Muenchen!

Last weekend was our first official travel weekend, in which we had free time to go wherever we wanted to. While a large group went to Paris for four days, four of us decided to stay around and study/practice for the first couple days and then take a whirlwind trip to Muenchen (Munich for you Americans). I am so glad we did, for the trip seemed like a week and half a day all at the same time.

We got "Happy-Weekender" train tickets, so we rode very cheaply for the four of us, but it took twice as long to get there. The 5 1/2 hour train ride was great to chat, study for our history test, and read. I traveled with our RA, Crystal, and two Biola guys, Ian and Alex. The group was fun, and we all had similar travel styles.

In our 25 hours in Muenchen we did about everything. Here's a run down: three famous churches in the main square, Bratwurst at the Viktulienmarkt, 90 rooms in the Residenz palace, beautiful architecture, good German food, apfel strudel with fresh mint tea and great friends. Not only did we do all that, we saw a Chopin ballet on Saturday night that was gut-wrenchingly beautiful. I saw my first ballet only last Summer, and have fallen in love with the art form. I appreciate art even more when I am with people who love good art.

I would really like to go back to Bavaria, for Munich seems like a place I could fit very well into. It's a good balance of big city and old town. We just so happened to be in Muenchen during their Karnaval/Fasching. Germans celebrate the pre-Lenten season with a six day holiday of partying. We encountered funnily dressed people in Muenchen for two reasons: people dress up in odd costumes for Fasching, and there was a large soccer match that day (that sadly was sold-out).

Now, Heidelberg is sort of known for having a Fasching parade on the last day of Epiphany. This is not an American parade. I repeat, this is not what you would expect. The floats consisted of trucks with rickity wood on the side of them and many times old men wearing Bavarian heads chucking candy at you. This isn't a tootsie pop here or there, this is large handfulls of candy and popcorn heaped upon you. At one point, a lady just threw me a bag of candy. The great part, is it is a real celebration. The people don't come just to watch the spectacle, they come to party and BE the spectacle. Even the policewoman got conffetti thrown all over her, was given roses, black face make-up and kisses on the cheek by a random parade-goer. And she just smiled.

I like Germany.

Oh, and Facebook finally let me put up pictures. Anyone can look here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2063534&id=68603567&l=b3a0e

Marburg...and life

Last weekend I got to go to Marburg (two hours north of Heidelberg) to visit two family friends that I hadn't seen since I was four. They were so hospitable and it was like coming home. The pictures is Renate and I and the Swedish apple cake she made for us. We laughed about when I was four and they taught me the phrase "Ich bin eine keine dumpfnoodle" which bascially means "I'm a little dumpling." I also got to see one of their sons, Phillip, and here about when I was 4 and he was 6 and I wouldn't let him play with a toy. He decided then that he hated me. Luckily, we were able to reconcile.

I decided to take German, even though I'm not enrolled in the class. By the end of this weekend I was able to understand some of the things Gerhard and Renate were saying, but I still can't produce my own sentences. I read aloud childrens' books to them to improve my pronunciation, and it was very fun. I'll hopefully visit them once more before I leave.

I had my first saxophone lesson last week, and I really like my teacher. He comes from a different school of thought than I have grown up with, so it will be interesting to see how I can meld the two over the next three months. I get to go 45 minutes outside Heidelberg to Mannheim for my lesson, and I enjoy my little adventure.

I know that I have more time than I usually do, but I feel rather busy. I don't have large chunks of time, but I'm hoping I can create them. I have been auditing the music history class, but I'm going to start skipping because attending 20 units of classes fills up my schedule. It is wonderful to have chunks of time to practice!

I am so thankful that I am here, though I am missing friends and family. It's a little different being so far away, for even if I wanted to, I couldn't hop on a plane and see people in a couple hours. I'm here, and that's good, but it makes me miss people too.

Well, I should go practice. When Facebook starts liking me again, and my computer stops giving me blue screens of death, I'll import some pictures and put a link here. Guten tag!

Orientation Week

So, orientation week is over and it seems like a day and a month went by at the same time. We took tours all around Heidelberg, went on a long bike ride and saw the view from Philosophers Way, praticed saxophone a lot, had orientation for all our classes. We start classes this week, and I'm going to play in a German jazz band tomorrow!

Yvonne is our extremely helpful group mother. She is the wife of our History professer and does everything for us. Calling her amazing is an understatement. After a conversation we had she brought me homemade raspberry jam! It is delicious and I am very thankful for her. This picture is us at Heidelberg Castle.

We get a food stipend every week, and I love not eating at the Caf all the time. I eat breakfast in my room, go to one of the Heidelberg U Mensas (cafeterias) for lunch, and eat out (very cheaply) for dinner. We have already made friends with the guy who works at the Indian place a couple doors down and the crepe place across the square. I'm excited to explore as many restaurants as I can for under 4 euros!

Tomorrow holds practicing, playing jazz duets with Ian and then playing Jazz with Germans. Oh, and I'll probably do some homework in there...

Gute Nacht!

My First Few Days in Heidelberg

I can't believe that Wednesday is already coming to a close. This means I've already been here for four days, but I still am not quite unpacked. The last few days blur together as we have been running around getting to know the city.

Today was our first day of classes and practicing, both of which I have been looking forward to. I went to the German class even though I am not enrolled because I want to learn a little bit to help me get around. It was very fun! Ich bin ein Berliner :o)

We got our bikes yeterday and I had a little adventure riding to the practice rooms because I wasn't quite sure where they were. I think I'm already getting a hang of riding bikes around here after our five hour bike ride. There are a lot of pedestrians and bikes, not to mention the cars. It was so much fun, and I'm looking forward to being active these next three months. Heidelberg is in a valley, so there are great hikes all around.

This week is somewhat crazy as we have been walking around the city learning where everything is. We visited the castle yesterday, and had a beautiful view of the city. Next week we will start our normal schedule and have more time to practice and do homework. I'm looking forward to starting a routine in this new place.

I'm heading to the practice rooms now so I can get another hour in before I sleep tonight. I haven't been taking many pictures because I'm trying to take it all in this week, but they will be coming soon.