Wow. Nice.
Open Air Library In An Abandoned Industrial Landscape
Magdeburg, Germany, is the place where you can visit and admire the Open Air Library. With a budget of $325,000 Euros, the library was built on a surface of 488 square meters. The project started in2005, when residents of an abandoned district centre in East Germany used crates to build a district library and donated books filled the shelves of the former district library’s site. KARO Architekten were commissioned to build the modern Open Air Library we can see today. The abandoned industrial landscape was adorned with a fantastic urban experiment in the shape of a modern library, constructed from pieces of the modernist facade of the old HORTEN warehouse of the City of Hamm, built back in 1966. With no need for registration, the public library gathers readers in a contemporary outdoor setting. Readers can take books and bring them back or bring other ones in exchange, so that everyone can enjoy this open place and the knowledge it brings. Open 24 hours a day, the Open Air Library is also used for public readings, local band concerts and other cultural events. The elementary school uses the library for theater plays and every community member can take part in this cultural experiment.
(Click photo for more pictures)
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You have to watch this little short film about Berlin. CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO WATCH IT ON VIMEO.
The miniature effect is really cool. Personally, I’d have chosen a different soundtrack though… ;) something more light and less boisterous… I actually turned off the sound and started listening to something else *LOL*.
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The German word “Ferien”
I’ve gotten several questions on formspring about the word “Ferien” (vacation; holiday). People were wondering what the singular of “die Ferien” is, since they could only find the plural version.
That’s because “die Ferien” is always plural.
If you want to use it in the singular you will have to add another noun like “der Tag” -> der Ferientag. Only then it’s clear you mean one day of vacation. Other possibilities would be “die Ferienwoche” (vacation week) or “der Feiertag” for “public holiday”.
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LOL! I found this on youtube. It’s hilarious - at least to me ;) And I’m more than grateful, that I don’t have a typical German accent.
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The usage of “eben” Part 2
“eben” can also be used in the sense of exactly or precisely.
Example:
Eben daran hatte ich nie gedacht! -> That’s the only thing I hadn’t thought of!
As an adverb of time, eben means “just now”. In this case, “gerade” is an alternative.
Example:
Ich bin gerade / eben angekommen. -> I’ve arrived just now.
As an adjective, “eben” translates to “even” / “level” / “flat”.
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One of my readers recently asked me on formspring, whether I knew a recipe for pretzels with a custard in the loop which he tried on a recent trip to Germany. So I thought, I should share it with all of you!
The yummy pastries are called “Puddingbrezeln” (fem.) and you can probably get them at every German bakery. Here’s how you make them:
You need:
DOUGH: 250g wheat flour; yeast; 40g sugar; 1 egg; 200g (low fat) curd
CUSTARD: 1 pkg. vanilla pudding powder; 250ml milk; 300g (low fat) curd
Prepare the dough by mixing all the ingredients. Let it sit in a warm place until it has gotten much bigger. Preheat the stove to approx. 200° C. In the meantime shape the pretzels (starting from 0.37sec) and place them on a baking tray.
Also prepare the custard now: prepare the pudding with the milk; then mix in the curd. Now put about 1-2tbsp into each loop.
Bake for about 15-20mins. And then: DIG IN!
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The usage of “eben” Part 1
“eben” usually expresses confirmation that something else is the case or that there’s no alternative.
Examples:
Ich kann nichts machen. Ich bin eben so! -> I can’t help it. That’s (just) how I am!
(Dann) geh eben früh schlafen! -> Well, just go to sleep early!
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Winter is a wonderful time for wonderful winter vegetables. Stews, soups, salads or healthy side dishes - there are many ways to use them.
1. der Blumenkohl = cauliflower
2. der Rosenkohl = brussels sprouts
3. der Grünkohl = kale
4. der Rotkohl = red cabbage
5. der Weißkohl = white cabbage
6. die rote Beete = root beet
“Scheiße bauen” (reg.)
You will hear sentences like the following often in colloquial German - especially among young people:
“Ich hab gestern voll Scheiße gebaut.”
“Als ich jung war, habe ich viel Scheiße gebaut.”
”Scheiße bauen” (lit: to build shit) is a regular verb.
It means “to make mistakes”. Very often it refers to stuff done in the past like “I took drugs / got drunk a lot etc.”, “I was involved in criminal activities”, “I didn’t pay attention at school and received bad grades” etc.
But you can also use it for recent events. “Ich habe Scheiße gebaut. Ich habe deine CD kaputt gemacht. Es tut mir leid.” (I fucked up. I broke your CD. I’m sorry.)
The English equivalent is: “to fuck up” “to mess up” etc.
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Dieser Hund sieht … aus… This dog is looking…
1. traurig
2. bedrückt
3. betrübt
4. frustriert
5. bekümmert
… these are only a few ways to express “sad” in German :)
And btw. we call a pug “der Mops” ;)
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