I'm in love...

...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!

Miss and love you all!
Molly