Hertzlichen Grüßen vom Leipzig und Joshua Lindgren

Guten Morgen! Gestern haben wir viel zu tun! Other than sleeping on the bus for most of the in-between travel from Berlin to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg to Leipzig, there was much to do on Thursday 29. May for the Bethany College Choir: After reaquainting ourselves with the Sun each morning around 5am or before (When it takes to the sky and lights all of Germany...not to mention waking us all up) everyone made it safely to the bus to make our way to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg.
In Wittenberg the Choir had a chance to see many of the wonderful sights where Martin Luther, that great Reformer, spent a great deal of his time and where he has his final resting place. Although we were split into two groups, there was nevertheless not enough time to see or hear about most of the wonderful exhibits and sights; we very much enjoyed what we saw.
After the tour, a group of students and I ventured into a small Eiscafe (somewhat resembling a roadside diner in the USA) and began the ensuation that begat the complete frustration of the Frau who was working the Eis (ice cream) counter. She could tell we were English speakers and brought us all English menus and we sat down, implying that we were going to dine-in. ...Or so she thought. Half of the group got up and ordered ice cream and left, a fourth ordered ice cream and sat back down, and I made the mistake of trying to get a pizza made in the limited time I had before the bus would leave. Needless to say, I don't think any words can really completely describe for someone who was not there the extremity that is the culture and social barriers we face anew each day. (But one cannot say that I did not try...)
From Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, we traveled to Leipzig (with much sleeping on the bus- to everyone's discomfort, näturlich).
St. Tomaskirche and St. Nicholaikirche were of great interest to me as an organist and soon-to-be graduate student in sacred music. It goes without saying that, naturally, ja - jemand wißt, that Bach, who tenured here, is mein Lieblingskomponist. It was fabulous to see the place (although physicallz much larger in confabulation and imagination than in palpability) where the Master had worked his craft and completed so very many compositions and achieved so very many great things besides. It was hallowing, indeed.
After touring the St. Nicholaikicrche and the St. Tomaskirche, the Choir sang two selections outside the St. Tomaskirche just in front of the famed Bach statue. After singing our selections, Dr. Mahraun announced to the great crowd that had amassed gradually as our music progressed, that we were from a college in Lindsborg, Kansas... USA - to which a great ,,Aaah...'' and ensuing applause commended our efforts.
After the warm reception by the random passer-byers and our accompanying tour friends, we checked into our hotel for the night where I again engaged in a bit of conversation with some natives (Auf deutsch, meine ich näturlich) realizing again how much more one can learn by being immersed in a culture than, yes, even four years of studying a language can even prepare.
Es ist genau ganz gut, daß ich einmal in deutschland bin. Naja, deutschland: wir lieben dich und danke dich für alles!
Bis nächste Post,
Dein Joshua