Settling In

Hello! Sorrry it’s been so long- I’ve been super busy in the daytime and then really exhausted at night. My average bedtime in the past 3 days is about 8 pm, which is completely unheard-of for me. But I made it to Amsterdam! Because I'm sure everyone is wondering, yes, I have already seen prostitutes, marijuana, wooden clogs, herring, windmills, and many many bicycles.

My room is actually pretty nice. It’s really big! I have one roommate, and we have a small kitchen, storage room, and bathroom. My bed, however, is a different story The mattress is about 4 inches deep, and the “linen package” that IES sold me for 30 Euro included sheets and a pillow and blanket very similar to what I got on the airplane on the way over. But not as nice. Our microwave is also a mystery. There are no numbers on it, and the dial does not correspond to the cooking time. I have no idea how to use it. I should post a picture. I have taken a bunch of pictures, and soon I’ll upload some.

Every day since we’ve been here has been full of orientation stuff. Boring and a little frustrating. I got my course schedule today. I’m currently enrolled in Music and Cognition, a Dutch Cinema class, A Cross Cultural Perspective of Sexuality, and a Prostitution studies class. I will end up dropping one of them, but I can try them all out for 2 weeks. Each one meets just once a week, but for 3 hours. I really want to take a Dutch Language class, but I’m not sure I can fit it into my schedule. We will see. If I don’t get into it I might try to study it on my own, because I really need a bit of a handle on the language. I just did some grocery shopping, and I’m totally in the dark. I can’t rely on labels at all- I just buy things that look like what I want. It’s a little bit exciting. I am really hungry now but I’m way too tired to cook and clean, so dinner tonight is a granola bar and chocolate hazelnut pudding. Which is delicious.

I am having a good time so far, but to be honest I’m very unimpressed with IES as an organization. I have lots to complain about, but I won’t get myself started. I am making some new friends in my program. Most people are really friendly. There are about 50 of us, all from the US.

A lot of the other students are buying bikes already. I am very intimidated, but I think I’m going to go for it. But I plan on waiting maybe a week or two. Trying to deal with that right now might be too much all at once. Right now the most important things on my list are getting a real blanket and pillow, and getting our Internet to work right. Right now we don’t have a splitter so only one of us can use it at a time.

I hate to say it, but I think it might be about bedtime for me. Sorry- this post may have been a bit disjointed, but I’m very tired from walking all day and I don’t think my mind is all there. Disclaimer: not because of the coffeeshops. I’ll post some more details of our activities soon.

Morning update: I couldn’t post this last night because I didn’t have Internet at the time. But I thought I would mention that today we’re going on a trip to Utrecht. I don’t know anything about it yet, but hopefully by the end of the day, I will.

A Multicultural Evening in Nurnberg

Last night the 5 of us went to O'Sheas Irish pub in Nurnberg for a little cultural diversity. It's a charming establishment with an even more charming staff. Jimmy is an old Irish man working there who Aram is friendly with. He said a quick hello, but more on him later. After a dinner of fish & chips and shepherd's pie, the plan was that Ann and I would explore the nightlife for a while and come back after some drinks and fun. We had been warned that Sunday night isn't the most happening time here, which we quickly found to be the case as we walked through the deserted streets. We found one kind of Mexican bar, which served a disgusting "Tequila-beer." Every bit as awful as it sounds. I opted for a drink called a "flying kangaroo," which came with a marshmallow and gummy candy on a spear. The bartender also gave one to Ann, probably thinking that she was jealous of mine. After trying to ask for the check, our German-speaking bartender handed Ann another Tequila-beer instead.

Eventually we made it out, and decided to go back to O'Sheas because we knew where it was, they spoke English, and they didn't serve Tequila-beer. We had a very nice Australian bartender there, and eventually ended up chatting with 3 Canadian hockey players at the bar. They play for Nurnberg's professional team, the Ice Tigers. We knew they were serious because one had an obviously oft-broken nose, and one was missing a front tooth. After closing time, we joined 2 of the bartenders in going to "The Druid" for a few games of pool. My pool partner was German, but had studied at the University Von Amsterdam (where I'm going in 3 days). He taught me a few Dutch phrases which were much more challenging than I had anticipated. I see that I have my work cut out for me. As we chatted and made new friends, Jimmy from O'Sheas showed up! We had gotten to know him a little at O'Sheas, but by the end of the night we knew a lot more. Whenever he saw me talking to my pool partner, he would come over to me and say in a thick Irish accent, "You be careful now! Your brother is a good man, and I don't want him coming to me tomorrow saying, 'where's my little sister?!'" I assured him that I would be careful, but he still reminded me about 15 times over the course of the evening, and regularly intimidated the boy I was talking to. As Jimmy and I were talking, the conversation turned to animals. He told me that he loves animals, but when I asked him if he likes dogs he scowled and said "Dogs?! Dogs are shit! Do you know what you do with a dog? You shoot it." I'm not sure why. At the end of the night Jimmy helped us call a cab and made sure the driver knew how to get us home. My description really does him no justice. I suggest that you go to O'Sheas and meet him. Just don't bring your dog.

Right now it's 9:30 am, but I wasn't able to sleep all night. After we got home I should have been tired, but I just couldn't fall asleep. So I gave up and took a shower, but I think that now I might try to catch an hour or so. I thought that I was over the jet lag, but clearly not. I'll be so tired all day long, but as soon as I get into bed I can't fall asleep. Very frustrating.

Chus!

Munich

Quick update because my consciousness is fading. Yesterday Aram, Ann, and I went to a really awesome comic book store in Nurnberg called Ultra Comic. It's 4 stories of eclectic nerdiness, so pretty up my alley. That night Ann showed off her Polishness and taught us how to make pierogies- delicious. Today we went to Munich on the train and basically spent the day eating and drinking tasty things. We went to The Hofbrauhaus for lunch. There was a live band and many very German patrons. I had a cute little suckling pig with potato dumplings, Ann had some sausage and saurkrout, and Aram had veal. We just got home and we're all pretty beat from walking in the cold.

Not sure of our plans for tomorrow yet- possibly involving a spa. But tonight, sleep.

Schnitzels and a Baby!

Ann and I have arrived in Germany! The plane ride was long... but lucky for us we made a friend on the plane, Ricky. He's a 25 year old Floridian who was on his way to Hanover for a forestry internship. He was very friendly, but we said our goodbyes in Frankfurt airport and got on our 50 minute flight to Nuernberg. All of our luggage made it with us, and we found Aram at the airport, and drove to their German Palace.

Ann and I have our own little honeymoon suite in the backyard, complete with snack and drink-bar provided by our gracious host and hostess. Their house is really neat- very cozy, yet spacious. Kami is just the cutest baby I've ever met. She's very easygoing and attentive. Right now she's dancing with the help of her Dad.

Ann, Aram, and I just got back from the supermarket. Ann and I probably looked like idiots as we ogled at everything. We could have spent hours just looking at different packaging. We found some chips labeled in English, but strangely translated. There were "smoked streaky bacon" flavor and "mature cheddar". And at the checkout, amidst the Kinder-surprise eggs and gum they had small bottles of Jager and vodka.

We are about to go into town for some exploring! So more later- Chus!

Time until Takeoff<15 Hours

My suitcase is packed, save a few last minute items. Camera is charging, and my 3 oz or less containers of liquid or gel that will be on my carry on are about to make their way into the one 1-qt see-through plastic bag that I am allowed. The Department of Transportation Security Administration's website outlines these important rules dedicated to my safety. They state that I am allowed "reasonable amounts over 3.4 ounces," (but of course these items must be declared to a Security Officer and probably strip-searched). But I wonder what an unreasonable amount would be... Who are they to tell me just how much shampoo and dish detergent I need on this flight? I shouldn't be upset though, because I am allowed to bring prosthetic breasts or bone-marrow, were I to need them for medical reasons.

I have digressed from the original intent of this post.

My friend, Ann, is connecting with my flight tomorrow and accompanying me to Germany for a week, where I'll visit Aram, Petra, and my niece, Kami. She's new. (3 months new) I am very excited to make her acquaintance. I'm also so happy that Ann is coming with me! It'll be nice to have a buddy to navigate the airport and our connecting flight, not to mention how nice it will be to explore Europe with her without classes or work to get in the way of our fun

I am sad to say my goodbyes to everyone in the US. But I try to remind myself that they are just see-you-laters.

Well, I had better make sure I have everything in order and make myself a midnight snack.

Goedenacht!