelming and intimidating...

But this semester I will be taking

1. Distance Conversation ( and the class is in English!)

2. Broschüre, Broschüre

3. Portrait + X ( a photography class that I am scared of because I'm not technically strong >_< )

4. Workshops (photography ones and hopefully screen printing and offset)

I ♥ Zwieblemarkt

Every year on the second weekend of October, Weimar has Zwieblemarkt (an onion festival) They were setting up on Thursday so after Berlin it was great to come back to such a big festival! There were booths all around town and best of all lots of FOOD and drinks! I ate so much, I had:

1. zwiebelkuchen: onion cake (not pictured above)

2. linseneintopf: lentil soup with bacon and sausage

3. lango: friend dough, I had mine with a garlic sauce, tomatoes and cheese (sooo gooooddd)

4. knoblauchbrot, garlic bread and I had mine with yogurt and chili sauce with corn and fried onions on top (so spicy but so good)

5. pork skewer with onions in a bun

6. schokolade bananen

7. rahmbrot: soft bread stuffed with lots of cheese and bacon (again sooo gooodd)

8. apfelmus crepe with cinnamon suger

There were lots of other things like warm wines, honey apple cider, little doughnuts, lots of meat and sausage etc. I wish i could try them all! There was live music and a popular item was the onion braid, they were so cute I had to buy one. I hope it lasts long enough to bring home during Christmas.

Berlin is Calling

After Rostock, Karoline and I went to Berlin! We took mitfahrgelegenheit, which is like carpooling. The ride there costed 15 euros with a guy named Stefan. We left Weimar at 1pm and got to our hostel (Heart of Gold Hostel) at about 5pm, unfortunately we had to share a room with 3 smelly guys from Argentina, and one kept snoring. Gross.

We walked around Freichstrasse then to Lafayette in Berlin (where i saw the nicest Chloe bag for 575 euros and pretty jackets) We then walked over to Potsdamer Platz and had dinner at the Sony Centre, with beautiful ARchitecture. I had a satisfying meal of ribs and wings! I feel like I haven't eaten proper meat here for a while then a Hagen Daz ice cream and brownie. SO GOOD. The hostel then recommended that we go to a little place called The Burger Club. It was like going to 4 parties in one night there was swing music, Jewish, Indian music etc! But nobody 'grinds' here everyone dances on their own but at the same time together haha its a little complicated to explain. We got back to the hostel around 3.30 am.

The next day we woke up at 8.30 am. We had a yummy filling breakfast and I also had a caramel milk steamer so good =) We went on a walking tour to see the sights at 10.30pm. We saw the some churches, museums, monuments etc. We got to see the Berlin wall and Charlie Checkpoint. The tour was supposed to end at 2pm, but by 2.30 the tour guide kept talking and we were hungry. We left the tour for some lunch and headed over to Alexander Platz for some shopping.

We took mitfahrgelegenheit back again for 13 euro, with Doreen who drove really fast. She dropped us off at Jena and unfortunately the train back to Weimar was an hour wait. But it was a fast trip, I really wish I had more time to see everything and actually go into a museum!

Trip to Rostock

On October 4th and 5th we went to a little town called Rostock, in the north of Germany. There was a promotion, for 20 euros you can take the train anywhere one way. We chose Rostock, because it was the furthest you can go for the price. We got to take the ICE trains which were fast and nice! The ride was about 6 hours. 

We stayed at Jellyfish hostel, which is nice. We walked around the harbour and went on a boat ride around the town with this old man. We then walked into the city center which was really cute. We then had dinner, which was fish with sesame, yummy!  We also went to a 'pirate' bar and played games afterward. The next day we had breakfast and walked around the town again. We went into a big church. We also went up this tower overlooking the town and had those fun narrow stairs!

Trip to Leipzig

 Am Samstag 2. Oktober wir sind zu Leipzig gefahren.

Last Saturday, October 2th, 2010, we went on a day trip to Leipzig. It was about 3 hours away by train ride. First we visited the cotton spinning mill which is now galleries. (just like the distillery district back in Toronto) So there was art, a cinema and we also went to a ceramics gallery and got to see how the artist works. The graffiti on the walls was also amazing! Then we went back on the train for about 30 minutes to the zentrum. There we did some shopping (there was h&m and Zara!) I was so in the shopping mood I bought a pair of paper bag waist line shorts, stripped tshirt and cargo button up, all things I have been wanting! Leipzig was a pretty big city which I like!

Oktoberfest München

On September 24th, 2010 we left Weimar at 1pm in the afternoon to go to München for Oktoberfest. The train ride took about 6 hours with 2 changes in between. It was long but it only cost 6 euros one way since we took regional trains. We got there at around 7pm.

Unfortunately it was raining and cold. We bought a beer and took a table outside when the rained stopped for a bit. A liter of beer was 9 euros. The cup was so big and so heavy! I also bought a hot dog and it was so big, it cost 4.50 euros. The rain started again and luckily I was able to get into a beer tent because only about 10 our of our group of 25 were able to make it in. It was amazing! There was a lot of beer, singing and dancing on tables! ALOT OF BEER.

The tents close around 11.30pm, but there are carnival rides outside which are open to 12am. Its like CNE ( for you Torontoians) with a lot of alcohol, Lederhosen and the Dirndl (the cute dresses). We went on a few rides. Of course with alcohol it gets a bit messy there.

After a few of us moved to a few bars until 4 am. There was way too much walking in the rain because people kept getting lost. We got back to the train station at 4am and sat at Burger King. There I bought a Lebkuchenherzen ( a gingerbread heart ) unfortunaly all the souvenir stores were still closed so I couldn't get a magnet.

5 of us went on the 6.45 am train to Bamburg and we got home Saturday night at about 10pm, it was 30+ hours without sleep! I was coughing like no tomorrow and will never get better! I told myself I would not drink for a week after Oktoberfest and it is not working.

International Dessert Party

After there was a dessert party, where everyone brought a sweet treat from their country there was tiramisu, finnish cookies, crepes, cakes etc. Very yummy or it was just another reasons for people to drink =) As usual it gets a bit messy this time toilet paper and beer.

I still haven't figured out why my videos are so jumpy when I put them all together. But here it is for now even though its difficult to watch and mostly dark =(

Buchenwald

On Thrusday September 23rd, 2010 we took a trip to Buchenwald which is a concentration camp from world war 2. It was about 30 mins bus ride away from the city center of Weimar. It was pretty heavy for a Thursday afternoon. We took a tour around the area and we saw some of the cells. There was some pretty scary stuff like hanging rooms, burners, carts for corpses etc. It was pretty intense. Then there is a museum there as well. Even though I know the place has been cleaned out I still felt like everything felt dirty and wanted to hold my breath.

Bad Sulza

On Tuesday September 21st, 2010 we took a trip to Bad Sulza. It is about 30 mins train ride away from Weimar. The train is also free with our student card (which is called a Thoska card here) There are many pools of salt water that you soak and swim in. There is also a dark dome where you can float and you can here music in the water (they call is liquid sound) They also have saunas but you have to strip down for that haha maybe next time. But it was defiantly fun and relaxing even though there are a lot of old people.

Trip to Dessau

Am Sonntag 19. September wir sind zu Dessau gefahren

On Sunday September 19th, 2010 we went on a day trip to Dessau. It was about 3 hours train ride away. We met at the train station at 9am and I believe we switched trains 3 times? Dessau is famous for its college of architecture Bauhaus. It moved here in 1925 after it had been forced to close in Weimar. Many famous artists were lecturers in Dessau in the following years. We took a tour around the Bauhaus buildings and the houses of designers such as Kadinisky. I've always seen the iconic vertical lettering on the building in textbooks and it was amazing to be there for real!

A little taste of home!

On September 18th, my roommate Andreanne did a crepe breakfast for everyone! She even brought maple syrup! Then QP (my other roommate) aunt came to visit and she brought moon cakes with her. So yummy and things I love back in Canada!

International Dinner

On September 17th, 2010, there was an International dinner party at Hummelstraße. Where everyone brought something from their own country. There was pasta from the Italians, Spanish omlettes, sushi, big bucket of sangria, Portuguese wine and other dishes and desserts from all over the world! There was of course a lot of alcohol. After a while someone decided to pull the fire extinguisher and things got a little messy! But here's a little video for you =)

ps. terrible video quality because it was taken with my little red camera plus I dont know why its so jumpy

Weimar in September

Die kleine Stadt, die ich jetzt nach Hause benenne

 

 Here are some pictures of Weimar in September. The first one is my flat from the outside. Then it is the marketplatz and Goetheplatz, two squares that I live very close too. There are also rotbratwurst stands the cutest one is with the giant hotdog on top! and there are little houses and buildings here and there. 

Some Weimar Facts for you to read:

1. It is located in central Germany, in the state of Thurginia, one of the smallest states in Germany

2. There are two universities Bauhaus Universitat and Hochschule fur Musik

3. The current population is approximately 65,000, about 5,490 are students

Mein Lieblingssupermarkt ist Rewe

My favourite supermarket in Weimar is Rewe! There are two big supermarkets Rewe and Herkules. Rewe is just 5 minutes away from where I live while Herkules is all the way at the Atrium which is about 20 minutes walking. There is so much cheese to choose from! I gotta try them all before I leave! Rewe also carries the same instant noodles I eat at home =)

Wine and beer is so cheap here you can find it in Rewe. I also once found wine at a dollar store. It makes me wonder what 1 euro wine is made of lol. So no need for LCBO here!

Hummelstraße: Meine Wohnung

Ich wohne im vierten Stock in Hummelstraße und es ist im Stadtzentrum. Ich wohne mit drei anderen Kanadischen Mädchen. Es gibt keinen Aufzug, also täglich muss ich gehen die Treppe! Wir haben einen Raum jeden, eine Küche und ein Badezimmer. 

I live in a student residence on Hummelstraße. In Canada we call it 'rez' here they call it 'flat'. It is in the city center near Theatrplatz and Marktplatz, so it is very convenient. There is a supermarket, bakery, drug store within 5 minutes walking. I live on the fourth floor, and there is no elevator in the building. I get so tired from walking up and down the stairs everyday! I live with three other Canadian girls. We each have a room and share a kitchen and bathroom. The room came with a bed, desk and shelf. My heater was also broken when I got there so I had to get it fixed. It was also so dirty! I had to clean it from top to bottom, it was so gross at first!

There are so many bees here in the video you can see a dead bee in our bathroom floor. I died when I saw that.

Departure From Toronto

I left Toronto on August 30th, 2010. My family and I made it a vacation. We went to Venice and Milan in Italy then they dropped me off in Germany. Where I will be studying for a year at Bauhaus University.