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I woke up, got ready, started packing my stuff & made/ate breakfast (strawberry yogurt--more edible than the plain yogurt!, bunny bread, braided bread, strawberries, and berry tea) while listening to choir recordings. While I was packing, I stuffed the chocolate (that our family friend got for me) in my luggage...and took a picture of it because I thought it was hilarious. :P (By the way, I usually don't like coconut, but these are good!)
My family friend came to the apartment and then the taxi came to pick us up to go to the train station. We got to the station, and found the ticket/information counter to get my Eurail pass validated. After that got taken care of, we went up to the platforms. She showed me the time tables (yellow for departures, white for arrivals) & how to know where the train will stop at the platform (A, B, C, D - 1st class/2nd class). She asked a guy to take our picture and then we talked to him while waiting for the train. He's from the USA (Dallas, TX), but originally from China. He was in Marburg for a conference & was taking the train to Frankfurt to head back to the US. The train came, so I said thank you & bye to my family friend and then I got on to the train, with help from the guy to get my luggage on board.
I found a seat next to someone, but the person in front of me had his chair back. I was just going to deal with it, but there was an empty seat across the aisle way next to another lady. I asked if I could sit there...she responded in German. After using signs/pointing at the leaned back chair, she nodded that I could sit next to her. The ticket person came by and I showed her my Eurail pass (the first of many times that I will be using my pass!). A couple minutes into the ride, the lady I'm sitting next to asked me something in German...she pointed to my backpack & I guess she asked me to move it...I'm pretty sure I had the best look of "I'm-so-confused-I-don't-know-what-to-say-or-do-since-we-can't-understand-each-other." I don't think she was very happy with me... She got up and I moved my backpack--from the context, I think she asked if I could move my bag so she can get up to go to the bathroom.
Side note: Last night, I realized how I've been a minority all my life--even now in Europe. I'm Asian, from the US, speak English, a woman studying engineering in Germany.
It's now ~4pm. Earlier, the lady said something else to me...not sure what though. maybe saying there's enough overhead room to put my backpack up? but I don't want to, because I like keeping an eye on my stuff. The train emptied out a little in Frankfurt am Main, so I just moved to another row. At one of the stops, 4 Americans came on the train--from Pennsylvania and Virginia--and one of them sat next to me. After they left, and at a different stop, another lady came on the train later & asked in German if she could sit by me--I just moved over to the window seat. I ate my lunch & fell asleep. I've been sleeping on & off.
A tear came when "Breath of Heaven" played on my MP3 player. The sun was shining, I was taking a cat nap (one of my hobbies, especially on sunny Sunday afternoons) & 2 songs about home played. *le sigh* I've seen some cute little villages here on the mountain, but I don't see myself living out in one of these secluded areas.
The train is stopped at Triberg right now. I ate my chocolate egg with the prize inside. The chocolate was good & the toy was a little race car that I got to put together. The lady that was next to me moved across the aisle earlier for more legroom... I don't know if she saw me taking pictures of my little car lol.
These views from the train on the mountain are breathtaking--so many trees & so much green grass. Thank You, God, for the world! It's definitely not like the landscape back home. Civil engineering is amazing, too--rail systems, tunnels, highways.
Sleeping on & off again--a little over an hour until I'm at my destination! :)
Random thought: What if babies' first words weren't really dada or mama, but their "random sounds" that they make are actually a word in a different language...
I arrived in what will be my "home" for the next 3 months! I went towards the taxis to meet with the student, Linda. It was nice to be welcomed by someone in the city! I got a welcome bag from the university, and she drove me to the apartment. I briefly met my roommate, and then went out with Linda to the grocery store after dropping my stuff off. I bought sugar, shampoo, and conditioner--surprisingly, they had my brand of shampoo/conditioner! We went to Linda's apartment to drop off her groceries & so I could borrow some mugs. I went back to my apartment & started settling in. My roommate (we have our own rooms but share the kitchen & bathroom(s)) helped me with the internet, and offered for me to have any of the food in the fridge. I Skype called my family to let them know I arrived, and was also able to video chat with some friends back at school in the USA.
I cooked the spaghetti that was in the welcome bag. The instructions were mostly in German...I was able to cook the pasta, but turning the tomato paste into sauce was a different story. I think I may have partially made tomato soup?
I Skype called and Facebook chatted with family & friends a little bit more. I have orientation in the morning. G'nite. Last thoughts/notes for the night: 1) listening to choir recordings. 2) tap water is okay to drink. 3) find a Catholic church.
Peace. Love. Happiness.
--TR
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