Yesterday class finally began. Last week we chose our design classes by attending presentations of each. After spending several hours listening to "blah blah blah blah blah", we were briefed in English for a few minutes following each presentation by either the professor or students who were nice enough to help us. Most professors were inviting, accommodating with our inability to speak much German, even excited to have a different view point in their class. However, others weren't as nice. We are not allowed to take screen printing because the professor doesn't speak English. Despite our desire to learn, he wouldn't let us try to make it work.
In the Erasmus (the word for Euro exchange students) world we all speak English, but now that we've started class I've been really wishing I knew more German. It's exhausting not understanding all day long. I'm currently in a German course, so I have been improving, however I don't feel I quite know enough to really take advantage of being here in Germany with the language surrounding me 24/7. I'm angry I wasn't forced, or given the option to, learn a language when I was very young. So many European students know 2,3,4..
It was a hard week not understanding the language and deciphering the unorganized process they use to register for classes, but in the end it all worked out. I found several classes I am very excited about and professors willing to give extra help. Yesterday I attended my Entwurf (big, important studio class). The class is taught by a professor who studied in Seattle and London so she speaks great English. However, the class will be taught mostly in German. She asked if we wanted to have it in English, but Amanda and I said German was fine. We didn't want to step on toes, but we'd also like to learn more German. Our project deals with experimental, semantic packaging. I am thrilled not only to design packaging, but also to have the chance to be more experimental. Yesterday everyone shared examples and initial concepts. Just seeing the visual examples got me excited, but it killed me not to be able to understand everyones ideas fully when they spoke about them. Seeing my classmates work and hearing their ideas is one of my favorite aspects of design class.
The project is to create 3 separate packaging concepts which semantically express some aspect of the product truthfully. Selling the product is not considered. An example she gave was chocolate. Chocolate now is sold with the message that it will make you happy when you are sad. A truthful package could have the message that chocolate makes you fat. Maybe the package feels squishy. Or coffee--maybe the package is jittery. COOL! I'm pumped. Now I need a product.... feel free to leave suggestions in the comment box :P
I will also be taking a photography course centered around changing cityscapes, globalization and the loss of culture. This is also especially interesting to me coming from America. These are all issues we have been discussing and observing since arriving. The professor was excited to have us in the class and get our viewpoint on the issues. I look forward to my first day tomorrow. Thursday I will begin my 3rd design class--letterpress, which I also have deep burning love for. :P Woo hoo!
Thought I would update on life in Darmstadt, but I have several other stories which I plan to tell. They are really piling up here --Spain, Italy, Munich, Paris...
Ciao!
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