The Dorman Story

Dorman Story Favorites 06/03/2011

2011-06-02T20:41:00.001-04:00

newspaper map | all online newspapers in the world, translate with one click

tags: education learning newspaper map mashup translate news Europe

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Video Scrapbook

2011-06-02T10:53:00.000-04:00

We will soon celebrate our 6 month anniversary - of moving to München! We thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of our adventures and reflect upon how lucky we are to be living our dream.

You can view our video scrapbook on our MobileMe Gallery at http://gallery.me.com/cliotech#100040. It was created with iMovie and exported as a QuickTime movie for sharing. If you are viewing the video on a PC be sure that you have QuickTime.

We hope you enjoy the video!

Quizlet and Learning German

2011-05-15T11:45:00.001-04:00

I have an exam (Prüfung) tomorrow on safety information in Germany, especially in the workplace. So, I decided to go back to one of my favorite Internet learning tools, Quizlet.

Sicherheitskennzeichnung

Study these flash cards | Study germany flash cards

I even persuaded Rob to try out Quizlet for learning the irregular verbs in German.

Unregelmäßige Verben

Study these flash cards | Study verbs flash cards

This is a resource I used to use when I was teaching. Now that I'm a student again I find it to be immensely helpful.

Enjoy!

Our First Emergency Room Visit in Germany

2011-03-27T06:43:00.001-04:00

For our American friends and family for whom health care is an omnipresent concern, you may be interested to read about our first trip to the emergency room in Germany. For the past few of years Rob has been afflicted with gout. Actually, that sounds much too severe. Really, he has had about 4 or 5 acute attacks of gout, but they have been short-lived and not too much of a concern. Unfortunately, Rob started with a gout attack in his big toe over a week ago and it pained him all of last week. Instead of getting better quickly the pain became increasingly more severe. In a city where we walk everywhere, this is a major problem (not just a minor pain). By yesterday evening the pain was so bad he could no longer take it and I made him go to the emergency room because I was concerned.

Having been to the ER myself and with family a handful of times in the U.S. I prepared by packing books and other items I imagined we might need during the next 8-12 hours. We hobbled to the Tram (luckily very close-by) and arrived at the ER check-in around 9:15 pm (21:15). We were checked in immediately, though I was a little concerned when the nurse advised us that our insurance (like many private insures in Germany) requires us to pay up-front and reimburses us. While we were sitting in the waiting area (which, I must say was quiet and not at all like the waiting areas of most ERs in the U.S.) Rob and I were tallying up the Euros in our wallets and I was making a plan to visit the closest Geldautomat (ATM). We had no idea how much the visit would cost, but could only base our assumptions on ER visits in the U.S. Basically, we were crossing our fingers that they would take our credit card as payment.

We waited about 10 minutes to see a doctor. The doctor examined Rob's foot and ankle and the nurse drew a blood sample to check his uric acid levels. While we awaited the blood test results the doctor provides some information about gout, recommended a Hausarzt (family doctor) in our neighborhood with whom we could follow-up if this proved to be gout, and was generally very pleasant. He never left the room to attend to other patients; Rob had his undivided attention. The blood test came back indicating that Rob was likely suffering from a gout attack. The doctor prescribed medicine, but did not want Rob to have to walk to an Apotheke to pick it up for a day or two, so he gave him enough tablets to get Rob through Monday evening. The entire visit lasted about 45 minutes.

Then came the bill . . . the nurse printed out a bill which we were expected to pay directly to the doctor and his nurse. The bill, including the blood test, totaled 34.61 € (about $48)! Can you believe it? That was not a "co-pay"; it was the TOTAL BILL. That is exactly how much our insurance company will reimburse us for the appointment. We had nearly exact change. When we needed 6 € in change the doctor pulled out his own wallet to make the change.

It was a totally different experience from seeing doctors or going to hospitals in the U.S. I was impressed with the efficiency in the system, but, mostly with the personal level of care provided by the doctor. It's not like we were the only patients. The check-in staff processed a total of six patients and got them to waiting areas in less than 10 minutes. By the time we were called in there were approximately 15 or so patients in our waiting area. To be fair, though, ours was not the only waiting station; there were several just in our hallway.

It did not feel "institutional" - rather, this was a personal experience. Our last few visits to hospitals in the U.S. have not been all that personal. Three years ago I recall waiting for over 6 hours just to see a doctor after I had been admitted. After that, the doctor visits to my room were "drive-by" and so quick that I barely had time to ask a question before they were rushing to see the next patient. The entire visit to the ER in Germany was shorter than most of my average waiting room stays at my former Internist's office in the U.S. I can't recall a doctor visit in the last 15 years where I was with a doctor for more than 15 or 20 minutes (when it wasn't surgery). U.S. doctors seem to be tremendously overworked. They are spread too thin and simply cannot devote more than a few minutes to a single patient. In hospitals it is even more of a challenge.

Update: The medicine seems to be working. After just one dose Rob is feeling much less pain this morning and the swelling is lessened considerably.

And, We're Back!

2011-02-22T16:58:00.000-05:00

After a six-week hiatus we are back online! And, like many a television series we decided to provide a quick recap to bring everyone back up to speed.

In October we sold our house in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

We moved to Munich (München), Germany, in December.

On January 1st we moved into our new apartment in the Neuhausen neighborhood of München. (See the photo tour below.)

We started taking German language classes at the Münchner Volkhochschule in mid-Janurary and just started our second 5-week intensive course yesterday. We will be taking language courses through the end of July with the hope of starting the 2011-2012 school year teaching at a school in Bad Tölz, Germany.

Our adventures in Bavaria have, thus far, been wonderful. We both very much enjoy being students again and learning a new language and culture while fully immersed is fabulous. Of course, we have taken advantage of our proximity to some of the most beautiful landscapes on the globe with day trips. We are looking forward to the warmer weather and the possibility of greater access to the Alpine hiking paths.

We waited for 6.5 weeks for Internet and cable access in our apartment. While we were checking email and Facebook at Internet cafes periodically, it was a challenge to keep up the blog. Now that we are back online with unlimited access we will get back to our regular posting routine.

Thanks for hanging in with us during this hiatus. We appreciate your understanding.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Please Stand By....

2011-01-06T12:49:00.001-05:00

... Settled into new apartment ... No 'net access until next week earliest ... Please bear with us... Lots of pics and narrative to follow... Sincere thanks to all for your comments; we're glad you're reading and hope you'll continue to do so... 'til then, warm greetings from Munich... We remain yours truly, Rob and Jen.

PS: that was my first official blog post here at The Dorman Story. Will do better next time. -rd

Exploring the Perlacher Forst and Friedhof am Perlacher Forst

2010-12-30T08:25:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite podcasts is from How Stuff Works, Stuff You Missed in History Class. On July 28, 2010, they had an episode that featured German resistance to the Nazi regime and highlighted the efforts and sacrifice of German university students. (click here to download or listen to the episode)

The White Rose movement was largely concentrated at the University of Munich, though it had spread to other universities by the 1943. Members wrote extensively of the abuses of the Nazi regime and published leaflets that were distributed in Munich and to other cities across Germany, most notably, Hamburg. The three most prominent founding members, and the first to be executed, were Hans Scholl (left), his sister, Sophie Scholl (center), and their friend, Christoph Probst (right). (image from Wikipedia - see copyright and fair use information)

We visited their graves at the Friedhof am Perlacher Forst (cemetery) in Munich. It is obvious that others had done the same; there was a fresh bouquet of white roses placed at the foot of the graves. It made me reflect on the power of words and ideas.

The Friedhof am Perlacher Forst is huge, though it is actually one of the smaller cemeteries in Munich. Another notable landmark is the mass grave of 4,092 victims of the Nazi regime.

I know that it may sound a bit hackneyed, but it was moving to see the mass grave and think about how Germans have had to process their shared history.

From the cemetery it was a short walk to the Perlacher Forst (forest).

View Larger Map

It had been snowing pretty steadily for several days and the paths of the Forst were covered in brilliant white packed snow. I was definitely happy for my Columbia boots and Mountain Hardware "puffy" jacket, even though I definitely resemble the Michelin Man.

The hours we spent walking through the forest were truly serene. It's amazing to think that we were actually still in the city considering that the Perlacher Forst is a 13.36 square km urban forest!

Servus! (That is the special "Hello" that many hikers and walkers in southern Germany use when encountering a fellow hiker . . . guess that would have been more appropriate at the start of this post.)

Reflections on Christmas 2010

2010-12-30T07:40:00.001-05:00

Wow - we just realized that we haven't posted for several days and now have a backlog of posts.

In this first one we wanted to spend a few minutes reflecting on our first Christmas in Germany. (Actually, that's not quite accurate; we have been in Germany and/or Austria over Christmas twice before, but that was more of a holiday.)

One thing that is definitely different is that Bavarians tend to have their big family Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve. This is when families exchange presents and share a large meal (that, as our friends have advised, usually consists of Würste, Späetzle, Kraut, and other traditional Bavarian accompaniments.) In fact, many Bavarian workers will start their Christmas holiday on December 23 by traveling to the family home where they will celebrate the holiday. I can attest to the huge number of travelers we encountered at the Hauptbanhof (central train station) in Munich on the 23rd. I can also say that pretty much everything -- shops, restaurants, offices, etc. -- was closed by early to mid afternoon on Christmas Eve. We took the S-Bahn out to Erding and ended up eating dinner at the only open restaurant we could find, King Du China Restaurant on Dorfenerstrasse. It was truly the best Chinese food I've ever had. They even gave us some small Christmas gifts!

Christmas Day finds most Germans trying out their new winter gear before settling down to another family meal (one that takes many hours to prepare -- beef, pork, venison, and goose are popular main dishes.) We were honored to partake in this time-honored winter tradition. On Christmas morning we took the Bayerische Oberlandbahn (BOB) regional train to the end of line, Lenggries. That's where we met our friends. After warming up with a coffee, we trekked uphill from our friend's house to test out the ubiquitous Schlitten. (see image below -- wood construction with metal runners)

Neither Rob nor I have been "sledding" (or, as the German word translates, "sliding") since we were children. But, the Germans take winter fun seriously and people of all ages go sledding. I think it's the big reward for the aerobic hike that precedes the slide downhill. If you haven't been sledding in a while you may have forgotten the fine art of steering with your legs while flying downhill on a Schlitten. One must use the left foot, digging into the snow, to turn left and the right foot to turn right. That method works "most" of the time. Unfortunately, it failed to work for Rob on a particularly tight turn and he flew off the Schlitten in perfect Superman form into an alpine stream. He was soaked from head to toe with great gobs of mud thrown in for contrast. Our friend best characterized the experience when she asked Rob, "Why did you do that?" Though he was pretty chilly it was still a fun adventure. Lucky for Rob that our friend had her Kachelofen (wood stove) blazing to dry out his clothes (and a pair of red capri track pants for him to change into . . . I WISH I would have had the nerve to take a photo of him.)

The meal we shared with our friends was a very traditional Christmas Day meal. We enjoyed venison, Späetzle with gravy, warm red cabbage, and a spicy cold cabbage salad. Top that off with some traditional Bavarian Christmas cookies, including Lebkuchen, and coffee and we were thoroughly satisfied. We were quite honored to be invited to share in our friends' Christmas celebration. We hope to be able to return the favor next year.

Going Medieval in Munich

2010-12-23T13:19:00.000-05:00

I know that I shouldn't be complaining about the lack of cold wintry weather considering what much of Western Europe has been through this week, but today was downright balmy in Munich. The temperature topped out at 7 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit.) Yet, the forecasted rain never appeared and we were able to take advantage of the warm temperatures and explore another Christmas market.

We took the S-Bahn to Marienplatz and walked through Odeonsplatz to get to Wittelsbacherplatz. Odeonsplatz was filled with Tannenbäumer (Christmas trees) . . . and, hundreds of last minute shoppers looking for that perfect Christmas gift. The statues you see behind me are of two of Bavaria's greatest military heroes: Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly (hero of the Thirty Years War) and Karl Philipp von Wrede (defender of Bavaria against Napoleon after Bavaria and Austria united with the Treaty of Ried.)

The Wittelsbacherplatz Adventsspektakel und mittelalterlicher Weihnachtsmarkt (Advent Celebration and Medieval Christmas Market) is rumored to be the most beautiful in Munich. It stands out among the dozens of Christmas markets because of its Medieval theme. While the requisite Glühwein stands and other traditional Christmas market fare were offered, this market boasts live music (a harpist while we were there), knights, swords, the latest in Medieval fashion, and a pig roasting over a spit. Check out the photos below.

We enjoyed steaming mug of Met or Honigwein (honey wine, sometimes known as Mead) while listening to the harpist.

We were back to the hotel in time for some Skype calls to family back in the USA.

Winter Fun and Global Awareness Mix at Tollwood

2010-12-22T11:08:00.001-05:00

Last night we were invited to explore what our friend, Katharina, described as "her favorite festival in Munich" - one that is frequented more by locals and not often advertised to tourists as one of the famous "Christkindlmarkts."

When we arrived at Therensienwiesse, the same grounds that host the world-famous Oktoberfest, we were truly stunned at the scale of this local "secret." The image below is only one of at least a half dozen huge tents situated among walkways lined with stands selling everything from incense sticks from Tibet and fair trade handicrafts from India to traditional German Glühwein and Mandeln.

The Winterfestival is one of two cultural festivals sponsored by Tollwood GmbH. The other is the Sommerfestival that is held at Olympiapark. Unlike the more traditional Christmas/Advent markets, these festivals are truly multi-cultural. Tollwood sponsored its first festival in 1988 and has, since then, used the festivals to bring people together in celebration of culture richness and global awareness.

The festival is powered entirely by green energy supplied by the Munich public utility company - hydroelectric power generated by the Isar River is what we were told. The food vendors all serve at least one dish made entirely of organic (called Bio in German) food, though most only serve organic dishes. Food and drink are served on/in reusable dishes that are washed onsite. Very little trash is generated, though ample recycling stations are available throughout the grounds. Some performances and displays are used to generate awareness and encourage personal activism through daily behavior choices and civic participation. Click here to read the full text of the excerpt below.

In 2007, Tollwood initiated the "Weltsalon". Here everything revolves around the major environmental and social issues of our time: Events about globalization and equity, war and peace, environmental destruction and innovation, courageous people and forward-looking projects. In this fascinating tent, with light projections varying according to theme, people from all over the world – the “leaders in their field” – come together on stage. The Weltsalon is a call to rethink. The focus is not only on becoming informed but on experiencing. Instead of theories, people. Instead of helplessness, encouragement to act. A place of both calm and movement.

In the 3 hours we spent at the festival we only scratched the surface of what it offers. We did enjoy some wonderful Holunderblüten (Elderflower) Glühwein and Shanghai Nudeln plus plenty of "window" shopping (we can't really justify purchasing anything until we are in our own apartment). Yet, the best part of the evening was chatting with Katharina!

I can't wait for the Sommerfestival at Olympiapark!

A Snowy Sunday Afternoon in the Englischer Garten

2010-12-20T10:25:00.000-05:00

Rob and I are staying in today (Monday) to rest up and recuperate. We are both still fighting the rather tenacious cold acquired before we left Pennsylvania. I decided to take advantage of the easy day to update the blog.

Yesterday we decided to join our fellow (LOVE that I can say this, now) Müncheners in a Sunday stroll through the 900+ acre Englischer Garten. As one of the world's largest urban parks the Englischer Garten boasts rolling hills perfect for sledding on this snowy Sunday, open fields with cross-country ski paths intermingled among impromptu soccer (Fußball) matches, peacefully babbling brooks that run alongside trails for pedestrians, horses, and bicycles, a lake (Kleinhesseloher See), and several ponds frozen over to allow for leisurely ice skating and hockey practice. Of course, there are plenty of Biergärtens and other spots to rehydrate and warm up.

View Larger Map

We took the U-Bahn to the Giselastraße station and entered the park from the southwest, well south of the Kleinhesseloher See. We are kicking ourselves that we neglected to pack our Garmin eTrex to track our path . . . next time.

Our first stop was at the Monopteros which sits atop a small hill that was dotted with dozens of children sledding.

From there we strolled to the Chinesischer Turm to enjoy the beautifully decorated Christkindlmarkt and warm up with a Glühwein.

Fortified, we allowed ourselves to merely meander among the pathways and fields. It was beautiful, everything sparkling with the layer of fresh snow that fell in the morning.

I am so looking forward to many weekend afternoons spent in the Englischer Garten. Though, I'm not sure that I'll feel enough like a true local to engage in the "Frei Korper Kultur" (Free Body Culture) of nude sunbathing and bike riding that is acceptable between the Monopteros and the Schwabinger Bach stream . . . A Radler at the Minihofbräuhaus at the Chinesischer Turm is more my style.

Bis zum nächsten Mal . . .

First Days in Germany

2010-12-18T11:33:00.001-05:00

We made it! Rob and I arrived in Germany on Thursday, Dec. 16th. It was early evening by the time we checked into the hotel. So, we didn't do much more than enjoy a Glühwein and Käsekrainer at the Christkindlmarkt at the Munich Airport.

On Friday we spent most of the day exploring the Neuhausen neighborhood of Munich in advance of visiting a potential flat. We were pretty enchanted.

My top five reasons for liking this apartment:

Five minute walk from the Rotkreuzplatz U-Bahn (metro) station
Terrific wine specialty store, Garibaldi, (literally) at the top of the stairs leading out of the U-Bahn station
Vollcorner Biomarkt is a 4-5 minute walk from the apartment (where I can stock up on my favorite organic foods and natural skincare, especially Dr. Hauschka)
Best Käsespätzle ever at the Neuhauser Augustiner (great beer, too!)
The flat is cozy with TWO rooftop balconies and it has everything we need to live happy and comfortably until August

Rob may have other reasons for selecting this particular flat . . .

We ventured to Marienplatz this afternoon to stock up on a few necessary chargers for our MacBook Pro, iPod, and iPad (Rob's favorite toy) at the Apple Store.

Upon walking out of Apple we were just in time to enjoy the noon showing of Glockenspiel at the Neues Rathaus.

We wrapped up the afternoon sipping a macchiato and reading at Hugendubel.

Now we're off to another Christkindlmarkt for some dinner and entertainment.

Auf Wiedersehen! (für jetzt)

SOLD!

2010-12-06T14:13:00.000-05:00

Just met with our Realtor to finalize last minute details and set the time for our closing - THIS FRIDAY!

I still feel the need to pinch myself every now and again to make sure this is real. That surreal quality is definitely grounded when I look at the SOLD sign in front of our house.

I really shouldn't even be taking the time to blog - we have so much to do. I just couldn't resist the new SOLD sign . . .

Last Time For A Long Time - Update

2010-11-29T12:59:00.001-05:00

After eight days spent traveling, Rob and I are back in Bethlehem. We knocked a few items off our "Last Time for a Long Time" list.

Hike to the top of Mont Royale in Montréal.

Our four days in Montréal were absolutely wonderful. The day we hiked Mont Royale was chilly, but perfectly clear (as you can see in the photos.) We visited a handful of our favorite spots, enjoyed terrific food, and spent some time in the Underground City doing a little Christmas shopping.

Penn State Football Game

As a Penn State student Rob spent many a Saturday cheering on the PSU Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in State College, PA. Since graduating, he has returned for a dozen or more games. Although they were unable to pull out a win, we had a terrific time at the Penn State vs. Michigan State game on Nov. 27th. In addition to attending the game we also spent plenty of time walking around the campus and State College and TWICE indulged in Grilled Stickies at The Diner.

Thanksgiving with the Carrier Family in Connecticut

We spent Thanksgiving with Jen's family in Connecticut. It was wonderful to visit with everyone before we leave for Germany. We are only hoping that Amie and Dave will welcome our soon-to-be-born nephew, Joseph, into the world before Dec. 15th! Based on Amie's belly size it's a very real possibility.

There are definitely a few more items on the short list of things we want to do before moving, but our days in the USA are rapidly approaching a end.

Last Time For A Long Time List

2010-11-18T23:32:00.001-05:00

Countdown to Germany

Making our list, checking it twice . . .
Rob and I are counting down the days now. We are selling our house and cars, divesting of possessions, and beginning the process of packing. This has caused us to really qualify the value of everything, including time and experiences.
So, what are the most important experiences we want to pack into the next 25 days? Hmm . . . we did have dinner at our favorite restaurant, Jack Creek Steakhouse, tonight. We cheered on our Flyers as the destroyed the Senators on Monday. Rob was home to hand out candy on Halloween. We spent a terrific weekend at the Dorman family cabin, hiking Worlds End, roasting marshmallows on the fire, and becoming mesmerized by the night sky. We are making plans to visit with family and friends. What else will we miss when we are in Germany?
Any ideas to add to our "last time for a long time" list?

Penn State football in Happy Valley
Notre-Dame Basilica in Montréal
Chipotle Burritos (Rob's FAVORITE)
City Tavern, Elfreths Alley, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia
Fires in our fireplace (Rob's addition, 11/19/2010)

Welcome to the Dorman Story

2010-11-17T23:26:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our new blog, The Dorman Story. Rob and I decided to set up this blog to chronicle our soon-to-be expatriate lifestyle. On December 15th we take off (literally) to start the next chapter of our life in Germany. We will post our tales of this grand adventure.