World Wide Classroom

The CDC (Carl Dusiburg Center) is a language school for international students. There are three main levels of courses with many subdivisions and probably a few hundred students. Each class has a maximum of 15 students. My course has representatives from China, Venezuela, France, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, England, and the USA. It is interesting to see how the various accents translate through a mutual second language and I find it simply fantastic to talk with these other students in German. Our classes have a lot of conversation and speaking so I get to hear the viewpoints from a broader cultural spectrum than I’ve had before. Today I learned about the superstitions in half a dozen different countries from citizens of those countries! What an experience!

On a personal note, it is bittersweet (pun intended, of course) for me to report that Milka has switched to a convenient air-tight plastic wrapping for the wonderful chocolate bars. By most measures it is better. It is easier to open and the opening is more consistent. The airtight plastic seals in the freshness. Call me old fashioned, but there is some undeniable pleasure attained from ripping through paper and foil.

Some interesting things about der Dom: It is super old. The Allies were told not to bomb it during the war......because it served as a good marker to maintain one's bearings. Fourteen bombs punched through the ceiling on accident but they were all duds. Over the years, there have been many curators of the inner and outer decoration. Some took their responsibility to historical preservation a bit more seriously than others. There are several gargoyles that have been replaced with modern things including soccer players, a fire fighter, the Cologne soccer mascot, and one artists mother-in-law. I find it funny that the building has an address. "Yes, um where is this Dom? Domstrasse (Dom Street)? Ah yes, right, I know that street. But what is the address? Four? Okay, I'll keep an eye out for it." Ha ha ha. Have a nice day!