Petra moves with her family to Bonn, where Beethoven was born.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonn
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pTqMClPF3w
Beethoven's Ode to Joy is the anthem of the European Union
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrexhus-8kw
David Garrett from Germany performing Beethoven
www.youtube.com/watch?v=96NPEKnByCo
and Bushido who was born in Bonn.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJOIR0slR_c
You have a little of Bonn in your city: The Gummi bears candies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gummi_bear
One of novel's main characters is Helga who lives in Jena.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jena
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihFrLlvY5No
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT9nzYa8dAM
www.jena.de/en/97320
She was born in the former East Germany and after the reunification feels nostalgic to the past. Ostalgie is the German term.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostalgie
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbbWIRhJbgc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxsrx9jBj_M
She met her boyfriend as a student at one of the oldest universities in Germany, University Jena
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0cUVYf34js
The philosophers Hegel and Schlling were teaching at this university and Karl Marx earned his doctorate from the University of Jena.
And she used to work here as a gardener.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBMIpwl77UU
She eats the food from her state of Thuringia, like Thuringer Klosse (potato dumplings)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFZ4LSk8ZHc
and Thuringen Rostbratwurst (grilled sausage with herbs).
And drinks her favourite Cola made in her state.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FqjXREB8FA
And she loves her Trabi car
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGHQMEo2KDM
And to listen to songs by Silly and their former singer Tamara Danz who was also born in Thuringia.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Czk8lYmDRQ
And the composer Johann Sebastian Bach was also born in Thuringia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=on1DDSLdDOo
Petra listens to many songs, including Schlager music, popular in Germany and Central and Northern Europe. The songs are sweet ballads with catchy light pop melodies.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9IihYDPjqw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qnXTjnE0p0
I think I just developed a whole new level of respect for Germany; gummy bears! Yummo!!!
ReplyDeleteThe music is cute and the cities look great! Very romantic picture of Bonn on the wiki link you gave. :)
Thanks, Bonnee. Just like you I didn't know that the Gummy Bears are from Germany. I've learned so much about Germany while writing the book and gained appreciation for the country and its people.
ReplyDeleteWow, you did a lot of research! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, modern Schlager is at its new peak. Two of the most famous female German "Schlagersängerinnen" (singers of schlager) are Helene Fischer and Andrea Berg. Then there is also Jürgen Drews who's popular for his party music. Maybe Dieter Bohlen, whom we call "The Titan of Pop", is of interest to you, too?
You know, Germans are increasingly interested in China, too. Many of the Volkswagen employees work in China and tourists love to visit.
I met many Chinese people at the CeBit in Hannover this year. They were very nice and patient in answering my questions about their products. All of them spoke excellent English and many knew how to speak German, too, so communication was no problem at all.
Also, Chinese food is very popular here, as are many films. Personally, I find "A Chinese Ghoststory" to be a classic. Bruce Lee is known well, too, and Chinese martial arts are widely popular.
I'm looking forward to reading more about you and your novels.
Sal
Thanks, Sal, for visiting. Germany is full with great singers and bands. Because of limited space I only post the songs that appear in my novel. I like Andrea berg "Ich Strebe nich noch mal". Thanks for introducing me to Jurgen Drews. His song "Ti Amo" is great.
ReplyDeleteCool info! I'll have to check out these links. Good luck with your YA novel!
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for visiting my blog. To answer your question: no, I'm not an author. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks. I really appreciate what you said. I was on the agent's blog probably (but not surely; I follow a lot of blogs) because of the Anti-Bullying Blog Fest that was held a couple of days ago.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about writing a non-fiction book. It sounds like a good idea, but then, who would be interested in my point of views? Maybe fiction with my opinions woven through it it - something like Life of Pi - that might work.