MY GERMAN PROJECT

The Carthusian community
     In 1084 AD , St.Bruno of Cologne founded the Carthusian order which included both monks and nuns and also founded a monastery at Chartreuse . He and his followers wore course clothing and lead a simple life .

  The Carthusian community consists of cloister monks and nuns , converse monks and nuns and donate monks and nuns who lead a very strict life . They were not allowed to talk during lunch , no musical instruments were allowed and they must say Gregorian chants.


The main aim of the Carthusian community is CONTEMPLATION. The motto of the Carthusians is Stat crux dum volvitur orbis which means "The 

 Cross is steady while the world is turning." It was formed on August 15th 1534 , 476 years ago .The nun’s habit is similar to the monk’s: white robe, cowl with lateral bands for those who have taken vows. However, instead of the monk’s hood the nuns wear a wimple with their veil.Postulants are accepted from 20 to 35 years of age, but it is possible to consider exceptions to this if there is good reason to think that the candidate has a real call.


Significance of the colours of the Pope and Priest's robe
Why and how did the Pope wear a white robe ?
     The tradition of the Pope wearing white was actually started by Pope Pius V (1504-1572), who  wore his white dominican habit instead of the usual papal red. Pius V was also a "Papal Fashion Trendsetter." Previous popes had worn red, but he wore his white Dominican habit. 
The tradition continues today.


Signifincance of the other colours :-.
Green and white: During the ordinary time of the year , green and white are the colours of the Pope's vestments.


Violet: The Pope wears violet during burial.


Yellow/Gold: The Pope as well as the Priests wear yellow or gold on holy days , Christmas and Easter.


Red:  Red is worn on Maundy Thursday and Palm Sunday.It is also worn in order to remember the martyrs, Palm Sunday and Good Friday. 

Purple:  Purple is the most important colour worn by the Pope and is worn during the season of Lent and Advent.


Light blue:  It is worn during Marian feast. 


Pink/rose:  Pink/rose is worn on the third Sunday on Advent and fourth Sunday on Lent.


Black: The priests wear black because it was an easier colour to produce and it is the colour of death. They wear it on Good Friday , Holy Saturday and funerals. 

THE BEST 2 WEEKS OF MY LIFE !

  When I first heard that I was selected for an exchange program to Germany, I was so excited and immediately started planning what to pack for the trip though the trip was in May ! I was preparing for my annual exams at that time ! I could not think of anything else and had many questions in mind, what it is like there, are there many shopping malls , the school where our partners study in and so on ...I had to renew my passport and luckily renewed it before the due date ! 

   When we were on the flight, I was very anxious and excited to meet my partner ! We had so much fun in the flight ! Taking snaps, chatting to the core , watching movies ( I think 5..) and music !

The fun interacting sessions <3

 It was a 12 hour flight all together.My partner is awesome ! I mean she's the best partner anyone could have ! She helped me carry my luggage and then we went to the biggest house which I can only dream of having ..big bathrooms , a lovely garden and all . The food ..OMG ...AMAZING ! The bread , butter ,CHEESE ! Mmm.. We had interacting sessions in Maria Ward Gymnasium ( the school where she studys) .

   My host family is the sweetest family and they all have a sense of humour ! Diana has a cat Peggy , so cute she is ! My host father Axel is very nice he told me many stories about the places and so on ...My place was in Steppauch , a village , a beautiful one . It was a great change living in a place with no cars and many trees and COLD weather !

At Grandma's cutting tomatoes

  I took rest as I had jet lag and the very next day we went to her Grandma's and and she made a awesome Bavarian dish and I helped her. Later we went to a Bavarian restaurant for lunch YUM !:D

All of us together ! <3

At the Bavarian Restaurant

  Then ,all of us with our partners went to many churches (I lost track of how many ! )  We learnt many things and took notes for the project and we went in bus and then in tram ! The trams are so cool I went to school by tram ! I wish we had trams in India!  We went to a monastery and had climbing exercises which I was actually quite good at that , I kinda felt like Tarzan :D

At the BMW factory !

Diana and I at the ice-cream parlor

Outside the castle of Ludwig the 2nd

At Diana's 16th birthday ! My very first champagne !

We went to numerous parties and did a LOT of shopping !I got quite a lot of stuff for myself and we used to go to McDonald's for lunch almost every single day !  Then we had the important day- Indian day . On that day we had to wear our Indian clothes and show to the German girls and explain what we were wearing and explain the Indian culture . Everybody looked so pretty ! <3 We took many snaps and all the German girls wanted to try on our clothes .We went to the BMW factory and I bought a BMW toy car ! Yay ! We also went to the castle of Ludwig the 2nd.

    On the whole , this trip is the best trip I've ever had ! I miss Deutschland and my partner Diana :'( <3 Ich liebe dich und Ich vermisse dich !    I cannot wait to see you in India ! And don't worry I shall buy you a sari ! :D