I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.

- Alexander of Macedon -

Philip and Alexander of Macedon: Two Essays in biography from Amazon.de

On our last night in Japan, our good friend Yoshiko took us out for okonomiyaki. My, oh my – this was good!

Prior to going out, my companions wanted to know what it was and I described as a pancake with Japanese ingredients. I had had it before, but this time I tried it with mayo on the side.

Surprisingly, I saw quite a few Japanese using mayo on dishes such as okonomiyaki, yakisoba, sushi, etc.

Okonomiyaki

To learn more about its history and local varieties, visit History – Okonomiyaki World.

For our forthcoming trip to Korea and Japan, I’ve gotten a lot us useful advice from my Korean students in regards to our two-day stay in Seoul.

1) Do not take the subway. So I have asked some of my former students to have our reunion at the hotel we are staying. Seoul has many eating and drinking places everywhere, so we plan on doing everything from there in walking distance.

2) Take sunglasses. As of now, the Yellow Dust (HwangSa) from China is sweeping over the peninsula, so we need to protect our eyes and we might have to buy some surgical masks as well.

3) Beware of pickpockets. Sounds like any big city in Europe, where we also need to travel with caution.

4) Beware of counterfeit. In order to learn to recognize counterfeit, I was given a lesson by a fourth-grader. He brought all kinds of Korean bills with him, pointing out the watermarks, the silver stripe in some of them, raised textures on some, and more details almost too tiny to see with one’s eyes.

Last, but not least, my local bank had told me I could not buy Korean currency in Germany. This I will have to do with euro cash at the Incheon Airport bank.

That same fourth-grader was also concerned I might go hungry, when I arrive in Seoul without Korean money in my wallet. So he gave me this bill below, so I could buy myself two lunches in Seoul.

Korean Won currency

His concern for me was the nicest present I have ever been given by a student. I offered him euro in exchange, but he wouldn’t have it. All I had to do in return was my promise to him to have a good time.

독일 꽃꽃이 자격증 수업,(한국어 통역사와 함께하는)

In Grünberg (near the town of Giessen), there is a German Floristic school called Grünberger Bildungszentrum Floristik, which offers a course in German flower arrangement.

After successful completion of the two-week course, each participant is presented with a recognized certificate awarded by the Industrie und Handelskammer (IHK), the German Chamber of Commerce.

Dates for the course: 22 July 2012 – 04 August 2012

Place: Grünberg

Language: The class is held in German, with a Korean interpreter.

Award: Certificate in German Floristics, awarded by the German Chamber of Commerce

This course is being held in cooperation with Bang Sik Floristic School in Seoul, South Korea.

For more information about the course, please contact Mr. Paizdzior in Grünberg at:

werner.paizdzior@bildungszentrum-floristik.de

Your inquiry to Mr. Paizdzior can be made in German or English.

About a week ago, I spotted all these Nikoläuse (plural for Nikolaus) in our local supermarket.

Either the Nikolaus’s  early appearance had lapsed into oblivion over the years, or sales are getting more aggressive. It’s probably a combination of both.

Nikolaus at the German supermarket

These Stiefelgeschenke (stocking fillers) are meant for the morning of December 6, when Nikolaus comes around, and rewards the good children by stuffing goodies into their boots left outside the home.

Even though Nikolaus might resemble Santa, they are two different traditions . Nikolaus was a Greek bishop (4th century) and Santa, well, he is from the Northpole.

I do miss the 60s for our innocence. We children did not expect anything and there was nothing whatsoever, resembling Nikolaus (Dec 6) or Christkind (Dec 24), in any village grocery store. Our parents left us behind with an aunt, when they did their Christmas shopping in the nearby town.

I have to admit I had my first taste of Lebkuchen and Zimtsterne (traditional Christmas cookies). The other day though, I refused a cup of hot Glühwein (mulled wine), as I don’t want to have it too early, because I might get tired of it even before the Christmarket season begins.
At Allthingsgerman, you can read more on Der Niklaustag.