Salzburg, Austria

I have found a new place to study - the library - how novel! After hearing that finals in summer programs abroad are no exception to the rule, I am trying to be more diligent. Some of my colleages are gone, having left for home yesterday of or the day before. There are only a few new students for the second session of the program, most of which seem to be L.L.M. students from other countries. There are not many J.D. students that are joining us for these next two weeks. On the upside, I like these two new classes that I am taking. Not only is the format more condusive to law school, which makes preparing for class easier, but they seem to be more doctrinal (so far). No longer are we speaking of the morals of a door (I bet you didn't know that a door had morals, or that it speaks through scripts, as in scripts for a play - neither did I), but we are reading cases and pulling rules and actually discussing "law" instead of "theory". I like it and it is making focusing on my two "theoretical-like" papers more difficult.

It's still rather cold here for July and was raining all weekend. Today there is no rain, but as I sit here inside the library, I have my jacket on and my nose is cold. It's seriously like fall weather.

Yesterday was an adventure and I went off-roading in the Bavarian countryside in a bus - but this blog isn't there yet. You will just have to sit in suspense while you read about Salzburg : ).

Above is an example of the kind of art one finds in the Buchhiem museum - hmmmmm..... interesting....

Two Saturday ago, a group of us went to Salzburg. There were five of us, and up to five people can ride on a Bayern Ticket for 27 Euros. That's a good deal at only 5 Euros and change a person! It's a two hour train ride and we left early in the morning. A few of the group decided to book a Mozart & City Tour of Salzburg, although it was more City than Mozart. Our tour van (which isn't really good for picture taking or looking up any building more than one story high) speed by Mozart's house, above. This is the best shot I got.

This yellow building is where Mozart was born. Zoom! It was a rush to quick, take a picture down this narrow alley, through two archways filled with hundreds of people... again, this is the best shot I got. Pretty unimpressive.

We actually stopped here, long enough to get a picture - that's me! This is one of the Austrian Prince-Archbishop residences. There were many. The Prince-Archbishop that built this one loved water games and built a garden out back that was used to trick his guests into getting wet as they walked and dined in the garden. Strange sense of humor.

There were so many Sound of Music Tours to take in Salzburg. We didn't do an actual tour, but Andrea, Denise and I are posing infront of the actual gazebo where Lisel and her beau danced and sang "I Am 16 Going on 17." Okay, time to start research for one of my papers.

Has the Novelty Worn Off?

It's only weekend number two, but already a little weariness has crept in. Most of us are all on European time, so naps aren't as frequent, but finals for some are tomorrow and final paper deadlines are set. This can all create a little stress simply because we are all taking two classes within a two week time frame and haven't had time for the material to sink in. The class structure is very different than the semester long doctrinal classes we are used to - some of the classes aren't even doctrinal at all. What to expect is becoming difficult. Lucky (maybe) for me, I don't have any finals tomorrow. My courses for this session consist of two final papers both due on August 16th. However, with finals in classes I haven't even started two weeks from tomorrow and returning on August 10th with a full time job, I almost wish I had the finals and could be done with it. Just another challenge - although I can't say that I'm thrilled about this one...

On a good note I was able to do a load of laundry! Seriously, this is an accomplishment. Word to the wise, it is extremely important to always arrange accomodations with laundry facilities. I was lucky enough to have connections in high places (at a hotel with a laundry room : ) ).

Above is a view of the Bavarian Parliament from the roof of the German Patent & Trademark Office. You can see for miles from the rooftop! By the way, I have been so busy that my pictures have fallen behind. As mentioned earlier, we visited the Office last Friday and BMW Welt today. But bear with me, I'll catch up : )!!

Here is everyone from the first session perched atop the roof of the German Patent & Trademark Office including the officers and examiners that gave the presentation on patent prosecution (not trademark - bummer!).

The "old" trademark for the German Patent & Trademark Office. The new trademark is a rectangle with a splotch of paint or some other kind of liquid sprayed on the retangle. Innovative and modern maybe, but I can't say that I'm a fan. The retangle is supposed to represent structure (patents) with the splotchy thing representing creativity (trademarks/copyrights). The mark doesn't really shout "official". I'd like to know if the registrations place the "old" or "new" mark on their certificates. If anyone knows, please feel free to comment... I haven't seen one in awhile... most trademarks I've worked with don't just file in Germany ; ).

After visiting the Office, a bunch of us headed down to the Starnbergersee in Starnberg which is a beautiful lake southwest of Munich and just a short S-Bahn ride away. The boat above takes you to the "Museum of Fantasy" or the "Buchheim Museum". You can see another just like this half-naked masthead at the museum... along with a bunch of other strange items.

A view from the boat, overlooking the lake! An interesting note about Buchheim, he was an eccentric crazy man; a collector, artist and writer. He wrote the war novel Das Boot, which I am sure many of you are familiar with.

Germlish

We finally have a nice day in Munich! It has been rainy and cloudy with few exceptions, but today the sun is out and I'm thinking of ditching my jeans for a pair of shorts. I am presently at my apartment, awaiting the FedEx man. After a small panic attack realizing that Bluebook cites were required for my paper I frantically sent for the ever-loved "Bluebook" (yes, it is blue). Now the paper is due a week after my return ... and I can add the cites later. Scheiße (that's German for "shit" - hehe). Too bad a FedEx from the U.S. costs an arm and leg - lesson learned.

Speaking of how cold it has been and my jeans, I only brought a few pair and have been wearing them every single day. Laundry time! I decided to find out where the nearest laundromat was ... it's 2 miles away!! And they just happen to be on vacation so the place is shut down. Who shuts down a laundromat?? Many students are staying at the Max Emmanuel Hotel, and are planning on sneaking me in so I can use their washers - yea!

Another set back - communication. The calling card doesn't work, the cell phone is broken, and what the heck is Skype?? Some students have been able to purchase disposible phones for arounf 15 EUR, so I think I'm going to get on that train. Too bad I already gave everyone my phone number. Oh well, I'll just have to switch out the SIM card.

Above is another angle of the residence palace. I feel so lucky to have these grounds as my "second home". There are worse places to have class everyday : ). Just picture that guy walking to be a little shorter, and then dress him in a Napolean outfit. Voila! You have the past. Cool.

Wienerschnitzel! I was told by many that if I have one meal in Germany it has better be this. It was excellent. It is flattened breaded veal. Now I would not normally eat veal in the States, but when traveling you must make exceptions. This plate was eaten at the Hofbrauhaus, although I had better in Salzburg, Austria.

Riccardo, Richard and Mike at the Hofbrauhaus! Dinner and beer, and then more beer. This eventful evening was the birthplace of the phrase "Skutchien Sie Bitte" which is Heather-Germlish for sckooch over please. The vocabulary has grown : ).

Last Friday we had our first "study visit" and we traveled to the German Patent and Trademark Office. The Director and Examiners generally rambled on about the prosecution of a patent in Germany, much of which I was already familiar with, but nothing on the comparitive aspects of their trademark prosecution. I should have asked ... I blame the Hofbrauhaus from the previous evening ...

James is stuck in an elevator above. After the presentation at the Office we travled up to the roof to take some pictures. The elevators were strange to say the least. They have no doors and they keep moving! You just hop on two at a time and hope you don't miss! Then you hop out and hope you make it on solid ground before the elevator swallows you up again! All of a sudden, the elevators stopped and James was stuck. We took pictures. What else could we do : ) ?

Here is me at the top of the German Patent and Trademark Office overlooking the city of Munich.

Mike's Bike Tour

It has been exactly one week since I landed in Munich! At this time last week, I was waiting to meet my fellow students and on the way to the reception kick-off for the program. Who knew at the time that the week would have been so full of excitment, laughs, lots of beer (and ouzo - man, that stuff has kick), and that I would have added another country to the passport! Okay, maybe not added to the passport literally ... Austria doesn't care who you are, as long as you traveled from within the EU. If you have followed this blog all along, what I have feared has come true. Late nights, little sleep, falling behind in the school work ... but, it has all been quite worth it. I am actually taking today off to catch up on reading and brainstorm on what I'll be writing my papers on. It is such an icky day outside, rain and chill, with absolutely no sunshine. A good day to stay in and add another post. I was hoping to explore my neighborhood a little more and maybe find a laundromat, but no, everything is closed on Sundays. Next Sunday at this time I'll be on my way to another reception to meet everyone new that will be joining the program for the second session. The time is flying by!

Above is the English Garden and a favorite place to study. I wanted to go running in the Garden this morning, but too much rain. Maybe tomorrow night. The Garden is a great place to ride through on a bike, it is so large. I was able to do a little of that on Wednesday, as the school set up a bike tour through Mike's Bikes.

Here we are, on the bike tour! Most of us were a little wobbly on the bikes at first as we made our way through the narrow streets and cars. In fact, at this point on our tour, we were already a man down. No worries, she lived, thanks to James the Assman (no joke, he was appointed to bring up the "rear" and ensure that no one was left "behind" - haha).

Our first stop was just outside the royal residence and opera house. I have mentioned before that our classes are on the grounds of the palace of Ludwig I, and thanks to Tony the Tourguide, I now know a little more of the history. Napolean was going to confiscate all of Maximillian's lands in Bavaria, and most likely do away with Maximillian himself. But smart Max set his daughter up with Napolean's step-son and not only avoided execution, but was deemed the first King of Bavaria by Napolean himself. Napolean still took all the land, but Max kept his life. It was Max's grandson, Ludwig II, that built the famous castle Neuschwanstein that Walt Disney used for his famous trademark.

Here's me getting ready to continue on from the residence to the plaza and church. The plaza/church, which are only about two blocks from the spot I am standing, is where Hitler, in his first attempt to take Munich, waged the battle that landed him in jail. After he was released and made Chancellor, he built a monument at the plaza in the form of a large swastica. Two guards were posted on either side, 24 hours a day. This monument symbolized where he first failed at his ambitions to take Germany. If you went through the plaza and past this monument, you had to do the Heil Hitler salute. If you didn't ... you simply disappeared. Of course many were not particularily excited that Hitler was in power, so to avoid passing the monument, they ducked through an alleyway.

The monument has been removed, and it is illegal in Germany to speak of Hitler and the Riech and do the salute.

Moving on to a much less depressing subject - BEER GARDENS! Above is the famous Chinese Beer garden in the English Garden. After riding our bike's around some more, we entered the English Garden and had dinner and beer here. Drinking and biking, everyone must try it : ).

Here is what I had at the Garden that night ... and many times since : ). Bratwurstl and potatoes, with a nice big beer!! This beer is a Weise beer (wheat and yummy!). After dinner, we traveled on through the English Garden and found the Isar River where the surfers were riding the waves. It was dark by then and we had to travel back before we got caught and all received citations for riding our bikes without a light! I have many more stories and pictures to come ... but not enough time ... stay tuned!

But For the Grocery Store, I'd be a Local

Day three and I already feel all settled in. It seems as if I've been here much longer. That seems to be the general consensus of all of us students. We are so busy trying to fit in everything like rockstars, which we are not. Study study and more study - over 80 pages of reading a night AND the professors are not giving us a break because it's summer and we're in Germany - they are Socratic method all the way! Then of course we all want to take in as many of the sights as we can, which consists of waking up early to take in some culture (or finish up the reading!) before the 9:00 AM class, visiting different areas and restaurants for lunch (after speed reading the last 30 pages for the afternoon class!), and finally either finding a true German beer hall for dinner (only one beer please, I must comprehend what I'm reading tonight!) or simply taking the scenic route home to our apartments through the English Garden (stopping to read chunks of 20 pages or so on this bench or that!).

Above is the famous Hofbrauhaus. It is conveniently right around the corner from our classes and I walk by it everyday. A group of us are planning a good time there on Thursday night. I can't wait!

Before I chatter on about the pictures below, I must comment on my trip to the grocery store... never go at 6:00 PM. It is way too busy and when you don't really know German and the cashier is simply refusing to speak English (of course she knows it - she was about 20 years old and the store was in Maxvordstadt!), everyone behind you just wants to get their groceries and go home. There I was trying to make change and holding everyone up because I didn't know what chocolate I wanted! Not the best way to meet my neighbors. One of my neighbors is French by the way, we share the balcony. I actually spoke a little French with them : ).

This is the inner courtyard of the residence of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig I (don't quote me on that, I haven't done my homework, he could've been the II or the III or something like that). We take our classes across the street from the residence, but on the actual grounds of the estate. It is kind of neat to think that modern intellectual property geniuses (not me ... hell no ... the Institute (they say) is the largest and most innovative in the world for IP research) are postulating on the same grounds as royals once did. Past meets present.

A couple of new friends from D.C. wanted to see my apartment, and we detoured through the English Garden on the way. This string quartet was playing, and they were so wonderful!

Here he is, the man of the manor - Ludwig! When I get some time (yeah right) I'm going to look up his history. I'm actually quite interested on where I go everyday, who walked there and what they did. Maybe the guides on the bike tour tomorrow will fill us in.

The infamous Glockenspeil! A couple of us went adventuring for lunch, an ATM and a SIM card today and wandered into the Marienplatz. It's a one minute walk from where we have class. We are truly close to everything : ).

Foreign Exchange

As I walked through Chicago-O'Hare Airport (rather nostolgically), I heard a little German accent behind me say, "Excuse me, I am flying Lufthansa to Munich, do you know where gate B17 is?" Julia was traveling back to Hanover after a one year exchange at a high school in Indianapolis. As she spoke of how her parents paid $10,000 for her to travel to Palm Spring with her host family (who had no high school aged children) rather than worthwhile American cities rich in the history and culture of our country, such as Washington D.C. or even New York City, I couldn't help but think that Julia got the raw end of a deal. But, she was emersed in American culture, attending an American high school (even though she said it was so much easier than in Germany) and placed with people who did not know any German. It made me think. Here I am traveling to Europe to socialize with other American students, with classes in English at George Washington University, not a German university. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I would pass if the classes were in German! But I think that maybe we take our American ways and comfort with us to more of an extent that do other countries. I am not going to Ludwig-Maximilian Universitat to study, and have yet to see Ludwig-Maximilian set up shop at NYU with classes all in German, a little bubble of safety all around. If you know of a situation where this has happened, please post a comments to correct me. I guess I will have to break out of the American safety zone all on my own...

I would love to continue on about my asking directions everywhere I go (in German!) because I always seem to get lost... or about how I almost started a small fire in my bathroom when the converter slighly blew up when I tried to dry my hair... but those stories will have to wait. I have twenty more pages of reading to do before I sleep, so I'll leave a few pictures and get back to work.

A BMW advertisment at baggage claim in the airport. When you walked in front of it, the ignition starts and the lights turn on. I had a lot of fun with this, as I spent the good part of five hours in the airport waiting for the time to meet my landlord and get the keys to my apartment.

The Welcome Reception at the Max Planck Institute. I met lots of great people and better yet, they had food, which I wasn't expecting. It saved me from stepping out of that American safety bubble I was talking about earlier to eat somewhere on my way home : ). I got lost on the way here, and had to ask for directions as usual. An older woman refused to continue with the directions because said it was closed on Sunday and I shouldn't be going there. I asked someone else : ).

The view from the balcony of my apartment. I'm on the sixth floor, with air conditioning, but no electricity in my bathroom (okay, that last part is my fault, but there were so many sparks it was like the Fourth of July - pretty ; ) ).

International SOS

Five days and I'm on my way! There seems to be an endless list of things to do before I go, which ironically grows rather than shrinks each day. For example, I am currently waiting for the latest updates to install on my computer, so I can then install the latest security software. I guess the Munich IP Law Center and Max Planck Institute are very protective of their network. Rightly so. Last week I registered through George Washington University's International Travel Insurance. Then this morning, realized that I have similar insurance through my International Student ID account. Then, of course I made sure that I had property and liability insurance abroad from my local insurance company, and found a doctor in Munich that is in my medical insurance network. Think I'm prepared?? Maybe, but the fact that each one of these companies mentioned being airlifted out of the country in case of a medical or political emergency just makes me nervous. At least it's a fully developed country and I've had all my shots - haha.

With all that still has to be done, I admit that I am getting excited! I'm even getting a little (I'm not a complete nerd!) excited to study again. I have received all of my books with the exception of the study guide. But for those who know me, if I don't know what a patent or trademark is by now, well, I should have been fired six years ago. Fellow Mitchellites that have returned from study abroad have tried to impress upon me the minuscule importance of the course work in comparison to the experience of the country. This may be true, but I would love to have certain letters stamped on my transcript from GW Law : ). Will it be a challenge to fit certain little letters in with experiencing the fullest of Munich and beyond? Yes, but when have I not welcomed a little discomfort. Game on! Stay tuned to see what unfolds. I have been known to survive on 1.5 hours of sleep. However, I am old now ... if I run out of EUR I don't think they would hire me as a table dancer in the clubs anymore ... [sigh] those were the days ; ).