In which I attempt to answer some of your basic questions.
First and foremost, the all-important disclaimer:
This is not an official Department of State website or blog, and the views and information presented are my own and do not represent the Fulbright Program of the U.S. Department of State.
Why "The Adventures of the Jelly Donut"?
I'm studying abroad in Berlin, Germany in the fall of 2011: my first stop in what is hopefully a long life of adventures and new places. Years ago, a much more famous person than myself visited Berlin. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy took Berlin (well, western Berlin) by storm during his visit to the city. In his speech to the German people, he famously declared, "Ich bin ein Berliner," to thunderous applause and cheers. What he meant to say was, "I am a Berliner." What he actually said was, "I am a jelly doughnut."
So where did JFK go wrong? If you want to say you are from Berlin, you simply say, "Ich bin Berliner" (literally, "I am Berliner"). By adding the article "ein" to Berliner, JFK changed the meaning of his sentence. In Germany's capital, a Berliner is a powdered doughnut filled with jelly. The city is famous for them.
I love this story, and since I first heard it I have thought of Berlin as the city of the jelly doughnut. I love Berlin and...well...jelly doughnuts aren't really my thing, but I'd be happy to be a pastry just to be living this adventure.
Don't believe me? Maybe you'll believe Eddie Izzard! (Explicit...)
I guess you could say JFK got his... just desserts...
YEEEEEEEEAAAAAH!
Also, I have now typed the word "Berliner" so many times that it no longer has any meaning for me. Moving right along...
Where in the heck are you exactly?
Riiiiiiiight here:
If you don't know where Germany is, this is the part where you go to Google Maps.
Are you aware that you spell "doughnut" two different ways on this site?
I actually prefer the spelling with "dough" in the word; it seems more formal, more thorough, somehow. (Yes, I am a word snob.) However, when I was coming up with the blog's name, I thought it would be easier for people to type "donut" into the address bar because it's shorter and, well, that's the way most people in America spell it. I have no clue why it's spelled two different ways.
Do you plan to update this page at all?
Eventually.
First and foremost, the all-important disclaimer:
This is not an official Department of State website or blog, and the views and information presented are my own and do not represent the Fulbright Program of the U.S. Department of State.
Why "The Adventures of the Jelly Donut"?
I'm studying abroad in Berlin, Germany in the fall of 2011: my first stop in what is hopefully a long life of adventures and new places. Years ago, a much more famous person than myself visited Berlin. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy took Berlin (well, western Berlin) by storm during his visit to the city. In his speech to the German people, he famously declared, "Ich bin ein Berliner," to thunderous applause and cheers. What he meant to say was, "I am a Berliner." What he actually said was, "I am a jelly doughnut."
 |
| Yum yum. |
I love this story, and since I first heard it I have thought of Berlin as the city of the jelly doughnut. I love Berlin and...well...jelly doughnuts aren't really my thing, but I'd be happy to be a pastry just to be living this adventure.
Don't believe me? Maybe you'll believe Eddie Izzard! (Explicit...)
I guess you could say JFK got his... just desserts...
YEEEEEEEEAAAAAH!
Also, I have now typed the word "Berliner" so many times that it no longer has any meaning for me. Moving right along...
Where in the heck are you exactly?
Riiiiiiiight here:
 |
| Where the giant star and bold type are. |
Are you aware that you spell "doughnut" two different ways on this site?
I actually prefer the spelling with "dough" in the word; it seems more formal, more thorough, somehow. (Yes, I am a word snob.) However, when I was coming up with the blog's name, I thought it would be easier for people to type "donut" into the address bar because it's shorter and, well, that's the way most people in America spell it. I have no clue why it's spelled two different ways.
Do you plan to update this page at all?
Eventually.
