The last few days have been filled with exploring and little computer time; however, I do feel the need to get a quick blog in. Just with an update on daily adventures.
Saturday #2: First night out on the down in Heidelberg. We were instructed by my crazy German housemate on how to eat glass....needless to say it was quite an experience.
Sunday #3: Climbed to the middle of the mountain called the Philosophenweg and saw the amazing view of the city! (saving the top for a day for a different day)
Monday #4: First German Test! I was very pleased to be placed in the Advanced class, but now I have alot of intense grammar in store for me. I was quickly reminded of what happens when you don´t use your German over the summer. Oh well, too late now. Just forced to spend a little time out of the roof overlooking the bridge to review I guess......such a hard life I lead now! Caitlin, my floormate and I, also went to work out and stumbled upon an Olympic Training Center! I am gonna do whatever I can to meet some famous track runners! ha We also found a beautiful running path along a farm. It had apple trees, a honey farm, tomato sheds, and a pumpkin patch! So beautiful!
More updates tonight when we return from our RUN up the mountain to the Philosophen Weg! Time to get myself into track shape!
...with this city and just Europe! I can't describe in words how surreal these first few days have been...I am simply in awe! In awe of the scenery, the people, the culture and the everyday differences that make life here so interesting. I have always loved people watching and as I traveled from Chicago to Stockholm, Sweden (most beautiful airport) to Frankfurt, Germany the differences in clothing and body language varied so much. It became a game for me to try and guess what country each person was from. Europeans have such a sophistication that Americans often lack. They are all dressed so nicely and seem so put together. Even on international flights everyone around me just looked so trendy. You could spot an American a mile away! They were the ones wearing sweats with messy buns, while everyone else wore blazers and suits. My goal to blend in as a German was definitely not being met while on my flight. Oh well, 4 more months to figure it out.
Aside from my game of "match that country", the 12 hours of travel went very smoothly...until I arrived in Frankfurt. My AJY group was not at the meeting point and the payphones were not sending my calls through! For some odd reason I was very calm throughout my entire day of traveling even using my German, and navigating my way around..but once I finally arrived and found no one waiting for me, I freaked. Thankfully after about 30 minutes of wandering around I found some of my fellow classmates and we were able to get in touch with the university. Apparently they made other travel arrangements for us...without telling us...and we were no longer meeting in the same area, or taking a bus back like perviously planned. A small group of us instead took the train. And that was my first real adventure in Germany...
#1: Navigating around without a map on a German train.
We had to carry all of our luggage with us as we train hopped back to Heidelberg. It was quite the rush (& workout) throwing our 50lb bags on and off the trains while people were trying to get through and before the doors closed. But we managed just fine and actually go to know each other very well in the process. My American Junior Year (AJY) classmates are all very outgoing and nice, which made me very comfortable with them from the beginning.
Anywhoo...after we took the trains and the taxis and I was soaked in sweat (did I mention it was the end of a heat wave in Germany?) I ended up here..at my beautfiul home in my new beautiful city.
Yes, I am living a dream.
It is beyond beautiful. Cobblestone streets, outdoor cafes, winding little hillside roads, fresh produce stands, amazing bakerys and ice cream stores on every corner. Heidelberg is very diverse (just what I love) but also true blue German (even better). It is the perfect combonation of city life meeting nature. We are in the middle of valley, surrounded my hills mountains and forests with the Neckar River running right down the center. It is really unbelieveable! I have so much left to discuss, but now that we have internet my blogging will be more regular. Check back in tomorrow if you would like to hear about life "Unter die Straße"
and check facebook for more pictures of my first few days!
....that is all the time left of what seemed like an endless number of days left on my calendar to day dream about my European adventure ahead. I cannot believe the time has finally arrived and the best way I can describe how I am feeling is simply anxious. I am ready to arrive in Germany and start my adventure, no doubt about that, but I wouldn't be Molly if I was not slightly nervous and jitty about the whole thing. Naturally I have also managed to find the bittersweet taste of things I will be leaving behind like my roommates 21st birthdays, dressing up for Halloween (although, I am bringing Ke$h with to Germany) and all those fall football games...but this is an adventure of a lifetime and I can't let those things hold me back, even for a second.
As most of you know, this has not been the easiest year for me or my family, but now is my chance to turn it around. I chose to name this blog, "Chasing Chance is for the Brave" because now is my time to do just that...chase chance and learn about life on my own. It also just happens to be a line from my "theme song" for this adventure. Yes, another one of Mollys theme songs. This song is called "Nothing Ever Happens" by Rachel Platten, and it perfectly describes my worries as well as goals for this trip. I have a song (or 2, or 12) I love for just about every memorable moment in my life, or any emotion I am feeling. Morgan is the writer in the family, not me (this is my apology for bad grammar in this blog along with horrifically long run on sentences..I tend to write how I speak..and probably boring thoughts). I just find the words I wish I could write in different songs that display my feelings far better than I ever could and I cling to those songs through the good and the bad. Point being, "Nothing Ever Happens" displays what my biggest goal for this trip is...and if you want to understand you are better off listening to the song then reading my attempt to explain. So..go ahead, listen to Rach and then come back and finish reading this entry. You probably should listen to it twice and then come back and read...the second time is always better...
I really do hope to get better at this whole blogging thing and being able to express myself through my own words rather than someone elses, but that is just one of the goals on the "Germany to do list". Aside from obvious like, meet new friends, improve my German, maybe meet a cute German boy...my greatest goal is to learn about myself and keep the promise I made to try something new every single day, all 118 days I am away. Thats what I take from this song. Try something new, even when your oh-so scared to do so...and push past everything holding you back..because in reality..you are the ONLY one holding you back.
I can't come back from Europe without stories and adventures. So prepare yourself to read about at least 118 of them (no worries, my entries will not always be this long..I don't think I'll have time for that). Now is my time to listen to Rach,
"leave what you don't need. you're free and the pieces will fall into place. you and you only who can make a little space and get out of your own way."
Bring it on Germany! Ich bin bereit!
Thank you for all of your support. I love and miss you all :)
- Molly
