Week 2

Well this last week's experience with orienteering proved to be a bit easier (I only got lost once).  I had my first week of normal class, and so far it has been really interesting and valuable.  We took our first test on Friday, and I must say that it was quite hard.  I haven't really taken tests for as long as I can remember.  I prefer and am used to writing big papers or doing art/video projects for my weightier grades.  Luckily there was a writing section on the test...that may redeem my lack of memorization of prepositions and past-tense verbs.

There is a kind of "official" activity we do: "Nur Deutsch Dienstag" (Only German Tuesday).  If we speak German the whole day through without using English, even when Germans try to speak English to us, we get a nice smiley-face sticker on a board.  As of yet, I have never seen this board nor have I been successful in speaking only German for the whole day.  I went about 2/3 and broke when I was hanging out with some Americans.  In any case, I usually speak German to Germans, and when they don't speak English, it is great.  Ordering food, meeting people at the coffee shop, or just talking to my roommates is not so hard.  I will admit that it is very easy to slip, though.  Communication always tries to find the easiest route. 

We went to Lübeck yesterday, and I had a pretty good time.  While it was cold, and we mostly wandered about, I got to go in a great bookstore and swiped up three books.  One was a Bavarian dialect dictionary/instruction book.  I think it is really funny and hopefully I can finally understand my Bavarian friends for once.  I found a book on my favorite artist, Hundertwasser, for only 10 euros, and Das Parfum by Patrick Süskind.  I've been excited to get some new books, and this is only the beginning!  Anyway, Lübeck has some cool gates and a nice big historical district.  There is also a nice river that runs around the town (it is an island), and I found some really nice graffiti on the bridges.  Ryan Air flies out of Lübeck, so I will probably return when making flights out of Germany, and also to see the torture museum!

I found the outdoor market this week and must say that it is wonderful.  I'm not going to buy produce at the grocery store again.  And organic food is actually affordable!  Today is Sunday, so most every business (besides small cafes) are closed.  It can be annoying if you forgot to pick something up at the store and then need it on Sunday.  I cannot cook eggs, for instance, because we are all out of oil/margarine/butter for the pan.

Some trips are going to be in order in the coming weeks, and you will soon hear about those as well.  Hamburg photos on the way, and the beginning of the documentary underway.

Auf Wiedersehen!