So it's been a while since I posted but I've been so busy. Last weekend we had class on Saturday morning which was not fun. However in the afternoon we had a scavenger hunt around Erfurt which was so much fun. I took lots of pictures and we had to answer questions in German about the city.
So then on Sunday we met at the Uni sign at the front of the school and took the tram to Hauptbahnhof. From there we took a train and then a bus to Halle. Halle was so much fun. I took like 120 pictures so I won't post them here because it's too hard to choose just a few. We started at the chocolate factory where there was a museum and we were able to sample chocolate.
After the chocolate factory we explored Halle a little. We tried to get into a church but it was closed so we explored more and found a fortress. It was amazing and beautiful. My camera died while we were on our way so I had to use Matthew's camera. After the fortress we made it back to the church which was beautiful but then we had to try and catch our train. We ran and almost missed it but luckily everyone made it. I barely made it though because I can't run at all!
That night I had a very European dinner. It was late and long and relaxed and there was free wine! We went back to Roma the Italian restaurant in Anger. It was delicious and so chill to just hang out in a restaurant for a few hours and relax after Halle.
The next day I was so tired from Halle but I went to class. This week we have gone out but also tried to catch up on sleep in between. In class we did presentations about our Heimatstadt or hometown. I talked about the breweries in Milwaukee but they were all interesting. Tonight we're going to try to do karaoke again. My language class is essentially over but I have a test on Wednesday but no class on Monday or Tuesday. This weekend we are decorating eggs for Easter and stuff too which should be fun. I love being in Germany and I am having so much fun.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
die ersten Tage der Klasse
We had class on Tuesday morning and took a test which I didn't do that well on. After a short class I went sightseeing near Anger for lunch which was fun. I saw a statue of Martin Luther and some cool German buildings. We found a little cafe/restaurant and ate there.
Later that night we went to the karaoke bar and had fruity cocktails and sang ridiculous karaoke songs. After the karaoke bar we made our way back to Dubliners which was of course fun. Sadly though I didn't get to bed very early.
Wednesday we were put into our classes and I ended up in the lower level one. That turned out to be ok because we didn't get homework the first day and our class is way more fun from what I hear. We had a BBQ last night which was tons of fun. I had bockwürst and Duff beer!
I went to bed early last night which was good because I was very tired. I went to class today and it was once again quite fun. During our break we ate in the Mensa again which was much better than commons. In class we took some fun pictures of the class. Kevin also wanted to show the difference between his torn up dictionary and Shota's translator.
Tonight some girls and I plan on going to Musikpark again for Ladies' Night. Tomorrow I have class again and this time I have homework. And I have class early, 8:30am!
Later that night we went to the karaoke bar and had fruity cocktails and sang ridiculous karaoke songs. After the karaoke bar we made our way back to Dubliners which was of course fun. Sadly though I didn't get to bed very early.
Wednesday we were put into our classes and I ended up in the lower level one. That turned out to be ok because we didn't get homework the first day and our class is way more fun from what I hear. We had a BBQ last night which was tons of fun. I had bockwürst and Duff beer!
I went to bed early last night which was good because I was very tired. I went to class today and it was once again quite fun. During our break we ate in the Mensa again which was much better than commons. In class we took some fun pictures of the class. Kevin also wanted to show the difference between his torn up dictionary and Shota's translator.
Tonight some girls and I plan on going to Musikpark again for Ladies' Night. Tomorrow I have class again and this time I have homework. And I have class early, 8:30am!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Das erste Wochenende
My first weekend in Erfurt was amazing. On Friday night we went to a medieval bar called Christoffel for dinner. I had bratwurst and some great German beer. I had a great time hanging out with the Germans and other exchange students. Some of us decided to go to a club after having dinner called Musikpark. Matthew met a skinhead who claimed he didn't support Hitler or racism but he was still a skinhead which was confusing so I promptly left the conversation. After Musikpark we had to check out the McDonalds and it was pretty similar to the US in my opinion.
On Saturday we went to Petersberg Citadel. It was beautiful. It was a long climb up to the top of the hill but the view was worth it. It is the only citadel in the center of Europe that has been almost completely preserved. Construction started in 1665 on the citadel.
We then went for coffee where I of course did not drink coffee. I was able to get Leitungswasser or tap water which is unusual. Almost all of the water here is mit Gas or carbonated. At the cafe we planed a Wohnheim party or a dorm party for that night in my dorm. When people showed up for the party we quickly moved down to the basement where the parties usually take place. We partied in the Waschküche translated literally into wash kitchen but really it's just the laundry room.
We decided to go to a different club after the party called Engelsburg. It was fun but I didn't stay too long. I finally got back to my room and slept until noon the next day.
On Sunday the Beloit students went to the Roma which is an Italian restaurant in Anger. It was very good. We were invited to a birthday party and went there after lunch. We had tea and birthday cake. Later that night Matthew and I watch Lola rennt a German movie. I went to bed early last night because I was so tired.
Today I went to the Studentwerk with my tutor to pay my rent. We went to the Mensa for breakfast together. Later today I will likely go back to Anger to shop for some more things that I need. The language course starts tomorrow. I hope all goes well!
On Saturday we went to Petersberg Citadel. It was beautiful. It was a long climb up to the top of the hill but the view was worth it. It is the only citadel in the center of Europe that has been almost completely preserved. Construction started in 1665 on the citadel.
We then went for coffee where I of course did not drink coffee. I was able to get Leitungswasser or tap water which is unusual. Almost all of the water here is mit Gas or carbonated. At the cafe we planed a Wohnheim party or a dorm party for that night in my dorm. When people showed up for the party we quickly moved down to the basement where the parties usually take place. We partied in the Waschküche translated literally into wash kitchen but really it's just the laundry room.
We decided to go to a different club after the party called Engelsburg. It was fun but I didn't stay too long. I finally got back to my room and slept until noon the next day.
On Sunday the Beloit students went to the Roma which is an Italian restaurant in Anger. It was very good. We were invited to a birthday party and went there after lunch. We had tea and birthday cake. Later that night Matthew and I watch Lola rennt a German movie. I went to bed early last night because I was so tired.
Today I went to the Studentwerk with my tutor to pay my rent. We went to the Mensa for breakfast together. Later today I will likely go back to Anger to shop for some more things that I need. The language course starts tomorrow. I hope all goes well!
Friday, March 12, 2010
In Erfurt
So I made it! I arrived yesterday afternoon after a very long journey. I left my dad's house at 6am central time on Tuesday. We made it to Chicago quite early especially considering it took very little time to get through security. I waited in the airport in Chicago for a couple hours. Finally I got on my plane to Atlanta. I mostly read on that flight as it was small plane and short flight. I did not have to wait long after catching a quick lunch in Atlanta. I was on the plane to Germany within an hour of arriving in Atlanta.
I met a very nice man who I talked to until the plane took off. I sat in the middle aisle of seats but no one was in the two between me and the other man in that aisle. I was able to stretch out a little which was nice. I watched three movies, The Blind Side, New Moon, and Top Gun. I didn't sleep at all.
Finally I got to Frankfurt. I wandered around for a while until I figured out where Kevin's flight would be getting into. I took a tram over to his terminal. Then there was more wandering and finally I found it. I waited there for him and then we quickly went to get train tickets to Erfurt. We missed the first train because his plane was a little late but we caught the next one.
On the train we saw the area. There are fields and castles and people just walking dogs. It's almost like a prettier version of Wisconsin but with castles. We took a lot of pictures which I will upload soon I promise. We met our tutor, Sandra, at the train station and then took the tram to campus.
The tram goes everywhere and works all day and night. She helped us find our rooms and then we met to go out to an Irish pub called the Dubliner. We met other students there both international and Erfurt students. It was nice to hang out and have fun with other people. However, at this point I had not slept much at all in two days because I couldn't fall asleep on the plane. Finally I left the pub with Sandra at 1:30am and made it back to my room.
Today we went back to Anger which has shops and restaurants that we went to. We bought some essentials like phones and ethernet cords. I really needed an ethernet cord because the computers in the library have German keyboards which are so hard to use. The Y and the Z are switched and I couldn't find the question mark. Anyway, we realized soon that we were hungry and went to get the best bratwurst in town. It was delicious! The wurst was twice as big as the bun and so good.After that we went to the Cathedral that was in that area. We took lots of pictures and looked at the architecture.
Sandra and Monique, the other tutor, had to go to a meeting at this point and left Kevin and I with Brett another exchange student to explore on our own. Sandra helped us get to the Lidl. It is a cheap grocery store. I was able to buy some frozen pizzas for only €2.50. In total I spent less than 11 Euro and filled a large canvas bag with food. I have apples and bread and wurst and bacon. I'm set for a while.
Tonight we went to the gym and played "Sport" which consisted of Kevin and me making fools of ourselves trying to play badminton. After that I came back to my room to unpack more before meeting Kevin and Matthew for dinner. We went back to Anger and ended up at the Dubliner for dinner. I had chicken breast and some of Kevin's fries. It was pretty good food. Now I am back in my room and finally taking a moment to think of all the things I've done already. In the morning we are taking ID pictures and then who knows. Either way I am having a lot of fun already.
I met a very nice man who I talked to until the plane took off. I sat in the middle aisle of seats but no one was in the two between me and the other man in that aisle. I was able to stretch out a little which was nice. I watched three movies, The Blind Side, New Moon, and Top Gun. I didn't sleep at all.
Finally I got to Frankfurt. I wandered around for a while until I figured out where Kevin's flight would be getting into. I took a tram over to his terminal. Then there was more wandering and finally I found it. I waited there for him and then we quickly went to get train tickets to Erfurt. We missed the first train because his plane was a little late but we caught the next one.
On the train we saw the area. There are fields and castles and people just walking dogs. It's almost like a prettier version of Wisconsin but with castles. We took a lot of pictures which I will upload soon I promise. We met our tutor, Sandra, at the train station and then took the tram to campus.
The tram goes everywhere and works all day and night. She helped us find our rooms and then we met to go out to an Irish pub called the Dubliner. We met other students there both international and Erfurt students. It was nice to hang out and have fun with other people. However, at this point I had not slept much at all in two days because I couldn't fall asleep on the plane. Finally I left the pub with Sandra at 1:30am and made it back to my room.
Today we went back to Anger which has shops and restaurants that we went to. We bought some essentials like phones and ethernet cords. I really needed an ethernet cord because the computers in the library have German keyboards which are so hard to use. The Y and the Z are switched and I couldn't find the question mark. Anyway, we realized soon that we were hungry and went to get the best bratwurst in town. It was delicious! The wurst was twice as big as the bun and so good.After that we went to the Cathedral that was in that area. We took lots of pictures and looked at the architecture.
Sandra and Monique, the other tutor, had to go to a meeting at this point and left Kevin and I with Brett another exchange student to explore on our own. Sandra helped us get to the Lidl. It is a cheap grocery store. I was able to buy some frozen pizzas for only €2.50. In total I spent less than 11 Euro and filled a large canvas bag with food. I have apples and bread and wurst and bacon. I'm set for a while.
Tonight we went to the gym and played "Sport" which consisted of Kevin and me making fools of ourselves trying to play badminton. After that I came back to my room to unpack more before meeting Kevin and Matthew for dinner. We went back to Anger and ended up at the Dubliner for dinner. I had chicken breast and some of Kevin's fries. It was pretty good food. Now I am back in my room and finally taking a moment to think of all the things I've done already. In the morning we are taking ID pictures and then who knows. Either way I am having a lot of fun already.
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