The first day of Oktoberfest was great! I could not believe how traditional Bavarians are...nearly everyone at the Oktoberfest wore Lederhosen and Drindls and EVERYONE knew the lyrics to all of the Bavarian songs in the tents. Oktoberfest is confused with what we like to think of as just beer halls with 1-liter beers. Of course beer is a big part of it, but it's more of a time where Bavarian people can meet, celebrate their own culture (much different than German at that...they have their own language!), eat well, and enjoy life. There are roller coasters, ferris wheels, swings, and many games for kids and adults alike. The music and the laid back atmosphere makes Oktoberfest a fun day for everyone.
A quick story--I was in one of the "tents" with my Swiss friend looking for a table and finally found one with a group of Americans studying abroad. They seemed nice so we sat down and started talking. My Swiss friend told them he was from Switzerland, and they all thought it was really cool. Because he and I both speak Spanish/German together, the girls thought it was amazing that he was "so talented" and asked him how many languages he spoke. He told them French was his mother tongue and they all asked "Why don't you speak Swedish?" He laughed and thought they were joking but they said "we're serious...". He proceeded to tell a group of 6 other Americans, 2 who study in COPENHAGEN (20 minutes from Sweden) and 4 who study in Italy (Switzerland's border) that Switzerland and Sweden are different countries. It seems like such a trivial thing to write about on this blog, but I think it shines light on a bigger idea that Americans should be more aware of world geography/lifestyles/current events. I understand that some people never want to leave America, but being a global citizen, and especially if you decide to study in Europe, you should be aware of simple things like this. Hopefully I can break the stereotypes of the "dumb American"...but I can't do it alone, and they sure didn't help...
On a last note, the language class is coming to an end. It was a great few weeks learning hundreds of words and getting to know other people who will also study here. After this Saturday, I will have 3 weeks free...no plans, no responsibility, no work. It's great to have this flexibility, and I hope to use it to travel around Germany or maybe to other parts of Europe. I will be sure to blog about the adventures I go on...
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