Erdinger Weissbier (Hefe-Weizen)

Alex and I hugging it out in die Pinte. 

Just ignore the blue and focus on the delicious beer....

Beer.

Yes. Beer.

Beer here is cheep. Beer here is everywhere. Beer here is fantastic. I finally understand what all the hype is about. Back home I hardly ever drink beer and think it's rather icky for the most part. The only time I ever liked beer was when Brad Bruchs gave me some German stuff. You can buy beer here in the Markt for something like 26 cents a bottle. The best part? Even the cheep stuff is GOOD BEER! Becks is only €1 every Wednesday at the Pinte (student run bars in the dorms).

One thing about drinking here I've noticed is that even though beer has more alcohol, it takes me several beers to get anywhere near feeling drunk at all. I think I'm already starting to get used to the altitude, but the first time I went out I rode my bike home in a totally straight line thinking I didn't feel any different at all. This, however, is a fantastic thing. Who REALLY want to get that drunk in a city that is far FAR away from home?
NOT I!

Even though all beer here is good, I've found the one that I love the very mostest.

Erdinger Weißbier (Hefe-weizen)

It's the best I've had here so far. 

Yesterday, after getting back from class and cleaning up my dorm really quickly, Marijn came over (Look! Cute Dutch boy actually has a name!) with a few bottles of Erdinger Weißsbier. Oh wait. You don't believe he's adorable? Here, have a picture:

Me       Marijn

Bear (Bernt)

Told you so. 

So he comes over and all of the sudden Alex tells us we are going to meet him at Fiddlers Green (no, not the amphitheater, the pub.) Marijn and I take a very COLD bike ride over to die Innenstadt. We crawled through Fiddlers until we figured we were the first ones there. Once Alex and Bear got there (Bear is a cool guy from Washington DC) we decided we didn't want to wait in the cold so we went to a less crowded bar across the street called Potts. It was filled with smoke and old people, but this is the place where I fell in love with beer....okay, at least that one beer. After having a beer there and almost dying of smoke, Cedric (this one is from Texas) let us know he was over on the other side of the street. So we book it over to a hookah lounge to hang out with him and two or three other friends (so much for trying to get away from the smoke, eh?) I think Bear fell in love with the hookah there....

At this hookah bar, they had soccer then REALLY BAD wrestling up on the projector over our heads. At one point during the commercials they were portraying Americans as such: (left)

Yup. I look like that on a regular basis.

Always

We finally finish and pack up to go down to the Pinte half way across the city. So we bundle up, grab our bikes (after I go play in the park just off the street) and we drive like a biker gang all the way down. It was really very fun despite the cold.

When we get to the Pinte, Bear buys us beer and then guilts me into playing table soccer with him where Marijn and I wipe the floor with Alex and Bear. Yeah, we rock.

The rest of the night saw me running up to the bar, taking a hand full of chips as sneakily as I could then booking it back across the room to jump onto the couch next to Marijn. It was a good night, and I guess you could call it a datechen between us. (English word: date. German ending: -chen [means small/adorable/little])
I look forward to what other fun and adventures I can find. And maybe wish me a little luck with cute Dutch guy? ;) hahaha

Out in the Innenstadt

Alex                   Anne        Blake

Alex, Anne Blake, and I went to the Rathause to start the process of getting our Visa. You should see these cards (residence permits or whatever). They're so beautiful. So we went there and we noticed that the people working there dumbed down their grammar for us as soon as they saw we were American. I'm almost glad because then we could understand them, but I also felt a bit ashamed that I'm not good enough yet. I guess that learning curve isn't really gone yet.

So after filling out a few forms and answering a few questions about what we're doing here and how long we plan to stay, we headed down die Innenstadt (the inntercity). In Germany, most cities have an inner city that is foot traffic only. You can't even ride your bike in most parts. The rest of the city radiates from this point. Actually, the rest of the city radiates from a church. When we were walking down the street and saw this beauty, I honestly fell to my knees and just stared at it for a while. It was more gorgeous that I could ever describe to you, but I'll try any way.

Anne      Me       Blake

Just put yourself in the middle of a narrow brick/cobble stone street. The skies are gray, the wind is chilly, and you're probably a little lost, but you are with a small group of friends so you're not bothered. The streets are winding, there are interesting things sitting in the windows, and the people are even more interesting. Reaching for the sky on either side of you are buildings that look like things you've only ever seen in pictures of England or even some other European countries. After your friends finish ogling at something funny (Might be the most expensive knife you've ever seen, or it could be the Cuban cigars they've been wanting to try for years) you come just around the corner and you see spires and turrets jutting into the sky like they are still actively trying to reach higher all the time. The intricacies of this building  the dark brick against the light gray sky, and the impressive size just brings you to your knees. You're surrounded by interesting people, interesting culture, interesting places and this just tops off everything. You sit there smiling stupidly for a second before you start ranting to your friend about how this is the best place on Earth.

It went something kinda like that.
Other cool things that happened today that don't quite warrant a narrative:

Alex and I brought Blake and Anne to the Döner place we love so much. Blake got his first and it was gone by the time the rest of us got ours because he honestly just couldn't help himself, it was so good. Haha. None of us blame him either. At some point, the owner of the place and asked if we wanted tea, on the house. Not wanting to turn down trying anything like that, we accepted. (Mostly, Anne didn't want to spoil her coffee. Haha)
If anyone is EVER in Oldenburg, go to Lappan and go to Kismet Döner and Kebap. It's seriously right on the corner. Coolest and best Döner place around.

In other news there is going to be an awesome party April 12th here. It's called Black-and-White Mustache party. I decided  wanted to go and so I was on the prowl for some neat black and white tights to wear with the dress I was going in. Because of this, I ended up dragging Alex and Blake into a clothing store (god

forbid). I got what I wanted (and then some....) and now Blake blame me for the fact he is probably going to get a new suit. The suits here are actually really cheep in comparison  He tried on a nice purple vest and a white jacket and loved it. So he might be attending the black and white party in real style.

What do you think? I think he can pull it off.

It's Only Been One Week?!?!?!

The path I take to get to the Innenstadt

One of the things in life I hate more than anything (well...most things. I'm not a big fan of war either) is that learning curve you get when you first start somewhere. The worst is a new job when there are so many expectations. Second worst (and probably most terrifying) is when you go to a new culture. I was in the store today and wondering how people even function in a place where you don't know the language. If I didn't know as much German as I do, it'd just die. I know people have done it and I probably could too, but it's just such a daunting thought.

Thankfully I'm starting to get over that learning curve, and it hasn't even been a week. YES! I already have a functioning bike, food in the fridge, a place to stay, classes to attend, and friends from here. I know my way not only to the university but also other dorms and to the Innenstadt. I am able to successfully navigate markets and cell phone pre-paid cards.

There are some things I'm still working on right now. I need to get a student ticket, residency card, and visa. So I'm not done yet, by any means. I'm just happy I'm not as freaked out any more.

As a side note, I saw something really interesting today. In America, you can walk down the street and lose count of how many flag you see flying. They are big, bold, and usually have some sort of spotlight on them. So far I've only seen two German flags. So when I saw one today, I just had to take a picture.

I have CLASS! ;)

First day in class and I've already made a friend or two. That's always exciting! I'm also starting to think in German again, which is always good when you're in Germany!

I've made another new friend and he's from Washington DC. Not the diversity I was looking for, but heck. He's super neat! There was a lot of "Do you understand what I'm saying or do I have to say it in English?" today. All in all not too bad. It came in really handy that I have a German last name though. The teacher called me up to the front because I wasn't on the roster (ugh) and she asked me my name. Mind you, I came up right after two Israelites. I told her my first name and she nodded, saying she could spell that herself. Then I told her my last name and she was happy she could spell that too! Then she asked if my family was from Byern (southern Germany). All records I've found point to northern Germany, but I guess dad's side is more southern than I realized.

This morning I woke up to a REALLY impressive fog bank. I couldn't see the ground from my window (I live on the 4th floor) because the fog was so thick. It was a little scary riding through the fog on my bike because drivers here (in cars and on bikes) are crazy. Once I got into class, however; the fog burned off and the sun shone with brilliance all day! Nary a cloud to be seen in the blue sky.
People here say that isn't normal and I should enjoy it while it lasts. Mom remembers a joke from when she went to England; whenever the sun came out everyone would yell "SUN BREAK! STRIP!" Well, I didn't strip, but I spent as much time in the sun as I could.

Also, I went to the store again today and got some of the best chips I've ever had. Have you ever had paprika chips? They have to be come of the best things ever. Seriously. I bought a bag as well as some good spaghetti and brussel sprouts. So be honest, I've never bought for myself like this before, so I have no idea how to make a square meal or a shopping list much less in a foreign country.
If you guys have any tips on that, I would be all ears. Otherwise, try paprika chips if you ever get the chance and don't blame me if you get addicted....

Achievement Unlocked: Bike

I got a bike from one of Alex's buddies because they're leaving. huzzah! This opens up the city to me! :D

First Day, New Country

Woke up about noon today and went with Alex to the Innenstadt (inner city). It's a really beautiful place that I've already posted pictures of, but I think the coolest part so far was the grocery store. Not only do they have to specify when a kid's drink is not alcoholic, they have the oddest collection of bottle shapes. I got some juice today just so I'd have something else besides water to drink here. I mean just look at this bottle!
They have some super neat stuff. I'll have to go back sometime when I have time to just sit and read everything.

The last time I ate was when I was still in Chicago (like meal-wise, I had lots of chips and pretzels here last night and they don't really count) so when I was at the Innenstadt with Alex, we grabbed some Döner. All of my German friends will just smile and nod knowing that Döner is something you have to try within the first week of being here, everyone else is scratching their head asking what the heck I'm talking about.

Doner kebab (Turkish döner, döner kebap, or döner kebabi) is a Turkish dish made of meat cooked on a vertical spit, normally veal or beef but also a mixture of these with lamb; a cheaper version of chicken is also found. The dish is also widely known by its Arabic name, shawarma, or in Greek, gyro. The sliced meat of a Döner kebab may be served wrapped in a flatbreat such as lavash or pita or as a sandwich instead of being served on a plate. It is a common fast food item in the Balkans, Middle East, Europe, Australia  and New Zealand. Toppings include tomato, onion, lettuce, pickled cucumber, and chili.

Just trust me when I say they’re really delicious!

Well.... I'm here!

First flight (Denver to Chicago): Sat next to this cute miner from Virginia Tech who was SUPER into coal mining. He actually taught me more about modern day mining than I ever thought I'd learn. Though, it was a bit dry. Felt like I was in class the whole plane ride.

Flight two (Chicago to Dublin): Sat next to this really adorable, old, Irish lady. She kept telling me about how she missed the weather in Texas (where she's living now even though the only reason she moved there was because of her ex husband), but how much she loves going home. She was a great insight to long flights and Europe. Plus, she was just a delight to talk to. Then I slept for maybe about three hours, dang food kept waking me up.

          Beautiful side note..... I have never seen a night sky so bright and clear as I have seen flying over the tip of Greenland. I have never seen a sunrise so splendid as I did watching the sun crest the Atlantic ocean. I only wish that I can do this again some day and that you all can see it too!

Flight three (Dubling to Hamburg): I have never been so painfully aware of how American I am than when I was getting my COWBOY boots shined before boarding my flight.
Then I proceeded to sleep through the ENTIRE three hour flight. Because of that, I was still very much asleep when I walked off the plane and out to see Alex Garrett, totally forgetting to grab my luggage off of the baggage claim. Yessir, I will be playing the part of the stupid American for this trip.
So I had to go back through the automatic doors, which set off an alarm, to go grab my two, bright, pink bags.

Train ride: The train station in Hamburg is BEAUTIFUL and breathtaking

. Alex and I took forever to get "home"(walking at least a mile with all my luggage to get to my dorm). I don't think I've eaten since I've been in Germany, but I have my eye on a little bakery on the corner that looks good.

One thing I've noticed is that I have to really think ALL THE TIME when people are talking to me because I can't just casually understand them. I have such a headache, but I took an Advil and went to go meet some friends. There was a going away party in my new flat, a friend of Alex's. I met this adorable Dutch boy who honestly looks like Benedict Cumberbatch! (Sherlock Holmes from the BBC series Sherlock)

Then I decided to go to bed and promptly slammed my finger in the door to the bathroom (It's a delightful shade of purple now) and blew a fuse trying to plug in my electric blanket. COOL! What a night!

P.S. Blake won the race, I owe everyone drinks on St. Patrick's day. :P