Do you like thunderstorms? I always used to like them, especially their approach. The dark cloud masses accumulating until they are darkening the entire sky, the sudden silence of Nature, the first sheet lightning, rumbling thunder somewhere in the distance, and then the first “real” lightning, a Blitz. This Germanism has made it into the […]
Across the Fence
Across the Fence: Oktoberfest
They are about to pop up everywhere these days – Oktoberfests. This Germanism is as Bavarian as it gets – the reminiscence of the then future-king Ludwig I of Bavaria’s October wedding to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Even the venue to which the citizens of Munich were invited is the same historical site today – […]
Across the Fence: Dollar
Who would have thought that the American currency has been named for an ancient Bohemian currency?! Wait! Where is the Germanism in this, you might ask. The Bohemia region has a truly colorful history of belonging here and there, also with a very dominant history of German and Jewish influences. Which means that the term […]
Across the Fence: Dirndl and Lederhosen
Oh, the joys for so many tourists in Germany of experiencing the Munich Oktoberfest! Or the Stuttgarter Volksfest, its hardly less popular cousin … And to see more and more visitors dress up in dirndl and lederhosen (the English pronunciation of either is hardly any different from the German one), THE typical traditional German clothing. […]
Across the Fence: Fräulein, Frau, and Herr
“Mein Fräulein” – how many of you know the term and have used it in addressing a German woman in their life? To try out their German, nothing more? Just as saying “Jawohl”, “Prost”, or “Auf Wiedersehen”? Did you know that the term Fräulein (pronounce ‘froy-line, meaning Miss) is on the list of German words […]
Across the Fence: Kaffeeklatsch
One term that has it made into the English language as well as has the procedure into American culture is the German “Kaffeeklatsch” (pronounce ‘kuffay-clutch), meaning chatting or gossiping over coffee. It is usually enjoyed in the afternoon, either at a private home or at a café. Unfortunately, the classic café is becoming more and […]
Across the Fence: Poodle
Who has never heard or seen a poodle? My first longer-time encounter was with a so-called Standard Poodle my American Aunt and Uncle used to have. Charlie was ginormous and gentle, felt ashamed of his looks when he came back from the groomer, and did his best to destroy any fancy accessories on him as […]
Across the Fence: Bock
Have you ever heard of the German term “Bock”? The beer drinkers among you certainly know it to be a strong, dark lager variant. But why is it called “bock”?! To be honest, I didn’t know this either, except that it is a strong beer. And that, accordingly, Doppel-Bock (“double bock”) must be doubly strong. […]
In the Book Nook with … Alle C. Hall
Author Alle C. Hall from Seattle, Washington, used to be a national sales and marketing manager and freelance writer before she became a stay-at-home mom. She started as a journalist in 1991 and, in 1998, began to write her novel, which was published this past March. Her book, “As Far as You Can Go Before […]