WE LOST!?!?!?!?!?!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!

I thought I would be able to watch the whole game but it was only audio, and that's just not gonna happen.

So I thought I would just watch the post-game report. Starts out with Mack congratulating UCLA, not what I was wanting to hear.

Um so yeah, I don't even know what to say.

And the worst part of all of this is I can't blame Colt. This whole season isn't fair! I'm not there, Colt's not there for me to yell at, JShip isn't there to calm me down, and the only game I have been able to watch is part of the Wyoming game (and really who cares about that).

I still don't know what to say, mostly because I have no idea what really happened in the game. Mack talked a lot about the first half, so we must have really sucked it up there.

Well hopefully they get their butts into gear for OU. I have my O WHO? shirt and I would like to wear it.

Although I am keeping tabs on UT Football, this game has shown me that the 2010 season will still be a mystery to me.

Disappointed Fan,

Cass

PS. How's Minnesota doing? Maybe I should be the typical Texas fair weather fan and switch to a Gopher shirt. HAHAHAHAHA just checked the Gopher website, NO THANK YOU. How do they lose to South Dakota and Northern Illinois? Yikes!

Have you been to the Alps? Yes but I didn't see them.

Sunday we were supposed to have a hike in the Alps. Unfortunately, it was below freezing and clouded in so we weren't able to go where we needed to.

We took a gondola from Engelberg to Trubsee. It is a hiking and ski mountain, but there wasn't much of either going on. Too early for skiing and very few hikers, mostly us and other foreign tourists. But I did get to see snow! Not that I don't see that enough, but it was weird seeing it September.

As I was leaving my apartment I had my winter coat on and it felt so weird. It wasn't right, because I'm only supposed to wear this coat in Chicago and I was definitely not in Chicago. Seeing snow really messes with your mind, because now I am in winter mode. Not good, its September 27th.

We were able to walk around in the snow for about a half hour...we really couldn't see much. It was like when I went to the Grand Canyon but couldn't see it. Good luck I guess.

A White September?

Me in the snow. Snow is really nice when its not black and slushy.

This was the gondola down, yeah you really can't see anything. Slightly terrifying.

This is Trubsee Lake when I was there.

Apparently this is Trubsee Lake when its clear and warm. I'm not sure if I believe it.

After we came down from there we went to Luzern. Oh this whole time we are in Switzerland, fyi. Luzern was nice, a lot bigger of a city/town that I thought it would be. I was planning on going there with Paige and her friends next weekend, but that might need to change.

Luzern has these really really old covered bridges that were cool. So we walked across those and just walked around the town a bit. We ended up buying some bread to feed the angry swans. They were so mean, but entertaining.

Overall a good day, but would have been more fun if we could see when we were in the Alps and could have gone hiking.

One of the old covered bridges.

The riverfront.

ALL THE SWANS!!!

More Luzern.

As I said, I am going to see Paige this weekend and we are gonna go somewhere. So hopefully then I will get a better look at the Alps.

That's all I got for now. I need to do some reading considering this weekend I was super lazy and didn't do any homework. But I was able to watch about 9 episodes of The Big Bang Theory, don't judge...

And yes I will post about Prague at some point.

Write soon,

Cass

Rewind to Berlin

Okay let's catch you up.

So last Monday we caught the 6:35AM train to Berlin. I was terrified all night that my alarm would not go off and I would miss the train. Luckily that was not the case, however this did happen to one of my friends. YIKES! He ended up coming on the next train, so it wasn't that big of a deal but I would have been FREAKING out.

I slept most of the 6 hour train ride, so it was an easy trip. Once we got to Berlin we went to our hostel to check in and then went off on our 3 hour walking tour of Berlin. Our program of 50-some students is broken up into two groups for trips so that it is easier to house and manage all of us. Luckily all my friends were in my group so that was a blessing.

We walked to the Reichstag, where the German Parliament is housed, to meet our tour guide. Our tour guide, Jim, was clearly not from Germany. He is actually from St. Paul and went to the U. He was a fantastic tour guide. I really enjoyed the tour. We saw a lot and received a lot of information.

Me in front of the Reichstag. This was about 3 minutes before it started POURING. It was really coming down out there....

Here I am in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

There are all these bears around Berlin. Like the Snoopy characters in the Twin Cities and the Guitars in Austin. I took a picture with this one last summer so I took another one this trip. Plus its the EU Bear.

The Holocaust Memorial. It is this large space with concrete blocks that are all different. As you go into the middle they become bigger. Our guide told us that no matter what way you walk you will go up and down. The point of the Memorial is for everyone to interpret it in their own way.

This is an old watch Tower in No Man's Land. There are only a few of these left standing.

That night I went out with a couple friends and Kayla's boyfriend who is studying in Berlin for the year, he was our tour guide for the night. We had some Thai food, pretty good. Then went and walked around of a little bit. When we were all at the point of we just need to find a place to stop and have drinks, I spotted Lone Star. It was definitely a sign from God. We stayed there for a while and had some good conversations. I had a strawberry margarita. I actually liked it so maybe it is the margaritas at Casa Chapala that I don't like. But on the menu margaritas were listed as the National Drink of Mexico. One the the best German words we have learned so far is "Getranke" it means drink.

Our second day started with meeting a member of the German Parliament. He was a younger guy, but said he was twenty. Think he got his numbers mixed up. He was slightly insightful, typical politician in that he didn't always answer the questioned asked but did answer A question.

After that we had some free time to do our "Berlin Projects" we had been assigned for our German classes. My assignment was to go to the Topography of Terror. I had been there last summer, but fortunately it is inside now because it rained the entire day. The Topography of Terror is all about the raise of the SS and Gestapo. Always a draining topic to talk about and read about. That day was no different.

That night we were able to meet with two people who lived in both East Germany and Berlin. One was a women who had been arrested and fired from her job for going to Prague to meet her sister who had left the East. She discussed how she felt she was subconsciously depressed much of the time. However the man we spoke to gave a really different opinion. He had seemed to be at peace with how his life was both now and then. He commented that he has never had the same kinds of friendships he had in the GDR. The man and woman kinda argued over a couple of things. It was interesting to see the different points of view.

Later Colleen and I happened upon a Mexican restaurant called Que Pasa. We were really excited to get some chips and queso. We ended up getting nachos, but they ended up being like the nachos you make in your microwave. The street we walked down has the big tourist Synagogue and we were surprised to see "ladies of the night" hanging out around there. It was very interesting. Apparently this season's sign is white boots. We definitely saw white boots and more. Also, they were rocking the Fanny Pack too...... I mean I guess they really don't have pockets.....

The next day was completely free. I hung out with Colleen and Jack. They are both from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. We walked down Unter der Linden which is a big main street. We walked past Humbolt University, Altes Museum, Berliner Dom, Soviet Memorial and we ended up at Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower. We went up to the top of the TV Tower. I love being able to look down on a city!

The Berliner Dom and the TV Tower

Germany and Berlin Flag

Soviet War Memorial

Colleen, Jack, me and man hole cover. They have all the sights of Berlin on them.

After we got down from the TV Tower, we met Kayla and her boyfriend and went to this fabulous burrito place. Really fresh, really good! Next stop was the East Side Gallery.

The East Side Gallery is a large section of the Berlin Wall that is still standing that artists painted on in 1990. Some of the original paintings remain and some have been redone. Last summer I was only able to see a small bit of it. But we walked the whole length of it. I have a lot of picture from it. I really glad that we made it there even though were were really tired.

Berlin was really fun. I am glad our last day it was sunny, it would have been miserable if we wouldn't have had that day.

I'm sure I forgot a lot but I am sure I will relive it all when I see yall again.

Whew. That was long. Time to take a good break before I do Prague.

Tonight our HTs organized a karaoke night. Haha, this will be interesting....

Love

Cass

I'm From Texas. Big Whoop!

Okay so I realize I haven't blogged about my trip to Berlin and Prague yet, but I don't have class tomorrow so I am planning on telling yall about one of them tomorrow.

But tonight I would like to take the opportunity to vent about some of my "culture shocks."

These "culture shocks" I am experiencing have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am in Germany. Honestly the only thing I am having issues about is not having Target. I need a one stop shop for everything. It's not ruining my life but I miss it.

My "culture shocks" have everything to do with people's perceptions of Texas.

Okay I get a good amount of crap from my friends at school about being from Texas but I realize they are joking, most of the time. I don't know if it is the type of people that are in the program or being in a different country, but I find myself defending Texas and explaining it way too much. Colleen, who is from Dallas, and I have been sitting through people's strong negative feelings (often ridiculous) about Texas and I'm pretty sure over 99% of them have never been there.

Here are some incidents that have really bothered me:

1) Randomly one of our friends had one of those pickles in a bag. I feel like they are all over the place, this particular brand was made in Wisconsin so I feel like my Minnesotan readers will know what I am talking about too. Anyway, Colleen stated that they sell these at gas stations across Texas, true fact. One of our lovely FPA(Future Politicans of America) mates commented "And that's why I'll never go to Texas." Really???

It wasn't said as a joke, it was in a completely serious manner. I understand it might be ridiculous that I am bothered by this. However, I just don't understand some of the people here who are so caught up in stereotypes about states in the US, but are willing to travel across the world to discover a new culture. I feel like if you are gonna travel to Germany to see a different lifestyle and culture, you should also be able to see that within your own country as well.

2)Colleen and I were at a bar in Berlin. The bartender asked us where we are from. We responded Texas. We proceeded to get yelled at about how horrible Bush and Bush Sr. are. GREEEEAAAT. Not like I haven't heard that one before.....

3) Tonight we had a "BBQ" at the IES center. I say "BBQ" because it was not Texas BBQ (are you seeing a theme in my post?). Anyway, a professor was sitting with us and asked us where we were from. Colleen and I both said Texas and he responded saying he was surprised we weren't ashamed to say where we were from. For the love of God, Texas is not bad!!!!!!! I don't even understand it. Okay so our Governor said something about seceding. But lets be real, he was a cheerleader, I'm sorry a "Yell-leader"(okay A&M).

4) I'm from AUSTIN, TEXAS. Nuff said. (Okay all stereotypes aren't wrong...)

5) This is more of just a story, but today in my first Regions of the EU class we first had to divide the US into regions. My group had several heated disagreements about where Texas is considered. South, Southwest, or its own region. South-No that's Georgia and the Southern Belles. Its own region-We aren't that arrogant, but as Colleen pointed out we are on our own power grid. So maybe. My explanation to all the haters: Texas is in the Southwest because the University of Texas Band is "The Showband of the SOUTHWEST!!!" This whole exercise in general was a heated argument as people tried to prove each other wrong. Too many FPA in one room is not good for my sanity. I need Math geeks because although they are often arrogant they aren't continually trying to prove each other wrong. It is mostly writing nerdy math tricks on the board, I can handle that and often times enjoy that.

6) Everyday. Yes that is my last example. There is just this general attitude towards Texas and Texans. I have never experienced it in Chicago and I don't understand why I am experiencing it now, mostly with fellow American students.

I never really knew why Texans had such a tie or loyalty to Texas. Since going to school in Chicago I have felt it, but never knew why exactly that was. Colleen explained it perfectly-because Texas always gets the negative stereotypes and reactions we have more of the need to defend. It's so true. Every time someone puts down Texas or says something absolutely ridiculous I love Texas even more and need to defend it.

Colleen and me with our "Horns Up" at Lone Star Taqueria in Berlin. It was very exciting. (Maybe this is why people judge Texans....?)

Anyway, I realize this might not be interesting to most because it has nothing to do with my trips or classes, but I had to share my experiences and frustrations.

Alright that is all the venting I have for today. I am sure tomorrow will hold more Texas stereotypes.

Love

Cassidy "That's right I'm from Texas" Kist

PS. I really enjoy Lyle Lovett's song, but I'm beginning to rethink if "Texas wants you anyway."

Back From My Trip

Just wanted to let y'all know I made it back successfully from Berlin and Prague.

I had a really great time in both places.

I couldn't find the energy to write a long post about my travels today, but I hope to do so later this week.

Hope everyone is well.

Love,

Cass

I'm On Top of the World...well at least Freiburg anyway

Hallo!

Currently having a lazy Sunday, quite nice.

I just wanted to post some pictures from the biergarten from Friday that was "on top" of the city. It was a very pretty view and we definitely paid for that more than the food... It was still nice to go up there and check it out.

Here are some pictures of Freiburg from above. Some of them are blurry, obviously. I shake, I can't help it!

Monday we are headed to Berlin, so I had to do some laundry before we leave. The whole not using the dryer is very concerning. My clothes are still drying from yesterday. I'm sure I will get used to it, but for now its slightly bothersome.

Well I need to go clean the bathroom. We all have cleaning duties...Yeah... Oh, Dad I actually cleaned dishes yesterday!!! Pretty amazing, maybe I will come to enjoy it.

I hope to post when I get back from Prague next Sunday.

So until then,

Cass

Intensive Phase, Check

Well I just finished with the scary "intensive" phase. I had both my German and Seminar tests, I think they went really well but we will see when I get back from Berlin and Prague.

Yes, Berlin AND Prague. One week of fantastic history and amazing opportunities. I am so very excited!

As I said in my quick last post, this week has been jam packed. Wednesday was a full day, but very fun. It was the first Field Study Trip and my second country of the semester. We traveled just over an hour, I think, to Strasbourg, France where the EU Parliament is. This was after a morning of classes, IES knows how to make life fun. Strasbourg was so pretty and cute, French feeling (I've never been to France before, so that is my stereotypical opinion).

We arrived at the EU Parliament building and the American in me came out. I was snapping pictures left and right. Saying "Here take a picture of me!" "Do you want me to take a picture of you?" I have never really been one to take pictures but when I do I go overboard, probably trying to make up for all the lost photo ops. I took a honors class about the US and its culture kinda, and my professor talked about how we as Americans take a picture of a place or something and then move on, simply documenting where we have been and that we achieved something, thats how I am. And I'm okay with that, because now I can brag to y'all and have proof.

This is me in front of the EU Parliament building with all the member states flags. Evidence I have been to the EU Parliament: Check. FYI I am the one not in front of the statue, I haven't changed that much.
This is Kayla, Colleen and me in front of a Deutschland sign (obviously) in the "Courtyard" of the building.

When had to go through security and all my picture taking put my friends and me at the end of the line. Ooops, they didn't mind. We were able to meet with Ms. Franziska Brantner who is a Memeber of the European Parliament and a part of the Greens. She talked to us about some of the going ons in the Parliament right now and some people asked questions. Then we were able to go watch a debate in the Parliament. So the European Parliament consists of 751 members, at the debate probably there was a total of 50 coming and going. They don't really show up... But it was still interesting. They were discussing Arms Exports, always a good topic. There was some clapping, some blue card holding, and A LOT of phone calls and boring looks.

This is my "illegal" picture of the Parliament. We were told not to take pictures, but plenty of people were doing it and all they got was a "No pictures."

After that we were able to take a group shot in front of all the EU member flags. It may be stupid and REALLY tourist, but you gotta do it.

This is the group. It's a good mixture of people. A lot of "Future Politicians of America." Many of my predictions were correct, thank you.

This is the "courtyard" of the building. My head is in the picture, but it adds to it!

Next we went to the Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg. We were walking and I could see the top of it but was getting impatient to actually get then. Then I was enthralled with a Merry-Go-Round that I wasn't paying attention anymore. Kayla told me to turn around and BAM there it was. It was unbelievable. Some Cathedrals are just big, but this one was WOW. So much was going on in the detail and architecture of the building.

Whoop, there it is!
Beautiful.

We walked around for a little bit before our dinner. Mostly we were by the river that flows through Strasbourg into the Rhine, the Ill River (don't quote me on that).

I always seem to take the same picture in these wood cutouts.
Me and the Ill River. We just kinda chilled here for a little bit eagerly waiting for when we would go to dinner. I rocked the professional wear!

FLAMMKUCHEN!!!! I am seeing a trend. It's sooo good. I had it twice this week I believe and when we were in Strasbourg it was all you can eat. LOVED IT! It wasn't the best flammkuchen but it just kept coming so I kept eating, I had to I'm a Kist. There was wine and beer for us, which was very kind. The Rome Center really cheaped out on that when I was there last summer. Lindsay was supplied with fantastic wine at her dinners. What's up JFRC?

Most of the group was in this room in the basement with a big long table that wrapped around the room. It was good. Picking a place to sit has become very strategic as that you want to sit next you people you like, is that mean? I think I'm just being real with it. Once some people got some alcohol it became very loud and very American. I swear there were some moments when I thought the room was about to erupt in a USA chant. GREEEEEAT..... Love when you can make everyone's stereotype of Americans come true.

This was a bad picture of all us because the lighting was all weird. I tried to fix it. It worked a little bit.

Anyway, that's all I got. I think tonight we are gonna try to go to this biergarten that is "on top" of the city.

We leave for Berlin on Monday morning and then will be there until Thursday when we go to Prague. Then we get to take a overnight train home on Sunday. YAY overnight train!!!! So I will update with pictures and stories from Berlin and Prague when I get back.

Love yall

Cass

Cassidy Longhorn Update: Still trying to decide if my plan is the best way to do this. I need input or suggestions if anyone has any. Happy Hour crew, I need some major brainstorming tonight.

Get A Quick Note

Hey,

I haven't forgotten about y'all!

Just a quick update:

We went to the EU Parliament yesterday in Strasbourg, France (Second country visited) Very cool and Strasbourg was so pretty. I have some pictures to share but later.

Had an all you can eat Flammkuchen dinner afterwards! It was fabulous and fun.

Week has been JAMMED packed.

I have a test for German and my Seminar to complete the "intensive" phase tomorrow, so I am studying for that for the rest of the day.

I go to Berlin and Prague Monday till Sunday! UBER-EXCITED!

Those are the highlights.

Once my tests are over I will update with more detail and pictures, but right now I REALLY need to focus on studying. Surprisingly German is going well, so that's a self confidence builder.

Stay tuned for the pictures and a day to day review of my past week. :)

Love,

Cass

Finally a day to be a college student

Tomorrow I will have been here for a full week. It doesn't seem like its only been a week. My days have been jammed packed with getting stuff for my room, orientation, classes, grocery shopping, figuring out where things are, homework, setting up a German bank account, making friends, and loads more. But today I got to have my first normal Cassidy lazy,college, relaxing day.

Last night my friend Colleen and I went out to a biergarten that is down by the river that goes through Freiburg. It was really nice. We had flammkuchen, which is like pizza but instead of tomato sauce its sour cream. So really nothing like pizza but it's the easiest way to describe it. It's REALLY good. I know a lot of people don't like sour cream but you can barely taste it. In addition I had my first and second beer of the semester. I felt kinda bad that it took so long to have a beer in Germany, it just seemed wrong. Both were good but I like the first one I had, Furstenberg. Colleen and I were able to order without English, it was rough German but we did it! I was really proud of us.

We ate and had our drinks and then our friend Kayla came and met us. It was exactly what I wanted, hanging out have some drinks, talking and laughing. It was really fun. It got cold outside so we moved inside where the atmosphere was cozy with a mixture of German and American music playing, which continues having me question where the hell am I? The other day I was doing homework with my door open and one of my German flatmates had their music one and the song switch from a German song to Jack Johnson. I was SO confused.

The biergarten was what the doctor ordered after our trip to the Black Forest. It was beautiful! It was an easily descent down into a valley, basically gravel road. We passed homes along the way, it was beautiful. We ended up at a Best Western, yup a Best Western. We had Koffee und Kuchen, coffee and cake. Mine was minus the koffee with Black Forest Cherry Cake. It was delicious. Then we went to this small chapel that is apparently the oldest in the area, dating back to 1140. It was nothing to the chapels I saw in Italy last summer. It was interesting to see how simple it was, two very different cultures.

Here are some of the trees along the path. Colleen pointed out that these trees were probably in Twilight. I could definitely picture Edward jumping from tree to tree.
This was the easy path down into the valley, where we would eventually end up at the Best Western.
This is a garage that was along out way. I loved all the little and big houses. Dad, screw Ely, you should move here!
Believe it or not but this is the Best Western! We ate at the restaurant that is a part of it. If you can see in the windows, there are figurines. Apparently they twirl on the hour, but as go-go Americans we didn't have the patience to wait 20 min to watch them.
Me and Black Forest Cherry Cake. Can you say yum?

Our way back was a lot more of a work out. It was not ridiculously difficult but I was definitely was getting tired. Good thing I went to the Boundary Waters and did all those portages because they definitely helped me get through it. Once we were out of the valley we were walking along this country road. It was beautiful. I ended up walking in between groups by myself and just taking in the nature. I love it! It's been so nice to have this absence from the big city and be a smaller city and then even better to be so close to amazing nature. I just wanted to sit like I did in the Boundary Waters for hours and take in the scenery.

Here is some of the countryside that we walked through once we were out of the valley. It was incredible. I wish I had had more time and was by myself to really appreciate how beautiful it was. (Not that I don't like people, but when people are behind you discussing if they like the song "Teach me how to Dougie" its hard to appreciate it. Just if you were wondering, they decided they didn't like it but they loved a good "Stanky Leg". I will have to respectively disagree, both "Teach me how to Dougie" and "Stanky leg" are fabulous examples of how great America is.)

It has been a week of walking and on my feet a lot. So I started being nice to my feet by staying off them by sleeping till 12:30 like every college student must then immediately putting on my Ugg house shoes. My feet have been hugged all day. They love me!

Tomorrow I have class and then a big grocery store trip planned. I am very excited. My German professor had us go to a supermarket on Friday. I had not seen this one and it has so much more than the ones by my place. I am ready for some variation!

I am also trying to plan a trip with Paige, but we are both not sure if we want to spend a bunch of money traveling. We are both taking advantage of being in Europe traveling and seeing different places, but not sure if we need to travel across Europe on the weekend but rather go see more unique, smaller attractions.

I have experienced missing the first Texas Football game and I am not sure how I feel about it. I feel so disconnected from them. It's very depressing. I know many people don't understand it, but I am from Texas and its football season and I am not able to have any football in my life. This is not normal. I usually go home for a weekend just to see Texas play, that may sound ridiculous but apparently I have burnt orange blood. But I feel like my blood may being slowly turning back to red or blue because I am so far away. I was thinking about it today and its gonna be like the 2010-2011 UT Football season never happened. I might have to have my parents tape all the games and keep them for me and have a football marathon when I get home. Actually maybe that is the thing to do.

Cassidy News Alert: Mom start taping all the UT games and saving them for when I come home. Next, I am not going to go on Texassports.com so I won't know what is going on. I will need everyone to keep quite about UT football to me, don't tell me ANYTHING. Then when I get home I will have the biggest Football Marathon known to man.

I'm already seeing issues with this plan, but we will see how long it lasts.

Hook'em

Cass