First Impressions

Living in another country has certainly come with its challenges but it has also come with its excitements. It has been three weeks since I have arrived in Germany but it feels like much longer when I consider how much I have experienced in such a short time. Each night, before I have gone to bed I have recorded the highlights of each day on a calendar given to me by Evelin when I first arrived. Looking back on the time that has passed I have found that each day has been unique in the experiences it has provided. In another sense however, as I have become oriented to the streets and culture of Cologne I have been able to develop a routine that has made it more manageable to live in another country despite its differences from my home in Georgia.

As I have been in Cologne I have enjoyed experiencing, and sometimes tasting, the rich tradition within the city. After stepping of the high speed train I took with Kara from the Frankfurt airport, we were greeted by Chris and Evelin who took us below the train station to the parking deck which contained remnants of the ancient Roman city that was founded in 38 BC. As we stepped out of the parking deck we were faced with a breathtaking view of the Dom Cathedral which towered over us. The Cathedral is another example of the rich history of Cologne. Its foundation was laid in 13^th century AD but upon climbing up to its top I saw the year 1875 inscribed on one of the towers showing the enormous feat the Cathedral was in its size and intricacy, even today masons are constantly at work restoring the sandstone structure that serves as the central landmark of the city.

At this time of year the cultural tradition of Cologne is on full display. Walking around at night you are bound to see dressed in peculiar costume as they take part in the festivities of Carnival which reaches its climax on February 19^th to begin a 5 day street party filled with outrageous costumes, singing, dancing, and lots of Kolsch (the local beer of Cologne). Kolsch, also the local dialect, is a beer that can only be brewed within the Cologne city limits and is great accompanied with the local cuisine. I have grown particularly fond of Sauerbraten, a traditional Cologne meal consisting of pot roast made from either beef or horse and topped with a sweet and sour sauce, potato dumplings, and freshly made apple sauce.

My experiences abroad have not been limited to Cologne. I have been to Bonn, a nearby city, twice with Evelin. Once for a panel discussion on the implications of Obama’s inauguration for Germany and the World and a second time for a visit to the German history and art museums on a field trip with Konigin-Luise-Schule. Both visits were very insightful, the first especially so after watching President Obama’s inauguration at Joe Champ’s, an “American” restaurant here in Cologne. I have also toured the surrounding countryside on a chance visit with Mr. Pattillo, my girlfriends dad, and his business partner, Lutz, seeing the vineyards along the Rhine river and sampling some delicious red wine in Ahrweiler, a nearby town. Last weekend I was able to visit my great-grandfather’s grave at the Netherlands American Memorial Cemetery in Maargraten, Holland, which was a very special and sobering visit. Along the way Kara and I toured nearby Maastricht and Aachen.

While I have enjoyed taking advantage of the many unique experiences I have had, it has also been nice to establish a routine for day to day life. Kolpinghaus International, where I am living, is a fairly nice facility. It is a unique place as it doubles as a hotel for business guests and hostel for students, comparable to a college dormitory. I have not had the luxury of experiencing the hotel but in the hostel I have wireless internet access, a small refrigerator, and a private sink. There are community bathrooms, showers and kitchens which are not as clean as I would like but all things considered very manageable. I enjoy the internet access which makes me feel close to home as I can communicate with family and friends via email and Skype. I have my home cell phone number forwarded to my Skype account with which I can make unlimited international calls; this makes communication very seamless minus the six hour time difference.

As far as eating has been concerned, I have managed to find a few places here in Cologne that have served as my daily staples. Standa is a local grocery store that is as similar to a Publix or Kroger as I have found. I buy breakfast and lunch there that I eat in my room at Kolpinghaus. In the evenings Kara and I have found cooking in the community kitchen to be healthy, easy, and cost-saving. For the occasional meal out there are a number of places that I have found to be easy to order from, mostly buffets or places where I can point to something. My absolute favorite of these places is a local bakery called Bastian’s which has delicious bread and pastries. I am sucker for a good Berliner and I have not found any better than one from Bastian’s. I am slowly working up to going back to a local Kolsch place and ordering off the menu without a German interpreter, that will be an exciting day and I will be sure to report my success or failure.