Wednesday 5.3.14

Another round of German class took place, but this time I was among the other first level learners. We learned the numbers today in all sorts of kindergarten ways. It was a bit awkward, funny, but it worked. I’m a bit passed this level of German, but there is no class between 1 and 2, so I think I’m stuck here. The teachers is from Brazil, and she makes this weird sound at the end of her sentence. It’s here filler noise, sorry I can’t describe it, but it makes me want to repeat it over and over and laugh while impersonating her. Maybe it’s like a small hiccup, question, nee-uh, rising pitch noise. AH! She needs to quick that shit.

I climbed a tree today. I got my buss pass so I’m free to roam about the city and countryside with no hassles from the Polizei. I made a salad at a grocery store at the main Haupbanhof station which was much needed. Rita bought chocolate treats and shared them with Sam, Lauren, and I. It was yummy. Sam had a beer and got odd looks from people. Can’t a guy simply drink a bear on a bench at 3:00 without getting the stink eye? Rita said something about “Bier nach vier.” (Bear after 4.)

I still haven’t figured out the internet situation here or the laundry. I keep thinking I’ll have free time, but it never works out.

I met a guy on my way to the dorms who is from Pakistan and doesn’t speak very much German. He speaks English very well so if he can make it through 6 months here, so can I.

The couple from Greece are nice. The girl is a bit quiet, but she is always smiling. He is a good guy who’s always stoked and ready to chat. I learned that he likes to play drums, and has played in rock n’ roll bands in the past. Becoming a student has put a damper on that though. We started talking drums because he saw me playing the air drums as I walked onto the bus.

Nadja is the coordinator for the program, and she’s a really nice lady. Young, and well-traveled, we talked about Yosemite, riding bikes, and favorite places. She says Seattle is her favorite city in the world. She’s seen Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, Vancouver, San Diego, India. Germans get 6 weeks paid vacation every year. Not a bad deal. She’s headed to San Diego in June for work, and she’s taking extra time to go to Yosemite and so some beginning rock climbing. She said she saw some odd/semi-offensive religious banners in Indiana, and I told her I’m not surprised. We have some pretty harsh religious groups that like to protest things. She asked me about how I feel about it, and I went on a little rant about my thoughts on religious protests against gays, politics and how little I know about it, how little our generation knows about it, and then I got cut off by a girl wanting to exit the booth. Dinner was over and we were all chatting, so it was good that I got interrupted, because I should have kept it simple or just kept my mouth shut.

On the bus ride home Rita and I talked about travel, music, and how she weaseled her way into getting a gig helping with autopsies. It’s not every day you meet a girl who wants to do an autopsy just because she’s interested. She’s a unique girl, and I’m glad to have her helping us through all of this. I owe her flowers and chocolate.