Culture Post #6: American Fast Food in Germany

     Well hello there, people, places, and things.  I know, I may or may not have mildly exaggerated about the influx in posts, but relax, you'll get them all in good time.  And now to the good stuff!

     Back home in the United States, fast food chains are an ubiquitous part of nearly every city and town, all across the country, to the point where the question isn't necessarily if a place has a fast food joint, but which it happens to have.  Through the magic of business expansion, this now applies with increasing frequency to Germany too.

Location Spotlight: Naumburg

     Welcome back!  This week's location spotlight is on Naumburg, in the German state of Sachsen-Anhalt.  Naumburg was properly founded in 1029, as a state of the Holy Roman Empire (its name loosely translating as "new city").  The city is notable for having two large sections, the former "people's city" and "church city," which encompass the areas which were predominantly citizens' housing and church controlled propertyies.
     Originally functioning as a trading city, it lost importance due to the city of Leipzig's rise in prominence, and due to the 30 Years' War.  During the time of the former GDR, Naumburg served as an                                                                                     important manufacturing center.

Tips and Tricks: Volume 6 - Unit Conversions

Bid these goodbye!

     Well hello there ladies and gentlemen!  Today, I'm going to try to be useful with a collection of measurement conversions.  As we all (hopefully) know, Germany (, Europe, and basically the entire rest of the world) use the metric system, among other things, and its not always easy to tell what different units mean.  Hop on in!

Cooking for People Unsure of What a Stove Does: Recipe 7 - Handmade Pasta!

I am not even going to try this anymore.

    After a long, unexplained, and unforgivable absence, I am back!  Be prepared for a storm of double posts as I play catch-up.  Anywho, here is a short recipe to tide you over until this week's post downpour!

Handmade Pasta:

Ingredients:

• Flour
• Eggs
• Salt
• Tomatoes (cherry)
• Cheese (take your pick, but softer is better)
• Pesto (again take your pick, but we went with green)
• Bell pepper (1)
• Arugula
• Scallions (to taste)
• Salt and pepper (to taste; try white pepper this time)
• Cauliflower and broccoli (if you're feeling peckish)
• Sunflower seeds (or similar; to taste)
• Beet juice (optional; for color)
• Oil

Location Spotlight: Meissen

     Hi again, and welcome back to the latest installment of "Location Spotlight!"  This week's guide is on the city of Meissen (Meiβen in German).
     Meissen was officially founded in the year 929, after being home to a tribal riverside settlement.  The city is located on the Elbe river, in the German state of Saxony, approximately forty minutes' drive from Dresden.

     Meissen is primarily known for being the home to the first porcelain factory outside of the East, with the Royal Porcelain Factory opening in 1710, in Albrechtsburg castle.

Tips and Tricks: Volume 5 - University Referate

Yes, this is from Spongebob.  It illustrates the point
perfectly though.

     Here in Germany, one of the primary methods of grading in university seminars is using a Referat, or oral presentation, designed to both teach a topic to the rest of the class, and evaluate the student presenters.  While most college age students are fairly familiar with how to give a standard presentation, there are a few odds and ends which warrant mentioning before you go off to the great wide world of standing in front of a room of disinterested fellow students.

Culture Post #5: Eis!

The first person who can actually make this for me will win
a cookie!  You provide the cookie.  You can't have any of mine.

     Welcome back!  It is totally that time of the week again, where I talk about something culture related, and this post is not possibly, in any way, replacing the normal oddities post.
     That being said, today's topic is ice-cream and desserts here in Germany, specifically how they appear to hold a different status in German culture than in the United States.
     Jump in!  ...Or just click the link.  No one wants you to fall out of a chair or something like that.

Rules of the Road: Volume 6 - Paying for Things

The marble plate is for checking if coins are real.
The more you know!

      Hi again!  It turns out that someone was actually able to make use of last week's post regarding setting up a cell phone here in Germany!  Anyway, during this week's post, I'm going to discuss some of the little things that I have noticed about how paying for various odds and ends is different here in Germany, compared to the United States.

Enjoyable Oddities: Volume 5 - American Groceries in Germany

      Its Friday, so that means its time for another round of oddities!  This week, I decided to comb through a local grocery store, and see how many products that I recognized as being offered in the exact same form back home in the United States.  The list was short, but interesting nonetheless.

     Jump in!

Cooking for People Unsure of what a Stove Does: Recipe 7 - Pizza!!

Giant elevator buttons?

     And its that time of the week again!  We'll be taking a field trip away from my sad little kitchen and its pair of burners, to visit a friend with an oven to make pizza!  The good news is that I wasn't allowed to take so many of the final pictures, so hopefully you all enjoy having more proper photography for a change!

Simple Pizza

*Ingredients:

• Flour (2 cups) (+ some extra)
• Brown Sugar (1 teaspoon)
• Salt (1 teaspoon)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Don't be so second-best, use the good stuff)
• Yeast (1 packet)
• Warm water (a little less than 1 cup at the same temperature you'd use for a baby's bathwater)
• Tomatoes (very ripe and diced)
• Tomato Puree (1 cup or more)
• Oregano (fresh or dried)
• Rosemary (fresh or dried)
• Basil (fresher than Will Smith)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Garlic (3 cloves)
• Onion (one small)
• Bell peppers (sliced; any topping of your choice will do)
• Fresh mozzarella (not ever optional)
• Good quality melting cheese
• Salad (optional, no ones cares it's pizza!)

Culture Post #4: Imbisses

The nearest one which actually said "Imbiss" was an hour
round trip on the tram.  Sorry about that.

     Now that I've successfully managed to both take pictures and get them put into my computer, we can be off with the fourth culture post of the summer!   This week, I'll be tackling Imbisses, the latter of which have come out in full force now that the local temperature has been hovering at approximately 100 degrees (Fahrenheit, keep your hats on metric system lovers) for the last few days.  Take the jump!
     Seriously.  That's where all the good stuff is!

Location Spotlight: Rothenburg

Alright, alright, we all know I couldn't take such a good

picture.

     Oh hi there!  Now that Blogger has decided to cooperate for a change, welcome to the next Location Spotlight!  This week, I'll be going over the medieval walled city of "Rothenburg ob der Tauber" (don't forget the last part if you're looking for directions, as there are multiple "Rothenburg"s in Germany!).

     The first settlements in Rothenburg date back to 950, with the city proper being founded in 1170.  The city grew to prominence through trade and cloth making, due to local long distance East-West and North-South trade routes intersecting just outside of the city.

Tips and Tricks: Volume 4 - Packing a Day Trip Bag

Isn't this the absolute best bag you've ever seen.

     Continuing in this week's blatant failure to pretend to follow the schedule which I arbitrarily assigned to this blog, I give you this week's "Tips and Tricks:" how to pack a day trip bag!  It seems like common sense to many people, but lets be honest, doesn't everyone like having a little checklist to go off of?

Rules of the Road: Volume 5 - Buying a Cell Phone

I used one of these as a toy when I
was little.

     Oh hi there!  Because I am simply amazing at planning out picture taking, we are going to do a little rearranging of posts this week (don't worry, the culture post of the week is on its way).

     I've done some checking, and this week's "Rules of the Road" post is the first one which can be done with a complete lack of actual roads!  Anyway, because your American (or other non-German) cell phone plan will charge you the approximate value of mid-size suburban home's mortgage if you use it here in Germany, it seems prudent to explain how to set up a prepaid phone, as it is really the best option for short term stays here.  Take the jump!

The Weekly How-To Manual: Volume 4 - Setting Up a Student ID

Remember this building?

      

     And we're back!  Lesson learned:  it is very easy to stop blogging, and very difficult to start it back up again.  Don't stop!

     For this week's how-to manual, I'm going to give the run-down on obtaining a student ID here in Leipzig.  Its not a particularly involved process, but considering the confusion I went through to get it, it never hurts to pass along some tips!

   Step 1: Return to Goethestrasse 6! (If you remember it from the last time it made its appearance here...)

Cooking for People Unsure of what a Stove Does: Recipe 6 - Spaghetti with Homemade Marinara

 

I give up.  I have no idea what it is.

     

    Hey there!  Please forgive the conspicuous lack of posts over the last few days; it has been a very weird week between the bank holiday and personal travel.

    Anyway, I'm back with yet another easy recipe; this time its for spaghetti with marinara sauce!

Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti (or whatever type of noodle you prefer)
• Tomatoes
• Tofu (1 block)
• Mixed vegetables (your choice; diced)
• Garlic (2-3 cloves)
• Tomato paste
• Salt and Pepper (to taste)
• Oil or butter

Tips and Tricks: Volume 3 - Fountain Pens

Some of the many options available.

     Here in Germany, one of the most economical writing utensils is actually relatively old: the fountain pen!  If you go to any store which sells stationary, in addition to the standard ballpoint pens, highlighters, and all the other various other markers and things, there will be a display of fountain pens, both ballpoint and calligraphy style.  I tried one out on a whim, and would have loved to have someone explain it to me, so here goes!

Rules of the Road: Volume 4 - Grocery Shopping

This is just a model store.  Cool though!

      I looked through my past posts, and I realized that its been a while since I put up some "Rules," so here it goes!
     While its nice to go to the many and varied farmer's markets available in many places around Germany, eventually you will in fact have to go to a real grocery store, and you will find that there are a few differences that you should be aware of.  And jump!

Cooking for People Unsure of what a Stove Does: Recipe 5 - Fudge!

I can guarantee that those are not the worst frisbees
in the world!

     Is it strange that the cooking topics are the one's I'm most consistent about?  Maybe I'm overthinking it.  Anyway, its high time that I put up something sweet for a change, so for this week, I'm going to be making fudge!

Easy Fudge:

Ingredients:

• Sweetened condensed milk (1 can/ 400 mg; make sure it says sweetened and condensed, as German coffee creamer can be labeled "condensed milk," but it is not the same thing)
• Sugar (1 cup)
• Butter (1/4 cup)
• Chocolate (1 cup; either shave the block chocolate grocery stores here have, or use powder)

The Weekly How-To Manual: Volume 4 - Setting up a Bank Account in Germany

I never knew how bright Euros were when they were new!

      It occurred to me today that I didn't post a "how-to" yet this week, so this week I thought that I would tackle an issue which comes up from the moment that you arrive here in Germany: banking and money exchanges.
    As I'm sure you can imagine, using your American bank account is not practical due to fees, but having a German bank account is actually a requirement in order to obtain your visa (or visa sticker, if you are here for less than a year).  Here goes!

Location Spotlight: Erfurt

German cities love their scale models.  Yes indeed.
You're still going to have to take my word that this one is Erfurt's though.

     Welcome to Erfurt, the capital of the Free State of Thuringia!  Erfurt was founded in its current form in 742, when it was declared a diocese of the Catholic Church.  It is home to the third oldest university in Germany (by date of founding, as it was closed for over a hundred years).  Some famous residents include Martin Luther (who studied at the university), and Johann Pachelbel (you know that one song that plays at every single graduation ever? The guy who wrote that).

     And now, off to some of the sights!

Enjoyable Oddities: Volume 4: Restaurants

There is no possible way that I've used this
picture before.  No way.

     So you've decided that it is time to go to a restaurant, and you might be thinking, how different can it really be?  Back in the United States, there's an unwritten rule book that everyone seems to know how to follow, but here in Germany, I noticed differences in a hurry, so here goes!

Cooking for People Unsure of what a Stove Does: Recipe 4 - Spargel(!) with Garlic Cheese Sauce

Seriously though, it has to be DJ equipment! Right?

     You didn't think I would actually wait to go to a restaurant to try out white asparagus, did you?  I decided that it would be fun to try to make it myself, so here goes!

White Asparagus with Garlic Cheese Sauce

Ingredients:

• White Asparagus (typically found in bundles of .5 kg or 1.0 kg)
• Milk or cream (soy/almond/rice milk will work too; about 2 cups)
• Cheese (I use Gouda, but take your pick; about 1 cup)
• Garlic (about 4 cloves; finely chopped)
• Oil
• Salt and pepper (to taste; pepper is highly recommended)
• Bread (also to taste, but it does go great with the asparagus)

Culture Post #3: Spargelzeit!

This was on the side of a normal department store.
Imagine Macy's selling carrots.

     Its Spargelzeit!  As with any country, Germany loves its seasonal foods.  In Spring, the primary one is white asparagus, or Spargel in German.  The season here runs from April through June, with every grocery store and vegetable stand clearing space on their shelves, and many restaurants adding a new menu page to accommodate the accompanying seasonal menu items.  Before the jump, if it wasn't entirely clear, "Spargelzeit" literally translates to "asparagus time."  And we're off!

The Weekly How-To Manual: Volume 3 - Registering for University Courses

Bonus points to whoever knows what university this
really is.  Hint: its not in Leipzig!

    And we're back!  Well I am anyway.  You all get to meander on in at your leisure, thanks to the internet.  Anyway, back to the point!  This week's "how-to" is on course registration, one of the most important aspects of beginning any semester abroad.  Unlike the online systems that current college and university students have become accustomed to, German universities tend to operate a little differently, particularly regarding Erasmus/Austausch (abroad) students.  Here goes!

   

Location Spotlight: Weimar

Train station of the day!

     Welcome to my second location spotlight, this time focusing on the city of Weimar.  While I'm not sure that I can provide a decent representation of the city without writing a book or two, I will do my best to highlight some of the best sights to see.  Welcome to the city tour!

Tips and Tricks: Volume 2 - School and Home Supply Shopping

Remember when it was this simple?

     It's Sunday again, and that means that its time more another round of tips!  In this week's post, I'll explain some of the best places to pick up some cheap school and household supplies (here's to hoping that you didn't use up valuable space in your suitcase for them!), because wouldn't you know, all of those American chains which we are used to don't exist here in Germany (including all of the various [name]-Marts!).

Rules of the Road, and other Places: Volume 3 - Taking the Train

Far prettier than the picture I could have taken.

      Here in Germany, taking the S-Bahn (what we typically use for inter-city travel in the U.S), U-Bahn (subways), and Trams (streetcars) are a way of life for many people, as they are typically the fastest and cheapest way to travel, whether you're trying to go a few blocks, or to another country.  The way that the train system operates is a little different than we are used to in the United States however, so for this week's "Rules of the Road," I'll break down how a train ride works, so that you can avoid having to wing it the I did my first few times.

Enjoyable Oddities: Volume 3 - Street Musicians

That dog is looking the same way we are all
thinking, isn't he?

     Happy Friday!  Its about that time of the week again for something that's a little different in everyday life here in Leipzig.  This week's installment is on the many and varied street musicians here in Leipzig.
     Leipzig has a long musical history, with notable names being Johann Sebastian Bach, Richard Wagner, and Robert Schumann.  Throughout the city, there are many music schools carrying on their tradition, resulting in a larger than average (by my entirely unscientific analysis) amount of street musicians here.  Enjoy!

Cooking for People Unsure of what a Stove Does: Recipe 3 - Carmelized Onion Soup

I've got it! Its a record player!

     It's about that time of the week again!  This time, its onion soup on the menu.  As a fair warning, this particular recipe is far more time intensive than either of the first two I have posted, ringing in at about an hour of cooking time from start to finish, but its worth it in the end!

(Vegetarian) Carmelized Onion Soup:

Ingredients:

• Onions (the type doesn't make a great deal of difference, but use more than you think, as they shrink!)
• Sugar
• Vegetable stock or bullion
• 4 cups of water
• Vegetable oil or butter
• Bread (optional, though highly recommended)

The Weekly How-To Manual: Volume 2 - Buying a Bike in Leipzig

I couldn't resist.  Its even German!

     You know what?  It occurred to me that I explained the rules of the road for biking in Germany, without even explaining how a student would come to own a bicycle on this side of the Atlantic.  Here in Leipzig, as in any city, there are numerous places to get a bike to use, be it through a bike shop, one of the many bike rental programs, or online.  However in Leipzig specifically, the easiest way to get a cheap bicycle is to mosey on over to Lucky Bike during one of their monthly sales, where the prices can start as low as 5 Euros.

Culture Post #2: The Market!

     Hi there!  In every German city, there are weekly markets which meet regularly in major city squares.  Here in Leipzig, there are sixteen such markets, which meet on different days of the week.  Depending on

the city and season, the stalls can contain everything from painted eggs (our lady in Leipzig is still going
strong), to various meats and sausages (they all seem to have something that is "Grandma's" recipe), to fresh flowers and vegetables, and occasionally sweeter things, like honeys and candy.  No matter what the weather, be it cloudy, or cloudy, or even cloudy here in Leipzig, there is always a steady stream of people stopping in to pick up some vegetables, bread, cheese, or flowers for a change from the store brands.

Cooking for People Unsure of What a Stove Does: Recipe 2 - Jamaican Rice and Peas

Is it part of a spaceship?

  Isn't it funny how people need to eat at about the same times, every day?  Hopefully you've attempted to cook something in the past week, rather than making a plate of (insert type of pasta here) covered with (tomato sauce du jour) in one of the University's cafeterias.  If you haven't I've got a bare-bones version of Jamaican rice and peas coming up below.  Guten Appetit!

Jamaican Style Rice and Peas

Ingredients:

• Rice of your choice (I used the type which comes packaged in bags to cook in, the process is the same for "loose" rice)
• Peas or beans (or whatever small cut mixed vegetables you might have floating around)
• Water (about 1 cup water for 1 cup rice)
• Oil or butter
• Curry powder (there are different varieties; the more orange/red, the hotter it is)
• Milk (optional)
• Salt, pepper, paprika, and red chili (to taste)

Tips and Tricks: Volume 1 - Curtains

 
  Welcome back!  Here in "Tips and Tricks" I'm going to be going over some of the small things that can make your time living and studying here in Germany go more smoothly.
     So you've moved into your new Studentenwohnheim, cleared out the dust from the last tenant, put their old mail in the Hausmeisters mailbox, realized in a whole new way that American dorm rooms are essentially closets, and and you've come to the realization that there are no curtains to keep out the light when you are attempting to oversleep on a weekday?  We all know that buying actual curtains is both impractical, as you're going to move out in a few months. and too expensive, as it would cut into the money you could be spending on important things like ice cream.

Rules of the Road, and other Places: Volume 2 - Bike Riding!

Shiny as can be!

     For most Americans who live in a city, riding a bike to work, school, or just as general transportation, is often a fact of life, due to the lack of available parking, city traffic, and the pure ease of use.  Here in Leipzig, as well as in other cities, many Germans opt to ride their bikes for the same reasons.  However, unlike in the United States, where bicyclists are given the same right to the road as motorists, without any real restriction, the story is a little different in Germany.

Enjoyable Oddities: Volume 2 - Schrebergärten

      Well I'll be, its the second post of any type that I've done so far.  This week's installment examines the Schrebergärten, or "allotment gardens," which can be found all over Germany, although are more common around cities.
     The original push for these types of gardens cam from Moritz Schreber, a physician and member of the University of Leipzig's faculty in early to mid 1800's, as a response to the difficulty in obtaining food in cities during the Industrial Revolution.  The first German law in support of these gardens was passed in 1919.  There are currently over 1 million such gardens in the country.

The Weekly How-To Manual: Volume 1 - Registering at the Ausländerbehӧrde

Either of these trains will return you to the city center.

 
  Welcome to the "Weekly How-To Manual," where I will explain how to go about completing some of the many tasks required in order to live and study here in Leipzig, and Germany in general.  This week's topic is registering with the "Ausländerbehӧrde," or the foreigner's authority (immigration office).  This registration is functionally identical to obtaining a visa, but as U.S. citizens, rather than obtaining a visa in advance, we are able to register after our arrival here in Germany. 

The required documents are: (Make copies at one of the University's copy centers in the Augustusplatz campus, as the office takes them for their file)

• The application document, which is available here (do not click the "English" option; the website becomes a tourist site when you do), which must be completed (sign it the day you go to register)
• A biometric passport photo (these can be taken at a photobooth in the city hall office on Markgrafenstr. 3.  It costs 7 Euros for 4 pictures; the Ausländerbehӧrde person will have what amounts to a hole punch to cut one out.
• Your passport
• Your rental agreement
• Proof of your insurance (Stamped letter from the company, explanation of benefits, and proof of payment)
• Your matriculation form (make a copy of both forms that the University gave you)
• Proof of funds (659,00 Euros, per month you are staying, in a German bank account.  Make it abundantly clear that you are only staying until the end of the semester, and bring a copy of your first month's rent and room deposit payment reciept)
• If you took a language course (ie. Goethe Institüt), bring a copy of your completion form.  It will function as proof of language ability, and explain why you didn't obtain a visa for several weeks.
• 50 Euros (fee for the visa for four months.  Have 110 on hand, as that is the full payment for a year, and it goes down from their based on the actual time you will spend in Germany.)

Location Spotlight: The Reichstag

The Bundestag, a day before every other picture,
because there's not way to tell on the internet.

     Hello again!  I apologize for the delay (that no one noticed because my posting schedule isn't announced), but here we are again.  This post marks the first "Location Spotlight," where I will cover some of the history of a notable place I have visited in the past week.  This week's location is the "Reichstag," which is the meeting place for "Bundestag," which is the main governing body of Germany.

Rules of the Road, and other Places: Volume 1 - Bottle deposits

A typical American bottle return station.

    In the United States, we are accustomed to see machines like these, used for returning plastic and glass bottles for their 5-10 cent deposits.  Some people do so fairly regularly, although many will either simply recycle their bottles, or throw them away, as the price of the deposit doesn't necessarily warrant the additional time and energy spent on retrieving it.  Here in Germany however, it is a far different story.

Enjoyable Oddities: Volume 1 - Jaywalking

A Typical German City Crosswalk

     Welcome to "Enjoyable Oddities,"  a series of posts which will follow the fun, and sometimes downright weird little differences which become apparent to me over the course of my time in Leipzig, and Germany as a whole.
     This week's topic is jaywalking.  In many cities in the United States, jaywalking, crossing a street without a traffic signal or crosswalk, is a common part of everyday life.

Cooking for People Unsure of What a Stove Does: Recipe 1 - Simple Noodle and Vegetable Stew

It probably looks like this, just, you know,
 attached to the counter.

   Oh hi there!  So you're away from home, where you don't cook anything because you're not sure of how to convert ingredients into anything edible, the University's cafeterias and Mensas are closed (because they're for breakfast and lunch silly), and you really need to save some money somewhere, so you can go to that "museum" on the weekend.  Never fear!  Each week I will post a new, simple recipe which can be made in about 20-30 minutes, relatively cheaply, and without any guesswork.                                        Guten Appetit!

Simple Noodle and Vegetable Stew

Ingredients:

• Noodles of your choice (approx. 125g of bagged or boxed pasta, or 1 packet of ramen noodles)
• Mixed vegetables (fresh or frozen, diced)
• Vegetable bullion (powdered, cubed, or paste)
• 2 cups of water
• Oil or butter
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Culture Post #1: Guten Morgen Deutschland!

     Hi!  How's it going?  Today we're going to explore the most important meal of the day.  Here in Germany, people on the go might decide to stop into a local bakery, or perhaps a chain like "Backwerk," for a quick bite to eat, and a cup of coffee.  These types of places are (obviously) chock full of various types of 

There's no way I'm trying not to look creepy taking this...

bread, but also stock plenty of sandwiches, particularly variations on the caprese, as well as sweeter options, like Berliners, danishes, and certain donuts ("pinky," chocolate frosted, and plain.  No exceptions).  As far as coffee goes, they have just about anything you could want, although you make it yourself using one of their machines (though this is not true of all bakeries here), and it also appears that all of those many and varied artificial sweeteners that we are used to in the U.S. are nowhere near as popular (look for the little tablets, or for the industrial Pez dispenser- they're hiding behind the hundreds of tubular sugar packets), while anything involving milk takes the top spot.