Is it really October already?

Hello fellow blog followers,

I really need to get better about updating more than once a week, because usually too much transpires in a week to sum it all up in one post. However, how shall I start to describe my first week in Aachen and Würeselen? With the train ride, of course!

Last Thursday, I checked out of the my room, or shoebox as we liked to call it oh so lovingly. This appointment was at 8am following our farewell evening. Needless to say, I was quite tired! I waited around that morning, because my train came at 11:30. However, I was really anxious due to the LARGE amount of stuff I had to carry. Somehow, everything did not fit back in the suitcase. I accumulated too much stuff over those past 6 weeks, and ended up carrying a HUGE AND HEAVY rolling duffel, a packed bookbag, a laptop bag, my purse, and a daypack. This is NOT an ideal way to travel alone with the train, but what was I to do? It had to get to Aachen with me, and I had to carry it. I had a fellow Fulbrighter help me with my things from the dorm to the taxi and then to the track. After that, it was up to me. I took the first train from Marburg to Gießsen. I had only 20 minutes to get my things off the train, up the stairs, over a bridge, down the stairs, through the train station, down the stairs and up again to track 12. Well, long story short, I did not make it in time. The station is under construction, and they often change the track number where your train will arrive without you knowing or hearing. Well, I guess if you know the language or the station really well, but for me. I was unlucky! So, by the time I had reached the track, I realized something had been changed, and I lugged everything back to the information desk, where they informed me that the track had been changed, and I needed to wait an hour for the next train. Anywho, after two more trains following Gießsen, I arrived in once piece in Aachen at almost 5 pm. That was a very long day, to say the least. I did not really appreciate the comments I got about how much luggage or how heavy my luggage was. A girl who has to live in a foreign country for a year needs a lot of stuff, ok? Anyways, I was at least fortunate enough to have found men to help me carry my baggage on and off the train, and occasionally up and down stairs. I almost missed the last connection in Siegen to Aaachen, bc we had only 7 minutes to find the track, go down and up the stairs and hop on the train! I got on that one just as the train left...

Enough with the travel woes! Doris picked me up with a luggage cart and a car that evening, and brought me back home. I was so tired, and was glad to just be for the evening. On Friday, I was also content to stay at h ome. I spend the entire day doing laundry because I had not done any in Marburg for a few weeks. That evening, I met with Brian (my cousin) and his roommate from ATL. They were taking a vacation in Germany and Austira, and began their trip in Aachen. Brian gave me a shopping bag full of stuff from home. Thanks Shelia, Mom and Dad for all the goodies! We went out to eat, and sat outside on one of many squares in Aachen. There was a band setting up because this past weekend Fri thru Sat they had a band festival all weekend long. Btw, the chairs outside here often have blankets or fur type rug things on them, allowing you to sit outside when it is cold! That evening, we walked around the Katschhof. This is the main event square between the Rathaus (city hall) and the Dom, the church where Charlegmagne's remains are and where more than 30 something kings were crowned. Anywho, there were lots of tents for beer and food, as well as a ferris wheel. We had a few drinks at a few places in the city with Brian, Ted, and Nicole, a friend of Brian's who lives in Germany.

On Saturday evening, I met my professor and two of his doctoral students for the first time. We went back to the same place and actually got on the ferris wheel! Cool! I could see the whole of Aachen. We also went to a Spanish Tapas bar ( I thought about you Brit!). I actually had never been to one, and it was really good! Good tapas, red wine, and some other dish and a cappachino later! We then walked to the marktplatz and sat down for a beer. There was a huge amount of people there listening to whatever band was playing at the moment. I had a lot of fun with them, and they are very friendly and nice!

On Sunday, I met Becky for the first time in the city. She is my international office mentor buddy friend. We walked around the city and had lunch. She is very helpful and friendly!

On Monday, I went to the lab for the first time. This is in the Uni Klinic, where the hospital, medical school, research labs, well, everything is located! It is just about in Holland, west of the Aachen city center. It is by far the most confusing, largest, and ugliest building I have ever been in. For you AU kids, Haley center does not even hold a candle to the massive confusion this building creates. The outside has all these pipes of all different colors. The inside has green metal walls, sometimes yellow, with kelly green carpet. Just plain ugly, confusing and depressing! Oh well. I really like the lab group, though. I went all over with the professor's secretary, Renate, trying to get all this administrative beaucracy that Germany is so well known for taken care of. She was really nice to help take me everywhere. She also lives in Würselen, and gave me a ride to the clinic. I had to go to the doctor to get my blood tested and a phsyical done to make sure I was fit and not carrying any disease! We also had to go to someother office to get my key and card, so that I have access to the lab. Well, this was unsuccessful, but I think I can get everything easier once I have enrolled with the university. I am not even sure where all we went and what was all required. All I know is that we ran around all day trying to navigate the beaucracy of Germany!

On Tuesday, more beaucracy to be tackled! However, I had Becky to help me, thank goodness! We went to Deutsche bank and had my address changed, went to the city office to register my new address, and went to the office of the university where you sign your rent contract. You have to register in Germany with every city you live in! This requires time, patience, a smile, a passport, and a rent contract! I also went to the WG to meet with Arnie, who just moved out of my room. We had to draw up some unoffical contract that we both signed. This contract listed what things that he owned that he was leaving in the room for me. I am now officially responsible next year to get rid of them. Silly, but whatever. I am using a broken but repaired bed frame from Alex, and the shades, curtains, pantry shelf, tv, tv cart, desk chair, and carpet from Arnie. Not bad, I would say. I also went to the Lindt factory with Becky. Lecker! You can find all kinds of Lindt chocolate in this warehouse store for super cheap. Either it is misprinted or a mess up and really cheap, or they have new flavors to test. You would not believe the flavors they mix with chocolate. YUM! Also went across the street to Leibniz, which makes snacks, cookies, etc. They are based in Hannover, but have an outlet store here. Yum, as well! I came back that day with lots of chocolate and cookies.

On Wednesday, I went back to the lab. I tried to collect journal articles concerning the lab's main research interest. I did not really get very far, but at least I started. I also got internet on my computer. SO great! The entire group, aoubt 12 people, all use Apple! This is excellent, and I fit right in. Everything works, and my internet only required me typing in a password to the airport. This was like heaven, compared to my last internet experiences in Marburg and so on. I also saw the room where they keep on the research mice in the Uni Klinic. We had to wear so much protective wear, I looked like I was going in to surgery! Footies over your shoes, hair net, mask, gloves, and a coat that ties around from the back. I think my research will be with mice. Later, I ate in the Mensa with the lab students, and then rode back to Würselen with Renate because I have not gotten my semester bus ticket yet. Without this, traveling with the bus costs a fortune. That afternoon, Doris and I waited in line at the ASEAG office, the Aachen bus transportation office, for a monthly bus ticket for me. Normally this costs 70 Euro, but I had received a coupon for a free ticket from the city office welcoming me as a new resident. I guess the coupon book is one good perk of registering with the city!However, this old, fat man stood behind us the whole time and did not give us any personal breathing space. It was so disgusting, and made us want to scream. My personal space was definitely compromised, and I felt slighly closterphobic from this man. Plus, he kept playing with his dentures and poking them in and out of place. eww!!

Today, I met Becky again and we went to the apt complex to meet with the Hausmeister. I showed him my rent contract and he gave me my keys and explained the WG rules and such. I now have an APT, and address, keys, and my name on my mailbox! yay! Becky and I also went to a store, sort of like a campus book store, where I bought some notebooks and folders to organize my things. A little culture note: Binders here are either 2 or 4 rings, without any pockets. We also went to Deutshe Bank to ask for a folder to keep all my bank statements. In Germany, there is a law (there are lots of laws here) that says the bank must send your account statement. You are supposed to print it at the cash maschines or online every 6 weeks. Otherwise they have to send it to you in the mail, and charge you a fee each time. Therefore, you have to collect these statements and store them away. Komisch.

Well, I also just remembered that on Sunday the national elections happened. Angela Merkl will remain the Kanzlerin. However, CDU and FDP will form the Schwarz-Gelb coalition. This is a big deal, because FDP has never had such presence in the Parliament before. There will probably been a red red green coalition between die Link, Grüne, and SPD. SPD is a really big party here, but did not have good results in this election. Well, I could talk a lot more about the politcal system here, but this post is getting too long and probably too boring for most of you.

Tomorrow I am going to Holland to shop at IKEA! Hopefully I will come back with everything I need. I will write later on how different the beds are here. Honestly, I have decided that Americans always do things different than the Germans and Europeans in general. No matter what subject you can think of, somehow there will be a different way of doing it. Why did everything get to be so different in the US?

I willl upload pictures once I have internet on my computer in my computer. Currently I have to use the family computer. Speaking of my guest family, they are all so helpful and nice! I am really glad I did this homestay program.

Bis später,
RL

PS I can now say I have been in Germany for 8 weeks. CRAZY!