1 March 2011 (The First Day)
So Clark and I arrived at Frankfurt's airport about 20 minutes early. This was fortuitous, as we had both been on a plane for about 19 hours all told within the past day. Strangely enough, we were able to both speak with and understand most of the people we needed to. Secretly, this was a HUGE relief for me. I was really scared that I wouldn't be able to communicate at all. All of the people were quite nice (I think it was obvious that 1) we were both Auslandern (not from Germany), and 2) we were both trying extremely hard to speak to them in their native tongue. After a much needed restroom break, we picked up our bags and trudged through the labyrinth that is Frankfurt Airport to our bus stop.
We both had reserved seats on a shuttle bus, but my reservation was lost, and the shuttle driver told Clark he would have to pay an extra 30 euro to get there because he had too many bags. We were unamused. So now, we are sitting at the train station to catch the next train (Zug) to Mannheim, and then onto our new home via light rail. Wish us luck… more later.
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Well, okay. It was a LOOOOONG first day. I am (unlike what I believed) living in a dormitory-style building, but the restrooms and showers are right across from my door, so I can't complain too loudly. My building number is 683. I am one the erste Stock (1st floor). In Germany, this means that I am on the second story of the building. This is the view outside my window:
Yeah… so no picturesque views, but that's fine. Clark is in building 682 on the 10th floor, and has some great views of the old city (Altstadt) and the surrounding countryside. I am a little jealous, but I like my dorm, I think. I now have to finish unpacking and get bedding, etc. Until later!
****
Got some of the bedding I needed. The essentials, anyway. Worked on my room for a little bit. Clark came over, and we were going to try and find a place to get something to drink and found out there is a bar in the basement of my dorm. A bar. In the basement. AMAZING. You need a key from 683 to get in. It is small and dark and constantly filled with cigarette smoke. And that's the way I likes my bars.
People I met today:
Wolfgang - PhD Candidate, München
Nellie - U Mass Amherst
2 March 2011 (Mein Gebürtstag)
I have the worst memory ever in the history of ever. Not only did I forget my supply of soft contacts and my calendar at home, I had to go to the stores around town to pick up things for the room 4 different times because I kept forgetting this or that. And it isn't a quick walk to Woolworth, Galeria Kaufhof, dm or Penny Markt. It is a good 20 minute bus ride to the other side of the Neckar River.
Those of you who got SoGAs before know how much I talked about the food. It is better than I remember. Truly amazing. And CHEAP! We went to a little shop and got Döner. These are something like gyros in the States, but so much better. They have shaved beef or chicken (Kalbfleisch/Hänchenfleisch), lettuce (Salat), fresh cole slaw, onion (Zwiebel), tomatoes (Tomaten) and both a yogurt sauce and a kind of chipotle-like spicy sauce (Scharf). They are on a fresh baked, crusty roll, and I cannot explain how great they are. Just trust me… Price? 2,70 euro. Yeah. AWESOME!
Kalbfleisch Döner mit alles
Tonight I went to Bar 3 again (the Kneipe in the basement). I was given several drinks by many patrons because of the birthday. While I am not a drinker at all, especially when it comes to beer, the Dunklesweisbier (a dark wheat beer) here is pretty spectacular.
People I met today:
Jenn - Eastern Carolina University
Nichole - U Mass Amherst
Donna - U of A (Don't worry... she's transferring to ASU next semester)
Tommy Dickey- D.C.
Rich - U Conn
Laura - Adelaide, Australia
Jess - Uni Otago, New Zealand
Rosaria - Chile
Chris - U Mass Amhurst
4 März 2011 (Pub Crawl!)
This evening was Wolfgang's birthday. He invited Clark and me up to his floor to have a little get together with some of his friends. They were all native Germans, and so I felt a little intimidated to speak German. However, once a German learns you are American, they want to practice their English with you. We had grilled steaks with Brötchen (rolls) and Sanf (mustard). Great meal. Great conversation. We were invited to a hookah party that is held every Thursday which will have mostly German students. I think it will be good for my speaking ability.
After dinner, all of the exchange students went on a school-sponsored pub crawl throughout the old city (Altstadt). Our leaders were Chris and Julia, and are amazingly cool. Chris made us speak in German as much as possible, and it really helped us feel more comfortable with the language. And honestly, it helps to have a little alcohol in your system. I believe it's because you lose a little bit of your inhibition, and so aren't so self conscious.
We went to 3 kind of awesome bars. We were supposed to end at The Brass Monkey (the 4th Kneipe), but we had to catch the last bus home. Maybe we'll get there tomorrow.
People I met today:
Eugenia - Germany
Chris - group leader
Julia - group leader
Claudia - Leeds, U.K.
Evelyn - ASU
Kate - Uni Otago, New Zealand
Cathy - Uni Otago, New Zealand
Lydia - Uni Otago, New Zealand
Andy - Uni Otago, New Zealand
5 März 2011 (City tour)
So the Heidelberg old city (Altstadt) is ridiculously beautiful. Take a gander:
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| The Necker River and some of the houses on it |
Peterskirche
The Necker River from the Altebrücke (Old Bridge)
People I met today:
Erin - UNC
Mari - Sao Paulo
Grace - Uni Auckland
There will be more later!
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