July already

The fun thing about living on your own is that you can do what you want whenever you want.
Also you can eat what you want whenever you want.
The downside is that you run out of ice-cream way too fast. :P

Sorry for not posting that much lately... but it's exam time again. I already took my first one last week. The next 2 are coming up on Tuesday... and then I'll have a bunch more till mid of August.
I can't wait till August because then I'll finally be done.

Other than being busy studying I'm looking for a new roomie. Mine is moving out in in September to move to a different town for her master's degree.

Yeah yeah...

The other day I stumbled across another video that is just the cutest!

See for yourself:

It's been a little over a year now...

I left sunny California and went back to Germany.
So crazy. In some ways it feels like it's been forever. Very strange feeling.
Everything is different over here. I can't really name it. I guess one has to experience this for themselves...
Classes still go till mid of July and the exams will last another month!- Nice. (not!!)
I'm thinking about my summer time a lot. Maybe I'll make it to Berlin eventually. We'll see.
One thing's for sure though: I'll spend my September in CA again :D
I can't wait.... where's the fast forward button when we need it?? The rewind one is also fine with me.
Seriously.

Uk well it's been another long awesome weekend. It started with my friend's B-Day-party Saturday. Sunday my sis, my friend T and me went home to my parents and stayed there till Tuesday.
We went to pick strawberries. Very delicious. I couldn't help myself eating half of the ones I picked :P
And later on BBQ at my grandma's. My aunt and cousins came too. The have the most amazing backyard. It's like this fairytale garden full of blooming flowers and animals running around. The kids were playing with the baby chicks and baby geese. So cute. The babies were just following my cousins everywhere.
Also my mum, T and me went to this lovely little town in the Netherlands. T has never been there before. So we had her try all the different dutch foods we think are typical for this area.
We went to this sweet shop called 'Jamin'. There you can just choose whatever you want and in the end you weigh it and pay. The licorice is the best. And some other things as well.
Then quick stop at the dutch Aldi ( a grocery store). There we bought some food and stuff.
I love their Vanille Vla which is this type of pudding. If you go there you should try it. Some really like the choclate one. ANd for those who can't decide ther's always the dubble vla ;)
Speaking of I should have some later ;)

Y-day I had some classes in the morning and my afternoon ones were cancelled. I didn't really mind ;)
In the afternoon till late at night there was this thing on Campus. They had a stage and food and beer and whatnot. Also some bands performed on a stage. It was all open air in the middle of Campus, the grass area part. Just check out the video & the pics and see for yourself ;)

Even though it rained earlier that day y-day night was perfect. There will be another party tomorrow night at the same location. It's called "Beach-party". Funny thing though there is no sand on Campus. But well that won't be an obstacle. Apparently they are going to get some sand for some areas at least. Shall be fun. ^^

Often it's the carnivores, but not this time ;)

Usually I think of myself as quite a sane person.
Sometimes though I really wonder what's going on in my head. It's the most peculiar thing, I tell you.
Like some days I can never be sure if I'll be on time... Either I'm super early, I'm punctual or I miss my train  by a minute. That's when I think: how come?
Today was one of those days again. I actually had enough time to make it, but somehow I didn't manage to do so. The funny thing is that I know I can do better, because I already did thousand times before...so seriously, why?!
Well... no idea really... I just have to try harder next time I guess.

Different topic: I just have to tell you something about what's going on in Germany now: epidemic.
Don't know if you heard about this but there is this virus called "EHEC". It's one of those 'eboli' things.
Here some No.s for Germany:
Over 2800 people are infected, more than 600 are serious cases and so far 29 people died!!
Apparently the numbers are going down, but that doesn't mean it's over yet.
There is no real cure at the moment. They are still searching for the source.
As far as I'm informed they narrowed it down to following:

I think they are called 'sprouts' in English, or maybe not :P

Before this they were warning the population about cucumbers, tomatoes and salad. But apparently that warning was unnecessary.

Oh well, ever more reason or an excuse to eat Junk food, right?! ;)
Carnivores are spared this time...

Thursday

Yup, yup... daytime school.

Night: Party!! This time in a bunker. Well it used to be one and is still called so. Quite interesting. No noises get outside, which is cool, because it's in the middle of a neighbourhood. Minus: my cell had no reception!

But well I didn't need it anyway... :P I was too busy dancing...

Also I thought I had 4hours of class on Friday. Just I was about to go home that night I bummed into one of my friends. She told me that our Friday's classes were cancelled. Awesome!! Long weekend again. So that's how I found time to go shopping with my girls on Friday ^^ Nice, nice, huh?!

Well except maybe for that sudden downpour Friday afternoon. But I didn't even care... ahh whatever.

It started as a normal day...

So many things happened recently.... I'm not going to name them all. AT least not in this post :P

Today for instance:

My first class started at 8.30am in Duisburg. About an hour earlier I had to leave the house.... too early for my taste though I have to admit that it looked kinda nice outside (at least this morning).My class supposedly ends at 11.45am. 

One thing here: My next class was at 12.15pm in Essen.

NConsidering it takes at least 45min (if your'e lucky) to get from one Campus to another, that's not exactly managble, is it?!

well well then, I had to leave my first class early. Arriving there we still had to find to find the right room. In Essen that can be quite a task. After some wrong turns we finally managed to get there in time. Guess what?! All the effort wasted as the prof was tied up with business. Nice, huh?!

I was actually looking forward to this class: Forensic Linguistics. 

But who am I to cry about more free time, right?!

Later that day I went back to the university to participate at my friend's study.

He sort of invented some apps for smartphones. Therefore he needs some guinea pigs to try his software. 

My opinion: Couple months of work were definitely worth it!

I was kinda looking forward to be using it myself. Knowing my friend, I did have some expectations. Afterwards I have to say: it sort of blew me away. SO much fun and so pretty awesome. ^____^

Just you wait and see in a few years he'll be famous and all (He might even forget about the little people, who knows ;)

It sure is a highlight. Perfect day for quite a nice day.

So I thought. Who knew my roomie had another surprise waiting for me.

She didn't exactly intend toshow it to me... but once revealed, no point of hiding it any more.... way too funny :D

A few years ago she was part of a reality show: living in the 50s!

Yupp you heard right.

It is astonishingly honest and therefore truly funny (for me at least ;) )

Enough details here I think... a lot to dream about tonight

The summer semester started...

Today was my first class for this semester - Italian.

So far I can say this much:

The teacher is pretty nice. My fellow students seem to be as nice. 

Good choice, I'd say.

Next step lunch & then my 1st Literature class for this semester:

'Crossing the U.S.-Mexican Border - Depictions in Contemporary American Literature'

Seriously who comes up with those names?! Way too long.

Let's try its acronym: CtUSMBDiCAL

Yah.... sure... not going to work :P

Hope it'll be better than what I just did now ;)

Busy Bee

I've been pretty busy the last few days.
I'll be moving this Sunday. My stuff won't pack itself on its own...
I moved here in October and am leaving end of March, that's just a couple of months. Apparently my stuff must alive or something like that because it keeps growing.
How on earth did I manage to get so many things?
It feels like the packing will never end. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not even halfway done... oh dear...

Ukay also I'm trying to make a B-Day gift for my friend. I'm supposed to be done by tomorrow night... not as far as I planned to be here either... man...

Too many things spoking around in my head I can't grasp them all...

Also I'm frustrated with my schedule for this coming semester...
I only got into half the classes I wanted to take and now I have to wait for the next phase to sign up... oh and which classes I might be able to squeeze in order to get a somewhat acceptable schedule.... pretty annoying...

Somehow my 'To Do'-List seems to add up rather than getting checked off. I get 1 done and right away 3 others replace that one... man...

I've been at my parents the last few days and they want to do some redecorating. New wallpaper for our huge hall it is. Stairs and all.
My dad's big on doing things himself. My dad, my sis and I had to get rid off the old one first. It took us two entire days... (Lucky us: My dad was off for those days) My mum was keen on getting the kitchen done aswell. After an hour working we were certain not to do more than we have to, sorry kitchen.

Oh funny part: we pulled the whole wallpaper off and my mum (the decisionmaker for these type of things) hasn't even chosen a new one. I guess our hall will be looking yellowish rough for a while ;)
I mean my dad is working full time, it's not like he can just do everything at once now.

Less than 2 weeks and classes will start again... I'm just looking forward to lots of sunny days, just like the one today (don't mind it being warmer though ;) )

  

Today was my last...

...exam for this semester (hopefully). YEAY!

It's been an awfully long time: I've had at least 1 exam each month ever since December!! Ya basically 4 months almost continually studying for exams... 
I'm ready to take a deep breath, but still have to wait for the results...
The afternoon I spent talking to some people and organizing stuff for my move.
I'm supposed to move beginnig of April, but I probably will have to change that. My parents are going to help me but they are too busy that time so it'll have to be end of March.
Now I have to find a truck for rent for little money.
Also I'm looking into a new Internet/telephone provider... man why are there so many different choices of both...
My result so far is a headache and first I thought a weird noise...
But the noise is explainable. I don't know if I should like though.
It appears I'm not alone anymore.


My 'other' roomie is back. It feels like he never left. BUT I am certain he did about 30 times!! I let him go out my window. I even tried the kitchen and the bathroom window. Gosh he must like me very much. I don't deserve that honour as I don't have mutual feelings for him.
This is driving me crazy... how on earth did he get back into my room?? AGAIN!! If only I knew. It's not like I can just let him out again. He's up on that ceiling (probably 3 meters/10 feet or even more).
Too high for climbing up a chair and getting him. Nope! Can't do!
Guess I won't be sleeping alone tonight, am I right Mr. Ladybug?! ;)

I shouldn't be writing here right now, instead...

I should be studying. Ukay so right now it all should be about my final 2 exams. But meanwhile I'm also searching for a new place, because my roomie wants to move out soon. She's about too graduate next semester and won't really need to stay much longer. Seriously she just got 2 classes!!
I'll be fully booked next semester. So I'm trying to get things straight as soon as possible. So I'm busy finding a new flat with a new roomie and being a little stressed. For some reason I feel like I'll be messing sth up eventually. I don't know yet what it's going to be but it'll happen...

At the moment I can only tell you this much: 
Recently I rule in the kitchen (at least for now)! Dude, I made this delicious risotto from scratch today. Who knew I was such an amazing cook? - I didn't... until now. Most likely nobody else is going to find out because I won't be able to create the exact same. Yeah sure, I can try and make something else instead. Question though: Is it going to be as good? And what is it going to be? I guess one just has to be brave and find out :P

Hopefully next week I'll have enough time to give Chocolate Chip Cookies another try. I really want to eat them and this time get them right (you know, just like the ones in my head)....

Note to self:
Bake those cookies and bring the camera more often to anywhere ^^

My day started pretty slow...

It was dark outside and freezing. I just didn't feel well (wonder why?!).
I prefered staying in bed and watching whatever good stuff was on my laptop. 
In between I ate some breakfast and eventually felt even worse than before.
Finally facebook (well actually one of my fb-friends) was referring to the results from that Literary Studies exam we wrote last week. We were able to look 'em up today!
I could just think: Oi, now the day is totally screwed...
At least that's what I figured, but fortunately I was wrong . In fact, I didn't do so bad afterall (won't complain here ;) )... so my mood went up and everything looked so much brighter to me.
Later that day I was trying to avoid my studies for a while, but ended up doing at leats something.

At night some of my and my roomie's friends came over. (It was this surprise thing we had planned for my roomie for a couple days now).
Turned out pretty well: 
Pizza, wine, all sorts of candy and lots of talking involved :D
So sort of an awesomeish day ^^

BTW: I'll have to move soon, so I'm looking for a new place (again)!
Sweet, huh?! - NOT!!

Some hate it, some 'love' it...

Considering that today is February 14th... you can be sure that I'm talking about Valentine's Day! If I had to choose between hate and love than I guess I'd tend to pick love. On the one hand I'm being optimistic and on the other hand because last year's V-Day was the awesomest so far!
Pillow fight in San Francisco, I mean how much better can it get?!

Here some pics (didn't have my cam with me, so I have to give credits to my friends n the Internet ;) )

How on earth am I not to love San Francisco?!

Ukay n here a random video of that very day, so maybe u get an idea what I'm talking about ;)

Well so far today I had to take an exam, so that certainly was not the best part of my day, right?! Sure!

The only good part is that the rest of the day I can just do as I please (if that's the right way to put it ;) )

Yup, but I'm pretty sure you all will have a fabulous time, because why not?!

Always good to spread some love, so today's your day to make everyone see that everyday should be a day to show you care and to let'em know you love'em :D ... 

Spur of the moment kinda thing (is that right?!)

My less than 60 sec-gift for 2 of my friends, just because I felt like it and just because they were the only ones I saw after the exam, I'd probably have done more! So some other time maybe, folks :P


Today: After lunch at that college food place stuff thingy we went to that other place right across, it's like this cafe "Bruecke", pretty nice.
D. reserved a couch while I was supposed to get him a Cappuccino. I was gonna get a Latte Macchiatto and E. felt like a Cappucino aswell. Therefore I asked her to just get 2 of them (one for her and one for him). No problemo.


Except E.: "So what am I gonna say now when I order?
                 2 Cappuccini, please?!"
The barista overheard us & was just like: "You can say both! 'Cappucinos' is german and the other one is italian; so either way is fine!"


Never though about it before... so next time I order more than 2 beverages I'll have to remember: Latte Macchiati, Esspressi, Capuccini... :P


Uhhh, one more thing: gonna bake some delic version of Nm's Chocolate Chip Cookies laterrrr.... Yummm!!

Finals & Friendship

Studying for finals takes away my time for other things...

and in my study brakes I seem to drift off somehow... 
I get bored or whatsoever I don't know, who cares, doesn't matter... 
Anyways, that's how I discovered another interesting image I wanted to share...
So here you go and ya today I took my math exam which was kinda good (I think but not sure if I'm right). Tomorrow's my 'Integrated Language class 1' (and seriously who came up with that name?!) But well after that I still won't be done with finals (last one in March) :/
So please cross your fingers and press your thumbs so I'll remember all my vocab & grammar :P

 

For my friends : Love you all! xoxo 

Done with class that morning...

I left the building thinking:
'Seriously! ... seriously!...
really?!... ooh maaan!'
It's snowing - again. Not too bad yet but who knows, over night that might change. I certainly won't like that!

A few days ago was the first exam for this year. I'm pretty sure everyone agrees with me saying it was a mean one. Well, I guess the behaviour during lecture could have been better on certain days... ah whatever, let's just wait for the results.

Now time to prepare for the next exams, and I wanna get rid of that headache I've been having for quite some time.

It'll be a busy february, therefore I'm looking forward to some free time :)
These days I'm trying to cook some more. Even I can admit now that I'm not doing so bad afterall. Pretty decent meals, I tell ya... And oh yeah, that doesn't mean that I'll be cooking all the time, just so we're clear ;)

Lazy level for studying is kinda high.
How on earth can I find a better way to motivate myself?!
I have no idea...

My mind always drifts off to better places.... like a couple days ago, I've been thinking about geocaching. I'd like to try that sometime... need a GPS though.
I wonder if anyone I know tried that before... Certainly sounds like tons of fun!! So eventually, I'll try it.

Sick & tired...

I'm sick & tired of being sick & tired!
It just sucks! Especially during ur studyphase :P
Ah, nevermind, I'm still in a 'whatever'-mood.
Maybe that shows ya, how psyched I am ;)
Seriously love CA & can't wait to see everyone!

FYI: The ones that don't want to see me:
I give u a headstart to come up with excuses (u know, why u'll be busy and such!) Needs to last for a month, so:
telling me that you'll be having a headache for 4 weeks probably won't cut it.
Or actually... maybe it will; depends on how well u'll be able to present ur case ;)

The things that are going through my head...

are not easy to understand, especially for a stranger... without a map you won't be able to understand. It's like a maze... even I get stuck sometimes and run against a wall. Days later I might find my way out, question here: will I still need it or have I just skipped this obstacle somehow and try to tackle a new one....

Anyways, Consider yourself lucky:
I don't write as much as I talk.
Otherwise you'd be bombed with words, ideas, basically everything. And also I'd never be able to stop typig ;)

Tonight was one of those nights again!
I pretty much talked about all kinds of things in life, especially the ones that are not connected, like at all... somehow after hours I showed them (or probably more myself) that on a certain level they actually are. Ah, whatever at least I believe in my interlincing-theory :P

One the one hand I'd like thenpeople to be convinced as well, on the other hand I prefer believing that it doesn't matter if they do or not. I pleaded my case and came to this conclusion: I believe.
Let them think whatever they want. I just want them to make up their on mind & be open. I'm pretty sure I gave'em some food for thought.

yup, I was gonna note down sth else... kinda forget it along they way... it might come to me in a few minutes....
FYI: I randomly jump from one topic to a total different one, just like tonight, just so u know if you didn't already :P

Specialty for tonight though:
linking everything, narrowing it down (or NOT as said before: I tend to wander from the subject).

Anyways though my fellows might not agree; or let's say one part was  interested, the other a little annoyed (btw: is that how you write "annoyed"?)

Either way: I learned sth about myself tonight,
nothing I didn't know already on some level....
I guess I just connected some ideas... in some way I'd take this also as a certain way of progressing...

Oh, the other thing:
one of the reasons I like English: The language itself is somehow... well, let's say 'shorter'... for instance in German one always has the longest sentences. Really. Contrary, In English things seem to be a little more straightforward, shorter if you will ;)

In some ways college actually made me think about this a little more.
Funny story: Some of the stuff that we discuss in class about culture & understanding etc. Are bascially things I've been thinking about my whole life on a certain level. I guess my notions are not necessarily the same but nevertheless... anyways I guess I was even going down a deeper road... but well, right now for classes, it's the basics I need to pass & not getting too much ahead (of class or even of myself).

Be careful Freshman on Campus...

crazy ppl those Freshman :P

On Campus it's simple to distinguish between the Freshman and all other semesters. At the start of the semester one finds them among a cluster of people. Either looking bored or desperately tryin to maintain every little useful information they can get. Watch them on Campus tryin to keep pace following whatever tutor is eager enough to show'em around (like little chicks following the hen). You might even mistake'em for tourists who seem to have invaded the Campus constantly asking for directions.
If you spot one all by him-/herself you'll often notice depictured scene: Deseperate and searching look in their eyes. Fingers clenched around that one important and very scrunched up piece of paper. The lucky ones are able to decode the Campus map. 
Even if you don't see them with your own eyes, you'll be certain they arrived. Lingering behind is the smell of motivation that will inevitably find its way to your nose. 
Dude I am glad I've been to Essen before, made it easier to blend in.
Also meeting new ppl everyday is interesting, I wonder with whom I'll be hangin in a few months... just gotta wait n see I guess...

Uebersetzung:
Am Campus ist es leicht zwischen Erstis und allen anderen Semestern zu unterscheiden. Am Anfang des Semesters findet man sue unter einer Traube von Menschen. Entweder schauen sie gelangweilt oder versuchen verzweifelt jede auch noch so brauchbare Info zu behalten. Seht sie auf dem Campus wie sie was auch immer fuer einen Tutoren zu folgen, der eifrig genug ist, ihnen die Gegend zu zeigen, vergleichbar einer Horde von Kueken die der Glucke hinterher eilen. Man kann sie auch mit Touristen verwechseln, welche auf den Campus einfallen und einen dauernd nach der Richtung fragen.
Wenn man dann mal zur Abwechslung einen alleine antrifft, sieht man oft folgende Szene: Verzweifelrt, suchender Blick in den Augen. Die Finger um ein wichtiges und zerknuelltes Stueck Papier verkrampft. Die Gluecklichen koennen die Campuskarte entziffern. Auch wenn man sie nicht mit den eigenen Augen sieht, kann man sich sicher sein, dass sie angekommen sind.
Zurueck bleibt der Geruch von Motivation, der unausweichlich den Weg zu deiner Nase findet.
Man Leute, bin ich froh schon in Essen zuvor gewesen zu sein, dass machts einfacher sich einzufuegen.
Ausserdem ist es interessant, jeden Tag neue Leute kennen zu lernen, ich frag mich, mit wem ich wohl in ein paar Monaten abhaengen werde... muss wohl einfach abwarten denke ich...

public transportation can be useful... or sometimes not :P

Wednesday: It is clever to look up the times for public transportation. That's what I did :) But it isn't very clever if you don't stick to your plan ;) For my defense, I was gonna meet my old class mate N. at the bus stop. I made it in time. Unfortunately she didn't. The tram/ streetcar was late and therefore she was aswell :( So we met at the central station in 'Essen' instead. While I was waiting, I looked up the train schedule. Once united we got on the next train buuut... how was I supposed to know that we can only take regional trains?! The 'IC' we just got in, doesn't count :/ Tryin to get off the train departed. Just our luck :P Got off at the next stop 'Muehlheim' central station n caught the 'right' train. From 'Duisburg' central station it wasn't too hard to get to college via Tram. But then... Why does the 'Duisburg' Campus have to be confusing? If only we had been there before. Afterall our plan 'punctuality' didn't work out. Instead we caaame about n hour late :P Man 1 n a half hours getting there, seriously.... We arrived at the end of the speech for 'English'. Missin out on those 20min won't hurt that much, will it?! 
N. stayed while I went to the cafeteria. I had almost 2h! to kill. Luckily I wasn't the only one :) Time for chattin with fellow students.
11.10am I was listening to some Economy concerning stuff. Then a tour around the 'Duisburg' Campus. Good thing this time I had a different guide keeping up the pace. About 20/30min later N. n me made our way home :)
BTW Funny thing here: 2 English speakin guys (my guess here: americans :P) casted N. for Hollister. They are going to open their 2nd or 3rd store in Germany. Oberhausen is only about 12min away :D So if I'll get itchy feet I'll know where to find a 'flair of ambiente' --> California, how I miss my 2nd home...

Uebersetzung:
Mittwoch: Es ist schlau sich die Fahrzeiten der oeffentlichen Verkehrsmittel vorher rauszusuchen. Das hab ich auch gemacht :) Aber es ist nicht sehr klever, wenn man nicht bei seinem Plan bleibt ;) Zu meiner Verteidigung, ich wollte mich mit meiner alten Klassenkameradin N. an der Bushalte treffen. Ich habs auch puenktlich geschafft. Leider sie nicht. Die Strassenbahn war zu spaet, und deswegen war sie es auch :( Also haben wir uns stattdessen am Essener Hauptbahnhof getroffen. Waehrend ich gewartet habe, hab ich mich schon mal nach dem Fahrplan erkundigt. Zusammen sind wir dann in den naechsten Zug, aaaaber... woher sollte ich auhc wissen, dass wir nur Reginal Zuege nehmen koennen?! Der "IC" in dem wir gerade waren, zaehlt leider nicht darunter :/ Beim Versuch des Aussteigens ist der Zug abgefahren. Tya das war unser Glueck an dem Tag :P Wir sind am naechsten Stop in Muehlheim Hauptbahnhof ausgestiegen und haben den naechst 'richtigen' Zug genommen. Vom 'Duisburger' Hauptbahnhof aus war es nicht schwer, zur UNi via Strassenbahn zu gelangen. Aber dann... warum muss der 'Duisburger' Campus auch so verwirrend sein? Wenn wir nur schon einmal vorher dagewesen waeren. Nach allem ist unser Plan "Puenktlichkeit" nicht gut gegangen. Stattdessen siiiind wir 1Std. zu spaet gekommen :P Man anderthalb Std. Hinfahrt, wirklich... Wir sind am Ende der Rede von 'Anglistik' gekommen. Die 20min verpassen wird schon nicht so schlimm sein, oder?! N. ist dirt geblieben waehrend ich in die Cafeteria gegangen bin. Ich musste iwie 2Std. verbringen. Gluecklicherweise war ich nicht die einzige :) Zeit um mit meinen Komilitonen zu quatschen.
11.10h hab ich mir was fuer BWL angehoert. Dann eine Fuehrung des 'Duisburger' Campuses. Gut das ich diesmal eine andere Fuehrein hatte, die das schnell erledigt hat. Etwa 20/30min spaeter haben N. und ich uns auf den Weg heim gemacht :)
Nebenbei lustige Sache hier: 2 englischsprechende Typen haben N. fuer Hollister gecastet. Sie werden den 2ten oder 3ten Store in Deutschland eroeffnen. Oberhausen ist nur etwa 12min weit weg :D Also wenn mich mal das Fernweh packt, dann weiss ich, wo ich ein "Flair von Ambiente" finde --> Kalifornien, man wie ich meine 2.te Heimat vermisse...

livin in the city...

About 580.000 ppl live in Essen and now I'm one of'em. I'm from a small place (maybe 5.500 habitants). It is... a difference. Ya and if you add Essen twice you almost get the amount for San Jose (about a million). Soo I'm kinda used to big cities one can say but it does feel weird somehow.
Like the other day I was takin public transportation (I'll be doin that pretty much every day). I saw so many ppl - a beer bottle in one hand and mostly a cigarette in the other. This can be seen at any time of the day. FYI in Germany it's not against the law to drink in public :P
I guess I never was aware of it. Seems to be a strange role model for kids and well also in general.
Also today was my first day at college (basically that was already y-day but there were only these welcome speeches, so I didn't go, supposely it was quite boring :P) Today was allrite, met some of my fellow students, listened to some talks, whatsoever. The funnier part(considering..) was the 2 hour!! guided tour (by 2 guys from the students council). About 15ppl walking all over Campus through cafeterias, canteens, library whatsoever. All other groups managed to see everything in just an hour. Our guides were leading us from east to west n back n all around the Campus...well summin it up it wasn't the most structured tour as we practically saw everything twice ;) I guess they were a little out of it or even a lot...which made it at least amusing n somewhat efficient :P 

Uebersetzung:
Um die 580.000 Menschen leben in Essen und nun bin ich einer von ihnen. Ich komme aus nem kleinem Ort (etwa 5.500 Einwohner). Es ist... ein Unterschied. Ya und wenn man Essen 2mal addiert erhaelt man fast den Betrag fuer San Jose (um die Million). Also bin ich in etwa an grosse Staedte gewoehnt, koennte man sagen, aber es fuehlt sich schon eigenartig an.
Letztens bin ich mit der Strassenbahn gefahren (ich werde das etwa jeden Tag machen). Ich hab so viele Menschen gesehen - eine Bierflasche in der einen und oft auch eine Zigarette in der anderen Hand. Das kann man zu jeder Uhrzeit hier sehen. Wichtig zu wissen, dass es in Deutschland nicht gesetzeswidrig ist in der Oeffentlichkeit zu trinken (man mein deutsch ist wirklich komisch :P).
Ich denke, mir war das nie so richtig bewusst. Scheint ein merkwuerdiges Vorbild fuer Kider und auch allgemein zu sein.
Ausserdem war heute mein erster Tag an der Uni (theoretisch war das schon gestern, aber da waren nur solche Willkommensreden, also bin ich nicht hin, sollte sehr langweilig gewesen sein :P) Heute war ganz ukay, hab einige meiner Kommilitonen getroffen, hab n paar Info-Vortraegen gelauscht und so was halt... Der lustigere Teil(wenn man bedenkt...) war die 2stuendige!! Fuehrung (von 2 Typen aus der KuWi Fachschaft). Etwa 15 Leute die den Camous umkreisten, durch Cafeterias, Mensa, Buecherei, usw. Alle anderen Gruppen haben das ganze in nur ner Stunde geschafft. Unsere Leiter haben uns von den Westen in den Osten geschickt und wieder zurueck und um den ganzen Campus herum... zusammengefasst war dies nicht die best strukturierte Tour, da wir alles etwa 2mal geshen haben ;) Ich denke, sie waren ein wenig verpeilt oder sogar ein wenig mehr... was das Ganze zumindest etwas amuesant und ein wenig effizient :P

found my new 'WG' .....

Yeay! Finally it is unofficialy official. I found a super nice flat I'll be sharing with C. After more than 2h of talk we figured out we got a lot in common. Well, the type of thing you find out when you talk for 2h n never met before :P She's my age and studys the same as I ( ; just to give you a hint of what I'm talkin 'bout) ....That's pretty cool. So ya, we scheduled a meeting on Sept. 1st. After my English-assessment-test-thingy (that got me all worked up and was really strange :P)
I liked it (not the test I'm talkin bout here...the meeting ppl). At the meeting we already were pretty sure that this might work out. So that's the unofficial unofficial part ;) The next day the phone call follwed that made it unofficially official. Yep so the official official part comes when I'll sign the contract and get the key :D It's like this big metaphor if you feel me ;)
So this made me all happy as I can quit searching now...a huge relieve. Now another thing I have to consider....my furniture. Still gotta get some. So far it only consists of a bedframe....Oh yeah...If that doesn't change until I move in, then I'll prefer sleeping on the floor I guess :P But nothing's set in stone yet. I still have time till October. The introduction week (which only lasts 3 days :P ) starts Oct. 7th if I'm not mistaken. Yup. Somehow there always is something that needs to be done...but for now I'm happy to be movin into my own place soon........haha awesome!!

Uebersetzung:
Juhu! Endlich ist es unoffiziell offiziell. Ich hab ne schoene Wohnung gefunden, die ich mit C. WG-maessig teilen werde. Nach mehr als 2Std. Gequatsche, habe wir heraus gefunden, dass wir vieles gemeinsam haben. Die Sachen, die man herausfindet, wenn man sich fuer 2Std. unterhaellt und sich zuvor nie getroffen hat :P Sie ist in meinem Alter und studiert das gleiche wie ich ( ; um euch ne Idee davon zu geben, wovon ich rede).....Das ist ziemlich cool. Also wir haben eine Besichtigung am 1. Sept. festgelegt. Nach meinem Englisch-Einstufungstest-dingsda (welcher mich ganz aufgebracht hat und ziemlich eigenartig war :P )
Mir hats gefallen (nicht der Test, den ich hier meine....das Treffen Leute). Bei der Besichtigung waren wir uns schon ziemlich sicher, dass dies zusatnde kommen koennte. Das ist der unoffizielle unoffizielle Part ;) Am naechsten Tag folgte das Telefonat, dass das ganze dann unoffiziell offiziell machte. Yup, also der offiziell offizielle Teil folgt dann, wenn ich den Vertrag unterschreibe und den Schluessel bekomme :P Das ist wie ne grosse Metapher, wenn ihr wisst was ich meine ;)
Also, dies hat mich gluecklich gemacht, da ich jetzt aufhoeren kann zu suchen..... eine riesige Erleichterung. Nun eine weitere Sache um die ich mich kuemmern muss.....meine Einrichtung. Muss mir immer noch was besorgen. Soweit handelt es sich dabei nur um ein Bettgestell... Oh yeah... Falls sich dies nicht aendert, bis ich einziehe, werde ich es wohl vorziehen auf dem Boden zu schlafen, denke ich :P Aber ist ja noch nichts in Stein gemeisselt. Hab ja immernoch bis Oktober Zeit. Die "O-Woche" (die komischerweise nur 3 Tage dauert :P ) faengt am 7. Okt. an, wenn ich micht nicht taeusche. Yup, irgendwie gibt es immer etwas, das getan werden muss .... aber fuer jetzt bin ich erst einmal froh, dass ich bald in meine eigene WG ziehen werde ....haha awesome!!

i'm a student now (I guess :P)

I guess u'll find me here somewhere :P

So yes I did get my acceptance letter, actually more than 1 :D
It is kinda cool to have proof that those colleges really want to have me...hehe (Though I'll be tossing the letters now :P)

But I can only attend one...sooo I had to decide. In the end that was kinda easy because the class I wanted to take in the first place is only held at 2 colleges I applied at haha. Yup. so who cares about the other 10 I applied at..haha

On Monday I had to go there and stand in line, well more like in a huge group, before these (what was it like) 5 doors (?) yup. it said 8am sharp. I am lucky to have a sister who just lives like 5 minutes away walkin distance :) So I arrived like 7.45am and was a little shocked to see already all these people there. Man I guess I was pretty lucky that I just had to wait 1 hour.
Considering that I must have been in the first quarter that got in. I even met an old classmate of mine. Quite an coincidence I'd say.
Can't wait to receive my student ID in September :D
Now an English test awaits me (it said to figure out what level I shall be in) so I'm crossing my fingers.Also I'm searching for an apartment....not so much fun yet. On the weekend I will be looking at the first places firsthand. I hope I'll find something decent ;)

Did u ever feel like ur day has passed somehow and u barely did anything productive? I can say I am not nearly as busy as I used to be in the States. Did I just get that boring? Is it the place? The people? Not entirely sure. Somehow yes I guess. Somehow I'm still missing my Californian life and everything that goes with it way too much. Don't think this'll pass that easy or if ever....What am I gonna DO??

Uebersetzung:
Also ya, ich hab meine Zusage bekommen, genau genommen mehr als nur 1 :D Es ist irgendwie cool, Beweis zu haben, dass diese Unis mich wollen...hehe (Auch wenn ich die Briefe jetzt wegschmeisse :P)


Aber ich kann nunmal nur eine Uni besuchen.....deswegen musste ich mich entscheiden. Letztendlich war das ganz einfach, da der Studiengang, welchen ich von vorne herein wollte, nur an 2 Unis angeboten wird, an denen ich mich beworben habe haha. Yup. Also wen interssieren dann schon die anderen 10 an denen ich mich beworben habe ...hahaAm Montag musste ich dahin und mich in die Reihe stellen, ja eigentlich mehr in ne grosse Gruppe quetschen, vor etwa 5 Tueren yup. Es hiess Punkt 8 Uhr. Ich kann mich gluecklich schaetzen, eine Schwester zu haben, die nur etwa 5 Gehminuten von dort wohnt :) Da sind wir so gegen 7.45Uhr angekommen und ich war etwas geschockt so viele Menschen dort vorzufinden. Man, ich hatte ziemliches Glueck, da ich nur etwa ne Std. warten musste.

Wenn man bedenkt, dass ich etwa unter dem ersten Viertel war, dass herien kam. Ich hab sogar ne alte Klassenkameradin getroffen. Was ein Zufall wuerd ich sagen.Kanns kaum abwarten im September endlich meinen Studentenausweis zu bekommen :D


Nun erwartet mich noch ein English Test (es hiess um mich einzustufen) also drueck ich mir die Daumen.
Ausserdem suche ich noch nach ner WG....nicht so spassig bisher. AM WE werde ich mir dann mal einige Sachen persoenlich ansehen. Ich hoffe ich finde was passendes ;)


Hast du dich schon mal so gefuehlt, dass dein Tag an dir vorueberging, du aber kaum etwas produktives getan hast? Ich kann sagen, dass ich nicht annaehernd so beschaeftigt bin als in den Staaten. Bin ich einfach so langweilig geworden? Ist es der Ort? Die Leute? Nicht ganz sicher.
Irgendwie doch denke ich. Irgendwie vermisse ich mein kalifornisches Leben und alles was damit zusammenhaengt doch viel zu sehr. Denke nicht, dass dies so schnell vorueber geht oder ob ueberhaupt.... Was soll ich bloss TUN??