German offices have a wonderful attitude about personal life--it's important and they agree upon it. With current global influences transitioning Germany towards the American model, the climate is changing, but essentially it's still European. Take for example where I met my colleagues this past Thursday. A bunch of interns worked till and gathered around 8 p.m. to go to our Weindorf--the Stuttgart wine festival. As interns do, we went and sampled a few glasses of wine while trying local dishes such as Maultaschen, Käsespätzle, and Schnufnudeln. But what made it truly great was moving on to a bar and running into more co-workers. It's not just the interns that appreciate a beer after work or a Thursday night out on the town, it's the whole crew. Welcome to Germany.
And truly something German is the strong appreciation of regional heritage--the equivalent of saying "I'm from Maple Grove and damn those in Maplewood" or Minneapolis vs. St. Paul. Every small region has its own traditional clothing, called Tracht. This weekend the director of the exchange program between Worthington (where I grew up) to Crailsheim (our sister city in Germany) invited me to march in the parade in Augsburg in traditional fränkischen Tracht. The following photos depict me, the American, during my day as a true native. The people in the crowd waved and applauded as we walked past. It was the easiest parade to date--no marching, no instrument, no paying strict attention to lines and beats, and unlike the Minnesota Marching Band which marched in the State Fair parade on the day following this Augsburg parade, unfortunately no crazy dancing to all the great Minnesota Gopher cadences.
Extremely simple as it was, the best part was the ending. Sure, before the parade there was a large island set up simply to hand out beer and pretzels to the parade participants (not apples and water like normal American, seriously beer and pretzels.) The best part was the end destination. The entire parade and all participants marched into a humongous beer tent. I envision the image from the sky similar to Animal House as the band turns the corner and follows the abducted drum major into an alleyway. So is it at every parade. The farther in front you are, the sooner you arrive in the beer tent to eat and drink till happiness.
So, I gladly took part!
That's the big news of the week. I'm back with the group this coming Sunday and, until then, enjoy the momentary chaos that is my current project leader. Smart and friendly, one marble still went missing.
Later Days,
Rick
7 comments:
loving your costume :)
I'm pretty sure that hat must attract every eligible female within 30 blocks. Right?
ack! you lucky duck!
What?! No dancing to cadences?! I agree with Bridget, love the hat.
Did you have to have a few beers before you put the costume on???
:-)
Looks like fun!
you are having far, far too much fun!
To answer Phil's question, Yes. A day out with this group always has drinks along.
1) It started with champagne on the bus, as a woman celebrated her birthday and brought drinks for all.
2) Continued with beers on the bus, because the group leader felt like bringing a case along.
3) Beer was handed out before the parade to all parade participants, free, of course.
4) (not in Augsburg, but certainly in smaller cities) Friendly people along the side of the street walk up to the group with a tray full of Schnapps, which all then drink and continue marching along.
5) The parade marches into the beer tent and everyone orders (or receives free) a liter of beer; and
6) Someone along on the bus had made his own schnapps to share with the entire group
And the smaller the town and the more people you know, the more spectators there are that offer drinks to the parade--I can only imagine what will happen when we (this group) march in its hometown parade for its little city of 12,000. Speaking with Dieter, he listed off at least 6 places along the route. I think I'll spectate.
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