Whew! Has it really been nearly 10 days since I've last posted?!!
Sorry to keep anyone waiting. In the zwischenzeit I've been photographing parties, searching wildly for an apartment, burning mix CDs, and ironing my dirndl...
That's right! Oktoberfest has officially begun! And while this is not the Oktoberfest post, I am still making my way toward writing it! I'm going on Saturday to photograph and observe... and maybe ride some rides and have a beer... ;) (that counts as observing, right?)
Besides that, the weather has settled (except for today) into this kind-of perfect, balmy autumn glow. It's warm, but cool enough to wear a sharp sweater- I actually like it.
So what's working like? Well, mostly I love my photographing job (except for when I get shy! It really does happen!). It's a lot of fun, I get to meet a lot of new people, and it's pretty simple. As for tours, I finally finished my "tour test" earlier in the week, and hopefully I'll start to officially give tours very very soon!
I'm also trying to set some plans in stone to visit my hometown in America, after the winter season kind-of drops off (like after new year's). Hello, my Americans!!
Other than that, I'm officially moving on Monday! Every time I leave a place, I always feel like I'm leaving something behind, like another part of my life is over. I mean, you could look at anything that way (like the passing of a single minute- 'oh man look, another one bites the dust...'), but somehow leaving a house or an apartment is much more solid. You can't ignore the fact that there will be no more memories made in this place you once called home (I'm a sap, I know). So while I'm a little sad to leave the place I've laid my head since January, I'm excited for the opening of a new chapter! And that's what life is all about, isn't it?
Have a great weekend everyone!
Music for the Morning: Love is Blindness by Jack White
Friday, September 27, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Going Dutch!
Okay, so what's all this with Dutch about? Why is it in the blog title? And what does it have to do with me living in Germany??
All to be answered here ;)
I love Dutch. There, I said it!! Truth be told, I've actually never been to the Netherlands. But my voice teacher is Dutch, and a good deal of my friends are as well, and somehow I've managed to sneak learning their language into my life. It's so pleasant and happy, and I think the Dutch people I know are that way as well.
I originally fell in love with this language and culture after I had my first major German experiences (like visiting Germany in 2010), and some strange things started happening.
For one, German became amazingly simple for me to understand in a very short time. In English class in 2010, we started learning about old and middle English. At this time I became very interested in our parent language, German! And I realized learning German was a lot like learning a very early version of English. At least, that was the key in my head that unlocked the secrets of this wonderful language. After I realized that, everything I learned made sense and found a specific spot in my head- it just all clicked! Since then, learning German was a whirlwind of information and mathematics (German is indeed a very mathematical language, something that also makes a lot of sense in my mind).
So where does Dutch fit in with that?
Well after I visited Germany, I came back to America and heard one of my friends speaking Dutch with someone else.
And I realized... I understood them!! And they had such a cheery way of speaking that made the language umso mehr (that much more) attractive. This "phenomenon" happened to me also in German- I'd hear friends speaking and understand, though I couldn't pick out specific words and translate at will- but I knew the ideas they were conveying.
I was so excited- something like that hadn't happened to me in a year! So I started listening more and trying to speak. Now I'm proud to say I could survive in the Netherlands (even though they're all decent enough to speak perfect English!).
A perfect example of an "ancient" English word being German: Netherlands. In German it's called die Niederlande, or the 'low' (nieder) 'lands' (lande). Nether is just a really old English word for lowly (and if you think about it, the whole country there is really flat and has a low elevation). Just an insight into how my mind works.
I'm also excited to say this is starting to happen in Polish. Polish is half of my ancestral heritage and I've visited the country- I absolutely love it! I know how to read it, but I don't understand much of what I read. When I hear people on the bus speaking it though, I can always pick it out and understand the concepts they're talking about!
I'm a language freak! But a happy language freak. I absolutely love learning new ones, and reaching people in their mother tongue. It's so exciting.
It's getting close to being Friday! AAAAAND SATURDAY: OKTOBERFEST! YES!
Have a great rest of the week, everyone!
India :)
Abendmusik: Bedroom Hymns by Florence and the Machine
All to be answered here ;)
I love Dutch. There, I said it!! Truth be told, I've actually never been to the Netherlands. But my voice teacher is Dutch, and a good deal of my friends are as well, and somehow I've managed to sneak learning their language into my life. It's so pleasant and happy, and I think the Dutch people I know are that way as well.
I originally fell in love with this language and culture after I had my first major German experiences (like visiting Germany in 2010), and some strange things started happening.
For one, German became amazingly simple for me to understand in a very short time. In English class in 2010, we started learning about old and middle English. At this time I became very interested in our parent language, German! And I realized learning German was a lot like learning a very early version of English. At least, that was the key in my head that unlocked the secrets of this wonderful language. After I realized that, everything I learned made sense and found a specific spot in my head- it just all clicked! Since then, learning German was a whirlwind of information and mathematics (German is indeed a very mathematical language, something that also makes a lot of sense in my mind).
So where does Dutch fit in with that?
Well after I visited Germany, I came back to America and heard one of my friends speaking Dutch with someone else.
And I realized... I understood them!! And they had such a cheery way of speaking that made the language umso mehr (that much more) attractive. This "phenomenon" happened to me also in German- I'd hear friends speaking and understand, though I couldn't pick out specific words and translate at will- but I knew the ideas they were conveying.
I was so excited- something like that hadn't happened to me in a year! So I started listening more and trying to speak. Now I'm proud to say I could survive in the Netherlands (even though they're all decent enough to speak perfect English!).
A perfect example of an "ancient" English word being German: Netherlands. In German it's called die Niederlande, or the 'low' (nieder) 'lands' (lande). Nether is just a really old English word for lowly (and if you think about it, the whole country there is really flat and has a low elevation). Just an insight into how my mind works.
I'm also excited to say this is starting to happen in Polish. Polish is half of my ancestral heritage and I've visited the country- I absolutely love it! I know how to read it, but I don't understand much of what I read. When I hear people on the bus speaking it though, I can always pick it out and understand the concepts they're talking about!
I'm a language freak! But a happy language freak. I absolutely love learning new ones, and reaching people in their mother tongue. It's so exciting.
It's getting close to being Friday! AAAAAND SATURDAY: OKTOBERFEST! YES!
Have a great rest of the week, everyone!
India :)
Abendmusik: Bedroom Hymns by Florence and the Machine
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Ach Leute!
...when translated means roughly, "oh come on guys!"
So last night I photographed my first club party! And it was so much fun! First of all, my coworker who was showing me the ropes was great. He was so funny and obviously doesn't let anything get him down. Besides that, the place was really cool, very spacious and I think a pretty good locale for a party! Anyway, the only funny thing was people and getting their pictures taken!
First you have the people who are simple and are satisfied with their pictures (I like those people the best!). Then you have people who want photos but their friends don't, or they all do but keep changing their minds. At some point they either just decide to do it or you have to walk away (indecisiveness is not productive for anyone!). Then you have people who seem shocked by their photos. And hate them. And beg you to take more. And then demand that you delete the series.
Know what I mean?
A word on appearances and self-image. I don't love every picture of myself, especially if I'm doing a series with a photographer. You might honestly get 10 good shots out of a 100 photo series (unless you're Kate Moss or something). But man are people sensitive about this! And I got to see that first-hand. I really hate that we are trained in this world's society to be so focused on images and perfection. My personal technique for being photographed is to stay as simple, natural, and positive as possible. If everyone would just look at the cameras as if they were celebrities being paparazzi'd on the red carpet, the whole image would change for them. I mean I think the pictures were pretty good, but there are so many people who fret about not being flawless.
Is that where we are in the 21st century? Fretting about flawlessness? Can't we all be our most natural, true-to-us selves?
My point is, if I take your picture at a club, just smile and be happy! Because that will make the most beautiful and exciting picture. I can be camera-shy too, but's it's something I think many people have to work around. Just hit back a tequila and you'll be good to go! ;) For those of you who know our lovely British girl, follow her lead! She is someone who knows how to be photographed!
Everyone having a nice weekend??
India
Music for today: Ballet Dancer by The Twins
So last night I photographed my first club party! And it was so much fun! First of all, my coworker who was showing me the ropes was great. He was so funny and obviously doesn't let anything get him down. Besides that, the place was really cool, very spacious and I think a pretty good locale for a party! Anyway, the only funny thing was people and getting their pictures taken!
First you have the people who are simple and are satisfied with their pictures (I like those people the best!). Then you have people who want photos but their friends don't, or they all do but keep changing their minds. At some point they either just decide to do it or you have to walk away (indecisiveness is not productive for anyone!). Then you have people who seem shocked by their photos. And hate them. And beg you to take more. And then demand that you delete the series.
Know what I mean?
A word on appearances and self-image. I don't love every picture of myself, especially if I'm doing a series with a photographer. You might honestly get 10 good shots out of a 100 photo series (unless you're Kate Moss or something). But man are people sensitive about this! And I got to see that first-hand. I really hate that we are trained in this world's society to be so focused on images and perfection. My personal technique for being photographed is to stay as simple, natural, and positive as possible. If everyone would just look at the cameras as if they were celebrities being paparazzi'd on the red carpet, the whole image would change for them. I mean I think the pictures were pretty good, but there are so many people who fret about not being flawless.
Is that where we are in the 21st century? Fretting about flawlessness? Can't we all be our most natural, true-to-us selves?
My point is, if I take your picture at a club, just smile and be happy! Because that will make the most beautiful and exciting picture. I can be camera-shy too, but's it's something I think many people have to work around. Just hit back a tequila and you'll be good to go! ;) For those of you who know our lovely British girl, follow her lead! She is someone who knows how to be photographed!
Everyone having a nice weekend??
India
Music for today: Ballet Dancer by The Twins
Friday, September 13, 2013
Summertime Sadness
It's Friday!! ...time to celebrate?
It has been raining and raining all week, with very low temperatures that makes one just want to stay wrapped up in a blanket all day.
You see, this summer in Munich was special. For one, it was incredibly hot! Everyone was outside, on the river, on the lakes, just anywhere outside! Seriously, it felt like St. Tropez or something. This was really cool because last year, the summer weather was horrible. It rained a lot and it was cold a lot. The warmest it ever got was like 28 degrees (celsius).
And the parties were fabulous for those of us who stayed in the city this season. Many Münchner go away to France, Italy, or Croatia in the summer, leaving many clubs either empty (many choose to close for a few weeks in the summer) or full of the people who were actually in town. This made the parties have a very relaxed, laid back feel- at least for me. It was heaven-on-Munich!
And now that September is officially here, everyone is back to school, and back in town for this and that. I mean seriously, if someone were trying to have a hot date this week, the weather is not doing them any favors.
Anyway, I'm working tomorrow night photographing at a club! I'm very excited. It's just a test run to see if I like it and if I'm any good, but I hope it works out. And next Tuesday I have my kind-of exam for giving tours!
Plus, the new season at the opera is right around the corner, and this is important. I'm kind of an opera-junkie. There was a week when I went 4 times!! The opera is one of those things where I can actually feel a little special- everyone needs something like that. In this case I go a lot because I can, and I've gotten to know a lot of good friends there too. But most importantly, I go to learn. My hope is to go to a music university next fall to study, go ahead and guess... opera! My most favorite thing to do in the world is sing. And it always has been, egal was- classic, rock, pop- I'm always singing! In elementary school, I used to sing in class- during the lessons! I finally realized that was probably a little weird when a classmate pointed it out to me. "Always singing, India. That's you- even while you read!"
Plus, the new season at the opera is right around the corner, and this is important. I'm kind of an opera-junkie. There was a week when I went 4 times!! The opera is one of those things where I can actually feel a little special- everyone needs something like that. In this case I go a lot because I can, and I've gotten to know a lot of good friends there too. But most importantly, I go to learn. My hope is to go to a music university next fall to study, go ahead and guess... opera! My most favorite thing to do in the world is sing. And it always has been, egal was- classic, rock, pop- I'm always singing! In elementary school, I used to sing in class- during the lessons! I finally realized that was probably a little weird when a classmate pointed it out to me. "Always singing, India. That's you- even while you read!"
In unserer eigenen Art sind wir alle kleine Freaks, nicht wahr? ;)
My favorite part of the opera? The times after the performances, when I can go on the stage all alone and sing in the empty house. Now that is special.
It's the weekend, and that's a good enough excuse to smile.
Tschüs Freunde!
India
Music for the "morning": Friday I'm in Love by The Cure
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Champagne Parties and Rococo Flats
I've taken a turn for the nostalgic and realized I'm finally starting to miss America.
But first let me explain something I get asked about a lot.
But first let me explain something I get asked about a lot.
Most frequently asked question ever: Why the heck do I live here?!
Answer: Because Europe is awesome, duh!
Just kidding. I mean Europe is awesome! But moving here had something do with my mom. I mean we moved when I was 16, so it's not like I alone just packed up and said, 'sayonara!' (or I guess in this case Auf Wiedersehen would be more appropriate).
Answer: Because Europe is awesome, duh!
Just kidding. I mean Europe is awesome! But moving here had something do with my mom. I mean we moved when I was 16, so it's not like I alone just packed up and said, 'sayonara!' (or I guess in this case Auf Wiedersehen would be more appropriate).
Maybe I kinda had my head in the clouds, because my general impression of Europe pre-moving was all fancy baroque apartments and champagne parties (maybe I spent too much time in Paris?). When we got here, I hadn't realized that Europe is still a part of real life, like with job searches and homework and people who don't like you.
So a lot of Germans ask me this second famous question: which is better? America or Germany?
I used to say Germany 100%, but having lived here now for around 19 months, I've gotten to see positive and not-as-positive things. I always felt somehow uncomfortable in America, like I wasn't actually a real 'American'. I think I feel more German (surprise everyone!), but I love American things I grew up with, like diners and 24-hour supermarkets (who doesn't love an ice cream run at 2 in the morning?).
Bavaria, Munich especially, also has its endearing things you don't find elsewhere. Oktoberfest is one of them (are you counting how many times I mention Oktoberfest on this blog? 12 more days!). There's more to Munich than just that of course. I mean where else in the world can you have a breakfast consisting of white sausage, soft pretzels, and wheat beer (delicious!)? And where, tell me, in the western world can you see people walking around in traditional dress on any day of the week, just because? (although the because part a lot of the time has something to do with beer).
Bavaria, Munich especially, also has its endearing things you don't find elsewhere. Oktoberfest is one of them (are you counting how many times I mention Oktoberfest on this blog? 12 more days!). There's more to Munich than just that of course. I mean where else in the world can you have a breakfast consisting of white sausage, soft pretzels, and wheat beer (delicious!)? And where, tell me, in the western world can you see people walking around in traditional dress on any day of the week, just because? (although the because part a lot of the time has something to do with beer).
I used to ask a German friend of mine in America which place she preferred (though she was not Bavarian). She simply told me, "I don't know which I prefer. There are problems everywhere. Me, I am just homeless."
And welcome to the glamorous life of an expat. Because now I know exactly what she meant, and it's exactly how I feel today. Once you start living in different places around the world, you either realize clearly where your home is, or that you have none at all, subject to the endless wandering and discovery of new treats in new places.
Personally, I always feel fabulous after a trip to Italy. But who wouldn't after a week or so of carbonara al dente and gelato and saying 'ciao'?!
I hope everyone had a great weekend. It's Tuesday, which is good because tomorrow is Wednesday and that means we're almost already halfway to the weekend! It's never too early to celebrate the coming of a Saturday [night]. (I once had a friend who always used to say her birthday was coming up, even if it was 9 months away- she knew what's up!)
Schönen Nachmittag everyone!
India
Music for the midday: Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi(ft. MGMT & Ratatat)
Personally, I always feel fabulous after a trip to Italy. But who wouldn't after a week or so of carbonara al dente and gelato and saying 'ciao'?!
I hope everyone had a great weekend. It's Tuesday, which is good because tomorrow is Wednesday and that means we're almost already halfway to the weekend! It's never too early to celebrate the coming of a Saturday [night]. (I once had a friend who always used to say her birthday was coming up, even if it was 9 months away- she knew what's up!)
Schönen Nachmittag everyone!
India
Music for the midday: Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi(ft. MGMT & Ratatat)
Saturday, September 7, 2013
The Thing About Blogging...
If you have a blog, you can see all kinds of information about how many views your blog gets, like from which country you get views, which internet browser, what kind of operating system, and which kind of referring links people click to get there (when I post my blog links on Facebook for example, Facebook would be known as the referring link). Sometimes I wish I could kind of piece this information all together, like if someone in America is using a Mac operating system and Safari for a browser and clicked through Facebook. But all of these statistics are separate. I kind of like it though, just knowing that somewhere in Croatia or Italy (thank you whoever you are!) someone was interested in reading what I have to say. Whether or not we're strangers, I'm happy to have you onboard, and flattered to see how many countries have popped up on the stats page.
So thank you readers! I mean because honestly, what's the point of writing a blog if no one's gonna read it? That's what diaries are for (which I may or may not already have). If you enjoy what you read, please share! It may not seem relevant to people who don't know me, but you never know what gets people going.
PS for my German readers: I will eventually do a few posts in German once in a while (because I'm obviously a narcissist and want to show off my superb language skills to everyone, haha just kidding) just for you! I know since you read this you can understand, but as most of you probably know, I passionately enjoy reaching and communicating with people in their mother language. Also achtet drauf, dass es bald was auf Deutsch geben wird! :)
So on Thursday I had my interview for event photography, and I'm very happy to say I will be covering my first event next Saturday (so for my Munich readers, be there or be square!!). I'm really really excited about it. I'm thankful to have a job (or two), it's just the apartment search that seems to be the tricky part.
Another thing that's been my nagging at my mind for a while- Venice. Anyone wanna come with? I've gotta get back there! (I don't know if it has to do with watching Casanova, which takes place there, but whatever!)
Happy Weekend Everyone! I just love Saturdays, don't you?
India
Musik zum Mittag: Where is My Mind as performed by Placebo
So thank you readers! I mean because honestly, what's the point of writing a blog if no one's gonna read it? That's what diaries are for (which I may or may not already have). If you enjoy what you read, please share! It may not seem relevant to people who don't know me, but you never know what gets people going.
PS for my German readers: I will eventually do a few posts in German once in a while (because I'm obviously a narcissist and want to show off my superb language skills to everyone, haha just kidding) just for you! I know since you read this you can understand, but as most of you probably know, I passionately enjoy reaching and communicating with people in their mother language. Also achtet drauf, dass es bald was auf Deutsch geben wird! :)
So on Thursday I had my interview for event photography, and I'm very happy to say I will be covering my first event next Saturday (so for my Munich readers, be there or be square!!). I'm really really excited about it. I'm thankful to have a job (or two), it's just the apartment search that seems to be the tricky part.
Another thing that's been my nagging at my mind for a while- Venice. Anyone wanna come with? I've gotta get back there! (I don't know if it has to do with watching Casanova, which takes place there, but whatever!)
Happy Weekend Everyone! I just love Saturdays, don't you?
India
Musik zum Mittag: Where is My Mind as performed by Placebo
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Coffee and Casanova
Happy Thursday everybody!
Casanova:
Could there be any more perfect combination?
Rich, high quality coffee (good morning!) combined with the witty charms and graces of Casanova...
Has anyone besides me seen this movie? I always avoided it because of its rating in America but after I looked into why it was rated that way, I figured it was probably harmless (I was right). I really wanted to watch a Heath Ledger movie, and I wanted to see something I had never seen with him before. I was not disappointed!! First of all this movie is hilarious and gets a high recommendation from me. Maybe it's things like slapping people with gloves and having multiple aliases at a masked ball that are only funny to me, but the whole setup is just absolutely ridiculous and can only leave one laughing!
Anyway, not that I want this to be about movie reviews and stuff you could read on anyone else's blog. Just thought I'd share the movie I watched last night (because it was just so good) :)
So back to the good stuff, right? Okay so I mentioned it's kind of a busy time for me in September- I'm starting work! AND I have a job interview today as an event photographer (yay!). Munich is obviously a fairly touristic city (I mean hello, my family visited in 1998. I was once a tourist here too), so there are probably tours happening, right?! Yes! So I'm training right now to be a tour guide, and to do that involves taking two smallish exams. First you have to take a quiz about Munich and then you have your audition tour, where you have to give a tour for the boss... on video... to be sent to HQ in Berlin... (I don't like the video part!). I took the pre-audition test yesterday, and I guess I barely passed because I don't know some semi-abstract things about Munich like if a game in the 2006 World Cup was played here... I was 11 during that world cup! I didn't care about soccer (or football for my European friends), I cared about starting Middle School! Oh well.
So I'm heading to two museums this weekend as prerequisite for doing the audition tour. I'm actually excited about these museums because one of them is about the city of Munich itself, which should be pretty fascinating because Munich has a fascinating history from what I know! (Think ancient monasteries and beer traditions, a church built by the devil, a dynastic family full of cuckoos, beer revolutions, etc.) The second museum I'm visiting is an art museum that currently has an exhibit on the old testament which I can see for a whopping 2€, I'm looking forward.
I mentioned I have a job interview as an event photographer. I would love to get into this because event planning and management is my backup plan if I don't get to do my Plan A (which will slowly be revealed for the people who don't know what it is yet!). Event photographers here in Munich are basically publicists for clubs and public parties; every time you enter a club here, there are always people snapping away and then the next day or so you get to find all your awesome party pics on their website. I like to party, but I would prefer to work at parties because of the benefit of being there and being forced to be responsible at the same time.
Sorry for the super long post! Keep your eyes out for the Oktoberfest post in a couple weeks (only 16 days til the mayhem begins! WOOT!); complete with pictures! and here's a sneak preview from last year (there's guys with lederhosen in the background!):
À bientôt mes amis!
Music for the morning: Album The Best of New Order by New Order
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The Famous First Post (it'll get better, I promise)
Hey everyone. I'm India, and I moved to Germany just about a year and a half ago.
For anyone who has no idea who I am or what I'm talking about, just breathe. We'll get there. ;)
Okay, since it's taken me this long to start this blog, I wanna be sure I continue. Which is funny, since I've started at a busy time- Oktoberfest is around the corner, I may be starting two jobs around the same time, I need to move out by the end of the month... but I'll make it work.
...did I just mention Oktoberfest?!! Yes I did! I live inGermany Bavaria (one of the 16 Bundesländer in Germany, roughly equivalent to a state), and not just Bavaria, but MUNICH (and the background picture is a view of our lovely skyline, with the Bavarian alps to the south)! And Munich, is the capitol of the state of Bavaria, and also the location of the very very famous Oktoberfest (also referred to as the Wiesn).
So I'm writing about my experiences living abroad, the adventures, the sights, smells, and best of all, the beautiful, glamorous people who enter my life (but rest assured, names will nearly always be changed!)
So join my little party, why don't you (and believe me, there WILL be parties, Munich is that kind of city).
And just a little bit about me (for everyone who doesn't know), my name IS India, that doesn't mean anything about my heritage however, I finished High School here in Germany this Summer (which means, yes I DO speak German, so prepare for some new vocab!). I'm American by birth (though I don't quite know what nationality I actually feel like, if you knew me or if you do know me, you'd probably consider me racially confused- you'll see what I mean as we go on). I have hobbies, but we'll have to save those for future posts ;)
Music for the morning: Album X&Y by Coldplay
Bis bald Leute!
India
For anyone who has no idea who I am or what I'm talking about, just breathe. We'll get there. ;)
Okay, since it's taken me this long to start this blog, I wanna be sure I continue. Which is funny, since I've started at a busy time- Oktoberfest is around the corner, I may be starting two jobs around the same time, I need to move out by the end of the month... but I'll make it work.
...did I just mention Oktoberfest?!! Yes I did! I live in
So I'm writing about my experiences living abroad, the adventures, the sights, smells, and best of all, the beautiful, glamorous people who enter my life (but rest assured, names will nearly always be changed!)
So join my little party, why don't you (and believe me, there WILL be parties, Munich is that kind of city).
And just a little bit about me (for everyone who doesn't know), my name IS India, that doesn't mean anything about my heritage however, I finished High School here in Germany this Summer (which means, yes I DO speak German, so prepare for some new vocab!). I'm American by birth (though I don't quite know what nationality I actually feel like, if you knew me or if you do know me, you'd probably consider me racially confused- you'll see what I mean as we go on). I have hobbies, but we'll have to save those for future posts ;)
Music for the morning: Album X&Y by Coldplay
Bis bald Leute!
India
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