As we landed I couldn’t help but feel excitement and anxiety for what lie ahead. It seemed that everyone was ready to get off the plane filling the center aisle even before the doors had opened. When a spot did open in the conga line I grabbed my backpack from the overhead bin along with my coat and exited to a set of shuttle busses ready to take us to the arrival terminal. It was a short ride but I was intrigued by what I thought was native German. It was all exciting, and bit chilly as I have been told that it builds character. Once inside, I joined the serpentine belt of travelers being filed to the various customs agents. When it was my turn my stay was inquired upon and I was given a stamp(of approval) on my passport and I went onto claim my baggage(just one bag really) and left following the exit signs.
I saw a familiar face, Professor Vannette, it was nice to see some familiarity amidst this new environment. As we navigated the public transportation system we discussed my travels and he refreshed my information on a few key upcoming pieces of information. I purchased a two hour public transportation ticket which I was to stamp to start the time limitation counter. This ticket was good for all public transport within zone one and two, which were expanding rings out form the city center much like seismic waves moving out from the source of seismic activity or waves on a pond from a rock hitting the water. I only had to stamp it twice in a little stomach high square pole, almost something out of Star Wars, where I stuck in the ticket and much like a electric stapler it stamped my ticket with the date and time stamped. I was to keep this on me as random tickets checks happen and you don’t want to be found without a ticket or an unstamped ticket. Some try to sneak into zone three but the 100 Euro ticket isn’t worth the one to two Euro expansion ticket to go there. I ended up stamping my ticket upside down on the bus, but was not an issue I was reassured.
When we got to the stop for my hotel (host family stays started the next day) we followed the online map readout of the area and were having a hard time locating the hotel. We thought we were where it should be but only saw a grocery store and some fenced in vegetation, it wasn’t until Professor Vannette realized it was through a parking lot that shared an entrance with a factory of sorts and was also set back a ways. The building looked nice but slightly stuck in time. Which my instructor located an information card that says the building was originally a Mauser firearms manufacturing plant in World War 2. My instructor waited outside the main office as to let me stretch my German legs but he was only a few steps away ready to help if need be. Here was my first real German language test! My brian desperately tried to feel for all my German knowledge but exhaustion, and jetlag got the best of me and confusion stepped in to say hello when the manager was telling me what the day’s date was. In the end he pointed on the calendar and I managed to scribble down 28 while remembering what he had said to me and feeling silly for not comprehending it at the time. I knew this was part of the experience and it was invaluable but I became, in that moment, envious of people who are fluent in the language. My instructor said he would leave me to it and see me tomorrow( that last part of what he said was in German). He did stop and quickly told me to ask about wifi and how to say it, which was very appreciated.
I forgot that here (in Germany) the first floor was actually the ground floor, and what I grew up knowing as the second floor was actually the first floor. My room was 111 and the manager had told me my floor was first floor all the way down to the(my) left, which was also his right as he was facing me, and that breakfast was same same side of building all the way down to the left but on the second floor. It wasn’t until after he peeked out of his office and saw me searching for 111 and only seeing 027 where 111 should be and told me one floor up ( in German) did I remember his pointing up for both my room location and breakfast location in the morning. I guess I was just so focused on trying to understand that I didn’t catch visually what was happening. I made my way upstairs and it was a nice sized room, with a comfy bed and a perfect sized bathroom and shower. I had some good sleep and my alarm woke me up before the 7am breakfast start. I showered packed up, made sure I left the room in the same if not better condition than I found it and headed up to breakfast. I chuckled to myself when I was greeted by the radio playing Sean Paul, I believe the song is called Temperature. it was now a good breakfast song in my book. I had a good spread on my plate and discovered that I infact do enjoy soft boiled eggs. I have seen them consumed many times and had the know-how on the proper way to eat them.
I wanted to get some hair gel or pomade to control my hair so I didn’t have to wear a hat during the day, I did love my “MOXIE” hat and equally love the soft drink but I wanted to somewhat not stick out. I opted to visit the store nearby but knowing it was a grocery store I knew there was a high chance of not finding it but still I went as I had a little bit of time before the noon meeting at the school. It was a fast paced walk as I was on a mission, but not too fast I wanted to enjoy the start to my time there. The grocery store Lidl was well stocked with a variety of foods mostly produce but no hair products I was not surprised by this and even expected it but still wanted to be sure. Hat it was and I went back to the room to do a once over before checking out. I will admit I looked up the word for to check out and best way to say it, my efforts were in vain as I was greeted with that same concept but in question form inquiring about checking out. It was, however, good practice for me though and a new word as well. I made my way way to the subway station(U-bahn Station) bag in tow and through a number of stops and one line change I made it to the station the school was on.
Most of the other students eventually made it to the school and even had a couple close proximity outings, one even including a coffee shop stop. I did manage to buy some hair gel or Haargel well more of a pomade I purchased at Rossman’s. With only a few still enroute our host families came to collect us either by bus or train. As more and more students left I was left wondering when my host was going to arrive. and sure enough I was soon introduced to Carl who also goes by Charlie. We said bye to the school and staff and went on our way with him explaining as much as could be remembered as possible. The apartment location and surrounding features were great and so was my host. I knew this summer was going to be A OK. Kinda feel like watching Breakfast Club now for some reason.
I saw a familiar face, Professor Vannette, it was nice to see some familiarity amidst this new environment. As we navigated the public transportation system we discussed my travels and he refreshed my information on a few key upcoming pieces of information. I purchased a two hour public transportation ticket which I was to stamp to start the time limitation counter. This ticket was good for all public transport within zone one and two, which were expanding rings out form the city center much like seismic waves moving out from the source of seismic activity or waves on a pond from a rock hitting the water. I only had to stamp it twice in a little stomach high square pole, almost something out of Star Wars, where I stuck in the ticket and much like a electric stapler it stamped my ticket with the date and time stamped. I was to keep this on me as random tickets checks happen and you don’t want to be found without a ticket or an unstamped ticket. Some try to sneak into zone three but the 100 Euro ticket isn’t worth the one to two Euro expansion ticket to go there. I ended up stamping my ticket upside down on the bus, but was not an issue I was reassured.
When we got to the stop for my hotel (host family stays started the next day) we followed the online map readout of the area and were having a hard time locating the hotel. We thought we were where it should be but only saw a grocery store and some fenced in vegetation, it wasn’t until Professor Vannette realized it was through a parking lot that shared an entrance with a factory of sorts and was also set back a ways. The building looked nice but slightly stuck in time. Which my instructor located an information card that says the building was originally a Mauser firearms manufacturing plant in World War 2. My instructor waited outside the main office as to let me stretch my German legs but he was only a few steps away ready to help if need be. Here was my first real German language test! My brian desperately tried to feel for all my German knowledge but exhaustion, and jetlag got the best of me and confusion stepped in to say hello when the manager was telling me what the day’s date was. In the end he pointed on the calendar and I managed to scribble down 28 while remembering what he had said to me and feeling silly for not comprehending it at the time. I knew this was part of the experience and it was invaluable but I became, in that moment, envious of people who are fluent in the language. My instructor said he would leave me to it and see me tomorrow( that last part of what he said was in German). He did stop and quickly told me to ask about wifi and how to say it, which was very appreciated.
I forgot that here (in Germany) the first floor was actually the ground floor, and what I grew up knowing as the second floor was actually the first floor. My room was 111 and the manager had told me my floor was first floor all the way down to the(my) left, which was also his right as he was facing me, and that breakfast was same same side of building all the way down to the left but on the second floor. It wasn’t until after he peeked out of his office and saw me searching for 111 and only seeing 027 where 111 should be and told me one floor up ( in German) did I remember his pointing up for both my room location and breakfast location in the morning. I guess I was just so focused on trying to understand that I didn’t catch visually what was happening. I made my way upstairs and it was a nice sized room, with a comfy bed and a perfect sized bathroom and shower. I had some good sleep and my alarm woke me up before the 7am breakfast start. I showered packed up, made sure I left the room in the same if not better condition than I found it and headed up to breakfast. I chuckled to myself when I was greeted by the radio playing Sean Paul, I believe the song is called Temperature. it was now a good breakfast song in my book. I had a good spread on my plate and discovered that I infact do enjoy soft boiled eggs. I have seen them consumed many times and had the know-how on the proper way to eat them.
I wanted to get some hair gel or pomade to control my hair so I didn’t have to wear a hat during the day, I did love my “MOXIE” hat and equally love the soft drink but I wanted to somewhat not stick out. I opted to visit the store nearby but knowing it was a grocery store I knew there was a high chance of not finding it but still I went as I had a little bit of time before the noon meeting at the school. It was a fast paced walk as I was on a mission, but not too fast I wanted to enjoy the start to my time there. The grocery store Lidl was well stocked with a variety of foods mostly produce but no hair products I was not surprised by this and even expected it but still wanted to be sure. Hat it was and I went back to the room to do a once over before checking out. I will admit I looked up the word for to check out and best way to say it, my efforts were in vain as I was greeted with that same concept but in question form inquiring about checking out. It was, however, good practice for me though and a new word as well. I made my way way to the subway station(U-bahn Station) bag in tow and through a number of stops and one line change I made it to the station the school was on.
Most of the other students eventually made it to the school and even had a couple close proximity outings, one even including a coffee shop stop. I did manage to buy some hair gel or Haargel well more of a pomade I purchased at Rossman’s. With only a few still enroute our host families came to collect us either by bus or train. As more and more students left I was left wondering when my host was going to arrive. and sure enough I was soon introduced to Carl who also goes by Charlie. We said bye to the school and staff and went on our way with him explaining as much as could be remembered as possible. The apartment location and surrounding features were great and so was my host. I knew this summer was going to be A OK. Kinda feel like watching Breakfast Club now for some reason.