Nuremburg and Stern des Südens

Not drowning in LMU courses

This past week was pretty busy indeed. I have preparations for three presentations going on at the same time, each requiring a handout and each concern relatively complicated topics – forms of protest and strategies of advocacy movements to concolidate power, the possible health risks involved with tattoos, and the history and current problems regarding Gastarbeiter and the integration of immigrants in Germany. My approach so far has been to simply bust out of the gate strong, meaning that the first months of school are going to be pretty tough, but towards the end while most are pulling all-nighters trying to finish up a series of Hausarbeit assignments, I will be relatively home-free and able to travel. That is the plan, anyway.

I had the interview for my practicum at the Hauptschule on Friday, and I am excited to work with kids. Although I am not a foreigner in my own country, I feel like I have somewhat of an understanding of the struggles that come with not being on the same level as those around you – particulary in terms of opportunities, dreams, education, and other cultural hardships. But I still have a lot to learn, and I can´t wait!

Nuremburg

This weekend myself and six other people took a trip to Nuremburg, and it was really a great time. The train ride was much longer than I had expected (since we took the Regional Express train, the trip was three hours rather than one and a half with the ICE) but the extra time made for some good sleep and engaging conversation.

First we headed to a few Medieval buildings, stopping to stand in awe of the woodwork and toymaking shops. Pencils, gingerbread, various childrens games, and Albrecht Dürer are keywords for Nuremburg. Other words that come to mind is center for human rights and the Nuremburg Trials in 1948, where many of the Third Reich’s high officers were tried and put to death. After that we spent a few hours in the Germanistische Museum and the Spielzeug Museum, both of which were very interesting. It was a Saturday and the weather was absolutely gorgeous, meaning that the museums were relatively empty and we could discuss everything excitedly without being attentive to our noise level. Perfect for me since I have the tendency to say “WOAH!” randomly, and usually have to shrink back in embarassment as everyone turns to stare…

Nazi Architecture in Nuremburg

After the museums, we took the tram to the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds, an eerie and majestic place that, although attempts at simultaneous preservation and integration, (museums inhabit important buildings and parking lots account for the Great Street), the mere closeness and total power of the regime still made us weak in the knees. For an architecture grad student, it was really neat to stand in a place of such historical and daunting significance. Albert Speer, Hitler´s architect, would have loved to know that much of his architecture is still standing in Nuremburg, Munich, and other cities, yet I am sure he would NOT be happy that what was once revered lands of Nazi power has been defamed by normal things such as bike paths, lakes, open and some time overgrown fields and gravel, and parking lots. Well…

It is my opinion that the architecture exerts its power in scale, not necessarily originality. A hard, powerful, dictated version of the elegance of Greek and Roman architecture, it served its purpose in exhibiting for the world what was to be the 1000 year Reich, but now is imposing and frighful.

After extensive conversation about our grandparents and what it must have been like to live through World War I, the Depression, the brief hope of the Roaring Twenties and the shattering of dreams with the onset of World War II, we made our way to a tasty food stand and got popcicles and Currywurst.

The Altstadt of Nuremburg is just gorgeous, dating back to the Middle Ages and the city´s influential place in areas such as printing, craft guilds, and other things. I really like the small town feel of Nuremburg as well – the atmosphere was very loose. We popped our heads into various churches, flea markets, and stopped at restaurant near the train station to try the delicious Nürnberger Rotwürst … so so good!!!

FC Bayern wird DEUTSCHER MEISTER 2010!

And by the way, Munich is now Deutscher Meister 2010! There was an enormous celebration in Marienplatz Sunday afternoon, in which the players themselves came and made an appearance and the present to all the fans: free beer. I didn´t go but I heard from friends that it really was a neat experience. FC Bayern has won the title of Deutscher Meisterthe most times since the title was founded in 1903.

The well-known and catchy Fan Song called Stern des Südens hails FC Bayern´s ever present winning streak and the new title to Deutscher Meister 2010. A video and lyrics:

Songtext: Stern des Südens…falls Du auch mitsingen möchtest!!

Welche Münchner Fußballmannschaft kennt man auf der ganzen Welt?
Wie heißt dieser Club, der hier zu Lande die Rekorde hält?
Wer hat schon gewonnen, was es jemals zu gewinnen gab?
Wer bringt seit Jahrzehnten unsere Bundesliga voll auf Trab?

FC Bayern, Stern des Südens,
Du wirst niemals untergehn’,
weil wir in guten wie in schlechten Zeiten zueinander stehn’.
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister,
ja, so heißt er mein Verein,
ja so war es und so ist es und so wird es immer sein!

Wo wird lauschend angegriffen, wo wird täglich spioniert?
Wo ist Presse, wo ist Rummel, wo wird immer diskutiert?
Wer spielt in jedem Stadion vor ausverkauftem Haus?
Wer hält den großen Druck der Gegner stets auf`s Neue aus?

FC Bayern, Stern des Süden,
Du wirst niemals untergehn’,
weil wir in guten wie in schlechten Zeiten zueinander stehn’.
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister,
ja, so heißt mein Verein,
ja so war es und so ist es und so wird es immer sein!

Ob Bundesliga, im Pokal oder Champions League
ja gibt es denn was schöneres als einen Bayern-Sieg?
Hier ist Leben, hier ist Liebe, hier ist freude und auch Leid.
Bayern München! Deutschlands Bester! Bis in alle Ewigkeit!

FC Bayern, Stern des Südens,
Du wirst niemals untergehn’,
weil wir in guten wie in schlechten Zeiten zueinander stehn’.
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister,
ja, so heißt er mein Verein,
ja so war es und so ist es und so wird es immer sein!

FC Bayern, Stern des Südens,
Du wirst niemals untergehn’,
weil wir in guten wie in schlechten Zeiten zueinander stehn’.
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister,
ja, so heißt er mein Verein,
ja so war es und so ist es und so wird es immer sein.

FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister,
ja, so heißt er mein Verein,
ja so war es und so ist es und so wird es immer sein.

[Willy Astor, http://www.magistrix.de]