Days 24, 25 and 26 of the Greatest 330 Days Ever!

The last few days have been totally crazy! On Thursday, everyone took the final test for the orientation class and then the whole class played games (in German) and just hung out for most of the day. The girls and I all met at my place and got ready to go out to celebrate the end of the class. We went to a club on the Blaue Brücke near the altstadt. It was a pretty good time, the musik sucked, but there was no cover charge and we all just had a good time hanging out together.

Friday morning we all dragged our tired butts out of bed to go to the end of start kurs breakfast. We had a really good time listening to music and taking crazy pictures and, of course, stuffing our faces with delicious German pastries and bakery items :). After the breakfast we received our grades and got our graded tests back. Then the girls and I went down to the altstadt to hang out and back to my place for Sangria and to get ready for the big Abschluss Abendessen at the Schloss Cafe. It was sooo much fun and our teachers are pretty big party animals if you ask me. We all had a really good time and a big group of us ended up at my apartment for more Sangria and a semi-party.
After that, we all walk a semi-straight line back to the altstadt to go dancing. I don't think I've ever walked as much as I did yesterday. No one in the group can ever make a decision abot where we should go so we pretty much just wander around until we find something that sparks our interests. I had a really good time last night and I really hope we get to do it again sometime.

Today, Frances-Kate, Julia and I just had a girls' night. We ordered pizza (auf Deutsch!) and watched movies and shopped on-line for Halloween costumes. Frances-Kate is hosting a Halloween party for the international kids and we're all pretty stoked about it. annnddd everyone's pretty excited about going to Munich on wednesday for Oktoberfest! Wooooo hoooo!

Day 23 of 330: Now past the 3-week-hump!

I am now officially past the 3-week-hump. I've gotten to that point where things are routine, I know how to get around, and I don't get lost anymore (sort of). I haven't been doing much of anything this week because my orientation class ends on Friday and our big test is tomorrow. I have bought 2 books in German. I just read Sleeping Beauty and I'm in the process of reading the first Harry Potter book. Some very easy material that I haven't had too much trouble understanding because I have already read them once in Englisch.

I have slowly begun to seriously mix English and German. I keep giving German spellings to English words and I am constantly forgetting how to spell some English words. Weird! I know that eventually I'll forget the English words for things altogether...maybe after the 3-month-hump lol.

Next week a big group of us is going to Oktoberfest in Munich!!!

Day 22: Again, I ask, "Where the heck are we?!?!"

Omg. Today the class went on an "field trip" to one of the oldest churches in Tübingen. We were told that we would take a bus to this place, but we were NOT told that we would have to walk a 5K! Normally this is just an everyday run for me, but not in jeans, a turtleneck and a 10lb bookbag on my back. Now I have a ginormous blood blister on my heal and it really hurts :(.

The church was pretty cool. I don't know a lot about it because we weren't given a tour. The tutors just kinda said, "uh, go nuts" and we just kinda wondered around the village for a while and just about had to hitch hike back to the city.

Day 21 of 330

Did absolutely NOTHING today except make flashcards and watch internet TV. Life is SWEET!

Days 19 and 20: Let the table dancing begin! (no, not THAT kind of table dancing)

I was on the train for 4 hours today to Erlangen. It was like driving to ECU only prettier things to look at :). I was in Möhrendorf this weekend to visit some friends and pick up my other suitcase that they were kind enough to keep for me.

This weekend was Möhrendorf's Kirchweih. The Kirchweihfest is a celebration of the beginning of fall (kind of a more dignified, small town Oktoberfest). Early on Saturday morning, all the men in the town club go out into the woods and find the biggest, tallest tree, cut it down, strip all the branches except for the top and set it up in the town square. The rest of the night everyone plays games, drinks bier, dances, listens to the band, eats Eis, eats Bratwurst, eats more, etc. The night was pretty interesting to watch. People were dancing on the benches and after a few more drinks they were dancing on the tables. Madlen and I just sat had a drink and people watched, it was a good time.

The next morning all the boys in the club are paired with a girl and they dance in a circle around the tree to traditional music. While they dance, they pass around a large tree branch with ribbons tied to it and when a timer rings, whoever has the branch gets to buy the rest of the club members' food and drinks for the night. This is considered an honor and everyone wants to win. The same process is repeated with the adults. The adults dress in the traditional Dirndels and Liederhosen, it's really neat to see all the different traditional clothing.

On the way back to Tübingen I totally sat in a reserved seat on the train and got fussed at by an old lady. Whoops! Embarrassing, but I've learned to take mistakes in stride and you have to accept that being foreign makes you look silly in a strange place and you WILL make mistakes and look like a crazy person.

Day 18: NOW where are we?!?!

Today the class met early and we took the two hour bus ride to Konstanz. In Konstanz, we split into groups and each of us were given a scavenger hunt throughout the city. We spent about an hour walking up to random people and asking them question, but eventually we cheated a little and went to the nearest information center and got all the ansewers there.

After completing that task, Catherine, Pepe, Eduard and I just walked randomly around the city, ate Eis, had lunch (in that order) and did some shopping. I got my Pumas! They are black with hot pink rhinestones! In the afternoon, the group met at the pier and we took a boat around the Bodensee. What a great ride and wonderful sights! The rides was about and hour and a half and we saw most of the lake, Switzerland and Austria.

We finally docked at a port near Ravensburg (the Michael Jackson tribute concert is there on Oct. 31st!) and went to an organ concert at a nearby church. The church was so intricate and beautiful. What wonderful architecture they have here in Germany. Then back on the bus to Meersburg for dinner and social time. Then the two hour ride back to Tübingen. It was a really long and exhausting day, but I had a great time.

Day 16 Going on 17

It's been over two weeks since I've been here and I love it! I'm having so much fun and meeting new people. Plus, I think I have figured out the bus schedule and I'm having a much easier time getting around.

Yesterday we class as usual. We did get to choose our classes today and find out which level of speaking courses are in our best interest. The classes are A1, A2/B1, B2, C1 and C2. I have just crossed the threshold into the B1 group and I'm very excited about it. I've learned so much German since I've been here and each day I am less and less afraid to speak in public/ask for help from a stranger when I don't know where I'm going.

That evening, the Start Kurs met at the Schloss Cafe (castle cafe) and socialized. It was a great time practicing German and playing games. I have come to the conclusion that Americans and Italians are both equally loud in public settings...all the time. :) After hanging out at the cafe, a group of about 15 of us went to a club called Top 10. It was so awesome! There were about 6 rooms all with bars and DJs playing different types of music. The place was packed and there was a line all the way down the street to get it. It was studentfreinacht which means that all students with a Student ID get in free so everyone was there. Because the international students haven't received their ID's for the University here in Tuebingen, almost everyone in our group had to pay. I'm glad I got my ISIC before I left the states because it actually says that I am an international student so I got in free! It was a really great night of dancing and cuttin' loose.

I had a lot of fun today as well :). Frances-Kate and I had got out of class early and went to here place to pick up her clothes and she brought them to my place to do laundry. She can't do laundry in here building without her student card...this is a problem because it takes about 2 weeks to get the card AFTER you immatriculate. (There's no way anyone brought a month's worth of clothes with them.) So we spent the afternoon doing laundry and going grocery shopping.* Catherine, Eduard and Jose came over and we cooked again and hung out watching American TV and playing cards. I'm having a good time just hanging out and talking with people.

Tomorrow the class is taking a "fieldtrip" to the Konstanz next to the Bodensee! So excited! I miss you all! BTW I have unlimited minutes on my skype now with a NC number so feel free to call me anytime (if I don't answer you can leave a voicemail). 704-461-1654

Kendra

*Eduard and Jose live in the same building as I do and they happened to be doing laundry as well and, as a joke, we stole some stuff that they might miss ;).

Lucky #13

*****This is out of order!!! The date should be 13 September 2009!!!*****

Today we all just met up and played soccer for a few hours. It was really fun, but soccer players pretty much everywhere, except for the USA think that soccer is a men's sport only so they wouldn't let any of the girls play and when they finally split up into teams, one team was short so they let me play. I had a good time and it was great to get some exercise...but it was Culture Clash #6 to find out that guys from other countries don't like to play soccer with girls.

After the game, we all went down to the Neckarmüller and had dinner as a group. It was great to be silly with everyone and stuff our faces at the same time :).

Kendra

Day 15 of 330 (officially been here 2 weeks!)

Class today was pretty interesting and quite hilarious. We were paired off and assigned a country. We had to then list stereotypes of that country and draw a picture of what a typical person from that country looks like. My group was assigned Russia and we basically drew a bearded guy with a huge beard, with missing teeth, wearing a military suite and hat. The group that was assigned the USA (2 guys) drew a cheerleader with HUGE (way overly drawn) breasts with question marks over her head. Well, Frances-Kate and I are the only Americans in the class and we totally blew that theory out of the water considering the fact that I'm a band student and she's a dance major. It was pretty funny to see what the other groups came up with as well.

Nothing much happening the rest of tonight...it's Regae night at the Jazz Keller, but I'm staying in and relaxing this time. I'm sure they'll be another time.

Kendra

Day 14 of 330

So, I have been completely bored out of my mind in the orientation class. I have already covered the material to almost class III, but because I haven't had any speaking practice I'm stuck in class I. I feel like I'm stuck in this vortex of German I and II that's never gonna end. I asked my teacher if I could move classes and she told me that the materical in class I would get harder and she would give me extra work. I don't want extra work for class I, I want a challange. Grrrrr...

Anyway...after class finally ended, Eduard, Pe Pe, Catherine, Frances-Kate and I went to the wonder that is Kaufland. Kaufland is kinda like the German equivalent of Wal-mart. They don't have everything (for example: they certainly don't have lamps...), but it's the best bet for close-to-one-stop-shopping. Then we all went back to my place and had a little cooking party.

Kareoke Night! was the most fun ever. We mad a deal with the guys that if they let us pick a song for them then they could pick a song for us. Well the guys had to sing "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison and we had to sing...dare I say it outloud..."Like a Virgin" by Madonna. It was really really fun and I had a great time...getting home too late once again, but I'm having a great time :).

Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement. I hope to speak to all of you soon!

Days 11 and 12 of 330

The last couple days have been eventful and tiring, but fun. Friday morning all the international students did all the running around needed to finish immatriculation. After those errands, Fances-Kate and I did some shopping in the old city and just hung around wasting some time.

That evening was the international dinner for the study abroad students. Each student cooked/made something from their home country and brought it to share with the others. I have to say that the spead of food available was amazing! Everyone made their meal out of a little taste of everything. And I have to say, I've never attended a school function where the instructors provided beer.

After the dinner a group of about 25 of us went into the old city to find a place for dancing. We ended up at the Jazz Keller (because it was the only place that could hold all of us/would let us in) and it was so much fun! They played mostly American dance party music from the 70's and 80's, it was almost like they just plugged in my ipod and hit "shuffle." They also play some latin music and the brazilians and columbians are teaching us to salsa. It was a late late night, but I haven't had that much fun in a long time.

Saturday was a shopping extravaganza for all the girls...and Francesco. The girls had an afternoon of shop til you drop. It was great having some girl time and getting to know the other girls and find out what they like and what they do for fun. After shopping we headed to the next party happening at the brazilians' appartment. They have a huge terrace outside their flat and we put it to good use as a dancefloor. We heard all differents kinds of music from everyone's home country. I love listening and dancing to the new tunes I hear.

After the party at the brazilians' we headed to the universtiy campus to a club that's--guess where-- in the dinning hall's basement! The music wasn't quite as good there as the Jazz Keller, but I enjoyed it and I had a really good time.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement. I'm still homesick for my friends and family, but I'm making new friends, learning new things and keeping busy.

Kendra

Days 9 and 10 of 330

Yesterday and today were pretty uneventful. I have to wake up around 6:30 in order to get ready in the morning and catch the 8:00 bus up the hill to class. I have to get off the bus at the University stop and then walk about 4 or 5 blocks or I have to wait for another bus to get to my class each morning. It has been terribly cold in the mornings here and in the afternoons it's about 80 degrees. It's kind of difficult to prepare for such drastic weather changes when you have to walk or wait for a bus to get almost anywhere, but I'm enjoying myself.

The start kurs feels very elementary to me and I'm waiting for the hard stuff to be taught. Frances-Kate and I are extremely bored in class for lack of a challenge, but I'm sure that will end soon once we get into the swing of things. The international students have spent a lot of time filling out paper work.

Culture Clash #5: Immatriculation
In order to study at any university in Germany, one must matriculate. Immatriculation is basically enrolling in the university and letting the city know your whereabouts and how long you plan to stay.

Step 1: Obtain your "packet" of documents; including your original acceptance letter, visa application, bank information, health insurance information, etc.

Step 2: Fill out a seemingly endless supply of paperwork.

Step 3: Go to the Aufenthaltsgenehmigung to register your address and notify the city that you are there in Germany and how long you plan to stay. A copy of your passport is made and you get a sheet with a stamp notifying you when you have to return for an extended residence permit and pay for your visa.

Step 4: Open a bank account. You are required to have a bank account in Germany because most monthly bills (rent, cell phone, etc.) are drafted from the account (much like the states). I was lucky that I did this last week when I arrived so that's one last thing I have to do :).

Step 5: Pay your student fee. You have to go to the Universtätkasse Tübingen to pay this fee each semester. Each and every student has to pay it; no exceptions.

Step 6: Go to the Krankenversicherung to deny the Universal Health Care. Universities of North Carolina Exchange Programs requires that I purchase the global healthcare through the exchange program so I have to sign a document saying, "no, I do not want to pay for the universal German healthcare."

Step 7: Take all these signed documents to the Studentensekretariat so that I can Immatriculate.

Step 8: Wait for the document packet to be mailed to me along with my student ID card so I can have internet access, use the library, the gym, etc. (Much like a 1card at ECU.)

Step 9: Go back to the Aufenthaltsgenehmigung with my matriculation forms and proof of funds and proof of a German bank account to get my resident permit and my visa.

...I should be done with all this by October...

Day 8 of 330

Today was the official first day of the International Student Introduction Courses (Start Kurs I). I enjoyed the class very much. I can't believe that I have already been here a full week. My German has improved drastically in just 7 days, I can hardly believe it.

We only had a short class in the afternoon today, but I learned so much. It was really just a review of the first two semesters of German, but I was amazed at how much information I had forgotten over the summer. Fances Kate and I are in the first Start Kurs class. When we walked in the room all the seats were labeled by country (so no one could sit with someone they knew well) and there were 4 different countries at each table. I sat with Katerina from Russia, Francesco from Italy and Juan from Columbia. Then we did a mingle/name game thing where we each had 4 squares of paper of the same color and we had to move around the room and get to know people from the other countries. Each time we spoke to someone we would trade paper squares until we had 4 different colored squares. It was fun and I really enjoyed practicing my German.

After the class, Julia and I went grocery shopping and cooked a great dinner. Polish sausage with sautaed red peppers, onions, butter and soy sauce all mixed with white rice. It was great! Now I'm just relaxing and catching up and studying. I have to say that my first week was off to a rocky start, but all in all it was a success. I want to say thanks to everyone for their prayers and encouragement. It means the world to me.

Kendra

P.S. I found website where I can watch American TV (TVshack.com) soooo earlier "crisis" averted :).

Day 7 of 330

Today was an awesome day! I headed out early this morning to help Julia set up her bank account and we did some shopping. I have discover the wonder that is the Dönner! A Dönner is basically a pita filled with meat and toppings. The meat is cooked on a rotating "stick" and then it is shaved into thin pieces and the pieces are put in the bread with lettuce and tomatos and whatever else you want. And it is an amazing feat culinary accomplishment!

Then up to the University campus for orientation. At orientation we took a placement test and were interviewed by our professors to test our German comprehension and speaking abilities. After that, all the students just convened outside and started talking about where we were from and how long we had studied German. Then we headed down the hill and hung out at a Bier Garten for like 3 hours and just talked and joked. So of course one thing always leads to another and we ended up at one of the Italien students appartment to cook dinner and listen to music.

It was a really great, long and interesting day. In our little group today there were students from the USA, Brazil, Columbia, Italy, Hungary, and Canada. It was pretty awesome that we ALL had 2 languages in common (English and German) so we had no trouble communicating. I'm excited to see what this year has in store for us and what adventures we will encounter.

Please pray for me! I miss you all!

Kendra

Day 6 of 330

Today was a good and relaxing day. Julia and I met down town in the altstadt (old city) and went to church at St. John's. It was neat to hear catholic mass in German and attend mass in a church over 400 years old. They don't even have heat in there! After mass, we got some Eis (ice cream) and sat at the fountain by the town hall.

Then we did the touristy thing and took lots of pictures and went up to the Schloss (castle). Lots of tour groups and tourists were out and about today so we didn't stick out too terribly. The Schloss is so high on the mountain, you can see the whole city from the gated entrance. The views were beautiful and I couldn't help but think, "I live here!" It was pretty awesome.

Then we headed down the Berg (hill) and took more pictures and stopped for lunch.

Culture Clash #4: Don't cross the street on red; you will get a ticket.

On the way down the Berg to the bahnhof, we crossed the street on a red light (whoops!). We didn't think anything of it until a cop walked up to us and started chewing us out for crossing on a red light. We apologized for our mistake and went on our way. We were lucky we didn't get a citation or some kind of formal warning because neither of us is registered with the city yet because we haven't matriculated into the University.

Because nearly everything is closed on Sundays, we just went back to our rooms for some relaxation. Sundays are highly valued as family time in Germany much like the states. I can hear a family from my building outside playing music and singing together.

The weather was much better today than it has been. It has rained everyday since I've been here except today (so far). It's a nice, sunny 68 degree day and I can open my window for some fresh air and natural light.

I start classes with the other international students tomorrow. Please pray for me! I miss you all!

Day 5 of 330

Today was better than yesterday. Julia and I started the day early by going downtown and wondering around for a couple hours and went up to the campus to find the building for our classes on Monday. We also found the flea market and walked around there for a while. My goal was to find a bike this week, but I didn't find one. I think when more student move out at the end of the month and the beginning of October more people will be trying to sell them.

After hopping busses and figuring out the schedule, we went back to the bahnhof to change the address on my BahnCard and buy a city map. I got a small book (in English) about the city and I might do the touristy thing for a while and take the book guided tour of the old city and hike up to the castle. I found a great discount store next to the bahnhof so Julia and I found dishes and silverware for a good price and I found some sheets.

We went back to my apartment and watched some American TV on the internet (Yay!). I washed my comforter and bed sheets and when we went to the laundry room to get my stuff, I found my first laundry oops. The sheets I bought were dark blue and my comforter was white. You can infer the rest. (Keep in mind that the comforter came with the room, is INCREDIBLY cheap and had some spots on it so I think it looks prettier now...considering it was an accident.)

While in the basement, I started looking around and I found the room where everyone in the building gets their own locked storage cadges to keep their stuff in. Some people have extra furniture in theirs, some keep their bottled water or beer in it and a few people even keep their suitcases there. There is even a huge basement room for the bikes and a door that the leads straight outside to the bike path.

For dinner Julia and I walked down to the supermarket and bought stuff for tomato and alfrado pasta. It was really really good and we had a great time cooking to music and having a beer together. So now I'm just hanging out until bedtime. Tomorrow, Julia and I are meeting in the morning to go the church at St. Johns in the old city.

I'm doing much better than earlier this week and getting into the swing of things. Please pray for me. I miss you all!

Kendra

Day 4 of 330

Today was better than yesterday. I feel like I accomplished something today. I bought a cell phone for a great deal and I found laundry detergent (what I bought 2 days ago was actually fabric softener??? lol). And I found a travel size, desperately needed hair dryer for 7 Euro. YAY!

The cell was slightly difficult to find at the beginning because I didn't really know a lot about German phone companies. I really just walked into a couple phone stores and looked around at the brochures and such. I did ask some of the sales people about contracts and what not.

Culture Clash #3: Cell phone contracts are for a minimum of 2 years.
Signing a contract for a phone would have been much cheaper for me over the next year than a pre-paid phone because I would have only had to pay 1 Euro for the phone, a 5 Euro flat fee and then whatever plan I choose. However, the minimum number of months for which you can sign a contract is 24 months...and I definately will not be here that long.

Sooooo, I ended up with a pre-paid. It's not bad and I got a good deal. Only 35 Euro for the phone and 10 Euro for the sim card and then I got 10 Euros worth of minutes (I pay 9 cents per minute anywhere in Germany) for free with the sim card. I think I did well...considering the fact that this is all new to me for the most part.

Then the rain began... It has rained pretty much everyday that I've been here, but I did know before hand that Germany was a beautiful, yet rainy, country. Julia tried to beat the rain, but neither of us had an umbrella because it was so pretty and warm out this morning. I showed Julia the supermarket and we are going to the flee market tomorrow to hopefully find me a bike. A bike will be very helpful, especially when I miss the bus or go to the Supermarket and buy heavy things like water (yes it's true, no one drinks the tap water here).

Well now I'm just catching up. I didn't get to homesick until about 6 today (not too bad I think). Doing some laundry and praying that I put the soap and the softener in the right slots lol. Please pray for me! I miss you all so much!

Day 3 of 330

Again, much better that yesterday. Except for the fact that I woke up about 4 times last night and practically has to force myself to sleep until 10am, I wasn't as tired today as I was yesterday. I headed to the bank today and made an appointment to open an account. Then, I went up to the Studentenwirk to sign a new contract for my room change. While I was waiting for the office to open after lunch an American girl came in from the rain draging her suitcase and book bag behind her.

I knew she was in the same boat as I was so we started talking and I found out that Julia is from New York studying here in Tübingen for a year. Well of course we imediately bonded because of our current state of culture shock. I helped Julia get her things to her room and after my appointment at the bank we met at the train station and got some dinner and did some exploring on the campus.

I have no idea what we had for dinner, but it was good! Some kind of cheesey potatos or something with, of course, a beer :). So we are going to meet up again in the morning and she is going to go with me and Hong to find me a cell phone. Turns out that I do in fact need one because, much like the USA, no one really uses a landline (especially students) and unless I use a payphone I can't call anyone here in the country. So that's the next item on the to-do list.

The bus was an interesting experience today. I ended up on a bus by myself and the driver didn't see me so he drove to the end of the line, stopped the bus, and began eating his lunch. Of course he didn't speak any English, but I was able to understand that there was another bus station about 2 blocks away. I walked to the station and of course the bus I needed was pulling out of the station as I rounded the courner. I had to wait another 30 minutes for a bus. I finally found a bus that took my back to Julia's appartment, but I couldn't remember her room number and her name was not yet posted on the intercom system. Sooooo, I walked to the next bus station. Waited another 20 minutes. Got a bus back to the bahnhof (train station). Got on ANOTHER bus at the station and got back to my appartment. Julia had found an internet cafe and sent me an email saying that she would like to meet for dinner around 6:30. So I grabbed my bag again and got the bus...again.

It has been a long day and it's only 9 o'clock so I guess I'm just going to hang out and read and catch up on the internet for a while. Skype me if you can! Please pray for me! I love you and miss you all so much!

I have been studying Jeremiah for encouragement.

"Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to every one I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
~Jeremiah 1:7-8

To me, this says that while I see my experience as growing up too fast, I cannot tell God that I am too young for this. He has given me this opportunity and desire because He knows that I am able and He has given me the tools to succeed.

Kendra

Day 2 of 330

Today was much better for me than yesterday. I don't think I could have gone anywhere but up since yesterday. Hong showed me the Supermarket this morning. About a fifteen minute walk from my building is Aldi :). Then I took a much needed nap because I am still recovering from my jet lag.

After my nap I tried to catch up on my TV shows, but Murphy's Law has foiled me again; all the websites on which I watch TV are only available to internet connections in America! So if anyone has some shows on DVD that they do not need for the next year please feel free to send them :) lol they will be returened, I promise. So I just watched some Modern Marvels episodes I have on my iTunes. Then, another nap. I'm so tired it's rediculous.

After my 2nd nap I updated the blog and wrote in my journal a little. I made my first meal in Germany...pasta and meat sauce...not very German, but it was what I could do. Then I spoke to Anne and Cliff Munns, some tears during the conversation from missing home and then Anne suggested that I ask one of my roommates to show me the movie theater and around the down town. Sebastian was the first to come in and he had never been to the movies in Tübingen so he did some research on the internet and found the theater and he could not translate the title, but he said Cameran Diaz was in it so it may be familiar. We get to the movies and I got to see "My Sister's Keeper" in German. A little hard to keep up with, but I have read the book so it was ok.

Culture Clash #2:
The seats in movie theaters are assigned on your ticket.

Well that was day two. I will try to update as often as possible, but once school gets started there will be no guarantees :). I love you all and I miss you very much. Please pray for me.

Kendra

Day 1 of 330

Day one was a absolutely HORRIBLE learning experience. The flight went very well with the exception of the fact that I didn't sleep but maybe 2 hours. It was actually about 30 minutes early getting to Frankfurt. Once in Frankfurt I passed through passport control and got my bags and headed to the train station where it took a lot of people watching a trial and error to find where to buy a ticket to Tübingen. I had to ride the train to Stuttgart and then change trains there. With my 50 lb and 30 lb suitcases and my bookbag in tow, I just barely made it to the next train with seconds to spare. At the train station in Tübingen, again many trials and errors involved, I found my way to the office of student living and paid my deposit and then again got back on the bus and made my way to my appartment building.

Culture Clash #1: Boys and girls in Germany live in the same flats.
When I was shown my room I found that I was living with one other boy. Yep, just me and him. In separate rooms of course, but when I found out we were sharing a bathroom it became a problem. If you know me at all you very well know what happened next; hence, the address change. Now I live with two other girls; Hong from China and Aurelie from France, and two boys; Sebastian and Miche (or Mike) are both from Germany.

My day was pretty rotten until I met Hong and her boyfriend. Hong is so wonderful. She included me in there dinner plans because she knew that I was hungry and did not know where the Supermarket was so I didn"t have any food for myself. Hong speaks English, Chinese and German so the language barrier is not so bad with her. Miche spent a year in Long Beach, CA studying history and film so he speaks English very well and he and I got along very well talking American history and politics. Sebastian speaks English, but very little, so I imagine that I will learn and practice much of my German with him. I have not yet met Aurelie because she is in Munich visiting the girl whose spot I have taken in the appartment.

I did explore some of down town to try and stay awake, but mostly because I did not have things like an internet cable or a bath towel. I got very lost and ended up taking the very very long way back to the bus/train station. I did make it back in time for dinner with Hong and then took a nap. I did get in touch with my family and some family friends that used to live in Germany. I will be in touch with many of you through skype (please make an account and add me if you can so that it will be free for us to chat). Please remember that I am 6 hours ahead of the states so if you don"t get me right away I will call you back as soon as I can.

I am so home sick, I have that constant pit in my stomach all the time and I just want to sleep and cry most of the time. I know that this will pass and I will be doing much better. My first day was so traumatizing that all my energy was drained very quickly. I"m doing ok with the time difference. It is difficult to stay up after such a long flight and frightening experience, but I am managing with some small naps and with the sun still staying up past 8pm.

Please keep me in your prayers. I miss you all so much.
Kendra