Germany

SEMI – FINALE!! OHHH!! FINALE!!

One thing about Germany is that it’s huge into Football (Soccer). Today, they had the quarter final match against Argentina. Against all the odds, they won – 4-0. I could hear my neighbors in the building cheering, the vuvuzelas going, and fireworks being shot off for each goal. Everyone is quite pleased when the German players win – and being that this is a very young team – even happier when it’s against a powerhouse like Argentina. Let’s just say that as a non football fan, it’s very difficult to NOT get caught up in the fever. I was here 4 years ago when Germany hosted the world cup – and remember the craziness then.

This time around, we’re going to the Semi – FINALE!! It’s not sure yet who it is we’re playing against – but … That’s just fine. I too am getting caught up in the enthusiasm and am rather enjoying seeing everyone walking around in Black, Red, and Gold – along with the flags. So, in brief honor of their win today, I thought I’d introduce you to a bit of the German football culture – in the form of a song which everyone has been singing today:

Lyrics (with my rough translation):

Chorus:

1 und 2 und 3 und 54, 74, 90, 2010 (1 and 2 and 3 and 54, 74, 90, and 2010)
ja so stimmen wir alle ein. (Yes, we are all together one)
Mit dem Herz in der Hand und der Leidenschaft im Bein, (with our hearts in our hands and the passion in our feet)
werden wir Weltmeister sein.(we want to be the world champions!)

Wir haben nicht die höchste Spielkultur. (we don’t have best known playing culture)
Sind nicht gerade filigrant. (but we’re not flagrant)
Doch wir haben Träume und Visionen (Yes we have dreams and visions)
und in der Hinterhand ‘nen Master Plan. (and a way for our master plan)
Für unseren langen Weg aus der Krise (which will take away the crisis)
und aus der Depression, (and remove from depression,)
lautet die Devise: Nichts wie rauf auf den Fußballthron! (we believe there’s nothing like the football throne!)

Die ganze Welt greift nach dem goldenen Pokal,(The whole world reaches for the golden cup)
Am Kap der Guten Hoffnung probieren wir´s nochmal (At the cape of good hope we’re trying again)
Wir als Gast in Südafrika (we’re all guests in South Africa)
Wird unser Traum dann endlich wahr.(where our dream becomes reality.)

Beim ersten mal war’s n Wunder, (First time’s a miracle)
Beim zweiten mal war’s Glück, (The second’s with luck)
Beim dritten mal der verdiente Lohn (The third is earned)
Und des nächste mal wird`s ne Sensation (and finally world sensation…)

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Christopher Street Day

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One of the biggest parties in Berlin every year is the Gay Pride Parade, also known as Christopher Street Day. Christopher Street Day (CSD) Parade is an enormous outdoor Gay / Lesbian Pride Party which has taken place every summer in Berlin since 1979. The festival is named after the Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York City which was directly caused by a police raid on a gay bar on Christopher Street.

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Amongst the largest Gay Rights parties in the world. Straight or Gay, when you’re there you’ll find costumes of all varieties and colors and styles, Huge Tractor Trailer type floats with sound systems, and plenty of live music, and DJ sets, and most importantly — plenty of Beer and happy people.

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This year’s theme was Normal is “other” (Normal ist Anders). Sort of saying that no one has a normal love – and that all love is “different”.

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I have to say that by far, it’s one of the most enjoyable parties in the city (they march several kilometers – thus the photos of the INSANE SHOES they rocked the entire parade walking in) – but make no mistake, there are plenty of political agendas put forth here too.

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Among this year’s ajendas were the rights for Gays to adopt children (they can already get married in the eyes of the law – if not in a church), putting forth better equality laws to protect people the world over – regardless of race, creed, religion, or sexual orientation.

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This year, my friend, Jean was in town, and I convinced him that we had to go to the parade, expecting that he’d want to leave after a few hours. Once he got there, he too had a great time – agreeing to stay from the beginning to the end – nearly 3 hours worth of parade. One of the things that he noticed, which I noticed at my first CSD was that there aren’t any protesters, just party people. Likewise, there were entire families that had come out to the party – just to teach their kids and encourage them to be more open minded.

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Even though I’m straight, Many of my closest friends are Gay, and I love them for being who they are. I feel like by attending, I show my support for them and their rights just as much as my own.


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After all, I believe that love can come in many shapes and sizes, and where it appears, only the heart can ever know.

For more pictures and the complete slideshow, you can see below or click the link here.

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Berlin is So Out of the Box… and the Closet..

In the US, we’re pretty conservative. More so than most of the western world – and Utah, well, let’s not even discuss the conservativeness of the state whose predominant religion has people covered from knees to elbows by their undergarments (don’t even say the word sex!).

The thing with Berlin is that there is always something going on – especially in the Summer. Tonight is the start of the World Cup in South Africa (I went to a Bar with a couple of my classmates – Jamil who is South African, and Yan Li who is Chinese) to watch the opening match. Jamil is so happy and proud of his country for having the opportunity to host a world cup – he’s been bouncing off the walls for the last couple of days. It’s great, and I don’t blame him. It’s one of the most positive things in the news from Africa as a whole for many years.

Anyhow – On the way to the Bar, I saw the following poster (taken by the cell phone camera) which made me stop, take two steps back and think “Did I Read that Right?!?” and go back for a look to confirm “Yes, Yes, I did see that right.” The summary was a thought of the folks back home are NEVER going to believe this – because not only is Berlin so OUT of the BOX and comfortable with sexuality that they allow live Porn shows… – but it’s also LIVE GAY PORN show. Yes, Berlin is Out of the Box, and Out of the Closet.

Berlin is so out of the box, they advertise live porn- on the street!

The guys both chuckled at my pause to take a picture, but seriously, I think they understood why I had to do it. On a side note, this weekend is also the Christopher Street Parade (Gay Pride) and the school I attend is in the “gay district” where they’re having a huge street fair, thus the tent in the right hand corner.

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