Complaint on the German Language ( specifically, how they use it)

I put up with all sorts of quirks which the Germans have acquired within their language and how they use the language, but there is one thing which has been really bugging me lately. You'll probably think that it's nothing, but I think it is something because they are misusing the language and making me look like the idiot in the process.

Here's the situation: I go to fill out a form and the first box says "Name" (same as the English word name). So, what do I write? It doesn't specify "first name" or "last name", so I take a gamble and figure that it is the first box so I'll write my first name. Wrong. I move on to the second box and there it is written "Vorname" (first name). So, apparently I'm supposed to just know that my "name" is not in fact Laurie but is Koning. Of course, I know that on most official forms the last name is written first, but forms can be very nerve-racking and I try to do exactly as the instructions tell me. If someone on the street asks for your "Name", you don't say just your last name. "Name" is a general term for a person's entire title, such as Dr. Milly Gray, Pat Dewey, or Mr. Sire. Why, oh why do they just put "Name"!?!

Google's One Day Only Event!

If you go to Google.com today, you will find Google celebrating it's 11th birthday by writing it's name "Googlle".

But, if you head over to Google.de, you will find Google celebrating Germany's national election day by writing it's name with the second o being drawn like a ballot box which includes a square around the o and an x over it.

This is a one-day event, so go check out these Google websites today!

New Town, New Tune

Remember how when I was in Erlangen I said that the sound of the ambulance played in my head all day long, whether there really was an ambulance going by or not?

Well, new town, new tune.

The doorbells in my apartment building are three long descending tones, which remind me of the NBC theme, but isn't. It's rare for the doorbell of my apartment to ring, but I hear my neighbors' doorbells all day long. And, because it is such a distant sound, I am not always sure whether it is just an echo in my head or the real thing.

Cottbus Points of My Interest

I was thinking today about how tiny European refrigerators are and I decided that I wanted to make a map of my neighborhood to show the locations of grocery stores so that people could understand how easy it is to get more groceries since the fridge empties out in just a couple of days. I thought that I was going to have to work in Paint and create a scary looking map as I do not own a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program. But, I made a cool discovery today that Google is providing first-class tools to the modern man. Below you will find a link to a map I made in Google's personal map making program. The scope of my map expanded a bit once I realized that I didn't have to work in the finicky Paint. Have no fear to roam about the map and click on the icons/lines to get info on what they represent, but don't zoom in or out because then the icons will be in the wrong spots.

Welcome to my neighborhood.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103359680184196891902.0004742b384805dcd50be&ll=51.768867,14.340931&spn=0.019732,0.043731&t=h&z=15

XXL-XXXXXXXXL

Read the green sign on this store, "Mannermode XXL-XXXXXXXXL". It's a men's clothing store for men of unbelievable sizes! I read recently that the world's tallest person at the moment is 8'1". I don't think even he wears size XXXXXXXXL.

Berlin Marathon 2009

My friend Baraa was visiting Berlin this weekend to spend some time with his Egyptian friends in celebration of the end of Ramadan. He invited me to go up and hang out with them. When he first mentioned that he was in Berlin, I thought, "Wow, so far away". It took me a few minutes to remember that I don't live in southern Germany anymore. So, I took the train up there Sunday morning and then returned in the evening.

The annual Berlin marathon happened to be taking place on Sunday, so we saw a stretch of that as we walked from Alexander Platz to the Brandenburger Tor. There were lots of musical groups entertaining and encouraging the runners along the route. 40,000 people were registered in the race and around 35,000 crossed the finish line. This marathon is considered to be one of the fastest marathons in the world due to the flatness of the course. It was very inspiring to see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes, pushing their ways along the course. Okay, maybe not "all" shapes, but definitely some shapes which made me think, "If they can do it, then I could easily do it." But, I had the number 26 in my head, and I forget that a marathon is 26 miles and not 26 kilometers. When I go for my weekly jog, I only do about 6 kilometers. A marathon is 42 kilometers. So, multiply my distance by 7...Yeah, not gonna happen. Inspiration gone.

Scientists are Genius'!!

I was reading an article today about the analysis of iron in red soils and it was all very technical until I reached this second of two reasons why certain numbers were chosen to be used in a particular equation, "they are easy to remember." I suppose that when you have complicated concepts on your mind, it's best to keep some things as simple as possible.

The Funny Mirror

This mirror used to belong to Christin, but at some point it broke, and she said that I could have it. I think it makes for a fun photo with the curvy lines. And of course, in a fun photo I have to make a funny face.

Good Friends Come in Smiley Faces

When I was feeling blue one day in the Erlangen geomorphology lab, Ute drew this smiley face on the inside backcover of my notebook. Ute is a good friend.

German Language Tip

When Germans want to address an American in a teasing way, be it affectionate or cruel teasing, then they use the word "Ami". A few days ago I was chatting with a few older women and one them was trying to explain a concept to me. I was having difficult understanding and so she said (affectionately), "Awwww, die Ami versteht nicht" (Awwww, the Ami doesn't understand).