what google translate is for.

The "awful" german language is actually quite entertaining. Go to google translate, paste

pv zk pv pv zk pv zk kz zk pv pv pv zk pv zk zk pzk pzk pvzkpkzvpvzk kkkkkk bsch

Select from German to German, and hit "Listen." Voila, instant beatbox. Here is the original, thanks to Stafan:

http://gizmodo.com/5701485/how-to-make-google-translate-your-own-personal-beat-boxer

Our german classes are ending for the Weihnachts break. This is Christmas. We learned a lot of stuff, like past tense! This is important for when your friend says, what did you do this weekend? Then you don't have to say, I am going to the movies. I went!

Actually, I did go to the movies lately, to see Harry Potter. Surprisingly, dim memories of the book were enough to let me understand the movie even though it was dubbed into German. I learned how to say magic, "zauber." It was very educational.

We also went to KaDeWe the other day. That stands for Kaufhaus des Westens, or Department Store of the West. As far as I can tell it was basically built to rub it in the face of the east germans that the west was way better. It's practically (though I think not actually) within sight of the wall.

And it snowed! I know you guys in Oregon got a bunch of snow too, but I bet you didn't get -10 deg. C. I think we will have that tomorrow. Woo!