Yet another city
I was writing in my journal just now and put the date as 4/22/09 and realized that it is definitely no longer April. It's almost June, even! Holy cow...
Anyway, right now I am in Erfurt, a nice city that I haven't explored much yet, but that is what the weekend is for. At the moment I am enjoying FREE INTERNET (not something you come across in Europe...ever really) at a laundromat. It is really classy - it has great tea, a bar, computers, nice washing machines and dryers and it is decorated with this Jamaican theme! This place is amazing!! It was definitely worth coming all the way across town for.
I am experiencing that strange paradox where time is flying yet you feel like you've been in the place for a while. Being abroad has sort of become "normal" for me, now, and I just realized this the other day as we were first meandering the streets of Erfurt, yet another city. I've gotten used to the traveling and everything ("good" or "bad") that comes with it - the living out of a back pack, smelling bad (intil you find nice little laundry places like this), meeting people, some of which are really friendly and some of which are not at all, communication barriers, grumpy moods, fatigue, failed plans, etc. There are so many wonderful things, though, that the aparent bad stuff just becomes something that happens and is no longer a downside to the trip. It is a part of it. I think that there are many who would disagree with me, even myself at times, but this is the conclusion that I have come to - I am ok with being a lot less comfortable that I'm used to and I am enjoying the experiences that persist through, and even involve, everything.
I'm in sort of a weird place with the whole wanting to be home thing at the moment. I am not really homesick anymore, but I am definitely very excited to get back and share these awesome experiences with people! I am very excited, also, for the next few weeks as our journey reaches the last leg. I think Berlin is going to be amazing and a good way to end the trip. A few days ago, it was a bit of a different story. I was ok with still being here, but I would have also been ok with going home. A couple of weeks ago, it was even more extreme, because I just wanted to be home. Right now, though, I am still wanting to be here, exploring the wonders of a world I do not know (and what a wonderful thing that I still AM here). It's been an interesting transition to where I'm at now. Down time in Weinheim was MUCH needed.
Well, now let's have a gander at what we've actually been doing. Dr. Mac met up with us here in Erfurt, which we were all excited for, especially to start learning German! We hung out for the afternoon when we were first here and Kathryn and I found an amazing park along a creek. We wanted so badly to jump in and swim, but alas, it is a shame that the signs that say "no swimming" in German have pictures to go with. ;)
The next day, yesterday, we got to see the church wher Martin Luther gave his first sermon as an ordained priest, as well as the Monastery that he stayed at. The lady giving us a tour only knew a few words of English, so we had a tour of mostly German and got what we could out of it. For a while, we all though that Luther had been struck by lightning until we discovered that he narrowly escaped which caused him to want to join the Monastery and become a priest! Half way through the tour, we came across a wandering guest who spoke English and gladly translated the rest of the tour for us!
Today was awesome as well. We went to the Wartburg castle where Luther hid and translated the Bible for a while. Cool stuff. We also saw the Bach house and heard some of his pieces played on original instruments from the time period!
Alright, I must attend to my laundry. Hope all is well on your end!
Anyway, right now I am in Erfurt, a nice city that I haven't explored much yet, but that is what the weekend is for. At the moment I am enjoying FREE INTERNET (not something you come across in Europe...ever really) at a laundromat. It is really classy - it has great tea, a bar, computers, nice washing machines and dryers and it is decorated with this Jamaican theme! This place is amazing!! It was definitely worth coming all the way across town for.
I am experiencing that strange paradox where time is flying yet you feel like you've been in the place for a while. Being abroad has sort of become "normal" for me, now, and I just realized this the other day as we were first meandering the streets of Erfurt, yet another city. I've gotten used to the traveling and everything ("good" or "bad") that comes with it - the living out of a back pack, smelling bad (intil you find nice little laundry places like this), meeting people, some of which are really friendly and some of which are not at all, communication barriers, grumpy moods, fatigue, failed plans, etc. There are so many wonderful things, though, that the aparent bad stuff just becomes something that happens and is no longer a downside to the trip. It is a part of it. I think that there are many who would disagree with me, even myself at times, but this is the conclusion that I have come to - I am ok with being a lot less comfortable that I'm used to and I am enjoying the experiences that persist through, and even involve, everything.
I'm in sort of a weird place with the whole wanting to be home thing at the moment. I am not really homesick anymore, but I am definitely very excited to get back and share these awesome experiences with people! I am very excited, also, for the next few weeks as our journey reaches the last leg. I think Berlin is going to be amazing and a good way to end the trip. A few days ago, it was a bit of a different story. I was ok with still being here, but I would have also been ok with going home. A couple of weeks ago, it was even more extreme, because I just wanted to be home. Right now, though, I am still wanting to be here, exploring the wonders of a world I do not know (and what a wonderful thing that I still AM here). It's been an interesting transition to where I'm at now. Down time in Weinheim was MUCH needed.
Well, now let's have a gander at what we've actually been doing. Dr. Mac met up with us here in Erfurt, which we were all excited for, especially to start learning German! We hung out for the afternoon when we were first here and Kathryn and I found an amazing park along a creek. We wanted so badly to jump in and swim, but alas, it is a shame that the signs that say "no swimming" in German have pictures to go with. ;)
The next day, yesterday, we got to see the church wher Martin Luther gave his first sermon as an ordained priest, as well as the Monastery that he stayed at. The lady giving us a tour only knew a few words of English, so we had a tour of mostly German and got what we could out of it. For a while, we all though that Luther had been struck by lightning until we discovered that he narrowly escaped which caused him to want to join the Monastery and become a priest! Half way through the tour, we came across a wandering guest who spoke English and gladly translated the rest of the tour for us!
Today was awesome as well. We went to the Wartburg castle where Luther hid and translated the Bible for a while. Cool stuff. We also saw the Bach house and heard some of his pieces played on original instruments from the time period!
Alright, I must attend to my laundry. Hope all is well on your end!