VISIT TO COLOGNE!

The SABINA group visited the city of Cologne, Germany. It is the fourth largest city in Germany and has one of the largest populations of homosexuals (in case you wanted to know that). One of the best sites to visit is the bridge in Cologne that is COVERED in locks. Bike locks, old locks, new locks, small locks, big locks, chain locks, someone left their sock on the bridge as well. The people of Cologne have started a tradition that when a couple is truly and madly in love, they go to that bridge and place a lock on it to symbolize their everlasting love. The locks are of all shapes and sizes, most engraved with the names of the lovers that placed them there before throwing away the key into the Rhine River, making it impossible to break this symbolic bond of love. Not exactly your typical Romeo and Juliet, but more like Heidi and Klaus in a modern Germanic city. Either way, the view of the millions of locks is impressive and definitely gives some character and personality to a city that seems to have so much of it!

Of course, while in Cologne, we visited the magnificent Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), which survived very extensive bombing during the Second World War. Also not to be missed in Cologne, are the statues of Tünnes and Schäl. The statue of Tünnes depicts a redheaded foolish, man with a very large nose and wooden shoes. It is said that if you rub his nose, you will receive a free wish and by rubbing his wooden shoes, you will become immensely rich. Naturally of course, our entire group was compelled to rub the statue of Tünnes for free wishes and boatloads of money. Yet, Tünnes is depicted as a fool and is called “Tünnes” to show his stupidity, as if to say it is foolish to rub a statue for anything in the first place! Schäl, on the other hand, is cross-eyed and considered to be very untrustworthy. Therefore, you may rub his statue for luck, but it may not be guaranteed. This presents an interesting dilemma and challenges a person to choose which inanimate object he or she will rub.

Written by: Laura Blackerby

THE EIFEL REGION

On Sunday, the SABINA group visited the Eifel region, just about two hours away from Bonn. While in the region, we visited the Benedict Monastery (Maria Laach) and attend a mass in the famous Abbey Church, which features a beautiful array of Romanesque architecture. The area is immensely beautiful and is surrounded by hills that formed from volcanic activity in 10,000 BC. The group also visited the only castle in the Eifel that has never been occupied or destroyed: schloss Bürresheim. This castle is so famous that it has even been featured in American movies, such as “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” as well as in many television commercials in Germany.

After our visit to the Eifel region, we headed toward Monreal (kind of like the German version of Montreal, Canada) where we hiked up an extremely steep path to see the city. Of course we were driven to make it to the top so as to enrich our cultural experience in Monreal, but more importantly to get the free ice cream Rainer promised us. Whatever the motivation, our group made it to the top to see the city of Monreal and of course, got our free ice cream.

Written by: Laura Blackerby

MISCOMMUNICATIONS

Yes, these are highly unavoidable when you are visiting a foreign country and have little to no knowledge of the language or customs. Luckily, the members of the SABINA group were all able to experience their own miscommunications during our first week in Bonn. One of the hardest concepts to grasp in the German language is the rule for identifying the gender of an object. Consequently, one member of the SABINA group had the constant misfortune of identifying himself as woman for the first couple of days. Another person had the misfortune of characterizing a chair as something you use to sit under a knife, instead of at the table. When given a scavenger hunt to complete throughout the city of Bonn, our last item on the agenda was to take a picture with a local German university student. Unfortunately for us, the first couple of people we asked ignored us or ran away, making it difficult to achieve our task, of course, who would want to take a picture with the confused Americans who can barely speak German! Eventually, someone was able to understand our broken English, but not until after we embarrassed ourselves with the process of asking. Additionally, another member of our group miscommunicated when he tried to ask what time a place closed and the girl who worked there began to tell him what time she was getting off work and when she could hang out. To make matters worse, not only have we had problems with the meaning of the German words, but we have had problems with pronouncing them as well. As a result, our thick American accents (which derive from places across the U.S. such as Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California) have inhibited our ability to correctly pronounce the words we are learning. Additionally, these miscommunications extend far beyond just mispronouncing words and confusing their meaning. Many members of the SABINA group have gotten lost in the city, or misread the train system and ended up far from where they meant to be, such as in Siegberg instead of Königswinter which are two cities in the opposite direction of each other. As a result, we’ve ended up in some interesting situations in we’ve had to dig through all the German words we know to get back to where we were supposed to be. Consequently, this has actually just forced us to immerse ourselves in the German language and truly experience studying abroad in Bonn!

Written by: Laura Blackerby

BONN CITY TOUR

It was our first real experience in the city of Bonn. Jet-lagged, hungry, and some of us not understanding a lick of German, we braved our first encounter with Bonn, a city settled in 11 BC by the Roman Army. That was probably the only piece of information I understood from the entire four hour walking tour (in German) that we went on that afternoon. Even so, Bonn is a beautiful and intimate city that sits along the Rhine River and boasts many parks such as the Hofgarten, which gives Bonn its lush, green appearance. Historically, Bonn was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and was also the official seat of government for Germany from 1990 to 1999. Additionally, Bonn is very culturally diverse, with almost thirty percent of the population of a non-German ethnicity. As a result, the city offers a multitude of opportunities to witness these cultures thriving throughout the city.

As stated, for our first day in Bonn, the SABINA group went on a walking tour of the city for almost four hours. It was a hot day and by the time it ended, we were all pretty much done with trying to use our brains to decipher the language and fight off the jet-lag. After much debate, one of our student workers suggested we visit a popular biergarten nearby. Ironically enough, there just happened to be a biergarten right outside of our school, overlooking the Rhine River. Whoever thought to put a biergarten in the middle of the University area should receive a medal for such brilliance! Consequently, the visit to the Biergarten ZumRheiblick was the perfect way to end our first day in Bonn.

Written by: Laura Blackerby

AIB FILM STUDENT WINS PRIZE AT THE CARNEGIE MELLON COMPETITION

Misha Scott’s prize-winning entry in the Carnegie Mellon competition was her documentary “Niki”, which she also entered in LMU’s annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The 10-minute film, made for Scott’s junior thesis and shot during her Bonn semester abroad, examines the life of a Roma teenager in Hungary and the social challenges she faces.

Above is an excerpt of “Niki”; film festival guidelines prohibit “releasing” the entire piece online prior to entry.

“I think that Niki is really a compelling character,” Scott said. “She shows a heartbreaking mix of optimism and resignation.” Scott’s 16-year-old subject wants to be a beautician, but the legacy of discrimination against Roma throughout Europe is stifling her ambitions. Scott’s interest in the subject began several years ago when French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to banish Roma from the country and forcibly expelled hundreds of the so-called Gypsies. “That stuck with me,” Scott said. “I knew that I was going to Europe for a study abroad semester, and I was looking for subjects.”

Her pre-production research included viewing the film “Our School”, which looks at education discrimination against the largely itinerant ethnic group. Scott then contacted DARTKE, a European nonprofit agency that works with Roma, to make contacts and get logistical assistance.

“Making this film comes back to why I wanted to make films in the first place: they can be so affecting,” she said. “I’m gaining confidence in my ability as a storyteller to capture things honestly and get it out to one more person. That’s a form of activism.”

During the summer, Scott will be working on a 15-minute documentary as part of an Honors Summer Research fellowship. Planned to be filmed over a period of three weeks, “Home Is” will raise awareness about the injustices facing the Navajo community of Black Mesa, Ariz. Scott will also explore the community’s vital connection to their land, as well as the violence being done to that land by major industries.

Congratulations, Misha!

A WEEKEND FULL OF SPORTS

This Saturday almost 80 students headed out to cologne to watch their first FC Köln game. After a crowded train and tram ride, everyone finally made it into the stadium filled with yelling fans and of course the team mascot the Billy Goat Hennes VIII. Because of Cologne's dawning relegation the fans spirits were high, constantly chanting and singing and pushing them to win. Once FC Köln scored the first goal students got to see true excitement.

The stadium roared with applause singing and yelling in German. We attempted to keep up with the many German chants and were able to follow along with the few Carnival songs they learned back in February. After the score of the first goal fans went crazy for the rest of the game, high with the hope of winning. Stuttgart managed to score a goal in the second half, ending the game in a tie. Even though Cologne didn’t win, the students still got to experience the excitement of a real Bundesliga game.

After recovering from an thrilling day of watching football, students were ready to run in the Bonn Marathon. All schools studying at the AIB had participants in the Relay, Half-Marathon, and Marathon. The day began with the half marathon with runners competing the 13 mile run, in just about two hours. After these runners were finished they jumped to the sidelines to cheer on the relay runners and marathon runners. The AIB had 8 relay teams consisting of students from LMU, Texas A&M, Penn State, as well as student workers and staff of the AIB. Every one pushed themselves and had a great time crossing the finish line together. After the marathon students headed back to the AIB for food and celebration. The AIB raised about 1700$ euros for their charities, the Marol Academy, Brazos Valley Food Bank, The Red Cross, and THON. The training that all the students put into these races was well worth razing that much money for a good cause! Thanks everyone who contributed to this great day and especially thanks to family and friends who helped raising so much money!

Written by Callie Child (Participant New Europe Program Spring 2012)

Click here to see more marathon pics in our photo gallery

VIZZERS GO EAST

The Texas A&M Viz students had their second overnight excursion to Germany’s capital city of Berlin last week. Our first activity was a bicycle tour through the city. We got a nice overview of the many historical events that have shaped Berlin and a look at some of the most prominent buildings and sites. We saw sections of the Berlin Wall, the site of Adolf Hitler’s Führerbunker, and the beautiful architecture on Museumsinsel. After our ride, we enjoyed a not-so-German dinner of delicious handmade pizza at ‘I Due Forni’. Somehow it felt appropriate though, as Berlin is such a cosmopolitan city of many different cultures.

The following day, we had a tour of the German Chancellery, which is the office of Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German equivalent of the White House. It’s also known as the ‘Washing Machine’ by the residents of Berlin, due to the distinct shape of the building. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a great explanation of the German system of politics. We also got to take a look at some of the many strange and beautiful gifts that Chancellors have been given by foreign dignitaries.

Next, we broke for lunch and several of us enjoyed a Berlin-original currywurst sausage. Afterwards, students toured the Daniel Liebskind-designed Jewish Museum Berlin. The striking modern building is rich with symbolism, and functions more as a habitable sculpture than a traditional museum building. After the tour, we had some free time and many of us chose to explore the ‘Character Walk’ of the international Pictoplasma Art Conference. Artists were spread out in galleries all over the Mitte district, displaying their unique work.

The next day we traveled to Oranienburg to visit the memorial site at the former concentration camp of Sachsenhausen. It’s hard to put such a moving experience into words- most people have probably read a few accounts of the Holocaust, but walking through the gates of a camp and seeing the barbed wire fences makes one begin to understand how real it was. It was a place that will be hard for any of us to ever forget.

Upon our return to the city, we had the afternoon free to explore some of Berlin’s myriad museums or do a little shopping in one of the many diverse neighborhoods. We all reconvened later and closed out the evening with a Pictoplasma festival animation screening at the Theater Babylon. Some of the featured artists were present to give an introduction and background information about their work.

We began our last day in Berlin with a stroll through the East Side Gallery- a preserved section of the Berlin Wall that has been turned over to artists and painted with reflective images and messages of peace. Then, we visited Pixomondo, an international visual effects company that has worked on many popular movies including Iron Man 2, Fast Five, and Super 8. The company most recently won the 2012 Academy Award in Best Visual Effects for their work on Hugo. We got a behind-the-scenes look at the work on several of their recent films and learned about international collaboration from an industry perspective. We then toured the small studio and watched artists at work on their latest projects, including effects work for Season 2 of Game of Thrones and Snow White and the Huntsman.

After our engrossing visit, we were turned loose for lunch in the city. Soon enough, it was time to pack our bags and head back to the Hauptbahnhof to catch our train back to Bonn. Thanks for a great time, Berlin!

Written by Stephanie Keske

AIB SOCCER CUP 2012

Just as baseball is America's national pastime, there's no question that soccer is Germany's game. In celebration of this beloved sport, students gathered Wednesday in front of the iconic Bonn University building for the much-anticipated Spring 2012 AIB Soccer Cup. Players hailed from each of AIB's spring programs, representing Loyola Marymount, Penn State, and Texas A&M University. Six teams were formed, and round-robin group play began on the two pitches marked out on the lawn.

Anticipation was high as the first whistle blew. The atmosphere was spirited, with dozens of onlookers-- fellow students and Bonn locals alike --cheering on the players as they fought for glory on the field. After some exciting contests, team Checkitout and the Blumkins were eliminated and the remaining four teams moved into tournament play. The semifinals saw the exit of the Fine Southern Gentlemen and the Monstars after a tied game and nail-biting round of penalty kicks. That left the Steamrollers and the Pirates to face off in the tournament final. The two teams proved an even match with the score at 1-1 after regulation play. It all came down to a three minute overtime period, and the Steamrollers finally clinched the title with a beautiful ground ball to the corner of the net.

All the players gathered for the awards ceremony, where they were honored with medals on ribbons of black, red, and gold. However, the day belonged to the Steamrollers as they lofted the shiny golden victor's cup above their heads and enjoyed the accompanying giant tub of Haribo gummy bears. Victory was sweet in many ways. When the excitement had died down and the goals were carried away, everyone met at the AIB on Adenauerallee to enjoy drinks, hot dogs, and post-tournament camaraderie. The 2012 AIB Soccer Cup was a success by all measures!

      

Written by Stephanie Keske

Nuestra Aventura en España

As part of this year’s study abroad experience, the NEP students had the opportunity to spend a week in three beautiful Spanish cities. The excursion began in the capital and largest city of Spain, beautiful Madrid. The students started off the week with a guided city tour that led to the Reina Sofia Museum and El Prado Museum. After walking through the unique streets of Madrid, enjoying the works of Picasso, Dali, Velázquez and many others, the students ended the day with a delicious tapas dinner and a breathtaking flamenco show at Casa Patas. The next morning, the students hopped on a bus and headed to the historic city of Toledo, also the birthplace of the famous Spanish painter, El Greco. Upon their arrival, they walked through the old town viewing many amazing sites such as the Cathedral of Toledo and the medieval synagogue Santa Maria la Blanca. Quickly the adventure in Toledo came to an end, and the students headed back to Madrid to visit the largest royal palace in Western Europe. During this visit to the Palacio Real de Madrid, the students were guided by the amazing tour guide Deanna, who shared many facts about the current government system in Spain.

Before the students knew it, it was time to say goodbye to Madrid and head off to the city of Barcelona. After a short train ride through snow- who would have thought in Spain?!- the students headed to the magical Park Guell designed by the talented architect Antoni Gaudi. Despite the rainy weather, the students enjoyed the view of Barcelona from the terraced area with multi-colored tiled mosaic seats. Later, the students enjoyed more of Gaudi’s distinguished work, the Sagrada Familia, to which he devoted his last 15 years of life.

The following day the students traveled about an hour northwest of Barcelona to visit the Montserrat Monastery. The monastery is a beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat that is home to the Black Madonna. The students were taken away by the beautiful view from the cable car on their way up to the monastery. Guided by Diana, the students learned about the holy visions and the fascinating history about the monastery. After the tour, they entered the Basilica to listen to the heavenly voices from the boys’ choir; following the performance they had the privilege to visit the Black Madonna. Shortly after, the students took the train back to Barcelona, where they enjoyed a short stroll through the old town. To conclude the day, the students headed to one of the best restaurants in town to enjoy a nice dinner of tapas and paella.

Before heading back to the sweet home of Bonn, the students made one last visit to the highly acclaimed Picasso museum. Among the many works of art, the students enjoyed seeing Picasso’s version of the well-known painting Las Meninas. Soon after, it was time to say goodbye and head home, but to add to the adventure the students encountered a lovely surprise at the airport. While waiting for their flight, the FC Barcelona team made a quick walk through the airport exciting many crowds. Now it was time to say, “Adios y gracias por todo Espańa”.

  

  

Written by Tatiana Dominguez Participant New Europe Program Spring 2012

THE ALT VERSUS KÖLSCH EXPERIENCE

The Loyola Marymount University students studying with the AIB began their journey to Düsseldorf with excitement and anticipation, for ‘Cologonians’ told them they were visiting the forbidden city. This is why upon arrival; everyone was shocked to find the city very similar to Cologne. The group prepared themselves for an exciting day of learning about the German government, traditional German food, a scavenger hunt, ending with an ascension of the Rheinturm.

The group headed strait to the Landtag where there were greeted for a breakfast reception with the chairman of the Bündis 90/Die Grünen Reiner Priggen. Priggen introduced him self and explained to the American students what the green party was and what they stood for. The students listened with fascination as Priggen explained the Green Parties stance on education, green energy, and cooperating with other parties on important issues. After the lecture, Priggen opened himself up to questions. Many students were eager to learn about Germany’s nuclear energy policy and what was being done to improve education in Germany. Priggen explained his recent visit to Finland, where he learned more about their education policy, and how members of his party are striving to have a system similar to theirs. He also pointed out that there are aspects of American Universities, such as sports and extra curricular activities, which he would like to incorporate into German Universities. The talk proved to be most influential on the students, and they greatly appreciated the chairman’s opinions and impute on their questions.

After the reception students receive a tour of the Landtag, starting with gorgeous views of the Rhine River and tours of the workers offices. The students were able to see the parliament room, were they learned about the old fashioned system of voting, where members walk through different doors to cast their vote. Students were fascinated by the modern architecture combined with centuries old traditions.

Next, students headed to lunch at Zum Schlüssel, where they had traditional German dishes of schnitzl, goulash, spatzle, and Alt. Students were tempted to order Kölsch and see the waiters reactions, but decided it was best to try a new beer and thus ordered a round of Alt. There were mixed reactions to the taste, but having more connections to Cologne than Düsseldorf, it was decided Kölsch was the better option. The scavenger hunt was a perfect way to learn about the most exciting part of the city. Lastly the students headed up the Rheinturm.

On top of the Rheinturm students saw a panoramic view of the city. The most fun though was leaning against the glass windows and looking down 234 meters :)

After spending a day in Düsseldorf, the students had a new appreciation for the humorous rivalry that exists between Cologne and Dusseldorf.

Written by Callie Child.