*from April 5
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Currently en route to Rome! First I'll try to catch up on the 3rd and 4th.
April 3rd (Tuesday) was orientation day. I met up with 2 of my friends in the lobby-ish area of our apartment building to head to the International Office to start orientation at 9am. We met the international student coordinator, some current students who are part of the HelpingHand, and our academic coordinator.
Orientation consisted of (not necessarily in this order):
-Introduction presentation.
-Filling out forms.
-We went out for lunch as a KU group with our international student coordinator and some of the students.
-Tour of campus.
-Went to Media Markt, where I got my international cell phone and SIM card.
-Paid for health insurance (i.e., gave them our money, signed a form, and got a pen, post-it tabs, and a planner in return. While waiting, the guys played with blocks--it was adorable haha.
I went to dinner with 2 friends at a pizza place down the street from campus, where I ordered a mushroom & ham pizza. Later that night, we met up with other international students & HelpingHand students for the pub crawl. We went to the first bar and I met students from the USA, New Zealand, Brazil, and of course, Germany. After that bar, the 3 of us left to go back to the apartment since we had class at 8am the next morning.
On Wednesday (April 4th), I had my first day of class. Met up at 7:45am with 2 friends to go to class. Our first class was fluid dynamics, and it seems like we have a good professor. :) Then we had Germany within Europe. I'll be working in a group with another classmate in the religion & church "expert group" for the timeline project.
We got out of class early, so I then had lunch with 3 KU students--I had some sort of meat (reminded me of Spam), salad, mashed potatoes, (alphabet!) soup, and Fanta.
Our next class was heat transfer. We have a nice professor, but he is sort of hard to understand. The classroom desk/chair set up is also really awkward.
After our day of classes was done, I went with some KU students, as well as one of our German classmates, to buy school supplies and groceries.
Since Monday, I thought my Rome plans weren't going to happen because I couldn't get in contact with my friend that I was supposed to be going with (he's also from KU, but studying at a different university in Germany). I was stressing over it a lot and pretty bummed out because I've been looking forward to it. I wasn't getting any response to the the Facebook messages or emails that I sent--I didn't know what to do. I started to look for flights/other trains. I talked to my mom because she knows that I've been wanting to go to Rome for quite some time now & she told me that I should go if I wanted to. I called & emailed the bed & breakfast that my friend made the reservation at to see if I could still check-in, so I planned to go to Rome--with or without my friend. I basically started a search party for him--and found some other KU students who are at the same university as him, via Facebook.
I activated my international cell phone (with my brother's help) and figured out train schedules. I Skyped with my parents, and then I went to bed around 4am.
This morning (Thursday, April 5th), I got ready for my 9:45am class--my only class of the day. After class, I printed out some travel documents--with the help of 3 German students. I then went back to my apartment to pack, eat, and finish getting ready for Rome.
I had a slight problem with my international phone--the texting was set to T9...in German. Luckily, I was able to find a German student in a computer lab who actually had the same phone and who was able to help me out. He helped with the T9 & also set my phone to English. SUPER helpful! I went back to my apartment to finish packing.
I left the apartment and walked to the train station. I reserved a bed on the train to Rome--but couldn't get a reservation for my friend (who I finally heard back from--turns out that he was having internet access problems.) When I arrived in Ulm, I bought a pretzel and a Sudoku book. I was able to call my friend...who was in class at the time...meaning he wasn't at the train station that we had planned to meet at. We decided that we will just meet up in Rome--and other people will be with him.
I took a train from Ulm to Munich, where I bought a bratwurst for dinner. I then got on the train to Roma Termini! :) I was on the top bunk in a cabin with 4 other people.
Side note: I keep finding myself saying, "Nein sprechen sie Deutsch," and asking, "Do you speak English?" I've found that most of the younger people do. I'm happy I've found people who are able to help me!
Today, I also keep finding myself on the verge of tears--for many reasons: lonely, a little afraid, missing home, and because I keep thinking about how awesome Rome is going to be! I still can't believe this is happening & that I'll be there for Easter. I am SO thankful.
"If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it." I feel like God will be putting me through tests like this during my time in Europe (& afterward) to show me that I'm stronger than I think I am. I am learning so much about myself and the world--it's incredible. I know that He is always with me. <3 I know that I am growing more as a person--physically (I will have calves of steel after all the walking I have been doing haha), emotionally, and--especially after this weekend--spiritually. I am so thankful that I have this opportunity.
I will get my Eurail pass back at 8am and I should be in Rome around 9am. Hopefully my phone works by tomorrow. The other 4 people are asleep--I should probably get some sleep, too.
Peace. Love. Happiness.
--TR
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