Reflektieren

To Reflect

Die Universität und der Sprachkurs (the University and the language course):

Gorgeous university. And it's been around for a very long time. One of these days, I'll get around to taking pictures of it. There is even a garden, right outside the main administration building that I end up walking through everyday. I can't wait until later, when the flowers are in bloom.

Der Sprachkurs – the intensive language course – is much like hell week in sports try-outs. Except we've got 54 hours in a classroom. Our class begins at 9:00 in the morning, breaks for lunch at 12:15, and then meets again at 1:30 until 3:00. It has been a total overload of information. Often times, it's simply a relief to be able to speak English afterward, because there is so much frustration in not being able to communicate a point. The other night, I went to bed with my ears ringing, and there have been a few times where I've actually had to turn off my music while doing homework because it's too much and becomes a distraction and unnecessary noise. But under normal circumstances I work better with music than without.

For having three years of German in St. Cloud (as well as three years at Anoka High School), it seems that I have very little knowledge of German. Enough to get by, of course, but conversation is limited, and, at times, rather awkward. Obviously it's most frustrating right now, because we have just begun our quest. As time goes on, speaking will get easier. Having basic knowledge of the language is great, but actually being able to speak, and put all your grammar and pronunciation knowledge to use, especially when you get put on the spot, for me, is incredibly difficult. Especially when you have to get used to, and comfortable with, hearing yourself talk in a foreign language. On top of all this, speaking has always been my weak point, not just in German, but in English too.

But I'll get better. And being here and listening and talking and learning has taught me that there's a lot left to learn if I want to go into translating. So, after getting to listen to some music in our class, I decided to buy a couple German music CDs, in order to listen to and translate lyrics in my spare time. I will also probably pick up some newspapers or magazines and translate them as well. Not only would it be good for what I want to end up doing, it would keep me busy.

Die Leute (the people):

I'm not sure that I've actually met so many like-minded people that I feel as if I can actually get along with. By nature, I am not a people person, and much prefer either the company of a chosen few, or myself. But this has been a learning experience in realizing that maybe I'm a bit too cynical about people. Thursday after class, I spent much of the evening with two students from Tennessee. We went grocery shopping for chili ingredients, because for our Easter brunch we were required to bring food that was unique to our country. Not so easy for America, since we're just a melting pot of other cultures, but we figured chili and corn bread was a good choice. After grocery shopping, we wandered around the town for a while before deciding to eat some pizza. We happened to meet up with one of the German tutors (every international student gets their own), who invited us up to his rooftop to eat our pizza. So we went, and got to experience a sunset in Eichstätt from a rooftop. Went to a bar after that, didn't enjoy it much, but then, I usually don't, went to bed. The next day a student from Wyoming, and one from Sweden hiked up to the castle (Willibaldsburg) here in Eichstätt. Because it was a Catholic holiday, the castle itself wasn't open, but we wandered around the place, and then went back down to the town and hung out and had ice cream and real Bavarian food, and talked. There is so much that you learn about other people once you make the effort to get to know them, and so many people aren't who they seem to be on first impression.

Das Essen und die Getränke (the food and the drinks):

Naturally, beer is everywhere. I've found lately that the smell and taste of beer turns my stomach, so after my beer and lemonade mixture, I haven't had anything else. I did have a Smirnoff at the bar, and a shot of Jägermeister in the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, but that has been my alcohol consumption so far. However, alcohol is much more accessible over here, as well as it's much more a way of life for the Germans. The university is Catholic, and yet I've heard they serve beer in the cafeteria. I haven't seen this yet, but I'd believe it. Alcohol, not just beer, is also sold at the grocery store. I caught myself wandering down the aisles there, thinking of Kyle, and wanting to buy some alcohol. Which I may just do. As an alternative to Tylenol PM, of course, since I haven't found any. As for alcohol free drinks, my favorite I've come across so far is Apfelschorle. It is a mixture of apple juice and sparkling water. Perhaps better than it sounds. There is also different kinds, not just apple juice, and not just juice – wine also. Coca-cola tastes different here too. Though I've heard that the Coca-Cola company tailors their recipe to the place they sell, so this makes sense. It also makes me want to try McDonald. Which there is one here in Eichstätt, even though we're very small.

As for the food, I can't say that I've found anything I don't like yet. When on my own, I tend to eat sandwiches because they're quick, easy, good and cheap. The university gives out a lunch card, which you can put money on in order to buy food, which I've actually done. Not for the cafeteria food, of course, but for the sandwiches (American candy bars!) in the cafe below the cafeteria. But I've had Dönners and pizza and ice cream and little Nuremberg sausages with sauerkraut, and it's all been delicious. In fact, the other day, after hiking around the castle, I ate the best chocolate ice cream I've ever had.

München (Munich):

Awesome city. Only an hour and a half away by train. Obviously there is way more there to see than a person can see in one day, so I definitely want to go back. Even though we spent an entire day there, it seems as if I hardly saw anything. I'm looking forward to going back there when my Mutti (mother) comes to visit. We must go shopping!

Ostern (Easter):

The past few days have been absolutely beautiful outside, and Easter was no exception. The university has a special “Welcome Team” that plans activities and excursions for us international students – for Easter, we were invited to make something from our home countries, and bring it for what turned out to be a pot luck picnic. We climbed up yet another hill (this one is called Frauenberg) and had our food with a wonderful view of Eichstätt and surrounding towns. Although everything is closed down for Easter, it really doesn't seem like it's a holiday, especially since I'm not with my family. Somehow celebrating holidays with family make them seem more like a holiday, at least with me.

Mein Leben (my life) in Eichstätt:

My life? It goes. Keeps moving forward. Life is all about putting one foot in front of the other, even when you're walking uphill. Which I'm doing a lot of here, both literally and figuratively. It is so different here, and I have to get accustomed to it without having my usual comforts. Sometimes I don't think that I'll make it through four months – that it's just too long for me to be away from home. Other times I'm out and about and doing things and keeping busy, and not even thinking about going home. This has certainly been a lesson in learning to live in the moment, and enjoy what I can. But I haven't finished learning it yet. There's still a part of me that just wants these four months to go by as quickly as possible. I still miss Kyle like mad, as well as my family, but it gets easier with time, as I get used to not having them around. It's not something I want to do, get used to them not being around, but then, it's merely learning how to survive. There are a couple other girls who have boyfriends back home, and knowing that they're going through the same thing, and understand, helps too. I'm hoping to finally get my computer connected to the university's wireless soon, so that staying in touch will be a bit easier. When I'm connected to the people back home, and I can send and receive emails from them, life doesn't seem so hard to deal with. It still sucks, but it's better than going without the internet completely. And I definitely am looking forward to seeing everyone that plans on visiting me. It will be sooooo good to see my loved ones again.

Bis später,

Amanda

PS. Keep sending me letters and packages! (and no, I haven't yet received the ones I've been told are coming) And keep sending me emails too! I may not always have time to respond, but I love reading them. =)