In this post I should begin with when I returned to Germany at the end of September 1988. That’s when I started a Master’s program at Die Freie Universität in then West Berlin. But for … Read more

Before I jump to September of 1988, when I begin graduate studies in West Berlin, I almost forgot to describe a brief visit I had in West Germany a year before.  I was self-employed in … Read more

I returned to the U.S. in September of 1982. One year after I had flown from JFK to Frankfurt. If someone would have said to me after my return: “John, you know, in just about … Read more

September 1981 until September 1982. A year. Not very long compared to this second time in Germany. More than thirty-five years. It’s always about the quality, and not the quantity, of time, however. Of time. … Read more

Over the years, whenever I looked back on those roughly eleven months in Germany, I realized that I had not really sunk into the German culture. Yes, I had done a ten-week intensive language course. … Read more

West Germany established its own armed forces, the Bundeswehr, at the end of 1955. At the time Daniela’s father was in Bonn struggling to make a living in real estate. He had been an officer … Read more

Daniela would drop me off in the Mehlem section of Bonn where the U.S. Embassy was located. Or, in the warmer months, I would ride my dumbass bike from Oberwinter to work. Along the Rhine. … Read more

I packed my stuff, grabbed my dumbass bicycle, and headed to the quaint, meek train station in Blaubeuren, hopped on a D-Zug and headed to Ulm. From there I took an intercity train up to … Read more

I don’t remember all that much about the language classes. I can picture the teacher, however. Volkbert. Tall. Slender. Big glasses. Effeminate. Positive. Enthusiastic. A solid educator. The other students were from various European countries. … Read more

As a student at Georgetown University I had had a language requirement. Reach the intermediate level. That meant four courses. Not sure what intermediate means after only four courses, but then again much in the … Read more