KATE J HOLLINGSWORTH

Wrapping Things Up

May 16, 2011 2 Comments

It’s getting late here in Freiburg.

I’m catching the early train to Frankfurt in the morning, and flying from there back to the States. It’s been almost exactly four months since I first came to Europe, but the time has flown.

Right now I’m feeling….

Sad to say goodbye to all the aaaamazing people I’ve met!
Bummed to leave this fab city of Freiburg
Eager to see my family
Excited for some Chick-fil-A!

This has been one of the most amazing times, and greatest of opportunities, of my life. I have absolutely loved my time spent abroad studying Germany and the European Union.

I had the great fortune to be able to travel to lots of different cities and countries this semester – sometimes with my study program and sometimes on my own. I spent so much time making all these great memories and the rest of my time cramming for school…. And sometimes, I didn’t get the chance to blog about it all.

SO! My plan for after I get to the US of A: finish blogging and fill in the gaps. There’s still a lot about study abroad and my experiences that I can’t wait to share with you guys! Stay tuned for….

“A Barista Tours Vienna’s Coffeehouses”

“Easter at the Vatican”

“A Weekend in Copenhagen”

“Food around Freiburg”

….and more. : )

Alles Liebe,
Kate

Germany, Travel

Recycling in Germany

May 10, 2011 4 Comments

Recycling in Germany can be precise. It took a while for me to get the hang of it, during which time I started collecting recyclables in my room….

The situation soon got desperate, and it was time to figure out German recycling. It’s especially important here in Freiburg, known for being one of the prominent ‘green’ European cities.

There’s lots of recycling bins outside the dorm. You’ve got your white glass, your brown glass, your green glass, and on the left is the bin for clothes/shoes/fabrics….

Then there’s another set of bins for your paper (Grüne Tonne, or “green bin”), plastics/metals (Gelber Sack, or “yellow bag”), and a catch-all for organic wastes and things that don’t fit in the other bins (Restmülltonne, or “waste bin”).

Latest posts…

But the coolest thing about recycling in Germany: returning your bottles where you buy them. Turn your empty bottles back in to the cafes/markets/cafeteria where you bought them, and you’ll get your deposit back! (It’s been around .15-.25 euro cents everywhere I’ve gone).

I get a lot of bottles from the Penny-Markt near my dorm, and they have return machines to scan them….

…and you get a receipt in return to pay towards your next purchase!

The German recycling system is pretty complicated, but all the sorting and the deposit method for bottles really encourages the green initiative – Germany has one of the highest recycling rates in Europe and the world (Eurostat).

Read more posts about Germany here.

Germany

Taking a Walk

May 4, 2011 3 Comments

The weather is so nice this week in Freiburg! It’s inspiring me to take more walks. Although I usually hop on the tram in the mornings, I like to do the 30 minute walk back to my dorm after classes. I love the sights and smells of springtime Germany in the evening. : )

Here are a few photos from my familiar walk….

Germany

On the Autobahn

May 3, 2011 1 Comment

I’ve talked before about getting around Germany, where the train is definitely my go-to mode of transport. But sometimes I also get the chance to take buses on the autobahn, or German highway.

The interesting thing about the autobahn in the area where I live: no official, federal speed limit! Generally, the advice is to stay under 75 or 80 mph, but it’s a funny feeling never seeing a speed limit sign on the interstate.

Cool fact I learned: Germany has the third longest interstate in the world.

I love riding through the German countryside. And here in Baden–Württemberg, there are always mountains along the horizon in the distance. J’adore. : )

Germany

Springtime in Freiburg!

April 16, 2011 1 Comment

It’s springtime in Freiburg!

Along with the warmer weather and longer days, other small changes are taking place all around town. For example, more and more flowers are for sale each day at the open-air market….

Trees and flowers are blooming everywhere….

And even the ground beneath your feet is decorated by the spring blossoms!

I love Germany in the spring. : )

Read all posts about Germany here.

Germany, Photography

This Week in Pictures

March 26, 2011 1 Comment

Here’s a few photos from this week in Freiburg!

A quirky thing I noticed yesterday – you can buy batteries individually here. At home, I normally only buy batteries in huge packages of 20 or more.

~~Soccer~~ Football is a huge deal here. This street-performer was keeping it fancy and entertaining with his tricks….

Alongside that soccer player, there are a lot more street musicians out, too, in the new warmer spring weather.

And Freiburg’s riverside is a great place to enjoy the sun! It’s scenic, calm, and inviting….

I love Germany in the sping! : )

Germany

Compare and Contrast: Freiburg Edition

March 25, 2011 1 Comment

February 22:

March 25:

It’s starting to look a lot like springtime around Freiburg. And with the warmer weather, restaurants and cafes are officially using all their outdoor tables. The streets are packed with people enjoying these sunny days. : )

PS – You can find the rest of the ‘Compare and Contrast’ series here.

Germany, Travel

Getting Around Germany

March 15, 2011 3 Comments

I got a such a good question on twitter about how I get around Germany that I decided to do a blog post on it!

Within Freiburg, the Straßenbahn, or street trams, are perfect for getting around town. Freiburg has four electric tram lines and they are a major source of transportation for Freiburgers.

The other transportation means of choice are… bicycles! They ‘re everywhere!

For longer trips outside of Freiburg (but still within the Breisgau area between the Rhine river and the Black Forest), the S-bahn, or above-ground regional trains, are great. They run frequently and aren’t too expensive.

And for the longest trips, I usually book my train tickets through bahn.com – the Deutsche Bahn, or German train. DB dominates the train industry in Germany.

Back home in the States, I mostly drive a car to get everywhere. Here in Germany, however, I have no car – but it’s still no trouble getting around. There are plenty of options for ways to travel, and I don’t miss my car at all!

Germany

Freiburg’s Open-Air Market

March 3, 2011 5 Comments

Every day (except Sunday), the Freiburg open-air market is in the Münsterplatz, or the plaza around the Freiburger Münster, our big cathedral.

I looove visiting the market! They always have fresh fruits and vegetables….

And lots of fresh flowers….

But my favorite part of the Freiburg open-air market is the myriad of wurst stands! Germany is home to so many different kinds of sausage, and the open-air markets are great places to try some. This photo shows one that the owner told me was a Freiburg specialty:

No two days are ever exactly the same at the market! I love the variety, the freshness, and the authentic German experience!

Read more posts about Germany here.

Germany

Exploring the Black Forest, Part II

February 27, 2011 2 Comments

Last time, I started talking about hiking through the Black Forest in Germany from Titisee to Hinterzarten. It was a great way to spend a relaxing Sunday!

Most of the forest was shady and snowy, but the snow had melted in a few sunnier places….

Part of our hike took us across the railroad tracks. The trains in Germany are so convenient for getting around!

Near the end of our hike, outside Hinterzarten, we stumbled upon a kids’ ski jump competition in action! Each competitor skied down the second slope from the left….

We hung around for a while and watched the competition. I’ve never skied, and I was so impressed with all these young kids who made it look so easy!

Here’s a quick video of one kid’s awesome jump:

This week, our study abroad program takes us to Luxembourg, Brussels, and Paris to see institutions of the EU as well as meet delegates, bankers, and more. I’m sooo looking forward to seeing each of the cities and learning about them! And I can’t wait to share more about it when I get back! : )

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February 22:

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