All Things German In California
(Ein Gedicht von Friedrich Güll, 1812-1879)
Drunten an der Gartenmauer
hab’ ich sehn das Häslein lauern.
eins, zwei, drei: legt’s ein Ei,
lang wird’s nimmer dauern.
Kinder, lasst uns niederducken!
Seht ihr’s ängstlich um sich gucken?
Ei, da hüpft’s und dort schlüpft’s
durch die Mauerlucken.
Und nun sucht in allen Ecken,
wo die schönsten Eier stecken,
rot und blau, und grün und grau
und mit Marmorflecken.
(Friedrich Güll)
Image: Pixabay.com
.
Frustriert geht Birgit an den dicht gedrängten Kleiderständern vorbei. Von der Decke rieselt beruhigende Musik, die von schlurfenden Schuhen auf dem Fliesenboden und dem Rascheln von Kunden, die sich durch die Stände wühlen, beinahe übertönt wird. Die eintönige Geräuschkulisse wird hin und wieder von kreischenden Kindern und dem Gezeter gestresster Eltern unterbrochen. Der Geruch von Schweiß und nasskaltem Straßenschmutz gemischt mit Lavendel-, Vanille- und Rosendüften verdichtet die Luft zu einer zähen Suppe.
Ich hasse Textildiscounter, denkt Birgit. Aber für Menschen mit meinem Einkommen bleibt ja nichts anderes übrig. Die Preise in einem der kleineren Läden, die hier mit den Discountern konkurrieren, sind für Birgit unerschwinglich. Das Einkommen einer Kellnerin bewegt sich heute zwischen der oberen Grenze der Armut und der unteren Grenze des mittleren Wohlstandes. Nicht genug um sich über steigende Mieten, den Kosten fürs Auto und den sonstigen Lebensunterhalt keine Sorgen machen zu brauchen, aber zu viel um wirklich als arm zu gelten. Dennoch hofft Birgit, sich hier mit einem neuen T-Shirt belohnen zu können, ohne Konzerne zu unterstützen, die Kinder für sich arbeiten lassen oder mittellose Wanderarbeiter in Sklavenverträge zwingen.
Endlich hat Birgit den Stand mit den T-Shirts gefunden. Hoffnungsvoll geht ihr Blick über die Stapel unterschiedlichster Farben und Muster. Zunächst registriert sie den schmächtigen Mann am gegenüberliegenden Stand kaum. Doch die verhaltenen Bewegungen und der hektische Blick des Mannes, der unauffällig die Umgebung sondiert, weckt Birgits Aufmerksamkeit. Der Mann ist etwa Anfang Zwanzig und trägt eine für diese Jahreszeit viel zu dünne Jacke. Die verschlissene Jeans hängt schlaksig an den schmächtigen Hüften. Er stöbert in einem Stapel T-Shirts und zieht schließlich eines heraus. Es gibt immer noch Menschen, denen es viel schlechter geht, denkt Birgit, als sie den Mann hinter der Trennwand zu den Umkleidekabinen verschwinden sieht. Wahrscheinlich kann dieser arme Kerl sich nur ein zwei Mal im Jahr ein neues Stück leisten.
Eine Stunde später hat Birgit den Mann völlig vergessen. Ihre ganze Aufmerksamkeit richtet sich auf einen Ständer mit buntbedruckten T-Shirts. Eines der T-Shirts sticht mit seinem warmen Orange heraus. Begeistert nimmt Birgit es vom Ständer und ist entzückt vom frechen Schriftzug, der quer über der Brust in geschwungenen Buchstaben steht.
Plötzlich mischen sich das Scharren und Poltern von hektischen Schritten und aufgebrachtes Gebrüll in die eintönige Geräuschkulisse. Zwei Männer in blauer Uniform hechten den Gang entlang in Richtung Rolltreppe. Sicherheitsleute! Sie jagen jemanden!
Birgit beschließt, ihre Neugier zu bezwingen, und geht auf kürzestem Weg zur Kasse. Vor ein paar Tagen hatte sie einen Film gesehen, in dem in einem U-Bahnhof Panik ausgebrochen war und hunderte von Menschen sich gegenseitig zu Tode quetschten. Zehn Minuten später erreicht Birgit die Drehtür des Kaufhauses und tritt erleichtert in den kalten Nieselregen. Ein Polizeiwagen steht rechts neben dem Eingang im Halteverbot.
Am nächsten Tag stand folgender Artikel in der Tageszeitung:
Ein 24-Jähriger ließ ein T-Shirt und Parfüm aus einem Geschäft im Regensburger Einkaufszentrum mitgehen.
REGENSBURG. Am Dienstag gegen 14.30 Uhr, wurde ein 24-Jähriger beim Ladendiebstahl erwischt. Das Personal stellte in einem Geschäft im Regensburger Donau-Einkaufszentrum vom Personal fest, dass er nach dem Verlassen einer Umkleidekabine ein unbezahltes T-Shirt unter seiner Kleidung trug. …
©Samantha Sam
Image: pixabay.com
Samantha Sam – grew up in Mecklenburg Vorpommern. She now lives in a little, enchanting town called Lappersdorf by Regensburg. Since early childhood, she was devoted to writing, which served her well in her later profession as a communications specialist; even though writing there was business related rather than creative.
In her personal life, she has been writing speeches for weddings as well as birthdays of family and friends; speeches, that are still on everyone’s lips years after. Often family and friends encouraged her to devote more time to writing professionally. So, when her daughter left home, ‘the time was ripe’! Her passion for writing made her engage in her first novel, which she is in the process of putting on the finishing touches. She writes under her pen name “Samantha Sam”.
XPAT Spotlight interview with Carina and David Mohr, owners of the German butcher shop YouBite in Camarillo. Their traditional German Bratwursts and a variety of smoked products are all handcrafted and made according to German family recipes. Produced with the help of German machinery, which they imported to the USA – it can’t get more German than that!
Carina and David, both settled in California after having traveled the world. For Carina, life abroad is nothing new. Born and mostly raised in Cologne, she got already an early taste of living abroad when she was ten years old. Her parents moved the family for 5 years to Pune in India, where they opened a Turkey Farm. For David, however, who was born in Bonn and later lived between Cologne and Bonn, settling abroad is a new, exciting adventure.
What made you decide to leave Germany and move to California?
Carina: I have always loved exploring new countries. In 2012 my now husband David and I decided to quit our jobs in Germany to go and travel and explore Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and parts of Indonesia. During that time, my parents told us about their idea of investing in a new business. My parents have been living in the USA for about 15 years now (mostly in New Hampshire – they moved to California in spring 2014). They have another business but missed German sausages and wanted to bring a little bit of the German cuisine to California. Baiting us with opening a business in California and making good food products, it did not take long to convince us.
How did your family and friends react?
For my family it wasn’t a big shock – we have been used to living apart and traveling the world. With my parents living in the US for so long, my sister living in England, I guess my two brothers were betting on who was going to go somewhere next. Plus, with the India-experience we are all aware and very understanding about the curiosity that lives within us to explore and see the world.
Not only family, also friends were very understanding. Of course there were quite a few discussions however. In Germany it is not very common to move around. You usually stick to your profession in order to build your career and you usually do not leave the region let alone the country to follow another career path. However with our Australia-Travels they were already eased into the topic of us being “Welten-Bummler”.
Living in California. Is it a dream come true for both of you?
I never imagined living in the US, and then California of all places. This is paradise. Perfect weather most of the year, friendly people and beautiful nature. I am thankful, that David and I got the luck of exploring this place and building up a business from scratch in a completely foreign country!
Did you experience initial challenges upon moving to California? How did you adapt?
It has definitely been a challenge moving to California and setting up a new business.
Firstly as being self-employed, it took us quite some time to adjust. Californians are very friendly and open people but we were not able to really befriend someone. We didn’t have co-workers you could go and grab a beer with, we didn’t have children that would get you an “in” with the other parents…. At the beginning, meaning the first few months, that was a real problem for us. We always skyped with home (be it family or friends) because we were missing something. Then David started playing soccer and through that we found some nice connections. Plus, the business YOUBITE started taking off.
Secondly, getting to know the local practices of where to get which permit, which permit do we need, which authorities to visit… it’s a long list of new and there was also some unexpected bureaucracy we had to face. But in the end we mastered the challenge. But even despite us knowing that California is quite expensive, it still took us a while to realize how MUCH more the cost of living here is compared to Germany.
Nevertheless we adapted quite quickly to the culture and also the language. Even though we do miss the “deutsche Gemütlichkeit” and the “Verbindlichkeit” when you have an appointment or are even just set on meeting with friends. But we soon learned the phrase “to take a rain check”. Our friends are still surprised when we show up on time and we can all laugh when we get annoyed when we have to wait on others, who don’t take punctuality too seriously.
Did you re-invent yourself here in California?
We definitely re-invented ourselves!
Carina: I used to work as a production manager for a German TV production company. However, I have always wanted to actually hands-on produce something. And I have always been interested in artesian food products. With my parents being farmers we always got the freshest fruit and vegetables. And my father used to butcher our chickens and turkeys himself. So I grew up with that insight.
David: I would consider my life to have taken quite the turn since moving to California. Growing up with a butcher next door and having parents who run a catering business from our house I had always been around food production but after I finished school I started to work in finance, kind of a “desk guy”. After moving to California I started to nourish some skills that I didn’t even know I had. Before I came here I wouldn’t have had considered myself a handyman. But after working in our new business, installing plumbing and electricity and repairing our machinery, I would consider myself quite adept at least with our machines. A big difference to my skills that I acquired in Germany.
We now make German sausages at YOUBITE ( www.you-bite.com)!
Tell us a bit about your new Business venture!
To give you a short rundown: YOUBITE is a German sausage manufacturer. We source our meat mostly local and turn it into traditional German sausages which taste just like home. And we 
never use any MSG’s, gluten or fillers. It is as clean as you get it in Germany at the local ‘Metzger’. So we started going to the local farmers markets in order to sell our products and there found like-minded people which we are now happy to call very close friends.
At YOUBITE, we make everything from scratch. When we moved over to the US we brought all the needed machinery with us as well, which of course turned out to be a little bit of a hassle with the power connections. But we are glad we did it – especially in the sausage segment there are no better machines than the German ones– after all that is where the best Wurst is made! My father Heinz taught us how to make the sausages and we can proudly say that we now make it all ourselves. From pork to turkey as well as lamb sausages. From ‘Leberkäse’ and Fleischwurst to Grillwurst and Bratwurst. From mild to spicy and from traditional recipes to new original Wursts.
We sell either online (www.you-bite.com/shop), at the local farmers markets in Ventura and LA counties and at our shop in Camarillo (745 W Ventura Blvd, Unit J, Camarillo CA 93010 | Open Tue – Fri 8am – 5pm | Sat 8am – 1:30pm).
We are a classic family run and operated business. While David and I produce everything, we have help from my parents Carmen and Heinz to sell at the various farmers markets. We are proud to say that the community in Ventura County is very supportive of small businesses that handcraft fresh food items. And the positive feedback and the smiles we get every day from our clientele tell us that we are doing the right thing. Showing people that it doesn’t take a lot to cook a rich and tasty meal instead of grabbing convenience food at the grocery store day in/day out is something that we like to do.
What do you love about California and what do you miss?
Carina: I love the nature and the vastness of California. Especially Ventura County – we have the Ocean right at our door step and, only a 30 min drive away, we are in the midst of beautiful mountains. Another 30 minutes and you can visit the desert. We are close to Los Angeles without having to live in the metropolitan environment. It is just plain beautiful here.
I do however miss the seasons. If you travel a little bit north – to Yosemite for example – you can quickly get into that lush green environment that I miss from Germany.
I also do miss the “Gemütlichkeit” of just sitting at a Café or Biergarten and enjoying the “Feierabend”. We have the perfect weather here to do it every night, but the locations where you can do so unfortunately always require a bit of a drive – if you can find them, that is. But on the other hand, you can always get together with friends to enjoy a BBQ – because the weather is just always good!
David: I love the outdoor activities that are possible in California. You can play whatever sport, whenever and you can plan outdoor activities without having to worry about rain or bad weather most of the time. Since I am a big fan of the ocean, I can’ imagine living without it anymore. Goin surfing, snorkeling, or kayaking whenever I feel like it, I wouldn’t want to miss that anymore.
What’s your cure for occasional Heimweh?
If Heimweh comes up, we skype with friends and family in Germany because the world is so connected these days that technology for us mostly cures short term Heimweh. We also travel back once a year to reabsorb everything we miss. But when we are over there, we are always eager to come back to California. We will always miss Germany but that’s because we’re as German as it gets .
What’s your special XPAT Tip for living here in California?
The first and foremost thing is that you should be willing to immerse yourself in the Californian culture. Try to improve your language skills, make social connections and most of all enjoy life.
Also, when you move over to California do not end up comparing it with Germany. Neither money-wise, nor socially. It is a different culture and a different country. If you get upset about the amount of plastic, fuel or water being wasted don’t fret – just do your best to consume less and explain to your friends how to reduce the waste. Also be prepared to let go of what you have heard about the Americans – it is just a stereotype and people will surprise you.
Try to take advantage of the beautiful nature this State has to offer you! Yes, there is a lot of driving involved, but it is worth it.
Thank you so much, Carina and David, for speaking with us. You guys are in for a great adventure! We wish you much luck with your new life here in California and much success with your German sausage business YOUBITE!
————————————————————————-
Get in Contact with Carina & David at YouBite:
YOUBITE, LLC – 745 W Ventura Blvd., Unit J, Camarillo, CA 93010
Email: info (at)you-bite.com
Phone: (805) 308 3682
Website: www.you-bite.com
VISITING OUE SKYSPACE – TOO MUCH FOR MY NERVES?
Remember that time I talked about my girlfriends from Germany visiting me? Yes, I know, it’s been a while, and I don’t want to leave you hanging any longer. So today I am back and ready to share another fun LA adventure with you that you might want to try yourself one day, if you haven’t already.
You might have heard about OUE Skyspace, which Google describes as an “Open-air observation deck providing 360-degree views of the city & a unique glass slide.” I was quite intrigued when my friends told me they wanted to check out this sightseeing hotspot. I had seen reports about the slide before on national television, but I had never gotten close in real life. [Read more…] about Visiting OUE Skyspace – Too Much For My Nerves?
Vorhang Auf! It’s time for another production by the German Theatre Group of San Diego: “So Ein Theater – Oh, What Drama!” plays April 13 & 14 only!
Be prepared for an evening of German Cabaret about the quirks of daily life! Funny and thought-provoking skits and musical numbers about work, kids & family and getting older.
Tickets: General Admission $14 – Student (with ID) $10 – At the door (limited availability) $16 – Get your Ticket here!
The German Theatre Group of San Diego started out with “Ein Abend
Founded in October 2016 by Astrid Ronke, the group is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and part of the German American Societies of San Diego.
Image: Pixabay
Did you enjoy last year’s Theatre Workshop with Yvonne Zech at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim?
Here is an ENCORE !
Yvonne Zech will be offering yet another workshop on March 17th, 2019. This year, children will be working on an adaptation of the classic fairytale “Das Tapfere Schneiderlein”.
Yvonne, actress and trainer with the Galli Theater Group in Wiesbaden, is specializing in educational children’s theater projects. In her March workshop, children are encouraged to try out new ideas and become acquainted with different perspectives. Discovering their own body language helps children to adapt to new roles. Through the development of their own creativity and the joy of playacting, a world of possibilities will open up to them. Life is exciting and original!
Theatre Workshop is offered by the German American School Association (GASA)
When: Sunday, March 17, 2019
Where: Phoenix Club Anaheim,1340 S Sanderson Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
Workshop Fee: $40 (1st child). Each additional child $30
A hamburger lunch is included. Please pack a lunch if your child has allergies or food restrictions
Space is limited – RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! Last day to register is March 13th , 2019
Contact: Phone (562)-693-0223 or email: office@gasaschool.org
Theater workshop will take place from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, Performance starts at 5:30 pm. A hamburger lunch is included. Please pack a lunch if your child has allergies or food restrictions. Between the workshop and the performance, a dinner selection will be available for purchase for you and your family.
XPAT Spotlight – Interview with Tania Stappard, who has been living the expat-life since childhood. Born to expat parents she learned early on to juggle two cultures and different ways of life.
Tania Stappard was born to German parents, who raised her in Paris, France . Her mom was from Hamburg and her dad was from Munich (North meets South, this was a cultural experience in itself). Tania’s father, a diplomat, saw her mother, an actress, on stage in Munich and fell in love with her and “kidnapped” her to Paris. Growing up in Paris, Tania attended a German school in Paris (DSP) and spent the last four years in boarding school at the Pädagogium in Baden-Baden. After the Abitur, she moved to L.A. with her sister and spent her twenties in West Hollywood. Later, when she started a family of her own she moved to Santa Monica and now lives in Ventura County, about 37 miles from L.A.
Tania, what made you decide to move to California? [Read more…] about Born an Expat. Always an Expat. – Tania Stappard, Voice Over Talent & Future Life Coach (Interview)
Ready to brighten up your day with some classical music by German composers? February and March, the LA Phil have special German programming in place for you!
Check out the upcoming concerts below and note that violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter will be in town on March 6th!
Anne-Sophie Mutter • Lambert Orkis – MAR 6 –
The LA Phil presents Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lambert Orkis on March 6 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. For 40 years, German virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter has been a fixture on the world’s major concert stages, making her mark as a concerto soloist, recitalist, recording artist, and mentor. She makes a rare appearance at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Dudamel Conducts Mahler – FEB 28-MAR 3 –
The LA Phil presents Dudamel Conducts Mahler February 28-March 3 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Although Mahler did begin composing yet another symphony, his Ninth feels like a valedictory piece, filled as it is with sighing gestures and a time-stopping finale of rumination and resignation. It’s hard to overstate the emotions it engenders.
Dudamel & Yuja Wang – MAR 7-10 –h
The LA Phil presents Dudamel & Yuja Wang March 7-10 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Gustavo Dudamel will lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a sweeping performance of Mahler’s beloved song-filled symphony, rife with quintessential Mahlerian touches: nature-inspired lyricism, a funeral march, and explosive crescendos. The astounding Yuja Wang will join to give the first-ever performances of John Adams’ newest piano concerto.
Image Credits: ©LAPhil
XPAT Spotlight – Interview with Barbara Kempen, business owner, and nature lover, who manages to combine the two cultures she loves in her daily work while helping fellow expats.
Born in Cologne, Germany, Barbara Kempen has moved to Los Angeles about 30 years ago. She arrived in L.A. as a young student and was fascinated by the magic of the American dream. She decided to stay, raise a family and start a business of her own. She knows life in Los Angeles inside out and can tell you a story or two on what it takes to make it or break it here in California.
What made you leave Germany and choose California as your new home?
I was 24 years old when I finished my Diplom Kauffrau (similar to MBA) at the University in Cologne. As I was very young I wanted to gain some work experience abroad. During that year I worked for Lufthansa in Marketing and Controlling in Los Angeles and met my ex-husband. Instead of returning to Germany I started a career in the fashion industry and was a successful fabric sourcing specialist for several LA companies and often traveled abroad. [Read more…] about Cherishing Her Love for Two Countries While Helping Fellow Expats – Barbara Kempen (Interview)
Wahrheit oder LügeWas ist Lüge und was ist Wahrheit?
Gibt es über ihre Grenzen in jedem Fall Klarheit?
Darf man eine Wahrheit für bare Münze nehmen?
Kann ein Einzelner überhaupt ein objektives Urteil geben?
Das Maß, der Wert dieser Begriffe,
richtet sich doch ohnehin nach des Betrachters Sinne.
Was für den Einen die Wahrheit ist, [Read more…] about Wahrheit oder Lüge (Ein Gedicht)