Days 40 - 47: It's a Small World

I so sorry it has been over a week since I last posted! I can tell it's been too long when people start asking me on facebook when the next post will be. I'll try to keep it at a 2-3 day minimum from now on.
Let me just begin by saying, "it feels like a never ending cycle of it's a small world." I have been here almost 6 weeks and I feel the world closing in. I spend everyday doing nearly the same thing with the same people. I stay out way too late and don't go to bed until the wee small hours of the morning and then sleep until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Needless to say, I am bored and ready for classes to start. My summer began the first week of May; it is now the third week of Oktober and I'm still on 'summer vacation.' I'm ready for a change.

Allow me to explain "It's a Small World." I'm sure you have all been to Disney World at some point in your lifetime and even if you haven't you know about the "It's a small world" ride. Well you get in this boat all excited for an adventure. The boat begins to move along the water way slowly around the bend to the tunnel that transports you into an international world of singing robotic children. At first you think to yourself, "this is so exciting! How neat! I'm in Disney World! Woo Hoo!" Then you start to hear the song. "It's a world of laughter, a world of cheer. It's a land of hope..." etc. You think it's cute until about the twelth language and then you just want to jump head first into the foot high fake river just to end the monotony. Now I would go as far as jumping head first into the river of a make believe boat ride, but you get the idea that whenever I meet the international students I see the Italians all standing around speaking Italian, the Turks speaking Turkish, the Americans debating about politics...AGAIN!...the Spainish taking far too long to walk ten feet, etc. I have just realized that I do not know any Germans here in Tübingen. None. Nada. Zip. Now I realize that I have not started classes yet and I really haven't had any opportunities to meet any Germans, but enough is enough. Every Monday: Kareoke; Wednesday: Top 10; Friday: Girls' Nights; Saturday: Party at Prince Karlz. I'm so sick of going out and I miss being content to just sit in my room on a Friday night and watch TV or read a book. Only 10 more days until class begins!

Please don't read into this that I am unhappy. I am very happy here. I have simply gotten to the point where the initial culture shock has worn off and I don't feel all "WOOOOO! HOOOOOO! I'm in Germany!!!" anymore. I am attempting to get involved here. I have some great friends with whom I love spending time and I have recently started attending St. Michael's Catholic church on a regular basis. I go to Saturday mass each week and I am looking into some groups to join.

This week was pretty much the same as any other since I've been here. On Monday I went to Kareoke and was happily reunited with my good friend Julia, who had been in Köln for about 5 days. On Tuesday, Julia and I were happily reunited with Catherine who had been in Munich for about a week visiting relatives. The three of us went grocery shopping (I feel that this may be a daily requirement in this country) and cooked a great meal of Taco Soup and watched movies and talked about our adventures while we were apart. Catherine will be staying with me until the end of the month because she has moved out of here old residence and they mistakenly reserved here new room for November instead of Oktober. So she's homeless until then lol. But she's in good hands and always has a place to sleep and plug in her hot rollers at my place. Wednesday was a big night for us and we all went to Top 10 and had a great night dancing our pants off. On Thursday there was a big welcome party at one of the clubs for the international students. I had a good time there meeting some other students. (One good thing about going out is that I'm loosing weight from all the dancing and walking.) Friday was Julia's 20th birthday and all the girls meet in the altstadt and we went to dinner and then met the rest of the group back at my place for drinks. Today I just cleaned and did some laundry and Catherine and I went to church. Now I'm just spending some time catching up on the blog and the journal.

I'm beginning to realize how much I miss my campus crusade family and my close network of christian friends back in the states. Please pray that I find that close network here in Germany and that I keep Christ the focus of everything I do here. I miss you all and love you all so much!

Kendra

P.S. The weather is wonderful here. I'm actually going to see what a real winter is like lol. It's only Oktober and the high is in the single digits nearly everyday. The leaves have all changed color and are falling off the trees and the colors are just beautiful. The landscape is so incredibly picturesque. I love it. It actually hailed ice the size of large marbles today, it was crazy. But I love getting all bundled up in my pea coat, scarf, gloves, and hat and going outside. Everyone looks so cute with their red cheeks and noses from the cold and all cozy in their winter wear :).