Sunday, October 30, 2005

Heute ist Mantelsonntag! Coat Sunday, for those English speakers frequenting dotde. Of course, D and I didn't know this until we were scared away from a local breakfast buffet. After wandering around Mainz to find something to eat, we settled down at a cafe near the Mainzer Dom (English here) only to discover quite a festival going on. And by "quite a festival," I mean hundreds of people drinking fresh wine and local beer after
10:00 mass. Thus began our adventure with Coat Sunday,
which included the overconsumption of Nutella (D) along with a few nibbles at some healthy chestnuts, roasted on the spot (J!). And of course, D felt it necessary to participate with a new purchase (picture, right). For those of you close to D, you may remarking aloud, "White!?! D, do you know what'll happen with white!" But let's remember the importance of this purchase by a Californian with little past use for a warm accommodations. So despite the threat of spills, we decided to go for it. Especially since she'll be back at Davis in a year, and who needs a coat there anyway? Nevermind a dirty one, at that.

So let's look at this as a moment less as a potential for disaster, but rather as one which may result in great personal growth. Afterall, it does look so wonderful, right?

Saturday, October 15, 2005

J! here, hoping to inform you of the *real* *new* *strange* and *bizarre* customs and cultures we encounter in our travel ventures through and around the world. And even though we're mostly settled here in D-Land, this first installment will take us all the way back to the high plains of Northern Conneticut and the *real* *new* *strange* and *bizarre* greeting habits of the local inhabitants. Many thanks to my father, whose frequent trips into this territory as "Knowledge Trader" led to our exposure to the "Bap 'N Tap."

You may already be familiar with certain aspects of the "Bap N' Tap," a lightening quick conglomeration of techniques often exhibited in both adolescent sports and thumb wars. As a two step process, let's follow the illustrations:

Step One, the "Bap:"



Simple enough, right? Experienced practitioners of this salutation will tell you all about how this first stage of the "Bap 'N Tap" is a teaser for the more complex and visually engaging motion of the "Tap." This congratulatory contact often goes by the names of "Jam Hand," "Pound City," and "Rock Talk." In these simpler forms of expressions, there are disadvantages abound. Oftentimes, one attempts to make fist contact only to realize that the accomplice is approaching with a "High Five," resulting in an awkward flesh connection of palm and knuckle (closely resembling how Paper defeats Rock). In those cultures that primarily practice the "Bap 'N Tap," there are no such worries--as the multifaceted form of expression is the predictable mainstay of the region.

Step Two, the "Tap:"


And now you must realize the amount of finesse necessary for such an expression. Of course, this medium does not lend itself to show the full motion--the "'N" that springs between the "Bap" and the "Tap." But a close observer may notice how the fist must rotate several degrees, and the thumb must extend quickly and accurately enough to collide with the adjacent thumb. Mind you, this is not a slow motion, but a lightening fast gesture indicative of the emotion that this intensity and precision is mean to represent. When first exposed, outsiders may gasp at the breathtaking combination, as children gasp at their first exposure to fireworks. The "Bap" an explosion that lights up the skyline, the "Tap" all the glitter, before disappearing, flickering toward ground.

Dotde signing off on another installment of *new* *real* *strange* and *bizarre* customs and cultures from around the world.