Golden at Oktoberfest

So before I even left for Germany I was determined to celebrate my 21st at Oktoberfest. Part 4 of MG21E! was just that. We took an overnight train to Munich so we would arrive in Munich at 7am. Upon arrival our friends got separated. A few friends of ours who were already there had saved a spot for me in their hotel as a Birthday gift, and they also invited James to stay with them as well. Our friend Sam was going to meet up with some USC friends of his and stay with them and Phil and Ben were staying with some of Ben's contacts.

It's very hard to get back in touch with people in a place like Oktoberfest. On top of that all of us had run out of minutes, and none of us were really able to call each other. We only had some money to text each other. So the celebration didn't really go as I had planned from the beginning because I was separated from a good majority of my friends. At any rate we ran into a few friends, David and Sammy T. We tried to get into the Spaten tent that our friends were at, but could only make it to the garden (It turn out there were two tents, and we were at the wrong one anyway). Regardless, we decided we would try to meet up with them later so we go looking for a tent. Many of them were closed off, I thought I wouldn't get in, but good ole David was determined to get me in one.

We ended up at the Pauliner tent. It was amazing. There is nothing quite like Oktoberfest. After looking for a table for about 15 minutes we finally found one in front of the band, but had lost Sammy T and James. We figured they would try to text us, or were just a bit behind. David and I got a few liters and started making friends. The table next to us was all Italians, the table behind us was British folks, the table on my left was a mix of German, Austrian, and Alaskans. The table behind them was some guys from New York, and the table directly across from us was just some cute German girls. After a few liters we were all friends. Glorious thing of festivals involving music, food, and beer.

At last Sammy T and James had found us. Just as a group of Italian football players arrived. They were ridiculous. They instantly befriended me for my Italian heritage and the next thing I know we are singing and drinking together. The New Yorkers turn to me and yell, "Hey California!" I respond, "What up New York?" For some reason all the Americans found it easier just to call each other by their state. He continues, "Yo man, we need to get a goddamn God Bless America in here!" I respond, "Why not? You start, I'll get your back." "I'll right once there is a break between songs!" As he says this the band stops playing and there is an uproar for New York and me, the Alaskans, and my friends. The Italians join in as well as the Germans, and once we finish all of the Italians and Germans yell, "Obama!!!!!"

The Italians treat me as one of their own now. They start getting really saucy, and well, start grabbing woman passing by pulling them onto our table and having them dance for us. Meanwhile, continually telling me to grab their posterior. I'm not going to lie, I did, and every single time it went exactly like this. "Hey! Did you do that?" cried the damsel. "Why yes I did?" I replied with a slight grin. "Where you from?" they would retort. "California..." I would say. "California!!!! I love you!!!" they would yell. To which all of the Italian guys would start laughing and goading me on....oh ONE of my peoples.

We finally leave that tent get some food and crash out in the hotel. Which was sweet because the hotel was literally about a 100 feet from the festival. We later regroup and I get a call as I wake up that all my friends had just woken up from a nap to and our waiting for me on a hill. Meanwhile, one of the guys who had invited me to stay in his hotel, had gotten sick the day before (literally sick and was in the hospital). He ended up being ok, but could go out. Which sucked because he is of German decent and had gotten really excited about being here to the point where he had gotten legit linderhosen. I told him I would don his garb in his honor for the remainder of the day. Mind you he is bigger then me in both height and size, so the entire ensemble hung on me, and I looked as if I was 12 years old. I didn't care though...I was a man with a mission.

We eventually meet up with our friends and get into the Haufbrau tent. We spend the rest of the night there, as my friends buy me a few more drinks for my birthday. At last we get a bit more food and part for the night. Oktoberfest is an endurance test. Drinking from about 7am to 12am is quite a challenge, but we had survived.

The next day I took advantage of being in Munich and explored the city. I headed to the Olympic stadium, visited the BMW museum, and the Haufbrau Haus. We ran into a few friends throughout the day. Namely I ran into my friend Blake and Sam Thomas (who is studying in Austria). Later we ran into a few of the girls. First being Anna, who tagged along with us to the Haufbrau Haus. Along the way she found a stein from one of the tents and decided to take it. James had warned her that it wasn't a good idea, but she took it. As we walked up to the Haufbrau Haus they caught her with the stein and kicked her out. It was slightly funny. Anyways to make it up to us she offered us a space in the car that she and another girl were renting to take back to Bonn. James and I mulled it over and decided to take her up on that. Not the greatest choice cause we ended up in traffic the entire way. Oh well, I saw a lot of country side, and sang obnoxiously to the random music on German airwaves....

Overall, part 4 of MG21E! was pretty amazing. A few of the guys still want to do a little something for me, since we didn't really get to celebrate together till the very end though. So it looks like there may be a part 6 and a possible part 7 still to come. Part 7 being celebrating with my friends and family back home, since my 21st actually means something there...

Je'Taime Paris!

Awwwww Paris.... I have been to Paris once before when I was 12 years old, and to be quite honest didn't really enjoy it all that much. I did, however, enjoy the countryside quite a bit. Yet, I decided to give Paris another go. Especially since two of my friends speak French fairly well and one of them, that being Ben, had lived there for a year.

I must say this time I thoroughly enjoyed Paris. Ben showed us his favorite spots from when he was living there as well as some major tourist things to check out like that big metal thing that's really famous.

That night we out to dinner in this little Fondue place. It was such a good meal. They served us wine in baby bottles, which apparently started a long time ago during some prohibition movement or something, but the place kept in tradition. We later went to a few pubs and just really enjoyed the night.

Finally we made it back to our hostel, which also happened to be a bar on the first floor. We made friends with the bartenders and had a great night. I think I only paid for one drink there, it was pretty epic. Finally the place closes up, and the barkeep asks me if I wanna go out to this place he knows. I recall the words of my brother-in-law as if he were Obi-wan speaking to me through the force, "If someone asks you out, even if it's four in the morning...just say yes." So I heeded these words. We ended up at this little club listening to live music. It was an epic night. I finally made it back to the hostel around 7am and got up at 8:30am to head out to Disney Paris with Ben.

Disney Paris was freaking awesome. It was all made possible by cousin back home who gave me a free ticket to any Disney park in the world, as a birthday present. I was very happy, needless to say. The park was the most detailed Disney park I have seen thus, far. It also has the best Space Mountain of all Disney parks. Ben has been to Disney Paris a few times, and knows the park fairly well. So when we went on Space Mountain, he neglected to tell me the joys of this particular Space Mountain. So as we begin our descent we hit a loop, and I flip for I completely forgot that this was the park with the indoor loop. The entire time I'm laughing and yelling, "There's a loop...and a CORKSCREW!!!!" It truly was a great time.

We later met up with the rest of our group. They had gone to the Lourve, which I have been to before, but would have loved to seen again. We spent the rest of the time exploring Paris by night, and taking some photos of the lights. When we got back to the hostel, my friend's told the barkeep it was my Golden Birthday and he put on the most childish Happy Birthday song I have ever heard. Thus began part 1 of my Golden 21st Birthday Epicness!

We headed back home the next day and I got a birthday beer via train with the guys for part 2 of MG21E! When I arrived home my host family had surprised me when I entered the door with a few gifts as well as a cake. They prepared a traditional German meal for me, then my host sister took me out with a couple of her friends for part 3 of my MG21E! It was a good Birthday day, but was still be actually celebrated a few more times.

Oh Amsterdam....

First we attended the IBC 2009 the International Broadcasting Convention, where I realized I am a film nerd as Phil, Ben, Sam, and I started geeking our over lighting, editing, and camera equipment. After a long day of making some contacts, talking with some workers from "How I Met Your Mother" and playing with the RED, a big group of us made our way to the sketchiest hostel I have ever had the pleasure to stay on.

Now this was truly an adventure to get too. First we had to take a ferry...which went on and on and on. Then the directions simply read "Go around the MTV building (you might just wanna ask someone where it is). I look up and take in the scene. Basically it was an industrial play ground with broken glass and graffiti everywhere. Basically a place most people would tell their daughters not to walk down alone at night. Whatever, its Amsterdam right? So we keep walking and finally we see the sign to our hostel which looks like this:

Ummm.....yeeaaaa.....sketchy for sure. Yet, we finally managed to make it to our hostel. Or should I say Boastel! That's right we were staying on Boat Hostel that slept 25-30 people. We picked a winner for sure. Oh....European adventures.

Anyways, we enjoy the city and what it has to offer. Manage to see the Anne Frank House as well as the Vincent Van Gogh museum which was pretty sweet, and of course we got to experience the night life. Passing through tiny alleys in the Red Light District that both made you somewhat giggle and feel disgusted because it truly was like a Zoo Exhibit. I did, however, find it somewhat interesting that they were separated to areas based on....well....I guess....quality? I don't know. It was weird.

So we go back to sketch hostel 101. Mind you returning to this place is no easy venture. First off they gave us a map back which basically is a compilation of little squares and an arrow saying "Go Here!" Now here comes the fun story. It all begins with one very very special friend of mine....

As we step off the bus that supposedly drops us off at square one which we are suppose to walk around to go between big square and little square....seriously, worst. map. ever. Some of the guys decided that now is an appropriate time to relieve the built up tension of drinks before. They run off into a bush and my special friend tales behind. Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out where I am and how to get to the hostel. As I stare at the map in utter confusion at the map one of the guy says "Oh look a cop.." To which the boys in the woods decided to stop publicly urinating. One darts off to only God knows where, one discreetly makes his way around back to my side, and the other well....we will get there in a moment. The cop pulls up to me and asks "What are you doing?" to which I show them the map and explain the situation. They ask "Were you just in the bushes?" I reply with a simple, "No." The cop is just about to say ok when suddenly there emerges our special friend from the bushes hair de-shelved, belt undone, zipper half zipped (or should I say half unzipped?) The cop looks up a bit startled to which this special friend yells, without any pretext, "I didn't do it!"

Now kids, I assumed everyone knew this, or at least learned from an early age that when one is confronted by authorities the first words out of your mouth should never be these. Especially when they haven't said a word. Yet, it gets better. This special special friend then chimes in with a "It wasn't me!" and wraps it all up with a nice final punch of "Nothing I swear!" I pause look at this special friend in utter disbelief, jaw somewhat agape and give him a look that reads, "Well...you're on your own now kiddo!" I return to trying to figure out where to go while my special friend tries to....well I presume talk his way out of the situation. Some highlights of the remainder of the confrontation:

"So if you weren't peeing what were you doing? Touching yourself?"

"Ok I was going to pee, but you came and I got scared"

"Do you have ID?" "Passport or driver's license?" As this special guy whips out his neck travel protector...mind you he is the only one wearing one of these things.

"I'm just scared!"

Anyways he manages to get out of it, and then we get directions from them. We return to the hostel all realizing how incredibly different this situation could have gone and glad we can now laugh about it. Oh Amsterdam...

First Group Excursion to Eifel!

Our first group excursion was to the region Eifel. None of us were really looking forward to this trip for all of our host families looked at us funny when we told them that we would be gone for four days in Eifel. Mine simply responded "Are you going to stare at trees?"

We headed out early that morning not really knowing what we would do. We ended up going to a few castles seeing a few sights, and strolling through a few cities. As we reached the top of one look out tower one of the heads of our program kept telling me places to find beer in case we ran out that night. I wasn't really sure if he was joking or not. For just a few days ago we were to have a group pub crawl in Bonn to get acquainted with the city and have a good time. However, certain people from another program did somethings that resulted in it being cancelled. We thought that was the end of the cool AIB.

Nein! We were wrong. Eifel proved to be one of the greatest experiences. The first night we got our rooms. Basically we had a little house to ourselves, complete with kitchen, living room, fireplace, and even a sauna. This was to about seven people, and we loved every single second of it. We go to the dining hall to get dinner, and feast on meals of the most delicious potatoes I have ever tasted. They serve us a beer and we cheer. All is good in the world. Then the beer just keeps flowing. Then suddenly something wonderful happened. Our teachers and faculty as well us were all on the same level. Which is a great feeling. The night ended with a blindfolded beer tasting challenge.

The next few days held cinematography projects, but since I had already taken this course in the states I basically just got some B-roll for my internship project and relaxed all day, hanging out with the professors. That night we had wine tasting, followed by the guys in my cabin going back starting a fire, playing some music on the guitar, and drinking some hot tea.

The next morning a few of the guys and I went on a morning hike and watched the sun rise over Eifel. It was a pretty amazing weekend, and I gotta say I must agree with what everyone told me about this program. You really do become your own little family.

Woah!

Wow so yea....I've been busy. Really really busy, but in a good way. So why I go back and try to retell the events of the past months here are some cool things of note:

Dancersize work out video ONE from Jesse Mansfield on Vimeo.

This is a little Project that I worked on this past summer and as you may notice I make a little cameo.

Moreover, I actually began some shooting in early October and hopefully will have a teaser trailer of my documentary up soon!

Home Sweet Home

We took a bus, then a plane, then another bus, and finally we were in our new home of Bonn, Germany! The second we got off the bus Bobcatt’s host-Mom was there. She guided us to where we needed to go and filled our noggins with some knowledge of the city.

Phil went on his way when his host-Dad came, and I was left to explore the city on my own till my host-Dad came later that day. Now if you’re not following everyone studying here is staying with a host family. There you go…now you’re caught up.

Around 6pm the rest of the film kids showed up in Germany. I finally met my family and every single one of them is amazing. The family consists of (those living here currently) the Dad and Mom, a daughter of 21, another daughter of 14, triplet girls of 11, and finally the oldest daughters boyfriend. (Recently I got to have a nice long talk with my host-Dad over a pint and another time over coffee...yes life is good)

(My awesome host family...boyfriend not pictured. That's actually the oldest son)

Later that day I managed to meet up with a friend from LMU, Steven Ayala, who was out in Germany for a couple of weeks. He showed me and some of the guys around town as we explored the nightlife.

(Sharing a beer with friends encountered over seas...this is life)

The next day orientation began which was concluded by a tour of Bonn and a beer on the Rhine.

(On the Rhine)

Since then classes started…yea…I’m not here just for vacation. It surprised me too. Yet, these past view days I’ve gotten close to my host family, and have gone out with the older ones and some of the LMU kids.

(Deutsch Class)

Today I hit up Colonge in search of chalk artists for my documentary. I’m a little worried that I may have to abandoned my idea, because as the weather begins to drop (it already dropped 30 degrees in two days) the artist may retreat for the winter. Although, I was unable to find artists, it was not in vain. My friend Sam managed to find some Parkour kids and made contacts.

(On the way to Cologne)

(The Dom...freakin' sweet)

As for tonight…well the New European Program Business kids just got in. Among them is Blake who had his birthday on the flight over. Let’s not forget it’s the King of Pop’s birthday and there is this little lounge celebrating just the occasion. Most importantly it’s my Mom’s birthday back in the states. There is much to celebrate here and the night is only just about to begin.

Happy Bday Mom! Prost!

Luzern

(Luzern!!!)

Our final destination in Switzerland was this little place called Luzern. Bobcatt had already been there and said it was amazing, but the rest of us hadn’t. We kept hearing it was a cool place to check out, and I actually had been told by Carrie-the-girl-with-Curls who was sitting next to me on my flight to Europe that it was a must to check out while in Switzerland. Let me just say that all these expectations were met. The second we got of our train I was stunned by Luzern. It was simply gorgeous.

The sitting is filled with tower walls and these old wooden bridges to cross the river, and the city itself is just filled with this energy.

We decided that we must first hit the most famous site in Luzern that Mark Twain himself called “The saddest sight he had ever seen”, this being the famous statue of the slain lion commemorating the Swiss Guards who lost their lives when they had defended Marie Antoinette from a mob of Parisians. It really was a moving peace, and all though a really cool statue it was a bit of a Debbie Downer.

We decided to scale the towers and look at the view of the city. We then explored the city more and lull and behold I ran into Carrie-the-girl-with-Curls in Luzern. It was really random and quite funny meeting up on the streets when we had just met about five days before on a plane headed for Luxembourg. Again wandering aimlessly has proven to lead to some interesting stories.

We parted then the three of us got some bread, cheese from Appenzeller (soooooo gooooood), and wine. We sat down by the river enjoying this meal with the swans. Once finished we checked out the cathedral behind us and moved on to a Picasso art museum.

All in all it was a pretty sweet day…but now it was time for us to go to our home for the next four months.

(Taking the train "Home")

Oh yea I found Bruce Wayne in one of the towers: