13The English Language Journal

for Baden-Württemberg

www.accents-magazine.de

November/December 2006

accentsmagazine

Spending time with whisky and wine

Visa problems for US residents?

Reconstructing Roman ruins

Forget groceries! Raid the bargain bins!

Mature with Age

3accents magazine

“I love wine but I don’t likeGerman wine,“ remarked oneof our writers when told thatpart of our feature story wasgoing to be about wine. It’s acomment made by many anEnglish-speaking expatriate inGermany. Local wines are saidto be too fruity or too sweet or too ‘light.’ But do we reallyknow much about the wines ofthis region? Maybe we’re justnot buying the right type ofwine?

‘Tis, after all, the season forenjoying good food and drinkand so we’ve decided to focusin this edition of accents on twopopular alcoholic beverages.First, we look at a Scottish,

Irish and American import that’senormously popular in south-west Germany: whisky. If youhaven’t been to a whisky-tasting session yet you haven’tlived in Baden-Württemberglong enough.

Second, we present a simple,straightforward guide to Baden-Württemberg’s major wines.Wine buffs will roll their eyesbut the rest of us might dis-cover something potentiallypleasing to the palate.

Sticking with the theme offood and drink, we sent our travel writer off to Baiersbronn,in the Black Forest, to checkout Germany’s most prominentlittle gourmet town. It’s cram-

med with top-class restaurantsand surrounded by forests andlakes. A hot tip for a weekendtrip in the lead-up to Christmas.

Stuart Marlow, our ArtsEditor, has been out and aboutas well – digging up bits ofancient Rome all over Baden-Württemberg. He reports on the Limes wall and amateurarchaeologists who are makingnovel discoveries about this state’s rich cultural heritage.

When Liz Gaiser heads off tothe supermarket she’s not shop-ping for groceries. She’s thereto raid the bargain bins for theweekly specials, which shefinds more enthralling than any-thing American SUPERmarkets

have to offer. (“Who needs achoice of breakfast cereals the size of Nebraska?”) SeeLabyrinth, on page 26, for tipson shopping in Germany.

Also in this edition, theexclusive story of an Englishteacher in Freiburg who’s beentold to leave Germany, anAmerican in Böblingen who’spublished her own travel book,and a bus driver called Tom – who’s in Stuttgart to stay.

Happy reading. And enjoy theChristmas holiday season.

accents magazine

editorial team

Editorial

1410 16 19

10 Whisky and wine

Imported whiskies and local wines

11 Scotch from a Scott

Alec Farrel, whisky seller13 Not a bad drop

A guide to Baden and Württemberg wines

5 US resident told to leave

6 40 years of UK business

7 “Speech of Hope”

8 English author in Stuttgart

14 Baiersbronn

Cuisine capital

16 Exploring Roman roots

A wall called Limes 17 Autumn reading

18 Kelley Theatre re-opens

18 Children’s books

25 Money Matters

Mobile banking advisors

26 Grocery shopping

26 Raid the bargain bins!

4 Letters

4 My Two Cents

Inebriated and hung over19 accents choice

What’s on listings22 accents guide

Clubs and contacts24 Classifieds

Contents

Feature News and Events

accent on…

Arts and Culture

Good to Know

Labyrinth

Regulars

accents magazine Published by accents media GbR (Bryan Groenjes, Maki Kuwayama, Geoff Rodoreda) Neue Brücke 3, 70173 Stuttgart. Tel 0711 3102160, Fax 0711 3102161, info@accents-magazine.de Editor Geoff Rodoreda, editor@accents-magazine.de Arts Editor Stuart MarlowCopy Editor Katharine Schmidt Photographer Chrys Rynearson Contributors Toni Astle, Heinz Dunkel, Andreas Fischer, Dagmar Fritz, Liz Gaiser,Rebecca Perrin, Simon Rentschler, Steve Trevallion Advertising Enquiries Bryan Groenjes, ads@accents-magazine.de. Webmaster AndrewGolledge, webmaster@accents-magazine.de Website www.accents-magazine.de Graphic Design Brucklacher Visuelle Kommunikation Reutlingen,www.brucklacher.de Prepress CGS Möhrle, Vesoulerstraße 4, 70839 Gerlingen Cost free Published every two months Circulation 10,000 Distribution everywhere English is spoken: subscribing firms, cultural institutions, shops, pubs, clubs, theatres, hotels and selected tourist centres Advertisers and Corporate Subscribers Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG, Biddy Early’s Irish Pub, Celesio AG, Corso Cinema International,Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James-F.-Byrnes Institut e.V., Ernst & Young AG, George and Dragon English Pub, Open University, PiccadillyEnglish Shops, Robert Bosch GmbH, Schiller International University, SEB AG Stuttgart, St. Catherine’s Anglican Church, United States ArmyGarrison Stuttgart – Kelley Theatre ISSN 1862-345 X

Cover photo: G

reg Hirson

Letters

to the Editor

Dear editor,

I can’t get excited at all about Denglish (accents 12, pages 8 -10) since English itself changes so constantly and so rapidly.Vocabulary, usage, and spelling vary so much among Canadian,Australian, Irish, Indian and South African English speakers. Ithink we should let Germans create their own English. I myselfand several Americans I know find “Handy” a brilliant invention.So take it easy, and the next time you’re in Britain buying anaubergine, ask yourself why you don’t call it an “eggplant.” Ordon’t bother, and just enjoy that nice French word.Karen Adams-Rischmann, Karlsruhe

Dear Editor,

Denglish – or the mishmash of German/English – is a subjectvery close to my heart. We‘re an Irish family who‘ve been livingin Germany for 10 years. Our two daughters have developed aterrible habit of dropping in the odd German word when they’respeaking English. For example: “May I have a Gabel please?”or “We did Turnen today.” However, what really grates is theirAnglicisation of certain German words like basteling, schimpf-ing, and laufing. My husband and I actively try to discourage itall – the family back home in Ireland won’t understand the girlsanymore! We console ourselves with the knowledge that we’resurely not the only expat family suffering from this “syndrome.”Marianne Riordan, Salem

Dear Editor,

Browsing through the magazine racks of German newsagents, I sometimes wonder if I am in England or Germany. There’soften more than 50% English printed on the covers of magazin-es, especially those aimed at the youth market. I don’t knowwhy this has become so popular. It must be perceived as“cool.” However, a counter-example can be found in England,where the German car maker Audi has always ended its TV adswith the tagline Vorsprung durch Technik. It’s instantly recognis-able as the Audi slogan, though just how many people actuallyunderstand what it means is a mystery.Susan Taylor-Schulz, Heidelberg

Dear Editor,

I read your article “Irish jig and American square” (accents 12,pages 11-12) with interest. I am also a member of a folk danceclub, Tamburin Stuttgart e.V., and this is our 50th anniversaryyear. We focus on Scottish country dancing but also doAmerican square and contra. Scottish dancing is not based oncompetition, but is just as demanding as Irish dancing. Theemphasis is on teamwork, as 6-8 people dance together. Thereare thousands of different dances and more new ones beingcreated all the time. Contra dance is half-way between Scottishand square. The steps are not so important, but the figures of the dance have to be memorised. We are always glad towelcome newcomers and have regular “open house” evenings.If you want to know more: www.Tamburin-tanzt.deGwen Paterson-Traxler, Remseck

accents magazine4 Letters

accents magazine Neue Brücke 3 70173 Stuttgarteditor@accents-magazine.de

My Two Cents

By Katharine A. Schmidt

Teetotalers and social drinkers may notalways see eye to eye, but when it comesto drinking alcohol, one thing is certain:descriptions of drinking and various statesof inebriation include some of the mostcolorful wording in the English language.The phraseology runs the gamut from mus-cular boasting to affectionate nicknamingand genteel euphemisms.

If you’re going out to “sip some suds”or “pound some brewskis” in the US you’llbe drinking beer. Doing “shots” meansdrinking spirits in one gulp from a smallglass; a “chaser” is a beverage, usuallybeer, drunk immediately after a shot.

Later in the evening, describing some-one’s inebriated condition, you might useany of the following adjectives: wasted,sloshed, plastered, hammered, smashed or loaded. Or you might say someone was“three sheets to the wind.” (This term

reportedly originated with British sailors,but is now used on both sides of theAtlantic.) A polite outsider might say thedrunken person was “feeling no pain,” or“can’t walk a straight line.”

Then there are international variations in describing drunkenness, with the British,as far as I can tell, leading the pack insheer number of adjectives and creativity.Among them: blotto, legless, wellied (a ref-erence to rubber boots?), pickled, banjoed,rat-arsed, and stonkered. Be careful whenusing the British term “pissed” to describea drunken person. In the USA, “pissed”has nothing to do with drinking, but rather,as a shorter version of “pissed off,” means“angry.” (Brits would say “pissed off” tomean “angry.”) Australians also talk aboutsomeone being “blind” if they’re drunk.Folks back in the USA suggested: ripped,crocked, totaled, buzzed and tanked.

For lesser cases of alcoholic excess,someone who had drunk just enough to

lose some inhibitions would be describedby English speakers all over the world as“tipsy.”

And of course there are terms that dealwith the agony of being “hung over” thenext morning – that is, “under the weath-er,” “out of it,” or “cotton-mouthed.” The oft-recommended remedy is to have“the hair of the dog (that bit you).” That is – if you can stomach it – to take a swig ortwo of an alcoholic beverage to remedy thepost-binge headache.

Here’s wishing you a round of pleasantholiday celebrations, whether or not youindulge in a bit of “bubbly,” some finewine, or maybe even a glass or two of egg-nog!

Comments, questions, and suggestions to

mytwocents@accents-magazine.de

or accents magazine, Neue Brücke 3,

70173 Stuttgart

Folk dance, Scottish style

Denglish debated

News and Events 5accents magazine

News and Events

North Americans living and working as free-lance teachers in Baden-Württemberg mayface difficulties extending their residencypermits because of a recent change inGerman law.

Non-EU citizens who are self-employedand not living with a German spouse nowhave to prove they’ve invested at least onemillion euros and employ at least 10 peopleto qualify for an extension of their residencypermits, according to the new regulations.

The new federal law, the ImmigrationAct, came into effect last year. Althoughit’s a national law, it’s administered by theForeigners’ Affairs Offices (Ausländerbe-hörde) within local municipalities who taketheir cue on interpreting the law from stategovernment interior ministries.

Accents has learned of potential prob-lems for freelancers after being contactedby Jason Brown, a US citizen who’s been a Freiburg resident since March, 2003.

Brown, 32, has had his application for atwo-year extension of his residency permitturned down, despite having had it extend-ed once already, for two years, in April,2004. He’s self-employed as a freelanceEnglish teacher and photographer.

“I have eight different companies orgroups as clients, and I pay my taxes,”says Brown. “My students can’t believe

I’ve been told to leave Germany despitebeing no burden to the state and providinga much-needed service.”

Brown says he was told by Freiburg authorities in March this year that becauseof the new “one million+10 jobs” require-ment, in paragraph 21 of the new immigra-tion law, his permit could not be renewed.There are a number of exceptions to therequirement, but none of them appears toapply to freelance English teachers.

“Freiburg authorities say their hands aretied,” says Brown. “But I know of a UScitizen in North-Rhine Westphalia who’sjust had his permit extended, so there areclearly different ways of dealing with thislaw. It can’t be Germany’s wish that Ameri-cans teaching English here are forced toleave en masse. It’s an absurd situation.”

Brown says that following various lettersof protest, he’s now had his stay tempora-rily extended till January, 2007.

A Düsseldorf lawyer, Patrick Mustu,who’s taken an interest in Brown’s case,has written to both the federal and Baden-Württemberg interior ministries asking for clarification of the status of freelancelanguage teachers. A letter from federalofficials says the new rules in relation toself-employed foreigners “are being re-viewed” to see whether “special rules for

freelancers” should be introduced. “The current turmoil results from a lack

of experience with the new law,” saysMustu. “It’s clear that freelance languageteachers were not taken into considerationwhen the rules were drafted.”

For information about Germany’s

Immigration Act, in English, see

www.zuwanderungsgesetz.de/english/

index.html

US teacher’s residency rejected

The future of freelancers unclear

A Freiburg residentsince March 2003,now told to leavethe country: US citi-zen, Jason Brown.

Europe in pictures and prose

Publishing your own travel book

By Andreas Fischer

It was her grandparents who came upwith the idea. After being sent so manypictures and e-mails during their grand-daughter’s travels throughout Europethey popped the question: “Why don’tyou write a book?” It took some time for Vicki Landes (pictured right) to realizethe project.

Landes, 31, moved from St. Charles,Missouri, to Böblingen in February 2000.Her husband is in the US army, and sincearriving here they’ve spent a lot of theirspare time travelling. Landes took hercamera with her everywhere and hasdocumented many of the sights andcolours of Europe in a 212-page picture

book, Europe for the Senses – A Photo-graphic Journal.

“I never travelled when I was in theUnited States,” she says. “But in Europethere’s so much history, and I wanted to be able to see it all.”

To get her book published, Landes worked with a company called BookSurge,a subsidiary of Amazon, based in NorthCarolina, which specializes in print-on-demand books. She hired an editor to gothrough the text in her book. A publicistin San Diego has the task of generatingreviews in the United States. She evengot a review in the New York Times. Thewhole publishing project has cost her justa few hundred dollars.

What makes her book different from

other travel books, says Landes, is that it doesn’t document just famous sites.

“Europe is also about the little sitesthat people do not know about,” shesays.

For further information

www.europeforthesenses.com

accents magazine6 News and Events

Forty years ago Heinz Dunkel became

Chairman of the British Trade Council

in Baden-Württemberg, the predeces-

sor of the British Chamber of Com-

merce in B-W. Here he describes the

gradual strengthening of business ties

between south-west Germany and

the UK.

Admittedly, it was quite an embarrass-ment. The Stuttgart-based, world-renowned firm Robert Bosch GmbH had organised a special reception and acompany tour for members of the BritishTrade Council in Baden-Württemberg.They were probably expecting a busloadof people but only around six of us showed up. This was in 1964, and I wasthe Baden-Württemberg branch managerfor the British firm Dexion at the time.

It was a crucial event in British/Baden-Württemberg business ties. The embarrassing ‘no-show’ at Boschspurred us to take action.

The B-W chairman of the council atthe time, an Englishman based in Karls-ruhe, asked me to come up with strate-gies to help raise the council’s profile,and I decided to take on the challenge.In 1966, I became chairman of the council, a position I held for 23 years.

Part of the reason for the difficulty in arousing interest in trade with the UK at that time was Germany’s post-wardivision into four occupation zones.British firms were mainly interested intrading with north-western Germanybecause that’s where British troops

were mainly stationed. However, Britishbusiness interests in south-west Ger-many have expanded over the years, and the membership of our council and,later, the Chamber of CommerceRegional Group, has steadily increased.

Over the last 20 years the volume oftrade between Baden-Württemberg andthe UK has increased from just over 5billion euros in 1985 to almost 13 billionlast year. The UK is now Baden-Würt-temberg’s fifth-largest international trad-ing partner.

Recently, the British Chamber ofCommerce in Germany (Regional GroupBaden-Württemberg) founded a newforum for business leaders, the Inter-national Entrepreneurs Forum. The ideais to allow business leaders to gather todiscuss issues of mutual concern awayfrom the everyday stress of commercialdealings.

Ralf Steppat is now the chairman ofour Regional Group, and we have morethan 100 members locally.

The British Chamber of Commerce in Germany, as a national network, was established in 1919. Today, with over950 members, it’s the largest British-German economic network in Europe.

For further information, visit

www.bccg.de

From strength to strength

Burgeoning business with Britain

By Simon Rentschler

Enter Tom Neff’s bus and you’ll forget youever met a grumpy bus driver. Neff, who’sfrom Allentown, Pennsylvania, is one offour native-English speakers who earn theirliving winding their way through Stuttgart’sstreets as local bus drivers.

“I always try to smile at people and finda friendly word for my passengers,“ saysNeff (pictured below) who first came toGermany with the U.S. Army in 1983. Aftervarious jobs driving delivery vans in Munichhe came to Stuttgart to try his hand atvehicles that were much, much longer.

“I never planned to become a bus driv-er,” Neff said. “I just needed a job and sawan advertisement for a bus driver in Stutt-gart. I had to be trained for it.”

Driving different shifts from one day tothe next can be tiring, says Neff, but driv-ing the same route is never boring.

“There’s always something differenthappening – a pigeon walking in circles onthe street, refusing to let you pass; a friendhonking to greet you; chatting to peoplewhile waiting at a red light,” he says.

Neff has never driven a bus in theUnited States but from what he knows

about riding busses in America, the biggestdifference is punctuality.

“People here always expect you to keepto your tight schedule despite problemswith the traffic or an unusually high numberof passengers,” says Neff.

Being a native English-speaking bus driver seems to make him popular with the locals. Passengers who recognize hisaccent become curious, and ask aboutwhere he’s from and how he ended up in Stuttgart. Neff says there are two otherAmericans on staff, as well as a bus driver from England.

“Stuttgart will probably be my last stop.I’m here to stay,” says Neff. “I like thecountryside and Swabian food is great.”

Roll on, Tom

The American at the wheel

News and Events 7accents magazine

It’s seen as one of the most importantmoments in American-German relations.

Sixty years ago, U.S. Secretary of State,James F. Byrnes, came to war-ravagedStuttgart to make a landmark speech in thecity’s Opera House. After the end of WorldWar II, no one knew what America’s policytowards Germany be. Would Germany beleft to deal with its own problems?

At that time, the Western powers werefearful that hunger and poverty would driveGermans towards communism, and soByrnes’ “Restatement of Policy on Ger-many” speech, which became commonlyknown as the “Speech of Hope,” was alandmark address which set the tone offuture U.S. policy towards Germany andEurope. Byrnes confirmed that Americawould contribute to Germany’s economicand political reconstruction and that the US would maintain a lasting presence here.

“After the first World War,” said Byrnes,“we thought we could stay out of Europe’swars, and we lost interest in the affairs of Europe … We will not again make thatmistake. We intend to continue our interestin the affairs of Europe and of the world.”Byrnes ended his speech by saying: “TheAmerican people want to help the German

people to win their way back to an honor-able place among the free and peace-lovingnations of the world.”

What followed was the Marshall Plan forthe economic reconstruction of WesternEurope and the beginning of Germany’spost-war recovery.

On October 4, 2006, former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, came to Stuttgartto take part in celebrations to mark the60th anniversary of the Speech of Hope.

On the same stage that Byrnes spokefrom, Kissinger reflected on the foreignpolicy challenges facing the United Statesand Germany today. He called on the USand Germany to help develop a new inter-national strategy for dialogue and exchangewith the Islamic world.

“May Germany and America masterthese new challenges,” concluded Kissin-ger, “as effectively and as convincingly as they mastered the challenges followingJames Francis Byrnes’ speech sixty yearsago.”

Sixty years on

The “Speech of Hope”

Wondering about what books to

buy this Christmas? This list might

make shopping a little easier.

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini, Bloomsbury, 340 pagesAnthony Bourdain’s

Les Halles Cookbook,

Bloomsbury, 304 pages, illustratedI’m Dreaming of a Shite Christmas

R.J. Clarke, Boxtree, 96 pagesEat, Pray, Love

by Elizabeth Gilbert, Bloomsbury, 334 pages

Children’s Books

Ho Ho Ho!

by Melanie Walsh, Walker, board bookWinston the Book Wolf

by Marni McGee and Ian Beck,Bloomsbury, picture bookThe Fourth King:

The Story of the Other Wise Man

by Ted Sieger, Walker, picture bookThe Kingfisher Book

of Classic Christmas Stories

selected by Ian Whybrow, 144 pages

Special Christmas tips

Prominent guest in Stuttgart: HenryKissinger in theState Opera House.

Photo: S

ascha Baum

ann/Staatsm

inisterium

Tips from a visiting writer

English author, Alan Durant

Alan Durant doesn’t have great memories of Germany. The first and last time hecame here he crashed his car and nearlykilled himself.

Back then, 20 years ago, Durant (pictured below) was not a professionalwriter but was “bumming around Europe”in a van with three friends. Driving on the autobahn near Frankfurt, he swervedinstinctively to miss a wayward dog. The car ran off the highway and rolled anumber of times but no one was seriouslyinjured.

In October, 2006, on a visit toStuttgart, Durant was being driven fromappointment to appointment.

Alan Durant, 48, is a leading author ofchildren’s books. He’s penned more than50 titles, ranging from pre-school picturebooks to teenage thrillers. Many of hisbooks have been translated into Germanand a dozen other languages. Dear Tooth Fairy, Dear Father Christmas, (seereview, page 18) and Always and Foreverare among his best-known books. He alsoruns writing courses for aspiring child-ren’s authors.

Durant studied English in Oxford. He worked as a copywriter at Walker Books, his current publisher, before writing hisfirst book in his early thirties. He wasinvited to Stuttgart in October to talk tostudents at the International School ofStuttgart about reading and writing.

Accents caught up with Alan Durantduring his Stuttgart visit to ask what ittakes to be a professional author.

Accents: Why did you decide to start

writing stories for children?

Durant: We all have a time in our liveswhich seems to be the most important tous personally. For me, it was the teenageyears. I hated them. I just didn’t get it, I didn’t fit in. It’s the time of life whenyou’re changing so quickly and the ex-periences and concerns of those times stayed with me into adulthood. My twocomforts as a teenager were football andreading. I also began writing at the age of 14. Later on, my job at Walker Booksinvolved writing blurbs for the backcovers of children’s books, which meant I had to read a lot of stuff, and it wasthen that I thought about writing andpublishing my own book. I began with a young adult novel, Hamlet, Bananas and All That Jazz in 1991.

Has the worldwide success of Harry

Potter brought more recognition for

authors of teenage books?

A lot of adults are now reading morechildren’s books or young-adult books,and that pleases me. Although the defini-tion of what is for adults and what’s forteenagers is not always so clear cut. TheCatcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, is abook about a teenager, but no one wouldargue it’s only a book for teenagers.There’s certainly a lot of brilliant writing,aimed at teenage readers, which is greatfor adults. Philip Pullman writes great stories; Robert Cormier’s I am theCheese is a book that I think any adultwould enjoy.

Is there a kind of elitism among authors

whereby adult writers look down on

children’s authors? That you’re not

seen as a ‘real’ writer unless you write

fiction for adults?

You don’t get that sort of thing from fellow writers. But it comes across in themedia a bit like that, that you’re not aserious writer if you write for kids. Whena famous writer of adult fiction suddenlywrites a children’s story, then it’s hailedin the media as a big deal. It’s true thatchildren’s books don’t normally get theattention they deserve.

What are some of the qualities you

need to be a successful writer?

You need to be single-minded and a littlehard-headed about pursuing your goal.You may need to take a few knocks alongthe way, but you need to be wedded towhat you’re doing. Writing is really allabout self-expression. You’ve got to wantto say something, to express somethingof what’s inside you, otherwise there’sno point. What you write has to havemeaning for you.

What advice would you give to some-

one who wants to get started as a

writer?

Come to my writing course in Francenext year! (See www.alandurant.co.uk for further info.)

OK, that’s an idea for potential child-

ren’s authors. But what about three tips

for wanna-be writers in general?

First, entertain yourself with your writing. If you read over something you’ve writ-ten and you think it’s boring and a bitslow, then you’ve got an immediate prob-lem. How can you expect someone elseto want to read it? Your writing has to beinteresting for you. Second, I think it’smore important to concentrate on charac-ters than on plot; to look at how yourcharacters react to what’s happening, toother characters and to various situations.Third, you do have to know your audien-ce. If you’re writing for children, it’s oftenvery difficult. You have to know what a 5-to-6 year old is capable of understand-ing, for instance, and write for them.

You’ve got three teenage kids yourself

now. Do they read dad’s books?

Yes, they’re my ‘guinea pigs’ for newwork. My 17-year-old daughter, in partic-ular, has become a wonderful critic. She’sbrutally honest about what doesn’t workwith a story, and doesn’t mind telling mewhat she thinks! And most of the prob-lems she saw in a first draft of my nextbook were spot-on.

accents magazine8 News and Events

Feature

Savour the flavour

Whisky and wine

accents magazine10 Feature

One is imported and one is produced

locally. But quality, not provenance, is

what’s important to Baden-Württember-

gers, who enjoy drinking both whisky

and wine. Accents presents a guide

to Baden and Württemberg wines, and

reports on the chic of whisky, the ‘in’

drink in south-west Germany.

It’s 3 o’clock on a Saturday afternoon. TheGeorge and Dragon English pub in Stuttgartis not normally open at this time, but todayit’s hosting a private event, a whisky tast-ing session. All 35 seats are taken.

Whisky expert Mischa Damm is explain-ing how Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey(spelt mostly with an ‘e’ in the USA andIreland) is made, and what the drink tasteslike at each stage of the distillation process.

In a country renowned for its variety ofbeer and schnapps, and in a state renown-ed for its wine, there should be a wideenough choice of locally produced alcoholic

beverages to drink. But whisky, a beverageimported almost exclusively from Scotland,Ireland and the USA, is drunk widely acrossBaden-Württemberg. Attending whiskytasting sessions is becoming a popularweekend pastime.

You learn all sorts of interesting thingsat whisky tastings, such as the fact thatyour nose can distinguish between 250 different scents whereas your tongue canonly distinguish five different tastes. Oryou learn about trans-Atlantic differences:“American whiskies generally have a stronger, sharper taste, with more bite,”explains Damm. “Irish and Scottish whis-kies are softer, milder, generally more mel-low.” Or you learn about what to add toyour whisky: Says Damm: “Some folks say you should never drink whisky withoutwater. Others say you should never drinkwater without whisky. American producerstend to say ‘as you like it’”.

At the end of Damm’s drinking lesson

you receive a certificate; you’ve passed awhisky tasting ‘course.’

Is it just marketing hype or is it neces-sary knowledge? You can certainly crackopen a bottle yourself and drink away, butit’s better to learn about what you’re drink-ing, according to the experts.

“There are so many different varieties ofwhisky,” says whisky importer Peter Sond-heim, who co-owns the Piccadilly EnglishShops in Stuttgart and Heidelberg. “Manypeople who come along to our tastings aresurprised to discover they actually like thetaste of it, that a 16-year-old single maltwhisky tastes very different to a 10-year-oldvariety made by the same company.”

“It’s really the same as with wine,” saysAlec Farrel, a Scott who sells whisky inReichenbach-Fils. “You don’t have to knowabout whisky, but taking part in a tastingevent will help you to find out about thedifferent regions the whiskies come from.It makes drinking them more interesting.”

Feature 11accents magazine

Market growth

Exact figures on whisky sales in Baden-Württemberg are difficult to come by. Now-adays, a lot of whisky is bought over theinternet. However, market research showsthat more than six million Germans regular-ly drink whisky. In 2003, more than 11 mil-lion bottles of Scottish whisky were sold inGermany, according to one study, as wellas eight million bottles of American whis-key. That adds up to annual sales in excessof 210 million euros.

The Scotsman, Farrel, and the English-man, Sondheim, both report a strong growth in whisky sales over the last fewyears. Sondheim has increased the numberof whisky-tasting sessions in his shop this

Photo credit: factum

. Mundelsheim

wine-grow

ing on the Neckar R

iver

Whisky sales increasing: Peter Sondheim,owner of thePiccadilly EnglishShops

year and expanded the range of whiskieshe sells. He also sells more and more whis-ky over the internet to customers all overEurope. A rare 1954 bottle of whisky wasrecently sold to one customer in Russia for9000 euros.

Farrel says Germans are better whiskydrinkers than Brits. “Germans like to sitdown and enjoy their drink,” he says.“They put more emphasis on having theproper glasses and so on, and they spendmore money on their drinks (than people in Britain.)”

“Germany is definitely now the majorEuropean market for whisky,” says KevinPedersen, manager of the George &Dragon pub, and a host himself of manywhisky tasting sessions. Pedersen has just

Original Scotch

from an original Scot

Alec Farrel, pictured below, first came

to Germany from Scotland in 1964.

He worked at a US Army base before

opening his own Golf & Whisky Shop

in Reichenbach-Fils in 1993. He’s retired

now but still sells whisky to hundreds

of regular customers. Simon Rentschler

spoke with Alec Farrel about whisky

drinking in south-west Germany.

Is whisky becoming more popular in

this part of Germany?

Definitely. When I first opened my shop I had 18 different single-malt whiskys.Now I’ve got 240. I can’t expand on thatnumber any further because there areonly around 112 distilleries in Scotland.Also, nowadays, there are a number ofGerman magazines produced just forwhisky lovers, and there are many morebooks written on the subject.

How often do your regulars come to

your shop and where do they come

from?

They come around five or six times ayear. A lot come from around here orStuttgart but I also have customers whocome from as far away as Mannheim. Of course, there are whisky shops inMannheim but they say they find a larger selection here and also find rarerwhiskies.

How do Germans discover Scottish

and Irish whiskies in the first place?

I’d say it’s mostly from travelling. Peoplego abroad and discover the taste of whiskies. Not only in Scotland – althoughScotch whiskies are considered to be the kings of whisky!

What about whisky tastings?

Aren’t they becoming more popular?

Yes. I have about nine tastings a year.They provide a good opportunity for people to develop their taste in whisky.And, of course, the lead-up to Christmasor New Year’s is the time when mostpeople come to tastings and buy pre-sents for their family and friends or forparties.

What sort of people come to your

whisky tastings?

People range in age from 25 to 55. InGermany, as opposed to Britain, a lotmore couples come to tastings. And a lotof women come here to buy whisky fortheir husbands or themselves.

Would you also say there are differen-

ces in drinking behaviour between

Germany and Britain?

Definitely. Germans like to sit down andenjoy their drink, while the Brits wouldrather rush it down. Also, Germans putmore emphasis on having the properwhisky glasses and so on, and theyspend more money on their drinks. In Britain, people tend to buy blendedwhiskies more than single malts.

Do you have to know about whiskies

in order to drink them?

It’s really the same as with wine. Youdon’t have to know about whisky, buttaking part in a tasting event will help youto find out about the different regions the whiskies come from. With Scottish whiskies you’re looking at highland orlowland whiskies; whiskies from themainland or from islands off the coast.

I myself like the taste of island whiskies.They are normally smokier and pithierthan whiskies from the mainland.

How much does a good bottle of

whisky cost?

A good whisky starts at around 30 euros.For that price you’re looking at a 10-to-12-year-old whisky. You have to realisethat a whisky barrel loses 2-3% of itscontents every year through evaporation.And a whisky might be stored in awarehouse for 17 or 21 years before it’ssold. During all those years the producerhas to pay insurance and so on – it’s basically money lying around. That’s whyolder whiskies are more expensive.

started up a new business called WhiskyAmbassador Baden-Württemberg. Hewants to organise whisky tastings acrossthe state and sell more whiskies directly.“People in this part of Germany take a longtime to be convinced about the quality of a product, whether it’s whisky or anythingelse,” says Pedersen. “But once they’reconvinced they’ll buy quality.”

Wines made locally

While whisky is clearly growing in populari-ty in Baden-Württemberg, wine has alwaysbeen popular with the locals. The 10.7 million burghers of this state drink twice asmuch wine, per head of population, as theirfellow Germans. Germany is known inter-nationally for its range of white wines, butwinemakers in B-W also produce a largeselection of reds.

“I was certainly surprised to discoverthe range of red wines made here,” saysCraig Lewis, an Australian oenologist (winescientist) who’s on an internship at B-W’sState Training and Testing Institute forWine and Fruit, in Weinsberg. “Red winesdo have quite a different taste here, thanthe (heavier) red wines many expatriatesmight be used to,” says Lewis. “You haveto understand that the wine growing clima-te is very different here. But my advice isto give German wines a try.”

The same advice is offered by MichelMeunier, a lecturer in wine science atCharles Sturt University in Australia.Meunier, a Canadian, is on a six-monthstudy visit to Weinsberg to learn moreabout German wines.

“Comparing German wines to, for exam-

ple, Australian wines you have to considerthe climate. Here, the grapes ripen undercooler conditions. This makes the winestaste a bit fresher and ‘crisper.’ On theother hand, they lose the heavy taste of anAustralian red wine,” says Meunier.

“Looking at white wines, they are moredelicate over here. There’s a nice balancebetween acid, flavours and sweetness.”

Recommendations

A good place to start, for those looking forsomething ‘heavier’ from their reds, wouldbe a Lemberger, says Oliver Schmidt, a lecturer in wine science at the WeinsbergTraining Institute.

“A Lemberger is a nice, spicy winewhich tastes a little like a Shiraz in terms of flavour and aroma, but not in terms of its‘weight’ or ‘body’ – that means it doesn’tsit and fill up your whole mouth like rich,dark chocolate (or a Shiraz) would,” saysSchmidt.

Baden-Württemberg’s Wine Institute isthe oldest continuously functioning wineschool in Germany. It was opened in 1868,and has three vineyards at its disposal fortesting and developing the region’s wines.The diversity of whites and reds matchesthe diversity of the local cuisine.

“You have to remember that wines are produced to match food,” says CraigLewis. “In other words, you wouldn’texpect to fall in love with a German redwine if you were eating an Australian T-bone steak.”

According to Baden-Württemberg’s wineexperts, the simple rule that white winegoes with fish or poultry and that red winegoes with red meat is somewhat outdated.A meal with a heavy cream sauce, forexample, is best accompanied by a heavier,more full-bodied wine – regardless ofwhether it’s a white or a red. Lighter mealsare best complemented by a more acidicwhite wine, such as a Reisling or even arosé.

Local experts concede there is a common perception overseas that Germanwines are always sweeter than wines fromanywhere else. But given the range ofwines on offer in Baden-Württemberg,where does this perception come from?

Most of the wine sold in Germany, especially in restaurants, is not fruity,sweet-tasting wine but dry (trocken) wine.However, most of the wine exported fromGermany, to traditional markets like the UK,is still sweet. Maybe it’s really the sweet-toothed Brits and other foreigners who areto blame for the lingering view of manyexpats that German wines are too fruityand sweet.

Most Germans prefer drinking ‘real’German wine – like the reds and whitesmade in Baden-Württemberg.

Simon Rentschler

helped research this story

accents magazine12 Feature

Mondays Music & movie quiz

Tuesdays Live Jazz music

W ednesdays General Knowledge Quiz

SaturdaysDarts tournament

The George & Dragon English PubIn Hotel Le MeridienW illy-Brandt-Stra§e 30

70173 Stuttgart0711 2804969w w w.gandd.info

Hard at work:Australian wine scientist, Craig Lewis.

What can The Open Universitydo for you?

It can give you a BA/BSc degree, MA,MSc, MBA, Diploma or Certificate. But just as important, it opens up anew world of interests, challenges andachievements. The Open Universityoffers a choice of 199 courses whichare taught in English. And providedyou’re over 18 and resident in theEuropean Union, you’re eligible. No previous qualifications are requiredfor most undergraduate courses. Over 2 million people have studiedwith The Open University. For furtherinformation please contact MatthewHawkes on the email below – please quote reference code DEFASB.

email: m.hawkes@open.ac.ukwww.open.ac.uk

A good drop

Baden-Württemberg wines

Baden-Württembergers are

Germany’s biggest wine

drinkers. They drink twice

as much wine per person as

the German average. This

could be because B-W pro-

duces a wide selection of

both red and white wines.

Dr. Oliver Schmidt from the

B-W State Training and

Testing Institute for Wine

and Fruit, in Weinsberg,

helped us to describe the

major wines of south-west

Germany.

Red Wines

Lemberger

The main red wine of Würt-temberg. It’s a very darkwine with a spicy note to itand has the potential toimprove with age. Comparingit to internationally knownwines, it’s a bit like a Shirazin terms of flavour and aromabut not in terms of its weightor body. The same grape isalso grown in Austria, whereit’s called Blaufränkisch.

Spätburgunder

The main red wine of Baden.It belongs to the group ofPinot Noir wines of France.It has a round, mild, creamytaste. Today, more and morewineries use oak barrels(barrique) to age this wine,which lend it a fuller, roundertaste.

Trollinger

Best described as a ‘lighter’red wine; lighter in colourand fruity in taste. It’s oftencompared to a rosé. Dr.Schmidt describes Trollingeras the “VW-Golf” of wines:it’s a wine with a good,reliable taste, but don’t ex-pect it to be a “Mercedes E-Class.” Trollinger is oftenblended with Lemberger fora harmonious result.

Schwarzriesling

Don’t be fooled by the word“Riesling” here – this is apopular red wine, ranging inbrightness-of-colour between

a Lemberger and a Trollinger.Also called Müllerrebe, it’s alittle fruitier than other reds.An easy-going wine.

White Wines

Riesling

The so-called king of Germanwhite wines. But comparedto other German Rieslings,Baden-Württemberg’s Ries-ling is a bit spicier and has a fuller taste. Especially when grown on steep, sunnyslopes, it has the potential tobecome a great wine.

Weißer Burgunder

A fruity but dry white wine ofBaden. Often drunk as a latesummer wine. Less bubblythan other German whitewines but still with a strongtaste.

Kerner

First produced in 1929, theKerner originates from Weins-berg. It has the potential tobe a very good quality winebut it’s become known asa “cheap and sweet” wine.“The problem is that theKerner grape allows you toproduce a lot of wine in arelatively short space oftime,” says Dr. Schmidt.To upgrade the wine’s image,Dr. Schmidt’s colleaguesin Weinsberg, working withlocal chefs, have developedthe Kerner further to producea new type of wine nowmarketed as the Justinus K.“Our aim with Justinus K.was to create a white winewhich both appeals to drink-ers of international whitesand suits our local cuisine.”

Müller-Thurgau

A popular Baden white.A quite pronounced, fruityflavour though not too acidic.

Gutedel

Another Baden favourite,mostly grown in the southernwine region Markgräflerland.A less fruity, more neutral-flavoured, easy-to-drink wine.

accents magazine

accent on…

Whetting your appetite

Baiersbronn

Where do Germany’s rich and famous

go for fine dining in idyllic surrounds?

They seek out a small village in the heart

of the Black Forest called Baiersbronn.

Nowhere else in Germany will you find

a higher density of restaurants boasting

Michelin stars – six in all. Steve Trevallion

savours the town and its stunning

scenery.

“Sorry to hit you with another relativelyunknown, small town again,” began oureditor, as my enthusiasm for accents-related travel quickly dwindled, “but yournext destination is going to be Baiers-bronn.” A sudden reprieve. I had heardabout this place, and being a young manwho enjoys his food, the thought of visitinga town famous for making the world’s largest Maultaschen (an enormous pastasquare filled with meat and spinach whichrequired 120 chefs to make) brought me to the point of dribbling onto my notebook.

Baiersbronn is, believe it or not, Ger-many’s number-one culinary town. No othertown in Germany has so many top-classrestaurants in such a small area. There iseven a three-star restaurant in town, boast-ing Germany’s best chef, Harald Wohlfahrt.Situated in the middle of the Black Forest,on the River Murg, northwest of Freuden-stadt, it’s also reputed to be a hiker’s paradise.

However, I won’t laugh at you for nothaving heard of Baiersbronn before. Onlyone German person I spoke to before setting off on my journey had ever heard ofBaiersbronn – although all he talked aboutwas some character called ‘Murgel’ and acuckoo. Perhaps he’d been drinking.

So, with my walking boots laced, came-ra loaded and loose-fitting pants on (let’ssee what those chefs are made of) I set offto sample the delights of Baiersbronn.

Begin your culinary tour where you will,but the Restaurant Schloßberg in Schwar-

accents magazine14 accent on…

zenberg, which boasts one covetedMichelin star, is 13 kilometres outside ofBaiersbronn and as good a place as any tostart. The Hotel Bareiss in Mitteltal hasbeen awarded with two of the little shin-ers. The third and best-known restaurant,the only one with three stars, is located inthe 200-year-old Hotel Traube Tonbach, inTonbach. Here you can bet your house on a truly memorable meal.

These premier restaurants talk of creat-ing dishes that are “fit for kings but afford-able too.” This is somewhat exaggerated.Those of us who are Aldi regulars will findprices a little beyond our reach, but thoseof you who own ties and want to celebratea special occasion will find it’s not going to leave too big a hole in your finely ironedtrouser pocket. Baiersbronn also offersspecial gourmet weekends which includeaccommodation and top-class meals.

Baiersbronn is far from being an exclu-sive town for the wealthy. It works hard to

attract families to the region. It has wonthe national ‘Family Holidays’ competitionfour times. It even has its own children’sambassador, a fairy tale character calledMurgel, who wears a red jacket and around hat and plays with visiting children. I sat on a step by the town hall looking ashelpless and bored as possible so thatMurgel would appear but no funny littleman came to play with me. If it’s raining,children end up in Murgel’s Playhouse, drawing on walls with finger paints ortaking part in clown workshops.

Active holidaying

Family holiday packages, farm holidays,health and spa weekends, hiking, mountainbiking, horseback-riding, and even paraglid-ing are all on offer in Baiersbronn. Or youcan choose to indulge in a little golf, fish-ing, squash, tennis, swimming or ice-skat-ing. I scanned the leaflets I’d picked up atthe tourist information office to see what I could do in just a day. “A fairy tale muse-um for young and old.” Nope. “A naturereserve centre.” Nope. “Historical cultureand adventure trails.” Hmmm, maybe. The final leaflet talked about the town’s‘Queen.’ Most wine regions in Germanyhave a wine queen, but this is Baiersbronn,and so it has a ‘Maultaschen Queen.’ Thiswas more like it. With my stomach rumbl-ing, I picked up the scent of fine food andfollowed my nose. A number of other verygood restaurants and cafés around townoffer cheaper regional and Swabian cuisinethan the neighbouring top-class restau-rants. The locals say a good appetitecomes from hiking or otherwise exercisingin clean, fresh Black Forest air. OK, so I

hadn’t done much of that yet, but I still hada bit of reading to do first.

I discovered I’d missed out on theannual lighting of the Tonbach valley(where thousands of candles are placedthrough the town and sloping hills) and thissummer’s Black Forest Music Festival, butI could still do something for my health andfitness.

I headed out of town to survey some of the surrounding countryside. Romanticplains and lonely moors abound, along withlakes and waterfalls. Spectacular rock for-mations and juniper pastures give the feel-ing of being somewhere farther south inEurope. I reached one of the region’s fivebeautiful lakes, Lake Buhlbach, and pausedto take in the variety of spruce and firtrees, red beech, sycamore, mountain ashand Carpathian birch. Deer and varioustypes of kingfishers (birds) are commonhere, as is the call of the cuckoo. OK, thatguy I spoke to yesterday may not havebeen drinking.

Elevated beauty

The Baiersbronn municipality rises from460 m to around 1000 m and care hasbeen taken throughout the area to keepnature and infrastructure in harmony. Thereare no giant hotel blocks to ruin the sightof the landscape. After walking a bit fartherI reached the idyllically set village of Fried-richstal. I’d headed in this direction to catcha glimpse of a small, beautiful monument,Michael’s Chapel, hidden among the trees.It was worth the walk. But there were somany paths I could have taken through thevalleys and forest; I just didn’t have enoughtime to see it all.

The village of Klosterreichenbach-Heselbach, for instance, attracts visitorswith its old monastery, founded in 1082.It’s also a resort town. Tonbach, also withinhiking distance of Baiersbronn, is anotherresort that caters to those seeking ahealthy vacation. Here you’ll find everythingthe Black Forest is popularly known for: anunforgettable landscape, clean air, excellentaccommodation, great hospitality, leisureand sports activities, as well as that three-star restaurant.

For such a small, seemingly insignificanttown, Baiersbronn really does deserve itsbig reputation.

accent on… 15accents magazine

Above left andbelow: idyllic BlackForest scenery and walking trailsaround Baiersbronn.

Star chefs and top-class restaurantsin Germany’s culinary capital,Baiersbronn.

Christmas atSt. Catherine’s

St. Catherine’s Church, Stuttgart cordiallyinvites you to celebrate with us the birth ofthe Christ Child. We welcome our IncarnateLord with activities for the whole family, tra-ditional carols and communion.

Dec 10thTraditional Lessons and Carols5 pm

Dec 17thChildren’s Nativity Play11:15 am

Dec 24thChristmas Eve Family Communion7 pm

Dec 31thNew Year’s Eve Communion10:30 am

English language worshipfor people of all nationsFor more information call the Reverend Ken Dimmick 0711 7878783Katharinenplatz 5www.stuttgartanglicans.de

Photos: w

ww

.baiersbronn.de

accents magazine16 Arts and Culture

Baden-Württemberg’s Roman roots

History in your backyard

The ancient past is coming to life in

Baden-Württemberg. From museum and

gallery exhibitions to festivals and open-

air military re-enactments, discovering

more about the Roman imperial heritage

of this state is suddenly ‘in.’ Stuart

Marlow reports passionate ‘amateurs’ are

making sensational discoveries – and

English-speaking volunteers are welcome

to help out.

No one took Gerd Schollian seriously atfirst. As a high-school student in the 1960s,Schollian was gripped by tales of a historicsettlement buried under woodland near his home in Hechingen-Stein, south ofTübingen, but academics didn’t seem to be interested in the stories.

So in 1973, Schollian went into theforest to dig around for artefacts himself.He began finding small objects; objectsfrom another world, another time. He tookhis discoveries to local experts, who even-

tually conceded that the young man with a passionate interest in archaeology hadindeed hit upon something big: an ancientRoman settlement.

Most of Baden-Württemberg was oncepart of the empire of ancient Rome, andpart of the northern frontier of the empireran through eastern Württemberg. A 560-kilometre-long defence system, known asthe Limes Germanicus, stretched from theNorth Sea to Regensburg, on the Danube.It was second only to the Great Wall ofChina in its magnitude. In 2005, the Limes(from which the word ‘limit’ derives) wasdeclared a UNESCO World Heritage Site,which was very good news for Baden-Württemberg. Now, Roman history has aprominent place on the cultural touristagenda.

For people like Gerd Schollian, the UNESCO stamp of approval was a rewardfor years of intensive archaeological re-search, hard digging, the patient identifica-tion of sites.

Apart from various exhibitions inmuseums, a number of impressive Romanwatchtowers, forts, barracks, country villas,and wall reconstructions are open to thepublic in Aalen and Hechingen-Stein, amongother places. The Limes was not so much a continuous wall as a series of frontierfortifications to control and inhibit themovement of German tribes. It marked thenorthern limits of the ancient Roman pro-vinces of the Rhineland, Germania Superior,and Rhaetia. The latter province runs easttowards the Danube from the area aroundSchwäbisch Gmünd. To date, 72 of the original 900 watchtowers have been locat-ed, with a number of them reconstructed.The Roman emperor, Augustus, began building the fortifications after a humiliatingGermanic ambush in the Teutoburg Forestin northern Germany in 9 A.D. Today, theremains of many fortifications and urbansettlements in Gaul, Germania, and Rhaetiastill lie undiscovered beneath the soil.

The Limes became, in Roman eyes, theboundary between civilization and a wilder-ness full of barbarians. However, the Ger-manic tribes saw this somewhat differently.To most of them, the Romans were aggres-sive, technically superior invaders, stealing

native lands and abusing the native peoplesas slaves. This resentment remained,despite Roman attempts to integrate andeducate the so-called ‘barbarians’ as citi-zens of the Empire.

The problem for the Romans was thatby 250 A.D. the empire was collapsingunder the weight of its own anarchic military structures, corruption and chaoticadministration. By this time, all acrosstoday’s southern Germany, new and well-organized groups of Germanic peoples,known collectively as the Allemanni (All-Men), were learning how to take quickadvantage of the crumbling Empire. SomeGermanics had integrated well, but clumsymilitary aggression decided upon in distantRome, rather than tactful diplomacy, wasoften used against the tribal groups thatrefused to accept Roman rule. In the areaeventually to become known as Swabia,the Allemanic tribes had never really war-med to the idea of submitting to Romantaxes and regulations.

The remarkable story of Hechingen-Stein

Just as the Romans never managed to subdue the Picts or the ancient BritishCelts, neither did they manage to conquerthe various Germanic tribes, who finallybegan to push the crumbling Roman Empirefarther south. One of the more stable areasin what is now Baden-Württemberg was a sizeable commercial and farming settle-ment at Hechingen-Stein, which absorbedsome of the Roman communities whoabandoned the Limes area.

For over 200 years people lived, traded,worked and worshipped their gods in andaround the settlement at Hechingen-Stein.As the destabilisation of the Limes areaspread farther south, the site was abando-ned and eventually became overgrown with thick woodland. As they pushed theRomans out, the Allemanic settlers rarelybothered to make permanent use of the villas and fortifications they’d overrun.These were alien or of no use in their ownrural or nomadic lifestyles. Thus, the settle-ment at Stein remained hidden for over1,700 years. The fact that the site wasuncovered at all was due to the energetic

Arts and Culture

Self-taught archaeologist, GerdSchollian: discovererof Roman ruins atHechingen-Stein.

The magic of autumn

Recommended reading

There’s a time of eerie stillness in the

fall – after the leaves stop changing

color, just before the cold winds start

to blow – when strange things seem

possible. Believing in Santa Claus or in

goblins does not seem so implausible.

The following books have been chosen

with this seasonal transition in mind.

The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters

by G.W. Dahlquist

Penguin/Viking, 760 pages

This is a wild, gothic adventure story, set in a fictitious Victorian city, featuringthree unlikely heroes: a surgeon, anassassin, and an heiress. The storybegins when Celeste Temple’s fiancéunexpectedly breaks off their engage-ment and she decides to find out why.She follows him to a masked ball whereprominent guests are taking part indubious activities. Cardinal Chang, forinstance, has been asked to assassinatea guest at the ball only to find out thatsomeone else has beat him to the task.

Dr. Svenson is keeping watch over a prince who suddenly disappears. MissTemple, the cardinal and the doctor forman unlikely partnership and discover aninternational scandal that could have aworld-changing effect. This story isactually being promoted as a serial, mail-ed out in part, every week, to only 5000subscribers in the UK. The complete bookwill not be released in Britain till earlynext year, but it’s already available inGermany. Is it worth the hype? Yes!

The Element Encyclopedia

of Magical Creatures

by John and Caitlin Matthews

Harper Element, 682 pages

Why do leaves rustle in the forest whenthere’s no wind? Could it be a chapalu, a sidhe or a laminak? This encyclopedia is just the right book for people looking to identify such mythical beings. A goodintroduction explores the magnitude ofthe subject, starting with mythical beasts,biblical creatures and evolutionary que-

ries, and proceeding through to modernliterary references in the age of HarryPotter. This is a wonderful referencebook for anyone interested in literature or cross-cultural studies. Unfortunately,there are no illustrations to accompanythe entries. But how could there be? Noone knows what these creatures reallylook like, do they? Perhaps in this magicalseason we should be paying closer atten-tion to the rustling of leaves.

Arts and Culture 17accents magazine

dedication and imagination of GerdSchollian.

After his initial discoveries, Schollianwas able to convince local decision makersto undertake an appropriation of land, andlarge-scale excavation work took place between 1978 and 1981. Getting supportfor the project was made easier by the fact that Gerd Schollian served as mayor ofthe rural district council of Stein for a longperiod. The first structures found at thesite were a villa and a bathhouse complex.Recently, excavators have found a mill anda temple area. Already it is clear that thesize and commercial importance of theRoman settlement was much greater thanfirst thought.

“I am very proud of what we have achieved as a team of volunteers,” saysSchollian. “But we have had to strugglevery hard to uncover this site. Despite oursuccesses we’ve had no real public fundingsince 1998. We are too far south of theLimes to qualify for world heritage site fun-ding. We are also too far south of Stuttgartwhere the most important decisions aremade. Of course, what we do is apprecia-ted in Stuttgart but we do have to fightconstantly for any kind of support.”

In other parts of Germany, many havefollowed Gerd Schollian’s example ofreconstructing whole Roman buildings. This is often frowned upon by professionalarchaeologists. Ever since the great auto-didactic, nineteenth-century archaeologistHeinrich Schliemann uncovered the treasu-res of Troy, there has been tension bet-ween the academic establishment andinnovative cultural volunteers. Purists haveoften balked at the idea of imaginativereconstructions of how buildings mighthave looked. It’s not regarded as legitimatearchaeological or historical representation.Schollian, who is a self-taught archaeolo-gical historian, has experienced both thepositive and negative aspects of workingwith the academic establishment.

“We are self-taught, but we are alsovery thorough,” he says. “The idea of ourreconstructions is to introduce Romanhistory to people who know little or nothingabout the subject. Some academics still

snipe at us for reconstructing the villa aswe believe it looked in 260 A.D. The alter-native was to leave visitors staring at a pileof foundation walls. Let’s face it, segmentsof a wall are not all that appealing to manypeople. As soon as we reconstructed thevilla people started to arrive in droves! Wehad thirty thousand visitors in the first sixmonths. To date we can boast over a mil-lion visitors in total. We have had Englishspeaking visitors from as far away asHawaii, New Zealand and, more frequently,from North America. They are fascinated by the site.”

English speaking guides welcome

English speaking volunteers whowould like to help promote the pro-ject at Hechingen-Stein are welcometo get involved. You can learn aboutthe history of the site and help giveguided tours for English speaking tourists. Tips and links include:

Hechingen Stein

www.villa-rustica.de

Limes Museum Aalen

www.museen-aalen.de

The Limes Project

www.limesprojekt.de

A reconstructedRoman villa atHechingen-Stein inthe Swabian Alb,south of Tübingen.

accents magazine18 Arts and Culture

Santa and the High Seas

Books for young readers

Dear Father Christmas

by Alan Durant

Walker Books, picture/novelty book

This is an interactive picture book full ofsurprises. On December 1st, Holly writesa letter to Father Christmas. To her sur-prise, he writes back and they begin acorrespondence. However, Holly is reluc-tant to tell Santa what she really wantsfor Christmas because she’s not surewhether what she’s asking for is toomuch. In the last envelope you find outwhether Holly’s Christmas wish has beengranted. The Father Christmas letterscome in their own envelopes and eachone has a special surprise, ranging from a miniature advent calendar to a little treeornament. This brightly illustrated book is a real treat.

Powder Monkey

by Paul Dowswell

Bloomsbury, 276 pages

For those of you itching for seafaringadventure, look no further than Dows-well’s wonderful book. Sam Witchall isonly 14 years old when he is press-ganged onto a Royal Navy frigate. It is1800 and England is at war with Franceand Spain. The ship is full of dangerousand desperate men. Sam becomes apowder monkey, the boy who runs thegun powder from the gun room to thecannons. It’s a dangerous job; one way-ward spark could blow up the powdermonkey and his ship with it. Sam has tolearn to survive and must choose his friends wisely. This is a great story filledwith harrowing escapes and fantastic

battles. There is an illustration of a frigate,for those of you who can’t tell a mizzen-mast from a foremast. A follow-up bookis due out soon.

By Simon Rentschler

After months of renovation work, KelleyTheatre, the US Army Garrison’s English-language theatre at the Kelley Barracks inStuttgart-Möhringen, re-opened in October– on Friday, the thirteenth – with a per-formance of the smash-hit musical LesMisérables.

For 25 years now, the Kelley Theatre has been one of Stuttgart’s premier venuesfor English-language community theatre. As part of the renovation work over thesummer, a new entrance and lobby werebuilt, along with a box office and coatcheck-in area. A bar was also added, andnew tables and couches were put in.Disabled-access entrances and new rest-room facilities were also built. A BroadwayCafé has been set up in the previous lobbyarea, and will open during intermissionsand after each show.

The Kelley Theatre’s staging of LesMisérables was a significant achievement:it was the first time a non-professionaltheatre company was awarded the rights to perform the show. Les Misérables, themusical, is based on Victor Hugo’s classic19th century novel of the same name. It’sthe epic story of the fugitive Jean Valjean,who is pitted against a cruel and self-right-eous police inspector, in a lifelong struggleto evade capture.

US Army Garrison Stuttgart Commander,Colonel Kenneth G. Juergens, says KelleyTheatre continues to play a special role inhelping to build bridges between Stutt-gart’s German and US communities.

“Theater is a universal language sharedby cultures all over the world and is a critical part of our engagement strategywith our host nation,” says Juergens.

“German and American volunteers worktogether on the stage and in backstageroles to bring our productions to life, andhundreds of German friends join us in theaudience each year as we enjoy dramas,musicals and comedies together.”

All productions at the Kelley Theatre are open to the general public. Members ofthe public can also audition for upcomingshows. Non military personnel simply have to register in advance in order to begranted access to the base.

Further Info

Box office 0711 7292825

www.kelleytheatre.de

Eleven other performances of LesMisérables were sold out soon after thegrand re-opening on October 13. The2006/07 season will include the staging of three plays: A Christmas Story, TheGraduate, and Brighton Beach Memoirs, as well as another musical, Batboy.

US Army theater renovated

Kelley turns 25

Renovated and re-opened: the Kelley Theatre in Stuttgart.

Xmas

StageMarket

Antique MarketNov 30 - Dec 23, Karlsplatz TübingenDec 15 and 16, 9 am - 8 pm, Dec 17, 11 am - 8 pm, downtownUlmNov 27 - Dec 22, MünsterplatzWeil der StadtDec 9, 9 am - 8 pm, downtownWinnendenDec 1- 3, downtown

Stage

FreiburgImproTheaterDie Mauerbrecher (Freiburg) vs.Doug Nunn (USA). German-American theater sport session inGerman, English and Denglish.Nov 25, 8:30 pm, Mensabar, Rem-partstraße, www.mauerbrecher.deand www.dougnunn.comWilliam Shakespeare’s The Taming of the ShrewAmerican Drama Group. Dec 8, 7 pm, Bürgerhaus Seepark,Gerhart-Hauptmann-Straße 1,Tickets (Carl-Schurz-Haus) 0761 5565270Lois Lowry’s The Giver Nov 28, 29, 30 and Dec 1, 11 am,Nov 28 and Dec 1, 8 pm,Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg,Kunzenweg 21, Tickets (Carl-Schurz-Haus) 0761 5565270Heidelberg Disney’s Beauty and the BeastDec 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 and Jan 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 at7:30 pm, Dec 10 and Jan 14 and 21at 3 pm (special family matinees).Roadside Theater, Patton Barracks Tickets 06221 175020, open to the general public,www.roadsidetheater.com StuttgartDublin CarolSee Christmas SeasonA Christmas StorySee Christmas Season

Dec 12, 4 and 8 pm and Dec 13, 11 am and 4 pm Wilhelma Theater StuttgartA Christmas Carol American Drama Group V2Dec 8, 9:30 and 12 am, Kuniberg-berufsschule Recklinghausen;Dec 9, 8 pm Volkshochschule Ludwigsburg;Dec 17, 4 and 8 pm, Ulmertheater Ulm;Dec 18, 7 pm, Schloß Heidelberg, Königssaal

Christmas Markets

Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) sorted by city:AalenNov 30 - Dec 23, SpritzenhausplatzBad Wimpfen Dec 1- 3, 8 -10, 15 -17 Baden-BadenNov 24 - Dec 26, KurgartenBebenhausen (Tübingen)Medieval Market at the CloisterDec 9, 10 am - 7 pm & Dec 10, 11 am - 6 pmBietigheim-Bissingen Dec 7-17, downtownBöblingenNov 19 - Dec 3, Convention CentreCalwNov 30 - Dec 3, MarktplatzDarmsheimDec 2 and 3, DorfplatzEsslingenMedieval MarketNov 28 - Dec 22, 11 am - 8:30 pm,MarktplatzArts & Crafts MarketDec 2 - 3 and 9 -10, Hafenmarkt FreiburgNov 27 - Dec 23, RathausplatzFriedrichshafenNov 30 - Dec 17, AdenauerplatzHeidelbergNov 29 - Dec 22, 11 am - 9 pmHeilbronnNov 30 - Dec 21, MarktplatzGöppingenNov 30 - Dec 10, downtownHerrenbergDec 8 -10, downtownKarlsruheNov 30 - Dec 23, MarktplatzArts & Crafts Market Dec 1-10, 11 am - 7 pm, Museum beim MarktKonstanzDec 1- 23, FischmarktLeonbergDec 2 - 3, downtownLudwigsburgNov 28 - Dec 23, Marktplatz MannheimNov 29 - Dec 23, FriedrichsplatzMaulbronnDec 9 -10, KlosterhofOffenburgNov 28 - Dec 23, MarktplatzPforzheimNov 27 - Dec 22, MarktplatzReutlingenNov 29 - Dec 23, MarienkircheRavensburgDec 1 - Dec 20, MarienplatzSindelfingenDec 9 -10, MarktplatzChristmas BazaarNov 11-19, MessehalleStuttgartNov 30 - Dec 23, Mon-Sat 10 am -8:30 pm, Sun 11 am - 8:30 pm,Marktplatz, www.stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de

Christmas Season

KarlsruheChristkindlesmarktVisit our DEF stall with friends from Nottingham and the CelticShop. Dec 6 - 10, Helpers welcome! Call 0721 7569503, DEF, see address aboveChristmas Carol Singing Featuring the Pitchbenders, theESKAdO-Choir, and the EuropeanSchool Children’s Choir. Dec 9, 4 pm, “Kleine Kirche,” KaiserstraßeStuttgartDublin Carol by Conor McPhersonA modern version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol presented byNEAT – New English AmericanTheatre, www.neat-theater.deNov 23 - 25 and 30, Dec 1, 2 and14 -16, all at 8 pm, kktkommunales kontakt theater e.V.,Kissinger Straße 66 awww.s-line.de/homepages/kktA Christmas StoryPlay based on the American film.Dec 2, 3, 8 -10, 15 -17, for timescheck www.kelleytheatre.de,Stuttgart Theatre Center – Kelley Theatre, Kelley Barracks,Möhringen, general public welcometickets 0711 7292825Winter Tales and Christmas CarolsActress Greta Redmond (New English American Theater) and Sophie Chaumette Kränzle tell stories in English for kids, 4 and up. Dec 10, 3 pm, kkt, see address aboveChristmas Carols and BazaarService of Nine Lessons and Carolsat ‘The English Church’ with lots of goodies and crafts afterwardsDec 10, 5 pm, St. Catherine’sChurch, Katharinenplatz 5,www.stuttgartanglicans.deChildren’s nativity playSpecial children’s serviceDec 17, 11:15 am, St. Catherine’sChurch, see address aboveT.G.I.F.! Thank God it’s Friday!The annual DAZ Christmas partywith drinks and a gift exchangeDec 22, 3 - 5 pm, DAZ, see address aboveChristmas Eve ServiceSpecial Christmas Eve communionservice for the whole family, Dec 24,7 pm, St. Catherine’s Church, see address aboveTübingenChristmas Reception and opening for the photographyexhibit: Arthur Rothstein and Walker EvansDec 15, 8 pm, d.a.i., see addressabove. Exhibit until Mar 2, 2007On tour in the regionA Christmas CarolOne-man-theatre by Brian DouglasBarnes, MBE. Dec 16 -18, 8 pm,Theater der Altstadt, Stuttgart,tickets 0711 61553464;Dec 20 at 4 pm, Dec 21-22 at 8 pm,Wallgraben Theater, Freiburg,tickets 0761 25656A Christmas Carol American Drama Group V1. Nov 29, 5 and 8 pm, Theater Baden-Baden;Nov 30, 8 pm Stadttheater Konstanz;Dec 1, 8 pm Fischbach im Bahnhof Friedrichshafen;

EventsEvents

FreiburgThanksgiving Dinner: The United States of America and Globalisation German American BusinessCommunity with guest of honorProf. Joseph Stiglitz, New York CityNov 18, 8 pm, please sign up: direktion@carl-schurz-haus.deHeidelbergDAI Book Flea MarketUsed books, magazines, videotapesand dvds. Nov 4 - 8, 2 - 6 pm and Nov 9, 10 am - 2 pm,German-American Institute (DAI),Sofienstraße 12, 06221 60730,www.dai-heidelberg.de60 Years DAI – Thanksgiving to our FriendsNov 25, 8 pm, DAI, address aboveKarlsruheGuy Fawkes BonfireFinger food and drinks. Nov 11, 4 pm (bonfire at 6 pm), EuropeanSchool, adults 3 euros, kids 1 euro.Horizon Tourism Showwith a stall by the DEF and theCeltic Shop. English and Irish songsby the “Pitchbenders,” Nov 11-19,dm Arena (Neue Messe Karlsruhe)Deutsch-Englischer Freundeskreis(DEF), www.def-Karlsruhe.de10th anniversary of the American LibraryNov 18, 1- 7 pm, American Library,Kanalweg 52, Smiley Barracks, 0721 72752. Book Flea Market starting 10 am, coffee & cake, library quiz. Library opened 10 am - 5:30 pm, www.american-library.deEuropean EveningDec 1, 7:30 pm, Schloss Gottesaue,more info: DEF 0721 7569503Stuttgart DAZ Thanksgiving DinnerTurkey and pumpkin pie for all!Sign up by Nov 8. Nov 21, 6:30 pm,German-American Centre (DAZ),Charlottenplatz 17, 0711 228180,www.DAZ.orgTübingenGet off Your Seat – Let’s Greet and MeetGerman students welcomingAmerican students. Nov 9, 6 pm,Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut(d.a.i.), Karlstraße 3, www.dai-tuebingen.deShabbat Dinner and CeremoniesNov 10, 6:30 pm, KristallnachtShabbat Commemoration;Nov 24, 6:30 pm, Ecumenical Shabbat Dinner;Dec 15, 6:30 pm, Channukah Celebration. For information and location contactMarty Potrop 07071 968590, spiritshul@aol.comd.a.i. Thanksgiving Dinner Sign up by Nov 17, 07071 795260. Nov 25, 7:30 pm, Cafe & Restaurant Ludwig’sFund-raising Concert for Katrina VictimsSilent movie by Buster Keaton, The General. Dec 4, 8:15 pm, d.a.i.,see address above

accents

choice

Christmas Markets in Baden-WürttembergGet out and enjoy the sightsand smells of the traditionalChristmas Markets in the region. Pictured here: TheKarlsruhe Christkindlesmarkt

accents choice 19accents magazine

Music

Exhibitio

StuttgartErika Stucky “low life“American-Swiss avantgarde-jazz-and-performance-artist with Jon Sass (Tuba) and Matt Perrine(Sousaphon). Nov 9, Laboratorium,Wagenburgstraße 147Cracker US-Alternative-Rock-/Americana-Scene, David Lowery and JohnnyHickman. Nov 19, Laboratorium,see address above Jamie Cullum “Catching Tales” Jazz. Nov 19, 8 pm, T1 Theaterhaus, see address aboveThe KooksNov 29, 8:30 pm, LKA Longhorn,see address above The Resentments Dec 7, Laboratorium, see address aboveThe BrandosDec 11, 8 pm, Theaterhaus,Siemensstraße 11, tickets 0711402070, www.theaterhaus.comSoweto Gospel Choir Voices From Heaven. Dec 25 - 27, 8 pm, Hegel-Saal, KongresszentrumLiederhalle, Berliner Platz 1- 33, www.liederhalle-stuttgart.de George Bailey and Oral Moses:Spirituals, Classicals and Lyricals Dec 26, 5 pm, Wilhelma Theater,see address aboveTübingenDead Moon (USA)Special guest: Los Franco Neros.Nov 16, 9 pm, Sudhaus, Hechinger Straße 203EZIO & Band: “Ten Thousand Bars” (UK)Nov 23, 9 pm, Sudhaus, see address aboveSheila Jordan /Cameron BrownDuo (USA)Vocal Jazz Concert. Nov 25, 8:30pm, peripherie Werkstatt Sudhaus,see address aboveOn tour in the regionSean Keane, folkNov 16, 8pm, Jazzclub E-Werk,Öhringen;Nov 17, 8 pm, Zehntscheuer,Ravensburg;Nov 18, 8:30 pm, KulturzentrumDieselstraße, Esslingen; Andi Hoffmann & the B-Goes,New OrleansNov 10, 9 pm, Rätsche, Geislingen; Nov 12, Exil, SingenAl StewartNov 17, 8 pm, Alte Mälzerei, Mosbach;Nov 18, 8 pm, Scala, LudwigsburgJamie CullumNov 17, 8 pm, Konzerthaus, Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1, Freiburg;Nov 19, 8 pm, Theaterhaus,StuttgartThe House Jacks: Get Down, Mr. President!A-cappella, San Francisco USA.Nov 30, Scala, Ludwigsburg, see address above; Dec 10, 8 pm, Sudhaus, Tübingen,see address aboveGráda New Irish FolkDec 4, 8 pm, Pizzeria Dangelo Hatzenbühl; Dec 9, 9 pm, Werkstatt Sudhaus,Tübingen, see address above

Tickets can be bought by calling Easy-ticket service 0711 2555555, www.easyticket.de orSWR 1 ticket service 0180 5929211

FishReturn To Childhood – Final Tour.The ex-voice of Marillion.Nov 16, Festhalle Durlach,info www.substage.deNigel Kennedy & The Polish Chamber Orchestraperform Mozart and Beethoven.Dec 12, 8 pm, Stadthalle LauffenBack of the Moon Nov 12, Phoenix North Sea GasNov 30, Phoenix LudwigsburgLarry CarltonNov 16, Scala, Stuttgarter Straße 2,07141 388144 Al StewartNov 18, Scala, see address aboveThe Temptations Review featuring Damon Harris.Nov 25, Scala, see address aboveRottenburg-ErgenzingenKieran Halpin Irish songwriter with pianist AnthKaley. Nov 12, 8 pm, Musikcafé Alt Ergenzingen, Utta-Eberstein-Straße 32, 07457 697676ReichenbachRoscoe Chenier & Blues BandNov 18, 9 pm, die halle, Kanalstraße 10, www.diehalle.deTen Years After British Blues-Rock-Band.Jan 12 2007, 9 pm, die halle, see address aboveSchorndorfIsWhat?! (USA)Nov 10, 9 pm, Club Manufaktur,Hammerschlag 8, www.club-manufaktur.deTV On The Radio (USA) Nov 19, 9 pm, Club ManufakturCarla Bozulich & Hrsta (USA/CAN)Nov 21, 9 pm, Club Manufaktur DM Bob & Country Jem (GB)Nov 22, 9 pm, Club ManufakturVandermark Five (USA)Dec 6, 9 pm, Club ManufakturThe Books (USA)Dec 14, 9 pm, Club ManufakturSchwaigern Inish Dec 1, Frizhalle

A Christmas Carol See Christmas Season, page 19The Taming of the ShrewAmerican Drama Group at theWilhelma Theater, Neckartalstraße 9,Dec 6 and 7, 4 and 8 pm, www.wilhelma-theater.deDinner for OneGermany’s favorite New Year’s filmon stage. Dec 30 at 7 and 9 pm,Dec 31 at 6, 7:30, and 9 pm,Theater am Olgaeck, Charlotten-straße 44, 0711 2484540On tour in the regionThe Provocative Oscar WildeOne-man-theatre by Brian DouglasBarnes, MBE. Nov 21 and 22, 8 pm,Theater der Altstadt, Stuttgart,tickets 0711 61553464;Nov 19, 3:30 pm, Wallgraben Theater, Freiburg,tickets 0761 25656

Exhibitions

FreiburgAll from America – Part One Artists: Josef Albers, Max Cole,Rudolf de Crignis, Marcia Hafif,David Rabinowitch, Winston Roeth,Michael Rouillard and Phil Simsuntil Mar 25, 2007, public tour Nov 11, 7 pm, Kunstraum AlexanderBürkle, Robert-Bunsen-Straße 5Behavior of Light Photography Janet Sternburg, USA Dec 1, 6 pm, Carl-Schurz-HausMosques in America Dr. Omar Khalidi, MassachusettsInstitute for Technology USA.Dec 8, 2006 - Jan 19, 2007, Carl-Schurz-Haus, Eisenbahnstraße 62TübingenA Lifetime for Architecture: The Photographer Julius ShulmanPhoto exhibit on Afro-American culture in New Orleans until Dec 12, Tue - Fri 9 am - 6 pm, d.a.i.,see address aboveArthur Rothstein and Walker Evans: Photography See Christmas Season, page 19

Music

BühlLost Highway (USA)Bluegrass, Nov 14, 8 pm, “Schütte-Keller,” Blumenstraße 5,www.bluegrass-buehl.deEllwangen The McMontos Nov 11, Leprechaun FilderstadtDanko JonesNov 10, 7:30 pm, FilharmonieFreiburgAnne Clark Wood, Wires & Words Tour. Nov 10,8 pm, Jazzhaus, www.jazzhaus.deLisa DobyRock & R’n’B. Nov 18, 8 pm,Jazzhaus, www.jazzhaus.deHeidelbergHank Roberts, Marc Ducret & Jim BlackJazzclub Heidelberg on the DAI’s60th anniversary. Nov 26, 8:30 pm,DAI, see address aboveKarlsruheKieran Goss Nov 12, JUBEZ

Andi Hoffmann & the B-Goes‘Roots rock from New Orleans’is what they say on their website www.bgoes.com.Somewhere between Zydeco,pop, and soul is what theysound like. See tour dates this page.

accents magazine20 accents choice

One-year subscription (6 issues): 20 euros. Payment preferred by direct debit or deposit check.

Name

Street

Postal code/City

State/Country

Telephone

E-mail

Account holder

Account no.

Bank Code (BLZ)

Name of Bank

I hereby give accents media GbR permission to debit the sub-scription fee of 20 euros from my account.

Date

Signature account holder

Subscribe

Thanksgiving DinnerTurkey and pumpkin piefor everyone!Sign up by Nov 8,Nov 21, 6:30 pm

Patchwork BoxesWorkshopMake your own personalChristmas gifts. Sign up by Nov 20, Nov 25, 10 am - 4 pm

Living Together – Three American PoetsReadings by Dick Davis,Timothy Steele, and Robert B. ShawDec 8, 7:30 pm,Stadtbücherei im Wilhelmspalais, Mörike-Kabinett

Deutsch-Amerikanisches ZentrumJames-F.-Byrnes-Institute.V. Charlottenplatz 1770173 Stuttgart0711-228180www.daz.org

Work

Lecture

Kids

topics, Tuesdays, 6 pm, d.a.i.,library, see address aboveKarlsruheDEF English Conversation Circle 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7:30 pm, Moltkestraße 20, Room 4.LitNight in EnglishReading and discussing literature1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month,7:30 pm, American Library, www.american-library.dePoetry PleasePoems read and discussed inEnglish. 4th Tuesday of the month,7:30 - 9 pm, American Library, Tom 0721 3540477StuttgartThe Empire Study GroupA popular study group by LaurenceStallings and Scott Stelle.View topics on www.daz.org.2nd Friday of the month at 5 pm,DAZ, Charlottenplatz 17.Next dates: Nov 10, Dec 8Meet the AuthorNov 8, 7:30 pm, Raymond Kennedyreads from A Private Station;Nov 14, 7:30 pm, Dave King readsfrom The Ha-Ha, DAZ, see address aboveConversation CircleEvery third Friday of the monthfrom 6 to 7 pm. The discussiongroup continues as a Stammtisch at7:15 pm. Conference Room, DAZ,see address aboveSymbols of SuccessfulIntegration: American Mosques Lecture and slide show by Dr. OmarKhalidi, USA. Dec 7, 7:30 pm, DAZ,see address aboveLiving Together – Three American PoetsReading by Dick Davis, TimothySteele, and Robert B. Shaw.Dec 8, 7:30 pm, Stadtbücherei imWilhelmspalais, Mörike-Kabinett,info at the DAZ 0711 228180TübingenWriter’s Club With Carolyn Murphey Melchers. Nov 10, Dec 8, 2 - 4 pm, d.a.i., see address aboveBook DiscussionNov 10, Elizabeth Kostova: The Historian;Dec 8, August Wilson: The Piano Lesson; 6:30 -8 pm, d.a.i., see address aboveTalk At Eight: Discussion Groupon Current Issuesby Laurence Stallings. Nov 14, Dec 5, 8:15 pm, d.a.i., see address aboveThe One-Dimensional Empire: The Levelling-Down of RealityA popular study group by LaurenceStallings and Scott Stelle, viewtopics on www.dai-tuebingen.de.Nov 24, Dec 22, 6:45 pm, d.a.i., see address above

Workshops

FreiburgTeacher’s Workshop: The Giver by Lois Lowry in thenovel and play versionProf. Dr. Mechthild Hesse, PHFreiburg. Nov 8, 3 - 6 pm,Conference room Carl-Schurz-Haus,0761 5565270, register by Nov 2 HeidelbergWorkshops at theGerman-Amercian Institute (d.a.i.)Visit the website for a list of

Lectures/Discussions

FreiburgOpen DialogEvery other Wed, 6:30 - 8 pm,please check website for dates andtopics, Carl-Schurz-Haus,Eisenbahnstraße 62, 0761 5565270,www.carl-schurz-haus.deMonday Nite at the MoviesIntroduction by Prof.Dr. Jon Adamsand discussion after the screening.Friedrichsbau-Lichtspiele, 7 pm Nov 13, Factotum; Dec 11, Thank you for SmokingUS Politics of Urban Reclamationand Redevelopment Lecture by Prof. Richard C. Hula,East Lansing, MichiganNov 13, 8 pm, Hörsaal 3042, KG III UniversitätCAPITALISM NOW – Making Globalisation WorkLecture by Prof. Joseph Stiglitz,New York City. Nov 19, 11 am,Großes Haus, Theater FreiburgGreen Books: Literature in theAge of Environmental CrisisLecture by Dr. Christine Gerhardt,Dortmund. Nov 28, 8 pm, Hörsaal 3042, KG III UniveritätMore than the Color GreenIntegrating Environment into UrbanInfrastructure in the US. Lecture byLois Vitt Sale, AIA, Chicago.Dec 4, 8 pm, conference room,Carl-Schurz-Haus, see address aboveSymbols of SuccessfulIntegration: American Mosques Lecture and slide show by Dr. OmarKhalidi, USA. Dec 8, 6 pm, Carl-Schurz-Haus, see address aboveHeidelbergDiscussion group with Dr. Steven Bloom Please check the website fortopics, Wednesdays, 6 pm, d.a.i.,library, Sofienstraße 12,www.d.a.i.-heidelberg.de English-Language VideoDiscussion GroupPlease check the website for

current workshops on TOEFLexams, conversation, job hunting,and orientation for newcomers.www.dai-heidelberg.deStuttgartWorkshops at the German-Amercian Centre (DAZ)Visit the website for a list of cur-rent workshops on writing, quilting,and dances. www.DAZ.orgIrish Ceílí Halpin School of Irish DanceIrish Dancing taught every 3rdSaturday of the month from 4 - 7 pm, Saal, Bürgerhaus Botnang,www.danceirish.deTübingenQuilting Bees: A Forum forPatchwork Quilters3rd Thursday of month, 3 - 5 pm,d.a.i., see address above.Next dates: Nov 16, Dec 14

Kids

FreiburgTell Me a Story!Reading for children by Leanne DierEvery other Wednesday, 5 - 6 pm,Carl-Schurz-Haus, see addressabove. Nov 8 and 22, Dec 6 and 20HeidelbergOWLS – Science Show for KidsChildren present their show ‘Caringfor the Environment’. Nov 18, 12 pm, DAI, see address aboveKarlsruheStorytime in English!Children aged 2 - 5 years,every 2nd and 4th Wednesday ofthe month at 4 pm, AmericanLibrary, www.american-library.deStories for Kids ages 6 and upNov 10, 4 pm: Thanksgiving at the Tappletons; Dec 15, 4 pm: How the Grinch stole Christmas.American Library, see addressaboveStuttgartListen inStory and activity for kids 3 - 6 years

with parent. Sat 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Nov 18, Call the Fire Brigade;Dec 16, T’was the Night Before Christmas.Children’s English Library (CEL),Etzelstraße 25 - 27, 0711 3582215,www.celstuttgart.deRhyme TimeSinging and rhymes for kids 0 - 3with parent. Mon 10:00 -10:45 am.CEL, see address aboveHappy Days Non-native English speakers ages 3 - 6. Mon 4:15 - 5 pm and Tues 3:30-4:15 pm. CEL, see address aboveLet’s Play – Mommy & Me English ClassNative English speakers ages 2 - 3.Mon 10:45 -11:30 am and Fri 4 - 4:45 pm Singing and Story timeNative English speakers ages 3 - 6.Fri 3 - 3:45 pm, CEL, see address aboveMrs. Jellybelly Eats BreakfastPerformed by Marla Levenstein for children ages 6 -10. Nov 28 and29 and Dec 12, 10 am, kkt, 0711 563034, see address aboveWinter Tales and Christmas CarolsSee listing under Christmas SeasonEnglish songs and finger puppetshow. Nov 5, 4 - 6 pm, Familien-zentrum Gaisenhaus, Hornberg-straße 99, Stuttgart-Wangen, 0711 4892928TübingenEnglish Storytime for kids ages 4 - 6 with ChristineAsch. 1st Wednesday of the month, Nov 8, Dec 6, 4 - 5 pm, d.a.i., 07071 795260, see address aboveOn tour in the regionStorytime -Funtime: The very hungry CaterpillarInteractive Reading for children aged 3 - 8.Nov 17, 3 pm, StadtteilbüchereiPlieningen, Neuhauser Straße 1,Stuttgart-Plieningen, 0711 2164903;Nov 22, 3 pm, OrtsbüchereiHohenacker, im Bürgerhaus,Rechbergstraße 28, Waiblingen-Hohenacker, 07151 277815;Nov 23, 3 pm, OrtsbüchereiBittenfeld, im Rathaus, Waiblingen-Bittenfeld, 07146 874720;Nov 29, 3 pm, OrtsbüchereiNeustadt, Im Unterdorf 14,Waiblingen-Neustadt, 07151 8622;Nov 30, 3 pm, OrtsbüchereiHegnach, im Rathaus, Waiblingen-Neustadt, 07151 56817626

Kieran Halpin The talented Irish songwriterplays with pianist Anth Kaleyon Nov 12 at the Musikcafé in Alt Ergenzingen (a districtof Rottenburg a.N.) Seelisting page 20.

accents forumOur informal get-together for readers and contributors.

Friday, November 10th, 7 pm at George and Dragon English Pub, Willy-Brandt-Strasse 30, Stuttgart (take the stairs next to Hotel LeMéridien)

Friday, January 12th, 7 pmlocation to be announced

accentsmagazine

accents choice 21accents magazine

Dublin Carol A modern version of Charles Dickens’ A ChristmasCarol presented by NEAT,www.neat-theater.deNov 23 - 25 and 30, Dec 1, 2 and 14 -16, all at 8 pm, kktkommunales kontakt theatere.V.. See listing page 19.

Theate

Librari

Clubs &

Pro Country e.V. Deutscher Country & Western Dachverband07150 33212 Ralf Russig, www.pro-country-ev.deEnglish-Speaking Circle Starzachand Landkreise Freundenstadt,Tübingen & Zollernalb07478 8290 Kevin MacInerney-MaySchorndorf English Club07181 64440 Marion RubeDeutsch-Amerikanisches Institut Heidelberg06221 60730, Sofienstraße 12,www.dai-heidelberg.deGerman-British Society, Freiburg, Heidelberg, and Stuttgart0761 4098804 Dr. Susanne Press,06221 164221 David John Williams,0711 66721255 Dr. Christoph Selzer,www.debrige.deGerman-English Friendship Club e.V. Karlsruhe0721 7569503 Rose Schrempp,info@def-karlsruhe.de, www.def-karlsruhe.deInternational Women’s Club Karlsruhe e.V.Elisabeth Knorre, Postfach 110448,76054 KarlsruheVerein Deutsch-AmerikanischerFreundschaft Pfullendorf07552 6249 Dr Gary AndersonCarl-Schurz-Haus Freiburg0761 5565270, Eisenbahnstraße 62,www.carl-schurz-haus.deAnglo-German Club e.V. Freiburg07661 1324, Wehrlehof Straße 11,Oberried, peleube@hotmail.comFreiburg English Club0177 6553688 Terrence Barrwww.freiburg-english-club.orgNetwork of English-Speaking Women e.V.0761 405707 Annabel Pattullo, NesWomen@web.de, www.nesw.deBritish International Villingen-Schwenningen07721 53278 Carol King,www.bivs.gmxhome.deDeutsch-Irischer Freundeskreis (dif) 0711 2361736, www.dif-bw.deRegion Schwaben, Verband der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Clubs e.V.07156 29164 Mi-Kiyoung Wöhler, www.schwaben-vdac.de.vu

Theater Groups

A.C.T.S. Anglophone Collaborative Theatre of Stuttgart0711 6858370 Stuart Marlow, smarlow@hdm-stuttgart.deKelley TheatreKelley Barracks, Stuttgart, 0711 7292825, www.kelleytheatre.deN.E.A.T. New English American Theater Sophie Kränzle, kkt@z.zgs.de,www.neat-theater.deOutcast International0711 634409, Stuttgart,www.outcast-theater.deAnglo-Irish Theatre Group Tübingen07071 67968 David Hegarty,dave@anglo-iren.de, www.anglo-iren.deThe Round Table Players, AalenEva Schumm, schumm@vhs-aalen.deRoadside TheaterPatton Barracks, Heidelberg,06221 175020, www.roadsidetheater.comTheaterhaus TiG 70621 154976, Theater Trennt e.V.

9-12 am, 0711 243242 Judy Ehmer Stuttgart Book Clubwww.StuttgartBookClub.deGerman-American Club 19480711 421174 Ron Joslin, President,www.gac1948.de, info@gac1948.deGerman-American Women’s Club Stuttgartinfo@gawc-stuttgart.de, www.gawc-stuttgart.deInternational Women’s Club Stuttgart All nationalities and ages, every 1stWed of the month, 10 am - 12:30 pm,Kulturcafe Merlin, Augustenstraße 72,07156 927661, www.iwcstuttgart.orgAnglo-Stuttgart Society0711 568113 Günther Jaumann,www.jaumann.de/assBritish Club Stuttgart0711 455464 Alison SeyerleDeutsch-Britische Gesellschaft e.V.0172 7391495 Peter Alderath, Gasthaus Hirsch, Bernhausen, 1st Wed of the monthAsia Circle International Club07156 29164, asia-circle@web.de,www.asia-circle.deInternational Choir of Stuttgart 0711 769600912 Carola, int_choir_stuttgart@hotmail.comStuttgart Singers07159 44991 Kathy Williams,www.stuttgartsingers.com/cmsStuttgart German-AmericanCommunity Chorus0711 463463 David A. BecknerEUCOM HarmonizersStuttgart-VaihingenBarbershop and a cappella, 07146 20677 John GerrishGerman-American Seniors Club0711 2560867 Hildegard GöhrumEnglish Round Table, EsslingenConversation group, 0711 3451344, Claudia Stadelmann, info@bueroservice-jaeschke.deFáinne Irish Dance Group Stuttgart 0711 483901, www.fainne.deIrish Dance Ceili, StuttgartEvery 3rd Saturday of the monthwww.danceirish.deGerman Conversation Group07032 77919 Elena FieresELTAS e.V.English Language Teachers’Association Stuttgart, www.eltas.deInternational Toastmasters Club,Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe,Freiburg, UlmPresentational skills in English, find links to all chapters atwww.toastmasters-stuttgart.de English-Speaking Stammtisch S-Untertürkheim0711 3041337 Derek EvansDeutsch Australische Freundschaft e.V.07031 607521 Jeff Gomes,www.deutsch-australische-freundschaft.deFriends Club International e.V.Böblingen-Sindelfingen07031 878133 Jan W. Boon“Here We Are” International Group Esslingen07163 8580 Alison UnrathEnglish Morning Tea Aidlingen07034 7339 Ellen Zeller, Wed 10 am - 12 pm Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut Tübingen07071 795260, Karlstraße 3, www.dai-tuebingen.deAnglo-German Club Pforzheim07231 472155 Dr Maurice Claypole,www.agc-pforzheim.de

Oberlin Kinderuniversität0761 85648, Am Mühlbach 13, Freiburg, www.oberlinkinderuniversitaet.deInternational School of Kreuzlingen Konstanz 0041 71 6722727Hauptstraße 27, Kreuzlingen,Switzerland, www.iskk.chHeidelberg International School 06221 7590600, Villa Heinstein,Wieblinger Weg 9, Heidelberg, www.hischool.deInternational School Ulm/Neu-Ulm0731 3793530, Schwabenstraße 25,Neu-Ulm, www.is-ulm.deEnglish for preschoolers and first graders in Freiburg0761 1378177 Cathy Plog, plogs@t-online.deLittle English House English and art for kids 3 and upwww.littleenglishhouse.deHelen Doron Early EnglishLearning English with fun andgamens, www.hdee.de

Libraries

Children’s English Library e.V.0711 3582215, Etzelstraße 25-27,Stuttgart, Tue 4-6 pm, Fri 3-6 pm,Sat 2-5 pm, www.celstuttgart.deDeutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum Charlottenplatz 17, Stuttgart, Tue-Thu 2-6 pmDeutsch-Amerikanisches Institut TübingenKarlstraße 3, Tue-Fri 1-6 pm,Thursdays 1-8 pmKarlsruhe American Library0721 72752, Kanalweg 52, Tue-Fri 2-6 pm, Wed 10-12 am, Sat 10 am-2 pm,www.amerikanische-bibliothek.deDeutsch-Amerikanisches Institut HeidelbergSophienstraße 12, Mon-Fri 1- 6 pm,Wed 1-8 pm, Sat 10 am-2 pmCarl-Schurz-Haus FreiburgEisenbahnstraße 58 -62, Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, 3-6 pm

Clubs & Organizations

Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James-F.-Byrnes-Institut e.V.0711 228180, Charlottenplatz 17,Stuttgart, www.daz.org70173: English Spoken Stammtisch12:00 pm at Restaurant Plenum in the Baden-Württemberg LandtagBuilding, contact info@70173.info orwww.70173.info for dates. Open par-ticipation. Organizers: Andrea KrügerMdL, Dr. Peter Mendler, RainerWieland MdEP, and Bryan Groenjes Stammtisch TRANSATLANTIKOnce a month at Plenum RestaurantStuttgart, info at DAZ 0711 228180Metropolitan Club e.V.Social, educational & cultural eventsfor all nationalities, www.metclub.deStuttgart Conversation Club0711 8892252 Ed Wilson, 35 years and up, www.metclub.deConversation Group StuttgartFor native and non-native speakers,Pádraic Ó Leanacháin 0711 2737740,www.englishcom.deBaltimore BeautiesQuilting bee at the DAZ, Stuttgart,every 3rd Fri of the month,

ools

Emerg

sulates

Emergency

Police 110Fire Department 112Ambulance & EmergencyMedical 19222Poison Hotline 0761 19240English Speaking PoisonControl 06131 232466Doctor for House Calls 0711 2628012

Consulates/Embassies

Australia030 8800880, Wallstraße 76-79,BerlinCanada 0711 2239678, Lange Straße 51,StuttgartIreland030 220720, Friedrichstraße 200,BerlinNew Zealand 030 206210, Friedrichstraße 60,BerlinSouth Africa 030 220730, Friedrichstraße 60,BerlinUnited Kingdom0211 94480, Yorckstraße 19,DüsseldorfUnited States of America069 75350, Gießener Straße 30,Frankfurt

Schools & Preschools

International School of Stuttgart e.V. 0711 7696000, Sigmaringer Straße257, Stuttgart, www.international-school-stuttgart.deBotnanger Kinderbetreuung Bilingual Kindergarden 0711 6993404 Gina Kussi,Griegstraße 16, StuttgartInternationaler MontessoriKindergarten e.V. 0711 93150510, Sulzgrieser Straße 114, Esslingen, www.montessori-esslingen.deEducCare Bilingual Kindergarden0711 6581447, Hasenbergstraße31/2, Stuttgart, www.educcare.deEnglish for Kids!0711 6491537 Conny von Scholley,www.spielendsprachenlernen.deEuropean School Karlsruhe0721 680090, Albert-Schweitzer-Straße 1, KarlsruheEnglish GardenEnglish and music lessons, 07618866181, Hasenweg 34, Freiburg

accents

guide

accents magazine22 accents guide

Read accents guide onwww.accents-magazine.de

Political

siness

ygroups

Reli

Movie

Sports

AGBC Karlsruhe e.V., President:Ray Jordan, karlsruhe@agbc.de,AGBC Heidelberg e.V., President:Barry Swanson, heidelberg@agbc.deAmerican Chamber of Commercein Germany e.V.0711 1667156 Prof Dr Roderich C. Thümmel, Regional Chairperson,www.amcham.de British Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V.0711 25540460 Ralf Steppart,Regional Chairperson, www.bccg.deUSAforum Tübingen07071 55970 Bernd Zeutschel,www.usaforum.de

Religious Services

St. Catherine’s Church(Anglican) 0711 7878783 Pastor Kenneth Dimmick,Katharinenplatz 5, Stuttgart,www.stuttgartanglicans.deCity Chapel e.V. Stuttgart0711 6142956 Roland Krumm,Marienstraße 12, www.citychapel.deInternational Baptist ChurchStuttgart-Vaihingen: 0711 6874365 Pastor Jay McFadden; Heidelberg-Sandhausen: 06224 51516 Pastor Richard Blake;www.ibcstuttgart.deSt. Antonius Church0711 4597152 Odilo Metzler,Catholic Mass in English1st Saturday every month, 6:30 pmParacelsusstraße 87, Stuttgart-HohenheimFirst Church of Christ, Scientist0711 6207921 Heinz Clauss,www.christian-science-stuttgart.deUnited Methodist Church Stuttgart: 0711 251984 Dr Hans-Martin Niethammer;Reutlingen: 07121 78546 Harald Rückert; Karlsruhe: 0721 43721 Peter Vesen;www.emk.deChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Stuttgart: 0711 3419240 Ralf Gierschke;Mannheim: 06223 809040 Dr Frank Heckmann,www.lds.orgChurch of the Nazarene0711 551147 Mary Schaar, Friedenskirche, Bad CannstattWord of Faith Mission International0711 7560369 Pastor Gift Aigbe,In den Wannenäckern 24, Bad Cannstatt, www.word-of-faith.de Evangelical Students Community Tübingen07071 61928 Heidi AbeEnglish Vesper Service TübingenSun 6 pm, during the universitysemester, 07071 51475, www.institut-urchristentum.orgJewish Observance, Learning & Meditation, Tübingen07071 968590 Martin H. Potrop,SPIRITSHUL@aol.comSt Columban’s Mission Karlsruhe (Anglican) 0721 28379 (Fax also)Rev. Dr. Hanns Engelhardt,www.staugustines-wiesbaden.de/karlsruhe.htm, St.Columban@gmx.deCalvary Chapel Freiburg e.V.0761 7071333 David Pham,www.ccfreiburg.de

Anglican Church of Freiburg 0761 904693 Minister Rev RobinStockitt, Katharinenstraße 9,www.anglicans-fr.orgEnglish Church HeidelbergErlöserkirche, Plöck/Schießtorstraße06221 804146

Sports

American Football VerbandBaden-Württemberg e.V.0621 7624567 Andreas Stehle,www.afv-bawue.deBaden-WürttembergischerBaseball- und Softballverband e.V.07158 9878447,Vorstand@BWBSV.de,www.bw-baseball.deBasketballverbandBaden-Württemberg e.V.06224 766657 Roland Dopp,www.bbwbasketball.netCosmopolitan Cricket ClubHasslochRhineland-Palatinate (Heidelberg)06202 74852 Arshad RazviFreiburg Nomads Cricket Club0761 4537323 Andy Holton,www.freiburg-cricket.deHockeyverband Baden-Württemberg e.V.0711 7946620, www.hbw-hockey.deKorfball in Karlsruhe0721 9896070 Ute WickenhäuserLacrosse Stuttgart0174 9989349 Bernhard Minke,www.stuttgart-lacrosse.deRugby-Verband Baden-Württemberg e.V.

06202 4097860 Claus-Peter Bach,www.rugby-bw.deDeutscher Frisbeesport-Verband e.V.0711 7352276 Volker Schlechter,www.frisbeesportverband.deGolf in Baden-Württembergwww.golfbw.deHeidelberg International Ski Club Charter06221 767539 Margaret McGinley,www.heidelbergski.com

Movie Theaters

Corso, Stuttgart-Vaihingen0711 734916, Hauptstraße 6,www.corso-kino.deCinemaxX Bosch-Areal, Stuttgart 0711 22007979, www.cinemaxx.deKommunales Kino Stuttgart0711 221320, Friedrichstraße 23A,www.koki.de / filmhaus Kommunales Kino Esslingen0711 310595, Maille 5, www.koki-es.de Schauburg Filmtheater KarlsruheMarienstraße 16, www.schauburg.deScala Filmhaus Mühlacker 07041 3884, Bahnhofstraße 65 Kino-Center Weil der Stadt07033 2241, Badtorstraße 21 CinemaxX Freiburg0761 20281400, Bertholdstraße 50Friedrichsbau-Lichtspiele0761 36031, Kaiser-Joseph-Straße 268

G7, 4b, Mannheim, www.tig7.deThe maniACTS FreiburgUniversity English Department,www.maniacts.de

Kids & Playgroups

English Playgroup Stuttgart-West0711 6361169 Bryan Groenjes, EKiZ Ludwigstraße 41-43, 0-6 years, Wed 4-6 pmEnglish Playgroup Stuttgart0-9 years, www.englishplaygroup.deEnglish Playgroup at the DAZStuttgart0711 228180, 4-6 years on Tue 3 - 4 pm, 2- 4 years on Tue 4 - 5 pmEnglish Playgroup Böblingen07031 287647 Stefanie Spence,0-7 years, Wed 3:30-5 pmEnglish PlaygroupHolzgerlingen/Böblingen area07034 654608 Anita Mayer0-5 years, Wed 9:30-10:30 amSt. Georg MKK EnglishPlaygroup in BonlandenTue 3:30-5:30 pm, 0-5 years, Nicki 0711 3270748, 5-10 years, Mhorag Heger 07127 960046English PlaygroupHerrenberg/Nebringen 07032 77452 Erika Laudenbach, 0-5 years, Mon 3-5 pmEnglish Playgroup Calw/Nebringen07051 70712 Susan Rosa, 0 - 5 years,Fri 3 - 5:30 pmMeet, Chat and Playgroup Waldenbuch07157 8561 Elaine Rauhöft, Fri from 4 pm onwardsEnglish on a Friday AfternoonTübingen07071 792696 Mark Hatlie, Fri from 3:30 pm onwardsEnglish Playgroup in Rödersheim-Gronau (postal code 67127)06231 929616 Mrs I. Smith, Fri 10 am, Luise Koch Kindergarten English Reading Group FreiburgMütterzentrum Weingarten,Krozingerstraße 11, 0761 286803 Amanda Lampert or07666 99126 Fredi Trenkle

Political Groups

Tübingen Progressive AmericansMark Hatlie, progressives@hatlie.de,www.tpa.twoday.netAmerican Voices Abroad Tübingenfritz.hackert@arcor.de, www.americanvoicesabroad.orgDemocrats AbroadHeidelberg,06221 3780 Charles Keene, Stuttgart, 0162 9824870 Dennis O’Donohue,www.democratsabroad.orgRepublicans Abroad GermanyTimothy Smith, Baden-Württemberg Regional Chairtsmith@republicansabroad.de

Business Organizations

American German Business Club www.agbc.deAGBC Stuttgart e.V., President:Nicolaus Susta, stuttgart@agbc.de,

accents guide 23accents magazine

accents media GbR is seeking a part-time advertisingsales representative for the acquisition of ads and businesspromotions. A firm command ofthe German language is required.Payment on a commission basis.

Please contact ads@accents-magazine.de

AdvertisingSalesRepresentative

We need YOU!The anglo-german institute (agi) isseeking well-qualified and motiva-ted English native speakers as free-lance teachers. Profound knowled-ge in the areas of business and cur-rent affairs would be of an advanta-ge. Please phone Edgar Hälbich(0711-60187650) or send your CV to englisch@anglo-german.com

English/Business English Teacherwanted for Aalen University: Native speaker, proven teachingexperience, good German, industryexperience is an advantage. Contact:sprachenzentrum@htw-aalen.de.

American Technology Companyseeks part-time Executive Secretaryto work from his/her Internet-connected home. English/Germanfluency, University degree, strongcomputer skills, professional appearance, and cheerful attituderequired. CV to jfcta1@yahoo.com.

Personal

German tuition/Deutschunterricht Anglophile German with 25 yearsexperience in teaching German as a foreign language offers inexpens-ive, qualified and – if requested –easy-going/stress-free German lessons. Also offered: proofreadingof German texts, manuscripts etc.,and translations from English intoGerman. Call 0711 281799. Leave a message if I’m not in.

Old Welsh chest of drawersand matching shelf and mirror forsale, Contact 0711 8177477

Business Services

TAX ME NOT – IRS FREE MONEYUS Citizen? Pay German Taxes? Have kid(s)? IRS may owe you a refund! Full range of Professional Tax Services. You must file a tax return even if you don’t owe! 07071 968590 potrop@aol.com

Paintings, portraits from photos and more. Tel and Fax 07457 7878www.Mandy-Kabirschke.com

Medical Writing and TranslationsGerman-English, English-GermanK. Grützner mgruetz@t-online.de

Employment

Teachers wanted! Do you speak excellent English? Do you like working with children aged 0 -14? We offer the opportunity for you to attend a Teacher Training Course and qualify as a Helen Doron Teacher. Flexible working hours, excellent rewards, with the back up of an international organization. Teachers needed in all Baden-Württemberg areas! Please contact: 0800 2689678, www.helendoron.com, Stuttgart@helendoron.com

ISD GmbH is seeking qualifiedand experienced BusinessEnglish Teachers. If you would like to join a professional and successful team, please send your application to Ms EileenPannone. isd@isdgmbh.eu or call 0711 2388218.

Linguarama Spracheninstitutis seeking qualified native-speaker EFL teachers for busin-ess English courses which are offered throughout Baden-Würt-temberg. Especially welcome: those with a technical back-ground. Application materials by e-mail, stuttgart@linguarama.com or call 0711 99799330

Business English Trainers required for in-company courses inthe Stuttgart and Karlsruhe area ona freelance and employee basis. Ifyou have a minimum of one year’steaching experience together with a TEFL or equivalent certificate and can create a stimulating atmos-phere for learners to discuss busin-ess topics, we would like to hearfrom you. Please contact ELBC on 0711 6209932 or send your CVand details to us at info@ELBC.de

Native speakers wantedwith financial /technical /businessexperience and excellent inter-personal and language skills.Freelance work. Contact:andrina.rout@fokussprachen.com

Send ads toclassifieds@accents-magazine.deor fax 0711 3102161. One line of text contains approx. 34 characters, including spaces,full-stops and commas.

Personal adsPrice for three lines E 4 Each additional line E 0.90Frame around ad E 5

Commercial text adsPrice for three lines E 15Each additional line E 2Frame around ad E 7

Commercial designed adsBlack and white or colour. Column width 45.5 mm or 95 mm for two columns. Price for 30 mm E 49 Additional millimeter E 1.35

For 3 placements save 5% for 6 placements save 10%Add 19% VAT to all prices

Classified ads must be paid in advance by direct debit orbank transfer:accents media GbR SEB AG Stuttgart bank code 60010111 account no. 2398600700

The deadline for the Jan/ Feb 2007 issue is Dec 6th

accents magazine24 Classifieds

Event-Organisation/Catering/Photos/

Advertising/Marketing/Promotions

Füllerstrasse 20 70839 GerlingenTel 07156 29164 Fax 07156 23668

cross-culture-events@web.dewww.cross-culture-events.de

We specialize in au pair exchangesbetween native English-speaking and western-European countries!!!

Outbound-program: Hostfamiliesavailable in the USA, Canada, Ireland,England, Australia and New ZealandInbound-program: Native English-speaking aupairs for GermanyOnline-registration free of charge!07031/677921 AUPAIR-ARK.de

Good to Know

Money Matters

Mobile banking

In recent years, with increasing competit-ion, banks have been cutting costs. Unpro-fitable branches have been closed down,while cash-machines and internet bankinghave become more important. Meanwhile,the traditional personal financial advisor hasfallen by the wayside.

Now though, there’s a new trend in thebanking sector. Banks and financial institut-ions are discovering that customers dowant personal financial advice from time to time, and they’re investing again in infra-structure – human infrastructure, in theform of mobile advisors.

With a mobile advice service, the bank’scustomers don’t need to visit a branch office for advice; they can make an appoint-ment for a mobile advisor to visit them at home, at a convenient time. A decisivepoint is that mobile advisors are not thereto concentrate on selling a financial pro-duct, but to meet the needs of the custo-mer and offer quality advice. The advisor

has important information at hand and isequipped with the hardware and softwareneeded to connect directly with the bank if needed.

As of February, 2006, the SEB bank hasbeen expanding its mobile advice service.Our advisors are assigned to one or moreof the bank’s branches and work flexiblehours, in order to be able to visit custo-mers late in the evening or on the week-end, if preferred. By the end of next year,we plan to have 200 mobile advisors work-ing throughout Germany.

And the quality of our advice is highlyvalued. The consumer-and-financial-adviceprogram MEX (Hesse Television) recentlyconducted a random test to see how wellbanks and financial institutions advise onretirement funding schemes. The mobilefinancial advice unit of the SEB was theonly one of nine institutions to be judged“very good.”

The advantages for the customer are

Send your comments and questions to:Günther Spieth, Director, SEB Bank Stuttgart. Email:Guenther.Spieth@seb.de

clear: there’s now a choice between visit-ing the local branch of a bank or inviting anexpert to provide specific advice wheneverand wherever the customer prefers.

Written by Günther Spieth, SEB Bank, for

accents magazine. With over five million

customers and 20,000 employees, SEB is

one of the biggest financial service provid-

ers in northern Europe. www.seb.de

Grocery shopping in Germany may be quitedifferent from shopping for food where you grew up. No 24-hour supermarkets; noSunday shopping; no one to pack the gro-ceries into a free bag. But there’s possiblya wider variety of specialty stores here andbetter public transport links to shoppingareas. Weekly outdoor fruit and vegetablemarkets in almost every local town squareare also a highlight.

German store opening times have changed dramatically in the last few years.Shops are now allowed to open Mondaythrough Saturday from 6am to 8pm. Sun-days are still no-shopping days, althoughstores in larger train stations are usuallyopen seven days a week. Most petrol (gas)stations also stock a selection of groceriesfor Sunday shoppers in desperate need of supplies.

Huge indoor shopping mall develop-ments, on the outskirts of towns, are notnearly as common in Germany as in manyother countries. Most non-grocery shoppingis still done in downtown pedestrian zoneareas. If you do go downtown to look for abargain, keep in mind the best time of year

to shop.In many English-speaking countries big

bargain sales occur in the lead-up to Christmas, but that’s not really the case inGermany. It used to be that special salesperiods, when stores could drastically re-duce their prices, were carefully regulatedin Germany. Recent changes to the lawmean that these sales can occur at any

Groceries, gifts and garments

Shopping in Germany

By Liz Gaiser

Many Americans living in Germany willtell you they miss shopping: the grocerystores, the Super Wal Marts, and of course “The Mall.”

I have lived here for so long that I don’t miss it anymore. Who needs a selection of chips and breakfast cerealsthe size of Nebraska? An American super-market bakery’s selection of fifty differentdoughnuts would put me into a sugar-fantasy coma. Although ironically, every-thing else in the store is “lo-fat,” no-salt,and sugar-free. Nowadays, I want realfood, not chemically processed junk.There’s only one thing I still miss – theybagged my groceries for me.

In Germany, I’ve grown quite fond ofmy local discount supermarket. It’s small,and sometimes lacking in hygiene, but it

doesn’t tempt me with so much sugar.They have just one variety of each basicvegetable, a simple choice of corn flakes,smacks or granola and a small selectionof potato chips.

But what I love the most are the weekly bargain bins. All that can’t-live-without-it-another-second stuff that’s soldevery week. If you haven’t experienced aMonday morning when children’s rubberboots are on sale for 6.99 at your localsupermarket, then you haven’t experien-ced true German living. A crowd ofwomen gathers at the front door a half-hour before the store opens. Be prepared,and be quick. Don’t be discouraged if youleave empty-handed. Try again when thekids’ jeans are on sale.

Christmas shopping for three childrenin a big city? Forget it! Clothes storeafter clothes store filled with over-priced

jeans. Shoe stores by the dozen. (Rubberboots for 29.99! Pleeaase!) And there’sonly one toy store. At Christmas it’s filledpast the legal-maximum-occupancy byabout two hundred people. Last year, I began scouring the weekly sale bins atmy grocery store in October. My kids gotpaint-by-number sets, a magnifying glassthat lights up, socks, bathrobes, a globeof the world that talks, Bob the Buildervideos, and puzzles galore.

Okay, so maybe I do miss Americandoughnuts, but fighting for cheap rubberboots in a foreign country – and winning– gives me a feeling of accomplishment.Ditto for bagging my own groceries nextto a cashier who scans everything at thespeed of light. And that feeling of antici-pation about what might be on sale nextweek, well, it’s like looking forward toChristmas over and over again.

Forget the groceries

Head for the bargain bins

Labyrinth

time of the year. However, shopping habitsare hard to break, and the best bargains arestill to be found during the main specialsales periods of the year: the Winter-Schlussverkauf (end-of-winter sales) andthe Sommer-Schlussverkauf (summersales). They each run for two weeks, fromthe end of January and the end of July res-pectively.

Paying for your groceries – or anything,for that matter – by cheque (or check) isvirtually non-existent here. In most super-markets, department stores and specialtyshops you can now pay for goods by usinga bank debit card. Many smaller stores stillprefer payment by cash. Credit cards arenowhere near as widely accepted as inmany English-speaking countries althoughhotels, larger department stores andrestaurants are often an exception.

If you’re hunting for a special Christmasgift, don’t forget the Christmas markets, to be found in many a town square through-out Baden-Württemberg. Sample a cup of hot Glühwein to help warm you up if thecold gets to be too much. (See our Christ-mas Market selection on page 19.)

Size sells. Groceryshopping in America:the bigger the supermarket, thebetter.

Photo: w

ww

.photocase.com

accents magazine26 Labyrinth