| Username |
Post |
| NK |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 11:25 AM
So far 5000 people are dead in France from deadly heat. Yes, Europe is hot -some parts of it actually burning -quite literally. You may have heard. Germany was not quite burning but believe me it was hot. The country is so damn damp usually, hospitals do not even have fans let alone air conditioning. Everyday we would make some plans to do something outside and as soon as we would reach our destination, all my relatives would start to complain "oh, it is so hot. Oh god, it is so hot." I would agree, "yes' it is hot." Once" one of them turned to me and quite incredulously asked, "But, Boston does get quite hot, doesn't it? I replied coolly' "yes, it does, and when it is unberarably hot (that is above 100 degrees) then we prefer to stay INSIDE." Thats the thing you see. Germans are so used to cold, dreary, and damp weather and expect rain every day they do not know what to make of it when it does not rain. They see sunshine, they make plans, they flock outside and expect rain. And' it *does not * rain! Thus the complaints! I must say, "What a strange race!"
***
The occasion was my sasura's 75th birthday. My sister-in-law made a plan to go to visit apple orchard for some education. You know how it is made so round, whether it grows under the ground or above, bush or shrub or tree, and so on. Well, I said "for some education." That is the understatement of the day. As everything else Germans take everything very seriously. They are one hell of a serious folk. Don't you think so? When I hear about a German humorist, cartoonist, stand up comedian, my first reaction is "How can that be??" OK, so we went to this humongous apple orchard. A tall guy rounded us up first in his high tech apple storage area and talked briefly what was involved in the tour. He did serve us apple juice and if desired with a dash of some liquor. I gave my daughter the liquor one. No, no just kidding. She does however have a taste for alcohol (yes, I am worried).
So, after the briefing, we all scrambled into his apple boxes that was attached to his tractor. We went choo choo training. And, yes it was hot. And, yes, there were complaints. We were allowed to pick apples from our little green boxes as we trudged along. Very neat, very straight lined dem apple trees (help! Rasta is seeping into my subconscious involuntarily). The apples were sour. We reached our stopping point and he immediately started to give a lecture. This lasted for full one and a half hour. Not that long to be fair to him. In the mean time my daughter wanted to go to bathroom for which I pointed to a really shiny apple tree. Her little relatives got hungry and also wanted to go to bathroom for which their mother showed another shiny apple tree with red ripe round apples. After the lecture we scrambled back in our little green apple boxes and headed back. And a surprise was waiting for us. We had to take a test! Yes, a real walking talking live test! Arggggh! Holy shit! I immediately told my husband that I did not understand what he said so he was the boss. To make a long story short, we failed! There were three other losers. The tour guide/head master/abitur meister took our test paper into his den and perhaps scanned it and got back with a score. He had even bought certificates for them who made it!
After all the names were called, my daughter started to cry asking why he did not call her name! I could not explain her the intricacies of German school system so I pacified her by saying when he was just about to call her name he lost his voice. My daughter looked at me quizzically not quite believing. Well I had wished for him worse but I'd better not say it here.
Aru pachi.
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| bhenda2 |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 11:31 AM
Very interesting! But the couple of Germans I know are very funny...always drunk..and have lots jokes to share.
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| JHILKEY |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 12:38 PM
In Nepal women folk usually do this small talk chitty chat at weddings, Burtabandhas, and chaddparba etc etc. To kind of show off their wealth and social influence. Its surprising to see someone using this site as a vehicle to show off their Travel Journal. I guess some habbits never die. he! he
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| NK |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 01:44 PM
kamilo lai muta ko pairo bho jasto cha ni jhilkey? kya ho?
bhenda 2, Germans not being funny was not in all seriousness kya. kasto hola
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| czar |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 01:50 PM
And so,
Who has the cuisine of the Brits
The modesty of the Italians
The wit of the Germans
And frigid like the French ?
The Belgians !
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| czar |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 01:51 PM
Jhilkey, travel. It broadens the mind.
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| NK |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 01:57 PM
With that spat between Germans and Italians there have been numerous articles about prejudice, animosity, or just plain murderous hostility among Europena countries. You relly get a big fat kick when you hear them talking about each other. Well if I were German or Italian or French I don't think I would laugh that much though. :))
Hey czar, how have you been? Long time no see.WEll, Maybe because I don't frequent this savanhah as I used to.
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| oys_chill |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 02:02 PM
Nk jyu, enjoyed it..
i was just taken aback that u generalize saying the entire GERMAN RACE.....coming from you...couldn't really comprehend, perhaps it was meant to be humorous....but these days i am damn serious! ummm......I have known two german ppl while i was back home, a bank executive and a medical doctor....the first was like a saint, the second was one of the most avid travellers i have known, and loved burning in the tropics of asian heat....
different strokes for different folks they say!
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 05:55 PM
NK,
Enjoyed so much to read about this story of strange land! Also had missed you so much!
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| john doe |
Posted
on 22-Aug-03 08:30 PM
Awwwwwwwwwwwww...................
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| phateko_kattu |
Posted
on 23-Aug-03 01:01 PM
Sarbapratham ta NK ji lai mero 10 aunla ko koti koti namaskar cha ,
German Bhinaju lai mero sewa dhog sunai dinu ,
Good to see you again !! Last time I read your article was On France .Now German .Whats next ? kuirey logne bhayo bhane yehi faida huncha gaanthe .desh -bidesh ghumna pauney .mitho mitho .ramro ramro .......Aha malai ta irshyaa lagera ayo bai .Hoina tapaiko kuirey buda ko bahini haru chainan bhanya re kya ?;0)
waiting for your second part :-
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bhenda ji ,
I agree with you that germans are funny .I know few germans who put smile on my sexy lips .Remember Adolf Hitler's moustache ,Steffi Graf's nose and Boris Becker's them eyebrows .
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| jira |
Posted
on 23-Aug-03 01:34 PM
NK, kati mattai ghumna sakya....malai ta daadh laagi sakyo.
good to see you back. Germani syaal ra baatho kharayo ko katha sunaam na kunnai deen mawuka milyo bhaney hai !!
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| NK |
Posted
on 24-Aug-03 07:50 AM
Have you ever given a thought why we Nepali prefer to give our dogs American names? Do not worry. The Germans seem to be bitten by the same bug. They name their sons Tobias, Torben, Matthias, Johannes... and so on. But, when it comes to name their dogs, it is Bobby, Sammy (for a female dog no less), Puppy (for a 110 lb German Shepherd!), Rob, and Marco to name a few.
I remember one of my relatives used to have a quintessential bhusiya dog. If there was any such thing as a real bhusiya dog, he was it. And guess what? His name was Tiger! Other names I can think of right now are: Frisky, Bob, Lucy....This reminds me of a classmate. He was Angel. Not an angel with wings and cherubian face, a "benevolent celestial being that acts as an intermediary between heaven and earth," but a guy named Angel. He may have had all those above mentioned attributes but I was not aware of them. My loss.
I guess when names cross over mountains and oceans they transcend their original meaning and intent and purpose. Did not we read some time ago here in Sajha that a dog named Buddha?
***
We had missed the train that would have taken us an Island called Zult. We wanted needed - needed to go near some water. The place we had stayed did have water close by, but we had already prepared for a day trip, and we were set on going some other place. We were driving and discussing to cross the boarder and before we knew it we crossed the boarder. We arrived in Denmark. Flat as a pancake. There was an official checkpoint but unmanned. I guess there are not many Eastern European or Mexicans crossing the boarder. Or Nepali desperadoes for that matter. My husband did not have any document with him but I did. Our friends and I hoped he would just have to convince the guards he is one of them. Perhaps by talking to them in German with a thick Danish accent.
We reached a secluded beach. The water was warm like really really warm. Like it was in mid 70. The temperature in Baltic and North Sea are steadily rising over last 40 years they told me. Only Bush and Bushies of this world do not believe the phenomenon called global warming it seems. Oh well. Back to the North Sea. That was not the strange thing I found about Nord Sea. The water line is lets say 2ft away from the beach. But, that was it. It was just the line. To reach the real water you had to walk another one and half mile! Your feet sinking up to your knee in black mud, stepping on crabs and what not that was hiding under that quick mud. After walking one mile we just gave up and returned to the beach. And, we waited for high tide.
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| NK |
Posted
on 24-Aug-03 07:58 AM
Oys bhai, Just one suggestion from this NK. Don't be so intense, as in taking everything so seriously. But, I guess I know where it is coming from. And of course thank you.
Biswo, Reading your travelogue about Nepal and enjoying it too. You show me Nepal and i will try to talk about "strange lands." Thanks.
John Doe, Now, shush! :)
Phateko kattu, Nobody has sewn them yet, eh? poor you. I am always pleasantly surprised when I see you. Such a nice manner. Alway giving me those 10 aulako namaskar. (do i know you?) [also, you forgot I had written something about Mexico too :( ]. No bhinaju does not have any younger sister. All older sisters and married :(
Jira the up and coming stand up comedian of Sajha! I would love to hear that katha. Drop by when you are in my neighborhood.
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| Arnico |
Posted
on 24-Aug-03 10:38 PM
Interessante Reiseberichte.
Aber was hat das ganze mit der Abitur zu tun?
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| Nepe |
Posted
on 25-Aug-03 12:44 PM
NK,
Enjoyed reading your yatra-britanta. Different places, different moods. Last time when you came back from Mexico, you looked radiant with some sort of spirituality. This time from Germany, you look rather materialistically conscious if I may.
I don't know about the hawa-pani of Germany. Could it be the effect of the harsh sounding German language ? But they say German poetry, on contrary to the expectation, is smooth and lyrical.
And few Germans that I knew during my studenthood were reasonably tasteful. But in argument, they wouldn't give up. I have a fond memory of rescuing a nearly bitter argument between a Turkish and a German student over PKK. I was a jigri-dost of the Turkish guy and the occasional barber of the campus serving many including the German girl. She later told me I have got a quality of being a good moderator.
Little she knew I could be a relentless arguer and put off anybody with my not so easy political views. (Hoina ta NK hajoor, Republicanism ko R sunne bittikai hajoor laai yeha samma aaipugchha bhanera hajoor le nai bhanibaksya hoina ek choti ? ehehe!)
Hajoor le yo thread ko heading nai German ma lekhnu bhayechha. My German is limited to two sentences and a few words I picked from Daulat Vikram Bista's novel, 'Chapaaieka anuhaar haru'. Interesting fiction about a Gorkhali soldier (unbelievably sentimental and philosopher like) and a German soldier lost in a jungle during WWII.
I was trying to get an on-line translation of the title. It came out as this ' WE ABITUR MAKING'. Could not make much sense. Anyway, however, during my mission, I came across two poetical pieces, one by Goethe and the other by Ludwig. Quite impressive.
Faith in Spring
von Ludwig Uhland
(Translation by Hyde Flippo)
The gentle winds are awakened,
They murmur and waft
They create in every corner.
Oh fresh scent, oh new sound!
Now, poor dear, fear not!
Now everything, everything must change.
The world becomes more beautiful
One does not know
The blooming doesn't want to end.
The farthest, deepest valley blooms:
Now, poor dear, forget the pain!
Now everything, everything must change.
Faust I - Faust and Gretchen
The Gretchen Question
Goethe
GRETCHEN: ... Do you believe in God?
FAUST: My darling, who can (really) say:
I believe in God!
You may ask priests or wise men,
And their answer seems but a mockery
Of the questioner to be.
GRETCHEN: So you do not believe?
FAUST: Don't misunderstand me, you lovely sight!
Who may name Him,
And who declare:
I believe in Him.
Who can feel
And dare
To say: I do not believe in Him!
The all-embracing one,
The all-preserving one,
Does He not embrace and preserve
You, me, (and) Himself?
Does the sky not arch above us up there?
Does the earth not lie firm down here?
And do not with kind glance
The eternal stars rise?
Do I not look at you eye to eye,
And does not everything press
Upon your head and heart
And weave in eternal mystery
Invisible and visible around you?
Fill your heart, as big as it is, from that
And when you are completely blissful in the feeling,
Then call it what you like:
Call it happiness! Heart! Love! God!
I have no name
For it! Feeling is everything;
(The) name is sound and smoke,
Enshrouding heaven's glow.
GRETCHEN: That is all quite fine and good;
Much the same thing says the pastor, too
Only with slightly different words.
FAUST: It is said everywhere (by)
All hearts under the heavenly day,
Each in its own language:
Why not I in mine?
- From Faust I, lines 3426-3465
Before I go, I want to show you something I could translate in German for you,
Sie sind unser deutsches Bhrikuti
I think most of the readers can make sense of it without knowing German themselves. And, Yes, that's what you are for us.
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| NK |
Posted
on 25-Aug-03 06:51 PM
Mein herr Arnico, zuerst Danke Schoen! Na ja about that 'abitur.' You see my sister-in-law was saying," we are going to get a diploma, we are going to get a diploma" as soon as we arrived there. I had no idea we *were* really going to have to take a test after the tour! With a real score and even more real certificate. So that 'abitur' thing just got stuck in my brain. Actally, I think I have been traumatized - you know failing along with my husband. I have less respect for him as of that day. :)
Nepe my dear. Where shall start from? First of all have you read Rilke? Please try if you have got some time. The head line just means "we are going to do graduation examination." Maybe Arnico will have a real translation. My German is the level of a four year old. Not a precocious four year old though.
I did not quite understand what you meant by "materialistically conscious" in this particular 'reiseberichte.' Could you please elaborate? Having said that,yes, Mexico was a totally different experience. I was a camera totting tourist there on a mission. To "do" ruins as many as I can, scuba diving and what not. But Germany was more like a family visit and I had enormous time just to sit or have tea and cake and chat with the family. Shall we say I interacted more with the locals? About that tea and cake. That is very German I find. If you take a walk in your neighborhood on Sunday afternoon from 4 to 4:30 most probably you will hear tea cups clattering, little hum of human voice flitering through their from/backyard garden. Almost everybody it seems pause around that time to enjoy afternoon. Very refreshing. I gues it is not so in big cities (but I doubt it), but everywhere I lived or visited it was a recurring theme. Walk in a forest and tea/coffe at 4 on Sunday. If not Satruday and Sunday.
I laughed out loud when you called me German Bhrikuti! :))
Thank you.
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