Literally.

It’s a cheesy thing to say, but it’s around 95 degrees with completely still air and no air conditioning in sight, so I’ll let it slide. When I came to Germany I was told that the seasons would be mild. Wrong-o! When I first arrived I couldn’t escape the snow, and now I can’t escape the heat.

Oh well, though. Life will go on. Now I realize how spoiled I am with central air conditioning at home and will definitely appreciate that luxury even more. One more month to go before I can lie in bed and freeze again at night. I can’t wait!

Besides sweating half to death and praying for rain (never thought I’d say that), everything here is going well. I have only two more weeks of regular classes followed by a week of finals at the University of Dortmund. It’s crazy how quickly the time is going by, but at the same time I’m starting to embrace that fact a bit.

One could say that I’m having a case of ‘late term’ homesickness. With the fourth of July this weekend (Happy 4th to all my readers!), I’ve been thinking a lot about my friends and family and how much I wish I could be there to BBQ and watch the fireworks. It seems like such a minuscule and unimportant thing each year when it comes to this time of year, but since this is first year I won’t be a part of that tradition, it feels a little strange.

I’m trying not to focus on it too much, though. Tomorrow will still be a good time that I’m sure to remember: all of the American exchange students are getting together to throw a big BBQ bash in the park. We’re going to do our best to make it as ‘American’ as possible, grilling out hamburgers, hot dogs, eating  a copious amount of potato chips and making s’mores if we can find the ingredients.

Wish us luck with that one, cooking in Europe has proved to be a challenge. Mostly you actually have to cook, and I’m not exactly a chef. I’m the only person I know that can mess up scrambled eggs.

There are not so many things that are pre-prepared here, so one has to be prepared to pull out a cookbook and experiment with what ingredients are available. Much to my dismay, Betty Crocker is a big no-no here. Tomorrow I’m going to half-cheat, making the confetti cupcake mix my boyfriend brought over, but still making frosting from scratch. Thus far  in my previous attempts I’ve failed miserably, but I’m determined to succeed this time.

BBQ aside, I’ve been trying really hard to keep myself busy and out of the house  so I can’t sit around and pout. Yesterday I traveled to Bonn, Germany for the day to see Beethoven’s birth house and the old architecture.

On Monday I’m considering traveling to another city in the region to take some pictures and explore and next weekend I am flying to Gdansk, Poland to spend a few days. Towards the end of the month I will be off to my final two destinations: Prague, Czech Republic and Edinburgh, Scotland. Be sure to check back for updates!

UPDATE: Frosting was a complete fail! It turned into a huge block of butter and sugar in the refrigerator overnight. Boo!

Fourth of July festivities and fun in the Corridor

From races and live music to festivals and fireworks, the Corridor was the place to be this July 4th.

Iowa City Jazz Festival

The Diplomasts of Solid Sound, Orquesta Alto Maiz, Lionel Loueke Trio and more took the stage last weekend for the Iowa City Jazz Festival, a popular Fourth of July event in the Corridor for almost 20 years.

From Aurora to Williamsburg and Belle Plaine to West Union, this Fourth of July is sure to be poppin’. There’s fireworks every where you turn. Plus plenty of good old fashioned Fourth of July fun in the form of parades, food-eating contests, races and more. Not to mention a few tractor pulls, water ski shows, street dances and plenty of fun and games. So whether you stay home, head back to your childhood home or venture off to someone else’s hometown, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

Find your Fourth here. All events are July 4 unless otherwise noted.

Aurora - “There’s No Place Like Home” Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration: Opening ceremony and tractor pull, 11 a.m.; parade, 1 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 476-5690
Belle Plaine - Traditional July 4 activities (plus games, food and rides), Williams Park; parade, 10 a.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 444-2200
Bellevue - Parade, 10 a.m.; Traditional July 4 activities, afternoon, Cole Park; Water Ski Show, 6 p.m., Mississippi River; live music and fireworks, dusk, municipal parking lot. www.bellevueia.com
Cedar Falls - 5K for Independence Day walk/run, 8:30 a.m., George Wyth State Park; Jaycees Star Spangled Sky Fireworks Festival, 5-10:30 p.m., UNI Dome. (319) 273-8600
Cedar Rapids - Freedom Festival: Alliant Energy Walk/Run (8K and 5K), 7:30 a.m., May’s Island; Patriot’s Bazaar and Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m., Second Avenue Bridge; Grand Ol’ Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m., Second Avenue Bridge & First Street W; KCRG-TV9 Show You Care Kids’ Parade, 10 a.m. Third Avenue Bridge; Hawkeye Pedal Pull, 10 a.m., Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum/City Hall; City Pools Fourth of July Swim, 1 p.m., Bever and Jones pools and Cherry Hill and Noelridge Aquatic Centers; Music-for-the-Community and Action Zone, 3 p.m., Kirkwood Community College; Water Ski Show 2009, 7 p.m., Cedar River at Ellis Park; Fanfare to the Fireworks with Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, 8 p.m., Kirkwood Community College; Celebration of Freedom Fireworks, 9:45 p.m., Kirkwood Community College. www.freedomfestival.com
Central City - 7-11 a.m. Belgian Waffle Breakfast, Falcon Civic Center; Parade, 10 a.m.; Street dance and hog roast, all day; fireworks, dusk. (319) 438-1713
Coralville - 4th FEST: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, 7-10:30 a.m., Northwest Junior High; Rockin’ the Paradise Parade, 10 a.m.; Carnival, noon, Coralville Community Aquatic Center Parking Lot; American Legion Bingo, noon-9 p.m., S.T. Morrison Park; Panchero’s Burrito Eating Contest, 4 p.m., Showcase Stage; Community Band Concert, 8 p.m., Showcase Stage; fireworks, dusk. www.coralville.org
Dubuque - Fireworks Spectacular, July 3, dusk, over Mississippi River at Lock and Dam No. 11. www.dubuquechamber.com
Dyersville - July 3: Rides and Games, 5 p.m.; Music and Celebrity Dunk Tank, 6-10 p.m.; Square Dancing Lawnmowers, 7:30 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (563) 875-2311
Dysart - Firecracker 5K run, 8 a.m.; Grand Parade, 10:30 a.m.; Traditional July 4 activities (plus cakewalk, kiddie tractor pull and talent show), noon-9 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 476-5690
Earlville - Traditional July 4 activities, Ball Diamond; fireworks, dusk. (563) 923-3365
Ely - Fireman’s Breakfast 7 a.m.-12:30, Ely Fire Department; Parade, 6 p.m., starts at Fire Department. (319) 848-4103
Hills - Co-ed volleyball tournament, 9 a.m., Hills Ball Park; Horseshoe tournament, 1 p.m.; “Fun in the Sun” Parade, 5 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 679-3197
Independence - 149th Fourth of July Parade, 9 a.m., First Street E and Second Avenue NE; Traditional July 4 activities (plus volleyball tournament, duck race and Guitar Hero tournament), 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Riverwalk Parks; Fireworks, 10 p.m., Riverwalk Parks. www.celebrateindee.com
Iowa City - Fireworks, Hubbard Park, dusk. (319) 356-5000
Maquoketa – Stock Car Races and Fireworks, 6 p.m., Jackson County Fairgrounds. (563) 652-4602
Marengo - Sesquicentennial Celebration, July 3: Parade, 6:30 p.m.; fireworks, dusk; July 4: Kiwanis Breakfast, 7-10 a.m.; Car Show, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Children’s Parade, 10 a.m.; Marengo Olympics, 10 a.m.; Ioway Indian Presentation, 10 a.m.; Horseshoe Tournament, 10 a.m.; Pioneer Heritage Museum, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tiny Circus, noon-9 p.m.; inflatables and games, noon-9 p.m.; beer garden, noon-2 a.m.; Castle Ridge Band, 1-2 p.m.; Dixieland Band, 2 p.m.; Brian Troester Band, 3-4:30 p.m.; Library Tours, 4-6 p.m.; IV School Foundation Open House, 4-6 p.m.; Womanless Wedding, 4:30 p.m.; All School Reunion Dinner, 4:30-8 p.m.; Twins/Multiples Event and Cutest Baby Contest, 5-6 p.m.; Atomic Hoss Band, 6-7:30 p.m.; Cemetery Tour, 7-8:30 p.m.; Alumni Band and Choir, 7:30-8:30 p.m.; Quilt Raffle, 7:30 p.m.; Twist and Shout, 8:30-10 p.m.; All School Reunion Dance, 9 p.m.-midnight; KC All Stars Band, 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m.; Street Dance. www.marengo150.com
Marquette - American Legion Pancake Breakfast, July 3-5, 7-10 a.m., Marquette City Park; Flea Market, July 3-5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., under the bridge; Independence Day Parade, July 4, 11 a.m., downtown; fireworks, July 4, dusk, riverfront. www.mcgreg-marq.org
Marshalltown - Traditional July 4 activities, 3 p.m., Central Iowa Fairgrounds; fireworks, dusk, Central Iowa Fairgrounds. (641) 753-6645
McGregor - Cannon shoot and ceremony, 10 a.m., Riverfront Park; Traditional July 4 activities (plus live music and bean bag tournament), 11 a.m.-4 p.m., riverfront. www.mcgreg-marq.org
Monticello - Firemen’s Breakfast, 6:30-10:30 a.m.; “Proud to Be an America” Parade, 11 a.m., traditional July 4 activities, noon-8 p.m., Monticello Eagles Club; Fireworks, dusk, fairgrounds. (319) 465-6435
Monona - Back Home Fourth of July Celebration (plus music by Juiceman Sound and the Back Home Boys), 5 p.m., Birdnow Chevrolet; fireworks, dusk. www.mononaiowa.com
Mount Vernon - Heritage Days, July 9-11; Fireworks, July 9 @ dusk, Hillcrest Country Club. (319) 895-8742
Oelwein - Parade, 10:30 a.m., downtown; Celebration Oelwein (plus entertainment, food, games, boating and Miss Oelwein contest), afternoon, City Park; fireworks, dusk. www.oelwein.com/attraction.php
Solon - Fireworks, dusk, Lake Macbride beach area. (319) 624-2200
Tipton – Traditional July 4 activities (plus bouncy rides, food games and a petting zoo), all day, City Park; “Movies on Parade”, 2 p.m., Meridian Street and North Avenue; Free Swim, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Aquatic Center; fireworks, dusk. www.tiptoniowa.org
Toledo - Fireworks, dusk, Toledo Heights Park. (641) 484-2160
Waterloo – Jaycees Fireworks Festival, 6 p.m.-midnight, West Fourth Street and Commercial Street. (319) 291-4301
Wayland - Lions Club Breakfast, 6:30-9:30 a.m., Wayland Community Center; 5K walk/run, 7 a.m.; Parade, 10:30 a.m., Main Street; Firefighter Water Fights, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Main Street; Tractor Show, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., North Street; Family Fun Games and Food, 12:30-4 p.m.; Main Street Museum Porch Tour, 1-2 p.m., Main Street Museum; Parkview Benefit Supper, 4:30-7 p.m., Parkview home; fireworks, dusk, football field. www.waylandiowa.com
Wellman - Traditional July 4 activities (parade and entertainment), North Park; Fireworks, dusk. www.cityofwellman.com
West Branch - “An Old Fashioned Independence Day” celebration, music by the Marengo Civil War Band and dramatic performance by Lance Mack as President Abraham Lincoln, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum. http://hoover.archives.gov
West Union - Fireworks, dusk, West Union Recreation Center. (563) 422-3070
Williamsburg - Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, 7 a.m., Fire Department; Williamsburg Recreational Department Fun Run and Tot Trot, 9 a.m.; Children and Adult Relay Races and Park Vendors, 1-3 p.m., east side of the square; Parade, 4 p.m.; Fireworks, dusk. (319) 668-1133