Another 500 miles before we shut this engine down...
The following was written yesterday, cause I had a lot of time I didn't know what to do with.
I don't know where to start. Spring Break was fantastic. This entry will only be about break, even though it's been so long since I've posted. Break's all I can remember.
I'm writing this sitting in a fairly uncomfortable chair miles over Canada. Alex bought some duty-free Toblerone, and I had a few pieces, but I don't really like it. Anyway...
To begin, the Wednesday before Spring Break was preety uneventful, and after packing and using doublethink to make myself feel better about my homework situation, I went to bed. My parents told me the following morning Ana came over to pick me up like she normally does on Thursdays. I knew I was forgetting to tell someone something... sorry, Ana. I woke up at about eight, ate a good breakfast, and headed to Indy with Alex and our mothers. While sitting on our plane, Alex had the great idea of trying to contact our English class. No one picked up while we were on the phone, though. Heard someone called back, but we were already taking off. Nothing really happened on our flight to Philly, but I was very, very excited to be heading to Germany again.
Alex bought magazines from some airport shop (with a really weird, goofy clerk) and also a few hamburgers to keep us fed over the Atlantic. We boarded the flight and found ourselves sitting in the back of the cabin in the middle. I took the inside seat, hoping to meet some cool, new person. Instead of that, though, I got to sit next to this sleepy, middle-aged German guy whom Alex and I christened "Vest Dude". He slept the whole flight, except towards the end when Alex asked him about the population of Frankfurt (the guy said 2 million, which ended up being completely false). I watched "A History of Violence" which was a good movie, except for the ending. I thought Viggo Mortensen did a decent job, anyway. We arrived in Germany, and were greeted by my Opa and my uncle, Hans Udin. I thought it would be a really difficult week for Alex, considering how little German he knew but he picked up on it quickly, and a lot of my relatives know English, so it worked out pretty well.
We got to Alsheimer Strasse 1, Guntersblum at aboiut 10:00 AM on Friday (German time). I had coffee and cake with my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and of course, my super-awesome cousins. My family took to Alex in no time. The first few days involved visiting, tourism, and naps, and the latter part of the week was the same, minus the naps. Friday evening we wen to a youth group with Christoph Marquadt, which was fun, and we met a lot of his friends. All around, a great first day.
Saturday- We went to Oppenheim and explored the labyrinth under the city.
Sunday- We went to a former concentration camp in Osthoven, a really interesting trip for both of us. My Uncle Rainer was with us, and he was a big help in translating. My cousing Stephen was there too. After going back out to the car, we found that the car lights were on and the battery was drained. But, we got it started by pushing since it was a European transmission. That eveing, we went to the local inn (Zum Adler) and had a good time there. I'm close friends with Heinz, the bartender, and he was awesome, as always.
Monday- Heidelberg. Have I mentioned anything about the German weather? It was pretty bad most of the week, not clearing up till Thursday or so. All the rivers were really high, and in Heidelberg we got pelted by marble-size hail. Also, a few weeks ago, Germany had its first real tornado, in the area of Hamburg.
Tuesday- Worms with Christoph. Shopping! Cathedral! Martin Luther Monument! Good Times! (I'm running short of time, since we're descending already)
Wednesday- Alzey (If you are interested in hearing details about anything, just ask me. Also, I'll have pictures later in the week to show everyone. Right now, I'm just writing this down to keep it in my memory.)
Thursday- Mainz
Friday- Koblenz
Saturday- Packing in goodbyes
That about wraps up the week... and now, some miscellaneous info.
Soccer- Germany's top goalie and former team captain Oliver Kahn was replaced by Jens Lehmann. This pissed a lot of people off, but man, you should have seen some of the mistakes he was making. On a side note, Werder Bremen beat Bayern-Munchen 3-0. Hooray! Germany's national team probably won't do much this summer, though.
Finally... songs we heard a lot in Europe that you should listen to.
Ding- Seeed
El Manana- the Gorillaz
Pumpit- the Black Eyed Peas
Happy Birthday- Flipsyde
Nat King Cole- Adam Green
Shake That- Eminem
A lot of those were pretty much sarcastic, but MTV rocks. Oh yeah, has anyone see the music video to "The Hardest Part" by Coldplay? It is REALLY weird. Anyway, good to be back, missed everyone a lot, and see you on Monday.
That's the end of what I wrote on the plane. Today (Monday) I was fitted for a tux after school, which was less painful that I though it would be, haha. I also went out for ice cream with Caity and Alex, which was a lot of fun.
Long days and pleasant nights,
Eric
I don't know where to start. Spring Break was fantastic. This entry will only be about break, even though it's been so long since I've posted. Break's all I can remember.
I'm writing this sitting in a fairly uncomfortable chair miles over Canada. Alex bought some duty-free Toblerone, and I had a few pieces, but I don't really like it. Anyway...
To begin, the Wednesday before Spring Break was preety uneventful, and after packing and using doublethink to make myself feel better about my homework situation, I went to bed. My parents told me the following morning Ana came over to pick me up like she normally does on Thursdays. I knew I was forgetting to tell someone something... sorry, Ana. I woke up at about eight, ate a good breakfast, and headed to Indy with Alex and our mothers. While sitting on our plane, Alex had the great idea of trying to contact our English class. No one picked up while we were on the phone, though. Heard someone called back, but we were already taking off. Nothing really happened on our flight to Philly, but I was very, very excited to be heading to Germany again.
Alex bought magazines from some airport shop (with a really weird, goofy clerk) and also a few hamburgers to keep us fed over the Atlantic. We boarded the flight and found ourselves sitting in the back of the cabin in the middle. I took the inside seat, hoping to meet some cool, new person. Instead of that, though, I got to sit next to this sleepy, middle-aged German guy whom Alex and I christened "Vest Dude". He slept the whole flight, except towards the end when Alex asked him about the population of Frankfurt (the guy said 2 million, which ended up being completely false). I watched "A History of Violence" which was a good movie, except for the ending. I thought Viggo Mortensen did a decent job, anyway. We arrived in Germany, and were greeted by my Opa and my uncle, Hans Udin. I thought it would be a really difficult week for Alex, considering how little German he knew but he picked up on it quickly, and a lot of my relatives know English, so it worked out pretty well.
We got to Alsheimer Strasse 1, Guntersblum at aboiut 10:00 AM on Friday (German time). I had coffee and cake with my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and of course, my super-awesome cousins. My family took to Alex in no time. The first few days involved visiting, tourism, and naps, and the latter part of the week was the same, minus the naps. Friday evening we wen to a youth group with Christoph Marquadt, which was fun, and we met a lot of his friends. All around, a great first day.
Saturday- We went to Oppenheim and explored the labyrinth under the city.
Sunday- We went to a former concentration camp in Osthoven, a really interesting trip for both of us. My Uncle Rainer was with us, and he was a big help in translating. My cousing Stephen was there too. After going back out to the car, we found that the car lights were on and the battery was drained. But, we got it started by pushing since it was a European transmission. That eveing, we went to the local inn (Zum Adler) and had a good time there. I'm close friends with Heinz, the bartender, and he was awesome, as always.
Monday- Heidelberg. Have I mentioned anything about the German weather? It was pretty bad most of the week, not clearing up till Thursday or so. All the rivers were really high, and in Heidelberg we got pelted by marble-size hail. Also, a few weeks ago, Germany had its first real tornado, in the area of Hamburg.
Tuesday- Worms with Christoph. Shopping! Cathedral! Martin Luther Monument! Good Times! (I'm running short of time, since we're descending already)
Wednesday- Alzey (If you are interested in hearing details about anything, just ask me. Also, I'll have pictures later in the week to show everyone. Right now, I'm just writing this down to keep it in my memory.)
Thursday- Mainz
Friday- Koblenz
Saturday- Packing in goodbyes
That about wraps up the week... and now, some miscellaneous info.
Soccer- Germany's top goalie and former team captain Oliver Kahn was replaced by Jens Lehmann. This pissed a lot of people off, but man, you should have seen some of the mistakes he was making. On a side note, Werder Bremen beat Bayern-Munchen 3-0. Hooray! Germany's national team probably won't do much this summer, though.
Finally... songs we heard a lot in Europe that you should listen to.
Ding- Seeed
El Manana- the Gorillaz
Pumpit- the Black Eyed Peas
Happy Birthday- Flipsyde
Nat King Cole- Adam Green
Shake That- Eminem
A lot of those were pretty much sarcastic, but MTV rocks. Oh yeah, has anyone see the music video to "The Hardest Part" by Coldplay? It is REALLY weird. Anyway, good to be back, missed everyone a lot, and see you on Monday.
That's the end of what I wrote on the plane. Today (Monday) I was fitted for a tux after school, which was less painful that I though it would be, haha. I also went out for ice cream with Caity and Alex, which was a lot of fun.
Long days and pleasant nights,
Eric