Hello from Köln!

Getting to Germany was an adventure—it started thundering and pouring just before my flight was supposed to board. They couldn’t load the luggage or meals because the weather was so bad, so that was an additional delay. (Keep in mind that the flight was supposed to leave at 10:20 PM—I was worried that it would be delayed until the following morning!) Fortunately, we were able to leave around 12:15 AM, but it was a pretty bouncy ride due to the weather. I arrived in Frankfurt, got my luggage, bought a discount train card and a train ticket to Köln… and the train to Köln got delayed.

Dragging my bags onto and off the train was another challenge, especially when I got to Köln and couldn’t find an elevator or escalator. I figured out a way to carry one suitcase (47 pounds)  and my backpack (23 pounds) while thumping the other suitcase (44 pounds) down the stairs behind me, but a very nice Kölner guy picked up the other side of the thumping suitcase because I was making so much noise. (Danke.)

The hostel is just around the corner from the train station, and it’s pretty nice, especially compared to the sketchy ones I’ve been to in New York and Prague. I’m rooming with another Fulbrighter whom I met online, and we’re on the fourth floor (third floor in Germany). There’s no elevator. Yeah, that was fun. She took one suitcase while I dragged the other one, but I’m not looking forward to lugging it back down the stairs. We asked to use the freight elevator, but the lobby management didn’t seem to like that plan. (It was worth a try, right?)

Anyway, Köln is a nice, walkable city. We walked to the top of the Kölner Dom (533 steps, not including the steps in the observation area), wandered around the Altstadt, and visited the chocolate museum. It wasn’t quite as cool as the Zotter factory that we toured in JYM (no hot chocolate!), but if you ever end up in Köln, it’s worth visiting. After that, I went back to the hostel and took a nap, and then M and I looked for an affordable Chinese restaurant, failed miserably, and ended up eating Turkish food again. Mmmm, falafel.

By the way, did I mention that I appear to be allergic to my watch, which I’ve and worn for almost four years? Don’t laugh. I itch.

Plans for tomorrow: art museum?

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen

Finally finished packing, just in time.

Now that I'm a little less sleep deprived, I can do a "real" post for today. The past few days have been whirlwinds of goodbyes at Miami, at the gym, and at home. I drove to Oxford a few days ago to hang out with some of my friends (only a few of whom could make it-- but it was great seeing everyone who was there) and ask for letters of recommendation from a few English professors (thank you for everything). Tuesday was my last day at the gym (D/S-- you're amazing, dedicated role models), which was all right-- it's kind of weird not having any plans to do gymnastics. I also set up Skype on my mom's computer, but she still has to figure out how to use her webcam and microphone-- it's a one-way conversation for now!

I also heard from a teacher at the school, and she said that I might be working with all grade levels... so that could be interesting! I only brought DVDs and House on Mango Street, so I'm not sure what the 5th graders will use. Excitement level is rising very quickly. :)

Off to O'Hare! The travel plan for the next few days:
- Chicago (depart at 10:50 PM) to Frankfurt
- train from Frankfurt to Cologne
- stay in Cologne for two and a half days before orientation-- I'm rooming with another Fulbrighter at a hostel
- orientation in Altenberg for four days
- train from Cologne to Berlin (arriving around 6 PM)

"I won't miss the alpaca!"

I think this will be my last post from the US-- my dad and I are driving up to Chicago today so I can fly out of O'Hare (oh, the slightly inconvenient things we'll do to avoid paying fees!). I doubt I'll have consistent internet access for the next week, so I guess the next blog will come directly from Berlin.


To be honest, I'm not sure what I'm thinking right now. Obviously, I know that I'm supposed to be excited. Here's the problem: I have no idea what I'll be doing when I get to Berlin. I don't know what grades I'm assisting with, so I can't really bring written material without weighing down my luggage unnecessarily. It's a little hard for me to be excited when all I know is that I will be living somewhere in Berlin. Maybe. If I can find housing. And were we supposed to prepare something to teach at orientation? It was all very unclear; I got the impression that they were giving us potential topics when we got there. I guess this is why my dominant feeling at the moment is somewhere between freaking out, confusion, and just being really sleepy.


That being said, I *am* excited about the idea of starting a film club. Watching Mean Girls for a class? Yes, please. Also, no, I am not showing Jesus Camp, like four of you suggested (all independently of each other, I might add. That is probably why we're friends!). I know, I wanted to, too...


Sorry, I'm beginning to realize that I'm not very coherent at 3 AM. I didn't start packing until about 10 PM last night, much to my parents' annoyance, so I'm finally to a stage where I don't feel guilty about sleeping. :)


The title, by the way, comes from my mom, who will miss everything about me but my hair.

Quick Preparation Update

I'm down to 6 days before the big departure, and I am totally not ready.

I emailed the head of the language department at the Gymnasium and asked for a little more information about the dress code and bringing DVDs (they want me to start a film club after school). Apparently, my clothes "shouldn't be too conservative and not 'too sexy'." Yes, the word 'sexy' actually appeared in the email. (Does "not too conservative" = jeans? I think it does.)

To make myself feel better about my serious slacking issue, here's what I have accomplished lately:

- Emailed 21 WGs to set up times to visit their apartments. (Five responses, four rejected me right off the bat, and one told me to call when I got to Berlin-- in other words, a polite rejection because I won't be in Berlin for two more weeks.)

- Took brother to pet store to buy a mouse for his snake and ended up with a cat in my lap about 30 seconds after entering the store.

- Found brother's snake after G got distracted while feeding it and left it in the bathtub.

- Bought not-too-conservative and not-too-sexy clothes. (Thanks, KC!)

- Baked chocolate biscotti and Pfeffernuesse (like gingerbread cookies) with KC. Failed at making tempeh chili.

On the agenda for the next few days:
- trek down to Oxford to see friends and to ask for letters of recommendation
- figure out how I'm going to get my coats to Germany
- decide if it's worth investing in a larger suitcase. I have one regular sized one and a mini one-- not sure the mini one is going to be useful in dragging a year's worth of things abroad.
- set up at least three appointments to see rooms at WGs. I swear, I am not procrastinating. This finding housing thing has been a disaster.

T-Minus 20 Days

... and there's still so much to do.


Since Saturday is my last day of work, my life is slowly shifting to revolve around Fulbright preparation.


On my weekend to do list:
1. Send at least 15 emails to potential WGs (Wohngemeinschaften, where a few people get together and rent an apartment to cut down on costs). I started to contact WGs in June, but no one wanted to wait three months for a potential apartment-mate. Don't worry-- I'm living with a teacher from my Gymnasium for the first week.


2. Do a trial run of packing and see how many wintery things my mom needs to send to me. Crossing my fingers that everything will fit!


3. Buy a new jacket. I am not taking my hideous light blue one to Berlin.


4. Finish job application for next year. It's due in 8 days, and I still have to write the letter of intent and some blurbs about my work history and extracurriculars.


5. Apply for a credit card. Yep, I survived 5 years of undergrad without a CC.


6. Clean my room. Contrary to what most people think, I am a slob. The good news is that I found $10 this morning while going through my high school stuff!


7. Work on my cooking skills. I have not burned soup lately, but my latest Moroccan stew was disappointing.