von Thomas Riedel,
aus Dresden Musik für die Seele
Das Licht der Stille, von Thomas Riedel
Text:
Verborgen von der Welt
leuchtet eine Stille in Dir....
Du kannst sie nicht
mit deinen Tagesaugen sehen
denn Du bist geblendet
von den Dingen dieser Welt.
- - Zwischenspiel - -
Und trotzdem hast Du
Augen dieses Licht zu sehen.
In diesem Licht steht die Welt
still und neu vor dir
strahlend in Unschuld,
lebendig voller Hoffnung und
gesegnet mit einer
Liebe, die aus Dir entspringt.
- - Zwischenspiel - -
Wer könnte fürchten sich
in einer solchenWelt?
Sie heißt Dich jeden Tag
willkommen voller Freude.
Sie sieht das Licht in Dir,
und schützt es als ihr Eigen
Sie gibt Dir einen sanften,
warmen Platz zu sein.
Sie sieht Deinen Wert
und freut sich, dass Du da bist.
Sie gibt Dir ihren Schnee
und ihre Blumen,
in Dankbarkeit für Dein
wunderbares, stilles Licht.
Dies ist die Welt,
die Deine Liebe Dir enthüllt!
Du wirst sie sehen,
wenn Du nach innen schaust.
Sei also still für einen Moment
und lege alle Gedanken über die Welt
und Dich beiseite,
Leere Deinen Geist von allem,
was Du denkst und willst.
Halte nicht einen Gedanken fest,
egal wie wichtig und richtig
er auch erscheinen mag.
Lass alles los! Mach Platz
in Deinem Geist und Deinem Herzen,
für etwas Großes und Weites.
Und Liebe, die Du noch nie gekannt,
sie wird kommen, und sie kennt den Weg,
viel besser als Du ihn je erdenken könntest.
Die Liebe braucht Dein stilles Warten,
deine freudige Gewissheit ihres Kommens.
Sie ist Dein, weil Du
als liebevolles Licht erschaffen wurdest.
Schau heute nur auf
dieses stille Licht in Dir,
und segne es in allem,
was Dir in der Welt begegnet!
Wer hat Fragen um den Text? --rsb
Monday, August 31, 2015
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Germany Helps House Refugees as they Wait for Asylum
As refugees flood in....
In this photo taken on Thursday, July 30, 2015, Syrian refugee Leila, no last name given, poses in an emergency shelter in Berlin where she waits with her family for her pending registration as asylum seekers. The surge in migrants and refugees to Europe from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea and elsewhere this year has sent countries scrambling to come up with housing - both temporary for those awaiting the outcome of asylum applications, and permanent for those allowed to stay. Many European countries face similar problems, but none greater than Germany. Europe’s richest economy attracted 43 percent of Europe’s 400,000 asylum applications in the first half of the year - more than double the number in the same period of 2014. (AP Photo/Olga Syrova)
By OLGA SYROVA, Associated Press
BERLIN (AP) — Twenty-three-year-old Leila, her husband and two small children spent their first week in Germany in a temporary shelter, an austere but desperately needed haven after a traumatic flight from Syria that began when her husband was told to fight for the government.
Among an expected 800,000 asylum seekers flowing into Germany this year — some four times last year's count — she and her family shared a small room built in a converted covered tennis court in downtown Berlin during their first week in the country in August, furnished with three Ikea bunk beds, a small table and a small closet. They received three meals a day in a common room for the 300 refugees in the facility, and bathrooms were shared.
The setup was basic by European standards, but for Leila, who cannot forget the bodies littering the streets of the Syrian city of Aleppo, it was a fresh start.
"We were so afraid, before we came here," said Leila, who requested that her last name not be used for fear of retribution against her family still in Syria. "Now we feel comfortable because we are treated well ... We feel safe here."
The surge in migrants and refugees to Europe from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea and elsewhere this year has sent countries scrambling to come up with housing — both temporary for those awaiting the outcome of asylum applications, and permanent for those allowed to stay. German authorities say they have 45,000 spots in temporary facilities for new asylum applicants — excluding tent settlements that have been hastily erected — but they need as many as 150,000.
Many European countries face similar problems, but none greater than Germany. Europe's richest economy attracted 43 percent of Europe's 400,000 asylum applications in the first half of the year — more than double the number in the same period of 2014.
The converted tennis court where Leila and her family are being housed was supposed to be closed in May, but it has been kept open to help deal with the flood of newcomers. Funded by the city, it is run by the Berlin City Mission, a Christian nonprofit organization, and staffed largely by volunteers.
Elsewhere in Berlin, portable shipping containers have been converted into small stacks of apartments to accommodate 2,400 refugees around the capital. At one in container village in southwestern Berlin, which is just opening, colorfully painted containers offer comfortable space for 300 refugees. It boasts single rooms with shared kitchens and bathrooms on each floor, as well as small flats for families, and even accommodation for the disabled.
In government and non-governmental projects around the country, former military barracks are being converted to housing, disused nursing homes are being refurbished and even small tent cities are being erected. Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has already doubled the financial assistance available to local authorities to 1 billion euros ($112 billion) and has called a meeting with state leaders in September to discuss the refugee situation further.
Some Germans have taken matters into their own hands. Last year, Berlin resident Jonas Kakoschke decided with his roommate to house a refugee in her place while she was spending six months abroad.
Kakoschke helped the refugee, a Mali-born man from Senegal, learn the language, get his paperwork done and eventually find his own apartment. Now, with the online project "Refugees Welcome" that Kakosche and his roommate founded together, they help find private placements for more new arrivals, by matching ages, language skills and other criteria.
"Many refugees say they don't have direct contact with local population and our project helps them with that," Kakoschke said.
Through July, they say they have placed 64 refugees across Germany and 34 in Austria in private apartments. There's also been reports of people across Germany who have taken in refugees on their own, but it is not clear exactly how many.
First Day of School? Don't Miss Getting a Schultüte !
Make a Schultüte
By Marie LeBaron
There are many ways to get your kids excited and ready for the new school year. As my oldest is going into First Grade this year (I can’t believe he’s already in 1st grade), I thought it would be fun to make him a Schultute. A Schultüte, or school cone, is a German tradition where parents give their child going into their first year of school one of these giant cones filled with school supplies and treats. So as my son is going into his “first” year of school, I’ve made him this giant Schultüte (Star Wars -themed, of course, can you tell he likes Star Wars?)!
Supplies:
* poster board or large cardstock paper
* scissors
* glue stick
* heavy tape, I used packing tape
* Decorations: I used a Star Wars poster to cover the poster board, but it could be decorated with paint, crayons, paper, stickers, whatever you think your child might like.
* tissue paper
* ribbon
First, you’ll want to cut the poster board into the shape of a large triangle. I also cut my Star Wars poster the same size too. Then I attached my Star Wars poster to the white poster using a glue stick.
You’re ready to roll it up to form the cone. Then using the packing tape, seal the edges together. I used regular scotch tape to hold the cone closed until I used the heavy tape to seal it all together.
With your glue stick, put some glue all around the outside of the cone, about one inch from the top. Then holding the cone straight between your legs, attach the folded in half tissue paper to the outside of the cone. The first tissue paper didn’t make it all the way around, so I used two sheets of tissue paper.
Fill the Schultüte with your goodies for your child. I put in colored pencils, a notebook, a ruler, pencil sharpener, his favorite candy M&Ms, and a few other small things that he might enjoy or share.
Then tie the tissue up with ribbon to seal it off and keep the contents hidden!. In Germany, these Schultüte get quite a bit of mileage. They are presented at home and carried to school by the child. Family members join in at a special first day of school reception, which of course, involves individual and class photos -- complete with Schultüten. Afterwards, families return home to celebrate the new school child in their own way, often with invited guests.
**For another version of a smaller style Schultüte, visit our friend Zakka Life.
Also, if you’re not the crafty kind or *cough* can’t fit *cough* this project into your schedule, you can find unfilled Schultütes for sale at Magic Cabin
So, who'll be the first one to mention the Schultüte that is in the corner of our class this year?
There are many ways to get your kids excited and ready for the new school year. As my oldest is going into First Grade this year (I can’t believe he’s already in 1st grade), I thought it would be fun to make him a Schultute. A Schultüte, or school cone, is a German tradition where parents give their child going into their first year of school one of these giant cones filled with school supplies and treats. So as my son is going into his “first” year of school, I’ve made him this giant Schultüte (Star Wars -themed, of course, can you tell he likes Star Wars?)!
Supplies:
* poster board or large cardstock paper
* scissors
* glue stick
* heavy tape, I used packing tape
* Decorations: I used a Star Wars poster to cover the poster board, but it could be decorated with paint, crayons, paper, stickers, whatever you think your child might like.
* tissue paper
* ribbon
First, you’ll want to cut the poster board into the shape of a large triangle. I also cut my Star Wars poster the same size too. Then I attached my Star Wars poster to the white poster using a glue stick.
You’re ready to roll it up to form the cone. Then using the packing tape, seal the edges together. I used regular scotch tape to hold the cone closed until I used the heavy tape to seal it all together.
With your glue stick, put some glue all around the outside of the cone, about one inch from the top. Then holding the cone straight between your legs, attach the folded in half tissue paper to the outside of the cone. The first tissue paper didn’t make it all the way around, so I used two sheets of tissue paper.
Fill the Schultüte with your goodies for your child. I put in colored pencils, a notebook, a ruler, pencil sharpener, his favorite candy M&Ms, and a few other small things that he might enjoy or share.
Then tie the tissue up with ribbon to seal it off and keep the contents hidden!. In Germany, these Schultüte get quite a bit of mileage. They are presented at home and carried to school by the child. Family members join in at a special first day of school reception, which of course, involves individual and class photos -- complete with Schultüten. Afterwards, families return home to celebrate the new school child in their own way, often with invited guests.
**For another version of a smaller style Schultüte, visit our friend Zakka Life.
I don't expect to create one of these for each first year German student, although I have done so in the past. (Perhaps the German Club will take that on this year instead!) But I do expect to fill, and distribute from, the Schultüte which is already there, as feels appropriate. (Several years ago, our class Schultüte magically filled up every day all first semester long, and into the second semester, thanks in part to some remarkable student elves. Thanks again!! )-- rsb
8 Questions Every Language Learner Has About Language Conversation Exchanges
Word on the street is that all the kids are doing LCEs.
Oh, sorry—are you new to getting your language learning kicks online?
Thanks to the Internet, the world is your oyster. It turns out that language learning on your own terms can be fun, interactive and exciting.
When you want to start interacting with native speakers and practicing conversational skills, you’ll want to know all about the LCE experience. Far from the classroom with its recorded listening tapes and prompted conversations with other beginners, an LCE, or language conversation exchange, gets you speaking like a native faster through pure immersion.
To do an LCE, you will meet with a native speaker of your target language and converse with them, alternating between your language and theirs. You exchange your knowledge of English (or another language you know well) for their knowledge of the foreign language you’re learning. It gives you experience of real, one-on-one communication, a chance to converse and listen. This is vital to helping you learn quicker, better and with more enjoyment.
Sounds pretty great, right? An opportunity like this must rapidly accelerate everybody’s language learning, right? Sadly not. LCEs often fail or fade out, and their magic potential for language transformation is lost.
Luckily for you, I am going to spell out how to find, create and maintain an LCE that explodes your language learning as you know it and catapults you into a new level of fluency. And you might even make a friend along the way!
Everything You Need to Know About Language Conversation Exchanges
Why Should I Do a Language Conversation Exchange?
Before you start scouting for a buddy, it is vital that you know what you want this exchange to do for you. Do you want a structured and challenging test of your linguistic abilities? A mate to hang out and relax with? What is most important to you?
People have all sorts of reasons for seeking out an LCE, from pure love of language to understanding a new culture, finding a new friend in an unfamiliar place or having someone to reassure them that they are doing fine when they order drinks in a funny accent.
If you know what you want to get out of your LCE, you are more likely to find it. You won’t waste time with vague feelings that this isn’t really what I was after. No time for that! You have a language to master!
Sit down for five minutes and brainstorm why you might be looking for an LCE. Then choose the three main points—all related to what you want to achieve and experience. Make a note of them and refer back throughout your LCE to see if you are getting what you originally wanted.
Know what you’re looking for? Great! Let’s go get it!
How Can I Find My Language Conversation Exchange Buddy?
If you are looking for an online buddy then the internet is your oyster! Start right here with the FluentU iPhone app. Find a system that suits you with this amazing comprehensive list of high quality languages exchange sites.
I personally recommend Hellotalk to find a buddy in your target language. It is free, you are linked up instantly and you can keep searching until you find your perfect buddy. This works as a good introduction service. Later you can decide if you want to just text or maybe progress to Skype chat or beyond.
Skype isn’t necessarily the end goal—it’s actually a fantastic place to start! Check out Skype’s community message boards for people looking for a partner. Skype language lessons attract speakers of all languages and you can find many offers for languages exchanges there.
Couchsurfing also has a great community forum you can log into and post on for buddies. Here you can find kindred spirits who enjoy travel and adventuring.
These are my personal favorites. Check out the links above and see what works for you—and don’t be afraid to get out there and explore more options!
As for those of you lucky enough to actually be living abroad, it is even easier to find a buddy. Utilize centers of education—universities, schools, cultural centers. Leave an advert and a contact number there. Many universities offer a “Tandem” or language exchange service. Contact local TEFL teachers, too—they can give you contacts to their best and keenest students.
Being the foreigner in your town, many people would welcome the opportunity to learn with you. Ask your friends, ask your colleagues. Somewhere out there is your perfect LCE party waiting eagerly to set out on a language adventure by your side.
How Do I Recognize My Ideal LCE Partner?
Be discerning at the start. The better suited you two are for one another, the better your chances of having a successful LCE. Gut feeling is a good indicator. Is this person interesting to you? Do they have a similar personality and lifestyle? Would you choose to chat with them normally?
Then there is level. It is not necessary to have someone the same as you in ability and fluency. Even a total beginner and a near fluent speaker can help each other wonderfully as long as both are fulfilled and getting what they want.
Next, find out what your potential buddy wants from this exchange. Can you help them? Do they seem interested in helping you?
This last point is very important. Do they want to help you as well as improve their own level? Be sure you have a partner who you feel comfortable with, who seems supportive, patient and interested in your motivations and desires. People sometimes forget that speakers of a global language like English also want and need to improve their second language skills. Make sure your buddy is a team player before you move forward!
Okay, Got My Buddy! But How to Start?
Be flexible at the beginning. The relationship will take its own shape. That said, it is good to set some starting rules:
How often will we meet? At least once a week is best to keep things progressing nicely, but the more you meet up the better your speaking skills will become. Do not try to overwhelm your buddy with too many meet ups if they have a busy schedule, but be sure that you express your goals in terms of frequency.
How will we divide the languages? The most common format is to speak for half the time in your language, half the time in theirs. But it is up to you and your partner. You could alternate weeks or come up with your own system. Bear in mind though that extended language immersion will deepen your skills, so try not to flit between languages too quickly and too often.
If you are in an online LCE, you have the advantage of at least some written communication. That means you can post a short summary of the guidelines of your desired LCE to your buddy. Feel free to keep in touch via online messaging in between your meet ups.
Where will we meet? If you have a physical meeting, then vary the location. This makes each session unique with its own set of challenges and learning opportunities. Go to a museum or a park. Meet at your house or at your buddy’s. Not only will you be more stimulated by each meeting thanks to the varying scenery and topics of conversation, you will come across new vocabulary and challenges too.
If you are meeting online, there is no reason not to explore cyberspace together! Play games, have fun. Sometimes you can Skype for talking practice. Sometimes you can text chat so that your buddy can give you writing tips. Try different chat rooms and experiment with different conversation sites. Maybe you can even go on a SIMS adventure together!
The Time Has Come—What Should We Talk About?
Try to keep the topics of discussion diverse. At the start, you can focus on getting to know each other, but your LCE will be much more fun if you deliberately address different areas of conversation.
This is especially relevant for online LCEs because we all spend a lot of time on the computer and are distracted by Facebook, background events, etc. Planning varied and fun themes ensures that your LCE is the only thing on your mind when you turn on your computer. By avoiding distractions and staying focused on a topic, you will get the absolute most from the exchange.
Role play and explore situations. This can work as well through Skype as in person. Your buddy can prep you for possible job interviews or interactions with trained staff. Role plays are a great way of both minimizing nerves (by pretending to be someone else) and becoming adept in situations you may need in real life. And they do not need much preparation. Just set a situation and think of a few points that may come up. Believe me, it is less effort than preparing nothing and then forcing conversation about the weather and your summer plans.
If your language has a formal\informal function, as most languages do, you can choose to speak one week formally and discuss more professional topics such as your career. Then the next week you can devote to casual speech and slang words.
Get practical. Put yourself in real situations. Explore language through food!Go to dinner or to the pub together, order food and pay the bill. Agree to take your native buddy around town without guidance so that you read the maps and you ask for directions when you get lost. Go to an art gallery and explain how each picture makes you feel. Take the train and describe the route to your buddy.
Maybe you want this to be very low-key and laid back. That is fine as long as it is what you and your buddy both want. But remember that variability and challenging yourself will take you farther faster. You are going to meet loads of foreign speakers to chat and hang with once your language level starts accelerating. Why not use this novel opportunity to its maximum potential?
This was fun. When shall we meet next? Always end with a new time to meet. This is important for motivation and so that your LCE does not get swallowed up by the busyness of your lives. Having research to do, a role-play to plan or a topic to mull over means that your mind will stay on your LCE all week.
How Do I Know My LCE Is Really Working?
Want to be sure that you are getting the most out of your LCE experience? Want to rest easy knowing that you are making tons of great progress thanks to your new buddy?
Make a goal for your LCE, whether it be to widen your vocabulary, increase your confidence or simply be able to order drinks by yourself (with or without laughter). This main goal gives you something to aim towards. Then you can set up small, achievable goals for each meeting, such as:
- Go out for dinner and talk to the waiter all night
- Have a basic discussion about the political background of this country
- Survive a 30-minute conversation without giving in and reverting to English
This does not need to be a structured thing with charts and progress boards. Just keep it in your own mind. Keep your focus on what you want to achieve and how that is going. This will keep your LCE alive and useful for you and make sure that you know you are progressing.
It is also up to you to set the level of correction you want from your buddy. If your aim is confidence, then just relax and talk as much as possible. If you want to nail your grammar, then ask them to point out and explain mistakes. You can set yourself specific goals for each session, for example:
- Today I want to use conditionals correctly
- I am bored of using the same adjectives all the time. Today I will experiment with more advanced and unusual ones
Once your buddy knows your aim they can help you reach it and give you feedback and advice.
How Do I Keep My LCE Fun?
Treat it like any other important relationship—invest your time and energy in it. Commitment and regular communication are important to keep your LCE a part of your life. Be excited about it. Goal plan and reflect on how each meeting went and what you each got from it. What could you improve next time and how could you better help your partner? Once your LCE is something you are excited about, it will stay on the front page of your attention span.
How to End My Language Conversation Exchange?
For whatever reason, LCEs are sometimes quite short. Maybe you just needed that initial boost to get you going in your new language or to find a group of friends. Maybe you or your buddy is super busy now. That’s okay, it usually has to end sometime—and you can always keep in touch in the future if you like.
But do make sure you end your LCE fittingly. It has been an adventure and a learning process for both of you. Go for a final dinner or drink together. If you are online make sure you schedule that final webchat or Skype meet. Chat about what you learned and what was fun and think about your plans now.
How you will keep improving your language? Did you get what you wanted? Did you push yourself and reach new boundaries in your new language? Are you still hungry to go farther, to get even more fluent, confident and capable?
If so…there are a million other LCE partners waiting for you. Whether online or in your town, reach out to them. Remember—each human being is a whole new world. For you, that is a whole world of new knowledge, understanding and learning. Use this opportunity to your advantage!
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Adam Groffman, Travels of Adam
How Germany keeps its cities clean during festivals
A Facebook post from my Uncle Erik in Denmark today shared this photo of the new solar-operated public trash compacting stations he saw this week, while he was visiting the capital city of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Kiel.
What Erik found so impressive is that the not only do the solar panels signal when to compact the contents of the station, can hold five times more items by volume, reducing collection requirements by up to 80 percent. An electric eye inside detects the level of trash (or recyclables) and triggers compactions as needed. This eye also notifies the collection agency when the box is at capacity and needs to be serviced. Pretty high tech.
What is so cool that I learned today was that the technology of these BigBelly solar-powered compactors actually comes from Massachusetts! Also, we have several of these units in Newport these days, thanks in part to funds raised during a student's Senior Project!
Very cool.
But Kiel has a major waterfront, and these boxes don't help on the water (yet). So there is a very involved program to handle waste and separate it for recycling, which I don't believe takes place in Newport, or in any USA port. Sanitize specialists, most commendably, work around the clock to catch trash -- and separate it -- before it can become an environmental problem. In particular at sea, they are always a welcome sight, since yachts can really generate a lot of trash, and where, with limited on board space, there can be considerable temptation to let trash "disappear" overboard.
Here are a photo from Kiel's magazine the Fördeflüsterer, features an employee holding one of the trash retrieval baskets with that welcoming signal, which other vessels gratefully flag down in order to take advantage of their trash removal service. A corner of the sorting station appears on the right.
Photo: Erik Rønholt
What Erik found so impressive is that the not only do the solar panels signal when to compact the contents of the station, can hold five times more items by volume, reducing collection requirements by up to 80 percent. An electric eye inside detects the level of trash (or recyclables) and triggers compactions as needed. This eye also notifies the collection agency when the box is at capacity and needs to be serviced. Pretty high tech.
What is so cool that I learned today was that the technology of these BigBelly solar-powered compactors actually comes from Massachusetts! Also, we have several of these units in Newport these days, thanks in part to funds raised during a student's Senior Project!
Very cool.
But Kiel has a major waterfront, and these boxes don't help on the water (yet). So there is a very involved program to handle waste and separate it for recycling, which I don't believe takes place in Newport, or in any USA port. Sanitize specialists, most commendably, work around the clock to catch trash -- and separate it -- before it can become an environmental problem. In particular at sea, they are always a welcome sight, since yachts can really generate a lot of trash, and where, with limited on board space, there can be considerable temptation to let trash "disappear" overboard.
Here are a photo from Kiel's magazine the Fördeflüsterer, features an employee holding one of the trash retrieval baskets with that welcoming signal, which other vessels gratefully flag down in order to take advantage of their trash removal service. A corner of the sorting station appears on the right.
Kieler Woche -- Since 1882
Kiel is the capital city of the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein. Each June since 1882 it hosts an impressive, international sailing extravaganza called Kielerwoche (Kiel Week), with nearly round-the-clock cultural events of all kinds, most of which focus along its harbor and shoreline.
The ring of a ship's bell kicks the week's events off, and, once, after a long week of tight competition, and all the prizes for each sailing class have been awarded, the culminating events are the following week, with the world's largest parade of sail
Here's a 2-plus minute photo collage (by Finn Karstens and Phillip Spieck) of the build-up to the week, as well as some of the activities during the week. Keep in mind that Germany lies north of RI; there are longer days during Kieler-Woche: the sun sets at 10 pm, and rises again before 5 am.
Beginning: Staging event; shots of Kiel; inland park for hot air balloons; Ferris wheel
0:40 the harbor begins to get filled in
0:50 many non-sailing events piggy-back with the event
1:06 the look of delight
1:16 a hint of the entertainment and onshore excitement
1:28 bustling harbor; each sailing class must find its own proper start and competition buoys;
1:39 glimpses of the landscape
1:54 tidy docks late afternoon; large outdoor screen
2:00 I keep looking for the Hauptbahnhof, which
2:08 launch ramp to launch (finnless??) windsurfers
2:16 winners' podium
2:24 coordinated fireworks show begins after dark...11 pm, probably with music
This video highlights the events along the harbor. Other exhibits include the kids' favorite : Spiellinie, where there are lots of interactive adventures from around the world, as well as entertainers. I find it interesting that each year the construction of the stages and set-ups for this major attraction is part of a half-year training program (apprenticeship) for future builders, so its a practical and creative training ground, after which there's always plenty of (generally very positive) feedback.
This video shows how kids enjoy the Spiellinie during a single afternoon. (The camera crew didn't stay to watch the daily kids' concert, for example.)
Adding to the kids' platform in the park, Kiel's university also organizes daily family-friendly science exhibits. Some involve hikes. Others study nano particles. Sometimes they seek to better understand the ocean, or to solve environmental problems.
In fact, it seems as if every possible avenue becomes involved in this festival, for instance:
[The Kielerwochenvereine are similar to the clubs, which sponsor so many different cultural activities in Germany around the calendar year, such as carnival (the 5th season, from 11. November until Lent), Walpurgisnacht (end of April leading to May 1), the parades and formal dances of the May Societies, the "Schutzenfesten" or protection / shooting festivals held locally, and so many other activities.]
It seems as if everyone in Germany is an active participant in at least one such organization. Intense loyalty to these clubs helps to justify why Germans are so efficient at work. They are anxious to get their salaried job done (very rarely is there overtime), so that they can get busy supporting the organization/s of their choice. Germans are much less interested in earning more money than they are creating their active lifestyle, participating in their communities to make them special, and enjoying the quality of life that they prefer.
Kiel Week is one splendid example of Germany's active family-friendly, community health-oriented, culture!
The ring of a ship's bell kicks the week's events off, and, once, after a long week of tight competition, and all the prizes for each sailing class have been awarded, the culminating events are the following week, with the world's largest parade of sail
Here's a 2-plus minute photo collage (by Finn Karstens and Phillip Spieck) of the build-up to the week, as well as some of the activities during the week. Keep in mind that Germany lies north of RI; there are longer days during Kieler-Woche: the sun sets at 10 pm, and rises again before 5 am.
Beginning: Staging event; shots of Kiel; inland park for hot air balloons; Ferris wheel
0:40 the harbor begins to get filled in
0:50 many non-sailing events piggy-back with the event
1:06 the look of delight
1:16 a hint of the entertainment and onshore excitement
1:28 bustling harbor; each sailing class must find its own proper start and competition buoys;
1:39 glimpses of the landscape
1:54 tidy docks late afternoon; large outdoor screen
2:00 I keep looking for the Hauptbahnhof, which
2:08 launch ramp to launch (finnless??) windsurfers
2:16 winners' podium
2:24 coordinated fireworks show begins after dark...11 pm, probably with music
This video highlights the events along the harbor. Other exhibits include the kids' favorite : Spiellinie, where there are lots of interactive adventures from around the world, as well as entertainers. I find it interesting that each year the construction of the stages and set-ups for this major attraction is part of a half-year training program (apprenticeship) for future builders, so its a practical and creative training ground, after which there's always plenty of (generally very positive) feedback.
This video shows how kids enjoy the Spiellinie during a single afternoon. (The camera crew didn't stay to watch the daily kids' concert, for example.)
Adding to the kids' platform in the park, Kiel's university also organizes daily family-friendly science exhibits. Some involve hikes. Others study nano particles. Sometimes they seek to better understand the ocean, or to solve environmental problems.
In fact, it seems as if every possible avenue becomes involved in this festival, for instance:
- Yes, the theaters and operas offer (often open-air) performances.
- There are puppet shows.
- There's a full-blown International food market, similar to the Christmas Markets we've come to know and love.
- There are even events to teach about politics.
[The Kielerwochenvereine are similar to the clubs, which sponsor so many different cultural activities in Germany around the calendar year, such as carnival (the 5th season, from 11. November until Lent), Walpurgisnacht (end of April leading to May 1), the parades and formal dances of the May Societies, the "Schutzenfesten" or protection / shooting festivals held locally, and so many other activities.]
It seems as if everyone in Germany is an active participant in at least one such organization. Intense loyalty to these clubs helps to justify why Germans are so efficient at work. They are anxious to get their salaried job done (very rarely is there overtime), so that they can get busy supporting the organization/s of their choice. Germans are much less interested in earning more money than they are creating their active lifestyle, participating in their communities to make them special, and enjoying the quality of life that they prefer.
Kiel Week is one splendid example of Germany's active family-friendly, community health-oriented, culture!
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Old German Traditions
This narrator has a few pronunciation issues, but the film highlights several interesting, long-standing traditions.
Hamburg Fischmarkt (1703)
Rügen: Klaus Stoertebeker Fest
Köln: Karneval (Fifth Season; Fit? Season)
Mt Broken: Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgischnacht?)
Hamburg Fischmarkt (1703)
Rügen: Klaus Stoertebeker Fest
Köln: Karneval (Fifth Season; Fit? Season)
Mt Broken: Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgischnacht?)