Germany Blogs

To start with, here is a list of blogs from or about Germany.

I will add more and also post reviews about them as my time allows.

Check out these interesting blogs:

http://kleinstadt.wordpress.com/ (German)

http://www.deliciousdays.com/ (English)

http://feridun.blogspot.com  (mainly English, some Turkish)

http://www.manuelm.org/ghana/ (German)

http://www.hanshass.blogspot.com/ (German)

http://philipsafrikablog.blogspot.com/ (German)

http://ilvesbros.blog.com/ (German)

http://www.deutschlehrer.blog.de/ (German)

http://ghanalive.blogspot.com/ (German)

http://www.vivalo.blogspot.com/ (German)

Goodbye – Hello

Auf Wiedersehen Germany -

Wamkelekele eMzansi Africa

13 July 2006

by FIFA.worldcup.com

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For five glorious weeks in the summer of 2006, Germany provided the stage for an astonishing festival of football.The 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ kept billions entranced around the globe. The first FIFA World Cup in a reunited Germany, it proved a resounding success, revealing the host nation as a vibrant, colourful and cosmopolitan place. Now the honour of hosting world football’s showpiece event passes to South Africa. For the first time Africa will provide the stage for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 – and an entire continent will look ahead with keen anticipation.

The perfect hosts
South Africa has been given a fine model to follow. The world always expected the Germans to lay on a superbly organised show – and the world was not disappointed. In addition, the millions of visitors to Germany encountered warm, cheerful hosts from start to finish.

Relive every match at Germany 2006

From Munich to Hamburg, from Cologne to Leipzig, more than 3.3 million people flocked to the 12 wonderful stadiums, joined by many millions more glued to screens at Fan Fests and parties all over the nation. An unparalleled sense of excitement swept the country, as football fans of every creed, colour and race came together to enjoy the spectacle.

The Fan Mile in Berlin proved the biggest magnet of all, drawing crowds of over a million for certain matches. People from countless other countries followed the 64 matches on giant screens. Even football fans whose teams had failed to make it as far as the finals found themselves infected with the fever that accompanied the 18th FIFA World Cup.

Germany showed off a side of its character few believed to exist. Flags were everywhere – on house fronts, cars and buses – while the streets were full of friendly and helpful people. The image of Germans as detached and unsmiling was laid to rest once and for all. Ordinary people came out of their homes to celebrate. The weather could hardly have been better too, as the sun beat down from clear blue skies practically every day, fuelling the already powerful feel-good atmosphere.

 

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The icing on the cake was the performance of the home team, Jurgen Klinsmann’s young players generating a wave of enthusiasm on their way to a third-place finish. On the day of the Final, a million people in the red, black and gold of Germany turned out on Berlin’s Fan Mile to hail their heroes and bid them a fond farewell.Germany emerged from the finals with a revamped, shining image. The Official Emblem, the Celebrating Faces of Football, turned out to be a perfect symbol for the tournament, as the world really did enjoy ‘A time to make friends’.

An entire continent is waiting
Football fans in Germany were an integral part of this tournament and four years from now in South Africa, the organisers of the 2010 finals will doubtless strive for the same. The one significant difference come 2010 will be that the world will witness a whole continent celebrating.

If the 2006 FIFA World Cup saw Germany in the best light, then 2010 will be opening a window on Africa. The next FIFA World Cup, said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, will be “an African and South African World Cup”. Underlining the vibrant, animated continent that football followers will discover, Mr Blatter offered the metaphor: “ There will be a lot of drums.”

Many recognise that hosting a FIFA World Cup in South Africa will bring hope and capture the imagination of the continent. The 2010 finals have received support from humanitarians such as George Weah, Kofi Annan and Bill Clinton who are involved in projects such as ‘Win in Africa, with Africa’ and the African Legacy Programme.

South Africa has enjoyed backing not only from these international figureheads but also from its own government, clearly illustrated by President Thabo Mbeki’s presence at the unveiling of the tournament’s official emblem in Berlin on 7 July. He invited the world to witness and participate in 2010, saying: “Africa is ready, Africa’s time has come, Africa is calling. Come to Africa in 2010!”

Unlike Germany, South Africa has 11 official languages but the lesson that the FIFA World Cup’s African hosts will have learnt from events in Germany is that only one language matters. That one true tongue, to quote Kofi Annan, is “the universal language of football”.

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060713/1/8s8m.html

Hello world!

How strange it feels in Germany now that all our guests have returned home. The country seems sort of dazed, still – though the glorious summer weather continues – the flags are still on the cars and on windows and balconies – discussions are still going on regarding Zidane or Jürgen Klinsmann – but the excitement is gone. Sober, back to normality. WE MISS YOU!

I hope to fill the gap somehow with this blog.

In the beginning I guess posts will still be mainly on football but as time goes by I think other subjects will appear. Everything is interesting. Culture, cuisine, music, history – whatever our corresponents will come up with. Just normal everday life. Special holidays. Places of interest and touristic advice. For me this already starts to build up new excitement … there is life after the World Cup! And we can still stay connected.

It is my ambition and I will do everything I can to find at least 1 correspondent from each of the 32 countries. I have already started to invite people that I think will be great authors for this blog. As a part time internet marketer I am a member of many international communities and networks and have met online people from all over the world. This is how the idea came to mind to create this blog. To make good use of my many international contacts.

Of course for some countries it will be much easier than for others to find “ambassadors”. It’s obvious that for e.g. the USA I would have many, many candidates. To ensure balance I will keep the maximum of corresponents for each country to 3.

Now if someone from any of the countries happens to read this and would like to volunteer to become an “ambassador” you are welcome to apply for one of the correspondents seats for this blog. Post a comment here and I will get back to you. I will be pleased to meet motivated authors – whether you take an interest in football or not.

That’s it for today – more to come. Must go now chasing for ambassadors. To get the most interesting stuff for you to read.

Heidrun Karin Peters – Site Admin, username heipet

PS. Oh and by the way – 32 countries is misleading. Actually it’s 32 + 1 countries. I have added South Africa as the future host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.