Again, I am still at that public computer in the library, so the keyboard is still funny (this is the 3rd topic posted at this computer in the past half hour, in case you were wondering if I was doing anything in between. I think this will be the last topic, as people have to stand at these computers instead of sitting, and standing still is boring).
Well, when I arrived Tuesday morning, it turned out that I couldn't get into my room as no one knew where the key was, and all the offices were closed the whole day and had been closed for a while (it was a holiday. It seems that every day is a holiday. I like Germany already).
Thankfully, my peer advisor is a high-up person at a housing complex, so I was able to spend the first night in a guest room. The room was kinda small, but it was quite good for a free guest room.
I went into Freiburg that night with a couple other people from Connecticut (everything was closed (see "Culture Shock!!"), but the bars were still open). Since I'm not a drinker (and I think that beer is alcohol), I simply ordered a plate of food and some Mineralwasser (soda water, basically).
I had slept most of the first day, and I was still tired enough to get a full night sleep that night (I think I slept a total of about 16 hours that day).
The next day I took an exam in the morning to decide which intensive language class I would attend. I passed the test of the level that they thought I should be in (the test was fairly hard). After taking the test and eating some lunch, Carina (my peer advisor) called a taxi and we went to StuSie, my new home. I'll post some pictures once I get to a computer where I can post pictures.
I had been right next to the language school when I was in Carina's place.
StuSie, however, is a good 30-40 minute commute. I have to walk from my building to the street-car stop, take line 1 to Littenwieler to the end of the line, then it's a 10 minute walk to the school.
Classes have started. They are 3.5 hours per day, with a half hour break in the middle (so only 3 hours in class). As far as I can tell, it seems that it will be helpful. Out of the 20-some people in the class, I am the only American (I think a few others speak English, but since we only talk German to each other, it's hard to tell).
I've started to meet people on my floor. The Winter Semester is currently in session, so they are a little on the busy side, but they all seem to be like nice people. There are about 10 people on my floor (compare that to 40 in McMahon and 120 in Charter Oak!).
I have yet to hook up my phone. Since everything is always closed, I have to go to an unknown building at an unknown time to hook it up. Thankfully, some other people have done that before, so, I should be possible. Eventually, I will be able to get Internet in my dorm room (for 18 Euros per month - totally worth it). However, again, there is a secret meeting at a secret place and time to sign up for a waiting list to get Internet. However, I heard the wait in only a couple weeks, so I should be online within 3 weeks if I can find the secret meeting place.
The public transportation is good, but despite what the liberals in America say, it is not a public transportation Utopia. It's no better than the public transportation in San Francisco (I actually think San Francisco's is better).
There's still a bunch of stuff I have to do, like get a bank account, get permission from the govenment to live here, etc. I can't do any of that today, because everything is closed. In fact, the library is closed, I just broke in to use their computer.
(Note to the people reading this who don't know me well: JUST KIDDING!!)
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