I've been trying to think of exactly how to describe my trip to Germany for a while now. I couldn't think of exactly how to describe how it felt to be back, and I know an itemized list of what I did could not convey it. There was that and the fact that as predicted there was about a 10 day whiplash period of adjustment upon my return to the land of fire. But I am back and have to start with a BIG Gigantic Thank you to Christof (sunshine) and Christoph (Christoph). The first for being an outstanding friend picking me up at the train and letting me stay at his place for two weeks! The second for paying for my plane ticket-- I mean C'mon what a professor!
Because I could never think of how to blog this, I am stealing directly from an email I wrote home, I think it does a good job of describing how it felt to be on my trip. One caveat, I did do work while I was there and it was interesting, but there is no mention of that in this-- oh well!!
Germany was fantastic -- AMAZING. I saw my best friends Gudrun,
Christof (aka sunshine) Aaron (the American) and Michael. Fernando
who was a friend became a best friend as we were both given VIP status
allowed to do what we wanted as much or as little. So often we'd
drink coffee all day, giggling. Once we ran through the rain laughing
at ourselves outloud the whole way across campus. It was like we were
both discovering what it felt like to be free again and we had each
other to look back at and remark constantly how good it felt! Fernando
is Brazilian and the year behind me in studies so we were friends but
I didn't know him as long or as well as some other people there, I no
longer feel like that is true.
To tell you about Germany I can say that I feel back into my life in
Kassel effortlessly. I know that city. And it felt like someone had
kept my life warm for me. I walked onto the campus for the first time
and turned in by my department and from behind I saw someone. I
walked another few steps to be sure before yelling out "Hey Jackass" (it's his nickname, he likes it. Don't worry it's not mean!) Michael turned around, shocked smiled, hugged me and then responded.
"You've been here for how long and you haven't called me?" I told him
I had only arrived the night before at it was after 8:30 on a weekend
so he was probably in bed, he agreed and we went and got some coffee.
My coffee date lasted about an hour until I went to lunch with
someother friends I ran into.
The best day in Germany was the Friday I was there. I woke up late,
took a shower, watched a little TV, then headed off to campus. I met
Michael and had lunch with him in the cafeteria. We bantered back and
forth for an hour and I told him about my life and heard about his.
After that I joined Fernando and some current students as they
finished lunch then we went to coffee (it's really a part of our lunch
there. We eat and talk then go to our student run leftist cafe.) So
Fernando and I sat down there at about 1. Another guy, Mike joined us
a half our later and we talked about the program and all sorts of
stuff. Then we got more coffee and Fernando decided we needed
chocolate, he came back with a Surprise. He looks at me and says, I
know from Aaron that all Americans LOVE these and he hands me a box of
Oreos. He was right I loved them. So we drank coffee and ate Oreos.
Then Andreas and Olga walked by, I hadn't seen them in two years so we
hugged and chatted. I think it was then that Mike decided we needed
beer so he went in the cafe and came back with beers for us all. a
few more people drifted in and out then Olga and Andreas decided we
needed fried chicken and fries (cause that's what they eat every
friday) and we didn't want to leave so Andreas biked and came back
with Fried Chicken and fries and more beer. By this time Antonio (a
mexican guy 3rd yr who rented my apartment and bought all my stuff
from me) was back. He'd been getting Stereo equipment for the party
we were having at the cafe the next night. He asked us if we would
stay there for another hour we said of course, for now we had fried
chicken and beer. So we sat there, friends came in and out we text
messaged others to meet us there when they were free for the night.
And as it got cold and dark we were going to move on, but since we had
the keys to the now closed cafe we just went inside. We had the
stereo equipment and my ipod, so there was music. There was beer and
our friends were there so we sat down and kept hanging out, remarking
that this was the best night EVER! Aaron came, Gudrun came, Eddie
came, then Sunshine. All of my favorite people, and no one else. Our
own music in our own cafe. It was Perfect! I left with sunshine at
midnight and the rest stayed another couple of hours. The program
party was the next night, but that was the night that I will always
remember and knew even as it was happening that I would remember it as
one of the best in my life.
That was Germany, it was feeling free, it was good friends hanging out
talking, and coffee. It was a seemless landing back into a life I
left two years ago. It was perfect.
Another note: I did also play Kicker while in Germany (Once against Fernando and Aaron and beat them, other times with less success. Kicker is the German name for fooseball, for the Americans in the crowd, I think it's table soccer or padyfoot or something like that to the Brits)
Last note: Not that it's less important but it isn't really about Germany; Kazia's pregnant, my older sister for those of you unfamilar)
pictures are all taken in or in front of Des Asta - our favorite cafe
group picture- Eddie, Fernando, Antonio, Aaron and Gudrun
Sunshine looking extra fancy - couldn't figure out how to rotate the picture
Fernando- my newest best friend, drinking coffee and eating chocolate!
Me and Antonio- I think I am shooting Mike (the photographer) a really weird look!
