Easter in Hannover

Mary and I arrived in Hannover Thursday, April 9, at about ten at night. Birgit met us at the station with her little red car and took us on a mini impromptu tour of the city before driving us to the apartment. The city, illuminated by street lights, seemed to glow. I felt as if I were glowing too with the simple happiness of recognizing the landmarks and stores that I had left behind last summer.

Birgit’s apartment was just as I remembered, consisting of two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom, dining area, living room and balcony decorated with various angel figurines, family photos and brightly colored throws and pillows. Of course, I can not forget the resident felines, Garfield and Kitty, who seemed more interested in my luggage than with getting reacquainted with me.

Before bed, we sat together at a small table in Mary’s room, sipping champagne and talking. Soon the bottle was finished and Birgit brought me a fold out mattress and blankets so I could sleep on Mary’s floor. I feel asleep that night feeling safe and at home and just plain happy to be with people who I care about.

Mary and I spent the next two days meeting friends and walking through the sunny streets of the city. The weather was summery and I borrowed shorts from her and never had to wear a jacket. The air was fragrant. Everywhere we walked there seemed to be flowers blooming (generally cheery yellow daffodils) and trees blossoming as well.

Late Saturday night, Mary and I found that the Ostern Hase (Easter Bunny) had left us treats in our beds. I went to sleep thankful that somehow the magical rabbit had known that not only was I in Germany, but that I really enjoy chocolate. We slept for a few hours and then got up for church.

The church service at 6 a.m. Easter morning was not as different as I thought it would be from my own past Easter experiences. The ceremony began with a bonfire outside the church, with the congregation standing in a circle, surrounding the flames and chanting in Latin. Once we entered the dark church, everyone lit candles, illuminating the church in an eerie light. Eventually, later in the mass, the electric lights were turned on with a flurry of organ music.

After church, we slept and attempted to make Easter eggs. Earlier in the week, I had commented on the beautiful colored eggs hanging from a bouquet of pussy willows sitting on the dining room table. Birgit suggested that we color eggs ourselves. She purchased eggs, crayons and all the other necessary items to decorate them.

The three of us, Mary, Birgit and I, sat at the dining room table, carefully making holes at opposite ends of the eggshells with pins, then blowing the insides out into bowls. Then Birgit directed us outside onto the patio where we would begin coloring the eggs.

There we spread newspapers and got out the crayons Birgit had recently purchased. Then we threaded a long, thin, toothpick-like piece of wood through the eggs, heated the crayons over lit candles and dripped the hot wax onto the egg shells.

Up until this point, everything had been running smoothly in the egg coloring process. However, as we rolled our eggs over the flames, trying to coax the wax to spread and cover the entire egg, we found that the wax was uncooperative. Instead of covering the egg, it burned, leaving unsightly black scorch marks. In the end Birgit brought out a set of paints and we ended up coloring the eggs that way.

Although the eggs were not colored in the traditional way, I think we had more fun laughing at each other as our eggs burned and then covering them with paint.

The next day, we went to a family brunch at Birgit’s sister’s house. The food was excellent and so was the conversation. Mary’s family has been exceptionally kind to me and patient as well. They always encourage me to practice my German with them, are happy to answer my questions and gently correct my grammar and pronunciation mistakes. I was genuinely sad when I left for Salzburg, Austria, later that day. I hope that I will be able to visit Hannover and Mary’s family again before I leave Germany.

If you would like to see photos from my stay in Hannover, click this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/nemecse/EasterInHannover?feat=directlink

S.N.

Back in Marburg

After an awesome time in Hannover, Salzburg, and Prague, I have returned safely to Marburg and am ready to start school. Tomorrow class begins again and I can not wait talk to my peers and hear stories about their break.

Over the next week I will post entries and photos about my traveling experiences, so stay tuned.

S.N.