This is a periodical post to let you know I have not sustained any horrible bodily harm up to and including death. My health is nominal, and no one should be concerned. I warn you though: my English is becoming worse every day. This is not to say I am becoming actually proficient in German, though. Because we all know that would just be pure crazy talk. Anything after this message is just the normal meanderings of your favorite spaz...
So here I am. It has been close to 2 1/2 months since I arrived in Heidelberg. My semester abroad is half over, and it feels like merely a blink of the eye. The people I have met here humble me with their intelligence, wit, grace and acceptance. I love it here so much that I cannot begin to express it. However, I shall try.
I haven't gone through and looked at my previous posts (all 3 of them), so if I repeat myself please bear with me.
I first need to talk about all of the stunningly amazing friends I have met here. It might be easiest to go by nationality since most of them are from countries, and so here goes:
The Kiwis: The New Zealanders are one of my favorite groups of women in the universe. That's right... I can say that with confidence even though there could be entire planets full of groups of women that we don't even know about.
Jess: I have never heard Jess complain about anything. She fell into the Neckar River (which is disgusting), cut open both of her feet and her wrist, and the only thing she was worried about was if her friend's iPod was okay. She is in a constant, infectious state of wonder and joy. She makes everyone around her feel special by the way her eyes light up when she sees anyone she knows.
Cathy: Cathy is like a cool aunt who happens to be 9 years younger than I am. She is always in the mood to grab a drink at Bar 3, or go to the Neckarwiese (a field that is alongside the Neckar River), or help me translate a ridiculous economics article for my Business German class. She will listen when you need to talk, give solid advise when you ask for it, and forcibly MAKE you have a good time when she is around.
Lydia: Lydia has this smile... it is kind of hard to explain. When she smiles, it looks like she has a wicked and exciting plan hatching. Whenever I have been in my room all day studying, she will be the one to text me and make sure I am still alive and have had at least some fun. When she laughs, you can tell she is honestly amused. She will also help me with some difficult German when need be. She has saved my behind on more than one occasion.
Kate: Kate is sarcastic and snarky. Whenever I need a laugh, I know I can get one from her. The woman is hysterical. I mean, she calls me Puppy. I think she might call everyone Puppy, but it is just so... ridiculous that I have to love it. She is also the most, well, ballsy of the 4. For example (in German that is zum Beispiel, or zB), New Zealanders drive on the Left. She spent 5 days driving the 4 of them through 5 different countries, all of which drive on the Right. She had never driven a car on the right-hand side of the road before. I don't think I or many people I know could do that...
Grace: I haven't spent much time with Grace. She is from Auckland, while the other Kiwis are from Dunedin (Pronunciation: Duh-NEE-dinn). She is a little quiet, and it seems she keeps to herself a lot of the time, but she is sweet, kind and a good person.
The Brits: Two of the people I hang out the most with are from Manchester, England and are a (might as well be married) couple. I watch football (soccer for you Americans out there) with them, I play football with them (raise your hand if you ever thought I would say that... No. Put your hand down. You didn't think it would ever happen.), go hiking and walk around Heidelberg with them.
Tobias: Bias (do NOT call him "Toby") is a Manchester United fanatic. He also has unlimite patience for answering questions about the team and the sport from the stupid American (my words, not his). He's sarcastic, and always good for a (dirty) joke. The man gets everyone together for a game of football, and then yells at the groundskeeper who says we need an Ausweiß (ID proving we can be there) when not 5 minutes earlier another group of people were playing in the exact same place. He is pretty damn awesome.
Lizzie: Lizzie is the first person I go to if I need to talk to someone. We just understand each other. She's helped me through a couple of confusing and/or awkward situations, and I am just really grateful I know her. And today is her birthday, so Alles gut zum Geburtstag, Lizzie! Herzliches Glückwunsch! You, my fine feathered friend, are amazing and a half.
The Aussies: Another couple of people with whom I hang out an inordinate amount of time are from Adelaide, SA, Australia. They are crazy. Do not get me wrong; they are wonderful and fun to be around. They are the best kind of crazy. They turn your life upside down, and you turn out better for it. I spent a while teaching them the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs in German. For you English majors out there, I think you know that sometimes it can be quite difficult to immediately pick up on the difference. Now imagine it in a language that is not your mother tongue. They got it like whoa. They are incredibly smart. And more fun to be around than should be allowed.
Laura: Laura is a devoted Freundin. She wants nur what is best for die Leute she cares for. And von Zeit zu Zeit, she will let her friends wissen when they are not doing as they should (soz about it). She has a boyfriend named, well... we call him Jonny. He is from Stuttgart, and we see him here probs once every other Wochenende. (She speaks in Germish -- or 'Denglisch' if you aren't from the US -- all the time. Well, all three of us do, really...) We all will pile into a room and watch movies, or make dinner and cookies, or any other number of things.
Sarah: Sarah worries about me. I keep on telling her that I am fine, but she always checks in to make sure I am alright. You see, even though I'm having a truly wonderful experience here, I am under a lot of stress due to a couple of classes I am taking. I see her most every day, and she makes sure I haven't pulled all of the hair out of my head. We stay up ungodly hours trading music, watching movies and making merciless fun of each other (and I quote: "Wow, Grant. I sometimes forget you aren't Australian until you open your mouth!" "Soz über es, aber I can't understand you with your terrible American accent."). Komm schon, Sarah, komm schon!
I love my friends back home. That is a given. But I love my new friends here. I really, REALLY hope all of you know that. I will do anything for any of you.
That's enough for now... next time, you will meet the Americans, the Estonian, the Romanian and the younger brother I never knew I had from South Korea. You will also hear about the classes that Grant the Dumbass decided to take this semester. I will also talk about the City of Heidelberg itself. There is the possibility that the explanation of my new nickname, "Apotheke Grant/Ping" (depending on who you ask), will be forthcoming. Finally, I will answer any questions I get in my mailbag. Stay tuned... The State of the Grant Address will again interrupt your regularly scheduled programming soon.
Much love and don't die,
Grant
i have a similar post from when i met all my friends 8 years ago. we're still in contact today- we meet once or twice a year. and, of course, i live with the most important of them all, so i see him everyday.
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