a recap of my first week...
pictures will come later today...
Well this week, I tried to tackle an entire 800-year old city. I do recommend to anyone looking for a European vacation that is out of the way to try Bremen, Germany. It is a magnificent city.
Monday through Friday I have class from 8:00 am-1:00. It is a wonderful five hours of German conversation and learning. Our teacher is fabulous, patient, and encouraging. When class is over, I am surprised at how fast the time goes, but even more, I am amazed at how tired I am. Myself and three other students each lunch together in the MENSA (Cafeteria), and for the first few minutes, we sit in a daze…speaking another language is trying on the brain…but it is good.
When class is over, I usually go for a walk (spazieren gehen). Then I either do my homework (HAusaufgabe) at school or at home. If I go home, I try to think of something to do at night because the nights get long with nobody around. Sometimes I take the bus to the Domsheide (Church square) or otherwise, I try to study…I hate being alone. I would not wish loneliness on my worst enemy. (Side note: I am thankful that I believe that God is a friend. This is a huge gift for me when I am lonely. Someone once said, “If we realized how much God loves us, we would never again feel alone.” This is quite helpful…. not exactly true, but helpful. I still feel alone…I just want to converse with someone (in person) in my own language about politics, religion, and even installing floor).
This week I tackled the Domsheide, Hauptbanhauf (Central Bus Station), a huge park in Northern Bremen, and the north and south shores of the Weser. The most exciting time of the week was when I got lost. Let me quickly recap my Friday afternoon.
In class, I decided that if loneliness wasn’t my thing, I should organize a gathering for dinner. So I invited my fellow students to dinner on the Weser River. Between class, I wanted to find a computer cord for my Apple, get to the Weser and scope out places for dinner, then run home, change clothes and relax for ten minutes. However, instead, I spent one hour walking through neighborhoods of Bremen to find the computer cord – I finally found it at half the expected price! Then in trying to get to the Central Station and Weser, I took two wrong turns. I was completely lost for two hours. I found myself outside the bus and train zones, so no matter what I did, I could not get a bus or trains to take me home. It started to rain, I had to go to the bathroom, and there was nowhere to find help!
After two hours, I finally found myself in a neighborhood with people and buses. I was so happy. I still needed to go to the bathroom, and fortunately (I thought), there was a church with its name in English (this usually means that it is either a mission, a Baptist or an evangelical church). I rang the doorbell, and someone said hello. I responded, “Hello, can I please use your restroom?” Silence…silences…nothing…I was dying and the one place I had hoped would give me relief rejected me…thank God for McDonalds. For ,30 Euros, I could use their bathroom.
I finally found a place for dinner – it was perfect. On the river, wide range of prices, and relaxing. Needless to say, I did not make it home for relaxation or clean clothes. I was tired, weak, sweaty and ALONE. Thankfully, my fellow classmates would arrive in one hour, and I could have good conversation with them (in German, of course).
The end of the story does not go so well, however. After dinner, a long walk along the river, and several games of darts, I missed the last bus to my house. My day ended with a two-hour walk home at 12:00 midnight. Bremen is a safe town, so safety was not an issue – exhaustion was. Needless to say, I arrived home at 2:15 am, went to bed and woke up at 1:00 this afternoon…slouch that I am. I think I like the misfit excursion…it is a way to have a real adventure. This doesn’t seem to happen at home. Hopefully going to church tomorrow will not be a problem. Peace to all.
Well this week, I tried to tackle an entire 800-year old city. I do recommend to anyone looking for a European vacation that is out of the way to try Bremen, Germany. It is a magnificent city.
Monday through Friday I have class from 8:00 am-1:00. It is a wonderful five hours of German conversation and learning. Our teacher is fabulous, patient, and encouraging. When class is over, I am surprised at how fast the time goes, but even more, I am amazed at how tired I am. Myself and three other students each lunch together in the MENSA (Cafeteria), and for the first few minutes, we sit in a daze…speaking another language is trying on the brain…but it is good.
When class is over, I usually go for a walk (spazieren gehen). Then I either do my homework (HAusaufgabe) at school or at home. If I go home, I try to think of something to do at night because the nights get long with nobody around. Sometimes I take the bus to the Domsheide (Church square) or otherwise, I try to study…I hate being alone. I would not wish loneliness on my worst enemy. (Side note: I am thankful that I believe that God is a friend. This is a huge gift for me when I am lonely. Someone once said, “If we realized how much God loves us, we would never again feel alone.” This is quite helpful…. not exactly true, but helpful. I still feel alone…I just want to converse with someone (in person) in my own language about politics, religion, and even installing floor).
This week I tackled the Domsheide, Hauptbanhauf (Central Bus Station), a huge park in Northern Bremen, and the north and south shores of the Weser. The most exciting time of the week was when I got lost. Let me quickly recap my Friday afternoon.
In class, I decided that if loneliness wasn’t my thing, I should organize a gathering for dinner. So I invited my fellow students to dinner on the Weser River. Between class, I wanted to find a computer cord for my Apple, get to the Weser and scope out places for dinner, then run home, change clothes and relax for ten minutes. However, instead, I spent one hour walking through neighborhoods of Bremen to find the computer cord – I finally found it at half the expected price! Then in trying to get to the Central Station and Weser, I took two wrong turns. I was completely lost for two hours. I found myself outside the bus and train zones, so no matter what I did, I could not get a bus or trains to take me home. It started to rain, I had to go to the bathroom, and there was nowhere to find help!
After two hours, I finally found myself in a neighborhood with people and buses. I was so happy. I still needed to go to the bathroom, and fortunately (I thought), there was a church with its name in English (this usually means that it is either a mission, a Baptist or an evangelical church). I rang the doorbell, and someone said hello. I responded, “Hello, can I please use your restroom?” Silence…silences…nothing…I was dying and the one place I had hoped would give me relief rejected me…thank God for McDonalds. For ,30 Euros, I could use their bathroom.
I finally found a place for dinner – it was perfect. On the river, wide range of prices, and relaxing. Needless to say, I did not make it home for relaxation or clean clothes. I was tired, weak, sweaty and ALONE. Thankfully, my fellow classmates would arrive in one hour, and I could have good conversation with them (in German, of course).
The end of the story does not go so well, however. After dinner, a long walk along the river, and several games of darts, I missed the last bus to my house. My day ended with a two-hour walk home at 12:00 midnight. Bremen is a safe town, so safety was not an issue – exhaustion was. Needless to say, I arrived home at 2:15 am, went to bed and woke up at 1:00 this afternoon…slouch that I am. I think I like the misfit excursion…it is a way to have a real adventure. This doesn’t seem to happen at home. Hopefully going to church tomorrow will not be a problem. Peace to all.
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