Library & Music

The main LU library (Bibliothek), four stories and well laid out, is a 10 minute walk for us.

This main library in LU was recently renovated and is beautiful.  I took a few pictures of the large youth room.

A boy engrossed in an interactive soccer game.

Along the wall are computers to be borrowed.  Some of our Syrian kids told me they enjoy coming here.  It is free for kids under 18 and costs €18 a year for an adult.  We're spoiled in the States to have free library access.

You can see about a fifth of the magazine selection behind the piano,  We've enjoyed two very different musical evening performances in this space.  

This Schumann song is perhaps what you'd expect to hear.  But listen to the one below.

The group "Matala" composed of a man from Senegal and two German women who spent a year in Africa studying music, really entertained us. In addition to African instruments, one woman played soprano, alto and tenor recorder. In a few songs, even two at the same time!  We loved it!

Weierhof outing

The steps up to the Weierhof Mennonite Church are many!  There were three more sets I didn't include in the picture.  With our car we drove around to the side of the church, but many walked that morning and ascended these many steps.

Greg belongs to a car-sharing service called Stadt-Mobile.  There is no car in LU large enough for the six of us (Greg and Jenny have 2 sons), so Greg bikes over the river to Mannheim and picks the car up there.  We appreciate that they've taken us to 3 distant Mennonite churches already.

Greg's screen hides the front somewhat, but you can see the organ.  This is a congregation of 300 baptised members, but many live a good distance away.  I wanted to take the picture before the service started, so it filled up a good bit after this.

This is the view after church looking down the cascade of steps.  The blue car was parked right at the bottom.  As children Rebecca and I would come with our father to the Weierhof.  He'd have meetings and we'd explore the small town and generally were bored waiting.  It was a good experience to be back after about 57 years.  The Mennonite historical archives/center is still here.

We were all invited for a lovely lunch.  The widow now rents out the fields of this farm.  Her house was built in 1820 and has always been in her family.

My sister and I inherited lots of intricately crocheted doilies.  Note the doilies in upstairs windows!

We said our goodbyes and thanks.

This ceramic chicken looked out over our car from the barn window.

Toys, Tanks, Food !

If you look carefully you'll see two dolls peeking out of Jack's backpack!  We had a great outing to a huge flea market in Mannheim on Saturday.  We went looking for more toys for Jack's childcare.

In addition to dolls, we found these two Duplo trucks, which two of our boys will really enjoy and be able to "share".

Those of you who know the mischievous fictional characters Max and Moritz, will love that this school is named after their author and decorated like this!

On a more somber note was the protest against selling weapons to Erdogan in Turkey.  "Shoulder to shoulder against fascism!"

The Kurds, whether in Turkey or in Syria, are being attacked.  If you check on a map you'll see that northern Syria borders Turkey.  And on both side live Kurds.  Apparently in Düsseldorf, not far from here, Germany is producing tanks to be sold to Turkey(to attack the Kurds.)  This was a large demonstration that walked through downtown Mannheim.

The first group were "Peace Group in Mannheim", then came many others including the green party, anarchists and communists.  On the left were groupings of five police always about 30 yards apart.  Jack noticed one police officer in each group always had a fire extinguisher.

The end of the demonstration was followed by at least 4 ambulances and then many different kinds of police vehicles.  Fortunately it was a peaceful and, I hope, well-received demonstration.  

A bit further on this bright sunny and cold day we came across the Mannheim Market, here at a meat stand.  Every sausage you can think of, plus meat filled bladders! and different kinds of pigs knuckles!

In the center there is a statue to some hero and all around you hear lots of different languages spoken.  Of course, there are fresh vegetables and fruit for sale as well as homemade breads, cakes, jams, cheeses, turkey products, horsemeat, all sorts of game meats, honey, eggs of every sort, and cheesecake advertised as "possibly the best in the world".

We hunted in vain for a German restaurant and ended up enjoying Thai food very close to home!

German/European technology I like . . . part 2

For readers who have traveled to Europe, this is a tech that has been around for along time - the exterior shutters for windows.  These are particularly practical for urban residents like ourselves in that they give you security, privacy and add another level of insulation on cold nights (or shade on sunny, hot days).  You lower and raise them manually from inside.

And then there are the windows themselves. All are double-pane, with closing at multiple points so they are a tight fit when you turn the handle to close. Many allow you to not only open fully inward (see top), but when you turn the handle 90 degrees, they tilt inward. This evening as I went out to buy pastries at my local Bäckerei (they mark down at 6 PM, putting multiple savory, sweet or bread treats into bags and sell them for just 2€ ) I noticed that numerous folks had a window in their apartment tilted inward at the top. They were either kitchens or living rooms airing out in the "frische Luft" (fresh air).  Just to note, the temp this evening is 2 Celsius, feeling like -2 (approx 30-35 degrees F).

There are no screens - we'll see if there are flying insects come spring.

German/European Technology I like . . . Part 1

As I see technology that I like here, I'm going to snap a picture with my phone (it's an old Nokia Windows phone, so won't be all that sharp like Ruth's iPad) and share a post or two. Just so you know - we're not talking high-tech here. Just practical, interesting, helpful ways of making life more convenient or secure or fun or just different from the USA.

As you enter each room in our apartment and most of the rooms in the church you will find an outlet immediately below every light switch. Between my back, my knees and my Bauch, when I bend down to tie my shoes I look around for anything else I can do while I'm down there . . . So, you can imagine how delighted I am whenever I need to vacuum here.  I never have to bend down to plug in the vacuum - I just plug it in under the light switch!

Something I remember well from living in Marburg: towel warmers/dryers.  Since most buildings in this city are heated with hot water (like our home in Scottdale), these warmers are ubiquitous. This one is in the kitchen at the Gemeindehaus.  How wonderful for drying towels, and imagine how nice on a cold winter morning to step out of your shower and have a warm towel!  And, here these little add-ons to your heating system only cost about $50-75 each.

In Germany's efforts to reduce electrical consumption and slow the rate of climate change (which they believe IS man-made), they passed rules for manufacturers and retailers that they could no longer sell coffee makers with hot plates (like the classic Mr Coffee).  Here, the newer coffee makers go directly into vacuum coffee pots that keep the coffee warm for a long time. Some have a separate top that you screw on to keep the coffee hot - these from Melitta are designed so the pot lid snap onto the top and self-seal after the coffee drips into the pot. No more "electrical trickle" or flood when the hot plate is left running long after the coffee is ready.

Some time ago I had seen one of these in the States, but the Cuisineart maker was over $100. Because these are now the norm, you can buy this maker with TWO canisters/thermal pots for €31 (about $36 US).

More to come later as I wander about . . . 

Class excursion!

The sign to the Youth Culture Center called FORUM in Mannheim, just across the Rhein from LU
A young German, who has been volunteering to help with classes before we arrived, organized the outing last night.  He is part of a theater / improv group that meets at the Forum and he found out that the Forum also invites persons from other countries every two weeks to an evening to meet and talk with Germans.  He has a regular job now and no longer helps at Friedenshaus, but about 18 of us met him last night to travel together by streetcar to Forum.

The first question when we walked in was, "Who would like to work in the kitchen?"  I volunteered, as did three others and we worked with the two Forum regulars (from Syria) on the right.  They made the main dish of rice and chicken, while the wife of my student and I followed the recipe for a cake, and two of our guys made the salad.  We were told there were 30 eating.

In the meantime the rest of the group met with the German guests and some worked on translating Arabic poems into German, others had discussions.  Jack said there was lots of talking everywhere.  This really answers a request from our students, to be able to interact with Germans.  Man on right  organized the outing.
 

The ingredients had been bought by Forum, the recipe for the Arab Honey Almond Cake was chosen by a male student.  The two of us couldn't find a spatula or a baking pan, but with spoon and fingers plus baking dish lid, it worked out.  Everything had to be weighed!!!  The flour, the butter, the sugar - all went on an electronic scale.  Thank goodness she knew how to do that!  I tried to explain how we measure in cups.  Her German is scant.  For measuring spoons we just used spoons out of the cupboard.  We laughed a lot!  The we discovered that the oven door couldn't close and the Forum folk had never used it.  I felt sorry for them as they had to work on the rice dish on all four burners as heat from the oven wafted over them.  What an experience.  We left at 6:20p.m. from LU and at 8:30 the Forum cook said she thinks it's a success if groups eat by 9 p.m.  Oh my.  My co-baker's children (6th and 4th graders) have an 8 p.m. bedtime.  Around 10 p.m. we started saying our goodbyes because I'd decided we'd accompany her and the kids, plus 6 month baby back to LU. Her husband had not been able to come.  (We never did get a straight story on the reason)  After we left the poems were presented and much talking took place till 11 p.m.

Every time we have the chance to talk in depth with our new friends we learn of their many difficulties.  My smiling baker is losing her hair because of anxiety.  Her baby is not thriving and her husband's German still isn't good enough to land a job.  We were very happy to get the chance to visit with her children, who are doing well in school and have learned a huge amount of German in the last 1.5 yrs.

There are so many stories, so many families apart, so much worry for those left behind.  All conflict hurts people.  Today we heard via our home church about Kouhaila in Damascus with long days without electricity and strikes around,  and that is also the news we hear from our Syrian students

Today in class I heard positive comments about last night's outing, no complaints, just gratitude.

Recent happy times

Sunday after church we were invited to friends of ours.  She is a social worker and has already given us information and useful advice.  In addition to that, the family has stocked us with ever so many practical items and some delicious ones too.  When we arrived there was a cute little box of the loveliest tiny delicious German Christmas cookies.  I wish I'd taken a picture before eating them all.  This Sunday they provided a wonderful meal and then even sent us home with cherry cake and homemade granola!

Their three sons are as wonderful as the parents.  Jack works with the husband on building the youth room in our basement.  They share a sense of humor and interest in similar topics.  Everyone in this family speaks great English and yet they all stick to German for us.  We really appreciate this!  The teen sons are interested in spending time in the States.  Both are football fans (unusual for G) and stayed up to see the first part of the Superbowl.

  Ben brought out his hockey game and beat the two of us in every game!  

He also came to the 5-7 p.m. sewing time.  No, not to sew.  Friedenshaus provides homework help for the children of our students.  Jack and I are very impressed that the teens from the congregation show up every Monday to do this!  Yesterday I got to "escape"knotting downstairs and help too, because they had so many kids and some needed help with English.  I ended up getting my laptop and printing off some dinosaur pictures and texts for one of the  4th grade girls' project.  She was delighted with the pictures we found.  Really cute kid.

The title of this post is happy times.  The lovely, inexpensive fairtrade cut flowers brighten our lives.  The new coffee maker with a pot that is a fantastic thermos is from the above family as well.  Coffee makers with hot plates, like ours at home, are not allowed here any more.  The white triangle doesn't show up as well as I wanted.  She sent 3 pieces of cake in it and the door just slides open and keeps even the fanciest cake pieces in tact.  Of course, you see the plates are empty.  I always think of pictures after the fact!!

But Jack took a picture this morning of my first hair cut in LU.  I really like it.  The hairdresser came originally from Tunesia, married a German, and has been here 30 years.  We had a nice chat and I look forward to going back in five weeks. 

Another happy surprise was our local art museum, just down the street.  There are so many different pictures I could include.  I'm choosing this Barlach, a sculptor I've always been drawn to.

A selfie from today's viewing of Star Wars in 3D, a gift from our children.  I only closed my eyes a few times when the fighting scenes got too long.  We enjoyed hearing it in German. They did a good job of dubbing.  I guess this is a good problem - so many happy times that I could just go on ...and on... 

One more result of war ...

I couldn't take a picture in the tea break during our last class, but I thought this map might serve as an appropriate visual.  Top left in blue-green is Germany and bottom right in dark pink is Syria.  This map hangs on one of our living room walls.

Willard Metzger, executive secretary of MC Canada, was visiting Friedenshaus for two days.  This was his chance to interact with our students.  He engaged a Syrian man of about 40 in conversation with Jack and me.  His English was extremely halting and Willard could understand some German, but not talk, so Jack and I were helping along.  But suddenly the Syrian man just turned to me and apropos nothing, started  a very earnest rant on how insecure it all feels.

I've talked with him many times before, mostly about vocabulary and grammar.  This time he urgently wanted me to understand the difficulties of his life.  He has been here one and a half years with his family.  I've met his 11 year old son.  He has an older son and a younger daughter, I think.  He told about how shook up he was, when his son asked him about an Arabic word he couldn't read.  So fast they are losing this ability!  I was surprised, but then he explained that the kids had spent the last 3 years in Syria without any school, just war.

This brought him to a big concern - that his kids will be so far behind all the German students when they finally complete 12th or 13th year.  Not only did they lose those 3 years, but now they are pulled out of classes for remedial German.  He gets frustrated when he hears that his son missed Math class and was returned just in time for Art.  I could feel for him.  During all this time I was listening, but also wondering about Willard and wishing he could hear this.  Well, later during lunch in our apartment I relayed the conversation.

This father is so very concerned about his children's education.  He and his wife both come to our classes and are both in the advanced group.  Then he looked very earnest and started describing how fearful he is of the uncertain future for his family.  He follows politics and fears laws will change in Germany.  Can he plan for the next three or five years?  He looked at me as if I should have an answer.  What could I say?  Trust in God.  He agreed.

New foods

What is this?  It must belong to the cauliflower family, but isn't it interesting!  We saw it today as we bought our Valentine's Day ration of chocolate.  I'll buy one next time and try it.

We did buy a pomelo the other day.  It is really huge!  It looks like a grapefruit, but bigger than the biggest you've ever seen.  

And it tastes a bit like a grapefruit, especially when you eat the white pith.  It's mild and very tasty, like mixing an orange, a peach, and a grapefruit.  Delicious!    Jack thinks I should add that it costs about US $2.50 at our Turkish grocer.

Pomelos have 6 times your Vitamin C than daily requirement.

A pomelo tree takes 8 years of growth before seeds can begin to flower and grow fruit.
It's super healthy.  Just google it :)  

Sunshine in the park (post for our grandchildren!)

We had no classes today and the sun shone all day, even though it was 30 F degrees when we started and about 38 when we ended (7.5 miles in total).  Above is the monument/ fountain honoring all the parts of LU.

 Kindereier are a wonderful children's treat in Germany, which the USA does not allow!  There is a delicious chocolate covering and inside is a plastic egg and inside that is a intricate small toy that often needs to be assembled.  Lots of fun!  Isn't it funny that the billboard is in English?!  I like the finger puppets!

Can you see that there is a layer of ice and the ducks, geese and swans are making lanes?  No, it doesn't show in the picture.

Suddenly there are goats and beyond
them little ponies.  I think in warmer
weather this might be a petting zoo,
a part of this park.

Right next to the animals is one of many playgrounds in this park.  This climbing area includes part of an old wall.  There are some little "caves" in it and two children were playing there.

Jack found this water play area, which will be fun in the summer time.

Then we came across a "fitness" area.  We gave it a whirl!

Rachel, I'm wearing your nifty earmuffs all the time.  The wind is cold!

Jack enjoyed the step climber.

You place your palms on the bumpy surface and rotate the wheels.  It's supposed to be good for your shoulders.  On the other side is for persons in wheelchairs.

 What do you think these four plots are for?  We passed bocci courts.  What is this?

If you bring your own paddles and ball you can play ping pong in the sun!

At the park entrance you can use the toilet with a 25 cent piece.  Good to know!

 After stopping at home for some lunch of Curry Wurst and dessert of Streuselkuchen.  We set out in a different direction.  Our goal was a park along the Rhein river, but we didn't make it all the way.  It was too windy and cold.  Still we enjoyed the river.  That gray rectangle on the bldg is solar panels!

Marlene and John, this is for you:  Walz Mills in German - Walzmühle!!

A view of a barge on the Rhein and Mannheim University on the other shore.