Herr Pons und Der Räuber Hotzenplotz

Since resuming my study of the German language, there have been some notable changes in the line-up of arsenal in my assigned mission „Operation Conquer Deutsch„.

Once upon a time way back in wee old Ireland, life was simple and straightforward: my tools of learning consisted of a pencil; a book containing all my own notes; and an ancient edition of a scintillating textbook, a relic of the 1980s beloved by every German-teacher in Ireland.  Now and then I mixed it up by acquiring a copy of the Die Welt newspaper from our local newsagents, a very exotic publication in our small country town, which had to be special-ordered and which I read from cover-to-cover until it fell apart.

These days however, as learners of a foreign language, we have more assistance possibilities than a person could possibly avail of at any one time.  As children of the digital-age, the advances in technology promise a surer, speedier path to learning success.  There are iPads and Kindles; smartphones and smartwatches; Alexa, Echo and the Cloud.  On the infinite horizon that is the internet, we find an unending number of aids which one can make use of: from Babylon and LEO online dictionaries, to our dear friend Google Translate (who is full of buoyant self-assurance but who sadly, is not to be trusted); from Babbel and DuoLingo, to YouTube channels – each pledging an easier, swifter, more user-friendly, less brain-taxing method to gain fluency in a foreign-language.

Meanwhile in the home-library, the resources continue. I am offered security through Sicher! or a refreshed outlook via Aspekt neu; B Grammatik offers reams of Übungsmoglichkeiten, whilst Detective Inspector em Übungsgrammatik catches me out with delightful regularity.  That wise and faithful old stalwart, Mr. Duden-Oxford Dictionary attempts to keep order amongst the various publications vying for attention on the bookshelf, accompanying me as he does through the rabbit holes of German vocabulary etymology (far more interesting, but sadly a lot less practical unless one is attending a quiz-competition…).  I have enough grammar tables that I could build a Stammtisch sufficiently large to invite the entire student-body of Deutsch Akademie, with room to spare for additional guests.  Capping it all off – and most strict of all – is Herr Professor Pons, who promises Deutsch Grammatik success „auf einen Blick“ and brooks no argument when it comes to mystifying irregularities.  And yet despite the range of expert consultants, still, I get caught out.  Word order, cases, conjunctions and modal verbs all offer an exciting array of opportunities for error.  Even the definite article is not to be taken as definitive – there is always another possibility!

The fact of the matter is there is no shortcut to language success.  Certainly, one can grasp the rudimentary rules quite quickly and then, with relative ease, continue to collect the various regulations and guidelines which govern a particular language.  But no matter how many all-singing, all-dancing aids we have at our disposal, it will be of no assistance if we are overloaded and try to cram in too much information in too short a time-period.  In fact, in my experience the greatest success is achieved through simple, old-school reiteration and self-teaching: as surely, when we can explain something to ourselves, we can allow for a sufficient degree of mastery on a particular point.

More than that however, unlike chapters in a book or steps on the EU Language Framework, there is no way one can skip over the absorption of a means of communication into one’s brain, into one’s way of thinking – that is, the integration into a culture: into the mindset of a people, a way of viewing the world which has run in a certain mode for centuries, so much so that it has formed the way communication is exercised.  This is the trick and develops from the degree to which we are fully invested in a culture – unconsciously giving all our attention to succeeding so that we may communicate with those with whom we live our lives.  Being “sprach – los” really is a humbling experience, as we realise the poverty which stems from not being able to give ourselves through thought and speech.  Language is the essential foundation upon which we build this communication and allows the blossoming of our personalities in a new environment, without which we can never possibly hope to express or understand the fine subtleties which comprise every interaction with our families, friends and wider communities.

Thankfully, I have a undercover gang who are rooting for my success in their language: Karlsson vom Dach, Der Räuber Hotzenplotz and Asterix & Obelix – all providing a much-needed relief from the hard-headed attitude of the textbooks.  The next time you need a break from grammar-tables and exercise sheets, volunteer to take care of your friend’s little child for an hour or two, or read to the neighbour’s children and enjoy the mutual mirth generated from struggling to read to children in their native language – a method of learning which I highly recommend!  🙂  Above all things though, at the end of the day it is important to remember that, although the path to language-success is certainly not plain-sailing, we should quietly rejoice at each increasing degree of communicability, however imperceptible it may be to those onlookers and we need only realise that communication itself is an exercise in time, persistence and patience.  Keep up the good work!

                                                                                                                                                             Aoífe-Maria Beglin

It is fair to say that not only is Austria a land of mountains, rivers and lakes, it is also a bike-lovers paradise.

From cruising along the country’s numerous rivers, past historical landmarks and famous beauty-spots, to mountain-biking and road-racing, there is certainly something to fit the bill for anyone who has ever learned the simple joy and freedom granted by learning to defy gravity through knowledge of some basic physics-principles and a simple mechanical apparatus.

The country is well-situated in the heart of the EuroVelo network, which encompasses over 10,000km of paved bike-routes, criss-crossing the entire land.  In the city of Wien alone, there are some 1,300km of bicycle paths: all clearly marked, maintained well and kept clean from street-debris…. the shard of glass being the cyclist’s favourite early-morning encounter.

Naturally along with the purchase of a bicycle, there are a few minor responsibilities which must be taken into consideration: a few pieces of basic kit, proper maintenance and knowledge of the rules of the road should all accompany your two-wheeled partner in crime.  But these are nothing in return for the opportunities afforded to one through ownership of this humble means of transport.

Of course, if you are not staying in Wien long enough to commit to buying a bicycle or simply do not want the hassle of taking anti-theft measures etc., then there is the wonderful option of using Vienna CityBikes.  For a small one-time registration fee, and a very modest fee for every hour of use thereafter, this scheme is quite useful for quickly getting from A to B within the city and is fool-proof.  With 121 stations scattered across the city from which to pick-up and return your bike, all manner of people avail of the service: students and tourists; business-men and bankers; mothers and children; older persons who want to get to their destination in a more-efficient fashion – it is certainly not limited to the typical image of a death-defying city cyclist!  Then there are any number of guided bike-tour options available: from quick hour-long tours through the city, to cruises down the Danube or out to the Heurigers in the vineyards.  Find your style and there surely exists an option for you to stretch

What I personally find the most helpful facet of cycling-culture in Austria is the fact that it is a smooth and straightforward process to bring one’s bike on trains: the carriages are set up for this express purpose and by paying only a small additional fee, you can take your bike with you on the rail network.  This opens up an infinite number of more exciting possibilities, of being able to go further afield across the country, which mightn’t otherwise be possible, especially if one is restricted by time on the weekends, days off etc.

Underway with your silver-steed, the possibilities are endless and grant a freedom which cannot be enjoyed travelling by foot.  So the next Saturday you find yourself at a loose end, rise early; borrow your flatmate’s bike or nab one from your granny, hop up and away you go!  Relive the simple experience of childhood, the delight of whizzing along on two wheels and the country is yours to discover – you only need to get out there and begin!

Aoífe-Maria Beglin

Standing regally opposite the Deutsch Akademie can be found one of the most imposing, impressive and recognisable buildings in all of Wien: indeed, it can be none other than the Wiener Staatsoper. Despite its formidable presence, strangely, it is one of those landmarks to which one all-too-readily develops a scotoma.  Passing it almost every day, I often have to remind myself to look so that I really see.

And what a sight it is to be hold.  Constructed in 1869, it is a relevant newcomer on the scene in a city as historic as Wein: nevertheless, over the interim period it has quickly made up for lost time.  Strategically located on the newly-constructed Ringstrasse, which was built over the old city fortifications, the Staatsoper was originally the Opera of the Imperial Court. Viennese through and through, it was designed by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg, with the lavishly decorated interior conceived by Eduard van der Nüll and opened on May 25^th 1869 in the presence of Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth.  Incredibly, popular opinion at the time held the notion that it wasn’t grand enough and therefore not fitting for the Court in Wien. This was to rapidly change however and after being devastated by bombing during the Second World War, the building had to be almost entirely reconstructed. However the show must go on, as the saying goes and go it has, hosting countless performers under the direction of Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Karl Böhm and Herbert von Karajan amongst others. The program is diverse and varied, with modern composers and old masters appearing in equal measure, so there is certainly something for everyone’s taste.

One of my favourite things about attending the Opera is that one has the opportunity to meet with a wide myriad of individuals, perhaps those with whom we would not ordinarily meet in our daily lives.  In the foyer, one encounters people from all walks of life: old and young; tall and small; those comfortable and those struggling; foreign and local alike – all in search for a little transcendent beauty to revive the senses and awaken the imagination.  Music speaks to the heart of every human person, regardless of where we come from or what culture we are rooted in. Listening to Puccini or Dvořák, Mozart or Mahler we are at home, regardless of where in the world we may find ourselves.  But don’t just read about it – simply go and experience this sublime opportunity for yourselves!

Aoífe-Maria Beglin

The past weekend in Wien saw the celebration of the famous „Erntedankfest 2018„. Modelled upon the centuries-old autumnal tradition in Austria of giving thanks to God for a plentiful harvest and a fruitful year, the event in the heart of the city has grown to accommodate a wide myriad of vendors and craftspeople alongside those original stalwarts, the farmers and food-producers. Primarily organised by the Austrian Young Farmers organisation, the festival brought a ‚taste‘ of farm-life to the big city: to demonstrate the processes involved in the agricultural world, demonstrate traditional methods of and to display the bounteous abundance of foodstuffs which are the fruits of their long-awaited labours. In addition, attendees are treated to a entertaining display of traditional Austrian culture, with floral-bedecked procession floats, brass-bands and folk-dancing galore!

With approximately 45% of the total land area given over farming, two-thirds of Austria’s farms are located in alpine pastures, which serves to illustrate the ingenuity, commitment and determination required to thrive in such challenging environments. Noted amongst European nations for a commitment to organic farming, the excellence of the produce in this small landlocked country is second-to-none and the ready availability of quality food is testimony to the nation’s numerous farmers and food-producers.

Taking a little step back from the hustle and bustle of the Erntedankfest, it must be noted that the characteristics required to live the vocation of a farmer is an unsung theme oft overlooked, yet which contains in it a powerful testimony to the fact that food is not simply produced. Rather, it is the result of hard and demanding work over time: the consideration involved in deciding which various fruits and vegetables, herbs and livestock are to be raised to maturity; the slow preparing of the land; the attentiveness required in the care of animals and crops through all conditions and difficulties; the patience needed as time goes by, so as to wait until the right time to harvest; the hard-work and long-hours necessary, required in the early hours of the morning and into the late hours of night, so as to attend all those unseen and thankless tasks. In a quiet and unassuming way, it is this continuum between the land and that which nourishes us which I find personally the most impressive: connecting the starting point in the earth, as nature’s bounties are transformed through strenuous work and time itself, with the end-result being that which graces the dinner-table. All the better then to meet the people who care for other persons in a direct and very elemental way, as they grow, raise and prepare the food which we eat. So the next time you enjoy a delicious Wiener Schnitzel or Kaspressknödel; discover a new favourite Bergkäse or variety of Wurst; bite through the crunchy exterior of a freshly-baked Kaisersemmel (perhaps with Butter and Marillenmarmelade!) or spend a relaxing evening with a glass of wine with friends, watching the sun go down in one of the many Heurigers in the surroundings of Wien, take a moment for a note of appreciation. For when we look at the food before us on our plate, that which sustains us, let us remember that it is the fruit of the labours of many hands, and may we give thanks for the quiet dignity contained within.

Mahlzeit!

Aoífe-Maria Beglin

The leaves are beginning to fall from the trees, the weather has turned a little cooler and gaggles of little children spilling out onto the pavement indicates a fresh new school-year has begun. It can only mean one thing: autumn has arrived in Vienna! An elegant city all year-round, the autumnal colours only seem to magnify the architectural beauty of the city-scape. Rounding any corner in the Innere-Stadt brings one face-to-face with a dazzling array of facades: elaborately constructed palaces; richly embellished churches ; regally imposing coffee-houses and noble townhouses.

Yet there is much more to Wien than first meets the eye. One of my favourite pastimes whilst wandering through the city is to try to spot less obvious, subtle details, hidden as they are amongst their more-flashy neighbours.

Like the ornate stucco-work gracing the ceilings in the halls of the University of Wien, or the impossibly-high, gravity-defying spires of the Gothic Votivskirche. I like to be reminded that these little details were conceived in the mind of the architect or the artist before being brought to life: that they are both purposeless and purposeful. Purposeless because it often seems that they serve no practical function and yet purposeful, precisely because they bring beauty to the world and remind us of the great things which man is inspired to undertake.

Nature too, reveals this same pattern and is evident to behold in any of Wein’s numerous parks and green-spaces: ochre, rust and umber; emerald, crimson and gold – the leaves of the passing season wave goodbye in all their varied hues. Beauty is all around us and we only have to learn to fine-tune our vision in order to be able to notice it more and more. In a city as beautiful as Wien, one has more than ample opportunity to practice this ‘beauty-vision’. I encourage you: get out now and enjoy the crisp, autumnal air; go for a stroll along the Donaukanal; take in the fading light of the shortening evenings; enjoy a coffee with friends in one of Wien’s numerous cosy coffee-houses. It need not be anything extravagant, yet will bring you to a deeper appreciation of your new home culture – Wien!

Viel Vergnügen!

Aoífe-Maria Beglin