Koln (Altenberg) Orientation

I just got back this evening from the orientation for all Fulbright students. It was held at a monestary outside of Köln, where we spent four days of focussed classes on teaching various grade and high school levels... and more importanly, getting to know the other students in the same position. After spending four days not being able to express myself in a nuanced way nor recognize my speaking voice, it was refreshing to meet with English speakers (all of whom share a significant interest in German). (There were 5 of us from Univ. Puget Sound--pictured on the steps beside the Köln cathedral are Matt Beckman, Amanda Corbyn, and Sarah Carnahan)

It was actually very intersting how relatively well everyone at the orientation got along; good combination of similar interests, drive, and mix of excitement and apprehension at a major transition. We were in classes and meetings all day, eating together in a big high school style lunch setting. The closest town was effectively out of reach, but there was a cute little bed and breakfast that operated a quant restaurant overlooking a pasture of grazing Holsteins (black & white). More than one of the evenings, a small group of people with whom I quickly bonded went there for part of the evening for some Furstenberg Weizen, a delicious beer very much like Hoegaarden. [One of the nights there was also a Corvette car club gathering... I know, if you have Porsches, BMWs, and Mercedes at your fingertips, why pay extra to import a Corvette.] To keep people from getting restless back in the monestary, the organizers provided us with beer every night for about a $1.50 a bottle (Kölsch and Bitburger, and cheap wines)... which we drank by the case.

Here is a sign in their parking lot warning that the hand of death will descend and steal your things if you leave them in the car. Also interesting was a small stone statue incribed with a passage from the Bible: Begreift Ihr Was Ich An Euch Getan Habe -- which loosely translated, means: "Grasp y'all what I at you, done have".
This is a picture of the cathedral that was attatched to the monestary in which we stayed (one side of which joined the ancient U-shaped dormatory to enclose a courtyard where we spent a majority of our free time.)

















This picture I took on a short walk I went on with one of the other students -- beyond the far trees is the pasture which bordered the outdoor tables at the hotel.