Dec 24

This article was not written by me, but if you take a minute to read through, you will see why I wanted to post it here.

http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/imomus/2006/06/71172

I love his description of the Turkish market and the strange commerial/restuarant/living room/atelier spaces one finds scattered around"Neubeca." The "cultural organization" he refers to is most likely the Klaus Kinski one I photograped and posted in my Flickr.

Read More 2 comments | Posted by Katie

Dec 17

Almost four months. Already? Is it really possible? I thought that after the four-month mark I was supposed to feel somewhat settled. Instead, neither my apartment nor my job suit me. The apartment keeps me warm from the outside elements. The job pays. But I'm as anxious as ever to move on. It pains me to spend each new day in Ann Arbor when there are so many other places I could be (for better or worse, I suppose). I'm starting another lap around a track small enough that I can see every bend from the starting line, but large enough to make me want to sacrifice my remaining dignity and feign a sprained ankle. No one is even keeping time. Maybe I could duck out halfway through and jump over the fence without anyone noticing.

Last week I took the German proficiency test (the equivalent to my final exam). I did well, even better than I had expected -- a High Pass (Or A, or 1, depending on with which system one is
familiar). I am very pleased with myself. Theoretically, my German and French should be equal. I have finished the 2-year programs in both languages, and spent just about 4 months in both Germany and France. Although it has slipped significantly in the past year, I feel more fluent speaking French. But German unleashes my writer's voice. I hated writing in French. German has such wonderful words (again, Raumkultur) and forces me to clarify my structure.

I took my mom to the Jerusalum Symphony Orchestra for her birthday, when they played here at the Hill Auditorium. Last week I went to the Wilco and Neil Young concert with Matt and his parents. I have watched Herzog's "Aguirre: The Wrath of God" and Wenders's "Der Himmel über Berlin" ("Wings of Desire"). Yesterday I downloaded Bon Iver's album, "For Emma, Forever Ago" and Department of Eagles, "In Ear Park."

This morning I made myself some treats. After following a recipe from The Flexitarian Diet that called for chopped dates in my usual bowl of oatmeal instead of brown sugar, I found a recipe online for oatmeal date bars. I replaced the date sugar with brown sugar, used quick-cooking oatmeal, unbleached white flour, and organic chopped walnuts. I don’t have a square pan, so I used a round one and ended up with slices instead of bars. They taste delicious, but the best part was the warm, lingering smell of roasting nuts and carmelized brown sugar.

The Pit of Babel

Es muß ein Fortschritt geschehen...
Wir graben den Schacht von Babel.

Some progress must be made...
We are digging the pit of Babel.
(Franz Kafka)

I am Katie Sharrow-Reabe and I am interested in structural and social architecture. Linguistic and cultural translation. Progress through retrospection. Subliminal and subterranean connections. And I would like you to help me put these fragments into a hole.

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