Blarghhh

Annoying emails. One from a student whose coming to Bonn to study next semester. He asked for information and I sent an exhaustingly long email about the dorm and food situation here. But now he wants me to answer common sense questions/questions I don't know the answer to, and more. "The single rooms are quieter, right?" And no one answered my questions before I came. >.> The other is from a girl that I hung out with quite a bit for the first 2-3 days here. Since then we've hardly seen each other and when I suggested a coffee awhile ago she kept putting it off and I just forgot about her. Now she wants all my hard-found-out information about my trip to Luxembourg last weekend. Not even a very friendly email. She just wants to know exactly what trains and hostels are cheapest, etc. I feel sort of used.

And yeah, I'm a little sleep deprived, still have a little stress coming down from last weekend, and I'm staring class registration and a customs battle in the face. And the allergies are beginning too...

Afghanistan

Conversation in the comments section of this photo, uploaded by a friend from the region:

• I know this is wrong, but looking back at Taliban, I can't say that was right either. I hate the inconsistency that I always feel within me. I don't have the answer. And it bothers me so much. It bothers me a lot
• Roya jan I think we are positioned in an inconsistent situation, I have the same feeling when I see my country and people are occupied by others but at the same time there is no1 among ourselves (afghans) better than foreigners either. (Sage zard beyadare shaghal)

Seven A.M. and Smiling!

This is the second day in a row that I've jumped out of bed joyfully at 7:00. Sick, I tell you!

Loving Bonn

Love love love it here. Maybe because this is my second semester abroad, I've totally turned the typical 'emotional reaction chart' on its head. The Honeymoon Phase is supposed to come first, followed by burn-out and homesickness, then looking at things closer to the way they are... blah blah blah. I started out very pragmatic, comparing things to Spain for both better and for worse, concentrating on what needed to get done, etc. But wow, now I'm really falling in love... honeymoon phase for sure!

My Day Today:

- Grammar Class from 9 to 1:00
- Lunch with friends
- Dollar store errands
- Post office errands
- Grocery store
- Planned weekend trip to Luxembourg
- Cooked Korean Sushi
- Took a solo afternoon trip to Bad-Godesberg, ate a picnic and hiked around the castle
- Walked home the long way from the bus station
- Sent my parents a nice long email update
- Nice long shower
- Edited a week's worth of photos
- Reorganized several Facebook albums and added about 100 pictures
- Homework

Days are full and awesome. :D

Please tell me I'm not just being a sore loser here. I was pretty excited to see the other winners for the photo contest I entered, and was impressed by a lot of them. But this is the one that bumped me down to #2 in my category:


Um, really? Seriously? Big Ben and a Double Decker Bus in London? Not only one of the less adventurous and more stereotypical study abroad locations, it also 'cleverly' combines two of the most stereotypical images of London! I bet a lot of tourists have this same picture minus the slightly cool technique - I know I do.

It's fun to have Big Ben look really clear and with good light, and have the bus zooming by... but it's not THAT cool, and I don't even think it came together with very good composition. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it's actually a unique masterpiece worth of first prize. :P But I find it just a sorta cool picture that sums up London. I wouldn't have even submitted it if it were mine. Maybe I'm missing something.

Grey Day

I've had really brilliant luck with the weather since I came to Germany, but today is one of those grey days where its hard to ever really wake up. Cold fog in the morning, the painfully bright cloudy sky at noon, and then the slow, slow slip into evening and night. I went to the store and got the last things I needed for my room and to survive everything being shut during Karneval. I've cleaned up a bit, caught up on my journal. It's hard to bother doing much else. :)

Roughing it in Bonn

I thought they'd take way too good care of me here in Bonn, and at first they did. Registration was a breeze, and they gave me books of information, maps, timetables, etc. But somehow it only highlighted the things they didn't help with. There was even a shuttle to my dorm, but once it drove away... I was suddenly completely alone. I managed to get the keys to my room, filled out the damage form, and started to unpack. There were things I realized I needed. To start with, food and a blanket.

In Pamplona, things were closer together. Or were they really? Maybe Bonn only seems big and scary because its new. I tend to overestimate distances at first. Still, in Pamplona residences were built over shops, and the Eroski on the corner was so close I could practically hold my breath getting there from my apartment. Here it was a solid ten minute walk to the first grocery stores. I didn't know yet whether I could use any dishes or cookware, and I'd forgotten to bring a bag with me, so I just bought English Muffins, Olive Oil Butter Spread, Gouda Cheese, Garlic Bread, and a few ready-meals.

I drank tap-water out of my metal water bottle, and ate some potato-vegetable micro-meal with the tiny fork and spoon I keep inside of it. I'll have to go without a blanket, too. At least I have sheets and thermal wear.