Long time, no write! You may notice that my last post was from August 2009, or nearly 15 months ago. If you were following my blog last time you may also notice that it has a different title and slightly different layout. And most importantly, please take note of the disclaimer in the "About Me" section, as I would really prefer not to lose my grant. Let me explain the reasons for all of this:
As you all know, I've been in Dortmund, Germany since the beginning of September, working as an English teacher in a "Gesamtschule," meaning a comprehensive middle and high school. It's probably the best job I'll ever have, but more about that in later posts. As some of you know, I originally started this blog in February 2009 when I studied abroad in Tuebingen, Germany. When I came back to the US I didn't really know what to do with it (and didn't really have any time), so I just left it. But for the past two months there has been a little nagging voice in the back of my head, which sounds suspiciously like my mother, asking, "when are you going to start your blog again?" My answer has always been, "once I get settled in I'll start blogging again." I think two months has been a sufficiently long settling-in period, so here I am, writing the first post of the newly retitled "Das Leben im Ruhrpott" blog (see explanation below). As for the disclaimer, I'm required by the State Department to have that up on all social media sites on which I talk about my Fulbright experiences. The disclaimer text came to us in the same email which urged us to refrain from causing or attempting to cause "political unrest" in our host countries.Well, what the hell's the point of being here then if I can't incite a little political unrest if the mood strikes me?
The blog title means "Life in the Ruhrpott," the Ruhrpott being the slang term for the Ruhrgebiet (Ruhr-area), a densely populated region along the river Ruhr which was once the seat of heavy industry in Germany (Dortmund and Essen, where Pascal lives, are two major cities in the Ruhrpott). Due to its industrial past, the Ruhrgebiet doesn't have the greatest reputation in Germany. Most Germans from other regions still think of it as it was prior to de-industrialization in the 70's and 80's: smoky, smoggy, gray and chock-full of mines and factories spewing waste over hovel and shanties. Ok, that's a little exaggerated, but you get the picture. Of course, the Ruhrgebiet nowadays is not like that at all. It's actually incredibly green, even in the cities, and a lot of it looks positively rural. Of course, mine shafts and smokestacks and the like are still to be seen dotting the landscape, but almost none of them are still in use and most have been converted into museums, monuments, exhibition site and the like. The Ruhrgebiet is also stereotyped as being a slightly rough place to live, where a lot of blue-collar folk work hard for their wages, if they're not unemployed, and nobody wears Lederhosen and plays oom-pah music like those silly Bavarians (I guess it could be described as the Detroit of Germany). Residents of the Ruhrgebiet find themselves constantly defending their home and trying to convince people that yes, it's not the prettiest/most touristy part of Germany, but it really isn't so bad, promise. On the other hand, the Ruhr natives like to grouch about the area a lot too, which is where the subtitle of the blog comes in. It's a saying that one hears quite frequently around here, and roughly translates to, "Everywhere else is shit too!" Whether that expresses an optimistic view of the Ruhrpott or a pessimistic view of Germany as a whole could be debated, though I do find it to be quite a practical stance on the whole issue.
More posts will come soon with more detailed accounts of my first two months here. Topics you can look forward to are: the moving-in process, my job, my daily activities, the couple trips I've been on, and the joys of dealing with German bureaucracy (spoiler alert! Germany is NOT efficient). Right now, though, I'm just going to post some pictures of my apartment, since I know that's all my mom really cares about seeing. Til next time!
My street. My building is the pale one on the far left and my window is the very top-right one.
View of the landing outside the door with stairs to the attic.
looking back down the stairs
the very small hallway as seen from the front door
bathroom
looking from the kitchen into the hallway. my room is on the left
looking from the door at my cozy bed and many dressers
the kitchen (sadly not big enough for a table)
looking from the desk to the door
the "office" portion with desk and sofa (and jeans drying on the heater)
Just so you know, I plan on living vicariously through you. So, regular updates would be appreciated. Hope you are having a blast. Eat a chicken Doener for me.
Currently working in a middle and high school in Germany thanks to a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grant.
~This blog is not an official Fulbright Program blog and the views expressed are my own and not those of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations.~
Just so you know, I plan on living vicariously through you. So, regular updates would be appreciated. Hope you are having a blast. Eat a chicken Doener for me.
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