tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31181325197469987012023-11-15T12:05:29.745-06:00Missouri 2007/08Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-23690656409657737172008-04-28T17:10:00.003-05:002008-04-29T01:30:07.264-05:00final days...why do all good things come to an end?!<br />so it's final's week here at MWSU - the second semester is coming to an end.<br />had my first final today in marketing research, wasn't that bad i guess... i have a final on thursday (marketing management) and two on friday (international management and entrepreneurship). And on Monday, our Marketing Research paper is due. Sounds like a pretty busy week - but i should be able to get it done.<br />can't wait for school to be over and heading for the west... i'm really getting bored of missouri, especially since wolfang sold his car and we can't get around that easily...i will rent a car for the last week... i need to run some errands (sending cloths back to germany, cancelling my bank account, etc.)...<br />during the last couple of days i found the time to manipulate some of the cancun pictures i take... they can be seen on my picasa account... here are some thumbnails though:<br /><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5194412350316573250"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/MO64507/SBZCgu2FckI/AAAAAAAADzs/g2PwytGW3qA/s400/DSCF1282.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5194415288074203810"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/MO64507/SBZFLu2FcqI/AAAAAAAAD0k/mHrBv3LZR8s/s400/DSCF1333.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5194417250874258146"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/MO64507/SBZG9-2FcuI/AAAAAAAAD1I/vcijKE9ZWKM/s400/DSCF1382.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5194404417511977330"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/MO64507/SBY7S-2FcXI/AAAAAAAADx0/AfwVB7ma8v8/s400/DSCF1182.JPG" /></a><br /></center>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-90492937159808276142008-04-17T16:43:00.003-05:002008-04-17T19:58:36.427-05:00DANKE ULI, danke youtubeich kaum aus dem lachen gar nicht mehr raus...<br />ULI HOENEß!!!<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VWpuPxQP5gI&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VWpuPxQP5gI&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Wir in Bayern...<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3wxXmuZA6xM&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3wxXmuZA6xM&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Keine Macht den Drogen:<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q5UMBokmDfU&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q5UMBokmDfU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Kein Alkohol ist auch keine Lösung...<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RM_xKMLXySo&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RM_xKMLXySo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Premiere Zapping Top 10<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qask1nhWlI8&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qask1nhWlI8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Der gute alte Schlager...<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JoiBLTt5K10&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JoiBLTt5K10&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-82446440461630837942008-03-28T13:43:00.003-05:002008-03-28T14:23:16.393-05:00Spring Break '08 Teil 3Dienstag,<br />Isla Mujeres - Insel der Frauen - eine Insel die mehrere Gesichter hat... die Abgeschiedenheit unseres Hotels auf einer eigenen Insel, die "busy main strain" mit all den geschaeften und restaurants...Maja Ruinen am oestlichsten punkt mexikos (gleichzeit suedlichster punkt der insel)...und Ghettos fuer Muslime...<br />Um das alles "zu entdecken" haben wir uns fuer nen Tag ein Golfkart gemietet, und damit ueber die insel geheitz - was fuern spass... auch wenn das ding wahrscheinlich nen fuenffachen achsenbruch, keine handbremese (sehr lustig beim "parken"), und probleme beim anspringen hatte...<br /><br><br /><center><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ISLAMUJERES/photo#5178591565669683618"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/R94Nl3STUaI/AAAAAAAADjc/VO6MXfGlcjc/s400/DSCF1244.JPG.jpg"></a><br /></center><br>Der Fahrtwind war unsere Rettung - mann, war das heiss... am spaeten nachmittag haben wirs uns dann am "beruehmte" Playa Norte gemuetlich gemacht, dass der hoteleigene strand relativ klein war und schattenbereich begrenzt waren...<br /><br /><br />Mittwoch,Cancun Hotel Zone<br />Am naechsten Tag gings dann mit der 11Uhr Faehre zurueck zum Festland...dort angekommen gleich in den erstbesten linienbus eingestiegen... 6 pesos (weniger als 50 cent) rauskramen, bus faehrt los - tueren natuerlich noch offen - busfahrer beschleunigt, aber sucht immer noch gemuetlich nachdem wechselgeld - was auf der strasse passiert ist erstmal nebensaechlich, sicherheitshalber 3 mal hupen und weitergehts im hopserschritt - das arme getriebe (und die armen stossdaempfer) - alle 500m speed bumbs, was daran liegt, dass die mexikaner schnell mal 100kmh in der 30er zone fahren...<br />Nachdem wir nicht wirklich adequate karten dabei hatten sind wir einfach mal in irgendwo in der hotelzona ausgestiegen (und mein orientierungssinn gab mir recht)...erstmal sonnecreme kaufen nach dem die ersten 2 tuben fuer die ersten 2,5 tage schon draufgegangen sind (LSF 30!). <br /><br><br /><center><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ISLAMUJERES/photo#5178597445479912242"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/R94S8HSTUzI/AAAAAAAADm0/6Npfz2OpDNc/s400/DSCF1281.JPG.jpg"></a><br /></center><br />von dem photo aus rechts ist ein einkaufszentrum, mit raustaurants... u.a. chilly's. und hinter dem hotel ist dann das (oeffentlich zugaenglich)<br /><br><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ISLAMUJERES/photo#5178597617278604098"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/R94TGHSTU0I/AAAAAAAADm8/s4SFzcW5atM/s400/DSCF1282.JPG.jpg"></a><br /></center><br /><br />Cindy und ich hatten eigentlich nicht vor in Cancun ins Meer zugehen, und hatten deshalb auch gar keine Handtuecher oder so mitgenommen..Aber als wir so am Strand entlag gelaufen sind... dachten wir... hey, da is ne liege frei, mit sonnenschirm... mal guggn wie lang es dauert bis einer kommt und kohle von uns will...da kommt und kommt keiner... na gut... dann gehn mer halt doch ins meer... schoene wellen...<br /><br /><center><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_7ewYgwdke41TByfEkEq8TzAqUC8YwO7v2eyY_BI5QtrcF5UxvJg9XGuncjJJzJO2p90mJBaLxFyJ5_bf_A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></center><br />Nachdem unsere Badehosen dann wieder trocken waren (und unsere cocktails leer) wollten wir vom strand wieder zurueck zur hauptstrasse und mit dem bus zurueck zum hafen...dann ham wir erst mal festgestellt, hey, das war ein hoteleigener privatstrand wo wir waren... hehe... wir mussten dann durchs hotel latschen um wieder "rauszukommen"...hat sicher ein bisschen komisch ausgesehen wie wir herumgeirrt sind, aber gut - wir hatten nen super nachmittag...<br /><br />Donnerstag - Sonntag...<br />Sonne, Palmen, Strand, tolle Sonnenuntergaenge, Seele baumeln lassen, Sonnenbrand pflegen, Electric Leomone schluerfen, kurz gesagt - das Leben geniessen...<br /><br />Am Sonntag gings dann per Taxi, Faehre, Taxi, Flugzeug wieder zuruck nach Kansas City... wenn man nach Sicherheitsluecken suchen will um in die USA zu kommen... dann einfach nach mexiko, und von dort aus in der tourismus-peaktime nach kansas city.... alter schwede... <br />Gut am Schalter wurde noch nach unsere Pass gefragt - diente aber mehr dazu unseren boardingpass zu bekommen. nachdem wir den hatten - KEINE, ich wiederhole KEINE passkontrolle auf nem INTERNATIONALEN FLUG IN DIE USA!!! Waer also kein Problem, den boarding pass zu holen und dann das ticket an nen anderen abzugeben... geradezu pevers wars dann, als ich am gate "rausgewunken" wurde (stichprobe), mein rucksack wurde dann laienhaft abgetastet (ach ja im duty-free nach der sicherheitskontrolle konnte man glasflaschen und aehnliche gegenstaende kaufen) - nur halb geoeffnet - dann wurde ich mit nem handgereat noch a bisserl nach metallischen gegenstaenden abgesucht... PIEP PIEP - What ist that? Ahh... maybe my belt?! OH, Ok, go on... Immigrations and Customs in KCI? Pflichtbewusst strecke ich dem Officer mein Pass mit Visum, und DS-2019 Formular entgegen. Also in der kurzen Zeit wo der die Dokumente in der Hand hatte, KONNTE er NICHT eine Uebereinstimmung der Dokumente pruefen...Seine erste Frage (ich bin ja 10 Fragen gewohnt)... Did you buy something? WHAT? (Ich dachte mir, ja wie jetzt, machen die hier zu erst customs und dann erst passkontrolle?!)NO, i bought nothing. ALLRIGHT, have a good evening and welcome back...<br /><br />So Mexiko war super... aber seitdem ist die uni fuer mich ganz schoen stressig... im Moment habe ich folgende "Hausaufgaben"<br />Marketing Management<br />- Case Study about Ethics in Business (13 quesitons - approx. 10 pages)<br />- Case Study about Demand estimations (case is more than 10 pages long - 3 questions - approx. 10 pages)<br />- Presentation of a previous Case (Marketing research studies on a functional food product - 12-15 slides, 15 minutes videotaped presentation)<br /><br />Marketing Research<br />- Exam (my notes are more than 10 pages long)<br />- Final Project (Survey on Non-Traditional Students' satisfaction)<br /><br />International Marketing<br />- NAFTA (A critical analysis, at least 5 pages)<br /><br />Entrepreneurship<br />- Term Paper (Business Plan for a Panera Bread Franchise, approx. it'll be more than 30 pages long (team paper, however)<br /><br />wie gesagt, alles gleichzeitig im moment und fast alles "due" bis ende naechste woche...<br />na gut...immerhin schaff ichs trotzdem wieder regelmaessig ins gym zu gehen...braucht man auch zum ausgleich...<br />hoff, dem leser des blogs gehts gut und bis baldTobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-76172253226222818492008-03-19T18:05:00.003-05:002008-03-19T18:26:46.436-05:00Spring Break '08 Teil 2Montag,<br />...oder wie hole ich mir einen sonnenbrand ohne sonne...<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ISLAMUJERES/photo#5178596723925406466"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/R94SSHSTUwI/AAAAAAAADmY/ayJLKlKcFo8/s400/DSCF1277.JPG" /></a><br /><br />nachdem fruehstueck im hotel, gings gegen halb 10 an den hoteleigenen strand...stark bewoelkt und windig war's. auch nicht gerade superheiss. naja. einmal a bisserl sonnencreme drauf - just in case. gegen mittag dann... hmm.. ich glaub ich hab schon ein bisserl farbe bekommen. mittagsschalf. ui... meine wangen sind ja ganz rot... ui... der rest auch... ei ei ei... was haben wir (vor allem ich) uns in den folgendentage mit after-sunlotion, irgendso ner pinken aftersunburn-lotion und natuerlich sonnencreme eingeschmiert... das geht fast auf keine kuhhaut...mir hat's geholfen...am letzten tag war ich nur braun - nicht mehr rot. <br />normalerweise bekomm ich eh nie einen sonnenbrand, kann mich jedenfalls nicht dran erinnern, dass ich mal probleme hatte.<br />nagut, unsere abendgestaltung war eigentlich ziemlich gleich jeden abend... einfach mal in die hildaglo "street"... wo ein restaurant, bar, souveniershop neben dem anderen ist, einen kleinen cocktail tirnken (ueberall 2 zum preis von einem), weiterlaufen, irgendein restaurant waehlen (dank starken euro auch sehr guenstig!), ca. eine stunde auf das essen warten, da auch in der kueche das arbeitstempo etwas anders ist als in den USA oder europa...was aber keinen stoert, man hat ja seine guenstige cocktails, dos XX oder coronas... da man im prinzip "auf der strasse sitzt" (siehe photos) kann man herrlich die leute beobachten...manche gesichter erkennt man gleich wieder und denkt sich... man, manche amis benehmen sich ja wie manche deutsche touristen in Malle oder in Kemer, bloss sind die in Mexiko meistens 40+ gewesen...schlimm schlimm...und dann behaupten andere laender waeren "rueckstaendig"...<br />na gut, nach dem essen hatten wir eigentlich immer ein ziel... eine kleine bar, in der wir den kellner fragte, welche cocktail er uns denn empfehlen wuerde - die amis trinken nen standard-cocktail, den sie auch bei applebee's oder sonst wo ueberall bekommen...<span style="font-weight:bold;"> Electric Lemonade</span><br /><br><br /><center><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ISLAMUJERES/photo#5178599047502713794"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/MO64507/R94UZXSTU8I/AAAAAAAADoA/662msIxgs9s/s400/DSCF1304.JPG" /></a></center><br /><br />Vodka, frisch gepresster Limonensaft, und ein schuss melonenlikoer... EIN TRAUM!! Mich hat das voll an Buttermile Fresh Zitrone von Lagnese erinnert... man waren die cocktails gut...<br /><br />Und nach dem letzten Cocktail, gings dann in einen kleinen convenience store (im prinzip mit nem angebot wie an der tankstelle)...wasser sollte man in cancun nicht aus der leitung trinken, als haben wir uns da immer eine grosse flasche wasser mitgenommen... da keine preise ausgezeichnet waren, fragte mich der liebe verkauefer JEDEN ABEND: DOCE?<br />Er wollte wissen ob 12 pesos fuer die 1,5 liter flasche wasser ok sein.... da das knapp 70 euro-cent sind... war das zu verschmerzen...im hotel hat die gleiche flasche schon 24 pesos gekostet...Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-9628897786438455092008-03-19T13:35:00.004-05:002008-03-19T14:20:15.174-05:00Spring Break '08...hab ja schon lange nichts mehr von mir hoeren lassen... ich bitte das zu entschuldigen...<br />auch wenn es den anschein hat, dass ich nur noch unterwegs bin - dieses semester hat es wirklich in sich (vor allem im vergleich zum letzten semester!!!).<br />Vor allem meine marketing management klasse ist sehr zeit intensiv, und bevor ich mit meinem trip nach cancun angebe, bitte ich zu bedenken, das ich am tag nach der rueckkehr aus mexiko, einfach mal aus spass gut 12 stunden am stueck (bis 2:30 am) an nem paper gesessen bin... natuerlich haette das paper auch waehrend spring break bearbeitet werden koennen - aber mal ehrlich, wer die folgenden bilder sieht, wer kanns mir verdenken, dass ich die seele baumeln lassen hab und einfach nur das nichts tun genossen hab? vllt goennt mir es ja auch der ein oder andere. falls nicht - kann ich verstehen... es soll ja wettermaessig nicht SOOOO toll in deutschland sein - hab ich gehoert..<br /><br /><br /><table style="width:194px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ISLAMUJERES"><br /><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/R94HLHSTT7E/AAAAAAAADvM/NQLiaFGT2MA/s160-c/ISLAMUJERES.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ISLAMUJERES" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">ISLA MUJERES</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Nun ein kurzer "Reisebereicht"...<br />Am Samstag, 8.3. waren alle austauschstudenten der MWSU bei Susan (unserer "Austauschorganisatorin") zum Abendessen eingeladen. Da wir mittlerweile zu viert sind (ein Mexikaner gesellte sich zu uns dazu!), war Wolfgangs Jeep fast voll. <br />Nach einem leckeren Essen mit der ganzen Familie, gings fuer Wolfgang zurueck zum Campus, for Caesar nach Kansas City fuer die Spring Break Woche, und fuer Cindy und mich bald ins Gaesteschlafzimmer (getrennte Betten, natuerlich!), da wir schon um 5:15 wieder raus"mussten". Die Umstellung auf die Sommerzeit (hier schon am ersten Maerzwochenende) war natuerlich SEHR hilfreich (--> noch weniger schlaf!).<br /><br />Sonntag morgens, gings dann and den Flughafen, schnell einchecken, ist in KC ja kein problem... dann der direct flug nach Cancun, Mexiko, wo wir erstmal eine boese ueberraschung erlebten: menschen! <br />Menschen in langen Schlangen! Man denkt die schlangen am amerikanischen flughaefen fuer immigration sind lang? Dann sollte man mal an nem Sonntag morgen nach mexiko fliegen...wir haben jedenfalls mehr als 1,5 stunden gewartet bis wir dran waren..koennte daran gelegen haben, dass immer nur 3 officers gearbeitet haben, die anderen haben sich abwechselnd mal was zu trinken geholt, einfach mal pause gemacht, mit anderen officern geplaudert... die wartende touristenmeute hat ja zeit...andere laender andere sitten...haben wir schnell festgestellt!<br />Mit nem Shuttle-Bus gings dann Richtung Puerto Juarez, von wo aus wir mit einer Faehre ca. 20 minuten zur Isla Mujeres fuhren. Dort angekommen, dachten wir, komm nehmen wir ein Taxi zum Hotel.... hat auch nicht soviel gekostet, waere aber auf jeden fall auch mit gepaeck zu laufen gewesen. Jedenfalls, war die 3 minuetige taxifahrt ein wahres erlebnis. Als wir den direkten Weg zum hotel nehmen wollten, stand ploetzlich ein Polizeiauto vor einem Haus in einer relativ engen Gasse, nichts ging mehr weiter . Freundlich wurde die Polizisten gefragt, was denn los sei, wann man den weiterfahren koennte. Antwort: Keine Ahnung was da los ist... wird schon ne halbe stunde dauern.... ahja! Also route #2. Freundlich wurde uns dann der inseleigene Friedhof praesentiert (der fahrer war wirklich freundlich!!) und dann - als wir auf dem steg zu unserem hotel auf einer insel einer insel waren, und menschen beim schnorcheln sahen - geradezu diebisch lachend gesagt... NO SHARKS HERE, NO DEAD PEOPLE, HEHE... <br />Im hotel angekommen, wurde uns erstmal erklaert dass es am vortag n wasserrohrbruch gab und dass es kein fliessendes wasser bis 5pm geben werde... war nicht so schlimm fuer uns... erstmal mittagessen und sachen ins zimmer bringen und die insel ein bisschen zu fuss erkunden... <br /><br />Die weiteren Ausfuehrung folgen spaeter... ich bin wirklich so muede ich brauch ein powernickerchen ;)Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-17134187342922283752008-03-05T16:58:00.000-06:002008-03-05T16:59:20.202-06:00was zum lachen...<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Umrnr-HJOfo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Umrnr-HJOfo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-85281096554518281332008-02-12T14:36:00.001-06:002008-02-12T15:28:07.391-06:00VIVA LAS VEGAS!<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165811515843466626"><img src="http://lh5.google.de/MO64507/R7CmNDp41YI/AAAAAAAADDY/3A-8IYFXYX0/s400/DSCF0950.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">Alle Bilder von <a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo">Vegas & Co</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />What happens in Vegas,<br />stays in Vegas....<br /><br />Aber ein bisschen was erfahrt ihr dann doch...<br />Von vorneweg, Cindy und ich wurden weder von Elvis noch von sonst wem zum traualtar gefuehrt. Denoch hatten wir sehr ereignisreiche vier tage ausserhalb von st. joe.<br />Donnerstag abends (10:30 local time), sind wir aus dem flugzeug gestiegen und wurden am gate erstmal von ca. 1000 slot-machines empfangen. nach kurzem warten auf unser gepaeck sind wir dann mit einem shuttle bus zu unserem hotel fuer die erste nach gefahren. Das Luxor Hotel ist echt mal abartig schoen, wir haben dann auch relativ schnell einchecken koennen, und waren dann erst mal von unserem zimmer in der pyramide begeistet...<br />leider mussten wir dann freitags morgen schon gegen 11uhr auschecken, aber das war halb so schlimm, schliesslich wollten wir ja las vegas sehen! Nach dem check-out sind wir erstmal zum excalibur ruebergelaufen und haben uns dort einen kaffee gekoeent, bei dem wir dann uber das kostenlose wifi ueber die las vegas monorail informiert haben. <br />ueber rolltreppen und bruecken gings dann 'rueber' zum MGM hotel, bei dem der charateristische Loewe diesmal nicht under construction war, und auch echte loewen zu sehen waren. An der ostseite des hotels startet dann die Monorail, die uns dann nach 6-7 zwischenstopps an diversen hotels, bis zum Sahara Casino&Hotel gebracht hat, von da aus wars dann nur ein Block weiter zu unserem Hotel fuer die zwei weiteren naechte, dem Stratosphere Tower. Dort haben wir dann gleich mal eingecheckt (self check-in, wie am flughafen), haben unser gepaeck ins zimmer gebracht und sind dann wieder mit der monorail richtung new york new york hotel zurueckgefahren um den strip von sued nach nord aufzurollen.<br />Durch das New York Hotel duuch gings dann wieder auf den Las Vegas Blvd am geschlossenen Monte Carlo vorbei zum Bellagio, zwischen abertausenden slotmachines hindurch zum "The Buffet". Mittlerweile wars schon nach 3 Uhr nachmittags, und wir hatten nicht wirklich was gegessen... Cawl, ich glaube du haettest dich hier sehr wohl gefuehlt... ABARTIG... ein all-u-can-eat buffet der spitzenklasse... angefangen bei richtigem brot (ja, klingt komisch, ist aber so!), ueber pasta, gyros, chinesisch, lobster, beef, chicken, filet wellington, frisches obst & gemuese, etc. und meine mama und mein bruder waeren beim anblick des nachtischangebots sicherlich aus den latschen gekippt.<br />wie das so ist, fuddert man dann halt doch eindeutig zu viel. na gut, mit em vollen ranze isch et gut tanze. deswegen sind wir weiter zum ceasars palace, wo wir zufaellig eine abstruse inszenierung ueber die entstehung von atlantis "ertragen" mussten...<br />als wir aus dem ceasar's palace wieder rauskamen, setzte schon die daemmerung ein, und die ganzen lichter in vegas gingen an...beeindruckend! Am Paris, Paris Hotel nahmen wir uns dann ein Taxi um zum Palms Hotel & Casino zu kommen, welches ausserhalb von der Strip-Area liegt. Dort angekommen, haben wir dann erstmal die konzert karten abgeholt, und dann einen cocktail gegoennt. <br />Gegen 8 gings dann mit der Vorband (Sarah Irgendwas) los, die war gar net mal so schlecht, hatte aber in den hoehen so ihre probleme... aber wegen dieser Sarah waren wir (vor allem Cindy) ja nicht da... Gegen halb 10 ging das gekreische los...<br />JAMES BLUNT!!<br />Ganz ehrlich, ich war eher skeptisch was seine gesangsleitungen anbetrifft, aber der Typ kann echt live singen! War echt ein supertolles Konzert (ich sage das aus freien stuecken! ;)).<br />Mit nem cab gings dann zurueck zum hotel, wo wir dann muede vom rumlaufen und vom jetleg schnell schlafen gegangen sind.<br /><br />Denn am naechsten morgen um halb 10 ging wieder der Wecker. Schnell ein Auto mieten (geht auch ohne internationalen fuehrerschein - der friedlich in st.joseph blieb- und auch unter 25 kann man ein auto mieten. tagesrate 25 dollar, versicherungen (ne art vollkasko (fuer mich war das dann sogar pflicht)) 100 dollar). Naja, dafuer wars ein nettes Auto, mit geringem Benzinverbrauch....<br />Ab aus der riesigen Hotelgarage auf die I-15 richtung Zion's Nationalpark.<br />Raus aus der Oase in der Wueste mitten in die karge Landschaft.<br />Valley of Fire? da war doch was! schwupps von der Interstate runter und 2 stunden im State Park verbracht. die bilder sprechen baende. wunderschoen!<br />Danach gings wieder weiter in richtung Zions NP... mit den Patriarchen, dem Virgin River, etc.<br />Ueberrascht hat uns, dass da richtig schnee lag, war eine ganz andere stimmung als im sommer, aber trotzdem faszinierend!<br />Nach Sonnenuntergang gings dann wieder zurueck nach Vegas zum Hotel. Da ist schon wieder 11 Uhr war, schnappten wir uns das auto, fuhren zum Hofbrauehaus Las Vegas, wollten da was essen, aber nein, die wollten uns nicht mehr hinsetzen lassen, also fuhren wir am Hard Rock Cafe vorbei in die Parkgarage des Paris, Paris hotels (parken in vegas ist kostenlos und kein problem!) und haben dann nach mitternacht noch einen snack im "le cafe" gegessen.<br />Gegegen 2 waren wir dann wieder zurueck im hotelzimmer...4,5 stunden spaeter ging wieder der wecker, noch hatten wir ja das auto... und schwupp waren wir auf dem weg zum hoover dam... ein Staudamm der es in sich hat... ca. 40 minuten von vegas weg sollte der in den 1930er gebaute dam genuegund strom fuer vegas produzieren... sollte...<br />nagut, nachdem checkout gings mit dem auto an den flughafen, wo wir das auto dann zurueckgaben (4 minuten speater haetten wir mehr zahlen muessen!), mit nem airportshuttle gings dann ans terminal wo wir dann einchecken konnten, mit nem weiteren shuttle dann nochmal zurueck an den strip, wo wir dann im Venetian noch richtig italienisch mittaggessen und richtig vegasmaesig kohle verzockt haben (jeder 20 dollar, ich war zwischenzeitlich bei 25 dollar, aber schwupp wars weg :) ).<br />Mit dem Taxi gings dann entgueltig wieder zurueck an den Flughafen und von dort aus wieder nach Kansas City, wo uns Jason dann abholte.<br />Ich hab dann noch bis halb 3 fuer nen test gelernt, den ich dann am naechsten tag mit 98 von 100 punkten durchaus erfolgreich abgeschlossen habe...<br />Was fuer ein Wochenende... und hier sind nochmal ein paar bilder...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165811941045228962"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165811941045228962" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165798828510073394"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165798828510073394" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165827828129257682"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165827828129257682" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165818795813033602"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo/photo#5165818795813033602" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><center>Den Rest gibts hier: <table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo"><img src="http://lh6.google.de/MO64507/R7CT5jp40NE/AAAAAAAADc0/Nh_pco4VvJQ/s160-c/VegasCo.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/VegasCo" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Vegas & Co</a></td></tr></table></center>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-38783235766507227612008-01-23T08:33:00.000-06:002008-01-23T08:36:58.476-06:00business as usualnur ganz kurz...<div>bin wieder voll "daheim"...</div><div>uni ist diesmal ungleich anspruchsvoller als letztes semester, ansonsten gibts nix grossartiges neues... nur dass ich jeden tag vor 9:30 uhr uni hab, und mein werter zimmerkollege zur zeit von 20-6 uhr schlaeft. gestern wars 5 uhr, als ich sanft durch alle 5 minuten wiederholendes auspacken von mini-milkyways aus meinen trauemen gerissen wurde. heute wars wieder 6 uhr. der typ hat n rad ab.</div><div>so und jetzt muss ich no fertig fruehstuecken und in die uni</div>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-15905312038787213012008-01-02T18:20:00.000-06:002008-01-02T18:33:12.789-06:00...and a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!<div style="text-align: left; font-family: georgia;">Hope you all had a fun New Year's eve with lots of fireworks and champagne...<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: left;">May all your dreams and expectations come true. I hereby declare that Germany will make it farther in the European Championship in June than France. I take all kinds of crazy bets for that. just hit me with an e-mail.<br /><br />the last year ended with some nice times in Emertsham, where I met Eva and Steffen at Tina's farm. We went skiing in Lofer, Austria, enjoyed the beautiful landscape with the Chiemsee and had some Glühwein...<br /></div><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/BauernhofSkifahren/photo#5151027041544704578"><img src="http://lh6.google.de/MO64507/R3wfzY-0EkI/AAAAAAAACoc/rRGjb2hoSB0/s400/SANY0839.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/BauernhofSkifahren/photo#5151036958624192514"><img src="http://lh3.google.de/MO64507/R3wo0o-0GAI/AAAAAAAAC2U/I_4BAQ41wYk/s400/december07%20086.jpg" /></a><br /><br />if you wanna see more pics... just click on the album-icon below<br /><br /><table style="width: 194px;"><tbody><tr><td style="background: transparent url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat scroll left center; height: 194px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/BauernhofSkifahren"><img src="http://lh4.google.de/MO64507/R3wfCI-0EFE/AAAAAAAAC4U/8NT7vMYdLOY/s160-c/BauernhofSkifahren.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0pt 0pt 4px;" height="160" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/BauernhofSkifahren" style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Bauernhof - Skifahren</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></center></div>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-62389781466343973902007-12-12T01:38:00.000-06:002007-12-12T02:00:30.823-06:00ICE STORM!!!WOW...<br />Gestern und heut ist der campus geschlossen...ich wuerde mal sagen, nicht ohne grund:<br /><a href="http://www.kctv5.com/weather/14816709/detail.html">KCTV - Lokaler Fernsehsender</a><br /><br><br />gestern hatten wir 2 stunden stromausfall, 5 stunden kein internet...sogar mcdonalds und burgerking waren zu!!<br />die finals sind verschoben worden...ich hab glueck, ich haette zwar diesntag abend ein final gehabt, da unser instructor keinen bock hat, extra samstags (so wills die uni!) oder wann anders in die uni zukommen, hat er uns folgende e-mail geschrieben:<br /><br />Since the university has canceled classes today, we obviously have a problem with our final exam scheduled for tonight. Because we have already covered the material once (comprehensive type exam), I feel the following options are appropriate. Below are your options for the final.<br /><br />1) Option to not take the final------Reply to me stating you wish to keep your current grade in the class. Please specify the grade you believe you have to make sure we have the same #s.<br /><br />2) Take the exam during one of my other exam periods. I have finals scheduled Wednesday @ 2:00 PH 204 & Friday 8:30 AM Potter 107. If Classes are canceled Wednesday, the 2:00PM final will be moved to Monday at that same time.<br /><br />ja gut, wenn man 384 von 390 moeglichen punkte hat, faellt die entscheidung relativ leicht ;)<br /><br />mein "final" in english am montag is auch ins wasser gefallen, mein A war einfach zu sicher ;)<br />tja, heute (mittwoch) solls ja im laufe des tages besser werden, das heisst am donnerstag is wieder uni (voraussichtlich!)...und ich hab mein erstes von zwei finals. general psychology... mir musste ein C reichen um in der Gesamtnote ein A zu bekommen...der einzige test der mir wirklich ist, ist am freitag in consumer behavior. aber das sollte auch machbar sein. und ein tag spaeter bin ich dann ja schon unterwegs...<br />noch eine sensationelle entdeckung im hyvee store:<br /><center><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/IceIceBaby/photo#5142824759014470434"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/R1773tckMyI/AAAAAAAACPY/D_y-AYpvtes/s400/DSCF0655.JPG" /></a></center><BR><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/IceIceBaby">Hier</a> kann man ein paar eisige orginal bilder sehen...<br />Im folgenden ein paar photoshop manipulierte pics:<br /><BR><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5142986202540160290"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/MO64507/R1-Os9ckNSI/AAAAAAAACUk/BP1jTqoYX9k/s400/DSCF0671.jpg" /></a><br /><BR><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5142986949864469842"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/R1-PYdckNVI/AAAAAAAACVA/TNA-bF7uUqA/s400/frozencar.jpg" /></a><br /><BR><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5142987418015905138"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/R1-PztckNXI/AAAAAAAACVQ/e2e7r0v10R0/s400/frozentrash.jpg" /></a><br /><br><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5142988328548971938"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/R1-QotckNaI/AAAAAAAACVs/Finvwk8WZfM/s400/invert.jpg" /></a><br /><BR><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/PhotoshopTryouts/photo#5142988977089033682"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/R1-ROdckNdI/AAAAAAAACWE/FlHubEWa3Q4/s400/stop.jpg" /></a><br /></center>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-10700094460128793032007-11-26T20:24:00.000-06:002007-11-26T21:07:16.547-06:00Home Sweet HomeWow, what a fun week.<br /><br />Wednesday monring, 8:00am.<br />I guess this is the earliest time i got up this semester ;) Wolfgang drove me to Cameron where I waited at a McDonalds for Brit and Jeff to pick me up and head north. Geez, it got cold! And on our way trough Iowa, we got into a little blizzard...but we finally made it to EP, where somethings have changed quite a bit since my last visits, but still, when I'm going down Pioneer Trail... I feel home. <br />When we arrived, we chilled with a couple of beers and some wine, played darts in the basement, etc. And for the first time since end of august I got a 8 hours straight sleep...ah.. "my bed" in ep is just so much more comfortable and bigger!<br /><br />Thursday, Thanksgiving Holiday<br />Yummy Yummy Turkey in my tummy....what a nice meal.what a good wine.<br /><br><br /><center><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ThanksgivingWeek/photo#5137343362661895794"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/R0uCkcysTnI/AAAAAAAACMU/5JhRqZAYDUo/s400/DSCF0621.JPG" /></a></center><br /><br />We had a pretty relaxing afternoon, with some nap taking, watching tv. We needed to rest for one of the craziest things i have or will have ever done. ever.<br /><br />At 23:20, Gina, Dean and myself got into the car, headind for Albertville Factory Outlet Mall. After-Thanksgiving Sales in the states seem to have a big tradition... Those sales are really worth it shopping for, you can get really amazing deals on stuff. Man muss sich das ungefaehr so vorstellen. Sommer-und Winterschlussverkauf bei Aldi, wo's auf alles 50% Rabatt gibt, und man einen Laptop fuer 100 Euro dazubekommt, doch dazu spaeter mehr.<br />Kohls (wie Karstadt) open their dorrs at 4am. Best Buy (wie Media Markt) at 5am. The Eden Prarie Mall at 1am. But the mall we we were haeding to opened at midnight. once again. it opened at midnight....in the middle of the night.<br />So you think we were they only ones who were trying to make some good deals there (there are like 120 different stores!)?<br />3 miles (5km!) before the exit on the highway we got stuck in traffic! nothing moved!we put the car in a parking position!! it took us more than 1,5 hours to get to the mall...this mall is huge... but finding a parking space was impossible. <br />Eventually we were ready to go. It was freezing cold outside (minus 8 celcius) and 1:30 in the morning - perfect conditions for shopping?!<br />Since Mindy and Gina were up for some "fancy cloths", we spilt up. They went to their favorite store... and I was running to the other part of the mall, with factory outletstores of adidas, nike, old navy, hilfiger, gap, aeropostle, etc.<br />There were waiting lines for several stores to GET IN!!<br /><br><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ThanksgivingWeek/photo#5137343951072415378"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/R0uDGsysTpI/AAAAAAAACMk/MVz54-_Ih_U/s400/DSCF0626.JPG" /></a></center><br /><br />The waiting lines to actually pay for the stuff you bought - ridiculous! I wasn't in the mood for waiting an hour to pay for a single item. So I cut down my shopping to one store adidas. they had an additional 25 % off everything in the store (das sind schon fabrikverkaufspreise!)...my receipt says i saved 50 dollars on my purchase (at 2:12 am) just because i bought stuff on that day...<br /><br />Mindy and Gina did some "bargain" shopping for themselves and Angela (they spend 500 dollars, but with all rebates going on, they also SAVED 500 dollars!)...<br />At 2:45 pm we decided to leave the mall again - enough crazy black eye shopping.<br /><br />for me. gina and mindy got up at 11 do some more shopping (most of the stores were open till noon!). I decided to spend an additional time in my big bed.<br />In the afternoon, we played some "family"tennis... The girls (Gina&Mindy) against the boys (Dean&me)...i don't have to tell the final score, do i?<br />for dinner, <a href="http://www.lionstap.com/">lionstap </a> - best hamburger place ever! OMG how i missed that place<br /><br />Since it was a Friday night, Jeff, Stude (jeff's roommate) and a couple of other guys and me went downtown to go to some bars... which was quite a lot of fun, but those bars are quite expensive as well.<br /><br />Saturday - gameday<br />After sleeping in - what a great feeling - I was pumped. Ahead was the best steak in the world, and an exciting football game between Kansas University and Missouri University. Jeff and Brit are both Jayhawks (KU), they sold their tickets for 150 dollars each (! soviel zur bedeutung des games!).<br />Wildfire's. The most amazing place I know. AMAZING!!! This Black Peppercorn Steak. I'd run around naked through Bamberg for that. And the chopped salad. All i have to say is that i was LOOKING FOWARD to eat a salad. that should be enough praise for a salad :)<br /><br /><br><center><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ThanksgivingWeek/photo#5137344247425158818"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/MO64507/R0uDX8ysTqI/AAAAAAAACMs/3qY9SRuyw7U/s400/DSCF0628.JPG" /></a></center><br /><br />The game was pretty exciting, however, with an unsatisfying resuld. We (the Jayhawks) lost. But it was fun to see some people again that i haven't seen for a while. And yes, even American water (that's how i call their beer) can sometimes taste quite good ;)<br /><br><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/ThanksgivingWeek/photo#5137345986886913858"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/MO64507/R0uE9MysT0I/AAAAAAAACOA/N2d9YJ2GdVE/s400/DSCF0638.JPG" /></a></center><br /><br />Yesterday (sunday), I just met Hersh to pick up some lunch at the mall, he's now working for KPMG in NYC, living right next to Madison Sqaure Garden. I guess i have to visit him next semester... Then it was time for leaving my second home again.<br />And on the way back the airconditioning in the car must have caused a cold... i'm on some cold drugs now, since i had such a sore throat like i never had before, maybe i have a little fever as well, but with those drugs i'm feeling quite fine... hope i get well very soon, got a lot of stuff to do for school. But today I missed my first class in this entire semester...<br />So long... i gotta get back to studying...<br />Hope you're all doing just fine...Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-57587205206246714902007-11-20T00:05:00.001-06:002007-11-20T00:14:46.146-06:00Private Transportation...was the topic of our Group WATER (Wolfgang, Abby, Toby, Erin and Rebecca)...<br />The 40 minute presentation went just fine... it was interesting to see again that <b>English</b> is now the language i'm thinking in situations that have some sense of stress...<br /><br />i'm so tired now though... didn't make it to bed earlier than 4 tonight... basically did the presentation for the group and still had to write my flash cards for the presentation. but as i said, the presentation went even better than i expected.<br /><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/NewAlbum0811071533/photo#5134801661145665090"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/R0J658ysTkI/AAAAAAAACLo/AS8SSPjN3l0/s400/xDSCF0612.jpg" /></a><br /></center><br />Kleider machen Leute...<br />Ui, soviele leute haben mich noch nie angesprochen wie heute (also mehr als das oberflaechliche, hey, what's up, how are you)...<br />ja fuer was bist du denn heute so schick... all of a suddden you're asked what your studying (hmmm - maybe German literature?!), etc... achja, wie die krawatte gebunden wurde verrate ich nicht...nur soviel - ich war daran aktiv beteiligt... bin einfach zu muede das zu verzaehlen...<br />machts es gut!Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-83383591406251019912007-11-18T12:05:00.000-06:002007-11-18T12:13:21.900-06:00Wo gehts denn hier nach Aldi...zu Aldi!<br />Wat? Schon zu?<br />Nee, der hat hier bis nach 21 Uhr offen... und wie in Deutschland auch, guten billigen Wein zum Gluehwein machen :)<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/NewAlbum0811071533/photo#5134244827225673266"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/MO64507/R0CAd8ysTjI/AAAAAAAACKw/4DtBDK0M1fY/s400/aldi01.jpg" /></a><br /></center><br />Tomorrow is our Consumer Behavior Team Presentation...It'll be very interesting if and how this is gonna work... <br />I'm pretty excited for next week. I'm gonna be in Eden Prairie for 5 days!!!I already made dinner reservations at wildfire's - the best steakplace EVER....Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-6819558188083906402007-11-12T14:37:00.000-06:002007-11-12T14:39:13.987-06:00cawl...schau mal was es hier gibt...<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/NewAlbum0811071533/photo#5132055380162457202"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/Rzi5LW43LnI/AAAAAAAACIw/PkHBUirlHUk/s400/DSCF0567.JPG" /></a>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-12357602668443314792007-11-05T22:56:00.000-06:002007-11-05T23:05:17.903-06:00Fall Impressions...Ja auch bei uns wirds so langsam richtig herbstlich und kalt...<br />Ach ja, das mit dem Marketing Bachelor klappt sowie es aussieht nicht - liegt vor allem an meinem Visum...<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/FallImpressions/photo#5129520723530992818"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/MO64507/Ry-367IRzLI/AAAAAAAACGA/VlhX4PJ5puk/s400/fall01.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/FallImpressions/photo#5129521024178703554"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/Ry-4MbIRzMI/AAAAAAAACGI/8NLflIbpNdw/s400/fall02.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/FallImpressions/photo#5129521728553340130"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/MO64507/Ry-41bIRzOI/AAAAAAAACGY/odDAA1cQIKc/s400/fall04.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/FallImpressions/photo#5129522188114840818"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/Ry-5QLIRzPI/AAAAAAAACGg/vO7_LV8XS7o/s400/fall05.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/MO64507/FallImpressions/photo#5129522806590131474"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/MO64507/Ry-50LIRzRI/AAAAAAAACG0/swqrOzn9_mU/s400/fall07.jpg" /></a><br /></center>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-25837393908354725122007-11-02T01:42:00.000-05:002007-11-02T01:48:32.342-05:00lucky day...so i walked to the cafeteria today with cindy... i saw a bill on the street... thought it was a one-dollar bill...was too lazy to pick it up...but then i thought... wer den heller nicht ehrt, es des talers nicht wert, or somehing like it. so i turned around picked the bill up....and it was a ten dollar note! hurray!<br />got a nice hoodie/jacket at old navy - it's getting pretty chilly... we might reach freezing point during the night...during the day, however, we still have temperatures around 17 grad c.<br />so cindy and i finally went to applebee's for dinner. i ordered a bruschetta burger. when i got my burger i thought to myself... hmm... this doesn't look to italian... more like a traditional burger.... so i asked the waitress, hey, is this the bruschetta burger?<br />No, this is definitely NOT it. I'm so sorry...<br />10 minutes later i had my bruschette burger. guess what!for free! <br />this is america!<br />so i got a triple chocolate meltdown as a desert. just felt like it ;)Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-53552638808020854662007-10-31T22:24:00.000-05:002007-10-31T22:25:14.031-05:00Just too funny...<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J7JmsMMIR4Y&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J7JmsMMIR4Y&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-33646696947925059812007-10-31T14:45:00.001-05:002007-10-31T14:45:49.878-05:00Rammstein - Bayern<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tUEyYuZkjVI&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tUEyYuZkjVI&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-77598843311355719242007-10-31T14:24:00.000-05:002007-10-31T14:33:08.298-05:00Violence Essay<i>What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?</i><br /><br />Only real peace will secure a peaceful world. Only with real respect peace can exist. Only without prejudices a violent-free world can exist. Armed forces will not be necessary. If you’re not violating against someone else - why should they violate against you?<br />Take Sweden, Switzerland or Costa Rica as an example. Sweden is the present-day nation state with the longest history of continuous peace. Since its 1814 invasion of Norway, the Swedish kingdom has not engaged in war. Switzerland is known as a country of long-lasting peace.<br />Costa Rica abolished its army following a 44-day civil war in 1944, in 1949. Since then, its history has been peaceful, especially relative to those of neighboring Central American states. This has earned the country the nickname, "Switzerland of the Americas."<br /><br /> Yes, the 9/11 attacks were horrible. Every innocent life taken away is simply tragic and useless. The terrorists were probably brainwashed. But what made them available for brainwashing and what caused their "leaders" to use other people’s life for their belief? <br />Hate? <br />But what had caused that hate? <br />In the 80s, the US backed up Afghanistan for fighting the Soviet Union. Before the Iraq wars, the US delivered weapons to Iraq to fight the Iran. Both, Iran and Iraq are now a danger to the US. <br />I’m not saying that the US only had bad intentions to get involved in conflicts that were not on their continent. "Maybe" they really had peace in mind. But, it is obvious that the war industry profited from the cold war, and that the US always had an eye on easy, and cheap access to the black gold - called oil. <br />I’ve been in the US from August 2002 to June 2003, so I experienced the beginning of that war that is still going on. Until today, I just do not understand why in the world the US did go to war - without being backed up by the United Nations. I still believe that many countries – including Germany – would have taken serious action against Iraq but they judged the consequences of taking military action in this area differently than the US.<br /><br /><i>I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.</i><br /><br />The United Nations could have been such a powerful institution, if the democratic US would have used a democratic vote in this “world-council of democratic countries” to “force” democracy unto another nation. But this isolated way of action has done some serious harm to that institution. <br />I know those words might sound very harsh, but 5 years later, where is the world now?<br />From a world point of view, the image the U.S. has now has (at least) some scratches. Soldiers and civilians still die in Iraq every day – a stable democracy in Iraq will need its time. <br />Operation Freedom was one thing that could be done quickly. Operation Democracy will take generations. The Israel – Palestine conflict is still boiling. Terrorists attack even European targets, like Madrid and London, and plan attacks all over the world. People die of violent acts. Since 9/11, the world is still leaving in fear. Fear that violence will not only be somewhere away, but right here, among us. The war in Afghanistan, and Operation Freedom in Iraq hasn’t quite calmed down tensions with the Islamic cultures, on contrary, prejudices on both sides even got worse. All Moslems are violent; all the Western population is materialistic and closed-minded.<br />I don’t want to make it too political, but the (at least questionable) practices at Guantanamo Bay detention camp and the tortures at Abu Gharib Prison are definitely not a mean for long-lasting peace.<br /><br />In my first essay I wrote that the good needs the bad to exist, and that Germany after losing a terrible war really had to chance to start all over again. With the help of the so called “Marshall Plan”, West Germany eventually experienced an economic miracle (“Wirtschaftswunder”). East Germany had become a Communistic enclave of the Soviet Union. <br />Ending both World Wars was just the beginning of new wars. <br /><br /><i>Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.</i><br /><br />Allied propaganda billed the Great War in Europe as the "war to end all wars." Although the Allies won the war, the resulting "peace" Treaty of Versailles only set the stage for the even bloodier World War II. <br />When the Allied forces met in Yalta (1945) to discuss post-war Europe - while the killing was still going on – the “Big Three Powers” set the beginning of a new, long-lasting war: the Cold War.<br />The US had various interests in a prosperous Germany; one of them was certainly to not give the Soviet Union to much influence on the European continent. After all, there were still American troops in Germany until the beginning of the 90s. <br />Though there was no actual fighting between the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union, too many innocent people lost their lives in useless idealistic fights around the world. <br /><br /><i>Violence begets violence.</i><br /><br />When we really want a world without violence we need to break this vicious circle of violence. We need to truly respect others. We need to live to beauty of diversity. <br /><br /><i>Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress.</i><br /><br />When we realize and respect the differences we will make progress towards a peaceful environment. This is a huge step that can’t be taken just by tomorrow. <br /><br /><i>Hate the sin, love the sinner.</i><br /><br />Yes, it is idealistic, but there is a lot of truth behind it. The actual sinner, for example, isn’t the root of evil.<br />The root of evil is that some believe that violence is necessary to save problems in the long-run and are willing to manipulate others for their personal benefit.<br />In Levin’s “The Case for Torture”, torturing terrorists that kidnap a newborn baby from the hospital or hiding a bomb might sound necessary – or makes sense. <br />But torturing a terrorist doesn’t save the root of the problem. There are a lot of radical Islamists that are willing to sacrifice their life (!) for their ideals! Yes, the terrorist is the present problem that could more or less easily be taken care of. But a single terrorist is not the root of the problem. Yes, if somebody would do something harmful to my family I couldn’t guarantee to be harmful to him/her, too. But this would only be a momentary solution – what would have been done to my family could not be reversed. It is nature that humans will have aggressive feelings during their life. But we should be smart enough to handle those feelings in a way that doesn’t do harm to others.<br /><br />In order to live in a peaceful world, again, you have to “fight” the root of the problems. But not in a physical way – in a non-physical way.<br /><br /> <i>There is no way to peace; peace is the way</i><br /><br />It’s easy to say, “I’m a peaceful guy, I want peace for everyone, but there will always be people that will always be violent, so you can’t do anything about it”. <br />Always “the others” are blamed. But this very ignorance may give some people the chance to justify the use of violence.<br />But isn’t the basic need of a human to feel safe? Can there be realistic hope for a peaceful globe?<br /><br /><i>You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <i>Note: Everything that is written in Italic letters, has been said by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948), a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement.</i>Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-11578448708011124252007-10-24T00:34:00.000-05:002007-10-24T00:50:23.098-05:00Coming home...Hey, big news... i'm gonna be back in germany over christmas break.... found a pretty cheap flight to munich (ca. 520euro), so i'm gonna be @ home from 16th dec to 12th january. i'm excited! can't wait for some decent German food!brezen oder a schnitzel... mjam, mjam. after 2 months, I had my first real steak last friday at cheddar's (350 gramm, baked potatoe, french fries), yummy yummy... i need to work out before i get back to germany!i don't think i gained weight, but i'm just not exercising at all!<br />Ok, one reason i'm writing this blog is to offer you a special x-mas service.<br />I bought two pairs of adidas-orignals today for 95 dollars (66 euro!)...the exchange rate is still soooo good 70 euro-cents buy one dollar! so especially clothing at electronics are really cheap for us europeans. another example is the new i-pod touch. $400 here, 400 euros in europe. However, when i buy it here, it'll only cost me around 280 euros!! i guess what i'm trying to say is... if you're looking for something special as a christmas gift for a special one or if you're just looking for some cheap cloths from abercrombie or something like that, LET ME KNOW IN TIME (mid-november would be a deadline! the earlier the better though!!!), so i can try to get it for you! <br />other than that, life is just fine. cindy and i have been "dating" for more than a month now - and we still like to see each other every now and then ;) <br />I'm already kinda sick of the cafeteria food, at least we've got quizznos on campus (similar to subway!)... but sushi (yuichi), cindy and me are trying to cook for ourselves (especially at the weekends, when the cafeteria food is even worse!) as often as we can...<br />my midterm-grades are as i expected them to be. "A's in consumer behavior, principles of marketing and psychology, "C" in English (this teacher just gives "C"s or "F"s for midterm, since we so far only got 1/6 of our points over the semester)...<br /><br />und noch was ganz anderes... wenn man abends mal zufaellig bei nem fox sender vorbeizappt ist es schon erstaunlich, wie die "liberal media" verschwoerungen angegriffen werden... ei ei ei...die amis sind manchmal schon so ein volk...<br />ich geh jetzt erstmal schlafen...<br />macht's gut!Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-85958291877973211172007-10-09T15:24:00.000-05:002007-10-09T15:35:30.874-05:00notecardso sieht das dann aus, wenn man eine einseitig beschriebene 4x6 (inches) notecard in sein marketing exam mitnehmen darf...<br />kann dann ueber haupt noch was schiefgehen?! ich hoffe nicht... <br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwvk-hAeMxI/AAAAAAAACFc/3N5zkV4sQlo/s1600-h/DSCF0540.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwvk-hAeMxI/AAAAAAAACFc/3N5zkV4sQlo/s400/DSCF0540.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119437164100072210" /></a><br />ach ja... ich kanns lesen ;)Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-3297244397744880482007-10-07T18:54:00.000-05:002007-10-07T19:47:54.302-05:00Culture Trip...you might not believe it. there is some kind of cultural "stuff" in the states.<br />I just got home from a field trip to Kansas City. Susan (the foreign exchange coordinator) and her husband took the white Missouri Western van and took us (Cindy, two boys from my floor and me) to the <a href="http://www.nelson-atkins.org/"> William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art</a>.<br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RwlzXBAeMrI/AAAAAAAACEs/CmndMEv8K7Y/s1600-h/DSCF0535.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RwlzXBAeMrI/AAAAAAAACEs/CmndMEv8K7Y/s320/DSCF0535.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118749290727879346" /></a><br />There are several collections from all kidns of ages and cultures...for example this monet painting (Boulevard des Capucines or Les Grands Boulevards)<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl0MxAeMsI/AAAAAAAACE0/ZempO70sbC8/s1600-h/erez.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl0MxAeMsI/AAAAAAAACE0/ZempO70sbC8/s320/erez.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118750214145848002" /></a><br />as well as some American Indian exhibits <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl1OxAeMtI/AAAAAAAACE8/6PYti47Qdgw/s1600-h/erez-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl1OxAeMtI/AAAAAAAACE8/6PYti47Qdgw/s320/erez-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118751348017214162" /></a><br /><br />There is a nice sculpture garden surrounding the two buildings of the museum, but when Cindy and I wanted to walk around a bit, it started raining heavily. Oh by the way, we still have 25C temperatures here :)!<br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl2IBAeMuI/AAAAAAAACFE/KW-J_pZuylM/s1600-h/DSCF0533.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl2IBAeMuI/AAAAAAAACFE/KW-J_pZuylM/s320/DSCF0533.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118752331564724962" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl2IRAeMvI/AAAAAAAACFM/TSfzN38xHSQ/s1600-h/DSCF0537.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl2IRAeMvI/AAAAAAAACFM/TSfzN38xHSQ/s320/DSCF0537.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118752335859692274" /></a><br />After this "culture shock" (it's amazing how Americans consider stuff ancient, even though it's less than like 200 years old "young"), we went to the plaza again. This <a href="http://www.countryclubplaza.com/plaza.aspx?pgID=1012">plaza</a> is desgined to look like the city of Sevilla, Spain. I haven't been in the Spanish city yet. However, the plaza is nice, yet somehow - for a european - it doesn't look 100 % authentic...<br />Cheesecake Factory is a wonderful place. Cindy and I went there for lunch....and she met some friends that she got to know during her year at Boston. I don't wanna be rude, those two girls were really nice, BUT honestly! WHO cares about human beings, when it comes to burgers?<br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl6CRAeMwI/AAAAAAAACFU/SUCJkXlFc3M/s1600-h/DSCF0538.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rwl6CRAeMwI/AAAAAAAACFU/SUCJkXlFc3M/s400/DSCF0538.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118756630826988290" /></a><br />not to mention the stuff the cheesecake factory is actually famous for - their cheesecake. <br /><br>"oma, dein taesekuchen is gud, aber der taesetuchen der mama is besser!" NICHTS KOMMT AN MAMA's KAESEKUCHEN RAN!!!<br /><br><br />And now i'm back in my dorm. I need to work on a English reading assigntment. We're about to create our inquiry (a contract between MSWU students and teachers)...it's just tough to find the right motivation for something that is not among your most favorites class... oh well... mid-term is coming up. MID-TERM!!! ALREADY!! a fourth (!) of my academic year is already over?you gotta be kidding!so far the grades are, well, good :) I just had one test in consumer behavior so far (93%) - the second one is coming up in like 10 days. Principles of Marketing... herrlich! After a dramatic grade drop from 107 to 103 % (with the 50 out of 50 in the last test!), I really worked on that one assignemnt (--> do you feel the irony?!), a SWOT analysis and the Boston Group Consulting Matrix, and scored 22 out of 20... so i'm back to like 106% again. I just hope i can keep my grade around 100% - would be really nice for Bamberg.<br />I should have all points in English as well. But so far only smaller assignments have been graded - not the major essays (this i believe, the contract, etc.). The essays won't be graded until the end of the semester. but you know what - i acutally don't care about the grade as long as I pass this class!<br />Psychology is really interesting. We had a test last tuesday. I didn't do much more than typing my notes in a word document and read the study guide and a few pages in the book. On test day, I didn't feel too comfortable, there were a few questions that I didn't really get. I couldn't remember having read anything in my notes, study guide or book about it. But I thought, hey, who cares about that grade in this class?!<br />On thursday, we got this multiple choice test back. Wow. For American standards this test really didn't go too well for the students... just 5 As and a couple of Bs in a 70+ class?! So our teacher curved the test. This means that whoever scored best gets 100 % of the test - even thought he might have like 20 out of 50 right... the best in our class scored 45 out of 50. I wonder who ;) not me! i scored 44 out of (now) 45 - and kinda scared my neighbors in that class. oh well. Since we're gonna get extra credit for participating in a little (psychologic) survey, my grade in this class should be above 100% as well...<br />THIS IS AMERICA!!!Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-74183055790764507692007-09-30T13:18:00.000-05:002007-10-06T15:02:49.196-05:00impressionen...wow...there's so much to tell you what happened in the last 10 days...<br />let's start with the most imporatant thing, school.<br />classes are going just fine so far. shiva (vorname des consumer behavior lehrers) more and more becomes last comedey man standing since he knows that he won't be teaching after this semester? <br />Come on, is there no one who wants do know what i'm gonig to do? So a student eventually aksed:<br />What you're gonna do?<br />response: I don't know! <br />As interersting as the topics we try to dicuss in my English class are... as time-requiring are the little 1-page responses to texts we've read for homework... i'm excited for my first exam in psychology. we're more than 2 weeks late for the first of 3 tests... we do have a study guide that talks about what we should know. but since our teacher teaches the same class three times, he often forgets we he has talked about in which class. I just about to summarize my notes and some parts of the book. Principles of marketing is going really well so far, however, i have a project due on tuesday night. A SWOT-analysis of a product that we can choose ourselves with regard to the Bosten Consulting Group Matrix...i somehow remember my days back at highschool with mr. stapppfff.... "ja, da gibts so kuehe und hunde...! " ;)<br />well besides studying, there is a french influence in my dorm who i like to spend time with.... interpretations welcomed? ;)<br /><br />As I mentioned the last time, I spend a weekend in Lawrence, KS to see Jeff and Brit (his girlfriend)...<br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rv_0El3eTqI/AAAAAAAACDY/xjyk12eRwhk/s1600-h/DSCF0501.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rv_0El3eTqI/AAAAAAAACDY/xjyk12eRwhk/s320/DSCF0501.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116076061437611682" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rv_0E13eTrI/AAAAAAAACDg/4fgiM-9bf4M/s1600-h/DSCF0503.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rv_0E13eTrI/AAAAAAAACDg/4fgiM-9bf4M/s320/DSCF0503.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116076065732578994" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rv_0FF3eTsI/AAAAAAAACDo/mKzRtMAkOIc/s1600-h/DSCF0507.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/Rv_0FF3eTsI/AAAAAAAACDo/mKzRtMAkOIc/s320/DSCF0507.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116076070027546306" /></a><br /><br />well, this weekend was just AMAZING... with all the parties... tailgating...football...beerpong...lawrence is just the place to be when you want to be an American college student... :)<br />well, i better get back to studtying..Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-27129289416694698402007-09-20T00:55:00.000-05:002007-09-20T01:30:04.229-05:00Mama!!!Obwohl ich im ersten Principles of Marketing - Exam 50 von 50 punkte hab, hat sich meine Gesamtnote in diesem Fach verschlechtert...Welcome to the U.S.! I had a 24 out of 20 (don't ask me how i did that - just take it as a given fact) in our first "quiz"... so my grade "dropped" from 120% to 106%...am I a bad student now?<br />Sorry it took my so long to write a new blog... i've actually been quite busy latelty. this english class just require quite a lot of time...for like every meeting (three times a week) we have to read an essay and write an one-page response. but that's like the only class that is not toooo much fun. <br />allright, you might be interested how a typical college-day looks like for me....<br />on a regular monday, wednesday or friday i get up at like 10, since my first class consumer behavior starts at 11. sometimes (if i really get up at 10) i have some cereals, if not, i have lunch with Wolfgang right after our common marketing class. Having lunch takes place in either the food court (some private little fast food restaurants - for example a subway-like place) or in the cafeteria (mensa). the cafeteria offers a (all-u-can eat) buffet for about 6 dollars (drinks included)... but it's mensa food as its best if you know what i mean.<br />After lunch I usually have a final look - or eventually begin - with the latest english assignment that is due like 30 minutes later. <br />after english, i'm basically off for the day, except on wednesday, when wolfgang and i tutor jason. he's gonna study in Bamberg next spring, so we prepare him for his journey. he gets some credit - we get paid. good deal.<br />Tuesday is the day with the most time spend in class for me. but i get to sleep in, since psychology doesn't start earlier than 12:30. So I usually have lunch right before that class...a fun class with a teacher that flies to florida every weekend to work with dolphins...poor little old guy has some problems though hearing the people sitting in the backrows...but he's just cute!<br />Dienstag abends steht dann die Principles of Marketing evening class an. Since we just meet once a week. Our session should last till like 9. but usually we're finished with the schedule earlier.<br />Thursdays are just 80 minutes of (psychology) class for me... <br />Yeah... i'm not really often IN class - but trust me, there's a lot of stuff to do... I spend quite some time preparing for my first exams in my marketing classes which already make up for like 20 % of the final grade... by the way... when we had our exam in consumer behavior on monday (for sure only multiple-chocie or true/false!), our teacher left the room for half of the time. but americans really just DON'T CHEAT at all! two students didn't take their tests on monday but today before class - they got to correct their tests themselves...i got 42 out of the 45 multiple choice questions right... <br />last week we went bowling,<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RvISFsyssrI/AAAAAAAAB_k/VT-swyXWA7c/s1600-h/DSCF0430.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RvISFsyssrI/AAAAAAAAB_k/VT-swyXWA7c/s320/DSCF0430.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112168416151384754" /></a> went to a casino north of st. joe where wolfgang had a little winning going on (cindy&me didn't do good at all!)<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RvISZMysssI/AAAAAAAAB_s/9I9bPHO9Q-A/s1600-h/DSCF0454.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RvISZMysssI/AAAAAAAAB_s/9I9bPHO9Q-A/s320/DSCF0454.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112168751158833858" /></a>...<br />playing goalie came with costs... a messed up left ringfinger... <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RvIS4MysstI/AAAAAAAAB_0/pTpgdh0tOg4/s1600-h/DSCF0457.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RvIS4MysstI/AAAAAAAAB_0/pTpgdh0tOg4/s320/DSCF0457.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112169283734778578" /></a>danke indutop du machst alles wieder gut...<br /><br />es ist schon bezeichnet, wenn man z.b. beim frisoer entsetzt gefragt wird : " SO WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE MISSOURI WESTERN FOR STUDYING ABROAD"... they somehow seem to know that there isn't a lot going on in good old st. joe... eieiei...<br /><br />I finally got my social security number. so i'm ready to legally work on campus (which is basically tutoring jason). I'm gonna try to rent a car tomorrow in the afternoon/night. so i can give myself a right to soccer practice, go "walmart"-shopping, get some cold stone ice cream (JUST AMAZING!)... and on friday afternoon, i'm gonna take off to Lawrence to see Jeff!!! <br />I'm so excited to see him (and of course finally get to meet Brit, his girlfriend!)...<br /><br />But for now I better go to bed... since i don't have early classes... i can stay up longer ;) <br />have fun whereever you are - those in schwabmuenchen, trinkt ne mass fuer mich mit aufm michaelimarkt...Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118132519746998701.post-21671203342745596142007-09-09T13:59:00.000-05:002007-09-09T14:19:00.823-05:00trip to KC<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RuRDe15LgyI/AAAAAAAAB1s/8tnwT4atQBo/s1600-h/DSCF0399.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_odIXahKzy4g/RuRDe15LgyI/AAAAAAAAB1s/8tnwT4atQBo/s320/DSCF0399.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108282074487030562" /></a><br /><br /><br />so we went to Kansas City, Missouri (and probably also Kansas City, Kansas) yesterday...<br />parked the car right to the convention center, as we thought there should be some sights/shops whatever around. pustekuchen.<br />such a boring downtown. and it was quite hot. so we went into this one bar asking the waitress where to go in KC. and we eventually made it to the Liberty Memorial (WW1) and to South Plaza - a really nice place...kinda looks like disneyworld though. It's supposed to like like a southern (maybe mexican) village...with all kinds of shops, restaurants, bars, etc... as I said - a really nice place. went to cheesecake factory. OMG! I had a chocolate cookie dough cheesecake! AMAZING! our waiter was from albania and invited us to hang around with him when we're in the area again...we might do this, since st. joe really won't be a metropolitan city in the next few months :)<br />I uploaded <a href="http://picasaweb.google.de/MO64507/TripToKC02">some pictures</a href> from our trip (we = cindy, yuichi, wolfgang=driver and myself)...<br />There's a liquor store close to the campus that carries all kind of European beer brands. Besides some "weird" ones like "st. pauli girl" (mit dirndl!) there are actually beers like, spatenbraeu (optimator doppelbock), weinstephan, warsteiner, bitburger und PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD ROYAL HEFE WEIZEN! :)<br />anyways, i better get back watching the Chiefs (Kansas' nfl-team)... gonna play soccer today! I'm excited!<br />hope you're all doing just fineTobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689158091785552042noreply@blogger.com0