Back to School...

Since I don't much to do lately in Leipzig, I've decided it would be best to go back to school. My German lessons haven't been going too well despite the effort of my tutor and myself due to the lack of structure. So it makes good sense to go to one of their community college type school and get my language skill ASAP.

I thought I was finished with school, but here it is again. I have to admit I'm actually looking forward to it... I just need more $$$ or €€€!

Andrew Don't Know Football

I'm officially a football pundit. I'm officially "the enemy". I officially love it. Just the opportunity to write about football on a daily basis gets me excited about it. I'll end up focusing on the Bundesliga side of things since wedontknowfootball does not cover it much. Eversince joining the lads(and gal), ideas about the football culture here in Germany has been flying off my head. Lets just hope I get a ton of readers, that's all I ask. In the end, I just want to show another side of the game in the typically mislabeled "narrow-minded uber-stern" Germany.

Check it out: http://wedontknowfootball.com/

Ladies & Gentlemen... RB Leipzig!

Of all my travels in Europe, particularly Germany, I have never seen a football mad city so deprived of the beautiful game. For years Leipzig has been starved of the quality football it truly deserves. FC Sachsen Leipzig and 1.Lok Leipzig, the two "top" clubs in this beautiful eastern German city brought the town nothing but disappointment and embarrassment for close to two decades. From dodgy financial accounts, hooligan troubles and shocking football, there always seem to be another excuse on why they bounce up and down between the 5th-7th tier leagues of German football.

Whenever the discussion about local football came up, you will always find the normal Leipziger voicing his or her discontent. They are simply fed up with FC Sachsen and Lok's fan hooliganism, bankruptcies, terrible football and name changes that happens so often that they're not quite sure how to call their clubs anymore!

Since the city is currently in football turmoil, one investor is willing to take on the challenge of bringing this city out of football hell. Red Bull for years has been searching for an eastern German club to invest in and take on the mighty west. Due to strong fan protest Red Bull avoided pursuing investment in Sachsen and Lok altogether and settled for a much smaller club in SSV Markranstädt, a club in the outskirts of the city. Red Bull, a powerhouse in world sport picked Leipzig and SSV Markranstädt as it has 500,000 strong citizens ready to support a Bundesliga club.

With plans of a €100million investment over the next 10 years, Leipzig and its football mad people can only benefit from this injection of funds. It will take the new Leipzig club some time to build up its stature compared to its city rivals. Sure, RB Leipzig and its new supporters will be ridiculed for having no history, buying its way to higher leagues and all of the other insults that may come their way. Bottom line is that RB Leipzig will bring entertainment to the city and write football history while FC Sachsen and Lok Leipzig along with their 'die hards' rot on the side with jealousy and further football failure. As one Leipziger said, "Simply, they've had their chance, Leipzig can no longer put up with their incompetence".

Bavarian Beauty

Whenever I asked Germans from the north, west or Stuttgart area how Bavaria was, I always get the same response... "Ah, its Bavaria! Its not Germany!". I always thought it was a bit snobbish to make such claims almost instinctively. But after spending a few days in München for the Audi Cup, I came to one conclusion. They were right.

Most of the things the rest of Deutschland told me were actually true, such as München is bloody expensive, that Bavarians speak with a funny accent, they do this and that etc. I had the impression that for the rest of Germany, this southern state is simply not "German" enough. But see, even though they may not admit to it, I felt that the place is still very much Germany, I just think that Bavaria is the exception to the rule. Most of it. Unlike the rest of Germany, most Bavarians will give you a smile. Unlike Saxony, München will not simply stare at you with a frown on their faces. Unlike Hamburg, München enjoys a warm and sunny weather. Unlike Berlin, München is a big city with a small town feel.

All I can say is visit München and Nürnberg before passing judgment to a truly wonderful place. Come hang out in one of their hip biergartens. Drink a freshly made hefe-weizen beer. Visit the Allianz Arena with FC Bayern's friendly supporters. And most importantly, enjoy the sight of a beautiful Bavarian girl in a Bavarian dress :D