Dult Fest and a German Baseball Game

The first week of classes flew by, and it was time for the weekend. Although the group did not travel, we had plans for Dult Fest. Dult Fest is Regensburg bi-annual festival/carnival. There are tons of rides and German foods. My friend, Jessica, does German dancing in St. Louis and brought her dirndl with her to Germany. She wore it, along with hundreds of other German women, to the festival. To our surprise during dinner, Terry, a guy on the program with me, walked up in a lederhosen and just about brought the house down. Towards the end of the night, fireworks went off about 10 o'clock that were impressive. The Dult Fest continues for the next 2 weeks, so I am sure I will be going again.

This morning I decided to sleep until I woke up, with no alarm clock, for the first time in months. However, the clock read 8:09 this morning. I had a productive morning of making oatmeal and hot tea, doing laundry, and going grocery shopping. I went to the Netto for yogurt, stopped in the bakery for 2 wheat baquettes, then into the butcher's shop for black forest ham. I already know I will miss the walking distance of those 3 stores when I get back to the states.

My friends and I planned to bike ride to some castle ruins today, but received an invite at noon to attend a German baseball game, which was once in a lifetime probably. I didn't even know baseball was in Germany or that it would only cost 4 Euro. The Basil's, John Griffin, Jessica, Jennifer, and I all went to the game. The teachers were surprised only girls showed up, but I guess the boys on the program decided to not go. The six of us had so much fun sitting on the second row closest to the field. We would have sat on the first row, but we could barely see over the fence. The Regensburg team won 10 to 1. After the game, we saw the shop had a sign for Louisville Slugger, and I just had to get my picture with it. Overall, the Saturday was a fun, relaxing day!

Week Zwei (2)

As you can tell, classes began this week! The first 2 weeks are just German language and German culture. It's tough calling them classes because they are actually fun. However, in two weeks, the other 2 classes will start. So far I have learned greeting phrases, ordering at a cafe, and numbers. German culture has been a discussion of the differences and similarities between Germany and America. Topics that have arisen are displaying the countries' flag, an action that is popular in the states, but is only recently popular here in Germany. Another topic is public transportation, bike riding, or walking. To Germans, that is the way of life and for Americans, it is mostly driving cars.

I've really enjoyed studying and learning the German culture instead of just being a tourist. Already, I feel studying abroad has grown my view that the world has much to offer and it needs exploring. Highlights of this week have been: shopping in old town at TK Maxx (TJ Maxx), eating at an outdoor cafe, attending Stammtisch (German word for: group meeting), and hiking to an old church that sits on a hilltop overlooking Regensburg.

Walhalla

In Germany Walhalla is pronounced Valhalla. The group took a boat ride down the Danube River. Walhalla is a parthenon built in the 1800s by a king who appreciated Greek structures. He decided to build Walhalla as a tribute to the Greeks in Germany. Inside Walhalla a hundred or so head statues of memorable men and women in German history hang on the walls. Faces that I recognized include: Mozart and Einstein. One statue that I found most interesting was of a woman who spoke out against Hitler during WWII, which led to the ending of her life.

The climb up the hill and steps of Walhalla was a beast! But the view was amazing of the Danube River and of Regensburg. On the way to Walhalla, I spotted a castle that is in ruins. In the next week or two, a group of us plan to camp out overnight in the castle! I think it sounds pretty awesome and crazy, but I am up for it. After a very tiring day, some friends and I cooked a delicious dinner, then played cards. The group of MSU students are great people, and we all get along well. Tomorrow is the first day of school, and I'm ready to learn some German.

Munich & Dachau

The hour and 45 minute train ride from Regensburg to Munch involved rolling hills of small towns, crops, and sunflowers. Once we arrived in Munich, we took a quick train and bus to Dachau, one of the first concentration camps during WWII. The size of the camp surprised me. The camp was huge! There were about 60 barracks in the front section alone. It certainly had a gloomy feel to it. I walked around with Jessica and Jennifer. We saw the barracks, crematorium, gas chambers, barbed wire fences, and the historical museum. I learned two interesting facts: 1) Dachau was originally to house 2,000 people but ended up taking 60,000 people. and 2) about 80 concentration camps were built during the war.

On a lighter note, back in Munich a group of us ate at Hofbrauhaus, a famous place for Bavarian food and a loud band that plays. I still haven't gotten use to no air conditioning anywhere in Germany. Today happened to be a warm day compared to the other days I have been here. It made for a hot late lunch, but the food was still good. A large group of males were enjoying themselves behind us. One thing I have noticed is the noise volume of Germans, they seemed to be so much louder than Americans, especially at restaurants.

For the rest of the afternoon, we walked around open markets, ate fresh fruit, and walked around downtown Munich. I bought raspberries and oranges. We walked into an old Renaissance church which is still being repaired from the bombings of WWII. After walking the entire day, we sat for another train ride and made it back safely to Regensburg.

First Week in Regensburg

The airport experience to Regensburg began the typical way: both of my bags were overweight. Luckily, my mom and I moved things around so everything fit. What happened next was truly an amazing dose of luck. I got to ride first class from Atlanta to Germany next to my mom. We ate tons of delicious food- coffee, bread, salad, mahi-mahi, & tiramisu- all for free.

After arriving in Munich, we took a shuttle van on the Otto-Ban (no speed limit highway) for an hour ride to Regensburg. The van dropped us off in front of my dorm where I experienced my first bit of culture shock. I live in a suite with 5 bedrooms that share a kitchen, 2 toilets, 2 showers, and 5 sinks---with all males. I have never lived with boys before except for my father and brothers. The boys are from Romania, Morocco, and Argentina. We communicate in broken English, which is very nice of them. Although living with boys is different, I do have a spacious, clean room with a porch all to myself.

One nice aspect of Regensburg is that everything is within walking distance. Directly across the street is the Netto, a grocery store. My mom and I spent a while wandering through the store attempting to understand German labels. Also, right outside the dorm is a bus station that will take me to campus or downtown. Walking downtown and to campus is not a bad walk either.

Thanks to Jessica (a girl on the trip with me), we ate dinner with some students she met in our dorm for dinner at a Medieval restaurant. Sebastian (from Germany), Leila (from France), and Bernie (from Salzburg) all know great English. We had such a nice dinner getting to know everyone.

Other interesting highlights:

1) one scoop of Gelato ice cream with a cone cost 1 euro = $1.27

2) coca-cola light takes like regular coke

3) Germans recycle everything!

4) never jay-walk

5) there are lots of mexican restaurants in Germany??

6) Germany as a 24 hour clock so when you set your alarm, you don't worry about am or pm

7) bakeries are on every corner, these people like their bread and danishes

Along with lots of eating and walking, a group of us took a train to Straubing for a festival. It was very similar to an American carnival or fair. Lots of food, music, and more food. So far, we have had an orientation for classes, eating at the cafeteria (the Mensa), and getting connected to the internet, finally. Tomorrow begins the traveling! Cities/countries coming up are Munich, Salzburg, and Switzerland!

Packing

I spent a few days in Murray visiting my AOII sisters and helping them get ready for recruitment. They gave me a 'flat founder' so expect funny pictures with Stella. I will leave for Germany in just 3 days! And, I have finally started packing! There are still many last minute things to buy, but it is all coming together and fitting into my suit cases! Surprisingly, I am not nervous about leaving, just very excited! I bought a good coat last night (because its already low 70's there) and a Europass so I can travel by train. It's almost time!