So Bonn is over, and we have done so much I can barely
breathe. It is such a privilege to travel with such an amazing group –there are
so many fun, easy-to-get-along-with people! Every day is such a treat
(everything –food, tickets, money, is done for us!) We are working together
with 3 other groups of about 12 people, and each day we do stuff with a
different group, or just ours.
This is a few snippets of my first 3 days in Germany in
tweet form. If it can convert any of you to Twitter, even one of you, my life
will be worth something <3
NB these are not genuine tweets and Twitter will accept no
responsibility for them. Also they may be longer than 140 characters
If I just had the breakfast at the hotel, stayed one night
then went back to New Zealand, I would be happy #IHaveNeverSeenSuchLuxury
Discovering certain German words sound like English with a
Chinese accent #trilingualproblems
This is us (not preparing) our NZ presentation because we were so tired. Instread we mostly laughed about stupid stuff (like how bad our English was atm) #racialsymmetry
That awkward moment when you can’t speak Mandarin with the
other New Zealanders #trilingualproblems
Most German eateries have home-made freshly squeezed orange
juice on the menu #goodidea
German boys, from my limited reflections, owe their
attractiveness in the most part to their confidence (rather like Coll boys)
Swedish sounds a lot like Sims.
unsere Schweden <3 ily them so much (Johanna, in the middle is my roomie in Bonn)
Spent the whole afternoon listening to a German explain the
history of Germany (literally in my ear) without understanding a thing
#lowpoint
Forgot the golden rule of never going food shopping before
dinner #everysingleJellyBellyflavourlater
The two Australians that were on our plane from Dubai are 15 and the cutest things ever.
#TeamTimandAnnie #TeamAustralia
Tim is always switching into English. He even said ‘kein
offense’ the other day #what #canthandletheadorbs
Also secretly gloating over the reinforcement of the
Australian stereotype according to New Zealanders: that we’re much more mature
and intelligent ;)
Just visited the most ridiculous castle I have ever seen.
300 baby calves died for the gilt wallpaper in one room and I kid you not.
300 more calves just died –all 4 groups had schnitzel and
chips this evening and the schnitzel was the size of my face
#GermansEatSoMuchMeat
#FunFact: Köln (Cologne) has walls stored under the ground
on the riverbanks in case of a flood.
#Germansthinkwallsaretheanswertoeverything
#FunFact: The philharmonic in Köln is built under a
courtyard and because the many tourists walking over it are too loud during
concerts and rehearsals, there are people employed to stand there and stop
people walking on it #excellentplanning #onlyinGermany #orChina
Bachelor/ette parties are a big thing in Köln. Today is
Saturday and we have seen maybe 50 of them around town
There are also a lot of people drinking on public transport.
It gives a little bit of a Sevens feel.
#Overheard in the Kölner Cathedral (in German, of course):
“What time is it?” “7 minutes past 1” #Germans
Just had a bonding moment with the Argentinians when we were
shopping for an adaptor and we discovered we have the same electrical plugs
#plugbrothers
How is it that the people of Köln can make 5km-long lines
for the changing rooms at Zara and still lack so much style?
The awkward moment when a shopkeeper in a touristy place
hears your accent and starts speaking English to you #whatdoyoudo
Reading old sermon notes on my phone #church
Don’t cha love it when you nearly fall over in the bus
clinging on to what you thought was a handle, then the one thing you say in
English, you get mocked for by the Aussies #ISaidArmrestNotArmWrist #NotThatFunny
Saw a girl today wearing what looked like Supre cross
tights, a denim shirt and a bun on top of her head –is it possible to recognise
Kiwis by their fashion sense?
Not sure if all Germans eat so many lollies, or only because
we’re in the hometown of Haribo
Strangely in Germany my teeth start hurting when I eat too
many lollies or chocolate #thankyoubody #gotmyback
Just noticed the biggest difference between NZ and German
fashion –all the girls here wear pants (or those ridiculous see-through leggings).
You know you’re tired when you’re speaking English
Can’t believe Germany has no short code for Twitter via text
#forshame
Calling the hotel desk to buy wifi because you’re too tired
from climbing cathedral stairs to go in person
Not preparing your skit for the international evening
because your entire group is obsessed with the newly-bought wifi #WifiLife
Strange feeling not having enough clothes with me
#TypicalOverPacker #ItsActuallyCold #ThanksMum
Took a picnic on our walk today and we had New Zealand
apples #apples
Sung ABBA with the Swedes all the way down the hill
#youngandfree
English is everyone’s default language to explain things in,
even if it’s neither parties’ mothertongue #gripes
This weekend has been quite the party atmosphere –there have
been Germans everywhere, singing constantly and drinking constantly (school is
finishing)
On the top of a barge we even saw a guy so excited he threw
his girlfriend’s shoe overboard because he didn’t like it #everyhourishappyhourin
#Germany
Doing everything for our NZ presentation at the last minute
#trueKiwis
Practising for the haka #InternationalEvening #takingonefortheteam
#notmyfirstembarrassingperformance
Watching everyone try Tim Tams like they’re an exotic
delicacy
I think I have eaten sweets from every country in the world
tonight #InternationalEvening
Watching the Argentinians reenact when their team scores a
goal #feellikeImthere #InternationalEvening
