A few weeks ago I was visiting an English class of German adults to observe the teacher's technique. The students requested that I introduce myself so they could hear English with an American accent (the teacher was Iranian). After I gave them the basics, they wanted to know what I thought of Germany, which is an easy question. I get it a lot.
"I enjoy it here. It's beautiful and has lots of interesting history. It's also very safe, which I like."
Then one asked me, "What do you think of Germans?" And a hush fell over the room.
If I asked this question about Americans to a foreigner visiting America, I would hope the answer would be something along the lines of, "Americans are very friendly and welcoming. They have good senses of humor and have been very helpful." I think it's safe to say most Americans would be flattered and delighted by this assertion.
But Germans are not Americans. They have different priorities, and they certainly have different personalities. I told them the truth.
"I find Germans to be very honest, and I also find them to be very clean. Your homes and buildings and parks are always clean and in excellent condition. If something is broken, you fix it immediately."
They were genuinely flattered. They all did that closed-eye-frown-nod thing that people do when someone gives them a compliment that they agree with but didn't think anyone had noticed. (Example: You: "JEM, your freckles are really charming." Me: *closed-eye-frown-nod* "I'm glad you think so.")
I sort of gave a sigh of relief. I was expecting someone to say, "And? Are we nice?" Because that's what a roomful of Americans would be wondering. But the Germans didn't. They were pleased with my response.
And therein, I believe, lies the crucial difference between Germans and Americans. Americans want to be liked. Germans want to be respected.
And for the record, Germans are nice — just in their own special way.
JEM
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Scientologists Need Not Apply
The contract I recently signed to become an English instructor for a local language school was generally standard fare. "The Agent undertakes to notify (the Principal) immediately in the event of illness or any other circumstances preventing the performance of work," and so forth. It goes about like that until the final clause, which states:
"Hereby the Agent declares that he/she does not sympathize with or support the ideas of L. Ron Hubbard. He/she is not bound by any orders or instructions of an organization promoting Hubbard's technology. He/she does not make use of its contents or methods. He/she does not pass on to a third person any information given to him/her in confidence as a result of this employment. Should this declaration prove not true, it causes an immediate dismissal of this (contract)."
Last December, after more than a decade of closely observing the Church of Scientology, Germany's federal and state interior ministers declared the church to be unconstitutional in a first and unprecedented step to ban the controversial organization.
The interior ministers' report, according to CNN.com, didn't go into much detail or offer anything in the way of specific examples, but did state, "From a number of sources, some of them not available to the public, it has been determined that (the organization) seeks to limit or rescind basic and human rights, such as the right to develop one's personality and the right to be treated equally."
The Church of Scientology, of course, called Germany's move ridiculous and out of step with the rest of the world. In fact, CNN reported that the U.S. State Department in its annual Human Rights report regularly criticized Germany for its close monitoring of the Church of Scientology.
When this was all shaking out several months ago, it made me uncomfortable. Being a Mormon, I tend to sympathize with religions that are unique and largely misunderstood. Not sympathize in the sense that I agree with their beliefs, but sympathize in the sense that I get how painful it is when the thing you love and believe in gets mercilessly shredded in the public forum. And it annoyed me that the German government felt they had the right to restrict any religion. It sounded to me like a dangerous throwback to the days of the GDR when the Stasi kept a close eye on Germans who subscribed to any religion, in particular those associated with the capitalistic West, i.e. Mormons.
The issue upset me enough that I started researching Scientology more in an effort to understand their viewpoint, because I wanted to be able to defend them. The things I learned were — unusual, which I expected. But I felt that as a Mormon, I had little room to criticize anyone for believing in any ideas that could be perceived by outsiders as unorthodox (though I will say that in the out-there category, Mormonism has nothing on Scientology).
This was all before I stumbled upon this article published by Time Magazine in 1991, which blasts the church, not for its doctrines, but rather for its dubious methods of relentlessly milking members for finances and for its scary and sneaky means of shutting down naysayers. Upon reading it, my sympathies cooled significantly and I was able to appreciate Germany's position, even if I still strongly disagree with any government's decision to restrict religion based solely on doctrine.
The final clause in my employment contract represents one of the Church of Scientology's attempts at retaliation against the German government. Since 2006 stories have been popping up about suspicious tutoring schools in Germany, in which tutors, once alone with clients, begin asking personal questions and teaching Scientology rather than the school subjects they were hired to teach. Apparently, since I will be in an unsupervised teacher-pupil relationship, potentially on a one-on-one level, they just want to be sure.
Frankly, I can't say I blame them, but after signing the contract, I'll probably be a little less free about my own affiliations, just in case. You know those Mormons. They can never be trusted.
JEM
"Hereby the Agent declares that he/she does not sympathize with or support the ideas of L. Ron Hubbard. He/she is not bound by any orders or instructions of an organization promoting Hubbard's technology. He/she does not make use of its contents or methods. He/she does not pass on to a third person any information given to him/her in confidence as a result of this employment. Should this declaration prove not true, it causes an immediate dismissal of this (contract)."
Last December, after more than a decade of closely observing the Church of Scientology, Germany's federal and state interior ministers declared the church to be unconstitutional in a first and unprecedented step to ban the controversial organization.
The interior ministers' report, according to CNN.com, didn't go into much detail or offer anything in the way of specific examples, but did state, "From a number of sources, some of them not available to the public, it has been determined that (the organization) seeks to limit or rescind basic and human rights, such as the right to develop one's personality and the right to be treated equally."
The Church of Scientology, of course, called Germany's move ridiculous and out of step with the rest of the world. In fact, CNN reported that the U.S. State Department in its annual Human Rights report regularly criticized Germany for its close monitoring of the Church of Scientology.
When this was all shaking out several months ago, it made me uncomfortable. Being a Mormon, I tend to sympathize with religions that are unique and largely misunderstood. Not sympathize in the sense that I agree with their beliefs, but sympathize in the sense that I get how painful it is when the thing you love and believe in gets mercilessly shredded in the public forum. And it annoyed me that the German government felt they had the right to restrict any religion. It sounded to me like a dangerous throwback to the days of the GDR when the Stasi kept a close eye on Germans who subscribed to any religion, in particular those associated with the capitalistic West, i.e. Mormons.
The issue upset me enough that I started researching Scientology more in an effort to understand their viewpoint, because I wanted to be able to defend them. The things I learned were — unusual, which I expected. But I felt that as a Mormon, I had little room to criticize anyone for believing in any ideas that could be perceived by outsiders as unorthodox (though I will say that in the out-there category, Mormonism has nothing on Scientology).
This was all before I stumbled upon this article published by Time Magazine in 1991, which blasts the church, not for its doctrines, but rather for its dubious methods of relentlessly milking members for finances and for its scary and sneaky means of shutting down naysayers. Upon reading it, my sympathies cooled significantly and I was able to appreciate Germany's position, even if I still strongly disagree with any government's decision to restrict religion based solely on doctrine.
The final clause in my employment contract represents one of the Church of Scientology's attempts at retaliation against the German government. Since 2006 stories have been popping up about suspicious tutoring schools in Germany, in which tutors, once alone with clients, begin asking personal questions and teaching Scientology rather than the school subjects they were hired to teach. Apparently, since I will be in an unsupervised teacher-pupil relationship, potentially on a one-on-one level, they just want to be sure.
Frankly, I can't say I blame them, but after signing the contract, I'll probably be a little less free about my own affiliations, just in case. You know those Mormons. They can never be trusted.
JEM
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter
“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”
— Joseph Smith
Friday, March 21, 2008
FIELDTRIP! to the Semperoper
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce you to one of the most beautiful structures in one of the world's most beautiful cities. Dear readers, meet the Semperoper ...
This is actually the third incarnation of Dresden's world-renowned opera house. The first, called the Hoftheater, was built in 1841 by German architect Gottfried Semper (who also designed Dresden's beloved synagogue).
This theater was an eclectic mishmash of Renaissance, Baroque and Corinthian styles that was destroyed by fire 28 years after its completion in 1869.
Dresdners insisted Semper head up the reconstruction — the problem being that Semper was in exile. In 1849 he had played a major part in the May Uprising in Dresden, a violent and failed attempt by the people of Saxony to "encourage" their king, Friedrich Augustus II, to adopt a constitution that would unify Germany as a constitutional monarchy. Since he wasn't allowed in town, Semper drew up the plans himself and commissioned his son, Manfred Semper, to oversee the construction.
The new, Neo-Renaissance version was finished in 1878. This one lasted 67 years, at which point, the Allies turned it to dust along with the rest of the Old City in the notorious Feb. 13, 1945, firebombing of Dresden.
The third incarnation of Dresden's opera house, which is nearly identical to the second incarnation, reopened on the 40-year anniversary of the bombing, Feb. 13, 1985. And this is the incarnation Jake and I got to visit last night on Poor People Appreciation Night at the Semperoper. (OK, that's not really what it was called, but all the tickets, which usually cost upwards of 100 Euros, only cost 10 Euros a pop, so, basically, it was plebian night.)
This was an especially good opportunity for us because the Semperoper does not offer tours. If you want to see the inside, you have to go to a performance. And the inside, we can now attest, is worth seeing.
This is the second floor hallway where they served champagne during intermission. The chandeliers were awesome.
Not to mention all the paintings on the ceiling.
The theater itself is also (of course) breathtaking. And, yes, we had seats on the floor thanks to Jake courageously waiting outside in line a month ago to land tickets.
Here's Jake with our adorable Italian friends Angela (who's in the same Ph.D. group with Jake) and her boyfriend Giovanni.
Oh yeah, and there's me.
This is before I got a splitting headache after three hours of plotless opera. And before you judge me to be an Idaho bumpkin who wouldn't know culture if it spanked me (which isn't a terribly inaccurate judgment, I'll be honest), have you ever seen "Peter Grimes"? Guy's apprentice dies. Everybody thinks guy did it, but guy gets off. Guy gets another apprentice, kills him, then kills himself. Now imagine it performed by a bunch of homely, obese people in jeans and T-shirts and no set to speak of in some jacked-up, post-modern interpretation. The music was good, but it was better if your eyes were closed.
Or if you directed your attention up.
Yeah, I guess I can't complain.
JEM
This is actually the third incarnation of Dresden's world-renowned opera house. The first, called the Hoftheater, was built in 1841 by German architect Gottfried Semper (who also designed Dresden's beloved synagogue).
This theater was an eclectic mishmash of Renaissance, Baroque and Corinthian styles that was destroyed by fire 28 years after its completion in 1869.Dresdners insisted Semper head up the reconstruction — the problem being that Semper was in exile. In 1849 he had played a major part in the May Uprising in Dresden, a violent and failed attempt by the people of Saxony to "encourage" their king, Friedrich Augustus II, to adopt a constitution that would unify Germany as a constitutional monarchy. Since he wasn't allowed in town, Semper drew up the plans himself and commissioned his son, Manfred Semper, to oversee the construction.
The new, Neo-Renaissance version was finished in 1878. This one lasted 67 years, at which point, the Allies turned it to dust along with the rest of the Old City in the notorious Feb. 13, 1945, firebombing of Dresden.
The third incarnation of Dresden's opera house, which is nearly identical to the second incarnation, reopened on the 40-year anniversary of the bombing, Feb. 13, 1985. And this is the incarnation Jake and I got to visit last night on Poor People Appreciation Night at the Semperoper. (OK, that's not really what it was called, but all the tickets, which usually cost upwards of 100 Euros, only cost 10 Euros a pop, so, basically, it was plebian night.)
This was an especially good opportunity for us because the Semperoper does not offer tours. If you want to see the inside, you have to go to a performance. And the inside, we can now attest, is worth seeing.
This is the second floor hallway where they served champagne during intermission. The chandeliers were awesome.
Not to mention all the paintings on the ceiling.
The theater itself is also (of course) breathtaking. And, yes, we had seats on the floor thanks to Jake courageously waiting outside in line a month ago to land tickets.
Here's Jake with our adorable Italian friends Angela (who's in the same Ph.D. group with Jake) and her boyfriend Giovanni.
Oh yeah, and there's me.
This is before I got a splitting headache after three hours of plotless opera. And before you judge me to be an Idaho bumpkin who wouldn't know culture if it spanked me (which isn't a terribly inaccurate judgment, I'll be honest), have you ever seen "Peter Grimes"? Guy's apprentice dies. Everybody thinks guy did it, but guy gets off. Guy gets another apprentice, kills him, then kills himself. Now imagine it performed by a bunch of homely, obese people in jeans and T-shirts and no set to speak of in some jacked-up, post-modern interpretation. The music was good, but it was better if your eyes were closed.
Or if you directed your attention up.
Yeah, I guess I can't complain.
JEM
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Rites of Spring
We have a net across our balcony to keep crows and pigeons from trashing it (and they want to, I can see it in those tiny shifty eyes). Anyway, two weeks ago I noticed this surefire sign of spring taking place on our vermin net:
Yes, that would be two bumble bees sharing an intimate moment. It gets no springier. I thought this certainly meant that Dresden's gray but snowless winter would soon conclude. But as of yesterday morning the vermin net looks like this:
And I'm all, "whatevs!!! : ( y cudnt u dun this @ xmas?!?!?"
On another note, I'd just like to let you know that tonight I will be attending something that will be turned around for AD readers as possibly the best FIELDTRIP! to date. Certainly the most cultured. So, don't touch that dial! Actually, it'll take at least a day for me to compile, so go ahead and touch it. But check back. It'll be great. Promise.
Love,
JEM
Yes, that would be two bumble bees sharing an intimate moment. It gets no springier. I thought this certainly meant that Dresden's gray but snowless winter would soon conclude. But as of yesterday morning the vermin net looks like this:
And I'm all, "whatevs!!! : ( y cudnt u dun this @ xmas?!?!?"
On another note, I'd just like to let you know that tonight I will be attending something that will be turned around for AD readers as possibly the best FIELDTRIP! to date. Certainly the most cultured. So, don't touch that dial! Actually, it'll take at least a day for me to compile, so go ahead and touch it. But check back. It'll be great. Promise.
Love,
JEM
Monday, March 17, 2008
Poll: The Great Photo Mural Debate
Jake and I have been entertaining the idea of putting a 1970s-inspired, gigantic wallpaper photo mural on one wall of our living room. We feel it could be the touch of class the place really needs. The current debate is which atmosphere-setting theme we want to go with. Here are the options we're considering:
1. Sunset/palm trees/beach. Jake likes this option because the palm trees and sunsets remind him of his home, Las Vegas. He also likes the idea of putting up a landscape that is very different from the one we currently live in as an escape. I worry that during the gray winters I might turn into a vegetable staring at what I can't have.
2. Moon landing. This is arguably the classiest of the options we're considering. We like that's unusual, but Jake is concerned that it will clash with our Christmas decor. Considering our "Christmas decor" is a string of white lights and a white star in our window, I'm not only not concerned, I think it would be the perfect compliment.
3. Forest. This is a nice, safe option. It would likely set off the room well and be a pleasant reference to the woodsy landscape we currently live in.
4. Map. Honestly we haven't found a lot of good photo mural maps, but if we did find one we think it would be a fun way to track or travels and plot our world domination.
5. Desert. This is also a reference to Jake's American Southwest homeland. We like the bold colors and the stark shapes, but apparently so does everyone else because this wallpaper is sold out everywhere we've looked.
Keeping these arguments in mind, I encourage all readers to place their votes in AD's latest poll: "Which photo mural theme should we use to class up our living room?"
And don't just sit there thinking, "Oh, my vote won't count anyway. I'll let everybody else worry about it," or, "I've got too many things to worry about to be concerned with issues that don't directly affect me and my loved ones," or, "All the candidates disgust me and I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I had given my vote to any of them."
Gentle readers, American Dresdner needs you now more than ever. Please exercise your right as an empowered user of the Information Super Highway and make your opinion known viciously and anonymously.
If you don't vote, the terrorists have won.
JEM
1. Sunset/palm trees/beach. Jake likes this option because the palm trees and sunsets remind him of his home, Las Vegas. He also likes the idea of putting up a landscape that is very different from the one we currently live in as an escape. I worry that during the gray winters I might turn into a vegetable staring at what I can't have.
2. Moon landing. This is arguably the classiest of the options we're considering. We like that's unusual, but Jake is concerned that it will clash with our Christmas decor. Considering our "Christmas decor" is a string of white lights and a white star in our window, I'm not only not concerned, I think it would be the perfect compliment.
3. Forest. This is a nice, safe option. It would likely set off the room well and be a pleasant reference to the woodsy landscape we currently live in.
4. Map. Honestly we haven't found a lot of good photo mural maps, but if we did find one we think it would be a fun way to track or travels and plot our world domination.
5. Desert. This is also a reference to Jake's American Southwest homeland. We like the bold colors and the stark shapes, but apparently so does everyone else because this wallpaper is sold out everywhere we've looked.
Keeping these arguments in mind, I encourage all readers to place their votes in AD's latest poll: "Which photo mural theme should we use to class up our living room?"
And don't just sit there thinking, "Oh, my vote won't count anyway. I'll let everybody else worry about it," or, "I've got too many things to worry about to be concerned with issues that don't directly affect me and my loved ones," or, "All the candidates disgust me and I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I had given my vote to any of them."
Gentle readers, American Dresdner needs you now more than ever. Please exercise your right as an empowered user of the Information Super Highway and make your opinion known viciously and anonymously.
If you don't vote, the terrorists have won.
JEM
Friday, March 14, 2008
JEM Leaves Apartment, Does Stuff
American Dresdner: Where the crap have you been?
Jasmine E. Michaelson: Sorry, AD.
AD: You're not going hermit again, are you?
JEM: No, I've actually been busy, believe it or not.
AD: Not.
JEM: Yeah? Well, get this — I found a job!
AD: (speechless)
JEM: I know. It's very exciting. I'm an English teacher at a language school. I've been observing classes this week.
AD: English teacher, huh? You going to teach these poor saps Idaho spudhead terms like jockey box and borrow pit that'll get the snot kicked out of 'em anywhere else in the world?
JEM: I'm not planning on it. I did, however, get to explain to a student today what the phrase "I don't give a damn" means.
AD: What an inspiring opportunity.
JEM: It really was.
AD: When do you start teaching?
JEM: I've been assigned to an all-day, two-week long class full of German soldiers that starts at the end of the month.
AD: Are you training spies?
JEM: Not that I'm aware of.
AD: Just remember, traitors get executed.
JEM: I'll remember that. It would also be good if you remembered that Germany and the United States are allies now.
AD: Oh, right.
(awkward pause)
AD: Soooo ... you seen any good movies lately?
JEM: I'm glad you asked that, AD, because I have. Twice a week this awesome movie theater downtown shows American movies in English. Problems are, they only show each movie once, they pick movies that have already been out forever, and lots of the movies they pick we're not interested in. But on Wednesday night they showed "I Am Legend" and we decided to forgive Will Smith for everything related to "Big Willie Style", "Fresh Prince of Bel Air", and pretty much everything else he's done in his life and see it.
AD: And?
JEM: It was, I'll say, 85 percent good.
AD: What does that mean?
JEM: I liked it, but it would've been better if I was the director. And if the ending hadn't been so lame. And if they'd explained why in blazes there were African lions in New York.
AD: Have you seen anything else?
JEM: In fact, yes. This has been the week of going to the movies. We noticed that Dresden's friendly neighborhood 3D theater was showing U23D this week, so we had to go see it because Jake loves U2. So much so that he's given me permission to kiss Bono if I ever get the chance because it would be the closest he could ever get to kissing Bono.
AD: Hmmm.
JEM: Of course, that was before this movie came out. Now, I'm pretty sure watching Bono's head on a screen the size of a aircraft carrier in 3D is the closest he'll ever get to kissing Bono.
AD: How was the movie?
JEM: Cool. It was like being at the Vertigo concert all over again. But with better seats. And in Latin America. And occasionally flying. And without the drunk girls next to us who kept saying, "This is f***ing epic!"
AD: Sounds like a good experience.
JEM: It was. But you want to know the best part?
AD: Tell me.
JEM: 3D glasses.
AD: Is that beer you're holding?
JEM: You'd think so, but no. It's Sprite. And Jake had a Fanta. Although they had beer at the concessions stand. Not surprising considering you can buy beer at McDonald's, Burger King, the IKEA cafeteria, and select elementary schools. (I'm kidding about the elementary schools. I think. I actually haven't checked.)
AD: Anything else you'd like to share about this experience?
JEM: Yes. We were two of about 12 people in a theater that could probably seat 1,000. That was fun. Everybody was screaming during the previews while we got used to the 3D.
AD: Anything else you'd like to talk about in this interview?
JEM: Well, there are more things to talk about, but I'll save them for future posts. I will, however, tell you this interesting tidbit.
AD: I'm salivating in anticipation.
JEM: Did you hear about the first ever Korean astronaut being sent into space?
AD: Yes. The Interwebs told me about that.
JEM: Well, I brought this up with my Korean scientist English student at a recent lesson and guess what.
AD: What?
JEM: He applied for the job.
AD: No way.
JEM: Way. He had to do all kinds of physical tests and training. He said he exercised for two hours every day leading up to the tests.
AD: Wow. But he didn't get it.
JEM: Sadly, no. This guy did.
My guy totally could've done it, though. He said the main problem they had with him was that he didn't have his Ph.D. yet. And they also wanted somebody fluent in English and Russian.
AD: Tall order.
JEM: Yes. They have to make it tough or else we'd all be astronauts.
AD: Right.
JEM: And nobody'd be down here on Earth to answer the phone.
AD: Can't have that.
JEM: No, we can't.
Jasmine E. Michaelson: Sorry, AD.
AD: You're not going hermit again, are you?
JEM: No, I've actually been busy, believe it or not.
AD: Not.
JEM: Yeah? Well, get this — I found a job!
AD: (speechless)
JEM: I know. It's very exciting. I'm an English teacher at a language school. I've been observing classes this week.
AD: English teacher, huh? You going to teach these poor saps Idaho spudhead terms like jockey box and borrow pit that'll get the snot kicked out of 'em anywhere else in the world?
JEM: I'm not planning on it. I did, however, get to explain to a student today what the phrase "I don't give a damn" means.
AD: What an inspiring opportunity.
JEM: It really was.
AD: When do you start teaching?
JEM: I've been assigned to an all-day, two-week long class full of German soldiers that starts at the end of the month.
AD: Are you training spies?
JEM: Not that I'm aware of.
AD: Just remember, traitors get executed.
JEM: I'll remember that. It would also be good if you remembered that Germany and the United States are allies now.
AD: Oh, right.
(awkward pause)
AD: Soooo ... you seen any good movies lately?
JEM: I'm glad you asked that, AD, because I have. Twice a week this awesome movie theater downtown shows American movies in English. Problems are, they only show each movie once, they pick movies that have already been out forever, and lots of the movies they pick we're not interested in. But on Wednesday night they showed "I Am Legend" and we decided to forgive Will Smith for everything related to "Big Willie Style", "Fresh Prince of Bel Air", and pretty much everything else he's done in his life and see it.
AD: And?
JEM: It was, I'll say, 85 percent good.
AD: What does that mean?
JEM: I liked it, but it would've been better if I was the director. And if the ending hadn't been so lame. And if they'd explained why in blazes there were African lions in New York.
AD: Have you seen anything else?
JEM: In fact, yes. This has been the week of going to the movies. We noticed that Dresden's friendly neighborhood 3D theater was showing U23D this week, so we had to go see it because Jake loves U2. So much so that he's given me permission to kiss Bono if I ever get the chance because it would be the closest he could ever get to kissing Bono.
AD: Hmmm.
JEM: Of course, that was before this movie came out. Now, I'm pretty sure watching Bono's head on a screen the size of a aircraft carrier in 3D is the closest he'll ever get to kissing Bono.
AD: How was the movie?
JEM: Cool. It was like being at the Vertigo concert all over again. But with better seats. And in Latin America. And occasionally flying. And without the drunk girls next to us who kept saying, "This is f***ing epic!"
AD: Sounds like a good experience.
JEM: It was. But you want to know the best part?
AD: Tell me.
JEM: 3D glasses.
AD: Is that beer you're holding?
JEM: You'd think so, but no. It's Sprite. And Jake had a Fanta. Although they had beer at the concessions stand. Not surprising considering you can buy beer at McDonald's, Burger King, the IKEA cafeteria, and select elementary schools. (I'm kidding about the elementary schools. I think. I actually haven't checked.)
AD: Anything else you'd like to share about this experience?
JEM: Yes. We were two of about 12 people in a theater that could probably seat 1,000. That was fun. Everybody was screaming during the previews while we got used to the 3D.
AD: Anything else you'd like to talk about in this interview?
JEM: Well, there are more things to talk about, but I'll save them for future posts. I will, however, tell you this interesting tidbit.
AD: I'm salivating in anticipation.
JEM: Did you hear about the first ever Korean astronaut being sent into space?
AD: Yes. The Interwebs told me about that.
JEM: Well, I brought this up with my Korean scientist English student at a recent lesson and guess what.
AD: What?
JEM: He applied for the job.
AD: No way.
JEM: Way. He had to do all kinds of physical tests and training. He said he exercised for two hours every day leading up to the tests.
AD: Wow. But he didn't get it.
JEM: Sadly, no. This guy did.
My guy totally could've done it, though. He said the main problem they had with him was that he didn't have his Ph.D. yet. And they also wanted somebody fluent in English and Russian.
AD: Tall order.
JEM: Yes. They have to make it tough or else we'd all be astronauts.
AD: Right.
JEM: And nobody'd be down here on Earth to answer the phone.
AD: Can't have that.
JEM: No, we can't.
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