Ah, the Unavoidable Sting of Sucking

This is the second time I've missed a trip and I've come to a few conclusions:

1) If you expect me to be anywhere at 6:30 in the morning, it's not going to happen. Either I will manage to horribly bungle my means of transportation to the meeting point, or I just won't wake up at all. Never mind setting three alarms and laying my clothes out ahead of time. Preparedness means nothing if you only give yourself 3 hours to sleep the night before.

2) Perhaps, it is better not to travel with people. This way, no one is waiting on you and no now you have to wait for, so everyone wins. You explore what you want, avoid what you don't and leave when you feel like it.

3) Every time something like this happens, I can hear my parents voices in my head giving me "advice" (better known to children as scolding) on what to do next time. I can see their disappointed faces, hear learned mantras about timeliness and responsibility echoing again and again in my ears. This is why, after being late, it's best to just go back to sleep.


On an unrelated note: Spiders. Spiders everywhere.

So, about that tea...

I know I said I would have some glorious update for you about Bubble Tea, but I am afraid I must disappoint you. I drank it all and didn't get any more today. I can tell you it is delicitastic (learn that word) and should be done everywhere. I will, however, save it's description for another day.

Today, unlike Bubble Tea, was boring and unspectacular. I did manage to acquire a fantastically soft and comfy blanket that will keep me warm and toasty for the duration of the summer (which, I've decided, is a myth in Europe) and a temporary backpack. The search for the latter was a little more difficult than I had anticipated, as most of the backpacks that a person who actually carries stuff would want cost between 80 and 100 euro. As a student, I am not rolling in anything, money or otherwise, and I decided I would not roll in needlessly expensive backpacks.

There was a moment when I was dangerously close to purchasing a pirate backpack that could carry my laptop if I stretched the fabric and ignored the fact that it was supposed to close. It was also only 12 euro and 95 cents. Who wouldn't want that? I think this is the part where my parents appreciate my friend Zuri acting as the voice of "reason" and convincing me to search elsewhere. Luckily, I stumbled upon an adequately sized bag for only 35 euro, and I bought it. What a deal! I think.

It's weird when you suddenly have to buy real, grown up things on your own. This isn't candy bars and popsicles anymore, kiddies. This is the real stuff. Blankets and junk.

There was an old lady who lived in a shoe...

Okay, so maybe I'm not so old, and it's more of a basement than a shoe. So sue me. The point is, I have a place to live. For some of you, this is a matter of course. Who would go to Europe for three months without knowing exactly where they were going to live?

I would.

I spent the first few weeks in a lovely but expensive guest house at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry. Every day breakfast was provided, my room was cleaned and I had the comfort of a hotel with a 45 second commute to work. It was beautiful. This is, of course, provided we ignore the minor catastrophe that occurred during my first weekend in residence (in my defense, I didn't know that the pen was broken or that it would leave spots all over the carpet, sheets, comforter and headboard) and the small price tag of 750  euro a month. Even so, the time was fast approaching when our gallant heroine would be cast out into the greater unknown, with our without accommodations awaiting her.

So, I did what anyone else would. I found a place to live. It wasn't, of course, until the second to last day of my stay at the guest house that I stumbled upon this apartment, but that's only a minor detail. Behold, in all of its one room apartment glory, my humble abode!

First, the most important part of any young adult's life, the bed. Don't snicker. Let's try to be adults here. I use mine for sleeping and playing on the computer.

Many thanks to our lovely model, Zuri.

Now, a view of the other side, including the foyer, main hallway and living room.

Yes, this is actually just the other side of the same room.
Let me have my dreams.

 If you walk down the "hall" and turn to the left, you will find a lovely and well accommodated kitchen(ette).

That's right, folks. Those are top of the line 80s-tastic
coffee and tea makers. We've even thrown in a chair
to sweeten the deal!

I know that all you homeowners are currently writhing in unquenchable jealousy, but you haven't seen it all yet. That's right, folks. Are you ready for the bathroom? I don't think you are.



How about now? Good.

Admit it. This is the most awesome bathroom you've ever seen. DaVinci is rolling around in his grave wishing he had painted here instead of in the Sistine Chapel. I know. It's hard living this well.

This has been a short tour of the second most awesome place on earth. Stay tuned for more updates from your fabulous host. We look forward to talking to you again soon!

Yes. We.

So, the internet

Some people might think I'm addicted to the internet. I would say that is a perfectly preposterous claim, but when I venture too far from this artery of the world, everyone gets mad. Well, mad might be a bit too strong. People are vaguely disgruntled when i do not respond as quickly as I could.

In America, it seemed as though you couldn't do anywhere without internet. We complain about slow internet, stupid internet, internet explorer (but I repeat myself), but the thought of not having internet at all is a little bit strange.

Not having the internet for two weeks is called vacation. Any longer than that and you find yourself vastly out of touch with the world and everything that is happening. I miss whole trends on facebook and imgur. Social movements rise and fall, public figures embarrass themselves, revolutionary steps are taken all in the blink of an eye, and I just decided to take a nap in the middle of it all. Why would one want to miss all of that?

Because. I don't have internet. Also, the bread museum.

Does this look like greatness?

What about this?

Dang straight, it does. This is what I went to look at today instead of internetting. Sadly, I didn't get to eat any of it. I did get to go to a restaurant where it took an obscenely long amount of time for the server to bring the bill. So obscene that we just left the money on the table and bounced. That's right. Bounced. Hippity hopped right on out of there. We left a tip, though.

This is...

This is the story of a girl, who cried a river and drowned the whole world. Then she took an airboat across the ocean and started a new adventure in a foreign land.

Well, not really. This is going to be a rolling record of my time in the illustrious Germany. A place famous for many things, both good and bad. I must admit, this is, in part, a chance for my family to check up on me so they know I'm all right, but it will also be a creative space that allows me to think and process what I am experiencing, without the academic filter I will be required to use later.

Welcome to the world of a a foreigner in Germanland.