If, Dear Reader, you've made your way to this page because the introduction to the Fulbright Gartenzwerg Verein was insufficient, this is the Real Story.

In September of 2001, Anna found a gnome made of styrofoam when she made a trip to an art and craft store. She revisited the store to purchase the gnome. She painted it, and it eventually was given to another Fulbrighter who was going to Mannheim.

Thinking that it would be unfair to keep the gnome the entire year, Stephan came up with a singularly brilliant idea, which was inspired by Die Fabelhafte Welt der Amelie. The gnome would travel throughout Europe and other European countries (or other countries beyond Europe, should that be the case). The gnome would then be passed on from Fulbrighter to Fulbrighter (but only those that participated in the Regensburg Language Course).

The Fulbrighters would then take the gnome to an attraction in their city or other cities that they may travel to, and take a photo of the gnome visiting an acclaimed tourist and/or historically/culturally significant site. Photos would then be anonymously mailed to Anna, so she would be able to keep up with Gimlein's progress.

Another student suggested the idea of creating a website chronicling Gimlein's travels, so the other students could see where he's been and what he has done. The students live vicariously (sometimes) through Gimlein's travels, and now the Fulbright Gartenzwerg Verein hopes that you, Gentle Reader, can also enjoy his travels.

But how does the gnome travel? Well, Gimlein is packaged securely in a small cardboard box, and is sometimes mailed to other students, or else is passed on to other students if they should meet. Sometimes he is lucky enough to embark on a plane or train to his destination.