Not much to read...

Since my years in Germany, I 've been somewhat of a Germanophile. Living there, finding the towns that my family came from, making friends, it was hard to leave. I've always been interested in learning the history of Germany and its people, back to the beginning. I'm talking the days of the Roman Empire, and the subsequent years of the many kingdoms that made up the Holy Roman Empire. But, it seems that each and every bookstore that you visit, you don't get much of a selection to choose from. Due to frustration and impatience, I decided not to ask Barnes &  Noble why they don't stock more books about Arminius and Goethe, but to send my inquiry straight to the German Embassy in the USA. Let me know if this may help!


Dear Sir,


For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed reading. I can spend hours reading a book cover to cover, and equal amount s of time in a bookstore, if time permits. Being of German descent, I am interested in the history of the places that my ancestors come from and love to look up and read of these places and their history.

However, it never fails, when I enter a bookstore or library to find a book relating to Prussian history, German economy or the Henseatic league, I’m hit with shelf after shelf or books about World War II or East Germany under communism. I believe that it is important for people to learn about the tragedies that occurred in Germany during the 20th century, but I’m also upset that a fifty year period has overshadowed a country and culture that goes back thousands of years. Why can’t a person, interested in Germany, find a book about Arminius, the leader of a Germanic tribe that defeated the Roman Legions at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, or about Gutenburg, the inventor of the printing press?

Germany and the German speaking people have brought art, music, invention, and culture to the world for centuries. Many American foods, drinks and traditions originate from places that Germans inhabit. Nearly 60% of the population of the United States can trace their ancestry back to a German speaking land or person, don’t they deserve to k now more about where they are from than the dark years of World War II and communism? Sadly, many of German origin are reluctant to learn of their history, due to a lack of media exposure that exemplifies the contributions that Germans have given to the world.

Unfortunately, many readers will form their opinions of Germany, based only on what they have available to them to read. The Germany that is represented on the book shelves, is not the Germany that I came to love, when I was posted there in the 1990’s.

Bookstores and libraries should follow the example of the Goethe Institute and the German Embassy’s www.germany.info campaigns and give their visitors a variety of material to learn about, and not only a couple of topics accentuating a difficult time in German history.

I do not know to what extent that the German Embassy engages book sellers, but perhaps there could be an initiative in which the German government could recommend or assist in putting books, with German subject matter, into distribution. I understand that this may be a far-fetched idea, but I believe without encouragement, the books that we find on shelves are going to represent only a small part of the overall German history. I don’t work in sales or the government, I am only an interested person, however, I am would be willing to help in any way possible to ensure that readers have access to all that Germany and its culture have to offer.

Kind Regards,

Matthew J Lang

Belarus Part II

While working today, I was listening to a radio station from Minsk. I like to do this, because it keeps me current on the local news and helps with terrain association if you actually know of the places that they are talking about. One of the songs that played was recently performed  by Belarus' competitor at the annual Eurovision contest in Dusseldorf, Germany. For those who don't know what Eurovision is, it is like American Idol, but with the entire European continent sending contestants, and there is a lot more "bling". 

This year Belarus sent 20 year old Anastasia Vinnikova to Germany, and she kicked it off with "I Love Belarus", take a look.

illy: espresso coffee meets the arts and opens the mind

illy: espresso coffee meets the arts and opens the mind

Matt...In Search Of: Belarus

Matt...In Search Of: Belarus: "When we read a travel magazine we are taken to exotic locations, often near turquoise water with white sand, or to Alpine ski resorts that c..."

Belarus

When we read a travel magazine we are taken to exotic locations, often near turquoise water with white sand, or to Alpine ski resorts that cater to the rich and famous. I think that sometimes, In this day and age of competition, we take for granted, the natural beauty of wheat field or undisturbed forest, the silence of agricultural village at dawn, or the smell of chimney smoke in the air at dinner time. These may conjure up memories of old times, for some, but in one corner of Europe it is the way life goes on. Welcome to Belarus.




I am not a sentimental person, by any means. And it takes a lot to move me, but for some reason, when I leave Belarus each time, I choke up a little. Perhaps I should start from the beginning. My relationship with Belarus began in late 1996 when I received orders to the US Embassy as a Marine Guard. From then on, Belarus has been a part of my life. I lived there for 16 months, and married a wonderful woman, with whom I have two gorgeous daughters. If you had told me at the age of twenty-one, that I’d be as connected to Belarus as I am, I’d have called a damned fool and walked away.



Sadly, what most people know of Belarus is what they read, hear from others or see what’s on the TV after a demonstration. Politics seem to overshadow anyone’s positive impressions of any location. This holds true in Belarus as well, but if you’re smart and can put the seriousness of the current situation behind you, I would encourage you to get out and enjoy the scenery. The people of Belarus are warm and giving and you’ll never leave a table hungry.



For the art lovers we have the birthplace of Marc Chagall, military historians would be interested in seeing the birthplace of General Tadeusz Kościuszko, there’s something for everyone. Occupying the crossroads of the geographic center of Europe, Belarus is a door from east to west. Sharing its western and northern borders with the European Union nations of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, and its southern and eastern borders with Ukraine and Russia, Belarus could not be any more centric if it tried. When I visit, I often take short trips to nearby countries, and it’s as simple as buying a train of short plane ride. In a matter of minutes you can change between three languages, and hear at least three more from travelers coming from the far corners of the old Soviet Union.



I am often impressed by the amount of goods that I can buy when I visit Minsk. Fruits from and vegetables from Uzbekistan, wine from Georgia, fish from the Baltic Sea, caviar from Siberia, and to wash it all down, fresh beer from local Belarusian breweries. A trip to the local market, and parting with ten dollars and you and three friends can have a nice picnic in the forest. Hell, who needs a market? During the summer, the intersections of any road become small farmers markets, with villagers peddling fruits and veggies, fresh sour cream, and catch of the day from the nearest lake.



I’ve spent many hours sitting outside of my in-laws house, at a makeshift table, eating slow cooked meats, fish, and salads, while talking, arguing, laughing, crying, but never walking away upset. No rush, no problem, this is the mantra that I hear again and again, and that I wish I could replicate in my hectic life in the States. I’m often asked whether it’s worth it, to work each day from morning until night, to put your kids in a daycare, and to rush home to cook dinner, so that I can repeat the process the next day. I haven’t been able to answer that yet. I’m impressed, jealous actually, that I visit other countries and see people who have far less than I do, and even less opportunity, and they are more content and happier than I am, why? I hope that I find the answer some day. In the meantime, I have my respite in knowing that my version of heaven is only a day away by flight. I think I’ll call home now.

Matt...In Search Of: Back to life, back to reality

Matt...In Search Of: Back to life, back to reality: "I have left the lands of Mohammad and am now back in Northern Virginia, what a difference 36 hours, and eight time zones make! Dubai was an ..."

Back to life, back to reality

I have left the lands of Mohammad and am now back in Northern Virginia, what a difference 36 hours, and eight time zones make! Dubai was an interesting experience, kind of like an enourmous sim city, or an Arab version of Las Vegas, minus copious amounts of booze and showgirls. I was impressed by the enourmous buildings and the amount of construction. During the mid 20th century, Dubai as a small port on a creek, and consisted of nothing but small clay building and walled compounds. It has certainly transformed itself into a fincncial and commercial powerhouse. The fact that is rather tolerant of others makes it a springboard for regional businesses, and an expat friendly city. My good frined, Dan and his family, have called it home for the past two years, and have a lifestyle that you won't find in the US. It may take getting used to, and the summers are unbearble, but the quality of life is second to none, and you'll have some great memories.

I wish that I had more time for sightseeing, but unfortunately, spent a majority of the time in meetings and conferences, I suppose I wasnt' sent there to play. I hope to make it back there, again, I've already developed my list of things to do. First and foremost is to finally take the desert safari that I missed. Secondly, to go skiing inside the Mall of the Emirates. I saw the mountain, but didn't get in, damned appointments!

Matt...In Search Of: My Frankfurt

Matt...In Search Of: My Frankfurt: "I have some time to kill before my next flight and wanted to give an update of my morning. The flight from DC was uneventful. I flew on Unit..."

My Frankfurt

I have some time to kill before my next flight and wanted to give an update of my morning. The flight from DC was uneventful. I flew on United Airlines, nothing sectacular there, standard, standard, "no sir, we already served juice, you'll have to wait", typical US airline.

I arrived in Germany at approximately 6:30 am, cleared immigration and took the train downtown, nothing has changed, except the ticket machines are now touchscreen, but it all came back to me!  I decided to get out at the Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) and walk, it was only 7:30 and I forgot that nothing opens until at least 9:00 here. No problem, I had plenty of time to walk around and see the city. I was posted here as an Embassy Marine in 1995-1996, in my opinion, those were my definitive years. I had already been a Marine for 2 and a half yars, but this was different. I had more freedom, more money, and a schedule. I lived here with nine other Marines, in a house, just north of the downtown. We worked, worked out, and partied hard, and met some great people, friends for life, as you may have seen from some of my postings.

Though we may not see eachother for years on end, there is no doubt that we pick up where we left off once we meet. For many of us, Frankfurt has an attraction that we can't shake. Most Germans will tell you that it is a horrible place, and not the "real Germany", but for those of us that lived here, it was like home. Whenever I come here, I am comfortable, I know my way around, and I feel attached to it.

This morning I walked to many of my old places; the pedestrian shopping quarter (Zeil), the Roemer Platz (where the city hall is), and various places that I was fond of. You saw many of these pictures online, on my facebook page. I sill log into web radio stations from Frankfurt, and listen to the traffic report and know exactly where they are talking about or read the online newspaper from the city, and know what the reporter means. It is strange, but there is a kindred spirit here. Unbeknownst to me at the time I lived here, but my Great Grandfather came from a town just north of Frankfurt, Oberursel. Ironically, during my time in Frankfurt, I would visit this town many times a week to see someone that I was dating here. I walked past a cemetary each evening, that most likely had my family in it, and never knew it. Maybe there was some strange force at work, telling me that I had made it home.

Or maybe it's the fact that I haven't slept in over 23 hours that I'm carrying on like this, who knows? I suspect that some of you reading this have a similar feeling about some place special as well. This should not be ignored, but explored, think about it.

Road Trip!

It's been an extremely busy week, and I haven't had the time to write about anything, at least anything cheerful. I've been tied to the computer, since last week, assisting our employees that were affected by the earthquake in Japan, and consequently, the troubles of the Fukushima nuclear reactor. It's a shame that such devastation can occur in such a quick time, it really makes you think about the good things that you have in your life; family, friends, good food, you get the point.

Which brings me to the cheery side of this posting. I've managed to keep it rather quiet, but I'm gearing up for another road trip this afternoon. This time I leave from DC, fly to Frankfurt, Germany and then onto Dubai, UAE. I will enjoy an eight hour layover in Frankfurt, you heard me EIGHT!, where I'll take a few walks down memory lane and see what's changed in the fifteen years since I worked there. Then off to Dubai. This is my first trip to the UAE and based on the footage I've seen, I'm already under dressed and have been outblinged!

I hope to post as I go, and will  be uploading some pictures along the way, stay posted to the facebook page, and feel free to interact! Half of the fun of traveling is telling others about it!

Matt...In Search Of: Some light reading on a cold grey day

Matt...In Search Of: Some light reading on a cold grey day: "Here it is, the second week of March, and I'm still sorting through Christmas gifts. Most family members know that I love to read, and I ine..."

Some light reading on a cold grey day

Here it is, the second week of March, and I'm still sorting through Christmas gifts. Most family members know that I love to read, and I inevitably receive several books or bookstore gift cards throughout December and January. This is a great tradition, and I hope it never passes. The only drawback is finding the time to read so much. By the time I come home, have dinner, play with, wash, and put the kids to sleep, the last thing that I can do is concentrate on a page of words!

One of the books that I've been putting off is the "Sagas of the Icelanders", as I said, who has the time to read a magazine or small book, let alone a Saga! Well, I wish I started it sooner. This book is fantastic! I can't pronounce half of the names without butchering them, but this book is a gold mine of historical information. If you ever wanted to read about Viking history, and don't want all of the Hollywood imagery, you'll be happy with this. Many of the names and locations are historically significant to those in the Northern countries, and throughout the Baltic rim.

Many of us have ancestry from this region in the world, and it's interesting to see how the tribal differences centuries ago, helped to shape Europe and the modern difficulties that still continue, regarding languages, religion, and land claims.

Politics aside, if at any time you think you've had a difficult life and you're not being treated fairly, than read through this, to give yourself a new positive outlook on life, you won't regret it!

The Price of a Footnote

Well this is an interesting change of events! For all of you academics out there, who thought that no one would ever notice that you cut and pasted some one's work, take a look at this guy! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12608083
Photo: Reuters (This is me, properly footnoting photo!)
Talk about a fall from grace. Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg is a thirty-nine year old lawyer, descended from a noble Bavarian family. It was openly talked about, in the German political circles, that we would someday become the Chancellor of Germany. Now, in the course of two weeks, he's been publicly denounced as a plagiarist, renounced his PhD from Bayreuth University, and following the protest of nearly 50,000 legitimate German academics has decided to resign his post as German Defence Minister. The way I see it, he has a couple of choices; 1) return to the family homestead, as a recluse, and live off of the wealth that your forefathers built for you, 2) move to a different country, and write a book about how everyone is out to get you, or 3) prove yourself, the right way this time, by working on a PhD that you did yourself. Admit your mistakes and move on, he's already hit bottom, unless someone runs over his dog tomorrow.

Weekends in Virginia

Despite we have some of the worst traffic in the country, and housing prices will make you sick, there is a lot to be happy about living in Northern Virginia. The proximity to Washington, DC appeals to many of us, as does the high turnover rate of jobs, based on government and military transfers, but those are only a few of the benefits.

For a history buff, such as myself, this area is an endless source of early US history. The old seaport of Alexandria, founded in 1749 by Scottish merchants, is my favorite town in the country http://visitalexandriava.com/. I've lived here since 1998, and and impressed by it each time I visit the downtown area. Every street, church and building has some historical significance and if you look closely, you'll find the plaque or marker telling you which colonial founder or civil war officer slept there! A walk along the Potomac waterfront is a history lesson for any child, from the colonial founding all the way up til the making of torpedoes during WWII http://torpedofactory.org/. Throw in a snow cone and a balloon animal, you'll have some pretty contented children.

Running through the center of the city is the George Washington Parkway, as you drive south, you'll drive along the Potomac shoreline, through some of the most sought after addresses and zip codes in the country. Large estates line the shore, and quiet neighborhoods cover the hillside. The parkway ends at the front gates of George Washington's Mt Vernon estates. http://www.mountvernon.org/ Any person with an interest in history, colonial life, or the founding of the country will be amazed and inspired by this location. I have spent hours walking the property, and trying to imagine how it must of looked at the end of the 18th century. The on site museum will give you a sense of pride in your first President, and a wish to learn more.

As with most tours, the last stop is the gift shop, and rightly so. No visit would be complete without buying a new book, or stocking up on some mature Virginia wines. I like to visit during the holiday season, to get some new decorating ideas or to feel a connection to how Christmas must have been spent in the 1700's.

I'll digress for now, and let you draw your own conclusions. If and when you travel to Washington and are wondering "what is across the river?", make the trip to the "fun side of the Potomac" and see what it's all about.

Geez! It's nearly the end of February!

I did it again! Where does the time go? Here it is, nearly the end of February and I haven't posted anything in 2011. As much as I think about doing new things, I appear to have a problem getting ideas off of the ground. I find it much easier to talk through my thoughts, rather than posting them. However, this does limit my audience!

I promise to post more. I actually have an upcoming trip to Dubai, UAE in a few weeks and I'm really looking forward to it. This trip is centered around a regional security conference, that was originally scheduled for Cairo, Egypt. As luck has it, I booked my flight, hotel and itinerary, only to have the Egyptians decide to pick that week to revolt against their reigning President. So, the conference management decided to move it to Dubai. Seemingly a good idea, but now I'm curious as to whether the people will be revolting there by the time I land!  As we've seen on the news lately, the people are demanding to be heard. These are truly interesting times in the Middle East. It reminds me of the domino affect of the former Warsaw Pact countries falling from November 1989-1990. It's reassuring to know that many in that region deplore being ruled by callous dictators, at the same time, I am concerned about who will take their place. Time will tell and hopefully the local populations can sort this out without involving foreign influence.