...need to update more often
Classes started this week, but not really. In the week off I had before the 'official' start of the semester, I visited KU friends in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stuttgart, Germany. I didn't make it to Oktoberfest in Munich, but did go to the second-largest beer festival, which is held in Stuttgart, and frequented moreso by Germans than by tourists. On the way back from Stuttgart, I visited my aunt who teaches kindergarten on a military base, actually the largest American foreign military base. Rammstein. This woman is probably my favorite aunt - very warm and generous, but the whole day was surreal. She took me and two friends on base to purchase any American products we can't buy here and may be missing. There were several stores - a department store, a huge grocery store. Basically, I went to America for a day. Books in English, people speaking English all around me, and the odd presence of military. My aunt warned us there was a fresh group back from Iraq, and to not be surprised if we see people with missing limbs or obvious wounds. We didn't, but the sadness and stillness on base was unarguable. My aunt and one of her colleagues told us many of the military families with whom they work are against this war. I got me a few Butterfingers, a gallon of salsa, hugged my aunt, and was happy to leave. I also recieved a package full of warm things from my mom and a MP3 player from my brother, which has drastically improved life. I no longer fear long waits for late trains.
This week I attended my German as a foreign language classes - Conversation, Creative Writing, and Pronunciation. All of the teachers were awesome. I was relieved. I am also taking a course in English about Environmentalism and Regionalism in American literature, and a course in German about experimental films. Classes meet only once a week, and my architecture classes don't start until next week or the following week. I may also try to take a course about Anti-Americanism in Germany. I am really excited about my classes. Already, I feel like I am going to learn so much. I am understanding more and more every day, and hopefully won't want to take any classes in English next semester.
I am off to buy a bike at the flea market on campus!
This week I attended my German as a foreign language classes - Conversation, Creative Writing, and Pronunciation. All of the teachers were awesome. I was relieved. I am also taking a course in English about Environmentalism and Regionalism in American literature, and a course in German about experimental films. Classes meet only once a week, and my architecture classes don't start until next week or the following week. I may also try to take a course about Anti-Americanism in Germany. I am really excited about my classes. Already, I feel like I am going to learn so much. I am understanding more and more every day, and hopefully won't want to take any classes in English next semester.
I am off to buy a bike at the flea market on campus!