61 Countries

Week three of German learning is underway here in Freiburg. The Goethe Institute has over 250 students for the month of July that are representing 61 countries. The U.S. is leading the pack with 33 students. Brazil is second and then it drops off from there. A very unique setting with so many different countries represented. A person hears several different languages being spoken, smells foods from all over the world, and quickly recognizes that stereotypes are true. Americans are loud and poorly educated geographically. The Brasilians know how to have a good time. The Italian men are smooth and know there way around the kitchen. Finally, skype and facebook are main forms of communication across all countries from the looks of it. The weather is warm (38 C/100 F) and the rooms are even warmer with no A/C or fans. It is a very interesting experience at 28 to be surrounded by 18-22 year olds from all over the world. It makes me feel wise to watch them chase each other around and recognize their immature nature. At this point my main friends are from Sweden, Turkey, and a nun from the U.S. An interesting group, but we have a good time. The attached picture is my favorite piece of art from the Reitburg Museum in Zurich, Switzerland. It cracks me up!