I Am F.E.S.

I am F.E.S. Foreign Exchange Student.

I went to campus today to print papers and turn in some forms, but was unsuccessful at both. There was a class going so I couldn’t print, the Hausmeister wasn’t in his office for me to get a key, and the other guy I needed to see, Larry Holden, didn’t show up for his office hours on time. I wandered around checking to see if Larry would arrive until another student asked if I was lost.

Jonothan, the first person at school to offer help unrequested, is another ID student who will be going to San Jose next year. Jonothan has a cool look. He rocks a casual leather jacket, dark jeans with the cuff rolled up just a bit, and black leather shoes. I would call him a modern greaser. He rocks a stylish hair cut too. He asked if I was lost and needed help so I told him what I was trying to do. He informed me that I had to wait for a few minutes until Larry’s office hours started, so when he asked if I wanted to sketch with him I obliged and we moved over to the tables against the windows in the main room. We talked about sketching, San Jose, Darmstadt, and the differences between the cities. I tried to speak as much German as possible, but I butchered it and reverted back to English.

It was a short sketch session because I couldn’t wait any longer and I had to go to the bank for more paperwork and to withdraw more money. Upon leaving we exchanged numbers and he invited me to join him and his friends to go to a concert this evening. Of course I said yes. I’m here to mingle!

Once I met up with Jonothan and his friend, I can’t remember her name, I felt like a goofball. Both were wearing all or mostly black, and I had my boots, black socks, brown shorts, and a black/gray plaid long-sleeved shirt. Yep, I knew I didn’t look “good” but now I felt like an idiot. Ok, moving on. The girl had spent time in California and had gone to an international school so her English is very good, and I didn’t detect much accent. Her vocabulary may be lacking, but her speech was very good. When I tried to explain something in German, it was so bad that Jonothan asked me to repeat it in English. Yep, I tried and failed. I’ll stick to English for everything accept introducing myself and asking for food.

We walked to Jonothan’s friend’s house near Karlshof, and I sat through a long conversation in German. They joked about speaking really slow for me to understand, but I said they didn’t have to. I need to learn how to listen to normal speech anyway. In class it’s a different topic and at slower pace. It’s hard to listen and understand only a few words here and there, but it’s necessary.

Sorry for this horribly short and badly timed clip. I didn't want to look like an idiot.

We walked to a venue for the concert, but first we stopped at Rewe, “reveh”, to pick up beer for them and soda for me. It’s legal to drink in public here, so they all sipped on brews as we headed to the show. Once at Hoffart Theater it was time to chat and have a smoke. I was the only one not smoking or wearing black. I’m really not a fan of all this smoking, but there’s nothing I can do about it. If I want to hang, I have to put up with it. Again, most of the conversation was in German, so I stood there, nodded, and enjoyed just being out with new people. My attitude is pretty relaxed these days. There isn’t much I can do but relax in these uncomfortable situations and keep a smile on.

The music was good. I’d call it indie rock which isn’t what I listen to, and not a style of music I’d choose first to see. That’s the fun part; seeing new styles of music with new people at a new place. Almost any music can be good live. I’m saying ALMOST because I refuse to watch Kenny Chesney or Rascal Flats. I’ll watch Cher before those guys.  Over all I had a good time. Jonothan’s friends are nice people, and I hope to hang out with them again.