Language Learning: Disaster in a German Kitchen

Rothenburg, not far from my university in Würzburg.

Early on, when I was learning German, I got a part time job. 

It was at the university kitchen in Bochum, Germany. 

I figured it would be a good way to practice my German.

They had tens of thousands of students. 

I worked the lunch shift, 12–3:00.

My job was "Trays". 

Placing lunch trays on a conveyor belt. 

Over and over.

I must have done a good job. 

After a few days, I was promoted to "Sauce". 

I poured sauce over the meat, with a ladle.

This ladle had a VERY long handle. 

The sauce cart was on wheels. 

It was about a meter deep. 

I had a pretty good rhythm going. 

Suddenly - I DROPPED the ladle into the sauce.

Deep. Gone.

Now what?

I wasn't going to reach down in there. 

And: I didn’t know how to say “ladle” in German.

(The German word for ladle, by the way, is Schöpflöffel.

-Even if I KNEW it, I couldn't pronounce it.)

So I did nothing. 

I hoped no one would notice.

Pretty soon, the students began to complain. 

The whole system—conveyor belt, trays, meat, sauce, veggies— stopped. 

They traced the problem back to me. 

I stood there, feeling pretty stupid. 

So they gave me a clean ladle, and a few dirty looks. 

A LOT of grumbling. In German. 

Soon - everything started up again.

But the next day, I was back to "Trays".

- Not exactly a stellar career move. Even if I did learn the word for ladle.

(From the book - Meanwhile, Back in Los Ranchos -)

Bikes in Berlin and a Brandenburg Weekend

 The entrance to our rental apt in Berlin is NOT promising! 

Inside, the apartment is fine. It's okay.
It's in Prenzlauerberg, where we want to be.

 Mikey and Iris are living nearby. 

(And there's a baby on the way-!)

Your own fault for making that face, Mikey! Nice Itchy Feet t-shirt, though.

We borrow their bikes and terrorize the city streets.
Not intentionally.

People actually follow the Rules of the Road here.
Not like New Mexico. 

We're used to riding where and how we want.

It's hard to remember to obey traffic rules.


And: we're NOT the only ones on bikes!

Everyone's on a bike!

So - when we stop suddenly to check the map:
Everyone behind us nearly crashes into us.

You can IMAGINE the chaos we create.

The downside to living on the 5th floor.

Café lifestyle.

Berlin is flat. 

Bikes are a great way to enjoy the city.

Lakeside in Berlin. Summertime! Last time we were here, it was bitter cold and snow.

And then? 

What else to do in Berlin in July?

(We save the many museums for our winter visits.)

Head to the country!

We rent a small house somewhere in the lake country of Brandenburg.

The flowers! The fruits!
Everything so ripe. Lush.

There are 12 different types of fruit growing in the garden.

Things would NEVER look this juicy in New Mexico.

So what do you do with ALL that extra fruit?

- Make schnapps.

Good coffee - and homemade schnapps!

The owner, Lore, has 7 different types of homemade fruit schnapps.
Each type is in a different, old-fashioned bottle.

We promise her we'll try at least a few.

(We did - I think the raspberry won.)

We're REALLY in the country here. 

It's the "back of beyond" to those living in Berlin.

 Corn fields. Wheat. Chickens. Jam.

They sell blueberries, cherries, eggs, and chanterelle mushrooms by the side of the road.

It's an honor system. 

With a box for you to leave your money.

It's VERY rural. 

We explore. We read. Draw.

Mostly, we just chill.

Then - Stan makes a salad for dinner. 

Afterwards - a small glass of homemade schnapps as a "digestive".

See? Our life isn't always high adventure.