Dear Reader

Our new year started with a burst of real Canadian winter, the kind when you are glad to own a fur coat; may that be politically correct or not in the eyes of some people. It is understood that we only wear something ranched, not wild, since all these things are regulated in Canada, as Juergen Schulz explained to us. But I was glad to wear one of his creations when we drove to the Hansa Club on New Year’s Eve. By now we need to dig out our raincoats for the record high temperatures in Ontario. But I would not put the fur away yet. There are a few more cold blasts in this season.

The Danube Swabians Toronto meet cultural counterparts in Hungary

As is custom at the end of the year people reminisce and make plans for the New Year and express wishes for the future. One of these wishes we follow up with a big report. The Danube Swabian Youth and Cultural Group Leaders was last summer in Hungary on a cultural pilgrimage. This important trip gave our local young people an opportunity to connect with other youth of similar background, from other countries and learn from them first hand more about their culture. The Danube Swabians are famous for bringing their distinct style of culture to every place they go, but there are variations according to the local colour.

This was very apparent when we perused over 600 photos or more to chose a few for you to see with the report. However, if you wish to see all of them you must go to www.muellers.inaurora.ca.

We had a few other adventures, but not as many as usual. Christmas was celebrated close to home and I got to indulge in one of my favourite activities: cook for friends, 3 days in a row I might add.

Happy New Year!

No wonder that I am a bit wiped out. We will see each other refreshed next time around.

I wish all of our readers, friends and clients a very happy and successful New Year!

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister and the Echo Germanica Gang