Oktoberfest is Coming!

It may only be the second week of September, but Oktoberfest is in the air. You've no doubt heard of this event - the biggest, loudest, wildest beer festival in the world. And I'll be here to take it all in. Oktoberfest, ironically enough, actually begins on September 21st and runs through only the first week of October. As a new teacher at MIS, I'm guaranteed a spot in one of the massive tents that come with it two giant, 1 liter beers and a half a chicken. Yep, it's going to be something else.

This year we'll be going on a Wednesday night, and the day after we go, MIS has two days off. That could make for some dangerous conditions for putting back a few too many beers, but we'll see. Last year, MIS did have school the day after and I've heard there were a few teachers who came down with a bad case of "Oktoberfest Flu."

In addition to the giant festival in Munich, the school also gets into the spirit during the fest. Teachers are encouraged to dress in traditional Bavarian clothing on Fridays during Oktoberfest. Of course I didn't have lederhosen just sitting in my closet, so some shopping was in order. Yesterday, Saturday, a local "club" dedicated to preserving Bavarian history and culture had their annual second-hand clothing sale. The doors opened at 9:00, so I got there at 8:30 expecting to perhaps be the first one there. I wasn't. There was a lineup outside of at least 20-30 people already. I got my spot, poured some coffee from my thermos and waited.

Soon I was joined by other teachers from MIS, then the doors opened. "Where is the lederhosen?" I quickly wondered. I easily found it. It was under a mob of men picking their way through the pile, checking out sizes, checking out the designs, and of course checking out the prices. I had done a little homework online finding my size, so I new I was looking for a 48 or 50. Elbowing my way into the pack, I grabbed one of each. I then joined my friends and fellow Bavarians behind a big curtain, stripped down to my skivvies and tried them on. The one I liked fit, so yeah! It was 50 Euros - not a bad price considering you can spend 4-5 times that if you buy a pair brand new.

Dressed in my lederhosen and t-shirt, I ventured back out into the mob in search of a shirt, vest, socks, and shoes. Thankfully an older German lady came to my aid. She must have seen the fear in my eyes. She began taking me around to various items, helping me get things on and patting down various parts of my body in the process. I let it happen. With Tricia back home, it's been awhile since I've felt the touch of a woman - and this was a Bavarian woman - so why not?!

My Bavarian female friend was good as sizing me up, literally and figuratively, but apparently she was no fashion maven. Every time she put something on me she'd shout across the room to another, older Bavarian lady friend who would usually then nod her head and shout out "Zuper!" Such is how my entire Bavarian Oktoberfest outfit came together. White shirt, two vests - one more formal, the other a sweater vest - long, wool socks and a great pair of stomping and slapping brown leather shoes. I was set, and my shopping experience was over. Whew! Part fun, cultural experience and part my own stressful, #MeToo moment. But I was done. And now I'm ready for the fun to begin!