I have 18 days left in Europe. Then I'm back to the good old US of A. Where I am not a pest because of my nationality. Where they speak the language I know. Where they don't smoke in the streets. Where I will be able to drive a car anywhere I want. Where the price of everything is not automatically 22% more. Where I do not have to take German class. Where fast food is actually fast. Where showers are big and hot water endless. Where I do not need an adapter to plug any cord in. Where I have more clothes sitting in my closet waiting for me. Where there is air conditioning everywhere I go. Where the outdoor and solitude can be found literally right out my back door. Where my family and friends are.
Funny thing is, I'm really going to miss this place.
18 days seems like a long time. I cannot tell you how many trips to Hawaii we've taken for 18 days. Last year I was in Europe for 18 days. I used to think 18 days was 3 weeks. It wasn't until last year that I figured out it wasn't 3 weeks but 2 weeks and 4 days. 18 days always feels so long. 18 days is the perfect time for a trip. You get into "the mode" without missing too much of your real life. Funny thing is, these 18 days are going to fly by. These 18 days aren't going to last long enough. But they will also last too long.
I will see you all in 18 days.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Hardened Criminal
This morning I woke up at 10 and ate breakfast. Then I came upstairs and went back to sleep. Then Amelia, my darling roommate whom I adore, woke me up by hitting me with pillows at 1. I sat up and studied German for 45 minutes. Then I fell asleep. I woke up at 2:!5. I put on a shirt, left my nike running shorts on, threw my German stuff and computer in my bag and ran out the door.
I got on the bus and rode down to the S-bahn station. I got off and walked up the stairs. I stood on the platform waiting for my 14.33 train. My mind was wandering around. More of grazing really. Thinking thoughts I can't remember. Then, my mind thought the thought "You don't have your wallet". I realized my mind was right. I didn't have my wallet. Which is a huge deal because it meant I didn't have my public transport pass. Or money to pay the 65 Euro fine. Crap.
But I had to get to school. Normally I would just skip German. My dedication to that class does not include paying fines to get there. But I had to give my presentation AND take a quiz. So, like 20% of my grade was riding on this class.
My train whoosed up with the wind it makes. It is so hot here and the wind felt good. I opened the door and found a seat. I considered sitting in the bathroom the whole ride. No inspector would find me there. But it smells so bad, and I would probably miss my train. The real reason I didn't do that was that if the ticket inspector realized I was in there I would be cornered. So I found a seat and sat down. It is a 15 minute train ride to Sudbahnof where I catch the U1 to school. It was an intense 15 minutes. I kept searching for the ticket inspector that would inevitably come. I had an escape plan. The second I saw them I would casually but swiftly walk down the isle, to the bathroom for a moment, and into the car from which they had just come. If I couldn't escape them, I had another plan. I would rummage in my bag and then looked shocked and say "someone has stolen my wallet!" The train rolled into Sudbahnof and I literally jumped off. Safe.
I walked down to the U-bahn platform. U-bahns make me uncomfortable. I don't like being underground. Anyway, my subway came whoosing up. I got in the most crowded car I could and stood there. Longest 4 minutes of my life. I was claustrophobic, could hardly breathe, and was stressing about an inspector coming.
I got off the subway and I felt so relieved. I hurried up to German class. It was an average German class. I skyped my friend. Then I had to go home for dinner.
I made it through the U-bahn uneventfully. The first 10 minutes of the S-bahn ride were also uneventful. I'd done this before. I was becoming a practiced criminal. I put my leg up on the empty seat across from me. A relaxed position of authority. Plus my feet don't touch the ground flat-footed so it is more comfortable to just put them up.
I was looking out the window, my mind grazing again. Then there was a man in front of me. He made a motion like he was sweeping my feet of the chair. I put them down. He sat down. A few seconds later, his friend sat next to him. Markus's words during orientation echoed through my head, "the ticket-inspectors are men. They are dressed normally and travel in pairs. They will wait until you are well between stops to ask for your ticket so you can't run away." These two men fit the profile perfectly. My blood pressure rose. Crap. What am I going to say? He already doesn't like me for having my feet on the seat. I was so anxious. When are they going to ask for tickets? Why are they waiting so long? Are they going to ask me first? Maybe they will just skip me. My thoughts ran on for several minutes.
Then, the train started to slow. I looked out the window. I saw the familiar house right before my stop. That platform was safety. I stood up and walked to the door. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. The train stopped. I tried to open the door. It didn't open. the two men sitting across from me were also standing up, talking to a woman across the aisle from us. Open damned doors. Open. I saw the woman reach into her purse for something. She handed it to the men. Why is the door not opening? They nodded and handed whatever it was pack to her. They moved onto the next person. Just then, the door opened. I leaped over the two steps of the train and onto the platform. Safety. I felt like a refugee. I stood and watched as the train drove off, sticking my tongue out in a sneer of victory.
I got on the bus and rode down to the S-bahn station. I got off and walked up the stairs. I stood on the platform waiting for my 14.33 train. My mind was wandering around. More of grazing really. Thinking thoughts I can't remember. Then, my mind thought the thought "You don't have your wallet". I realized my mind was right. I didn't have my wallet. Which is a huge deal because it meant I didn't have my public transport pass. Or money to pay the 65 Euro fine. Crap.
But I had to get to school. Normally I would just skip German. My dedication to that class does not include paying fines to get there. But I had to give my presentation AND take a quiz. So, like 20% of my grade was riding on this class.
My train whoosed up with the wind it makes. It is so hot here and the wind felt good. I opened the door and found a seat. I considered sitting in the bathroom the whole ride. No inspector would find me there. But it smells so bad, and I would probably miss my train. The real reason I didn't do that was that if the ticket inspector realized I was in there I would be cornered. So I found a seat and sat down. It is a 15 minute train ride to Sudbahnof where I catch the U1 to school. It was an intense 15 minutes. I kept searching for the ticket inspector that would inevitably come. I had an escape plan. The second I saw them I would casually but swiftly walk down the isle, to the bathroom for a moment, and into the car from which they had just come. If I couldn't escape them, I had another plan. I would rummage in my bag and then looked shocked and say "someone has stolen my wallet!" The train rolled into Sudbahnof and I literally jumped off. Safe.
I walked down to the U-bahn platform. U-bahns make me uncomfortable. I don't like being underground. Anyway, my subway came whoosing up. I got in the most crowded car I could and stood there. Longest 4 minutes of my life. I was claustrophobic, could hardly breathe, and was stressing about an inspector coming.
I got off the subway and I felt so relieved. I hurried up to German class. It was an average German class. I skyped my friend. Then I had to go home for dinner.
I made it through the U-bahn uneventfully. The first 10 minutes of the S-bahn ride were also uneventful. I'd done this before. I was becoming a practiced criminal. I put my leg up on the empty seat across from me. A relaxed position of authority. Plus my feet don't touch the ground flat-footed so it is more comfortable to just put them up.
I was looking out the window, my mind grazing again. Then there was a man in front of me. He made a motion like he was sweeping my feet of the chair. I put them down. He sat down. A few seconds later, his friend sat next to him. Markus's words during orientation echoed through my head, "the ticket-inspectors are men. They are dressed normally and travel in pairs. They will wait until you are well between stops to ask for your ticket so you can't run away." These two men fit the profile perfectly. My blood pressure rose. Crap. What am I going to say? He already doesn't like me for having my feet on the seat. I was so anxious. When are they going to ask for tickets? Why are they waiting so long? Are they going to ask me first? Maybe they will just skip me. My thoughts ran on for several minutes.
Then, the train started to slow. I looked out the window. I saw the familiar house right before my stop. That platform was safety. I stood up and walked to the door. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. The train stopped. I tried to open the door. It didn't open. the two men sitting across from me were also standing up, talking to a woman across the aisle from us. Open damned doors. Open. I saw the woman reach into her purse for something. She handed it to the men. Why is the door not opening? They nodded and handed whatever it was pack to her. They moved onto the next person. Just then, the door opened. I leaped over the two steps of the train and onto the platform. Safety. I felt like a refugee. I stood and watched as the train drove off, sticking my tongue out in a sneer of victory.
Meine Familie und unser Haustier
Today I gave a presentation in German class. I talked for 5 minutes about my family. I even had a picture.
As you can see my 13 years of art at Waterford didn't help me much.
Unfortunately my family isn't big enough and my German isn't good enough for me to talk about them for 5 minutes. So I talked about the pets too. Pets are part of the family too you know.
As you can see my 13 years of art at Waterford didn't help me much.
Unfortunately my family isn't big enough and my German isn't good enough for me to talk about them for 5 minutes. So I talked about the pets too. Pets are part of the family too you know.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Days Until...
On my iPod there is an app called "days until" it tells me how many days today is from a certain date. The events are:
June 26, 1994 - 5869 days
July 29, 1996 - 5105 days
August 2, 1997 - 4736 days
May 3, 2010 - 79 days
June 26, 2010 - 25 days
August 10, 2010 - 20 days
June 3, 2012 - 683 days
Significance of these dates?
The first is the day I was born. That is how many days I've been alive.
The second is the day Sam was born. I love him lots. What a wonderful only sibling he is.
The fourth is the day I left for Vienna. It has been in there since November. I can't believe how quickly this has come and gone.
The fifth is named "I can drive!". It has been in there for about 2 years. I can't believe I'm passed it. It scares me that it has passed. I didn't really ever believe it would ever come.
The sixth is the day I go home. 20 days. Turns out three months isn't such a long time after all.
The last is my graduation day. It seems like it is far off. Unfortunately, I'm quite sure it will fly by as quickly as the rest.
June 26, 1994 - 5869 days
July 29, 1996 - 5105 days
August 2, 1997 - 4736 days
May 3, 2010 - 79 days
June 26, 2010 - 25 days
August 10, 2010 - 20 days
June 3, 2012 - 683 days
Significance of these dates?
The first is the day I was born. That is how many days I've been alive.
The second is the day Sam was born. I love him lots. What a wonderful only sibling he is.
The fourth is the day I left for Vienna. It has been in there since November. I can't believe how quickly this has come and gone.
The fifth is named "I can drive!". It has been in there for about 2 years. I can't believe I'm passed it. It scares me that it has passed. I didn't really ever believe it would ever come.
The sixth is the day I go home. 20 days. Turns out three months isn't such a long time after all.
The last is my graduation day. It seems like it is far off. Unfortunately, I'm quite sure it will fly by as quickly as the rest.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
It's been too long
I haven't blogged in five days. Not because I'm busy or tired or because nothing has happened. But because I'm lazy.
Let's start with the weekend. This weekend I went to... BERLIN. Ich finde Berlin interessant. My favorite part was the German History mueseum. Go ahead, call me a nerd. I skipped most of it, just went through about 1800-1945. I would best describe it as my AP Euro class. But rather than powerpoints with pictures, the museum had the real object. They had a lot of things. It wasn't that anything was all that rare. But the quantity of things they had. It made for a very clear picture of whatever they were showing. My two favorite things were 1) a penny farthing and 2) the newspaper with Emile Zola's "Je t'accuse". I gasped when I saw both of them. Besides the museum I went on a tour and saw all the sights. Pretty cool. Berlin is one of my favorite cities because of all the history it has.
On Sunday, Amelia and I started a new tradition known as "Happy Meal Sunday". You see, church is not until 1:30. So we are at a bus station at about 12:45, right when we are getting hungry. So we scamper across the street and get happy meals. We eat them on the bus and then play with the toys during church.
Yesterday was Monday. Amelia and I went to the National Treasury. Nothing like looking at gold, jewels, and crowns to make you feel like a peasant. I'm still trying to comprehend the wealth. I wish I could meat a member of a royal family. Born with such luxury and so many possibilities but also the responsibility for a country. Would you be spoiled and entitled? Or humbled and worried? I get worried about going to college. I can't imagine being 16 and waiting to rule a country.
After that we went to Demels. What is Demels? Why it is the imperial bakery. Yes, I am serious. I had the most amazing things. Basically, I live for moments like that. It is a good thing that I didn't go to Demels earlier in the trip. I would have gained about 10 more pounds.
This morning Amelia and I climbed Stephansdom. It was 334 steps in a circle. Going up my thighs burned and going town I was dizzy. But the view was incredible. I love looking over cities. It makes me feel like a supreme being. But I also marvel at man's ability to create. I always thing "WE BUILT THAT!" I like seeing how crammed in a city is. I love cities. I am a city girl.
Let's start with the weekend. This weekend I went to... BERLIN. Ich finde Berlin interessant. My favorite part was the German History mueseum. Go ahead, call me a nerd. I skipped most of it, just went through about 1800-1945. I would best describe it as my AP Euro class. But rather than powerpoints with pictures, the museum had the real object. They had a lot of things. It wasn't that anything was all that rare. But the quantity of things they had. It made for a very clear picture of whatever they were showing. My two favorite things were 1) a penny farthing and 2) the newspaper with Emile Zola's "Je t'accuse". I gasped when I saw both of them. Besides the museum I went on a tour and saw all the sights. Pretty cool. Berlin is one of my favorite cities because of all the history it has.
On Sunday, Amelia and I started a new tradition known as "Happy Meal Sunday". You see, church is not until 1:30. So we are at a bus station at about 12:45, right when we are getting hungry. So we scamper across the street and get happy meals. We eat them on the bus and then play with the toys during church.
Yesterday was Monday. Amelia and I went to the National Treasury. Nothing like looking at gold, jewels, and crowns to make you feel like a peasant. I'm still trying to comprehend the wealth. I wish I could meat a member of a royal family. Born with such luxury and so many possibilities but also the responsibility for a country. Would you be spoiled and entitled? Or humbled and worried? I get worried about going to college. I can't imagine being 16 and waiting to rule a country.
After that we went to Demels. What is Demels? Why it is the imperial bakery. Yes, I am serious. I had the most amazing things. Basically, I live for moments like that. It is a good thing that I didn't go to Demels earlier in the trip. I would have gained about 10 more pounds.
This morning Amelia and I climbed Stephansdom. It was 334 steps in a circle. Going up my thighs burned and going town I was dizzy. But the view was incredible. I love looking over cities. It makes me feel like a supreme being. But I also marvel at man's ability to create. I always thing "WE BUILT THAT!" I like seeing how crammed in a city is. I love cities. I am a city girl.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Bless this bread
My friends always make fun of me because I have a bit of a compulsive need to pray before I eat. In restaurants, or at school or places besides houses, I'm fine. No prayer reflex there. But when I am sitting at a table in a house, I have a praydar of sorts. It's almost a reflex. It feels wrong to just eat. I need the food to be blessed. This means, of corse, that whenever I eat with my friends, I insist on blessing the food. It's just the way I am.
Every time I ate dinner with Frau, it felt wrong. She would put the food on the table spread her hands and say essen. We would follow the command, but my praydar went off. I needed to bless the food.
Tonight, we ate dinner with Edit and Helmut. Guess what? Before we ate, Edit asked for someone to pray. I was so happy. Jana blessed the food. After which we ate, my praydar content.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Public Transport Gods (PTG)
I generally don't consider myself a heathen (Kat's the heathen), but I do firmly believe in the PTG. These are the beings that control public transport. When it gets where and if it's on time and if there are seats available. Some people might argue that people do that. But they are wrong. It's like in the Grapes of Wrath when Stenbeck describes the bank:
"The bank is something else than men. It happens that every man in a bank hates what the bank does, and yet the bank does it. The bank is something more than men. It's the monster. Men made it, but they can't control it."
Well, lately the PTG have been on my side. It probably has to do with some recent human sacrifices on my part. Or maybe they just like me. But seriously, every time I go near public transport (except the S-bahn, but that doesn't count. It only comes every 20 minutes) the one I want shows up. It was true in Holland too. I haven't had to wait more than a minute for the Uban in about 2 weeks. And every time I get on some form of public transport, there is a seat for me. It practically has my name on it. Having the PTG on your side will make any bad day good.
"The bank is something else than men. It happens that every man in a bank hates what the bank does, and yet the bank does it. The bank is something more than men. It's the monster. Men made it, but they can't control it."
Well, lately the PTG have been on my side. It probably has to do with some recent human sacrifices on my part. Or maybe they just like me. But seriously, every time I go near public transport (except the S-bahn, but that doesn't count. It only comes every 20 minutes) the one I want shows up. It was true in Holland too. I haven't had to wait more than a minute for the Uban in about 2 weeks. And every time I get on some form of public transport, there is a seat for me. It practically has my name on it. Having the PTG on your side will make any bad day good.
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