2011 Christmasletter 3
The Danube Swabian Foundation of the U.S.A., Inc.
Die Donauschwaebische Stiftung der USA, Inc.
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Thursday, June 16th
We were lucky enough to get off the airplane with the group from St. Louis and we were
met at the airport by friendly faces from the 2007 Welttreffen….Manfred and Susanna.
We hung around the airport until the other St. Louis people, the couple from Detroit, the
leaders from Chicago and the girls from Entre Rios joined us.
The bus whisked us off to Harkany where we were greeted by Stefan Ihas and the owner of
Hotel Platan with a shot of schnaps, which we were to quickly learn was the way to start
every event day or night. The rooms were very comfortable with private balconies, the
hotel seemed to be busy with groups visiting the “bath” and a lovely outdoor eating area.
Everyone gathered at this area to have a few drinks, a dinner and to have the chance to get
to know each other.
Friday, June 17th
What an amazing breakfast they had every day….French toast, scrambled eggs, a hot meat,
yogurts, meats, cheeses, fresh vegetables, cottage cheese, cereals, juices, cream of wheat
pudding, and many varieties of delicious bread. A great way to start every day.
By 9:30 we had gathered in the meeting room for the first of many memorable learning
sessions. We learned that a Hungarian TV station was to be with us for several days
making a documentary. Anna started us off with an appropriate poem for the day, Stefan
did many introductions and then we played an interesting get-to-know you game, weaving a
spider web to join us all together. The television reporter interviewed several of the people.
Lunch was on our own, and we all took an opportunity to walk to town and get some food
and shop a bit.
We danced ALL afternoon with Peter, the leader and choreographer from the Saar
Tanzgruppe. Wow, it was intense, but we felt successful having learned two new dances.
He followed this with a power-point presentation about the Jugend Ungarn-Deutsches. He
really wants to help the traditions continue.
A large group of us went to an outdoor restaurant that evening and got to know each other
much better, did a lot of dancing, and watched an amazing “Hungarian Tanzgruppe.”
Saturday, June 18th
We spent the morning dancing with Peter again and learned a 3rd very complicated dance.
In the late afternoon we got ready for the Schwabenball . It was a beautiful ride to the town
of Ketching. We were greeted by the Mayor and then we got to see a video show about
the history and culture available in the town. It was marvelous how they are able to
combine the Schwaben and Hungarian lifestyles. The children of the school did an amazing
play for us while the various dance groups did a show for us and the singing group gave a
lovely concert. We then got a stroll through the quaint town and got to visit inside the
church. Dinner, dancing and an amazingly fun and friendly evening took place. An exciting
highlight was when a bridal party crashed the dance and everybody got up and danced
several traditional Hungarian dances together. It was truly an evening to remember.
Sunday, June 19th
Today was a dreary, damp day that seemed to aid in the solemn atmosphere of the stop at
Mohacs. It was a beautifully done wreath-laying ceremony and we all wanted to run after
the wreath as it traveled down the Danube River. It really signified how much the
Donauschwaben endured as well as how far they truly traveled.
We then loaded up and headed to Babarc for their anniversary celebration. We started
with a trip up the hill to church for a beautiful Mass. I loved the hymns and wish I had the
words to the ones the “Father” rewrote creating hymns specific to the Donauschwaben from
melodies that were familiar to everyone. He even played an accordion to accompany the
songs.
Back down the hill to the clubhouse and a wonderful afternoon and evening of friendship,
dancing, drink and food. The hour long show the dance group did was outstanding and I
wish I had recorded that show to just watch over and over again. We eventually were
ushered inside to a sit down meal with the Babarc Tanzgruppe and then the band fired up
for an energetic evening of dancing. It was sad to say good-bye as we had hosted the
dance group in Cincinnati and knew several of the performers.
Monday, June 20th
Today we split up as a group. My group spent the morning dancing with Judit Mausz. She
had us do a truly “show” type dance where you enter with a waltz, do some singing, there is
a group dance, another song, a big circle polka and a final song. It was quite an amazing
production and I can see how we could use it and have several of our dance groups
performing.
The afternoon was one of the most amazing, as we spent it singing with a group of men
known as the Wemender Quartett. They are a type of “barbershop” quartett as far as the
harmony and expression goes. They have spent a lot of time rounding up traditional folk
songs from various Donauschwaben areas. They gave us a song book with the words and a
CD with all the music and them singing. I can’t wait to use these songs at home.
We played a very fun game in the late afternoon. It was a cross between a scavenger hunt
and a game show. We had to follow arrows drawn on the sidewalk with chalk. These
arrows led us around Harkany and there were stops that asked us questions about
Donauschwaben history, people, and language. Cincinnati had 2 teams and both teams did
very well. We came in third and fourth! I learned a lot and knew more than I thought.
Tuesday, June 21st
This morning’s lessons were a presentation by Herr Jerger. He taught us about all the
memorials and why there needed to be memorials to the Donauschwaben. Then Franz
Heilig spoke on the true history of the Donauschwaben. I am glad these men kept their
presentations to about an hour each. They know a LOT of information, but it was almost
too much to hear and remember at one time. It was also difficult to listen as I did not know
enough German to keep up. Luckily Robert Filippi was translating, but it was a slow
process. I learned a lot and I know the Jugend did too because they were talking about
things that they hadn’t known before, and asking questions about things that didn’t make
sense.
We spent the afternoon learning a dance from the Babarc leader/choreographer Eva Treitz.
It was one of the dances I loved from the show on Sunday – “Mach dir einen Schönen
Tag.” She was really prepared as she gave us a notebook with 2 DVD’s , the dance steps
written out, the words to the songs written out and 4 pages of musical notes.
Ed and I went out to dinner with a group of the older people and had a great time getting to
know them. Anna picked the spot and we had quite a long walk across Harkany to a little
island and a restaurant with a cabana theme. It was a delicious “fish” restaurant I believe.
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Debbie Tullius' Diary