sunshine

Finally, the sun has come out now a little more each day.

I have been longing for just a little warmer weather and I think now I've finally got it. I just hope it stays this way.

Since last week not a lot has happened. I didn't go to any of the initial orientations; no point, it is all in German. So last week was basically another free week. I went to Ikea again, yikes! There are no wine glasses in the flat and I didn't want to drink my wine out of a plastic cup anymore, so I bought a glass one. I also bought a vase for my now tulip obsession as well as some fabric to hang on my wall. AND, we had a little lunch at the Ikea restaurant, err, well I had a Sweedish waffle with vanilla and cherry syrup, still lunch? It didn't take long to use the wine glass. Meaning, St Patrick's day was a crazy one, if you know what I mean.

On Friday the Kunst faculty of my school, HAW, hosted a huge beginning of semester party. The theme was 'video games'. I went to Gängeviertel, which is a section of abandonned apartments near Gänsemarkt that are partly inhabited by young artists to use as studio space. SO. COOL. (pictures soon). I went there to meet up with some good friends of Karin's who were also going to this party. Together, we made our costumes. Tetris. Very neat. (You can see pictures on facebook).

However I could not party very hard because I had to get up early in the morning to go with two of my flatmates to see a football match in Bremen!! This was really fun. Other than the rain, which is not unusual, the European live football match experience was very exciting. They are reallllllly into it. If a goal is scored by the team you are cheering for, expect to be showered in beer by the fans around you. Long, but fun day. Oh yeah, and Bremen won!!! (Pictures also on facebook)

Sunday I cooked! I actually gathered ingredients from a recipe that Karin gave me and I made actual food! Haha, I never cook, and it turned out pretty tasty! I was so excited about this that I wanted to continue making things, so I bought more ingredients to make a yummy vegetable soup yesterday, also tasty. Yeah, big deal for me.

Finally, today I went to my first class. Well, sort of. It is now the week of the individual class orientations/sign-up. I went to a photography class which has the theme 'Fremd', which means strange. I'm not exactly sure the details, but I do know that for the entire orientation I basically did not understand a word. I hope this won't be too much of a problem; I am the only international student in that class! Tomorrow I am going to an orientation for a painting class. I have never taken painting at UBCO, but I would really like to give it a try; might as well. Annnnd, I may or may not take another class...we'll see. The photo class is worth a lot of points.

I miss everyone back home, lucky for most of you school is almost over!



Here are some more of my obsession.

update

Tomorrow will be the official two week mark of my exchange here in Hamburg.

Only 20 weeks left.

(doesn't sound so long when I put it that way...)

Anyhow, I am finally over my sickness. Throughout the week I struggled trying to use my voice, especially at the end of the day. It was getting really hard to talk in loud places. On Wednesday I went to the shopping area and looked for retail-therapy for my cold. I found some really cute things for good prices! (mostly at H&M) There was also a dinner party on Wednesday at a dorm close by which had some really yummy food! Mmm, free food. Thursday was kind of a blah day, Not too much happened...

(If you are as bored as I was when I decided to document my new clothes and linens you can feel free to have a look:)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?page=3&aid=392115&id=783425477

I was still feeling a bit sick up until Friday as well but I still decided to go out for a bit with my flatmates. We went to a student bar at the other main residency. It was decent, beer is cheap! Only 1 euro! Then on Saturday a group of us international students went to Ikea to finally pick up some much needed LINENS (haha) and eat delicious 50 cent hotdogs...They have a lot of cheap stuff that I needed; I might even have to go back to get some more.

I also learnt that Germans LOVE when this song plays at a bar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWsQQgbKkjc

Today I went to a brunch with all of the international students that was put on by the international coordinator. The food was yummy (and free), but we were forced to play an ice-breaker game. The game in which you get a sheet of paper with descriptions of people, and you have to go around and ask people if they fit the description. OF course, there on the sheet was "find someone who can sing the Canadian national anthem". And of course, I am the only Canadian in the entire international group. They also tried to get me to sing it. No thanks.

Also, it was super miserable and rainy today, so after brunch I came home and stayed in all day (since everything is closed on Sunday), made some tea, watered my flowers, lit a candle and ate some chocolate. Then I watched some movies with my flatmates.

School is getting ever so close to starting, except not really. Tomorrow there is a small orientation with the international counselor, then the rest of the week is free. Then the following week is the individual class orientation/sign-up with the professor. THEN the week after that classes actually start. Wow. Not bad. Except I need my bank to wire my money soon! I am getting down to my last euros!

Anyway, I think that is all for now. I can't wait to develop the film I've taken so far; which isn't much considering the bad weather, but it is a start. Plus there are photos from home on one roll :(

I have some more friends now :)

love

cough

My throat hurts soooo bad today. I sound like I have been smoking since I was born. But I did not let this stop me from going with the international group to "Miniatur-Wunderland", which is basically a showcase of a carefully designed and detailed layout of some major european and american cities...kind of interesting. Almost looks like a giant setup of small toy people and cars, only you can't touch. I would put up some pictures of this but alas I must rest myself. Today I also went to Karstadt, which is a big shopping centre, to buy a needle and yarn. I should have brought mine from home, but somehow I decided it would be a good idea to pack a pair of shorts instead in case it got really hot, HA.

Tomorrow I will try to find some thrift stores for knick-knacks or decorations for my room and maybe go to H&M to buy WARM CLOTHES.

These are my friends.

brrr

Berlin; very cold.

It probably would have been a better experience had it not been so bloody cold. It was the wind though; slight snow fall as well. Either way, having a two hour walking tour in that temperature does not make for a good time. I also did not take very many pictures because my hands were frozen numb. The trip all together would have been regretted if I didn't go and spend time with the other international students...most of which had already formed their groups/friendships from attending the language school for German, which I am not a part of.

But drinking and clubbing was fun?....We went to a bar called 'Soda' which cost 8 Euro to get in, but it has a total of 5 floors, all playing different types of music. The club is also in an old brick building: wood floor, high ceilings, low ceilings. It was fun.

The one other bummer of the Berlin trip is coming home with a cold :( So far it is just a scratchy throat but I have been taking Vitamin D non-stop. Come on Immune System!

Today I simply opened a bank account and did some grocery shopping. Food here is a lot cheaper than it is in Canada. I can probably buy food for about 10-15 euro a week, including the dinners that my flatmates have sometimes; free, yummy food! I have also been asked to make a 'traditional Canadian dish' sometime. Oh boy. French toast?

I still miss you all. Hope you are enjoying the lovely Kelowna spring weather!

Today, I also bought a plant for my room :) Two, actually.

View of the canal from a bridge near my dorms.

hmm

So, my Hamburg experience so far has become a little better....at least there is less crying. But I still go to bed at around 4am here, and wake up at about 1pm. I need to get into the right rhythm of things. Today I finally registered my address with the city, but when I got to the bank to get an account I found I needed to make an appointment! This is not what I was originally told. Oh well, no bank card for the weekend, hopefully I have enough cash to last me!

I woke up late again today, as I said, so not a lot happened. I did however take some pictures of the flat for those who care to see. They are up on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=392115&id=783425477&ref=mf

I won't be posting for a bit because I am off to Berlin tomorrow with the other exchange students. Hopefully this is fun!

Wish me luck!

And I thought I would look like a fool with all TWO of my cameras.....

(stole your photo Ryan...)

ouch

Excerpt from Go Global Handbook:

"Personal Adjustment"

Be aware that you will experience some level of cultural adjustment as you make the transition from UBC to a new culture. Culture shock is a normal reaction to be separated from a familiar environment. Some common feelings during cultural transitions include:

• loneliness and the desire to withdraw
• feelings of alienation
• fatigue
• difficulty participating in conversation
• frustration and anger

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is all so very, very true right now. I didn't realize how hard it would be to find myself so far away from the people that love and know me. I just hope to get over this before I decide to fly back, or at least get over this jetleg. Nausea? Really? Anyhow, I miss home very much, but mostly those people that I wish could be sitting next to me right now.

Today I went to the government building to try to declare my residency but it was closed. Therefore I could not set up a bank account yet. I did however buy a cheap phone and put some minutes on it. Although I will probably only use this for texting.

No pictures yet, no motivation. Plus I dont know where to develop film yet.

Also, my skype is if you want to add me.