DB Delayed?! What?!

So originally at this time, I was going to be on a train to Fulda, which was going to carry me to Hannover, which was then going to put me on a night train bound for Brussels, where tomorrow I was going to spend the day before enjoying two relaxing days in Bruges. Yeah, well, that was the plan...

I got to the station with time to spare; I even had a few minutes to browse in a souvenir shop and a bookstore, but when I came out, I happened to look at the train schedule board, only to discover that my train was delayed by 25 minutes! Anyone who has traveled Deutsche Bahn knows firsthand the speed and efficiency of even the oldest German trains, so imagine my surprise when I learned that not only was my train late, it was very late! Late enough that I was going to miss my night train out of Hannover! But being the seasoned traveler that I now am, I did not panic. Instead, I walked to an automated machine to look up alternate routes to Hannover. But of course, there were none to get me there in time to catch my night train. Even then, I did not panic. So next I went to the Reisenzentrum to ask a live person what my options were. Luckily, I had the same lady who sold me the night train reservation, so she knew why I was there. Unfortunately though, there was no other option that would get me to Hannover in time. At this point three months ago, I would have cried hot, frustrated tears, but instead I asked her for trains tomorrow morning. After a refund and a cheaper reservation for a day train, I walked away completely satisfied about my fate. I was going to Belgium because I wanted a calm, relaxed place with not many museums or castles to see but plenty to make me slow down and just enjoy the loving-life locals, and so rushing or stressing about getting there was entirely senseless. So instead of trying fruitlessly to sleep in a chair (since all the beds were already reserved), I am going to sleep in my own bed tonight, and write a long update for my blog!

Ok, so two weeks ago I went to Copenhagen, which experienced unusually warm and sunny weather the whole time was there--lucky for me! There was not a whole lot by way of formal sightseeing stuff--i.e. museums and very famous landmarks--but there were plenty of neat castles, beautiful harbor and canal views, and friendly locals to enjoy. There was absolutely no language barrier, and every single person I talked to was friendly and eager to help answer my questions or give me directions. At this point in my trip, I am acutely aware when I am in a country that is not overly sentimental to Americans, and so each time I enter one that is not judgmental or indifferent, I can immediately tell the difference. Denmark was such a case, and I cannot help but love the Danish for not automatically hating me.

And then last Tuesday my brother came to visit, which was absolutely wonderful. It was great getting to show a loved one from home where I have been living and going to school for two months, and to just spend time with him. We took a long weekend and went to Berlin and Rothenburg. Berlin is a great German city with so much to see and a terrific amount of history to explore. Berlin is the heartbeat of Germany's turbulent and very recent past, and to see it firsthand made everything we have always read about incredibly real. The city is simply saturated in its history, so one cannot help but to feel that they are a part of that history as well, even if they are just a tourist visiting for the weekend. And Rothenburg is the German version of Carcassonne in France, complete with a medieval wall, spectacular views, and full of wonder. On top of that, Rothenburg is the home of the most ridiculously huge and festive Christmas stores I have ever seen, outside of Brunner's in Michigan, as well as the best souvenir shopping in all of Germany. Alan and I had a great time spending our money here (don't worry, I didn't spend it all on myself--in fact, not even close).

Let's see, what else? The weather in Erfurt turns out to be just as unpredictable as the Ohio weather I have experienced all my life. For awhile, summer seemed to have arrived in fantastic fashion, but now April showers have shown up tardy but still in full force. So who knows what next week will bring, perhaps some snow? hehe

Classes are going if not going well, and my German, I am told, has improved a great deal since I first got here. I do not claim any sort of proficiency at all, except for the amount necessary for survival which I feel is my due. In that respect, I am getting along much better than at the start. In one of my classes, I am the 'token American' which is incredibly embarassing and frustrating at times, but interesting at others. The questions I get asked are completely random, such as: 'where did American men of the 19th century go when they traveled Europe?' or from my one of my flatemates: 'why are sorority girls always so rich, slutty, and big party-goers? (her only experience of America is Beverly Hills...and TV).

And just like at AU, Erfurt has a weekly program where international students from a given country get a chance to present their country, share their culture, and give us a taste of their national cuisine. I have only been to two (for Serbia and for Poland), but both have been interesting and lots of fun. And next week is my turn to present; Tuesday is American Night (Amerikanischer Abend). For someone who has always been part of a majority and therefore completely uninteresting to other people, this is incredibly odd for me. I never in a million years thought I would be a part of a small group of Americans in a foreign country, or that I would be asked to give a presentation on my country to Germans, who are the national majority (as opposed to me as an American in America). The feeling of weirdness cannot be entirely explained, but if you have ever experienced it, you know what I am talking about. So next Tuesday, we are going to try to dispel some American myths and stereotypes, and we are going to have a night of hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly, chocolate chip cookies, and apple pie. Makes me hungry and homesick just thinking of it!

Tomorrow marks 14 weeks since I came to Europe...