Honey, I'm home!
It was about time I admitted and declared I was home. So, here it is. I am in Minnesota.

A year ago today I was on a plane from Washington, DC to Frankfurt, Germany. Unbelievable. Time flies...whether you're having fun or not. I'll be the first to admit that I had a good time in Germany, but it wasn't all roses. And, I am yet greatful for every moment. I was able to spend a year learning, thinking and meeting some amazing friends who taught and brought me once again to think.

So, what am I going to do now? I have no idea. But, I do know I need to think big and see where that takes me.

Someone famous once took the time to say that 'Life is a journey,' so I'm up for the adventure. Why not?

Dubrovnik...
Hey I'm in Croatia. Those are not words I thought I would be saying, but I made it here and am having a good time. I can't write long, only a minute or two left on my computer here at the net cafe. But, I just wanted to give N. a shout out...Happy Birthday! Have a good one and I'll see you soon!

About Dubrovnik...everyone should try and visit if they can. It's really pretty, but unfortanently touristy... More later!

Stars and Stripes, Darling.
Hey y'all! I just wanted to wish you all a great 4th of July weekend! I am leaving for Poland tomorrow. I'm hoping to have a good time. Everything seems really bittersweet for me right now. Yesterday I had my last day at work and everyone was so nice. I made blueberry muffins, apple muffins and brownies and everyone was all about them. Brownies and muffins are kind of a rarety here...just like bagels. But, there was no way I was going to make bagels. Anyway, I was baking like a fiend on Wednesday night and that was awful because the confederations cup was on and I was trying to watch the game and bake at the same time. It was Germany vs. Mexico and I totally missed the whole game. Germany won, but the game looked really good. It went into over time with an end score of 4-3. Anyway, last day at work. The department gave me a card, a Guttenburg coffee mug, a copy of the smallest book in the world and a German book by Carl Zuckmeyer (I think that's right...) who was from Mainz. So, it was so sweet. The saddest part was saying goodbye to the guy who always calls me 'darling' and 'dear.' He looked so sad and was the only one to give me a hug yesterday. He was so sweet and said that if I am able to get a job in Germany, I should give him a call and that we should hang out. So, after I turned in my security badge and said one last goodbye to my boss, I walked out the door and seriously didn't get more than 5ft. from the building and I started crying. I cried all the way to the bus stop. But, it's fine. I'm going out tonight with the other interns, and then I'll get up early tomorrow to catch the train and meet Carlos and Elaine in Köln...and then, off to Krakow. See you all later! (Oh yeah...I still have yet to buy my ticket to Minneapolis. Sorry.)

Rotkohl in a bowl.
So, I am going to Poland this weekend. Well, here's how it all goes down. Last Thursday night I went up to Bonn for a friend's birthday party and Errol and Maura were like 'Hey, want to go to Poland?' Basically. So, between a few emails, text messages and a phone call...we're going to Krakow. So, Maura, Errol, Carlos and I will be hanging out there...reflecting on..everything, I guess.

Come to think about it...we're a pretty rowdy bunch when you put us all together because we just play off of each other so well. The four of us are going to cause some damage, I'm afraid. I guess, that's ok. It will be a nice and crazy 5 days...and, if Maura gets a hold of the apartment she wanted to rent for the week...I'm sure it will be even crazier.

My last day of work is Thursday. Wish me luck! I can't believe I actually made it. I was so sure during those first few months that they were just going to fire me right there on the spot for...whatever...anything. But, for some reason, I guess it worked out. Well, perhaps they got enough worth out of exploiting my english skills. Who knows.

Ahhh....I don't want to leave Germany!

I did talk to Adam last night and he said I could stay with him in NYC...so, I will probably be taking him up on his offer. Well, its a tri-fold reason, really. A. Flights are cheaper to come by if I wait a few days and then fly to mpls. B. I haven't seen Adam in a while and would like to catch up. C. I've never been to NYC before and I quite frankly need a good shock to the system of American-ness before I land in mpls. Otherwise, the next time you'll see me is curled up on the floor in a ball with a bowl of Rotkohl...ha. Actually, sounds kinda good.

Ok. I'll finish up my last couple weeks worth of stories some other time. But, there was a good one of one of the Techie interns making me feel stupid. Stupid Techie intern. Not a bad story, though.

Bread, a simple thing in life.
So... Last time I left off, I was somewhere in the very west of Ireland...on the Atlantic coast. The best comment I can say to sum up my experience there was I was the closest to home I've felt since I landed in August. I was staying with Rhea who I already knew and adore and I was on the coast of the Atlantic, which means I was as close, geographically, to home as I could have been.

So, Rhea's family has this dog, which can open the front door by itself. Does anyone else think that is amazing, or what? The dog can let itself out when it has to. Simple. Well, not so simple. The dog cannot shut the door behind him, so it just stands there open until someone else closes it. Cats who act like dogs are really the best cats out there. My Michael for example, will go out walking on a leash. Therefore, he is apart of this elite group I am referring to. Well, the dog that opens his own door also has a cat companion who thinks he's a dog. The funny part is that this cat knows what's up. If the cat wants to go outside, he gets the dog to open the door for him. I watched it myself.

Now, my whole experience of visiting Rhea makes me want to know more about and love Ireland. However, the same experience made me not like Dublin. Dublin is just like any big city. I didn't feel as if I could ever have any sort of connection or affinity towards it. I did the Guinness thing and got out. That was frankly enough for me. I would rather spend time in other cities or areas there. But, that's my humble, but forward opinion.

Andrea and I decided not to spring for a hostel our last night in Dublin since our plane left at 7am. So, we stayed up and walked around Dublin until 1am. At that point I really had enough of the city. We did find this awesome cafe near Trinity (I think...I'm not sure how far we had wandered away from there) called Kafe Mokka or something like that. Andrea and I sat around there for an hour journaling and I ordered a Chai. It wasn't the best I've ever had, and not the worst... the atmosphere made up for any failures of the beverage. We go to the Airport sometime around 2am. We were in good company because everyone at the airport looked just like us...young, packs in toe, tired. At that point I organized my disheveled bag and then took a nap on it. But, every hour I woke up to the airport announcement saying I should watch out for my bag and not leave it unattended. As with any good traveler (hitchhiker), I remembered to bring a towel. Andrea basically kept watch out because she was actually able to sleep on all the various transportation we had used since arriving in the country and I packed my towel in and around my head. Oh, one quick point...Andrea and I bought a package of cheddar cheese and at the whole thing. You see, cheddar is not common in Germany. One cannot go to the grocery store and simply buy a package of cheddar. Gouda, yes...Brie, yes...Cheddar, no.

We arrived in Berlin on Tuesday morning...a warm (finally, thank goodness!) morning and took the Bahn to our hotel. We dropped off our stuff, ran into someone we knew and went to KaDeWe (Kaufhaus Des Westes). It is the 2nd largest department store in Europe behind Harrods. What a privilege it is to say I have now been to both. Wow. How pathetic. But, we went up to the food halls on the top floor and sampled everything we could sample. (We're still in starving student mode!) The day went along and we started our seminar that afternoon.

I'll get more into what I did in Berlin later...as well as my quick road trip with friends to Dresden. As for my evening tonight, I am going to Bonn to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Hopefully, it will be a good time. I’ve heard the pub we’re going to makes Irish Brown Bread, my new favorite bread!

Just wait 'til I talk about Erdnuß flips!
Ok…so, to elaborate a bit more on my previous week…

I flew from Germany to Ireland with a plane full of rowdy people who thought it was a BYOB flight. Well, they made it a BYOB flight. We got to the hostel in Dublin and ended up meeting a girl who was also from MN (graduated from CDH). We walked around the Temple Bar area a bit and then crashed for the night. The next morning we got up and went to the Kilmainham Gaol. (sp!) Our tour guide was easy on the eyes, difficult on the ears. I felt like I had to pay more attention to him speak than I do when I’m having a conversation in German, and English is my native tongue. After our little jail tour Andrea and I hit up the IMMA which was…interesting…and rather empty. Not too much going on at that museum so we cut out and headed to Guinness. That is where the fun was, folks. We walked around and learned about Guinness and finished off our first pint before 1pm. Not too shabby. Actually, I have to admit I had a rather difficult time getting the whole pint down. The first half went down like butter but the second half I had to work at. You see, the breakfast offered at the hostel consisted of foods that I have not eaten since I left the US. That meant white sliced bread, rice crispies and so on…As you can imagine, it looked rather unappetizing and thus…didn’t eat a ton of it. I am used to eating yogurt and grainy breads from the bakery. So, I was naturally unprepared by the time it hit noon and all we had was this strange breakfast behind us. Well, lucky us… Andrea had some German bread in her bag so we split that and got through the second half of the pint.

After all of that I had the best bowl of soup in the world at this place called Soup Dragon somewhere in Dublin on our way back to the O’Connell St. Monument. It was a green curry thai chicken soup. Lecker…OMG. Then, we got on the bus and arrived (45 minutes late…) in Galway.

Since the bus was late, we missed our next bus out to Clifden. Well, we actually missed the last bus to Clifden which was the last possible way to get out west where Rhea lives. Ha. Almost. Andrea and I hitched a ride from Galway to Clifden (don’t tell my mom!) with an accountant who was returning home from a funeral. I think that was the most challenging conversation to have. I was digging for conversation, to put it lightly. For most of the trip, I just let it go and didn’t say anything but, I was so excited to be in a country where they spoke English. Ha, again. (They only kinda speak English in Ireland.) Once we got to Clifden we caught another ride with two guys who were just driving around for amusement. They were pretty funny and were able to joke at the lack of…well, everything out there.

So, we arrived in Letterfrack and got a ride from Johnnie (Rhea’s husband) out to their house. We sat around that evening just talking and went to bed rather late...mostly because it only gets really dark there for about 4 hours at night. So, it looked like 5pm in the afternoon at 10pm at night!

More to come later...

The Craic
So, I was in Ireland last weekend...and I didn't like Dublin. I'm sorry Nancy. I don't mean it personally, but I just don't understand the luster of Dublin. I went to Eagle's Nest, Renvyle...it's on the end of the world. And, in order to get to the end of the world one must hitchhike. Yes, hitchhike. It was a good time, and we got there just fine. And, I got to see Rhea and hang out with her, Johnnie, Annie and Sasha. I'm now in Berlin and I'm heading off to Dresden this afternoon. I'll fill you in on my week later. Gotta go. But, I'm still alive. So, all is good!

I’ll stop the world and dance with you. Naja… 43 days until I touch US soil again. The countdown is on. So, this weekend I am going to Erfurt and Weimar, which are cities in the former east part of Germany. (Weimar Republic ring a bell for anyone who was in AP European History?) My program is giving me a train ticket and a hotel room, so I can’t complain! I’ll be going there with a friend of mine who is from the east coast, but just got a job in Wisconsin an hour away from Chicago. Can we say ‘Road Trip!?!’ So, there is still a peacock on the loose in my neighborhood and I saw it a night ago as I was coming home. It was standing next to a car, smelling it. Ok, perhaps it didn’t smell it. But, it could have smelled it. I guess, peacocks don’t have hands so, it would have to use it’s beak to try and get in the car. But, all in all it looked kind of stupid. But, I wasn’t about to get close to it. Last weekend I went to Strasbourg for one day. And, I took pictures of all of the ‘Oui’ and ‘Non’ signs that I could find. I was there one day before the big vote on the EU Constitution, which the French voted against on Sunday. It was interesting because there were people on the streets handing out flyers about the vote from both the Oui and Non sides. It was also an awesome weekend. It was about 90 degrees and sunny. But, because of the heat, I ended up drinking 4 liters of water that day. It was crazy. I just couldn’t drink enough. It makes sense because I was walking around all day in the heat. I totally recommend Strasbourg because it’s a cute little French town with a slight German touch. However, no one really spoke German…or English for that matter. I did find some older people who were able to speak German, but for the most part I was perfecting my pointing and acting skills. My job search is not going as smoothly as I would have liked. But, I guess I’ll just keep at it. I figure I’m going to end up working at Caribou for a while when I get back anyway. Ah, it’s a job. I’ll take what I can get. If I lived in Minneapolis I could always try and get a job at the German bar…that would be funny. I could work along side of accordion playing Barefoot Becky…Wie schön!

It's almost June.
Since my last entry, I have lighten up a bit. I am still looking for jobs, and still procrastinating on buying a plane ticket home, but I am living day by day- week by week. I don't want to have to admit to myself that I will have to return to the US. Not yet. I don't think I will handle it well when I have to level with myself and say, 'Yes Amy, you have to go home now.' It just seems so final.

Last weekend I was in Cologne, like usual and I went running with Elaine. Well, my foot found a nice rock or tree root in the path and I fell on my hands and knees. My left hand and both of my knees are all cut up, but for the most part I am fine. It's a good conversation topic, if anything.

I am listening to Cities 97 online and I am kinda bummed to be missing the Basicilla Block Party. I didn't go last year because I was trying to not spend money because I was coming here. And, I won't arrive back in time for it and I am dying to see a concert. I haven't been to a concert since...I don't even know. It was definately sometime last year, though.

Oh, I am definately going to Croatia. Tickets are booked and hostel is reserved. Some of us were going to go and rent a house, but a bunch of people decided not to go- wimps!- so, it's just cheaper to stay in a hostel.

Well, other than that...not much new here. The weather is awesome- sunny and 80 degrees.

They'll be time enough for counting when the dealings done.
So I am having a difficult day. I am sitting at the computer trying to find and apply for jobs...checking email and looking at flights to come back to Minnesota. Frankly, its all too much for me. I was riding the train home last weekend and I was listening to my mp3 player and this song came on with the lyrics: Yeah, I'm alright...never been better in my life...' And, I just started crying. Right there. And, if you folks know me at all, I'm not the kind of person to breakdown on a train after hearing some lyrics to a song. But, it's all coming to a close for me here and I don't know what to do anymore. I guess I am just forseeing the rediculous amounts of problems re-adjusting I am going to have when I get home. I sit here and I am an international student...an intern...a native english speaker...but once I go home it's all gone. Nothing will be that clear anymore and that makes me a little nervous. So, this is my quarterlife crisis for you all- and that's your only warning you'll get from me, so be prepared when I get home!

Spam, better in a can than in your email.
Well, I am attempting to update this at least once a week. We'll see how long this lasts. It will probably be like my commitment to running...I'm dedicated for a few weeks and then it dwindles down to something like water dripping from a faucet. Get it while you can I suppose.

So, this past weekend a few friends (other Americans) from Cologne came down and visited me here in Mainz. It was a halarious-fun time. We went to a friends party on Saturday night, which was rather boring because the apartment was really full of people who all already knew each other and didn't really seem to want to talk to us, plus it was really hot. So, all in all...it was a bust. But, on the way to the party we ran into some Rastas who just got back from the big soccer game and they bummed a beer from us. On Sunday we woke up at 11am and ate breakfast until 1pm. Then, we watched Friends and got ready, which lasted until 3pm. Then, we went out into the city and they got to see all of the sites in Mainz.

The good thing we accomplished is that we decided (plus one or two other people, pending) to go to Croatia before we have to head back to the US. So, we are searching for info this week so we can book everything from flights to an apartment or house by the end of this week. I'm pretty excited for that. I've never been to Croatia before, and honestly don't know much about it either.

But, Maura told me this weekend that we only have 11 weeks left...give or take a few days. That's insane. It feels as if I haven't been here that long. I mean, I've been here for a little while, but not that long. So, that means I have 11 weeks to find a job...and my search so far has produced nothing fruitful. I have applied for at least 12 so far...and I'll try and apply for another two more today. How are you all doing? (You know...it sucks to only have spam in one's email box...)

Wenn fängt das Leben endlich an?
Since I last wrote, quite a few things have happened in the world... The Catholic church got a new (german) pope, Brittney Spears got pregnant and Desperate Housewives just started playing here and it is my new favorite show. (Remember, I don't have many friends here so I have lots of time to spend at home on Tuesday nights (ok...every night...) to watch two episodes of Sex and the City followed by Desperate Housewives.)

First, on the topic of the pope...I happened to be watching tv right when they announced the pope. So, I was switching back and forth between CNN and the different german news broadcasts. And, the funny thing was this one german news channel, the reporter on the scene said that the cardinals had chosen Ratzinger, and this was minutes before anyone even came out of St. Peter's to announce anything. Well, they switched back to the older reporter at the station who said that the reporter on the scene was young and sensitive and that they will wait for the official report. There has also been a difference in the stories I see on CNN and all of the german news reports. On CNN, they seem to bring up WW2 and Hitler and Ratzinger's participation in the HJ every day while it hasn't even been mentioned on the german reports. The main reason is because he was automatically enrolled, without a choice and abandonded the group later. At the same time, in true german style, as soon as this german cardinal was chosen, everyone everywhere was trying to interview germans to get a reaction. On CNN, I saw the typical german reaction. It was a combination of congratulations as well as critizism. I guess you kinda have to be here to fully understand it. But, in the city where Ratzinger is from (Marktl am Inn) they had a town party with free pope beer for everyone.

Brittney...pregnant...I'll be happy to see her fat. I hope she's having twins.

Desperate Housewives...man. I can't believe this has been going on since Sept. in the US without me. I love this show. Someone has got to tell me what's going on with it. Is the season already over in the US?

What else...? I had a bad meeting. It wasn't even a date. It was like the thing one has before one wins a date with the other person...and I obviously lost the date. Oh well, things happen. But, when I get back, who wants to go shopping with me at the Lunds in Uptown. I hear that's where all the singles go to pick each other up! Since everyone at home seems to be getting engaged, I have to start finding dates to bring to all of these upcoming weddings.

With a face like that and 20 Dollars, you can buy yourself lunch in Switzerland
Sorry I haven’t updated this in a while. But, you should automatically expect an apology like this about once every two or three weeks. Last week(end) I was in Berlin, and it is quite a schick city. But, the city itself is nothing like other international big cities (i.e. London, Paris…). The city is pretty spread out and the buildings are rather short. I was talking to my manager’s manager’s manager (it’s sooo Office Space sometimes…) and he was telling me about how it was expensive for buildings to be built tall and how the composition of Berlin is about 4/5ths former East Berlin. West Berlin only comprises of about 1/5 of the area, and even within that 1/5, most of the tourist attractions (museums, shops, etc…) lie in the former Eastern areas. So, that surprised me a bit. It was a good four days in Berlin and I’ll be going back for another five in June. So, this last trip was a good introduction and overview. Next time, I’ll have more time to find the kitchy stuff…!

So, my trip to Berlin was an all expenses paid excursion brought to me by my German ‘Congress’woman. So, it was me…Elaine…our hosts and 54 other old people. The entire trip was planned with a schedule we had to follow, which included visiting government buildings (various ‘Ministries of____’). But, the schedule basically ran like this: Visit to Ministry of___, Huge meal, Visit to Ministry of___, Huge meal. After the four days, eating really became something we had to do between visits to buildings, monuments and ministries. And, we didn’t do a lot of moving either. Old people don’t walk much, so even if we had to go only a little way to the next scheduled visit, we would all have to get on the bus and drive there. I felt like I gained 50 Kilos last week. But, not to worry, I didn’t. I was there during St. Patrick’s Day so I met up with some friends at an Irish Pub and we celebrated right along with all sorts of other study abroad students. (Americans always flock to Irish Pubs. I don’t know what it is about Irish Pubs…) Later on in the night, this old man who was a part of the folk band (he was at least 70 years old) got up on the bar and did a little jig while playing the spoons. Yes folks, he played the spoons like a bad-ass.

Two weekends ago I took a little trip to Basel, which is on the border of Switzerland and Germany. The interesting points there would be: A. It’s expensive…I paid something like 20 USD for lunch one day. B. Its clean; they must be using the money I paid for lunch to clean the city. C. Basel is not far from nature. We hopped on a Tram and were out of the city in a short time span and were able to climb up a (short) mountain.

All that and a PhD
I figure since I have a bit of time, I should update this since I let it go for so long a few weeks ago. Well, President Bush in in Mainz today as part of his European Tour and he is frankly disrupting my life. Aside from the comments at work such as...'So, your president is coming to visit you...' everything important is closed because of the visit. The center of town is shut down or blocked off. There is a blocked off and shut down part for the protestors and another for Bush. When I mean shut down and blocked off, here is what I mean: The city had to weld all of the sewer drains and manhole covers so they could not be opened or tampered with, all of the shops in the center of the town are closed today, and some were also closed yesterday, the streets in the center of town are blocked off, public transportation that goes anywhere near the center of the town is not running, all trains in and out of Mainz are not running and the Autobahn...highway around Mainz is also rerouted and closed in parts. So, almost no one in my department is going in to the office today, because it is too much of a hassle...and I can't get to work either because the bus and trams I would take to get there run through the center of the city. (I actually just sent my boss an email telling him I wouldn't be coming in...and it's past noon...and I am suppose to start at 9am...I hope he understands!)

So, if I'm not fired from my internship tomorrow, I would like to boast about my vacation days. I get a week and a half of paid vacation...and I'm only an intern...and I'm only working there for 6 months. That's pretty cool in my book. I was really suprised yesterday when I talked to my boss and he's like 'Just let me know the days you want off and we'll take care of it. And, if you don't use the days, you'll get reimbursed for them.' So, cool.

By the way...one more fun fact about work... There are far more people in my department who have earned their PhD's than there are women...

This isn't the best journal entry, it's just a tribute.
Sorry for not having updated this in quite a long time. Since the last time I wrote, I experienced the craziest 'Holiday' and have gotten another year older.

The craziest bestest holiday is Fastnacht...or Karnival or Carnival...depending on where you are. In Mainz it is called Fastnacht. It is five days of people wearing (Halloween-esq) costumes and drinking in the streets. I was so tired on the Thursday of Fastnacht because I had worked the whole day and still had to work on Friday as well that I didn't join the festivities until Friday night. It was so funny because I dressed up as a Trucker and my roommate Elaine dressed up as the Tooth Fairy. We were both wearing bright blue wigs and had all sorts of slutty make up on. Everyone at work told me I had to hit up Eisgrub, this club in the Altstadt. So, we got there around 8pm and the place was packed. I couldn't believe it. So, we went in and everyone was in a weird costume and dancing. One guy was dressed up as a NY police officer and he totally startled me because it looked so real. This guy was like 6ft tall and had the whole uniform...and to me his costume of a police officer looked more real than the actual police officers here. They wear green here and just don't seem as intimidating. I also saw a lot of people (guys actually...) dressed up as 'Housewives' and had wigs and aprons with sponges glued to them. It was so great. We ended up going back there on Saturday night as well. On Sunday, I went to a parade with some friends and that was also hysterical. The people in the parade were all drinking and the people watching the parade were all drinking and this was on a Sunday morning at 11am. I couldn't even fathom drinking... It was frankly too early and the two previous days had wiped me out. But, I did have the energy to wear a costume. In fact, if one does not wear a costume when going out on these five days, people look at you weird. Since it was cold, I just dressed up as a Runner and wore the blue hair again. (It was almost like a hat...) At the parade, they threw out candy like one might expect at a regular parade...but, I somehow got a packet of German political cartoons (which I gave to a friend studying poli sci...) and Elaine got some cheese. (I told you it was a great holiday.) The next day...Monday, we all went out again (dressed up and all!) into the city and watched a few hours of the parade that was going on there. The entire parade lasted 6 hours. It all starts at 11:11am and it went until after 5pm. At 5pm they closed down part of a street in the Altstadt and had a gigantic stereo system set up with a stage and tv screens and had a huge street dance. It was so halarious. They were playing typical club music (hip-hop and stuff) as well as german music. The entire street was covered in left over trash from the parade as well as thousands of broken bottles of beer and sekt. But, it was so much fun. There were thousands of people in the street all dressed up crazy and dancing on a Monday night. The funniest thing was going into work on Tuesday morning and almost no one even bothered to come into work. I ended up going home early because I just didn't have anything to do because no one was there. So, if you get the chance...visit Mainz during Fastnacht.

I'll write about getting older later. I've gotta do some job searching...better late than never! And, if anyone knows of a job where they need someone who speaks german, let me know!

Workin' 9 to 4...
Guten Abend! Well, my first day at work wasn't so bad. Perhaps it was because they had nothing for me to do. That must be it. Well, my commute to work consists of a 50 minute long bus ride across town. You have no idea how short a 50 minute bus ride can feel like when you are terrified to start a new internship in a language you don't speak very well. I have never been so scared in my life about a job. Really. Try going to work with no pants on or something, and perhaps you'll know what I felt like this morning. (I did wear pants this morning, just to clarify.) But, in the end the whole day wasn't so bad. Well, I was supposed to be issued my laptop today but, that didn't get done. And, since I didn't have a laptop, I couldn't do any work. So, they gave me a work manual to read. And, I was able to stretch the time and read that thing for like 3 hours. It was either, read the manual for 3 hours or figure out how to make small talk in German with people I don't know. So, I went in the direction of the manual. So, this morning one of the employees took me around and introduced me to everyone. I didn't realize it at first but only one woman works in my entire department, and she's a secretary. Basically, this job is going to be just a little harder because I am working in a boy's club and I'm an intern and I am not a native german speaker. Great, eh? The one funny thing about today was on the bus ride home. Aparently an 80's Hair Band lost two of their members and they were riding on my bus on the way home. So, if any of you are listening to your collection of 80's Hair Band music and feel that there's something missing, it's probably these guys. Let me know and I'll send them your way.

Less than a 1/2 Liter would have done it!
So, I am in Munich now, I thought I´d just let you all know that. I toured BMW today and it is a rather impressive operation they`ve got going on here. I can tell you that if I had the money and needed an expensive car, I would get a BMW. They even gave us lunch before the tour.

I am actually sitting at this internet cafe hungry, waiting for some friends so I can we can get dinner... But, my trip home from Paris... So, I was sitting shot gun and Christian and I were talking about random things the whole way through France. Mami and Jenny were kinda sleeping or talking in the back. At one point, Christian and I took a look at how much gasoline was left...and we were getting kind of low, but still enough gas to get to Luxembourg. The reason we wanted to get to Luxembourg was because it is so much cheaper to fill up there than it is in France or Germany...plus, it was on the way home. So, we get stuck in traffic for something like 20km and finally get through it all just as we reach Luxembourg. So, we get of the highway and start searching for a gas station. Just as we are heading up the off ramp...the car runs out of gas. Not kidding. So, mami and jenny think christian is just messing with them...but, no. I knew he was serious because we had just talked about it. So, christian pulls over and he hops out of the car hoping someone would be nice enough to stop and help us. So, Mami hops out too and tries to wave at some cars. Well, Mami waves down this car...and this is where everyone realizes that Mami speaks Japanese and english...the woman driving the car speaks French and a dialect spoken in Luxembourg and some english. So, Christian runs over and starts speaking German. Well, Mami comes back and gets in to the car with me and jenny and this nice lady gives Christian a ride to the next gas station. Well, the three of us are sitting there and realize that at least in Germany, when a car is pulled over on the side of the road, one puts on the emergency lights...and puts up little reflective triangles behind the car. Its just what they do here. So, we decided to try and find these triangles. Well, they´re not in the glove box or underneath the seats so the must be in the trunk, right? So, Mami sits in the drivers seat and cant find the button to pop the trunk...she´s from Japan and they drive on the other side of the road anyway. So, I get in the drivers seat because I also drive a VW...but, not a manual Golf model...and I can´t find it either...So, jenny jumps in the drivers seat because she`s german and can drive a manual but it doesnt matter because she cant find the button either. So, we pull out the manual and find out you need a key. Ha. Well, Christian gets back with a liter or so of gas and tells us that the lady who helped him had to speak english because that was the only common language between them. So, the end.

Sylvester
My New Years resolution is to try and keep more in contact with the people I know. Well, this is one of the ways I am going to do that. So, I will continue to try and post about once a week or so. If you haven't made any resolutions yet...you may want to consider this one...considering I haven't heard from some of you at all since I got here...hint...hint.

So, today I went to Luxembourg. It was alright. It was a pretty quick trip, though. It's not that far away and the city is rather small, so we just walked around for a few hours and bought one of the cakes they only sell during the time around three kings day. These cakes have a little plastic figure baked into the cake and whoever gets the piece with the figure in it gets to be the king or queen for the day.

My New Year's was pretty cool. I'll have to tell you all about it...and the ride home some other time.

Gotta go old school...
We have a Christmas tree, I wish you could see it. I have every possible crappy computer experience that one can have here…and now my digital camera is in on it too. I hate my computer and my blasted digital camera. I have damned them both…together…they have been working in cahoots. I managed to lose every single picture I have taken between now and October. I lost all of them. I have nothing. Thanksgiving- gone. Christmas-gone. Day trips and site seeing? -Gone as well. The only pictures I have were the ones I put online. That’s it. I have been fighting with my computer since I got to Mainz. My computer and digital camera worked fine in Radolfzell. Perhaps they pitied me since there was really nothing else to do…(we didn’t even have an internet café in that city, remember.) But, now that I’m here in Mainz, both of these electronic devices have turned against me. It’s always something: low or dead batteries, full memory card, incorrectly installed software, illegal operation windows…always something. Now, I have had it. I want to throw them both out the window but I can’t bring myself to do it. All I can do now is to plead with my parents to send me my trusty 35mm camera and some film. I’ve always trusted it and for good reason. I love that camera and it loves me. My digital camera can suck it for all I care. I have given up on it. If I were my digital camera, I would sleep with one eye open. Same goes for my computer.

I guess all I can do is explain to you how everything has been here. Christmas, good. I wish you could have seen it. I’m bitter. So, that’s that. I don’t even want to talk about it since this digital camera thing happened. Perhaps I’ll be more willing to talk about my New Year’s. That will give me some more time to cool off.

Tomorrow I am leaving for Trier and hanging out with Jenny for a day before we take off for Paris for New Year's. I am excited to go to France, as I have never been there before. (Actually, I have spent a rather long amount of time waiting around in the CDG airport in France, but that isn't france. So, it doesn't count. Who stops in an airport in France and says 'Yes, I have been to France!' Don't be that guy!)

Rockin around no Christmas Trees
I was riding the tram a few days ago and I was lucky enough to ride in the vicinity of a guy who steals the remains of bikes where the tires and seats and stuff have already been stolen. This guy was also carrying a box with a mouse in it. My sister can stand two feet away from Bono any day and I don’t care. I was able to see this guy carrying a mouse in a box and the metal body of a bike (no handle bars, no seat, no tires, no pedals, nothing…just the metal part that holds it all together). The entire time he was on the train, he stood next to the driver, trying to make conversation. The driver seemed to be interested or at least too weak to tell the scary mouse man to go away. But, I guess I would put up with it too if I had a glass window between me and him. I think Tram driver is the one profession that people forget when thinking about careers behind glass. People usually think of gas station attendants and bank tellers (on occasion), but tram driver should be up there.

I found out that there will be a Christmas tree in our house on Christmas. There isn’t one right now, and it is Dec. 22nd. But, there will be soon. And, it will be a real one too. I am usually not the hugest fan of Christmas Trees. I’m not quite sure why. Perhaps it is because we always had a fake tree when I was younger and I preferred the real trees. But here are the four clues it is Christmas at our house: a. there is mistletoe hanging over the door in the entry way, b. there is one strand of Christmas lights in the tree next to the house, c. there is a little manger scene in the window sill in the living room and d. there is a little Adventskranz which is like a little Christmas wreath in the living room. Those are the four things. But, quite frankly no one notices the lights in the tree (there’s only one very short strand up in that tree…) and no one sees the mistletoe (I haven’t caught anyone making out in the doorway, but maybe they don’t do that here…not quite sure. But, if there’s a hot guy standing in the doorway- believe you me, I am going to stand there, too). Plus, my family has already killed the poinsettia that was sitting in the kitchen. My advisor gave me a little potted poinsettia as a gift and I have kept that thing alive for the past month…and I am going to try and keep it alive as long as possible. Well, the poinsettia looks a little kitschy, so I love it…I’ll have to take a picture of it so you know what I mean.

I just thought I would let you know that it is snowing here right now... :::scarastic tone::: Looks like a regular freakin snow globe here. :-)