I'm off! A quick nap, and then catching a taxi to the train station at 5:15 am!

Ich wunsche euch alle eine FROHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN und auch einen
GUTEN RUTSCH!
(a Merry Christmas and a good "slide" into the New Year!)

Until 2006!

I spend way too much time on this site.
Warning: do not go on this site late at night like me, and then read all of the emotional rescue stories or memorials about the dogs that have died. . .it is a bad idea! But if you want to see LOTS of cute dogs, like this one:



Then I highly recommend it!

Oh, and for cat lovers (which I am as well), there's Catster!

I just found out that the Baja classes I took over the summer two years ago doesn't count towards GE credits at Davis. WHY?!? Why don't I think of making sure of these things sooner?!?!?

So when I get back, in order to graduate, I'll have to take about three of four ling. classes, who knows how many German (hopefully not too many), one upper division lit class, and TWO science/engineering GE classes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Sucks with a capital "S". But at least I can probaby get into nutrition and health or something super-easy, since I have first pass priority registration.

PS-over Christmas break I'm reading the story of Moses, as written by Thomas Mann. Pretty interesting! Except whenever I can't quite understand what I'm reading, I keep thinking back to the plot of Prince of Egypt. So far the two stories aren't that similar.

I watched another movie tonight, since I have so much time on my hands.

LA Confidential--SO MUCH better than Ghost, lol. It's one of the few cop-shooting-gangster-bad-guys movies that I really liked. Probably because it actually had an interesting story and interesting characters along with the movie, which is pretty rare!

The only drawback--I totally didn't get the plot twists. I guess I'm just not used to movies that make you think that much, lol. So will somebody please go see it and give me a very, very detailed plot summary? I'll give you 5 bucks. . . .

Tonight I watched the movie Ghost, which I borrowed from Cindy because it's the last movie of hers that I haven't seen yet. The following rant probably may not be of much interest to you, whether you've seen the movie or not, just to warn you.

The movie Ghost is just an excellent example of the typical American movie themes, and it drives me crazy. The main character, played by Patrick Swayze (who cannot act, he should have just stuck to Dirty Dancing), gets shot by a mugger at the beginning of the film. He stays on Earth basically to save his girlfriend from getting murdered and of course at the same time get revenge (a much too common theme in these Hollywood-types of movies. Come on, who needs revenge? It's pointless). So in the process of protecting his girl, he causes the (somewhat accidental) death of both of the guys planning the murder, and they both go to hell. But once everything's taken care of, Patrick Swayze goes to Heaven. Wait, he just caused the death of two men, and he gets to go to Heaven? It just makes no sense! The only part I liked was Whoopi Goldberg, even though she played a very stereotypical role.

Sometimes I get cranky and decide to take movies very personally. This is an example of one of those times.

So I have two days to decide if I want to move to Berlin to study for my second semester, instead of staying here in Göttingen for the whole year.

Pros of moving:
Meet new people, way more stuff to do, experience of living in an enormous city (it's like NYC)

Cons of moving:
What if I don't make new friends, hard to find own living arrangement, moving all my crap, getting adjusted to whole new school and city

So it seems like there are more cons, which is why I'm kind of thinking of just letting the deadline pass by and not worrying about it...but does anyone else have a strong feeling about this? Ha ha, I'm just not sure! And I'd like to hear what people think.

PS-it's snowing outside! Like HARDCORE! It's been snowing since I woke up, and it's so exciting!!

PPS-my hair smells like cigarettes. That's the annoying thing in Germany (probably all of Europe, or maybe just everywhere other than Californa, lol), you take a shower before a party, but what's the point, because then you get back and all your clothes and your skin and your hair smell like cigarette smoke! But what can ya do.
We had a Xmas party in my dorm last night, and I ended up staying there until the party ended, at 5:30 am! I don't think I've ever done that before. But it was a good way to start the break, which will be extremely boring until I fly out to Scottland on Xmas Eve. Until then, I have a week in which EVERYONE will be gone!

Classes are done for break! Yay! But it sucks here, because the semester doesn't end until after Xmas break. So before break ends I have to (cuz I know you're all very interested in this):

1. Read a "short" story by Thomas Mann that's 69 pages
2. Read a novella, Der Sandmann, that's 77 pages
3. Write an essay on what I think "European culture" is (does such a thing even exist?)
4. Read a short essay by Freud about the meaning of dreams
5. Figure out what I'm going to say for a presentation on Karl Kraus (yeah, I don't know who he is either)

AND buy presents for my family before I leave on Xmas Eve! I guess it could be worse. But I'm gonna have to put my nose to the...mill wheel? Grind stone? Something like that, if I want to be able to relax when my fambly comes.

So this is random....
For one of my lectures this week I'm reading the original novella, Traumnovelle, that the movie Eyes Wide Shut is based on. Who knew that film was actually based on something?

Other pieces of news:
-I saw Chronicles of Narnia on Thursday--it was alright. The special effects weren't actually that good in my opinion, outside of the talking animals (but that's the only part that really matters anyway!). And YAY for ASLAN! He was definitely the coolest character, just as he should be. But talk about obvious allegories. It's interesting to think about how you read these books as a kid and have no idea what the story's referencing.

-My bike has a flat tire. Hopefully it will get repaired tomorrow by the Bike Man (aka Dietmar) tomorrow, since it sucks to walk. Everything takes about twice as long.

-One aspect of German culture I will never like: Germans have NO CONCEPT WHATSOEVER of lines. As in waiting in line. They just don't do it. I was at a Christmas party last night, and I had to wait half an hour in a huge throng of people all trying to push to the front, like at a rock concert or something, just so I could get my jacket from coat-check! There was even a girl in a wheelchair next to me, politely asking if people could let her through, and everyone pretty much ignored her. It was out of control, and you really had to fight if you ever wanted to get to the front. This isn't the first time I've experienced this. What is this, people?? Isn't Germany generally considered a civilized society?? That's all about that. Cammy already had to hear this rant on the phone, haha.

And that is all that I can think of now. Except that I am SO EXCITED about CHRISTMAS! I get to see my FAMILY! CAN YOU FEEL MY EXCITEMENT?

Apparently my parents are actually sending some copies of this pic out as a Xmas card:



The painting in the background is a pretty crappy self-portrait I did of myself back in freshman year Beginning Painting. It makes me laugh though. Why do they get to do a funny card the one year that I'm gone?

Amusing experience:

Having virtually your entire German as a Foreign Language class, including the teacher, burst out laughing when they hear that the voting age in the US is 18, but the drinking age is 21.

It is pretty funny when you think about it.

I don't know if people in the US watched this show or not, but apparently there was a special comedy show on TBS about global warming, and for one of the skits, Will Ferrell reprised his famous role as W. Bush making a public service announcement.
The clip's a little long, but I guarantee it's amusing!
Ferrell as the W

I'm going to Berlin tomorrow! So excited! It's my second time, but last time was definitely the tourist experience, whereas this time, hopefully it will be a little more, uh, "underground"? I don't know the right word for that. But yeah. I'm taking a train all by myself (first time), to stay for a couple nights with my friend Tony (Banando, for those of you that know him)! That's right, another member of the Monrovia Clan that chose to flee to Germany this year!

Should be fun--i just hope I don't regret all the work I have to do when I get back! (Don't think about it...don't think about it....)

My friend Keinst introduced me to (ie showed me pictures of) possibly the hottest Japanese actor I've seen, Takeshi Kaneshiro. He was in House of Flying Daggers, and though I heard the movie wasn't that good...I'm seriously thinking about seeing it now!

Endlich! Thanksgiving photos!

The American students had a special dinner on Thursday night at the Mensa (the cafeteria here). I was a little skeptical, since I've eaten at the Mensa during the day, and the food there is definitely nothing to write home about. But they actually worked hard on this meal, I could tell! There was a first course of salad, with lots of yummy fresh vegetables, and then the second course was turkey of course, along with all vegetarian sides: corn, REAL mashed potatoes, green beans, and some squash dish which was really yummy.

And the best part of the night? It snowed that night! We were all dressed up in our dresses and suits, but it didn't matter--the Californians were too excited about the snow to care about how cold it was! The Germans were probably all watching and shaking their heads.

The group

The centerpieces that I helped design! Haha, we call it a "modern" look

Me being excited (and hyper) about Thanksgiving

Our Sears family portrait (yes, they already had a Xmas tree up in the Mensa!)

My German teacher Herr Beilein, learning to play thumbwars. If you knew him, you would understand how hilarious this was. Herr Beilein is like the most stereotypical German--he's got a really dry sense of humor, and he's very quiet and intimidating in a lot of ways. But obviously still cool enough to try thumb wars!

SNOW!!!!

View from my window the next morning.

Next up: Christmas! :)

Twenty years of spending Thanksgiving with my family, and this year I'm breaking the tradition. I miss them, but at least I'll get to see them for the "big" holiday--Christmas!

Excerpt from an email from my dad today (need I say more?):

Hi, Kate!

Are you OK?

Please say you are OK.

Pretty please!

You know we want to hear it!

To tell the truth,

Having you overseas

At the holiday

Nearly makes me

Krazy!

See? I even

Goofed up

In spelling a

Very simple word.

It's

Not a good sign.

Goodness! --

Why, I just saw that if you read the first letters of the lines above, they happen to contain a secret message just for you! Can you figure it out? I bet you can if you try! What a funny coincidence!

Whaddya wanna bet that Angelina Jolie's adopted son, Maddox, is going to grow up and write some tell-all memoirs book about how crazy she was?
Just a random thought.

Ah the joys of having two presentations over with...and Thanksgiving tomorrow! Or the closest thing to it, anyway--the cafeteria at the school is cooking dinner for us tomorrow night. It'll be interesting to see how they make a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner! Especially for the vegeterians...should be interesting, I'm trying not to be too worried about it. :)

And along with the See's chocolates, my mom sent me the CD's that I missed, since I didn't have the brilliance to copy all my CDs onto my iTunes. So now I'm listening to Big Boi and Dre Present..., which I never thought I'd miss so much! Hehe. But hey, I need variety....

And now, in honor of my free time tonight, and the fact that it is way too cold for me to go outside tonight (no bar tonight for me, thanks!), I will now do a survey.

Feel free to stop reading now. :)
I deleted all the questions I thought were lame/clichéd

---------------
1. Your name spelled backward? llirruB etaK (that was really hard to do, lol)

2. Last incoming call on your phone? Cindy

3. Who sent you the last text message in your inbox? Haha I deleted it...don't remember. Probably Cindy or
Janelle

4. What's your favorite restaurant? Well, in Germany I like the "Cuban" restaurant a lot...in the US, basically ANY good ethnic food sounds good right now--maybe the Thai restaurant on Myrtle Ave. or the Udupi Palace in Little India, or Taqueria Guadalejara in Davis...I could go on.

5.Last time you swam in a pool? Probably in San Clemente during the summer

6. Have you ever been in a school play? I was in the school musical! Guys and Dolls and Joseph, good times

7. How many kids do you want? An even number...probably two

8. Type of music you dislike most? Probably either gangster rap or pop country.

9. Are you registered to vote? Yesiree Bob!

10. Do you have cable? At my parent's house, but not in Germany or Davis

11. Have you ever ridden on a mo-ped? No. Is a vespa a moped? Because I want one!

12. Ever made a prank phone call? Probably in fourth or fifth grade

13. Best friends? Yes! I believe in those! :)

14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? I would go sky diving, but bungee jumping looks pretty dangerous to me

15. Furthest place you ever traveled? Probably Japan or Thailand, in terms of how long the flight was

16. Do you have a garden? haha i have fake plastic grass and one real potted plant in front of my window

17. What's your favorite comic strip? I have two: Calvin and Hobbes and Mutts

18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? Please don't make me go through the whole song in my head! I'm pretty sure I do.

20. Best movie you've seen in the past month? In the past month? Seen some pretty crappy movies...nothing profound for sure. But Harry Potter IV was definitely good times!

21. Favorite pizza toppings? Cheese, feta, garlic, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts

22. Chips or popcorn? They're both pretty nasty--chips are better tho

23. What color lipstick do you usually wear? don't really EVER wear lipstick!

24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? I didn't know you could

27. Who were the last people you went out to dinner with? What qualifies as "out to dinner?" I went to McDonald's with Vivian and Janelle last Sunday to get ice cream, which was basically my dinner, haha

28. Favorite type chocolate bar? See's Chocolate! And I really like Milka chocolate bars, and Ritter Sport.

29. When was the last time you voted at the polls? 2004

31. Have you ever won a trophy? Back during my karate days! We got second place in team kata, for anyone that knows what that means! haha

32. Are you a good cook? NO, as I have discovered since moving to Germany and having to cook pretty much everything from scratch

33. Do you know how to pump your own gas? One of my many points of pride

42. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? my mom

43. Did you have a lot of hair as a young kid? Um...I think I had a normal amount, haha. I wasn't bald, at least!

44. What message is on your answering machine? A really boring one where I sound pissed off/bored because I recorded it at about 3am

45. Where would you like to go right now? Well, I don't think I'd like to go home to Monrovia, surprisingly. I guess I'd like to either go to Davis or just somewhere else in Europe, like maybe somewhere warm, like southern Italy or France!

46. What was the name of you first pet? Awww...Myra

My mom sent me a box of See's!! I asked for it for Christmas, but she sent it to me over the weekend! You have no idea how excited I was. They can say all they want about German chocolate, but nothing compares to See's. Especially shipped specially in a box all the way from the US, from your mommy! :)

Sometimes all I do on the weekends is sit in front of my computer and woooorrrrrrkkkkkk....
At least that's what it feels like.

Saw my first movie in the theater tonight: Harry Potter IV, in German!
I've never been a big fan of the movies, but I have to say, this one was really good, in terms of how well it made the book's plot work as a cohesive, involving film in its own right. I don't think I could sit through it again, because it felt REALLY long, but at the same time, I was really involved in the story.

And the special effects were amazing! The Quidditch tournament, and all of the Tri-wizard competitions, were really cool. AND I was able to follow it surprisingly well in German! Definitely glad I saw it.

[add: And Ralph Fiennes played Lord Voldemort! What?!]