This is the Uni Konstanz from some mountain top or sth. It sits on top of a small hill. It is like being in NJ all over again, with all the stairs to climb, and wonderful views.
This is some picture I got of the fountain/man-made stream running in front of the Uni's library. It is so arty, designed from the likes of the late 1960s hippie movement, if I am not mistaken.
Uni Konstanz is situated at the Bodensee, which is smack in the border between Germany, Switzerland and Austria. (I can walk to Switzerland from there!) It has one of the largest libraries in Germany (7 stories of books, 2 million books, open 24/7 =)) and probably the best pol sci faculty in Germany. (debatable, as all things in Germany are...)
Happy ting:)
Meeting at Newton with all the rg old pals was wonderful=) It seems weird that time should pass so fast, that we would be all going our own ways so soon...but some things, I hope, would never change.
I had an interview with the German Centre in Singapore on Monday. It was hilarious, I said ridiculous things like, "The Germans are a stubborn lot...in my opinion." Which I had to justify and soften later on... and when asked to characterise them as a people, even more useless things like, "Germans bake superb cakes," came out. Sometimes I think I can slap myself for the brainless stuff that spout out of my mouth. I think i must have been kinda so used to the common German stereotypes such as punctuality, preciseness, social equality, beer and Bratwürste, that i didn't see them as anything special. We are kind of all the same, after a while. Then when it was finally my turn to ask questions, I was lost for words...when there were so many things I could have asked! I for one, could have let them have a taste of their own medicine..."so what do YOU think of Singaporeans?" Yet the most brillant thing I could think of then was,"So what do you do in your daily work?" Inanity.
And the craziest thing was...I got the attachment. (?!)
Upon reflection, i guess the Germans are indeed different. They have different values, and by that I don't mean different emphasis on similar values (for how can a value be viewed as important enough to be a 'value' if inadequate/little emphasis is placed on it?) I cannot describe exactly what this difference is. It is probably the greater importance lent to individual opinions and thoughts rather than a communal compromise. This value of greater respect for individuality probably influences their thoughts too on other issues such as family structure, nationalism, societal structure, etc. Yet Germans, due to this inate respect of others' thoughts and opinions, usually do not tend to 'imperialise' or impose their views on others...arguments normally end with "we agree to disagree" rather than one party giving up his/her viewpoint totally.
Hmm...I wonder if I got this right. Any comments?
=)ting
