Montag: We arrived (Mum and I) to Baden-Baden Airpark at 11ish at night. We were soon to learn that everything in Baden-Baden and Freiburg closes at 9 o'clock in the evening. Which makes life difficult when you are trying to find the bus stop to take you into town or to get into your hotel. Once we (mum) established where we were meant to be, we ended up on a bus going through the pitch black German country-side. I'd love to comment on the scenery, however we could not see beyond the window pane as we drove. The bus left us at Baden-Baden Busbahnhof where we got a taxi to the hotel. The taxi was lovely but it automatically locks its doors once the engine starts up. The sound of the doors locking put quite a sinister tone to the car journey. The driver proved to be innocent and very helpful. The hotel was completely closed up for the night with a note on the door stating "Those that arrive to the Hotel Regent after 9o'clock must go to the Monti Cristo restaurant". So off I went to the restaurant where my feeble German language skills and lots of smiling earned our key to the hotel. After clambering up the stairs of the hotel and using the lift that didn't enjoy the weight of my suitcases, we opened the door into a room that would have been trés chic in the 80s but now the brown wood and peach paint decor had lost much of its appeal. However, there was a plastic flower in a small vase on top of the television that gave the room a little more je ne sais quai. The pillows seemed to be mainly pillow case but at some point I fell asleep, I only know this as mum said I snored. In my memory I was awake all night.
Dienstag: We went off on a little tour of Baden-Baden. It's a gorgeous little town with beautiful buildings. I wore a little blue dress and a pink shirt; Mum said I looked like Heidi. I ignored this comment as we left the hotel. So off we went and took pictures of boxes (they were Dolce and Gabana...don't ask) and looked at all the pretty alleys and fountains that Baden-Baden had to offer. While trying to cross a road a car drives past us, a woman's voice calls out in a sing-song tone: HEIDI!!!. Needless to say my blue dress and shirt combo will not be leaving the wardrobe while I reside in Freiburg. We hopped onto our train to Freiburg, Mum claims she saw Ikea on the journey. I'm yet to be convinced. The train journey is very pleasant with views of the agriculture and stereotypical German houses which are oh so cute.The train journey was disappointingly short. Off the train and onto the tram towards Landwasser. At Am BischofKreuz, Mum and I stood at the side of the road amazed at my ignorance to only have taken down my address and not a map. I was packing lightly! (cough) After awhile I spotted my road. Trying to find my super-intendant I came across a lovely man who kept calling me English, I was quick to correct him. Though he didn't stop calling me that...I think it's secretly endearing. Finally, we were directed to my super-intendant, Schlupp! He handed me a key and that was that. We found my apartment block surrounded by bushes and trees. The lift up to my floor is like something from the rough end of the Ghetto. However, we arrived to my white, clean floor. My room was a white room which has now be "helen-afied". Frieburg city is a mixture of modern build and stunning old buildings. The Cathedral is breath-taking and at 12p.m everyday there is an amazing 10minute bell ringing of every tower that has a bell. The sound is phenominal. We went around the shops and picked up a few things to make my room a bit more homely. That evening we had Schnitzel! I think it would only be advisable to have schinitzel once every two years as the salt alone would kill you. Mum booked herself into a nice little hotel (Am Bischofs Linden) near my accomodation. The hotel is much loved, each corrider is covered in many different types of rugs. The art work is much like what you would find in a hunting lodge. The "great wind" came which was pretty immpressive and has lasted. I slept my first night in my accomodation with the help of many sleepy floral drops which taste like you've just licked a tree.
Mittwoch: I got up early and went about my business (without Mum, cuz I'm a big girl...and also that she wouldn't go with me). I went to The Resident Registration Office, where there were THOUSANDS of people. I didn't cop on that we needed a ticket to wiat. Once I figured that out, I pressed the button for (of course) the wrong line. I was called to an office immediately. Rather pleased with myself, I march into the office to be quickly marched right back out. The man was NOT understanding and made a scene using German words I had never heard, handed me a ticket, stormed away and left me humiliated with the room looking at me. I sat on the floor to wait which seemed to cause more of a stir than the man storming about the place. I was then given a form that was entirely in German which I thought I might cry at but them realised the sheet would just get uncomfortable. So I asked around and got a man to translate the form! I was finally called to an office which was covered with pictures of a dog in frames and from a4 - a1 sizes. I was told I wouldn't be a resident til Thursday and to come back. After 2 hours of waiting I wasn't much pleased to hear that. That afternoon Mum and I went on the Bus E up to the Tram-lift that takes you up into the depths of the Black Forest. Unfortunately the lift was in use due to the "great wind". We ended up on the wrong bus home and found ourselves in Horben which is like a toy town; every window has a flower box and in the distance you can see Maria from The Sound of Music springing around the hills(Yes, I know it was set in Austria). The bus took us back home and we went to an Italian restaurant where the waiter spoke to us in French, German, English and Italian.
Donnerstag: I became a resident of Freiburg! (GO TEAM). Proud of myself, I went off to college to matriculate. To my surprise they told me I wasn't an Erasmus student, then I was an Erasmus student, Then an Erasmus student for only 5 months, that I wasn't a resident, that I was one, that I was in fact an Erasmus Student for 10 months and to join this line that I wasn't meant to be in. Finally, they took money off me and gave me a student book that looks like a ration booklet from the war. Then we went to the Swedish furniture haven that is Ikea and got pretty things for my room. My room is now very cosy and colourful and is equipped with a nature table that has branches, my crisanthnum "Chris",a few gourdes, sand from Sandycove, a wooden ladybird and conkers. My roomates don't "get me". After Ikea, We went to Titisee(!) which is like a postcard with wooden house and a shop full of Christmas decorations and Cuckoo Clocks. However, it is not the famous shop with 1,000 cuckcoo clocks. But I will go there on my next adventure. Titisee has a small lake that you can rent little boats on and has very hungry ducks who liked me as I had bread crumbs(just in case I get lost!)
Freitag; Mum left today :( But we went up Schlossberg which was where there was an old French fort. You get a tram-lift up to one level of the hill, which is good fun.Schlossbeg was once massive and now the ruins are there with a viewing tower where you can see the entire city with all its beautiful spires. I gave the wrong directions to the viewing tower but luckily we ended up on a (steep) beautiful woody path. The view is amazing from this hill. The colour of the leaves at the moment are a vibrant green and a royal gold. The walk down the hill is much easier than the way up (thank goodness). We went to see the Freiburg Cathedral in more detail as there is usually a market there everyday but today was a national holiday: The reunion of Germany. Then Mum left, I went to the tram stop with her. It was not fun at all. Then I was left at the stop by myself....there's that awkward moment of "what'll i do now" and the fumbling of feet so off I went to my room to listen to one of my floormates fighting with his girlfriend(They could have just been talking but I'm still not familiar with the intonation of German. Who knows). I hand washed some of my clothes, my purple socks ran...rookie mistake of doing purple socks in with white underwear. I now know. And my underwear is a constant reminder. Samtag: Today my room-mate moved in with me. His name is Pharoah and he is a German goldfish. He lives on my bookshelf and is a bit narcissitic as he stares at his reflection all the time. There's a small communication barrier between us at the moment. He speaks German and I'm only starting to learn the language. He can say "momma", he says that a lot actually by opening and closing his mouth. I left Pharoah to settle into his new Ikea glass house with fashionable white pebbles. My room is 3 minutes away from a leisure park (Seempark) with a lake that people, ducks and swans swin in, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, cafes, pubs, peddleboats, a wooden viewing tower, a bridge held up by buoys and views of mountains to die for. All the windows that I have access to have a view of The Black Forest. From the kitchen, you can see the mist coming down through the trees. My room faces the setting sun so every evening turns my room golden. I'm settling in really well and I've three floors-mates Ian (American, who looks like a stereotypical German), Konstantin(German, who looks Spansih or French) and Felix(German who looks like Groucho Marx). I've orientation this week which will hopefully orientated myself a little more. I've a bus pass that can go as far as to the border of Switzerland. So I hope to get to somewhere new every weekend. I hope I haven't bored you too much with my news. I finally got internet so I got a little excited by the prospect of communication with people! Especially that most of you will reply in English!
Hope you're well, Love, Helen x
Dienstag: We went off on a little tour of Baden-Baden. It's a gorgeous little town with beautiful buildings. I wore a little blue dress and a pink shirt; Mum said I looked like Heidi. I ignored this comment as we left the hotel. So off we went and took pictures of boxes (they were Dolce and Gabana...don't ask) and looked at all the pretty alleys and fountains that Baden-Baden had to offer. While trying to cross a road a car drives past us, a woman's voice calls out in a sing-song tone: HEIDI!!!. Needless to say my blue dress and shirt combo will not be leaving the wardrobe while I reside in Freiburg. We hopped onto our train to Freiburg, Mum claims she saw Ikea on the journey. I'm yet to be convinced. The train journey is very pleasant with views of the agriculture and stereotypical German houses which are oh so cute.The train journey was disappointingly short. Off the train and onto the tram towards Landwasser. At Am BischofKreuz, Mum and I stood at the side of the road amazed at my ignorance to only have taken down my address and not a map. I was packing lightly! (cough) After awhile I spotted my road. Trying to find my super-intendant I came across a lovely man who kept calling me English, I was quick to correct him. Though he didn't stop calling me that...I think it's secretly endearing. Finally, we were directed to my super-intendant, Schlupp! He handed me a key and that was that. We found my apartment block surrounded by bushes and trees. The lift up to my floor is like something from the rough end of the Ghetto. However, we arrived to my white, clean floor. My room was a white room which has now be "helen-afied". Frieburg city is a mixture of modern build and stunning old buildings. The Cathedral is breath-taking and at 12p.m everyday there is an amazing 10minute bell ringing of every tower that has a bell. The sound is phenominal. We went around the shops and picked up a few things to make my room a bit more homely. That evening we had Schnitzel! I think it would only be advisable to have schinitzel once every two years as the salt alone would kill you. Mum booked herself into a nice little hotel (Am Bischofs Linden) near my accomodation. The hotel is much loved, each corrider is covered in many different types of rugs. The art work is much like what you would find in a hunting lodge. The "great wind" came which was pretty immpressive and has lasted. I slept my first night in my accomodation with the help of many sleepy floral drops which taste like you've just licked a tree.
Mittwoch: I got up early and went about my business (without Mum, cuz I'm a big girl...and also that she wouldn't go with me). I went to The Resident Registration Office, where there were THOUSANDS of people. I didn't cop on that we needed a ticket to wiat. Once I figured that out, I pressed the button for (of course) the wrong line. I was called to an office immediately. Rather pleased with myself, I march into the office to be quickly marched right back out. The man was NOT understanding and made a scene using German words I had never heard, handed me a ticket, stormed away and left me humiliated with the room looking at me. I sat on the floor to wait which seemed to cause more of a stir than the man storming about the place. I was then given a form that was entirely in German which I thought I might cry at but them realised the sheet would just get uncomfortable. So I asked around and got a man to translate the form! I was finally called to an office which was covered with pictures of a dog in frames and from a4 - a1 sizes. I was told I wouldn't be a resident til Thursday and to come back. After 2 hours of waiting I wasn't much pleased to hear that. That afternoon Mum and I went on the Bus E up to the Tram-lift that takes you up into the depths of the Black Forest. Unfortunately the lift was in use due to the "great wind". We ended up on the wrong bus home and found ourselves in Horben which is like a toy town; every window has a flower box and in the distance you can see Maria from The Sound of Music springing around the hills(Yes, I know it was set in Austria). The bus took us back home and we went to an Italian restaurant where the waiter spoke to us in French, German, English and Italian.
Donnerstag: I became a resident of Freiburg! (GO TEAM). Proud of myself, I went off to college to matriculate. To my surprise they told me I wasn't an Erasmus student, then I was an Erasmus student, Then an Erasmus student for only 5 months, that I wasn't a resident, that I was one, that I was in fact an Erasmus Student for 10 months and to join this line that I wasn't meant to be in. Finally, they took money off me and gave me a student book that looks like a ration booklet from the war. Then we went to the Swedish furniture haven that is Ikea and got pretty things for my room. My room is now very cosy and colourful and is equipped with a nature table that has branches, my crisanthnum "Chris",a few gourdes, sand from Sandycove, a wooden ladybird and conkers. My roomates don't "get me". After Ikea, We went to Titisee(!) which is like a postcard with wooden house and a shop full of Christmas decorations and Cuckoo Clocks. However, it is not the famous shop with 1,000 cuckcoo clocks. But I will go there on my next adventure. Titisee has a small lake that you can rent little boats on and has very hungry ducks who liked me as I had bread crumbs(just in case I get lost!)
Freitag; Mum left today :( But we went up Schlossberg which was where there was an old French fort. You get a tram-lift up to one level of the hill, which is good fun.Schlossbeg was once massive and now the ruins are there with a viewing tower where you can see the entire city with all its beautiful spires. I gave the wrong directions to the viewing tower but luckily we ended up on a (steep) beautiful woody path. The view is amazing from this hill. The colour of the leaves at the moment are a vibrant green and a royal gold. The walk down the hill is much easier than the way up (thank goodness). We went to see the Freiburg Cathedral in more detail as there is usually a market there everyday but today was a national holiday: The reunion of Germany. Then Mum left, I went to the tram stop with her. It was not fun at all. Then I was left at the stop by myself....there's that awkward moment of "what'll i do now" and the fumbling of feet so off I went to my room to listen to one of my floormates fighting with his girlfriend(They could have just been talking but I'm still not familiar with the intonation of German. Who knows). I hand washed some of my clothes, my purple socks ran...rookie mistake of doing purple socks in with white underwear. I now know. And my underwear is a constant reminder. Samtag: Today my room-mate moved in with me. His name is Pharoah and he is a German goldfish. He lives on my bookshelf and is a bit narcissitic as he stares at his reflection all the time. There's a small communication barrier between us at the moment. He speaks German and I'm only starting to learn the language. He can say "momma", he says that a lot actually by opening and closing his mouth. I left Pharoah to settle into his new Ikea glass house with fashionable white pebbles. My room is 3 minutes away from a leisure park (Seempark) with a lake that people, ducks and swans swin in, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, cafes, pubs, peddleboats, a wooden viewing tower, a bridge held up by buoys and views of mountains to die for. All the windows that I have access to have a view of The Black Forest. From the kitchen, you can see the mist coming down through the trees. My room faces the setting sun so every evening turns my room golden. I'm settling in really well and I've three floors-mates Ian (American, who looks like a stereotypical German), Konstantin(German, who looks Spansih or French) and Felix(German who looks like Groucho Marx). I've orientation this week which will hopefully orientated myself a little more. I've a bus pass that can go as far as to the border of Switzerland. So I hope to get to somewhere new every weekend. I hope I haven't bored you too much with my news. I finally got internet so I got a little excited by the prospect of communication with people! Especially that most of you will reply in English!
Hope you're well, Love, Helen x
No comments:
Post a Comment