Monthly Archives: October 2011
The Witching Hour
The Passing of a People
At the end of October, nature is preoccupied with death. Leaves fall, plants decay, and even we modern humans feel a shiver pass down our spines and race out to purchase plastic skulls and polyester costumes–which, sadly, will last long …
Last night, I watched Schreie der Vergessenen, a German ghost story movie. (Ghost stories are ideal for language learners because they follow a predictable–nay, one might say, ritualized–pattern.) At one point, the hero was talking with the villain. He was …
It’s All Fun and Games Till You Can’t Find Your Hotel
Driving in Germany. How bad can it be? Cute towns, charming churches, quaint signs that you can’t read. You’re having a good time until you realize you don’t know where you’re going, and the winter night is closing in fast. …
When I entered Germany, the passport control agent inspected my Lucky Luke comic book. Well, all right, maybe he didn’t inspect it, but he paged through it happily, and he was very glad to know I was learning German from …
Wood, Water, Stone
Die Kelten are the Celts. Southern Germany belonged to wealthy Celtic tribes during the centuries before the Roman invasion. The Germanic tribes drove the Celts out of this region during the Great Migration.
Tim-berrrr!
On a foggy evening this week, Joe and I visited Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River, and I took the above photo of the St. Michaelsbrunnen, or St. Michael’s Fountain, in the middle of the old town square. How old is …
My friend Heidi recently introduced me to the expression: “Mein Name ist Hase.” This is a humorous way of saying, “I’m clueless” or “I have no idea” or “I’m staying out of it.” I already knew that der Hase is …