Once Upon a Five Day Weekend

I had a five day weekend.  It was nice.  It was like an inverted normal week, which consisted of doing the paltry amount of stuff I do on a Monday and Tuesday and then having Wednesday off (as is usual), Thursday off (as is unusual - it was a bank Holiday) and Friday off (as is usual) in addition to the real weekend (which, for those of you who like complete lists or are unsure how Germany works, is Saturday and Sunday, and I normally have off).

Father Son bonding, Deutsche Bahn, Sun and other Surprises. An overdue roundup.

So it has been nearly a month since my last report on the occurrences surrounding my time here in abroad.  Consulting my calendar (because remembering things from that long ago is tough), I have learned where I need to pick up from, so I shall:

Fastnacht, not fast nackt.

So its been a little while and there are two reasons for this:

1. I've actually been doing academic work.
2. Its been Fastnacht (otherwise known as Fasching or Karnival depending on where you are) and I've been waiting for all the crazy to be over before attempting to explain it.  

Today, being Ash Wednesday, marks a complete close to Fastnacht, so reason 2 no longer stands and I feel I need to avoid a beak from reason 1, so I'll take a stab at an account of the last week.

Journey of the Magi (or at least a bunch of foreigners)

So in the last week or so places have been visited, wine has been drunk and journeys made (some more successfully than others).

Political Animals Are Nocturnal

So in the time since my last blog update nothing of much importance whatsoever has happened anywhere at all.  So that's where I'm going to leave it.

Ha. You should be so lucky...

The First Month:

So the 3^rd of October marked 1 month since I moved to Konstanz.  Its been great fun, with great people, in a great place.  Here are a few of the things I've learned:

Oktoberfest

So after my previous entry with its slightly downcast view of Oktoberfest the time came to have myself well and truly schooled in all things Oktoberfest from the one place that knows them:  The Theresenweise (die Wiesn) in Munich, home of the one, the only, the original Oktoberfest.  I should say now that I went for a day rather than staying overnight or through the night so my view is pretty much of the middle of the day.

Septemberfest.

Those with even a passing interest in Germany and things German will know that they like their beer and they like a good singsong.  The word "Oktoberfest" will probably conjure up images of Munich, tents, lederhosen, women in Dirndls with "viel Holz vor der Hütte" and of course, Beer, lots of beer.  All of these images come to mind because they are, broadly, true.  What people (including my good self) sometimes do not realise is that the majority of the festival occurs in September (The Bürgers of Munich, being practical types, moved it because the weather was better) and that there are Oktoberfest celebrations all over Germany, including (luckily for me) Konstanz.  So, having been told about Oktoberfests every year in school and in Uni and each person pointing out that it was at a very awkward time for us it seemed rude not to stroll on down to the tent which had been erected on the edge of the Bodensee to house the Oktoberfest am See (an international festival as the very near by Switzerland shares this event, along with may others).  

Bu·reauc·ra·cy

noun, plural bu·reauc·ra·cies.

1.government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials.

2.the body of officials and administrators, especially of a government or government department.

3.excessive multiplication of, and concentration of power in, administrative bureaus or administrators.

4.administration characterised by excessive red tape and routine.

 

Yes, I've got to that stage where I feel the need to write a blog post not only explaining the empire of the Beamte but also to recount my experiences with them, which hopefully will not turn into too much of a rant and might even serve to forward people yet to arrive in the Bundesländer.