So I'm about to hit the full two week mark. I was getting a bit grouchy (translate = bored and lonely) toward the end of last week, but I continued to push through with one goal: the Mainz Literature Festival. Readings of classic novels aboard old trolleys, a music and lit hybrid concert, and to top it all off, a slam poetry competition. Needless to say, I was pretty excited for Friday to roll around. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the festival. And I missed taking pictures of the huge letters placed in the Schillerplatz garden. Oh well.
Instead, I went with Stephan to his friend's birthday party. Stephan was the native speaker in the German House my junior year at Hendrix, who happens to live in Mainz. I had a nice time, and in all seriousness, it fulfilled the much needed social interaction that I had been thriving since my arrival. My roommate, Marie, came home on Saturday. We had breakfast together on Sunday and chatted until early afternoon. She is lovely and excited to have me here. I answered all of her questions about "real American life," both confirming and extinguishing the cliches presented through dubbed American TV shows. Marie also said that I was "half-German" because I crave German bread and German beer whenever I am in the States, which I find quite amusing. We officially celebrated my arrival by going out for Indian food for dinner. Yum.
The weather here has turned a bit sour, providing a bitter fall preview. It has been raining since Friday and it is much much cooler with highs in the upper 50s. The rain is supposed to break tomorrow, hopefully, and it will warm up a bit. I really want it to stop raining, so I can enjoy me book near the Rhine again, instead of snuggled in my bed (not that being snuggled up in bed is all that bad). Since I plowed through a few history books pretty fast, I hunted down an English copy of Eat, Pray, Love. It was no easy task, but so worth it. Eat, Pray, Love details the author, Elizabeth Gilbert's personal memoir of traveling for a year to rediscover herself - pretty perfect for someone who is living abroad for a year. I've laughed, cried, contemplated my life choices, and everything in between. The stories are clever, humorous, and so so fantastic. The movie version will be playing in OV (Original Version = in English) in Wiesbaden in a few weeks. I'm interested to see how the book is adapted to film.
I'm still waiting on an appointment to get my visa. It has been a bit of a challenge to actually get in contact with anyone in the office. I'm also in battle with O2 over my phone SIM card, so I still do not have a functioning cell phone. I'm a little frustrated. Everything magically worked when I was in Bielefeld. I felt so prepared for this adventure, because I already knew the steps I needed to make when I got here. Somehow German bureaucracy seems to be ten times worse in Mainz than in Bielefeld, which a year ago would seem impossible.
Sally is coming back this weekend and the other Fulbrighter that will be here, Ashley, is supposed to arrive sometime this week. We all leave for Fulbright orientation on Monday. I will have work and I will have people. I can't wait!
lg, Lauren
*The picture above is an AWESOME slide about a block from my apartment at a playground on the top of an old Roman fortress. I stood in line with all of the other kids (their parents gave me weird looks) and it was one sweet ride.*
Glad to know you are making friends! Experiences like this really makes me aware of my social needs; and you gotta love "American TV".. God, lol.
ReplyDeleteOh, and that slide is VERY awesome. I'd too wait in line for a chance to slide.
Good luck with your cell phone. I understand the trouble. I didn't have a working phone for 10 days because of the red tape.. They needed 3 months proof of income before I could get a SIM card. I found the American "Cricket" pay-as-you-go alternative.. Hope you get it sorted soon. Cheers!