Playing with Fire

Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. There is just something deliciously nostalgic about barbeques, fireworks, Summer, swimming, friends, family and patriotism all rolled up into one holiday. And it's really the one time a year that Americans really go nutters for fireworks. I have always been fascinated by fireworks. But they also scare the crap out of me. I've never really had good luck with them; I'm kind of a magnet for firework dangers. One year I was playing with a sparkler in my aunt and uncle's front yard with all the other kids (we were sky writing words) when all of the sudden a spark popped off the sparkler and landed on my collarbone and burned me. Quite predictably I screamed and got all the adults running. Once I was in the kitchen my mom inspected the damage and found that my vest had been burnt along with my skin. I was horrified, more about the vest than my burn at this point, because it was my Fourth of July vest. I have always been quite festive when it comes to holidays. Aloe vera and some hugs stopped the flow of my tears, and I soon was back playing with the other kids. The burn eventually healed, but the mark it left was more a figurative one. I didn't play with sparklers for years after that day.

You can imagine my excitement and fear when I was told that Germany is really big on setting off fireworks for New Years. It's such a weird concept to me, Americans really don't do the whole firework thing on this holiday. I remembered coverage of other countries in past New Years specials on T.V., I just always thought it was strange they set off fireworks. I'm so used to the ball drop in Times Square being the big festivity. Fireworks only fit in two places in my brain 1. 4th of July 2. Disneyland. So I found myself getting excited to ring in the new year a little different than usual.

I spent New Years Eve day reading. No, I'm not that big of a nerd. I put down my book to join my German family (and their friends) for dinner. We had meat fondu. Which is yummy, but tortuous. Nothing like sitting and waiting for your food to cook while your stomach roars like a angry lion. After dinner we went outside to the street to set off fireworks. Since the kids were going to bed before midnight, they didn't want to miss out on the fun. All the fireworks were "kid friendly." Sparklers of course were amongst the options. Which I avoided until I just couldn't stand it anymore. They are just so sparkly. I also had quite a bit of fun with the cherry bombs. Martha and her friend (with their dads) were having quite the thrill setting off little fireworks that whorled and spun around on the street. Frieda and her friend just stuck to the sparklers and cherry bombs like me. But we had just as much fun as the older girls! Once we were out of fireworks I said good bye and headed out into the night to meet up with my friends.

I walked over to Nacha and Bernie's flat which is conveniently quite close to my apartment. Balin (sorry if I'm spelling your name wrong... I'm lousy with names), Bernie's friend, came along too. We all hopped onto the Straßenbahn and found ourselves surrounded by fellow New Years celebrators. After staring at a girls holey stockings for a good 15 minutes (I just couldn't understand why she would sacrifice being warm in order to look so scandalous), we got off the train with all the other passengers. Apparently Durlach was the place to be. After a short walk up a hill we found ourselves at the Turmbergbahn station. (Which I visited with Lea back in October). We found Albert, whom we planned to meet there, and squished onto the oldest train in Germany with a bunch of other people. Thankful to be free of the claustrophobic train, I burst out onto the look out platform only to find it just as crowded, and even more chaotic.

Just a half an hour to midnight, the excitement was tangible in the air. People were all over the place; drinking, talking, and setting off fireworks. Our little group made our way over to an area near the guard rail of the lookout platform. If I got on tiptoe I could see the breathtaking view of all of Karlsruhe lighting up the night. One we settled in one spot, the drinks began to flow. Nacha told us to bring our own cups, which made for a funny sight. Alcohol just looks silly in a water cup. The guys started examining the stash of fireworks we had brought along, just itching to set them off. While they were busy being boys, I people and firework watched. I tried to keep my distance, but because everyone was so squished together it was an impossible feat. Some sparks landed on my jacket several times (one burned a hole) but the boys were much quicker to react and brush off the sparks than I was. Thanks guys!

The view of all Karlsruhe from the lookout platform. Legit right?

These are like beyond illegal in LB, but perfectly legal in Karlsruhe! Wahaha.

As the minutes ticked by, the pandemonium grew. More and more fireworks began to explode above and in the crowd. And then the countdown began. When the clock struck midnight, my world exploded. The noise around me was deafening, as the roar of people and fireworks joined as one sound. And when I looked out over the city, I saw that it was blanketed in the most amazing impromptu fireworks show I have ever seen. It was like the city was on fire. I couldn't rip my eyes away from it.

Nacha, the boys, and I toasted to the new year as it began to rain. I just looked up into the sky and smiled. It was the most simple and beautiful way to start of 2012. Fresh rain washing away an old year. And a new year being escorted in with the startling power and beauty of fireworks. All while surrounded by new friends in a new place. I've never experienced a New Year's like it.

Several moments throughout the night. (All the night's pictures were taken by Nacha).

Not long after midnight people began to clear out, giving the Bernie, Balin, and Albert more space to set off our fireworks. Then next two hours consisted of drinks, fireworks, and laughter. I even dared to play with a sparkler. Twice in one night was really pushing my luck. Nacha (who is from Chile) taught me a couple New Year's traditions from her country. My favorite was taking 12 pieces of rice and putting them in my drink and making wishes on them. Once I drank almost all of my drink, I was to swirl the dregs of my drink and rice around and then toss it out of my cup. If all the rice was gone in one toss, my wishes would come true. If some stayed, I would not get all my wishes granted. All my rice went out in one toss, so I expect some wish granting this year fairy godmother! Haha.

Me staying very far from my arch nemesis... the sparkler.

Note the boys are showing off one of their prized fireworks.

At some point during our two hours of revelry, I was talking to Nacha when something caught my eye and I looked up to find a firework flying straight at me. Looking back, I should have ducked, but my first instinct was just to close my eyes. (Which was a very good instinct. I might not have eyesight in one eye if I didn't.) Almost instantly after I shut my eyes my right eyelid exploded with pain. I tried to flick the firework out of my face but I wasn't very successful so Nacha jumped to the rescue. She was soon able to get the pieces away from my face, but I was still in pain. My eye was crying involuntarily, and I was freaking out about opening my eye. I was so worried if I wasn't going to be able to see anything when I opened it.

Finally I opened my eyes to find that both eyes were in working order. But it was my eyelids that were crying out in pain. After assuring everyone I was okay, I made a beeline to the bathroom to inspect the damage. Once in front of a mirror I realized my upper and lower eyelids on my right eye had been burned. My eye looked perfectly fine. So with relief filling my stomach, I set about wiping what was left of my eye makeup. I soaked the burn in cold water for a bit and then rejoined my friends.

Fireworks and I just don't get along.

The guys set off the rest of the fireworks as Nacha and I just talked. I was quite happy to avoid any chance of getting burned yet again. And talking with Nacha is always fun. So it was a win win situation. When our little group finally decided to leave we were among the few stranglers left of the mountain. We soon discovered the Turmbergbahn was closed and that we would have to walk down the mountain (more of a really big hill in my opinion). Which was quite the adventure considering all of us were quite tipsy. It was quite the giggle and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. But don't worry, all five of us made it safely back down and got on the correct Straßenbahn. The whole way home Nacha blew kiddy bubbles (you know, the ones with those bubble wands). I was dying of laughter. Such a strange place for bubbles.

I got home and was quite happy to curl up in bed and go to sleep. It was quite the eventful New Year's. I wonder if that means this is going the be quite the eventful year. Only time will tell.

Update: My burn has healed quite nicely. Now I just have a scar. Lovely.

Harry and Me

When I was eight years old I found a book in my mom's hope chest. One of her students (she is an elementary school teacher) had lent it to her so she could read it. But my mom doesn't really enjoy "fantasy" books (and movies) so she set the book aside and forgot about it. In fact, she thought she lost it, and had to buy her student a new book. Well, I found it a couple months later and my mom said I could keep it. That very day I began to read it, and gobbled it up within a matter of days. And suddenly, Harry Potter became apart of my life.

I grew up during the time when the Harry Potter books were being published. Being eight (1999) when I started reading, I was able to read the first three and then I only had to wait for the other four. Of course this waiting took most of my childhood since the last Harry Potter book came out when I was in the tail end of high school. I also had the pleasure of getting to see all the movies in theaters. I guess you could say I grew up with Harry Potter.

I have read and re-read all the books over and over again. Each time I discover something I didn't see before. There is just something about these books that never gets old. I re-read other books, but not as frequently as the Harry Potter series. I usually end up pulling out the series if I need some comfort or escape from every day life. Books are a means of escape for me, which can be good and bad like most things. But usually I read to remind myself that it is all going to be okay. No matter what goes on in a book, life always moves on; things change and grow. Harry goes through so much shit. But he isn't sitting in a corner crying the whole entire series. Sure he has his moments, like everyone does, but he always picks himself up and keeps going. And in the end, through all the pain and sadness, there is a happy ending for him. Harry always reminds me to keep going. He gives me hope.

Right now I am re-reading the series again (Christiane has all the books in English, yay!). I grabbed them all off of Martha's bookshelves and put them in my room. Over the past week I made my way through The Chamber of Secrets. I just started on Prisoner of Azkaban last night. Why am I reading them right now? Well, if I am completely honest with myself, I am feeling a little home sick. I miss my life. Halloween being tomorrow is totally not helping in the slightest. I feel so very far away from everything I know, love, and feel comfortable around. Not that this makes me regret my decision to come here in the slightest. I know this is where I need to be. And really do love it here. But not having a firm grasp on German has really made it hard for me. So once again I find myself turning to my Harry Potter books. It's really amazing how much better I feel after reading a chapter or two. The sense of panic in my stomach leaves and I am able to truly enjoy being right where I am. Of course it doesn't take away the home sickness, but it lessens it.

Me and three of the seven books (these are the UK editions)

Sometimes I wish I was eleven again, and that I was hopping onto the Hogwarts Express. But then I remind myself that living in a world of witches and wizards wouldn't solve all my problems. As much as my life isn't a cake walk, I have been blessed with so many wonderful people and opportunties. I would be a fool not to see that my life is magical in it's own right. I may not have a wand, invisibility cloak, or a lightening shaped scar; but I do have determination, imagination, and a life full of possibilities ahead me. I don't doubt that many other adventures await me after this one. I just have to be brave and strong enough to welcome them with open arms.