Thanksgiving

Celebrated Thanksgiving twice this year. And although each time was full of good food and merryment, I realized that the only thing I'm really thankful for is something I don't have here in Germany. Friends. Ok, I have Chelsea and Mike, so I have my family. =] but there's something that each of my friends donate to my life that I don't like living without. Even those who I don't talk to on a regular basis are special in some way. I can't wait to come back home. Seeing my friends again will be like a Brazilian watching his soccer team wining the World Cup. =]

In other news, besides studying German, finding new easy and delicious recipes for dinner, planing out Christmas markets and chocolate festivals to visit (I know, what a chore!), I've been watching How I Met Your Mother online. At first, it took me awhile to cosy up to it seeing as though I have so many other wonderful shows to keep up on. But How I Met Your Mother is a pleasant change to my typical 30 Rock. It has just enough drama to keep you interested, but has more humor and wit then the average show. Plus, lately it's been delving into some interesting topics of discussion which leave me thinking, "Hmm, why haven't I thought about that before?" All in all, a delightful treat that I recommend.

This weekend I have the opportunity to go to Esslingen for the Christmas market with a few friends. Although it'll be great, I've ironically already planned to go with another friend in a week or so. We'll see what ends up happening. I'm also still trying to post pictures from Italy, but Facebook is making it difficult to comply with that wish.

And, still waiting for a birthday package that was sent from my family three weeks ago. =/ I'd really like to get some love via mail soon. Feeling a bit lonely during the holidays without hearing from my friends. I know some letters are coming for us, I just want them to get here already! It really brightens my day to see my friend's handwriting.

The first sign of snow in Deutschland!

Today while in my Aufbaukurs (German Grammer class) I glanced drausin (outside) and beheld a wonderous sight! Snow! Yes, that's right. Granted, it didn't stick, and felt more like wet mush, but it means that snow doth approach! Anyway, weekend update: I went to a painting party, where my friend had purchased two large canvases and wanted his friends to paint him pictures. We also wore white shirst and he brough some markers that we could color our shirts with. The next day, Chelsea, Mike and I visited a nearby town called Walenbuch (literally translated, Forestbook...amazing!) and went to the Ritter Sport Chocolate Factory! I guess we couldn't actually get a tour of the chocolate-making process BUT we bought a load of chocolate for really cheap! Mmmmm sehr lecker! (very tasty!) I'm pretty sure you can find Ritter Sport in America, but it might be a bit more pricy. However, wenn du Lust hast (if you want) you should buy some, I promise you won't regret it!

Tonight, I'm going to try out a belly dancing class, haha. Then I'm going to a movie tonight with a bunch of friends. Every monday, the Blau Brucke Kino (Blue Bridge Movie Theater) plays a special movie (in Deutsch of course) and with the price of entrance (6.60 Euros) you get a glass of Champagne. What a fun way to see a movie, right? How classy =) Afterward, I'll be continuing my homework of reading a bunch of articles about cultural differences in Germany vs. America, and reporting on my findings. Easy enough, just time consuming.

Next week is Chelsea and my birthday! Haven't a clue what I'm doing though. We want to see Wicked, The Witch from Oz in German, b ut the cheapest ticket is on Weds. nights, so this weekend is still wide open. Since my very close friends aren't here with me, I'm not totally motivated to do much for my birthday. I think we'll probablly go to Stuttgart that weekend and stay with our Swedish friend who lives there now. In any case, it'll be a fun day and I'll enjoy whatever happens. =)

That's about it, for now. Love you all!

Saudade is the recollection of feelings, experiences, places or events that once brought excitement, pleasure, well-being, which now triggers the senses and makes one live again. It can be described as an emptiness, like something or someone that should be there in a particular moment is missing, and the individual feels this absence.

An idea that suits me right now.

Nerding Out in Germany

So, although my Sunday stared off late due to the fact that I remained behind at Israel's birthday party to clean up and then had to walk home (with some other friends, so I wasn't alone), I had a pretty fun Sunday. Not much happened, especially not the laundry I hoped to accomplish, but none the less, it was a good day. I walked into town with Alexis only to get a cup of coffee (which I ended up wearing half of when i spilled it on my lap) and some crisp cool air. Then I rushed home to prepare myself for a night of socializing, eating and, Dungeons and Dragoning. That's right, friends, Rachel is a full-pledged D&D player now. To some, it's old news (I know a fair many now in SSU....cough cough, Brandon and all the guys!). To other's, it probably makes sense that I would eventually discover that which is fantasy mixed with theater. What a combo, huh?

I wont give you all the details, but just so you can appreciate my new alter-ego, I am a Chaotic Good, human bard. My adventuring gang and I all live in the arctic tundra of Icewinddale (AKA Arschkalt, for those who want to translte, its "Asscold" in German haha). Tonight, we all met in the Whale Troller Bar (one of my favorite bars in the area, one of which I am well known at) and we all set off on an quest to free a dwarf king from some nasty folk in the ice caves somewhere.

Here's hoping we all survive!

It's been quite an adventure since last I updated. Mike, Chelsea, Israel and I went on a two week adventure to Italy before University started. First, Milan. We stayed with a missionary family that Israel knew and slept about their church for three nights while we explored Milan. It had a beautiful and impressive Duomo (cathedral) but on the last day we were there, we actually got to see The Last Supper (very impressive!). After changing some travel scheduling we made our way to Venice. To me, Venice was the most beautiful city we saw. With it's small water ways, bridges and narrow cobbled walkways, Venice gave me the feeling of what old Italy might have felt like. It was there that I bought some Morano glass necklaces for some friends, and where I bought (and unfortunatlyu lost) a Venician tie that I bought for Brandon. It also rained really hard on us one night, and that same night we opted to sleep at the train station. All in all, Venice was awesome. Our next train at 8 am took us all the way down to Rome. We spent the next three days in a small hostel outside of town, taking the train in every morning and night. In Rome, we saw not only the Colosseum, but the Moses statue, The Trivi fountain (tossed a coin over our shoulder too), the Roman Forum, the Old Roman Road (and with it some beautiful sights of the Roman country side), the Catacombs, a castle, and naturally, The Vatican City, St.
peter's Basilica and The Sistine Chapel. My favorite part of Rome was after a violent wind storm and a half hour of rain, the sky cleared up and in doing so, casted two perfect rainbows over the Colosseum. I don't think I have ever seen something so magical and beautiful before. It was awesome. However, I think the least favorite part was leaving my change purse (with my last 90 euros in it) at the Vatican post office. Never found it again, and although we only have a few more days left in Italy, it put a little damper on my day. But, money is only money, so, i couldn't be that upset. Our last trip was Florence, where we stayed with our friend Matt from Sonoma who was studying there. He introduced us to his really nice roommates and we spent a day and a half exploring Florence. It's a beautiful city and I liked seeing the David statue replics even if we never saw the origional. We also walked up a ton of stairs on the outskirts of the city and found a beautiful look out spot on the whole city from above. That was absolutely breath-taking!

But coming back to Germany was amazing. I had missed the language, the culture, the people, and the bread! Haha, but yea, I'm back in Tubingen, happy for both my adventure and now having my own bed to sleep in again. Just looking forward to the year ahead of me and all that can and will be possible.

Love you all, thanks for always reading what I write!

Day before Italy

One word to sum up my Italian prepared-ness: Nervous! Never had I had to plan, organize and execute quite a large adventure before! I am extremely thankful to have along the company of my sister, Mike and Israel. I know Mike will will the backbone of the adventure and I trust him to keep me safe and sound while abroad!

I suppose I shouldn't be so nervous. Italy is one of the world's most beautiful countries. People dream their whole lives of seeing such a place. I'm thrilled at having such an opportunity to be there myself!

Day be day I don't feel like I'm changing very much. But already, in two months I have had a bigger adventure than any in my life. By the end of this year, I feel like I'll be more worldly and open-minded than I ever had previously. It's exciting. And tests my comfort zones. Maybe it'll break a few of them. Who knows. =)

My blog will be absent for a few days, check back with me on October 19th. I'll have been to Italy and have started my first day of German classes at the university!

Today I enjoyed a day of "getting life figured out." A little unpacking. A little decorating. Socializing with Alexis and Chelsea. Grocery shopping with Chelsea and Mike. Tonight I'm having folks over for dinner and possibly a game of Yahtzee.

After unpacking my groceries, claiming space in the cupboards, organizing my Kuhlschrank (refrigerator) and cleaning my sink, I received a light knock on my door. My dorm mate, Johannis wanted to see how I was adjusting. We talked (in Deutsch, of course) about having a dorm room "meet and greet" night with everyone. Then Andy (also from Deutschland) came out of his room and we had coffee all together in the kitchen. It was a nice and relaxing afternoon. Meeting my dorm mates made me enjoy the place I'll be calling "home" even more. They seem like a group of pretty cool cats, so I'm looking forward to having them around.

Tubingen is a great city. It's big and is just hectic enough to be interesting and fun. :] It's the most interesting city I've ever lived in, and, I think, the city with so much to offer. I'm very happy with my decision to study abroad, because I feel like I'm going to get a lot out of it. Memories. A better perspective on the world. I've laughed. I've cried. I've been confused. And I've relished in the simplest of moments (getting on the right bus and getting off at the right stop, all by myself!).

I haven't been everywhere. But it's on my list. :]

The start of something new

Monday morning I took my luggage to the car of my guest family. My guest mother, who has become a very special person to me, told me she cried when she read my Thank You card. She packed me some extra blankets, silverware and snow jackets and told me to visit often. Weekends, weekdays. When I have friends visit me in Tubingen, when I have a husband and children someday. I never realized but she has opened her whole heart, house and life to me whenever I come visit.

We took the bus all the way to Tubingen. 40 minutes away. We dropped Israel off first, but I didnt worry but he's pretty good on his own. Then we dropped off the group of students living in the French Quarter. Me, Michael and Chelsea included. After wrestled with the key in the door, I walked into the common room (more like hallway) of the wohnzimmer (dorm) that I'll be in for the next year. First impression: oh, jeez. The hallway was dirty, messy and smelled of tater tots. The kitchen was ever messier, and the bathroom was small and dirty. At first, I made the same assumption of my own little room. Rectangular, high ceilings, while walls, wood floor, dusty. But after today's run to Kaufland (supermarket similar to a Target, but with less variety), I purchased scented tea lights, colored paper and markers. I'm going to busy for the next few days, making art to decorate my walls.

The city in Tubingen is beautiful. We all think so. My favorite thing to do it grab a friend and explore the city. I don't even know how big it is, but I haven't seen it all yet. Today, Israel and I walked up the hill to the castle. It was beautiful. Oh, and did I mention that the guy who discovered DNA found it in a kitchen in that very same castle? We then made our way into town along some back streets. We found a gamer's shop on the corner called Fantasy Empire. When Brian comes to visit, he simply has to see it. Comic books, games, books, dice.

After our exploration, a few friends and I went to dinner on the Market Strasse. It was an unlikely bunch of us. A few friends that I never got to see unless at school. But this time, we got to enjoy a few hours of dinner, conversation and late-night walking. We ate dinner in the middle of the Market Strasse in front of the Rat Haus (City Hall). Surrounded by beautifully old buildings and a dark and starry sky, I couldn't help but imagine the day when Brandon and I get to stroll along these streets together. I sure do miss that guy a lot.

My day ended with internet finally connected in my dorm room. Thank goodness. Connection to my friends and family. I had miss you all so much in the last week. It has been nice to have you back. And internet meant that I got to call Brandon. We talked for an hour, and I couldn't help but be thankful for that amount of time.

So, tonight, happy and content, I sleep once again in my new bed, in my new city, new dorm and the new life that awaits me for this year.

Feeling Better

Momentary snag in my line. I'm feeling better today. My head is a bit more clear with plans for Italy (looks like we'll be staying in Israel's friend's church in Milan for the first three nights and then at a friend from SSU's dorm at the Florance University, both should be a lot of fun!). Also, I've figured out the plan this weekend for Oktoberfest in Munich. All systems a go. Chelsea, Mike, Israel, Reese and I will be taking the train early morning on Saturday and arrive in Munich at noon. Then we'll leave late that evening. Enough time to enjoy the kulture, listen to some good German music, enjoy a giant pretzel and, perhaps, buy my first (and probably last) beer. Who knows, I dont know where else such a fun story of my first beer will be. :]

Today was my second to last day in Horb. Sad to see it go, really. It held such adventure and intrigue for me when I first arrived. Most of the more rambunctious students here complain about Horb's small and quiet demeanour, but I say, only boring people are bored! I've been here just as long as they have, and yet I have explored the back staircases and hidden foot paths that surround the town. Along with Israel, I have discovered little churches, towers and parts of the town otherwise ignored by the students studying abroad. They have focused their time, money and energy to drinking late into the night ever weekend. They remain niave to the adventures that await the true traveller. And now that I must leave, I yearn to come back and possibly visit again. Tubingen, however exciting and fun, holds a more loud and active student night life. Hardly as many secret footpaths or secret fields like that of Horb. Both places will serve me well, I know, and I am lucky to have been here as long as we have.

Tough Night

I would say I've been better. And that this probably isn't my favorite night spent here in Germany. I've had some great nights here, laughing and hanging out with my new friends, meeting Germans at festivals and singing and dancing to songs sung in another language. Tonight though, my host family is gone, my internet phone isn't working (and I'm not sure when it will again), I have to pack my suitcase and say good bye to the home I've made here with my host family, and I'm stressing about travel plans.

First of all, I've booked what I hope will be a memorable and great trip to Milan, Italy. Chelsea, Mike and our friend, Israel and I are arriving in Milan on October 5th, and will spend a few days there, then travel to Florance, Rome, Venice and back to Milan for our departure on October 17th. Finding cheap lodging and train fare is what has been causing me to stress. That, and the fact that Ryan Air charged Chelsea twice for our tickets. >_<

Next, after a stressful day of learning German grammer, and not understanding German grammer, I can home, ate a bit of good food alone because my family was gone and went online, only to find that in my already lonely-state, looking at pictures from my Going-Away Surprise party only made it worse. I couldn't help reminisce about the people I have intertwined my life around. People who may not even know they mean something special to me. And the worst is, that as the years go by, more and more of those people leave. They go to college, find a new job, move away. Today, a best friend told me of his not-so-distant plans to move. Why do the close ones have to leave you?

All I wanted after my stressful night was to pick up my internet phone and call Kara. We had picked the perfect time to talk, and I needed to vent about my stress, update her about life, and simply, hear her voice. Then, suddenly, my phone stopped working. After several attempts, searching on the internet for help and attempting to call others, I had to give up.

Understandably, all these things seem mild. Separately, this is so. But all collected within the last two days, and you've got yourself a stressed-out Bison (for those of you who don't know, it's a nickname that was thoughtfully given to me by a friend). Indeed, life is grand and splendid here, but I think I'm dealing with quiet a lot on my plate, maybe bit off more than I can chew, alone. I just need some help from my friends, and unfortunately, they aren't a phone call away anymore.

If you're reading this, then you are a friend. A good friend. And I can confidently say that I miss you. So, I hope you send me a message, a small little "Hey" would really lift my spirits.

Thoughts on the end of my stay in Horb

Horb has suited me well throughout the past 5 weeks. Five weeks? Has it really been that long? It seems as if just yesterday I had struggled getting my suitcase through the cobbled stones in Germany. Although Horb has been my world and home for my first weeks in Germany, and it actually makes me sad to say goodbye next Monday. I'm not only saying goodbye to this town which has provided me with a host of adventures, but I'm saying goodbye to my host family as well.

If I haven't already mentioned, my host family is more than I could have asked for. Although my host parents have two kids already grown up and out of the house, they have remained a caring and welcoming part of my German experience so far. The little jar of Nutella they leave out for me every morning, the daily reminders to bring a jacket or umbrella to school or even the special yogurt they buy because I've grown to like it are all testaments to how kind this family is. And what's more, when my host mom found that I would need to purchase bedding, kitchen ware and perhaps a warm coat or two for winter, she couldn't help but insist that I take extra bedding, silverware, plates, and her daughter's old snow jackets and warm clothes with me to Tuebingen. I had never thought a family would be so generous, and to a girl from California who can speak less German than a 5th grader. :]

Horb, however, has been it's own adventure, separate from that of my host family. I've learned so much already just by trial and error in this little town. I've learn how to ask for "a few slices of salami" and "a few slices of cheese" at the supermarket deli. I know how that when I recycle my cola bottle, I get a .25 cent pfand (reimbursement). I know that the bridge I pass over everyday stands over the Neckar River--a river that I have on more than one occasion thrown bread into to attract the local ducks.

I'm going to miss the daily Kaufland run at lunch time, and the ice cream parlor across the alley from my school. I'm going to miss the steep hillside that so often Israel and I have climbed on more than one adventure. I'm going to miss the little white tower and the red tower, along with the soccer field and the beer garden, where many a German family I have met and conversed with.

I've missed the bus completly in Horb and have had to hitch hike back to town. I've taken one too many Night Taxi buses when I arrived late to Horb on the train. I've stumbled onto Horb's annual fall festival and have been recognized for the picture of Chelsea and I that wound up in the local paper. And above all, no matter how much of Horb I have seen and visted, I still feel like I haven't seen it at all.

Tuebingen, on the other hand, is a lrage city, bustling with action from dawn until dusk....and then some. Their night life is as popular to the student body and the Neckar River and Tuebingen Castle is to the tourists. I will always have something to occupy my time and prevent boredom from sinking in. And yet, I almost look to Tuebingen with a weary eye. Will I still find the quite, lonely hillsides and crumbling walls that I have grown to love in Horb? Can I escape the busy college-lifestyle on a midday afternoon and wander about without having to worry about what bus station I need to stand on next?

While I will find myself well-adjusted in Tuebingen, I will always think fondly on my stay in Horb. My host family, for one, has offered a home-cooked meal whenever I want to take a bus to visit, and I most certainly will take that opportunity. I know Tuebingen will be just as rich in culture and life as Horb was, so I suppose this transition is more bitter sweet than anything.

Ulm-Einstein's birthplace!

I had an awesome weekend! We went to Ulm and I got to see where Einstein was born....actually all they have there to represent it is a large rectangular marble statue that says he was born there...kinda disappointing, but still, at least i was there! Then we ran around the city (it was a little more modern than the other cities we've visited, but it was still awesome!) Actually Ulm has my favorite Rathaus so far. A Rathaus is the city hall building, and its always really beautiful and grand. Then a grp of us went to eat chinese food and then afterwards we all got our game faces on to climb the tallest church tower in the world! The tower we climbed in Freiberg was 209 steps.....this tower was 768 steps!!!! Haha, our friend counted aloud while Mike and Israel video tapped the journey. It took us almost 25 mintues to climb. Then once we got to the top, the Ausbilck (view) was beautiful!!! We could see everything, and it was so windy up there. Then we made our way carfully down the tower and visited the inside of the church (beautiful stained glass windows) and we had a little free time to look around at the little shops. I couldnt resist visitng a little bookstore and we also grabbed some good ice cream and sat down in front of the gothic church to eat it.

On our way home Chelsea and Mike sat by this new student we have in class named hanna. She's Swedish and is in Horb to get an intership somewhere. She probably the sweetest person ever! She speaks perfect english as well as almost perfect german, but she totally loves Harry Potter, fantasy books, making funny faces at the camera, loves Disneyland and doesnt like to party like everyone else here. Unfortunatly, she isnt going to Tubingen because she's here to get a job, but at least we can all stay in touch this year.

When we all returned to Horb it was 7pm and so we decided to walk around the town and see if anything exciting was happeneing. Naturally, most of the rowdy guys and crazy girls decided to go drinking.....again.....at another bar. As fun as I'm sure it seems, they really only waste money, break stuff and get barated for being loud and crewd Americans. Not my idea of fun. So, our friends Reese, Chris, Israel, Hanna, Chelsea, Mike and I went walking. And what we ended up finding was something truely German! A little Horb Herbst Fest (Horb Fall Festival). There was tons of little food vendors, beer and wine vendors and lots of tables to dit on. Chelsea, Mike, Israel and I sat down on the end of a table where a bunch of older German people sat. They were a lively bunch and had already purchased a bottle of wine from a vendor. The music started (a band called Green Tomatoes) and all the played that night was Classic Rock songs in America!! They played beatles, Jonny Cash and Creedence Clearwater. So we totally enjoyed ourselves beacuse the German people by us had found out we were Americans so they encouraged us to join in on their clapping and dancing (in their seats) and singing. Then the older guy smiled and gave us all coupons for free wine, and all the others chimmed in on what type of wine we should try. Soooo Mike had his first alcoholic beverage! It was awesome :] Then, after they insited on pouring up more glasses of wine from the bottle they had purchased, we were all enjoying ourseleves and decided that while they started up a great swing dancing song, we'd get up and dance! It was awesome! The lady who was sitting by me was clapping and cheering us on and the other people were enjoying wachting us dance and stuff. At the end of the song, we sat back on our bench, laughing and high-fiving our new German aquaintences and the band stopped playing. They got on the microphone and told the crowd that since they enjoyed watching us dance so much, they were giving us a bottle of champagne as thanks! It was hilarious! So, I took it home to keep it in my bag so that someday in the future, Israel, Mike, Chelsea, a few other friends and I can enjoy our first bottle of champagne together. It was a fun night and just goes to show that Germans really know how to have a good time!

Woche Eins (Week One)

I've been in Germany for only a week and a half and yet I feel like I've been here much longer. The hours seem to fly by and yet by the calender, life has passed slowly. To think that a week and a half ago, I lived comfortably in the only world I knew. And now, I've discovered new food, new ways of life and new ways of thinking that have further proved my necessity for this adventure. For the next five weeks I will remain in a little village named Horb, where the international students take what we'd consider a "summer school class." It's a pointless class that hasn't been helpful at all, except that I have improved by stamina by ascending 92 steps everyday to attend class. The up-side of Horb is not only that it's pproved to be a beautiful little German town, but that I am staying with a host family while here.
My host family is wunderbar! I'm very happy with whom I'm staying and hope that the little German I know and the lack of English they know will stretch my comfort boundaries regarding the language and the culture. Last weekend, we visited the Lichtenstein Castle and the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Both outings were memorable and very exciting for the first weekend in Horb! This family has made me feel welcome and wanted, so I hope they don't mind when I can't conjugate my German verbs correctly! :]
As for now, my social life fluctuates between international students from America and the few young adults from Horb I know. We've been to the town Fussball (soccer) game, a sports bar and a mini rock festival, so this little town really knows how to have fun! Although life here has been exciting and new to me, the comfort of my friends and the life I know so well in California will be missed. Already I yearn for a cup of coffee with my best friends, or a night out to Big Spoon because there's not much else to do in Folsom. I hope my friends think about me as often as I think of them, and thus our reunion in a year or so will be grand and splendid!

Until we meet again,
Rachel