Life: Idiotropic

International Women dinners have started up again. The first night was hosted by Germany and the Netherlands. It started out fairly mellow - no crazy costumes, no noisy music - just a simple night. Lori Bozzi set up her treasures from all over Italy and India - beautiful jewlery, shoes, and purses. The turn-out was fantastic - way more than was expected that first night. I was especially proud that I was able to encourage the Spanish to mix a bit more. They ended up sitting right in the middle of the American crowd and we had a very nice French woman sitting with us also. She explained to me, ironically enough, how to make really good french fries, though they are a Belgian specialty.
For dinner, they served currywurst and pommes frites. While that meal is typical for carnival and street fairs, it is truly German fast food, so I was a little disappointed. They are capable of so much more, but, we they only have a certain amount of money to spend on food and they have to rely on the abilities of the Frisbee Club cooks, so, may it was for the best. It's hard to ruin currywurst. For dessert they served an apple kuchen from Germany and a rice cake from The Netherlands. Both were good, but I won't go begging for the recipes.
The real "joy" of the night came between dinner and dessert when they played "games." I was a participant in a traditional German wedding game (so I was told - though I can't imagine a bride putting herself through this). I went to the front of the room and sat down at a table there. The ladies put a poncho of sorts over me with holes on the sides and holes at the bottom. The poncho was "embellished" with a rather large stuffed brasierre up top and a little black lace thong towards the bottom. That, is where my hands went, through the holes on the bottom and into my shoes on the table so that I looked like a very tiny person in that chair. My Italian friend stood behind me stooped down so that noone could see her and she became my arms feeding me pickles and green olives, then really nasty vanilla pudding, then a very large chocolate covered marshmellow. That was a particular joy. The sweet old German lady beside me kept instructing, "a little on the nose, a little on the nose." So, I got marshmellow smeared over half my face. Then came the teeth brushing and the grand finale, dark burgundy lipstick. Ah... I was a beauty. Then the tables were turned and I was next to be her arms and hear the instructions, "a little on the nose, oh, yes, that looks good."

I went and sat at the German table afterwards because one of them had taken pictures and I wanted to see just how horrific I looked. She thought I looked cute. Not. I casually commented, "...and people think that German's don't have a sense of humor..." Looks of shock came from my friends there. Germans? No sense of humor? They were honestly surprised that they would have such a stoic reputation. Though, from experience now, it is unfounded. Germans have quirky humor, but it is definitely there. I think they just know how to work hard when it's time and play hard later.
The photos are all of bellydancing. The first two of the Germans and the last two of the Turks. After the game a troupe of German dancers came out all with brass canes and traditional belly dancing costume. After several tries the music cued to the correct place and the dancing began. I sat with the Dutch who helped out with the night asking if belly dancing had anything to do with German or Dutch culture. The looks on their faces said it all. No. The Germans were in charge of entertainment and my Dutch friends were just as puzzled as I was.

Last year the Germans put on a very nice Carnival party, but when it was time for entertainment we got a Whoopi Goldburg "Sister Act" skit and some dancing with cowboys and Indians. This year they entertained us with belly dancing.

Though there are no rules on what a country must do, the countries generally put on their night with food and entertainment that reflects/teaches something about their culture. Though there is a German culture here that is special and unique, that is not something that is displayed. It seems that they are trying to be as international as possible and I believe that has a lot to do with the past 60 years history. The country has not healed yet and nationalism is kept very quiet so that it isn't mistaken for something else.