Ghetto
So, for a few weeks now, I don't want to say I've been complaining, but I have made it known to some people that I live in a dorm-like situation. I live in a freshman dorm-like place, if you will. I have referred to it as the 'projects' or the 'ghetto'. Well, last night I learned that I actually do live in the ghetto. For real. Not kidding. During World War 2, my neighborhood was an actual ghetto where Jewish people would live before being sent to Dachau, a concentration camp.

Now, I feel like shit for my references. But, its over. I said it, and I've moved on. Now I'm completely facinated and taken back by what happened in my neighbourhood and the things that went down. I've talked to a few older people who have told me about being alive during WW2, but they've never gone into much detail about it. I mean, the stories sound similar to what my grandparents told me about living through WW2. Two problems exist for me now... 1. my german is crappy. I talk like a 5th grader...maybe. 2. i can't go around asking older folks about ww2. That's a big taboo thing for foreigners to do. So, I wait. That's about it. Perhaps when I go back to MN, I will have some time to do some research on how things went down in WW2 in southern Germany. Til then, I learn german.

I gotta tell you, my German still sucks, but it's better than when I first came. That's about all I can say. This week I moved up to another 'grade', if you will. So, it's like a semester of german classes I finished in 4 weeks.

This weekend I'm going to Mainz. First, I'm going to stay with Jenny and hang out, and hopefully see Christian and speak german. Then, I'll go and meet my host family I'll live with in Mainz for 10 months. And, register for school and so on. So, paperwork awaits me.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Bureaucracy is a French word but the Germans have perfected it. Here's what I mean. When I got here, I had to register with the town of Radolfzell to get my visa. When I move to Mainz, I de-register and re-register in Mainz. I also got a bank account here in Radolfzell. I'm still waiting for my bank info, but once I get it, I have to send them a letter informing them that I will now be banking with their bank in Mainz. I also have to fill out paperwork at the university- acknowedging I'm a student...and so on. So, the amount of paperwork is rediculous. I have to re and de register for everything.