Author Archives: Paola Ramos Pedraza

Rugby, family, fans and food!

Hello People,

This last Saturday June 24, the Rugby Sevens State Championship took place in Hürth for women. I am very proud of my friend Claudia, she is from Mexico. I went to the game to support her.

Bayern participated with their U18 girls and free category for women. There where only five participant states: Baden-Württenberg, Bayern, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, and  Nordrhein-Westfalen. I find amazing that women practice this sport and can be so passionate about it. It was an amaizing day filled with rugby, family, fans and food. The U18 ended third in their category. They have worked really hard, and all though it is hard for them to train together since not all of them train in teams from Munich.

Like all contact sports, rugby implies a lot of commitment, since you have to do a lot of fitness and practice to avoid injuries. Also because it is a teamsport, it is very important to play as a team and have always in mind that it doesn’t matter who scores or messes up as long as you work together and have fun. I couldn’t believe with how much nobility  and respectful the players practice this sport, in rugby there is no such thing as faking injuries, talking back to the referee or trying to hurt the opponent. I saw the girls trying their best to give the strongest tackle, get up from the ground and keep the line, and run as fast as they could, basically giving it all inside the field, and never complain about the pain they micht be feeling, because they are not just playing for themselves but for their whole team. I think that when you put something else before your personal needs, it is because it is worth it and this sacrifice will definitely lead to success.

I hope people would get to know this sport and live it, it doesn’t matter if it is from inside or outside the field, I have found it very lovely and fun. I have not seen values present in other sports like in rugby, and I think Bavaria should be very proud to have suh a committed team and that they keep up the good work.

LG, Paola                                                        My Mexican friend Claudia

Always try to speak German!

Hello People,

I have been continously taking three months of courses in DeutschAkademie and I have found practice the best way to improve. It doesn’t matter how much time you spend studying the books and reviewing your notes, if you do not go out and practice what you have learned in the classes, you will not be able to improve.  My husband now he starts to speaking me in German.

Also when I go to the supermarket, shops, or retaurants I only speak German. Of course it would be easier to speak in English, and almost everyone would understand faster, and of course I make mistakes and have made a fool of myself a lot of times, but I think it is only my making mistakes that you will learn from them.

You can always take a look at your notes or ask the teacher to see where you made a mistake and how is the proper way to speak. In real life this is not the case but I have found people really patient and helpful, since they know I am trying hard to speak German and want to see me suceed. I have found the courses very complete but if you do not work outside the class and actually use the knowledge you have been given, all the work inside the classroom will be in vain.

Now I am really happy because I can start talking in German with my husband or write emails. Today I went to make an appoitment to do my nails and I only spoke in German with out making any mistake!!!

Lookig forward to make my nails and have a relax time for me!!

LG, PAO

Romantic date at Hackerbrücke!

Hello people,

Since the moment I passed by Hackerbrüke, in Munich and saw the beautiful sunset I have always wanted to go there for a romantic date. I guess I am a romantic, since nowadays normal dates are less romance and more action, like going out to dinner or the movies. But I like dates to be really personal, this doesn’t mean that you have to spend a lot of money but at least, put a little bit of thought into them and think about how the other person would enjoy themselves the most with me.

This is why, I would like to enjoy a bottle of wine or just a nice conversation over the sunset in this specific location. There is not much to watch but trains and people going back and foward, but I like the feeling of peace in the people sitting on the brindge, without any preocupation but enjoying that moment.

I have passed several times through this spot, always having something to do and not really being able to stop and take the time I want to take pleasure in relaxing with the view and the company I could have.

LG, Paola

Alter Hof

Hello People,

Walking around Munich is breath taking, since there are a lot of beautiful places you can visit. From elegant architecture, to a simple and relaxing walk through the English Garden along the Isar river. But there is a small square in the middle of the Old Town, where the Alter Hof or Old Court, in English is. This hidden location transports you to another time and dimension and I have found it a very lovely and calmed place to gaze at, since it is in the middle of the city, but magically you get away from all the energy and movement that is going on around.

First built in 1180’s as a small royal castle for the Wittelsbach family, who had just taken over the rule of Bavaria from Henry the Lion. Between 1253 to 1955, as Bavaria split into Upper and Lower states, Duke Ludwig II re-built and expanded Alter Hof, turning it into the family’s formal Royal Court. This is when Munich became the capital of Bavaria, instead of Regensburg.

In 1328 Ludwig IV, the 1st prince born in the new Alter Hof, became the King of Germany, the Romans, Italy and the Holy Roman Empire and as the Alter Hof grew, it became home to many animals including pigs, chickens, horses, lions, and monkeys. Which reminds me of a legend about when baby Ludwig IV was taken out of his crib by a pet monkey, and taken up to the tower you can see in the picture, but was put back unharmed.  Today you will see monkeys painted on the outside of the windows inside Alter Hof’s central square, which is called the Monkey Tower. This tower is one of the few parts of the original building that survived after all the damage in WW2, but some others have been  reconstructed and you can visit them at the museum, which is completely free.

I find this part of the city enchanting because you can actually appreciate all the history this city has and how it is preserved. I think it is very interesting to know the history of the places, so you can undestand how the city changed with time and how it became to what it is now.

LG, Paola

IKOM event at TUM!

Hello People,

Last week at TUM, the Technical Munich University, in the Garching Campus, from Monday June 19 to Thursday 22, there was a career fest for students. About 316 companies attended, looking for motivated students from all disciplines for internships, thesis work and permanent positions. These type of events are organized by IKOM, Munich’s biggest student iniciative, made out of 100 honorary students from different professional backgrounds.

Besides all of the companies present in the event, there were also various expositions and symposiums with experts for different interests. Al though this specific fair was more focused to IT (Information Technology) profiles, there were a lot of companies that also work and combine their projects with other disciplines.

There are also various workshops, expositions and excursions organized every month, which is why I think it is a very good idea to keep up with IKOM activities since they are all free and can be really helpful for anyone looking for a job or a bit of knowledge extension. I really enjoyed my visit to the TUM, since it was my first time there because it is not so close to the city and not always you get to see an environment filled with young and ambitious people from all over the world.

LG, Paola

Free fitness session in Munich!

Hello People,

I try to stay healthy, eat properly, get good time to sleep and practice exercise, but sometimes the last one is very difficult to accomplish. But I have found the perfect solution, at least on Wednesdays, when I go to Königsplatz at 19.00 and have a free fitness session in the middle of the square, with people with different backgrounds, that as well as myself, want to exercise but do not want to do it alone. I first attended this fitness class with one friend, a little bit skeptical but now, I have invited more friends that will definitely come back. Also, I got to know new people and now, we are planning to have a picnic after exercising or join the Tango class that is going on after the fitness session. You can also find people enjoying a beer or practicing Taichi close by, in this beautiful space. As you can appreciate, in a square that people might pass through everyday, there is more than only beautiful buildings and grass, there are many activities and interactions that can change the way you enjoy  this beautiful city. I recommend everybody to try this fitness class but mostly to take a minute and appreciate how places you might pass for grounded are filled with life and how this, in my personal opinion, is something money can’t buy.

LG, Paola

My favourite restaurant in Mexico City!

Hello People,

I miss a lot my country you cannot imagine how much and that is why I want to talk a little bit of my favorite restaurant in Mexico City. The name is “Azul Historico”, guys; really you cannot imagine how amazing and delicious is all the food. If you go and visit Mexico city, you should go to that restaurant is 4.7 stars.

I talked in my first article about my own blog so http://saboresconpaola.weebly.com/restaurants here is the link of my post in which I talked a lot of this restaurant. What I like about Azul is the environment, the food and the most important thing the service is so amazing how waiters are with you.

I have to share my experience once that I went there were 2 kinds of drinks only made with fruits and vegetables. One was made with avocado, lemon and cucumber. The other one with peanut and horchata (In Mexico horchata is made of rice, sometimes with vanilla and always with cinnamon) So when the waiter asked me which one do you want? I said “ ich habe keine Ahnung” hahaha both sound amazing so he told me do not worry I will give you to try both so you can decide which one you like more. That was so nice of him.

At the end I tried the horchata one and my husband the avocado. I really love to share that story first of all because it was the first time of my husband in Mexico and second because everywhere you go people is always nice.

In the picture you can see the waters that I mentioned before, two amazing margaritas with delicious tequila, mescal and guacamole with grasshoppers. AMAZING!!!

LG, PAO

Another tip for you…

Hello Guys,

How is your German going? Have you tried my tips? Well here is another one that I found really amazing!!

The free online German course  from DeutschAkademie. It is amazing because you can practice and learn more words I highly recommend it!! Today I decided to study Dativ I always like to review again different topics in order to see if I really learn it.

The exercises are really simple and easy, the most amazing thing is that it does not take you more than an hour to answer them!

I know that German can be a little bit difficult and tired but I recommend that while you are learning drink a lot of water. This will help your brain to always keep fresh and active.

Another thing that I really love is the Arbeitsbuch because we have there our own little dictionary. I love that every chapter we learn new words and we are able to write their meaning in our own language. Ich finde das sehr COOL!!!!

I will really love to hear about your favorite topics or how you learn German. Please comment it will be amazing if we always share how we learn.

LG

PAOLA

My international friends from DeutschAkademie!

Hello People,

One thing that I really like about DeutschAkademie is that you get to know a lot of international people and for that is really amazing. I had the opportunity to meet people from Venezuela, Brazil, Spain, Australia, Japan and MEXICO. I am so happy that know I have a Mexican friend because that make feel not that far from my country.

We planned a picnic and we had a lot of fun playing Volleyball but unfortunately we did not take pictures. I had always a lot fun meeting people from around the world because we always share our customs.  One thing that I really like is that we played and studying at the same time.

When I had a class with the girl from Venezuela, Mexico and the guy from Spain was so funny because we ware able to share how we say in our own “Spanish” different words.

I want to share that before I could not understood Portuguese even it sounds really similar to Spanish but know that I have a Brazilian friend she talk to me in Portuguese and I talk to her in Spanish and we understood each other. It is really crazy how you always find the way to try to communicate with others.

I hope you enjoy your course.

Paola

Frageartikel!

Hello People!!!

Today I learned about the “Frageartikel” Welch? It is really easy to learn it. Guys one tips that I give and always help me is copy the grammar chart and repeat but also analyze it can be really helpful in order it to learn it. At least 30 min everyday can help and why I said 30 min? I know that a lot of people work or have kids to take care.

I love to use colors while I am studying because I can remember faster and better?

The exercises of the books in this topic I really love them because it make me understand more and more about the topic and to think the famous why of the changes between Dativ, Nominativ or Akkusative. That I know can be a little bit confused.

Always remember to associate your mother langue with German it is easier to remember and find a better explanation of the things.

I love to share always things that I used to support what we learn everyday I think the more we learn the faster we will be able to speak more and more German. I found that cool link that help me a little bit with this topic.

https://www.deutschplus.net/pages/Fragepronomen_welcher

See you and almost weekend!! PAO