Ghana I miss you!!!!

I thought that I would have a smooth transition back into my American lifestyle… Boy was I wrong. It was great coming back seeing my family and being greeted with food, I literally ate baked ziti at 6 am since that was when I got back home. However there were a lot of things I had to get used to, like actually having hot water again. To this day I still take luke-warm showers and somewhere towards the end remember that oh yeah the water can get hotter LOL. I also had to readjust to the grocery stores. The first time that I walked into my local Stop and Shop I felt so overwhelmed like kind of dizzy and confused as to why there was so much food in the store, I’m telling you I felt light headed, my mom of course brushed me off and told me that I was being dramatic. In addition to my traumatic shopping experience (OK I’m exaggerating) I also had a hard time dealing with the fact that I HAD NO DRIVER!!!!!!!! I had to go into Manhattan everyday for my internship by bus, THE HORROR!!!! It wasn’t so bad it was just kind of weird for a couple of days. I also had to get use to the fact that in America I can’t possibly have the social life that I had in Ghana, why? Because unfortunately I’m not 21, take me back to Ghana!!!!

It actually wasn’t until recently that it really hit me and I started to feel Ghanasick, I was just listening to some of the music that I got in Ghana and all of sudden I feel this pang in my chest and had to stop everything to reminisce on my Ghana days. (I mentioned that I was dramatic right?) One of the things that I miss the most would have to be the fresh fruit, it was soooo sweet, and I have no clue where else I could get white pineapples from. I also miss my adopted child, did I tell you guys that I’m a mom now, Ok just kidding but there was this adorable baby named Adasi that I got to play with at one of the internship sites, she was adorable and so playful. I really miss the freedom that I experienced; I was pretty much able to do what I wanted when I wanted to, as long as I made it to my internship. I have never felt as stress-free as I felt when I was in Ghana, I didn’t have to worry about, school, money, graduation or lack-thereof,  I just focused on my day to day life and took it one step at a time. Of course it wasn’t all perfect, I was with 11 other woman so there was some stress involved.

Overall I truly am grateful to have had the opportunity to go abroad yet again. I learned a lot about the history of Ghana and the people of the African-Diaspora as a whole. My trip made me appreciate my history as an African-American woman and my life as an American citizen. I have a greater appreciation for the liberties that we take for granted and it has definitely changed the way that I view certain issues. I vividly remember when I thought that this trip wasn’t going to happen because who knew where I was going to get about $9,000 from, but somehow it all came together and I made it. Words cannot express my gratitude to everyone that made this trip possible, this experience has and will definitely influence the person that I am and hope to become. 

Delicious pineapples and mangoes

Playful Adasi

One of our drivers, Kwesi, taking us to work

Free Day in Dublin :)

Sunday was our free day so Kaitlynn and I made plans to go to mass at Christ Church Cathedral and then to the Guinness Storehouse. Mass was BEAUTIFUL.  It was so moving and afterwards, we met a lovely gentleman from Tanzania who was kind enough to teach us some Gaelic phrases that he thought we might need in Galway (we didn't and couldn't remember them anyway), but it was so kind of him! It was nice to see that the friendliness of the Irish spreads even to people who are just visiting.

Inside Christ Church

Beautiful stained glass behind the pews

On our way to the Guinness Storehouse, we got a bit lost but ended up stumbling upon this great little local shop where I ended up getting most of my gifts. 

<http://grandgrand.bigcartel.com>

Above is the link but the store had so much more! There was a ton of stuff like earrings and journals that were made from the locals and from recycled goods. It was so cool. I really loved that store, it was definitely worth getting a little turned around.

When we eventually made it to the storehouse, we went basically sent free to roam around the building, which was great because we could move at our own pace.

This is the lease that Arthur Guinness signed a lease in 1755 for 9,000 years with an annual rent of 45 euros. WOW. For me, that was the most mind-blowing thing.

This is the waterfall inside the storehouse (water is one of the four ingredients in Guinness)

Delicious lunch in the cafe in the storehouse. Vegetable soup & brown bread :)

Our pints of Guinness in the Gravity Bar!

The Gravity Bar was so cool! It was at the very top of the storehouse and was all glass so you could look out all over Dublin! I didn't get any pictures of the view from there because it was jam-packed with people when we were there so here's the link: http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/EventSpaces_GravityBar.aspx so you don't miss a thing. :)

This was a great way to spend our last full day in Dublin! So excited to go to Fermoy in County Cork next! :)

 

- Anne Piarulli

Day Trip to Boyne Valley!

During the Boyne Valley trip, I was flooded with information and unfortunately not a lot of it stuck. This post will contain mostly pictures and little tidbits that I do remember. If you make this trip yourself, I recommend getting a brochure or something of that sort because the area is SO beautiful that you will not be paying attention to what your tour guide is saying!
Our first stop was Newgrange.  This prehistoric site predates BOTH Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids! It is a passage grave that also aligns perfectly with the sunrise during the Winter Solstice.  That is the only time that the sun illuminates the inside of Newgrange, however it rarely actually happens since it's typically cloudy.  There was white quartz on the outside of the structure which I would have loved to see on a sunny day, but it was a typical cloudy day in Ireland when we went. However, still breathtaking!  There were also several small grave sites surrounding the massive structure.

Outside of Newgrange

View from Newgrange (it was on top of a hill) and nearby, smaller grave sites

Smaller gravesite next to Newgrange

We were able to go inside the structure at Newgrange (refer to the top picture--yes, we had to squeeze in through that tiny door!). It was very cramped but so cool! There were markings on the walls and our tour guide even had a light that simulated what it would look like during the sunrise on the Winter Solstice. It was incredible!!

Next stop: The Hill of Slane.  The Hill of Slane is where it is said that St. Patrick gave a speech on Christianity in order to convert the Irish.  It's also where he lit the Pascal fire on the evening before East Day about 1600 years ago!  This is also where the king would reside because the castle ruins were way at the top of the hill and the king had to be able to see all that was coming towards him.  We were able to go in the ruins and walk (and climb) around. It seemed like it was just a public place. No fees, no official tour guides, no fences. I LOVED taking pictures here with all of the ruins and the graveyard. Also in the pictures, you'll notice bright yellow patches in the background which are rapeseed (or canola) crops. They made for a great pop of color on this dreary day!

From the bottom of the hill

the graveyard

the graveyard & canola crops

the graveyard through the ruins

On top of the ruins

View from the ruins

A little staircase that I walked down! So narrow & steep!

Next stop: Trim Castle! Trim Castle is the castle that was used in the movie Braveheart! Obviously, since it was used in the movie it was still intact for the most part. Inside there was so much moss growing everywhere but they are working to preserve it!  I learned that the spiral staircases in the castle were specifically placed so that if there were any invaders, the soldiers defending the castle would have the advantage. Another interesting, but gross, fact was the bathroom situation... They would let their waste stew and then stir the pit, which would release ammonia gas which would then clean their clothes. So, they were basically doing their laundry with their waste. Very gross to me, but I guess if it got the job done, then it works. But, I am SO glad that method is lost.

front of Trim Castle

view from the top of Trim Castle

Next stop: Mellifont Abbey.  This place was definitely overflowing with history. The lands started out as a monastery and was then purchased by the Moore family.  After that, they allowed their workers to take stones from the massive structures to build homes for their own families. There was one building that was still in tact: the chapter house.  The chapter house was the dining room for the Moore's who had a friend named Hugh O'Neill.  O'Neill was "playing" both sides of the war: the Irish and the English so he would not have to chose sides. When he was found out by the English, the Queen demanded that he sign over his land in order to pay off the English soldiers. So, some soldiers were sent out to find him and they found him hiding in the Moore's chapter house. That was where he signed the treaty, signing his land over to the Queen.  This resulted in the creation of Northern Ireland. Unbeknownst to O'Neill, the Queen died a few days prior to the signing, making the treaty invalid.  However, since O'Neill signed it, the deed was done. It was so interesting learning that this man is pretty much the sole reason for all the dispute between the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland.

the ruins of Mellifont Abbey

Inside the chapter house

Next (& final!) stop: Hill of Tara.  Alright, so the Hill of Tara wasn't much to look at really because it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a big hill, surrounded by other hills. But the history that went with it was amazing! It seemed to be mostly oriented around the kings who would rule Ireland.  On top of the highest hill was the Stone of Destiny, which determined who would be king. Over near the church that was later erected, were 2 stones that the would-be king has to ride his horse through, and if the stones moved to let him through, he was good to become king. Then, he had to ride his horse all the way to the Stone of Destiny, where he would place his hand on the stone and if it let out a screech, he was the rightful king.  Speculations surrounding the Hill of Tara seemed to be rather endless with stories of fairies and the leprechauns living under the hill. These were definitely cute little folklore tales, but they all seemed so out there, I wonder how they even originated.

Everyone on the Hill of Tara

The sun finally peaked out!

The view

The Stone of Destiny & tombstone

The trip to Boyne Valley was so beautiful! I highly recommend it just for the scenery. Definitely do some background research beforehand though so you can focus on the folklore and personal stories from your tour guide!

 

- Anne Piarulli

Research Project

Phil, Grace and I worked on a research project together with Jorg as our advisor and Maren as another advisor. A woman from Romania also oversaw the project. Her name was Simona, and she was visiting from a university that has contacts with Konstanz University, and we are still a little bit unsure as to why she only followed our research project.

So we wanted to study something about biofilms. Our original idea was to look at how biofilms grow on different surfaces and we had a great idea to try looking at their growth on different types of paint, as  biofilms are often a problem for ships and other anthropogenic things in the water. But that idea proved to be too difficult, so we decided on 'How the Polarity of a Surface Affects the Growth of Biofilms'.

And here is a link to our presentation!
http://prezi.com/0yvuc6kmbrkz/copy-of-biofilm-growth-on-surfaces-with-different-polarities/

yeah bacterial cultures!

I hope this video works, it is something that was always running in the lab.

Hard at work

This is the 'rig' that all of our slides were hanging from. It was hung from the Institute's dock, and stayed there for a week.

Needless to say, I worried about it constantly for the whole week.

 

- Kim Shoback

Konstanz University

I was glad to hear that all of our classes would take place at the Limnological Institute rather than at the University for a few reasons.

1) the Institute is located within spitting distance from the lake. During lunch, we can go swimming or lay on the beach. Or both. At the University, there is a cafeteria (called the mensa). It is large, noisy, and like much of the rest of the building, difficult to navigate.

2) The University was built in the 60's. There is a lot of 'interesting architecture' and 'art' built into the building. For example, at many places, there are stairs when they are not necessary. Sometimes, a flight of stairs will split into two, and the paths will rejoin a few feet later, only to split again. Both paths end up in the same location. There is 'art' on some of the walls that is not allowed to be taken down even though it is outdated and faded from the sun. The building is very large and generally difficult to navigate, while the Institute is much smaller and straightforward, practical, if you will.

3) The University is located up on a hill. Every day, around noon, I walked from the Institute, up the hill and to the University. It gets very hot in the middle of the day. (this is just me complaining)

4) In the classroom at the Institute, we had a kitchen! Most German classrooms are like this. I often went to class early to start making the coffee for everyone. It's just so nice to make tea before class, drink it out of your favorite mug, and wash it once lecture is over.

The University's research vessel! 

 We got to take a ride on the vessel. They demonstrated many data-gathering practices, such as taking secchi depths.

 Collecting sediments! I still regret not having looked more closely at the sediments.

In the classroom at the University, learning some general microbiological techniques. 

I don't remember what this is called, but it is a specific (and rather difficult) way to get microbes concentrated in a small amount of water on your slide. Make sure not to spill! 

Limnological textbooks!

Observing...

The world of microbes is so beautiful 

- Kim Shoback

Arrival in Konstanz

It was strange seeing Konstanz again, interesting to see what things I remembered, what I didn’t remember, and what I remembered incorrectly. It truly is a beautiful city, the lake is unforgettable and even though I was there for only a few hours five years earlier; there were some sights that were still fresh in my mind.

Sinah’s dad drove me to Konstanz and his girlfriend, Martina, accompanied us. Since Sinah needed the car that day, he borrowed Martina’s car. They chatted and smoked cigarettes, while I gazed out the window at the beautiful scenery as we drove up and down winding mountain roads through the scenic Black Forest. I tried to take pictures from the back-seat window, but they really don’t do it justice. We arrived in Konstanz around one; we went into a few shops (Martina wanted to shop, there are many fine clothing stores for women). Then it started to rain and we took refuge under a café’s umbrella where we got drinks and waited for the rain to cease. Eventually, it was time for me to meet Cornelia and the other students at the train station. I was getting very nervous; I had begun to feel very comfortable with Sinah’s family!

We met the other students at the train station, I thanked and said goodbye to Gert and Martina while the students started making their way towards the biergarten, where we would be having a light supper and beer, of course.

We looked ridiculous at the biergarten! We were a large group  consisting of 8 foreigners, each with all of their luggage (wheeling suitcases and carry-ons), Corenelia and her husband, as well as two student aids who were to be sort-of guides throughout the trip. It didn’t help that our suitcases had wheels on them and the ground was gravel. After much scrambling, we all found seats and places for our luggage.

After many introductions, we ordered food and drinks. 

 This is the view from my bedroom window at the Sinah's house, I took this photo the morning that I was leaving!

 Trying to take pictures of a valley surrounded by the Black Forest.

 Still trying to take pictures from the car...

I took this picture from the car while we were stuck in traffic. Sinah's father, Gert, knows a lot of history about the area. The pointed mountain in the background of the photo used to be volcanic. 

This is a view of the bridge we had to cross to get from the old town to where the University is. On the left, the Rhine continues and on the right is the rest of the Bodensee.

 This is an specific image of Konstanz that I don't think I'll ever be able to get out of my head. This is actually the Rhine River leaving the Bodensee, the current is very swift and beyond the willow tree are beautifully architected buildings.

- Kim Shoback

Subtle Messages of Architecture and Art

Disclaimer: Will add pictures at a later date

Professor Kathy told us that one of the objectives of this course is to develop our ability to read into architecture and artifacts of the past.

---
Archaeology

We did an archaeology study in the House of Dragons, a heritage medieval house preserved in Cluny.

An archaeologist conducts his digs in the house. Pictured above is the different layer of floors as the dig goes further down. The lowest layer is the oldest layer of the floor dating back to about 800AD. As the centuries past, the house was built over the older layer. The top most layer dates back to the 1700s.

The house was probably inhabited by a well-to-do family because of the beautiful windows. The windows were a sign of wealth in the past. The house was three stories high. The ground floor was used as a shop, most likely a blacksmithing shop. The second floor housed the kitchen and families. The families most likely stayed in a single room. The house was connected to its neighbor by a common door arch which is presently sealed. I can see a strong sense of community lifestyle based on the architecture of the house, albeit it disappears as time goes by (as shown by the sealed door arch to the neighbor’s house).

As we were analyzing the architecture of houses around the Macon region, we found that some houses had portions of rocks that seemed out of place (different color or texture from the rest of the building). The rocks looked exactly like the ones from the remains of the Abbey, which suggests that the villagers took part of the rocks of the Abbey for the construction of their houses.

---
Analyzing a Church Mural

We visited the Berze-la-Ville chapel where the Abbot of Cluny would visit to obtain his peace and solitude. Here, a painting of “Christ the Magnificent” can be found in the walls of the chapel. The exact same painting was found in the walls of the Cluny Abbey as well.

The Byzantine-style painting, pictured above (accidentally snapped before I actually realized that photography was not permitted), pictured Christ in his glory. The eleven apostles and St Paul were on his sides with another four unidentified individuals – probably important members of the Catholic Church. Six holy maidens were painted on the pillars. There were also two scenes of martyrdom by a saint from the West and a saint from Asia Minor. The bottom walls also portrayed six saints – both from the West and the East. 

Dr Reinert concurred that the painting tried to appeal to a wider audience who may come from different nationalities by portraying individuals representing different regions. The painting attempts to give Cluny a form of legitimacy in the eyes of individuals from all over the world who are well versed in their Christian teachings and history.

---
Musings on Stone Carvings

Back to the Cluny Abbey, if you look at the stone carvings, you will notice that they look totally different from Renaissance stone carvings. They seem more rudimentary, lacking the details and dimension of the ones from the Renaissance era. To put it simply, they seem like a drawing from a 10 year old child.

These were beasts that were unfamiliar from western cultures (as far as I know). Typically, stone carvings in the West usually feature mythical creatures from the Bible, Greek/Roman mythology, Norse mythology, or even Egyptian mythology. But these creatures pictured here (and many others that were not pictured due to time constraint) did not seem like any from those sources. It made me wonder: could these creatures are mythical creatures from some mythology of a local tribe?

---
Moral of the story: Take in every detail that you see.


Memorable Quotes

"Trivia question. If Kathy were to be back in the Byzantine era, she would be a Queen. Why is that?" (Dr Reinert, pointing to Professor Kathy's red shoes)

- Wei Jie Tan