Well, it was almost exactly one week ago that I left
America. Crazy to think about how much has happened! I'll try to sum up what
has happened thus far.
Let's start at the very beginning - a very good place to
start! (Sound of Music anyone?)
Leaving the airport was tough; I was more emotional than I
thought I would be! I made it through Boston security like a big girl though,
and the flight to Munich was just lovely! I sat next to a man from Dresden, so
we chatted for a while, sometimes in German, sometimes in English.
Lufthansa sure knows how to care for its passengers...they
kept coming around with food, hot towels, water (much appreciated), red and
white wine, kognac and baileys, snacks, and anything else one could possibly
need or want on a 6 hour flight. My only problem was that I only slept one
hour, because I kept getting interrupted by the flight attendants! I suppose I
could have just tried to sleep more, but I didn't want to miss out on anything
they were giving out :D
In Munich, I successfully made it through customs, and met
up with three other JYMers. We attempted to take the train to the JYM office but
had some problems. Turns out, a stop called Feldmoching (that name will forever
make me shudder after this ordeal), was the end of the line temporarily, due to
an issue further down the tracks. We couldn't really hear that announcement
though, so we sat on the train while it sat at the end of the line, pondering
the whole time if we should get off. Well, we didn't get off, and the train
started going back in the direction of the airport (where we just came from).
Keeping out wits about us (if we ever had any), we decided to get off at the
next stop, switch directions, and get off at Feldmoching. That's what we did,
or at least me and another JYMer did. The other two didn't get off quickly
enough, and we waved goodbye as they
continued away from us in the direction of the airport. To help you picture
that moment, if it were a movie, that part would definitely be in slow motion. Anyways,
me and the girl I was with finally got going back in the direction we were
supposed to, but had to back towards the airport again, once
we got backto Feldmoching, because she had dropped her jacket (with her wallet)
onto the tracks back at the other stop. So we went back, and a very nice German
man hopped the tracks and grabbed the jacket (not intact) with the wallet
(still intact thank goodness), after which I thanked him profusely, and called
him "unser Held" (our hero). We made it back to Feldmoching, finally,
and finally got to JYM. Whew. What a story, huh? If that sounds confusing to
anyone, well, it was. For me too. Let me know if you want a diagram of it
all.
After much more traveling around than I was expecting (which
was very difficult with a huge suitcase and heavy duffle bag - I have a nice
bruise on my arm from carrying it), I finally made it to my room in
StudentenStadt. I didn't know there was an elevator, so I attempted to carry
all my bags up to the 5th floor. Thank goodness for the guy who helped me carry
them from the 3rd floor up.
Once I was alone in my room, I freaked out a little bit. It
was just me, a few bags, and no wifi or internet connection in a little
apartment in Germany. I was exhausted, so many emotions were running through
me, and so I just let myself cry. No shame- I needed it. I think we all need a
good cry sometimes. I cuddled Ears, my beloved stuffed animal, for a
little bit, and when I finally started feeling better, I took a much needed,
physically- and emotionally-cleansing shower and got ready to tour the StuStadt
with other JYMers. I felt much better, and enjoyed the tour, as well as my
first German beer and Currywurst that I got afterwards. It was SO nice to just
be able to ask for a beer and get on. No carding, no nothing. Imagine that!
The next day the main highlight was my accidental tour
around Munich via bus number 50. We had all just picked up our packages, and
mine was small enough that I could carry it back to StuStadt on the bus without
taking a taxi like the others. Anyways, I got on a bus number
50, but it wasn't going in the right direction (I realized this a little too
late when I saw that the other 3 other JYMers were still standing at the
bus stop). So, I slowly waved to them (because what else could I do?) as I
drove away. Do these slow motion waves sound familiar yet? I made it back just
fine though, and I'm learning that things like that aren't a big deal. I had
nowhere to be, so I just enjoyed the ride and eventually got back home. Hooray
for happy endings!
In other news, I went to Oktoberfest yesterday (Sunday) and
had a wonderful time! The day started off a little rough, with me almost not
being allowed to get a beer. Remember how I said I so excited about no carding
for beer? That wasn’t the case at Oktoberfest. Apparently, I looked like I was
underage (For those who don't know, the drinking age in Germany is 16. As a 20
year old who gets the whole "you look so young" thing a lot and gets frustrated
by it sometimes, I hated it even more when I realized the implication of this
problem was, in this case, that I might not get a beer). I didn't have an ID on
me because I didn't want to lose it. Fortunately, after a tense few minutes,
the waiter let it go. I know I'll appreciate looking young when I'm older, but
I sure was frustrated at the time! Just give the girl a beer, please!!
 |
| My friend Christy and I in one of the beer tents, loving wearing the dirndls! |
 |
| Does it get any more German than this? |
 |
| this pretzel was almost too salty...that's when you know you have a good pretzel! |
 |
| the beer tent that we were lucky enough to get a table in, and stayed in for most of the time we were there |
Today I finally got more groceries so I can have a variety
in what I eat/cook. It’s very hard to cook a lot of things in my kitchen (if
you can call it that- basically, it’s just a few kitchen items in the hallway
that leads from my bedroom to my bathroom). I made grilled cheese with tomato tonight
though, woohoo!
 |
| dinner |
 |
| Not a bad view, if I do say so myself! |
There’s still so much to do, but I think I’ll be settled in
by the time school starts in 2 weeks. I sure hope so at least! But hey, once I get
my electric kettle up and running, I’m
sure I’ll be able to conquer anything. With tea and instant coffee (I sure hope
it’s underrated-I just bought a lot today), I can do anything!
