Donnerstagsmarkt

Every Thursday on our campus there magically appears this little Market full of delectibles. I have not bought much from the vendors yet, but it is always a happy thing to walk through and see all the colorful fruits and berries!

Oh and all sorts of yummy bread!

This is what I spoiled myself with today! I think the full title was botterstreusselkucken...Oh Germany: your long words are sometimes ridiculous but oh so tasty!

Rhein-Fahrt

Yesterday the University arranged for us students to go on a boat tour of the Rhine River. I'm sure that ordinarily this would have been a pricey little tour, but we only had to pay 5,00 Euro to take part. It was a really neat day. I have never seen so many castles in my life and there was about one every mile! Plus there were many other beautiful sites to see along the German landscape. The coolest part may have been that we got to spend the whole day with our UWT group, and I think it really helped to solidify the relationships we've been building this week. I'm really thankful for the people who are here with me. So far we have been getting along great and everyone brings a little something interesting to the group.

We passed by many beautiful churches.

Camping anyone? Apparently in Europe you pitch your tent under the nearest castle...

Sarah and I enjoying the view of the German wine country.

On our last stop, we enjoyed some delicious food and drinks at a hotel restaurant along the water. It was fantastic--especially since we were starving! Again, it was a good time for enjoying a meal with new friends.

We got a little separated from the main group and thus added to the adventure by taking a train to where we were supposed to meet the busses. Thankfully the train was on time because we had to make a mad dash to get to the bus at the end! We all gave a sigh of relief when it was still there and we enjoyed our free ride back to Frankfurt!

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

People always say that the fastest way to learn a language is total immersion. Well, it definitely has been quite the week of learning German and I must say that every day my understanding and speaking ability are doubled from the day before. But that doesn't mean it's been easy!! We are among several hundred other students from all over the world who are here to study German through this summer course here at the University of Frankfurt. The German ability ranges from our group which seems to be at the bottom (only studying for the last month) to people who are getting their Master's degrees in German language. The past few days we were plugged into workshops where we saw different things around the city and then presented on them in our groups today. It was definitely challenging, but a good learning experience too. It has also been a good way to meet other people from all over the world: including people from Georgia, Serbia, Morocco, Italy, Kazakhstan etc. I probably couldn't even point to many of these places on the map so it is definitely broadening my world! We have also spent the last few days taking placement tests to put us into the right level of class which starts on Monday. It's been a little frustrating because I'm positive I could have just told the powers that be that I need to start at the bottom--however, again it has been a learning experience. So I'm looking forward to being with the other first year students on Monday and plugging away for the next 3 weeks. Tomorrow we are going on a boat tour of the Rhine River where apparently there is a new castle to see every mile. I'm excited! What is going on in your side of the world? Keep in touch!

Ali's give-away

Give-away time! Head on over to knittybutton for your chance to win this sweet little lamb!

Home Sweet Home

Mom, I thought you might like to see where I am living! So this is what I'm calling home for the next few weeks. My dorm room is on the 6th floor and is definitely small, but I have it all to myself so it is perfect for a short stay! The photo above is taking from my doorway so that is basically it.

To the right when you enter is my own sink. The toilets, showers, and kitchen are down the hall.

My bed is not much more than a piece of foam but I have been sleeping great! Maybe because I have been sooo sleepy every time my head hits the pillow!

The big closet is to the left when you enter and then I have my own fridge (which I have been filling with groceries so I can save some money on meals) and then I have tons of shelf space--more than enough since I don't have many belongings with me. Also, my internet is hooked up in my room now. Yay! This is my view of the modern part of the city from my dorm window. Our dorm is in a little quiet neighborhood about a 15 minute walk from the campus.

This is my view of the modern part of the city from my dorm window. Our dorm is in a little quiet neighborhood about a 15 minute walk from the campus.

Willkommen in Frankfurt

Well, I am here in Frankfurt Germany now for the month of August! I'm going to try to be a good blogger while I'm here to update you on my impressions of the city, classes, and my adventures.

Our plane ride was uneventful and we arrived to spend a full day of seeing the city. There are 9 people plus 2 professors in our group and we all went down to the waterfront for the Mein Festival last night. Somehow, despite our lack of sleep, we all managed to stay up until 11:00 to enjoy the festival and the most amazing fireworks show I have ever seen. In between we enjoyed some thunder and lightning too--it has been overcast since we've been here.

This morning we had a welcome meeting with all the other international students who are here for the summer language classes. A guy played two beautiful songs for us on this lovely pipe organ. Afterwards we all took a placement test to figure out which level of German we should be studying while we are here. Sadly, I think all of us Americans failed--but I guess that just placed us into beginning German where we should be. It seems like everyone else who is here for the language classes has been studying German their whole school careers whereas we all just began a couple months ago!

So far everyone in our group gets along really well and everyone seems really friendly and happy to be here. Marcus and Jennifer are in the middle photo and above with me is Sarah who I have been spending a lot of time with. This is all I have time for now, but I will try and be a faithful blogger this month so keep checking in! Meanwhile, send me an e-mail and let me know what you are up to!

Summer Bible Reading Plan

School's out for the summer and with it my part time jobs working at a couple of schools have concluded as well. I am definitely already enjoying a little extra free time to accomplish those little things that pile up when school takes most of your attention. I'm sure the summer will still be busy and full of fun and work, but as my schedule is changing I want to make sure that there is a constant every day: a time set apart to read God's Word and pray. I love the spontaneity and sporadicity (I think I made that word up...) that comes with summertime but this is why I think it is even more important to discipline myself to a daily devotion time. So what's the plan? Well, starting today, Autumn and I are going to be following Professor Horner's Bible-Reading System. Basically it involves reading ten chapters from the Bible every day using ten lists. The purpose of this system is not to have a time of deep meditation on a few verses, but to have a greater overview of the Scripture. Each list covers a different amount of days so as a result, you are able to make connections between different books of the Bible as you read various chapters of them side by side.

Autumn and I are doing this together for accountability's sake, but I would love it if you asked how this is going. It will keep me on my toes! Also, would you like to join me in this? The more the merrier! Let me know if you are interested and become a fan of Prof. Horner's Bible-Reading System on fb for more info.

THE TEN LISTS:
List 1 (89 days)
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

List 2 (187 days)
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

List 3 (78 days)
Romans, I&II Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, Hebrews

List 4 (65 days)
I&II Thess, I&II Tim, Titus, Philemon, James, I&II Peter, I,II&III John, Jude, Revelation

List 5 (62 days)
Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

List 6 (150 days)
Psalms

List 7 (31 days)
Proverbs

List 8 (249 days)
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I&II Samuel, I&II Kings, I&II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

List 9 (250 days)
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

List 10 (28 days)
Acts

"Each day you will read one chapter from each list, in order. THAT'S RIGHT -- *TEN CHAPTERS PER DAY*!!! Use ten bookmarks or sticky notes with the individual lists on them to keep track of your locations. (LOOK BELOW at the Wall for several posts on Feb 1 2009 and you will find links to handy bookmarks made by users.) On day one, you read Matthew 1, Genesis 1, Romans 1, and so forth. On day 2, read Matthew 2, Genesis 2, etc. On day 29, you will have just finished Matthew, so go to Mark 1 on the Gospel list; you’ll also be almost to the end of 2nd Corinthians and Proverbs, you’ll be reading Psalm 29 and Genesis 29, and so forth. When you reach the last chapter of the last book in a list – start over again. Rotate all the way through all the Scriptures constantly. Since the lists vary in length, the readings begin interweaving in constantly changing ways. You will NEVER read the same set of ten chapters together again! Every year you’ll read through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and prophetic books about 1 ½ times. Since the interweaving is constantly changing, you will experience the Bible commenting *on itself* in constantly changing ways -- the Reformer's principle of 'scriptura interpretans scripturam' -- 'scripture interpreting scripture' IN ACTION!"

SECRETS TO SUCCESS WITH THIS SYTEM:

• Read one chapter from each list each day, in one sitting or two. At the end of a book, go to the next book. At the end of the list – start it again. Do it in the order given above.
• Read quickly (without “speedreading”) in order to get the overall sense. Read as fast as you comfortably can with moderate retention. You’re not studying deeply or memorizing; shoot for 5-6 minutes per chapter. At the end of a chapter, move immediately to the next list.
• GET THROUGH THE TEXT – no dawdling, back-reading, looking up cross-references!
• There are different ‘kinds’ of reading: super-quick skimming, careful moderate-paced, studying the text, deep meditation. You should be between the first and second kind.
• Most people decrease their time spent and increase their retention after just two-three weeks! I now read and retain the entire text of Matthew in 35 minutes, Romans in 20, Genesis in *one hour*!
• Don’t look up anything you ‘don’t get’ – real understanding will come through contextualizing by reading a LOT of scripture over time. Get through the text!
• If you miss a day or two – ok, get over it, then keep going. Don’t cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes and quit! Move the bookmarks along, to find your place(s) quickly next day.
Heb 4:12&5:11-14; Eph 5:26&6:17; Col 3:16; 2 Tim 3:16; Ps 119; Ezra 8; Prov 3: 1-2, 10:14; Dan 1