My Erasmus Year

My Last Week And Last Blog

2009-07-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

Hey there,

Well what a week. I went to see Leonard Cohen (Life = complete).

Monday:I came back to Germany on Monday and had an absolute disaster getting home. I was told by Deutsch Bahn that there was a train station in the bottom of Frankfurt Airport. They sold me a ticket that if I missed the train I could not get a refund or another train with that ticket. So I arrived into Frankfurt-Hahn which is basically a field and a shed. Turns out there are two airports in Frankfurt and I was most definitely at the country cousin which did not have a train station underground. Turns out I was 2 hours away from where I was meant to be and that meant that I was going to miss the train. I got to see Frankfurt by bus but due to the circumstances I now don't like it there. In total I had to pay €120 to get back to Freiburg and travelled 6 more hours than I needed to originally.

Tuesday:I started doing a Creative Writing course that finished on Saturday which was really great. People received my story really well. Our class was an interesting bunch; the highly opinionated Danish woman, the Bavarian forest man, the flaming gay Georg, the insane Spanish woman that smelt like turf and Arnold Schwarzenegger as a 20 year old. It was a fairly odd mix! I loved it though and tonight (Saturday)we're going for drinks and watching Axel (the Bavarian) rap...yes. Rap. I'll fill you in once it happens. On Tuesday I went to Feierling to drink my favourite beer. I came home to find Pharaoh out of sorts. He had a little black lump under his chin. I went to bed.

Wednesday: I woke up to find that Pharaoh had passed away during the night. At first I felt nothing but then I realised that Coco passed away a month before I left for Germany. I should have known. I wanted to bury him beside the lake but due to the rat problem I had to make other arrangements. When I broke the news to Konny he laughed and said "I told you so! I knew you kill that fish" Everyday that boy becomes more and more entertaining. The hardest part was taking him out of the bowl. It took me about half an hour to work up the courage. I buried him in a frozen cod fillet box with sand from Scotsmans Bay. The funeral procession went down to the dumpster and I slowly slide in down into the depths of trash.

Thursday: was pretty boring. I spent a lot of my time looking at the vacant space on my shelf where Pharaoh once lived. I only realise now how much I looked towards him; to check if he was alive, about a decision, anything really. It was sad and lonely but I know he's in a better place.

Friday:I had my good bye dinner. It was all very emotional. Konstantin's girlfriend caused yet another scene as he was giving me too much attention so they ate dinner by themselves in his room. They got me a present of a book with beautiful photos of Freiburg. I'm going to miss my WG gang but they've all promised to visit. I really hope they do! I told Tommy about the short story that I wrote and he started to cry at the synopsis. Man, I'm good.

Saturday: Brought all my clothes that I can't bring back with me to the Red Cross. The women there are getting a little suspicious of me. Sorta like I'm stealing the clothes, feeling bad about it and then giving them to charity. Oh well. I cleaned up my room, arranged another appointment with my housemeister, went to Vauban; the most environment friendly place in Europe (And the most boring), ate ice cream and went to every bakery I came across. That evening I went out for drinks with my Creative Writing class. They're fun...a little pretentious but aren't we all? Then we went to my Bavarian rapper. I paid €4 in. It was terrifying but wonderful. They rapped about love, girlfriends, the holocaust and other...entertaining...issues. It was terrible but wonderful. I was scared but amazed. It was the best €4 I have ever spent.

Sunday: My final hours in Freiburg involved cleaning my room, hugging Tiffanj and trying to wake up the boys to say good bye. I went down to the dumpster to put more rubbish in. As I entered the dumpster room I saw that all the things I had thrown away the day before were lined up in rows. My things were organised by their purpose; toiletries, clothes, paper etc all had their own little section. The worrying thing is that I had thrown all these things into their respective bins and right into the middle. That means the lucky person who took them out had to climb into these gargantuan bins, go right into the middle of them and dig. Seeing all my things lined up was terrifying so I through away the old rubbish, put away some of the rubbish I wished wasn't lined up, get my bags, locked up my room and went to the train station an hour early. It's truly upsetting to see something like that. Especially when your old Penneys underwear is lined up by colour. The train, bus and flight home went smoothly even though I woke up twice on the plane with a jump and gasp as I thought I was still on the train. The woman next to me knew I was crazy...She wasn't far off.

Now I'm back home and happy. I still feel as though I haven't landed but that may take time. This year was fantastic and I will never forget this up close and personal experience with Germany. I plan to go back there in the next year but for the time being I never want to hear a German word again...just for awhile!

Thank you everyone for all your support during the year; from the people who encouraged me to go to the people who tried stopping me. Freiburg will always remain so close to my heart but it was your on going support, cards, texts and emails that really kept me going!

Signing off for the foreseeable future as,

Frau Helen

xxx

Last Blog For The Time Being

2009-07-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Hey there,

I wanted to write my second last blog. Tomorrow will be one of the saddest days of my life. Tomorrow I must part with my modem and therefore my internet. I will not have internet for the remainder of my stay in Freiburg. I'm not too sure how I'll cope. I have prepared myself by procuring a copy of David Copperfield. I'm hoping that 905 pages will keep me as entertained and as uptodate as the internet does. I pity the man who has to wrench the modem from my fingers. Life in Freiburg is complicated at the moment. Seemingly, it's impossible just to up and leave a country. There's more too it. A lot of forms and queues. I'm getting there slowly and if I don't finish filling out the forms I plan running back to Ireland without them noticing.

Konstantin is now officially back with his girlfriend. She's already whipped him into shape. He was the most enthusiastic of my flatmates for the themed BBQs however yesterday his tone suddenly changed. Konnie upset Tommy so much that Tommy cancelled the BBQ. Konnie went out on a bit of a rant/tangent. During which Konnie's girlfriend was standing beside him the whole time nodding her head in agreement. He was saying that he didn't want to have motto BBQ, that he didn't want to eat and drink with us every week, there was never anyone new and it was pointless to have these BBQs. The whole time he seemed to regret every word. Then he said we should have just BBQs every week, eat and drink together. So he contradicted himself. The rest of the WG think his girlfriend made him do it. And when Konstantin realised I am leaving next week he got upset, looked plaintively at his girlfreind who glare but still tried to get Tommy to put the BBQ back on. No luck. Konstantin was telling me the other day that his girlfriend told him she only dates "guys with few to no friends and who are easily controlled". Perfect match, it seems. God knows.

I handed in my final essays on Monday, finished my last test today and did my last presentation last week. I am a free woman! Now I get to sit back and relax. Next week I'm taking a block seminare in Creative Writing. Should be easy enough...I'm hoping. Everyday I repack and reweigh my luggage and no matter what I do it never seems to reduce. The room is looking more and more empty, white and sad but I'll be back in my Irish room in no time!

I realised today that I've been buying a brand of toilet paper called "Happyend". I thought I wouldn't care about the terribly translated English names and phrases over here. Turns out Germany still has its charm

I'm having an epic day of cleaning tomorrow. I have my final check with my Hausmeister on Thursday so I need to have everything spik'n'span. This involves cleaning the floors, the kitchen, the bathroom, the window, my wardrobe inside and out, repainting the walls where my posters ripped off the paint, the door and my mirror. And a lot a dusting here and there. I plan enticing the animals of The Black Forest to come and help me!

Well, this is goodbye for German blogging. I will post another blog about my final days in Freiburg once I am settled back into my familiar environment of Dublin. I hope the blogs haven't been too tedious. Until the next blog...tschüss

More...

2009-07-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

I spent my day clearing out my room and making up a box for the next UCD student coming here for an Erasmus. I had decorated all the walls with anything I could find so that it was a little more home like rather than the white cube I arrived to. Now it's back to the hideous white cell look but I had to do it so my Hausmeister can inspect it next week! I can't believe I'm leaving here in 15 days. It's honestly crazy how fast time has flown.

I don't really have much news. The last time I was in Ireland I clocked a guy at the airport in Germany as he was so beautifully nerdy. He was on my bus back to my house and then I forgot all about him. On my way back to Germany he was on my flight again, on my train, on my bus, on my tram, got off at my stop and walked into the same place that I live. I presumed he was stalking me now. However he disappeared and I didn't think of him since. Yesterday a friend I hadn't heard from in ages sent me a comment on Facebook and HE was in her profile picture with her! Odd. Last night I went to see Bruno with a few friends. My friend said his friend Jonas was coming along too. Guess who it was. Yes, my stalker. We sat beside each other at the film, went for drinks with everyone after the film and is the nicest stalker I've ever had. He's so sweet and pulls at his shirt sleeves when he's talking to you. Today he added me on Facebook. I think a beautiful friendship is beginning.

I finished my final essay yesterday so now I'm free to do all the things I've wanted to do but hadn't gotten the chance to. I want to go on the trams to all their final destinations. I did it today for one tram and I stayed on for so long I ended up in the middle of nowhere in the tram terminal. The driver shouted at me and I had to walk for ten minutes down the tram lines. I had that feeling that I'd be killed by a tram and because of my location my death would definitely have been registered as a suicide as no one was to be seen for miles. Just tram tracks. I've been to three end stops so I've about 6 more to go or something. Then I need to think of all the other things I wanted to do before I leave which I have forgotten.

I have a face mask on and now it's starting to burn so I believe that's my cue to sign off.

Just an Update

2009-07-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hello there,

Things are slowly wrapping up here in Freiburg. I've written a huge list of all the things I have to do in order to depart the country from going to the end stop of every tram, closing down my bank account and convincing Konstantin that he still wants to adopt Pharaoh.

I've been writing essays all the time so I don't have too much interesting news to comment on. As you know every week we have a themed BBQ and this week was "Cartoons". I decided to dress up as Little Red Riding Hood. The other costumes were Pippi Longstocking, The Ghostbusters, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. There's always too much food and the night usually finishes with the bursting out of costumes. This time however we were dancing around our tiny balcony to the greatest hits of Michael Jackson (God Bless his white cotton socks). I found out that I only know 7-10 words of 4 of his greatest hits. Clearly, I wasn't much of a fan. The BBQ brought with it Konstantin's (was ex now present) girlfriend who has the face of a disdainful spade. I personally don't like her because;

1) I was going to dress up as Minnie and she stole my costume

2) She told Konnie that she only dates boys who have little to no friends and that are easily controlled...The message is yet to hit home to him

3)She thinks that I'm trying to seduce Konstantin and run away with him. Little does she know that Konstantin has seen me in the morning and eating.

4)She talks about me in German and when Konstantin reminds her that I understand she says I don't. She's a smart one.

The costume thieving spade was at the BBQ last night dressed as Minnie Mouse. I baked a cake in the shape of Mickey Mouse and she accused Konnie of cheating on her with me. The reason; I baked a cake of Mickey Mouse and he was dressed as Mickey Mouse. Ah yes, the Irish courting ritual of baking a cake in the present appearance of the loved one. I cheered myself up though by laughing to myself as she ate. She eats teenie-tiny bites, nose wiggling, darting little eyes and holding her hand up to her face all the time in other words like a mouse. She is Minnie Mouse incarnate. Needless to say I was thrilled. She also squeaks like a mouse if a favourite song of hers comes onto the radio. The list of comparisons is endless. Konnie says that they're not really going out and that she isn't staying around. Little does he know that the mouse is burying a nest back into our flat. I plan setting traps.

In other news Carlo is in flying form. For the past few weeks he has been talking about Sharon. Sharon loves me. Sharon misses me he's sure. I've played along and pretended I know what on earth he is talking about thinking that he was referring to Paolo. A private joke that I have not been let in on. Finally, I asked him who Sharon was. My question was met with hysterical laughter "You have forgotten them so soon! How could you?! You are a bad girl! He's waiting for you in Ireland and you don't even know he's there". Ah yes, Sharon...my boyfriend Ciarán. Carlo and I spent an entire afternoon learning English phonology. Sharon is no longer part of my life, Key-arrr-own is. We're getting there slowly.

News Flash!

2009-06-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

I've been calling Alburna the wrong name. Her name is...*drumroll*..Albane.

That's right Albane from Albania.

It's been a good day

Stuff and Fluff

2009-06-27T08:55:00.001-07:00

Hello there,

Well I've actually been doing a lot of things since I last wrote a blog. Since it's been such a long time since I wrote I've forgotten most of what I have done but that's life and I'm sure you're all glad the blog won't be of the epic sort.

I've been researching and writing all my essays and yet I've only completed one. It's an arduous battle against the wonders of the internet entertaining me and trying to write these essays. I took to locking myself in the library but after a while I decided I had a "feeling" about the library so now I can't study there. Yes, it's all in my head but I'm pretty pleased I don't have to sit in a dark room, surrounded by forgotten books, written by dead, boring people and listening to people who refuse to use to tissue and snort and exhale through their noses. The essays have suffered with my absence from the library but I'm lying to myself and I'll telling me I'm making progress!

The WG(the inhabitants of the flat I live in) now have started having BBQs every Wednesday. We usually have a theme to it. Last week, we dressed up rockabilly style and played the hits of Elvis, The Baseballs and all that sorta jazz...or should I say Rockabilly. I make a different dessert for each BBQ and I'm baking quite a bit over here. The boys (and girls) think it is because I'm generous and I want to be nice. In actual fact, I bake so much because I can't buy a box for half a dozen eggs. So to prevent them from going off before I use them I bake a cake. I'm teaching Kaelyn how to cook too. We've covered righteous mac and cheese and burgers and chips. She's a keen learner but prefers washing up more than cooking which is a bit difficult when the spoon you were using disappears while cooking as she's cleaning it. We're learning slowly.

I jumped up to Berlin for the weekend on the 18th of June to see Clair. It was so cool to be back in Berlin and with Clair. We mainly slept, ate and watched Disney movies. It was the perfect weekend. I headbutted a huge man in a club at least twice my height (I exaggerate a little) by accident but he took it pretty well as I'm still alive to tell the story! But yes, Berlin was awesome.

That's pretty much all my news. The eggs go off tomorrow so I'm off to bake a cake!

The new girl

2009-06-14T03:53:00.000-07:00

Alburna from Albania and I have been getting on rather well regardless of the grand canyon of a language barrier that stands between us. She's been here months now and yesterday she called me "Tiffanj", naturally I didn't respond as that's not my name. After she tugged at my dress, I realised that she was talking to me about the Italian girl, Helen. I told her that I was Helen and I'm Irish and that Tiffanj is Italian and the girl who lives next to me. She told me I wasn't. After a lot of pointing, saying my name and generally trying to make her understand, she got Konstantin out of his room to identify me. Konstantin and I have been working on humour and sarcasm. Today, all my work backfired on me. She asked him if I was Tiffanj to which he laughed and said yes. I could have strangled him as now Alburna from Albania thinks I'm a bitch. She left the room with a confused and somewhat hurt face. After glaring at Konstantin, I got him to go to her room and identify me as me. Things are a little difficult at the moment.

Things seem to be disappearing.

2009-06-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those uneventful days but I seemingly have lost a few things. I bought hollandaise sauce for the 6 asparagus that I picked out, weighed, got the price for and put in my basket. I never saw them again.

Then I went to my local post office. After a little walk with the threat of rain I walked up to where the door of my post office is and it was gone. Not like it changed hands of business, I mean the entire building was gone. I stood there stunned and in retrospect looking rather stupid as I looked around to see if the post office building may have just moved somewhere else. There was no sign, no indication to why or where the post office building had moved.

I've lost the pen I was writing with somewhere on my clear desk.

Today has a great sense of absence.

Busy three weeks

2009-06-07T04:43:00.000-07:00

Hello there,

Haven't written here in some time. The chocolate thief has been identified...Konstantin. I found a note in my fridge beside a bar of very good Swiss chocolate; "I'm sorry!!! :-) Here some little replacement for you. Konstantin." It transpires that he had only taken three pieces but my note upset him so he bought chocolate to replace it so there is another unidentified thief in the flat.

Ciarán came over to see me on the 28th of May. We went rowing in Titisee which was lovely, I rowed first and then he took over. After a minute or two of the boat spinning around in circles I asked if he had ever rowed before, he hadn't. For the next half an hour, I was cox of the boat and shouted instructions at him. After that he turned out to be a very good little rower. I think when I grow up I'll have a little row boat and a medium sized lake to row around. The weather was more than beautiful, smothered in factor 50, Ciarán and I sat out for little picnics on all the days.

Mags (the Godmother) and her sister,

Brid came over on Thursday(4th of June). Konstantin has no idea what a god mother is so he spent his week and the weekend praising the "GOTTES MUTTER" and praying to her. It was a lovely weekend of sunshine, a bit of rain and lots of good food. They spoilt me rotten which was really good of them. I needn't eat ever again. They're hilarious fun to be around and really nice to travel with. We went up to St.Peter on the Saturday. The closer we got to it the more rain came down. We took refuge in the beautiful cathedral which is white, red and gold on the inside. On the way back we had a very enthusiastic bus driver on the way back who was clearly a local and knew everyone and that we were definitely not from Freiburg. His running commentary on the bus intercom about us and various things that caught his attention added to the trip. On saturday evening we saw 20 Polizei vans that blocked off Kaiser-Josef strasse and all exits off it. We still have no idea why as we walked to the Munster for mass, we entered the platz and were confronted by at least 200 armed police people. Terrify

ing, a little. Feeling that you're walking into the wrong place and at the time, BIG chance. After, the awe inspiring mass with incredible organ playing, we came out and every sign of police presence had disappeared! Thanks to Mags and Brid, I had a lovely weekend and got to see plac

es of Freiburg, I didn't know existed!

It has been a busy few weeks but I needed to see the people I miss. Ireland is a stone throw away but seeing the people that

you love and miss really makes the difference.

The Dairy Milk

2009-05-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

I don't mind people taking a little milk from my carton but today someone in my flat went a bridge too far. Donál was here this weekend (Slight digression; we had an awesome time and even went rowing. Thanks Donál for such a good weekend!)and brought me over a huge bar of Dairy Milk. The joy in my heart told me to cherish this and to savour every piece. I took 5 pieces on Tuesday, put it in the fridge and got up this morning to find the packet ripped down the middle and at least 20 pieces missing. Some fiend STOLE my Dairy Milk. You'd think this wouldn't be a big deal but that was not a bar of Milka, it was not a bar of Ritter Sport, it was a bar of Dairy Milk. I am now searching for the culprit and I plan to cause great harm to them and show no mercy. I will show them the same amount of mercy that they showed my Dairy Milk...none. To save the rest of the chocolate I have put it into a Ziplock with a note as seen attached. I think the message is clear. I hope they all fear for their lives.

New Problem

2009-05-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

I saw Alburna this morning. I think I saw her. The new problem is...I can't remember what she looks like. I need to take polaroid photos and stick them to myself. That'd help.

We've got it!

2009-05-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

The new flatmate's name is *drumroll* Alburna. She's is from Albania.

Alburna from Albania.

I don't think I will ever be able to forget her name ever again.

My new flatmate

2009-05-21T08:53:00.002-07:00

Day 2 in Haus 40 with the new flatmate:

I was introduced to my new flatmate who has replaced Daniel. She speaks no English and my German is well, terrible. Her name is unknown to me. I had to ask her to repeat her name three times before I got anyway near to understanding 1) what she was saying and 2) what her name is. I think her name is something like Al-Burno/a. Things are getting awkward. She's not very chatty either so I haven't figured out where she's from either. I conceal the fact that I don't know her name by saying "Hey there, Hey you etc" and that seems to have covered up that little problem. However, I don't want the rest of the flat to know I have no idea who this girl is so I jokingly saying "our new roomies, the new girl on the block etc" in hope that they might just utter her name. So far, no one has. This leads me to the conclusion that no one knows her name and we're all doing them same thing.

Time will tell!

Helen is getting a little emotional

2009-05-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

I booked my flight, one way back to Dublin on the 26th of July, bought my train ticket too. Donál is arriving on Friday so I'm making everything spick and span for his arrival. I cleaned Pharaoh just there. He was swimming around his make shift tank (a lunch box) while I cleaned his toys (a kinder egg Hello Kitty on a dolphin's back and a few big beads) I realised that on the 26th of July I will be leaving Pharaoh behind in Germany...forever. This thought would not affect most people but as I placed him back in his bowl and let him swim and play around my finger I got a little emotional. He's a real happy guy, greets me every morning with such enthusiasm that he'd give a dog at dinner time a run for it's money, he is that reliable man in my German life as I fall asleep he tosses about pebbles just to let me know he's there and taking guard of the room while I sleep. He is very curious in nature and loves meeting new people. I bought him a water plant which he loves very much, it took him at least 30 seconds to notice it was there as he was swimming up at the bowl, kissing the glass as I was standing next to it. Every morning when I give him his meal of the day he wiggles and swurls looking up at me just to say "good morning, I recognise you...(dare I say it), Mom". So he does this recognition dance to almost anyone he sees but it's special. He's a special fish. Ryanair refuses any pet on board. They allow smoked fish but not talented, young fish like Pharaoh on board the aircraft. I will miss him.

Salzburg - A Very long Blog

2009-05-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

I texted Mum two weeks ago to ask if she'd like to go to Salzburg with me. I expected a negative response but to my surprise I got a "yes". I went about plans researching and running around like a headless chicken trying to organise myself. I went to Deutsche Bahn to ask for my ticket. The earliest I could arrive into Salzburg was 12.54p.m. That was ok however that meant I had to get up at 5 a.m. and then face a 6.5hour journey to Salzburg with 3 changes.

Saturday: I was pretty much dead to the world once I got up at 5a.m. but there was an amazing bird morning chorus which I had never heard before...obviously as I am never up at 5.a.m in the mornin

g! I had the pleasure of bumping into every drunk teenager on the way to the train station as their night out was only just ending. I manage the three train changes pretty well. I was very short on time when I was changing

onto my Munich train. I

was running along the underground to my platform, my bag was bouncing about a little, it

felt lighter and lighther. I turned around to notice that the e-n-t-i-r-e contents of my bag was all over the floor; knickers, shoes, clothes, you name it was on the floor. A man bent down to pick up my clothes and jumped away from a pair of frilly knickers that he was about to pick up but he somehow managed to muster up some courage and pick them up and hand them out to me with a scarlet face. On my final train a man began talking (in German) to

me. To my great surprise

I could reply and we

talked for about two hours. He seemed nice and interested in what I was saying in my broken German. However I caught him staring down my top too many times to really believe he was truly interested in what I was saying. He somehow thought Mum was Austrian and that she refused to speak to me in German. He thought it was a great shame and my German was pretty good considering. I blame my terrible German for that misunderstanding. We saw the Untersberg mountain as the train. It is impossible not to burst into song when you see Salzburg. The entire Sound of Music soundtrack will play through your head the entire time you are there. When we got to Salzburg hauptbahnhof he shook my hand, one more quick look down my top and he departed.

I looked frantically around for Mum at the train station and finally caught a glimpse of her back and ran towards her. Learning from earlier I had fastened my bag a little better so all my belongings didn't go flying out everywhere. Mum turned around during my run towards her *Slow motion shot*. There were squeels of joy and happiness which captured the attention of the Austrians but no bother sure. We headed off to find our hotel, the room wasn't ready so our room was changed. We ended up in an apartment with a balcony and a small kitchenette, rather fancy really. We decided to go on a Panorama tour of Salzburg, a fresh face good looking Austrian man called Andreas drove us around Salzburg along with two German couples and an American girl. We saw some of the sights where the Sound of Music was filmed, got a brief history of Salzburg and a witty commentary of everything as we drove past. Salzburg is an extradinary city, it is beoynd beautiful and there is so much history with it too. After the tour we finally had our bearings so we had a walk around and had dinner outside on the square where the Baroque catherdral is. Mum and I had an early start so we went to bed early, I don't remember even closing my eyes to try and sleep, my next memory is being woken up in the morning.

SUNDAY: We had breakfast on the balcony in the blazing sun. Contary to the weather report it was sunny and hot not rainy and full of thunder storms. Today was a big day for me. We were going to go on The Sound Of Music bus tour! We arrived at the bus which is covered head to toe with painted pictures of The Sound of Music. We had a fabulous and flaming tour guide who made the tour unforgettable. After seeing most the sights of the film we went through mountains driving to the church in which Maria and the Baron get married in as we drove their he played The Sound of Music soundtrack so we could all sing along as the bus drove. Sounds awful doesn't it? It was WONDERFUL! I got a free drink because I answered a question about the film correctly, well Mum said the answer and nudged me to say it so it was a joint victory! We had Streudel outside the infamous church which hot vanilla sauce and ice-cream, a local delicacy. Once the tour sadly ended Mum and I explored all the churches and graveyards we came across on our travels. We went up into the mountain where there was a hidden catacomb. It was really cold and refreshing in there and it had a beautiful big altar carved out of the mountain in the catacomb. We ended up in the famous Sacher Hotel Cafe where the Sacher Torte was invented and is still served there for extortionate prices but it still looks delightful! The cafe is right beside the river which is incredibly strong, I watched the tour barge spin around and around in circles as they were trying to anchor. It was full of tourists, hilarious for me to watch but I'm sure terrifying if you were onborad. We went to a local restaurant that night and then went up to the top of the Stein Hotel which has a beautiful view over the city. The city is lit with very subtle flood lights, all the churches are lit up. We drank some white wine - gesprizt as we gazed over the river.

Monday: We had breakfast again on the balcony, it was roasting before 10.a.m so we decided it'd be better if

we took things slow today. We got a lift up to the modern art museum which is on top on a hill, it was closed. Nevertheless it has a beautiful view of the city. We walked up and around there and came across the original city walls and watch towers. There view was truely phenominal from the top of the hill. We saw a small market from the top of the hill at the Baroque church so we decided we'd go there after Mum and I had a bowl of Spargelsuppe (Asparagus soup) at the hilltop cafe which had a panoramic view of the city! We went to the little market and picked up food for the journey home. Then sadly we walked to the train station. I had an hour to wait while Mum had 20 minutes. We said our goodbyes (Mum wouldn't let me go to the platform with her) so then we went our separate ways. I sat on a bench staring at my feet. It was the same feeling that I had when I watched Mum drive off in the tram the first time I arrived in Freiburg. I waited the clock tick away the time until Mum's train left. Then as the weather forecast had promised it rained. Damn you pathetic fallacy! The train ride was pretty uneventful; some children were playing on the train tracks so we were delayed by 1/2 an hour but I got all my connections and got home safe and sound.

Salzburg was amazing but I don't think I would have had as good a time than I did if Mum wasn't there. She really made the trip so special and she's hilarious fun to be with especially when faced with the wild and wonderful ways of another country. It was wonderful to have her with me, she made the holiday!

Thanks Mama xx

The day of the crazy men!

2009-05-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

So today was a little eventful. It was so gorgeous and sunny that it unleashed the crazies of Freiburg. Firstly I got a shouting phonecall and then I met a man on the tram.

The man on the tram (and title of my new book) shouted in a satanic voice about Hitler, his father and the tram. He then went on to sing Wonderwall by Oasis in this satanic, impending doom voice. A rendition of that song I never want to hear again. I then ran around the tram grabbing men's arms and shouting incomprehensible German and English. I don't know why but some of the craziest of German speak the best of English. He was thrown off the tram at my stop. I ran away quickly but fortunaatly there were girls in hot pants which were far more interesting than me...thank goodness. I can still hear him shouting at the tram stop in my bedroom with the window closed. I'm locking the door tonight.

The phonecall was worrying but at least my biceps were not at risk of being squeezed. My phone rang and I'm all like "oh it's Clair!" *answers* "Hello Lova-Bubbles!" AND A MAN ANSWERS ME BACK! He starts gushing out this really quick German and I say "langsam bitte" and he starts saying "ICH KOMME, ICH KOMME JETZT!" and I'm like..."WAS?! Ich habe etwas Deutsche, Sprecken Sie Englisch" and he says "oh..ja...I COME, I COME NOW! OK?". So I say "OK" and I hung up and now I was sitting in my room all scurred and alone, jumping when I hear the doors opening and closing!

Beautiful weather though!

Breakfast with Tiffani

2009-05-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

Tiffani and I sit down to breakfast every morning. It's wonderful. The boys look at us like we've two heads; I suppose it is incomprehensible that two people that live together might want keep each other company. We discuss many things over breakfast but recently our conversation has turned to sport. We're going to go jogging, to a fitness class and swimming together. Sounds delightful, doesn't it? Unfortunatley I now have to secretly go into training so that I won't pass out during any of these adventures. Tiffani is built to excercise whereas I'm built...to...survive the winter. It'll be an interesting experience but it's one way of passing the time...or slowing it down. We'll see how the first jogging session goes!

The perfect essay

2009-05-05T06:27:00.000-07:00

I wrote a perfect essay for my How to Read Images class. It is "immpeccable" notes the lecturer her graded it however she also believes that I downloaded it from somewhere on the internet and did not write it myself. I had to visit her in her office hours to find out my grade (unlike everyone else in the class).

She sat there saying: "it's so perfect, impeccable..but without a doubt not right...perhaps plagirised *pauses so that I have time to confess that I in fact did download it from some unknown source*...it was perfect, I was so surprised how perfect it was....not a bad surprise...but not too good either. I didn't expect such a good essay from anyone in my class...*another dramatic waiting for Helen's confession pause"

Me: Well, I dunno what you're getting at but I wrote the entire thing by myself and quite frankly I'm highly insulted that you have such little faith in me as a student

Lecturer: *concerned faced* oh no I had full faith in you..

Me: to plagirise my essay...wonderful. I followed your instructions for the essay as I wasn't too sure to go about it.

Lecturer: *face lights up like she's been awarded a prize* You followed my instructions, I knew they''d be helpful to my students

Me: Even the ones who pladgirised?

Lecturer: *realising that she is fighting a battle she is about to lose* you're such a pleasure to teach, I know I've said it to you before but there's no harm in repeating it. Now for your grade, 1.0 (the perfect grade in German Uni). But, I feel as though you didn't do so well in your mid-term

Me: We didn't have a midterm

Lecturer: Did you do a presentation?

Me: Yes.

Lecturer: Oh good, hmmm I don't think it was as good as the essay so for the course I'll give you 1.3. But the essay is still perfect.

Me: Oh I know

Lecturer: Good, I hope you will pop into me and we can have a little chat about how you're getting on or anyhting you like, that'd be nice.

Me: I highly doubt that *exeunt*

I loathe that woman.

Shiv's Visit

2009-04-26T03:55:00.000-07:00

Shiv came over this weekend. It was epic. The hotel where Shiv stayed is the same one Beast, Mum and TK stayed in. The owner has met my entire family now. He even asked for Theia. Shiv spoiled me rotten. She bought me shoes...shoes!

We went to the imfamous Titisee and had a picnic there. Being Irish and optimistic we didn't pack any cardies. Therefore we frozed everytime the roasting sun went behind a cl

oud. Titisee is a pretty as ever. There are little peddle-os for going around the lake now. We got our photo taken with a sea captain. He could have been

anything but

he was wearing a captain's hat so that was good enough for us!

I took Shiv to Feierling that night and she

tasted the butterb

eer...mmm butterbeer. Our waitress seemed to be on something or was missing part of her brain. She forgot our beers and our

orders so there was a lot of confusion. I ordered ravioli which she told me they didn't have. I was

fine with that as I thought making her life anymore difficult than it already was was a bad idea. So I saidthat was fine and I'd have the

potatoe dish Shiv was

having. After a little wait our dinner

arrived...two bowls of

ravioli and salad. God knows. We

decided maybe we'd go for a cocktail before heading home. We to

ok down a table and set it up outside with all the other tables at Aspekt. We soon learned that *put on most steroetypical German accent* "this is not allowed". After being moved to another table after being given out to in an I-tell-you-you-are-wrong-I-am-right-apologetic-typically-german-way we were ignored by said waitress and left. Not a night for waitresses needless to say.

On Saturday we

went to Lake Konstanz. It is simply gorgeous. There is a spinning prostitute, true story. She is semi-naked and spins. Only in Germany. We saw a walking band who were dressed like Normans with helmets of tin in the scorching weather. We dowsed ourselves in factor 50 sunblock and removed any clothing possible. We got to go on a boat trip which was a

glorified ferry but brilliant fun. The wind

from the boat and the

skirt of my dress

did not agree with each other. Charming. You could see the Alps as you sailed around the lake. They looked beautiful. Shiv re-enacted Titanic's "I'm flying Jack, I'm flying!" moment at the front of the boat.

It was 25c+ at the lake so for our Irish skin it was roasting! People are still wrapped up in their winter things in this heat. It is bizzare. We had to take three trains to get to Konstanz; Shiv slept on all three. Amazing really, due to the amount of caffeine in her system! It was a long day but we covered pretty much all the top ten things to do in Konstanz. Later that night, I took her to the student district and we had cocktails...lots and were home in bed by 12.

Shiv left today. I am all alone but she stole painted hard-boiled eggs for me from the hotel so I guess I'll survive and I have my strawberry plants to talk to. All in all it was awesome having Shiv and completing the Happy Families game that the hotel owner was playing with my family.

I miss having noise. The flat is quite again and I am trumpeting about alone. Company will arrive soon until then I can catch up with Pharoah and get to know the Strawberries better.

Clair

2009-04-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a slightly pointless blog but nevertheless.

No one calls my landline. Why would they I have a mobile which they text to.

Things have changed.

Clair calls me now. And has done twice. Once to talk to me, the other time went like this; The phone never rings so when it does I quite naturally assume it's a murderer calling to tell me how long I have to live. But no it's Clair saying that she wanted to freak me out by calling me...well, it worked.

Anyway, the reason I wrote this blog was to...tell you Clair rang me. What? It's big news for me! I plan finding out how much it is to call Berlin.

A new adventure for Clair and I. There's us on one of our last adventures.

Over and out.

I'm back!

2009-04-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

Daniel: "Helen! You are first girl to go and last girl to come back! But you come back looking like a super model". The picture to your left is how little of a super model I look and how confused I was by that comment*

But yes! I am back. It is ROASTING in this country. I have taken off as much clothing to retain some dignity while the Germans are walking around with their wintercoats on. The trees are green, there's daisies everywhere, the birds are singing and you can hear German rqap music seeping out of every window as you pass. All in all, everyone is over the winter blues and are feeling the springtime buzz!

Pharoah is alive and happy. The boys hadn't cleaned him for some time so I had to buy new pebbles to go in his bowl as they were almost a black-green colour and refused to be washed. The shamrock I brought over to them is still alive and watered. Tiffani bought an Italian flag to go along with our German, Greek and Irish flag on the balcony.

I sat on my balcony earlier eating strawberries and rasberries and reading The Scarlet Letter(which I have to finish before newt week...unlikely). Classes went well. I can't really complain. I'm sure with time I'll conjure up something to complain about.

Apart from feeling like a Sunday roast walking around Freiburg I feel good. It's nice to be back!

I'll fill you in when I've news. Until then I sweatily sign out...

*Photo taken 10minutes after comment

Itsa Girl

2009-04-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

As some of you know Theia and I went off to Freiburg a while back now. We had great fun and pretty much ate for every hour in every day. It was the sorta holiday you only dream about and one that your waist line will never forget!

Anyway, the holiday was great but got even better when I was given some marvellous news from my letter box! I walked past Ian's room nd noticed that there was a blue duvet cover on his bed; a little odd as Ian like to live in a sterile. little white room normally. I went down in my ghetto-vator and went to my postbox with Theia. As I retreived my junk mail (which I use as wall paper) I noted something odd. Ian's letter box is below mine and we have our names printed on them. However, I did not see Ian's name but TIFFANI REGINATO. My immediate reaction was screaming with confusion. Theia and I then went out for our day; throughout the day I let out little screams of joy. We get home, I walk into the kitchen and before me stood a girl. I was shocked, she introduced herself, I think I mumbled something about being Helen and she beamed and went "oh you're my next door neighbour". I threw myself down at her feet and wrapped my arms around her legs in joy (a slight exaggeration). She is L-O-V-E-L-Y!

I asked Konstantin (<3)>

So basically my news is IAN IS GONE AND TIFFANI IS HERE TO STAY!

(oh and Pharoah is still alive!)

Well you may have guessed I'm home!

2009-03-04T03:35:00.000-08:00

Hello there,

Just a little blog to commemorate my journey back to Dublin. Ciarán came over to visit me and Carnival was on so we got to see Germans in dressed up in ridiculous outfits and running around like maniacs. All I could think of was the hassle I got when I suggested dressing up for Halloween as it is a "childish" thing to do. Clearly, Germans are hypocrites!

Anyhow, we had a wonderful weekend of Carnival madness. Paolo cooked me a good bye meal f Italian pizzas which was a messy job but they sure did taste good!

When packing to go home I realised I had no room at all in my bag for clothes. So the obvious thing to do was to wear all my clothes at once. So I put on two dresses, a piar of boots, one skirt, jeans, boots, socks, tights (which was a bit unneccessary). one t-shirt, one jumper, a coat, scarf and hat. Oh and two bras, they just didn;t fit in my bag. Oh and I should probably mention that one of the bras was a after thought so it was over one of the dresses. I looked awesome needless to say. Or like some bag woman but that's debatable.

Anyway, we made our journey to the airport on an ICE train which is heaven on rails. Got to the airport, Ciarán checked in and off we went to the metal detectors. Of course, I set off the metal detectors. Of course, one of my bras set off the metal detector, of course due to decency of German I was taken into the strip-search room where a woman got to watch me take off two dresses, one t shirt, one jumper, one skirt, one bra, my boots and socks. At this point I refused to take of anymore clothes as it was like a circus act. Once she decided my bra was not as dangerous as it seemed so allowed me go...on one condition, that I put on all my clothes again. tedious but hilarious. This time though she didn't watch me like a hawk but turned her back...not like she had seen everything already.

Sometimes I feel as though only these things ever happen to me...

The Girls

2009-02-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

My UCD girls came to Freiburg (cue girlish screams of joy). This weekend was too wonderful! No tears only toned stomach muscles from all the laughter. We danced, ate, sang, ate, ate, dressed up, ate, played in snow, ate, had hot chocolate, ate, saw nice buildings with shutters, ate, went sledging, ate, screamed hysterically at the smallest of things, ate, petrified my room mates, ate and cook a LOT of mac+cheese. Honestly, one of the best weekends of my life! Here's a photo account of the weekend!

The Stolen Bus Story

2009-02-09T00:45:00.000-08:00

We're Famous! Our Milan bus story has already made the paper!

http://www.badische-zeitung.de/freiburg/dieb-stiehlt-avanti-reisebus-samt-schlafender-fahrerin

Milan - Book Well In Advance

2009-02-08T00:51:00.000-08:00

This is long story which I will share with you on some sort of abbreviated level. We booked our tickets to Milan the Monday before we left. It was a good idea then.

Saturday Morning 4.45 a.m: I get up to get ready for my 6 hour bus drive to Milan. I put on nice clothes (it is Milan afterall), feed the fish and I get a message from Jude saying she may not make the bus. Jude had everyone's tickets. I give her a hearty talking to and then she thinks she will make it. Christie is late, Brita and Ola are late but we finally meet up outside the Opera House. There's a bus there, "Avanti- Freiburg to Shanghai". We guessed it wasn't for us and after how they drove us to Milan, we were very glad that we weren't going to Shanghai. The drive down was amazing, we saw the Alps in all their glorious splendour (I tried singing the Toblerone ad as I saw them) and went through that big ol' special tunnel that people seemed pretty impressed by but it was just like every other tunnel I've seen. I can't sleep much on buses so I stayed awake until we were ten minutes away from our drop off point in Milan, Nice move. Milan is beautiful, expensive and pretty inaccessible!

The Last Supper: We didn't book tickets to The Last Supper as we presumed that at this time of year there wouldn't be many crowds. Turns out you have to book one month in advance no matter what time of year and even if there is or there is not any crowds. We tried everything. I was an art history teacher with her students, they had "lost" our booking, we tried walking in with a tour but they were pretty used to these sort of things so we were caught out. So we did the next best thing; we took photos of posters, postcards, glass cuttings, "ivory" statues and rosary beads of The Last Supper and photos of us looking sad outside the building. Then we decided to go back into the ticket office and we took our photo beside big posters of the painting and the not irratewoman who wouldn't let us in, it was her fault really.

Duomo Di Milano: I should probably mention that we at foccacia before we saw this and drank good Italian coffee. The Duomo is just magnificent! The mind that conjured up such a work of art was definitely insane or some sort of divine interception cut through his wave length. The inside has mummified people...what's not to love...I avoided those ones. We paid the costly €8 and went up in the lift to walk in the flying buttresses (which Jude didn't believe was the real word for them) and then we got to walk on the roof of the Duomo. I have walked on the roof of a cathedral! There was a huge screen in the plazza below showing the 6 Nations Italy vs. England match. So Jude and I gave our encouragement to the Italian team from the cathedral roof!

The Da Vinci Technical Museum: A rainstorm started and it rained, and it rained, it stopped and rained more. We decided the only way to get away from it was to eat ice-cream which we did. I heart Italian ice-cream. We looked through the tour book and saw the Da Vinci museum as we hadn't seen The Last Supper(we decided it was probably overrated) we thought it'd be a good idea to see something of Da Vinci. We walked for an hour in the rain, we wer drowned rats. When Jude and Christie started holding the falling apart map upside down I called off the adventure and we went for cocktails in a fancy bar. The bathroom of the bar however was just a hole in the ground: Jude and Christie had never seen anything like this before and couldn't go near the bathroom thereafter.

The Bus Home: We went for a meal near to where the bus was meant to be, we had ice cream for dessert. We waited for the bus which was 10 minutes late, 20 minutes late, 45 minutes late. So we went for more ice cream as time was running out. Finally the bus arrived but the driver wouldn't let us on. (while we waited for an explanation we ran to a cafe to pass the time out of the rain and watched as our bus pulled away and drove off, Ola and I legged it and caught up with it as she was going pretty slow and turned out to be parking somewhere else)When we got on the bus we waited more. It took half an hour to find out that we were waiting for the police to come. Why? While the driver was sleeping in the seats of the bus, two guys broke in, hot wired the bus and started to drive it away, she woke up at the sound of the engine and realised what was going on. The guys didn't know she was there so when she started yelling and throwing everything at hand they scarperred. The police never arrived and we left. The bus crowd were not the happiest while waiting for the police so Christie and I cracked open a bottle of wine and discussed the matters of the worlsd. I'm pretty sure we sorted out every world problem, the wonders of Italian wine!

I met the driver who was crying in the bathroom at one of our stops along the way. It was a miracle we ever got the bus back as she would normally sleep in the cabin in the under part of the bus, wouldn't have heard the engine and would have woken up wherever those guys were driving. So she was a bit shaky on the road and went pretty slow. So slow she missed the time frame in which you can go down that fancy tunnel in the Alps, meaning we had to take back roads. While the entire bus slept the driver, Ola and me were wide awake. Ola was devising ways of how we'd survive in the snow when/if the bus crashed on the hairpin bends or broke down. Everyone had dressed for the fashionable Milan not the snow. I was preoccupiedwith the wheel below my window, the driver put on the snow wheel things and every 50 metres stopped the bus and had to readjust them. After awhile she started to ignore the wheel which was making unhealthy noises.

The back roads got worse and worse and more and more less like roads but goat trails. Ola fell asleep once we reached Zurich, yeah you must be wondering how we got there...so do we. Jude forgot her insulin so wasn't in the best of form but was fine, Christie my chair buddy kicked, talked, and hugged me in her sleep. The hugging and cuddling I could handle the kicking and speaking in tongues was quite off putting. Finally I passed out due to exhaustion at 7 a.m., we left Milan at 12. I woke up 20 minutes later as Christie had pushed me off my seat. No harm done, she was still fast asleep. I fell asleep again around 8 and slept until Jude shook my foot, I opened my eyes to see a frightened Jude. When I asked why it was because I snarled and growled at her in my sleep when she shook my foot. Served her right.

I got back to my home at 9.45 a.m., 7.5 hours later than I thought and I had left there almost 30 hours ago. My teeth felt like small hamsters, my mascara had become a permanent resident to my face.

What have I learned? Always book in advance, fly first class and leave Milan before you are left there.

Milan is a once in a lifetime thing. You'll only ever want to do it once.

My eventful weekend!

2009-01-25T04:53:00.000-08:00

Hello there! I am in agony but I'll come to that later! My weekend was great! It truely opened my eyes.

Friday: I got up super early to go all the way to Bern to see the Alps. So off I went, totally prepared to be overwhelmed by multitude and massivitude of the the Alps. As the train crept closer and closer to Bern the rain started to fall and the mist and fog came with the rain. I was standing a misty Bern ready to kill as you may have guessed the Alps were rather shy with the mist! I went to the tourist office and asked if there was any point to Bern without the Alps and I was sent to see the former orphanage. Well, that sums things up! Bern is actually quite interesting and beautiful. I wandered around and took photos of anything that looked mildy interesting including a staircase in the middle of the street. Bern was unbelievably icy. I slipped on ice and caught myself, then unbalanced, flaying my arms around and around,settled myself rather pleased with myself and then fell right onto my bum! A tourist took a photo and laughed and left me sitting in the ice. I went to an art gallery and saw a feminist exhibition called "We all have AIDs. And we're feminists too!". There were...interesting pictures with scissors and how to use them to free ourselves from men. Oddly enough though, these feminists were actually quite fond of male domination. I think giving them an entire exhibition confused them a little. After 4 and a half hours of sight seeing all I wanted to do was to sit down for hours on end so I went to the cinema. I asked for a ticket for "the next film in English no matter what is it" The girl laughed but then realised I was serious. I got to see "Slumdog Millionaire" which is truely fantastic and deserves every prize it's nominated for! I headed back to the train station and went home truely exhausted! Pity about the Alps. Third times a charm.

Saturday: So after pulling myself out of bed I went off to Feldberg with Carlo, Christie, Brita, Ola and Karina. Brita and Ola decided to teach us all how to snowboard. It turned out Carlo was lying that he had never been snowboarding so they had Chrisite and I to teach. And WHAT a task! Snowboarding is awesome fun but scary as hell. I don't think I'll ever go professional, out of modesty for my talent that is! The thing is with snowboarding is that you get cocky and think you really good when in actual fact you're a complete danger to everything and yourself. I fell and flipped over on my board, and heard my knee crack. No bones broken, Thank goodness but I couldn't move my toes or leg until Christie got me off my board. Then everything worked then so I think it was just the shock. So I've a cool piractical limp now. It looks good and I'm throwing a fancy dress party in two weeks so what perfect timing. While we were on the slope. Christie started shouting and pointing and guess what we saw...THE ALPS!!! They were so clear and beautiful. I was so happy and yet so so SO angry at the same time! We ate something called "Apfelkrapfen" in the skiing restaurant. It was like a danish except deep fried with apple and heart stoppingly covered in custard!

Saturday Evening: We decided that we'd go to a houseparty with Ola and Brita. This was something out of a drugs raid in all the Hollywood movies. The very top of a very old house was this apartment with winding corridors and low ceilings. It was impossible to see much inside as they covered the lights. So I went out and started looking at the stars as the visibility was amazing. I saw Orion (of course), The Big Dipper and the Small dipper! Which was pretty cool. I got talking to a Croatian and an Indian boy. The Indian wasn't interested in the stars so I was left with this Croatian whose name was Thomasslak. He thought I was awesome and that everything I did in life was "hot". I tried escaping three times, got Ola to talk to him, Carlo pretended to be my boyfriend but none of it worked. I gave him a fake number but he rang it while I was standing there, made me take out my phone and ring him. So now a Croatian somewhere in Freiburg has my number and is calling me today so that we can fence, snowboard, play badminton and look at stars together. I dunno how I do this to myself. When I was leaving the party he came out to see me out. Carlo got rid of him and said "You're alright looking in the dark, the light does funny things to you" Thomasslak smiled and said "Thank you very much" Oh dear. Within 5 minutes of leaving the party he had already rung me. Oh good! A new friend!

Sunday (today): I am in COMPLETE agony. I have muscles hurting that I didn't know I had. Pain is my only friend now. But I can't complain. I had a great weekend and got to see the Alps finally and I didn't have to go to Switzerland...again.

Out,
H

Only in Germany!

2009-01-21T01:26:00.000-08:00

The Germans take pride in their English language skills and often try correcting what I say which they have failed at as now I have started using fake words and laughing quietly to myself if they say they don't know that word. Which unnerves them to no end. Cruel? Perhaps.

I like to find incorrect spellings around Freiburg which reminds me that Germans are still human and not these grammatically correct robots. I found this sign at Orsay which is a reasonably good clothes shop. You'd almost be able to buy something "nice" there.

German humour is something else! I was at a party last Friday and met two Germans who tried reenacting a British comedy skit. They couldn't start or complete the reenactment as they were in hysterics. I looked up the sketch the next day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh_wygDUrxs
This is it and supposedly the funniest thing to all Germans. It's played every half an hour on New Year's eve on all German channels.

As you all know about Obama's inauguration so did all of Germany. So the Politikparty of the university decided to throw a party to celebrate the big day. They decided to throw a Black and White party, the posters were all over the college. On the poster was a picture of Obama wearing a white shirt and "BLACK AND WHITE PARTY" scrawled across the bottom of the poster. Only in Germany.

My Weekend!

2009-01-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

Well I haven't really written anything here for quite some time! This weekend was pretty awesome! I'm completely exhausted but I suppose that's a good sign!

Friday:

It was Ola's birthday today so He and Brita had a party in their house. By the end of the night after drinking 8 bottles of Sekt, tasted the local wines and Kirsh wasser we decided the only logical thing to do was to learn Irish dancing! I tried to recall dances from Irish college. It was entire mayhem! Christie then taught us the basic movements of ballet and we both failed at doing the splits. Her trousers suffered, thankfully I was wearing a dress! At about 5 am, We decided to leave the party after singing the German, Irish, Swiss, Swedish and American national anthem and traditional songs! The bakery below their house had opened so we got Schinken-Kase Croissants straight from the oven which helped with the walk home in -10.

Saturday:

I woke up at 2, bought apples, went home and then went to Irina's for a movie night. We decided to get pizza and walked over to the take-away. I was in charge of talking as I had a little more German but after awhile it was just easier to speak English. The man at the counter was really interested in me.

Man: Where are you from?

Me: Ireland.

Man: IRELAND! Oh, it is so beautiful. I went there many many years ago.

Me: Oh lovely, where did you go?
Man: Edinburgh

Me: ...No, Edinburgh is in Scotland.
Man: Oh, sorry, sorry, I meant North Edinburgh.Me: ...

Man: So, are you from the West or North of Ireland?

Me: ...I'm from the East

Man: *confused face*

Me: Dublin

Man: *even more confused face*....No, I've never heard of it. Have you ever been to Scotland?

Me: Yes, I flew over there quite a few times.

Man: Flew? That's crazy, why didn't you just drive?

Me: Well, it's easier to fly than to drive to Belfast and get a ferry

Man: But Scotland and Ireland are attached

Me: Eh..no they're not.

Man: No, they are. *draws me a map*

Me: ...eh no. This is a real map.
Man: IRELAND IS AN ISLAND!!!

Sunday:

Irina's Birthday was on Wednesday but as her party she wanted to go up to Feldberg (The highest point in the Schwartzwald) and play in the snow and make snowmen or in our case Snowbunnies! It was amazing, there were metres of snow that you would fall waist high in. The amount of snow we got in our underwear and down our necks from a snowball fight enthusiast was not as much but it was great craic! There was an igloo that people had burrowed through a bank of snow to make! There were constant snow storms that would whip you in the face but all you had to do was turn away from it to stop that. We hide inside the branches of a huge pine tree during the worst of the snow. We're going to go back there next week and learn how to snow board/ski as it's only €60 or so!

It was a good weekend!

Tschus!

xHx

For Lisa

2009-01-12T08:16:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to shout out to Lisa! It's her birthday today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! xxx
(Lisa did not ask me to do this)

Zombie Attack

2009-01-08T09:50:00.000-08:00

Times like these I wish I had German before I came here. There's a lot of fuzz outside Stusie (which is the place in which I live). There are two fire brigades, two police cars, the entire place is sealed off with red and white taps and there's a man on a loud speaker shouting "ACHTUNG" every ten minutes or so followed by a vast amount of German that I cannot follow. Oh wait he just said "nicht". Well, that's a start. And Terry and I are the only people in the flat and we are the only ones that don't speak German (go team!).

So my only conclusion is that zombies are coming. I live on the 6th floor with metal shutters and a very fancy, very efficient, very german lock on my door. But I have seen enough Zombie movies to know that I am not going to make it.

"In my Life" By The Beatles is playing while the German man is shouting which is only dampening the mood even more. Nothing like a bit of melancholy before being eaten alive by zombies.

The man has stopped talking so I can only presume he has been eaten.

Tell Darjeeling and Leonard that I'll miss them!
Over and out,
xHx

I'm back!

2009-01-06T07:24:00.000-08:00

Christmas was a bit too short but I have been united with Pharoah who has now mesmorised Terry who was minding him. So much so Terry wants to observe his behaviour...I wish I knew what Pharoah gets up to when I'm not around!

Also, I'd like to announce the arrival of our new kittens (In Dublin), Darjeeling and Leonard! I miss them and their teeny-tiny tails

Happy New Year! xx

2008-12-18T04:53:00.001-08:00

An old man keeps calling my house line. I never get calls. He just keeps saying "Freiburg, ja?" I say "ja" He stays on the line at little longer then hangs up. I think he enjoys my company. He has rung at least 5 times now. My phone's ringing...I can only guess who it is...

Photos for the Prague Trip!

2008-12-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

Here's a random selection of some of the things I saw. I can't work this blog so sorry about that :)

Prague 11-12-08 --13-13-08

2008-12-14T06:36:00.000-08:00

Prague was truely wonderful even it drain me of all energy and of some of my money! I went to Prague two years ago and then it was this beautiful city without too many influences by the tourist trade. Two years later , there is no street without a generic souvenir shop selling the exact same unique crystal scultptures and Absynith. However, it still is a stunning city!

Thursday:
So We decided to get a night train to Prague, I mean 14 hours on a train in reclining chairs is a walk in the park! So we set out and got on the wrong train to Hamburg. I pulled Jude off once I read the sign. A late train can really mix you up! Then our Prague train arrived! This train goes from Freiburg all the way to Moscow. You have no idea how tempting it was to stay on the train and go all the way to Moscow then but after 14 hours on the train all we wanted to do was get off the train! We had a little cabin to ourselves with curtains and a sliding door! We decided to sleep...well, tried to. We sprawled across the three seats as we had bought reclining chairs and our chairs were stuck to the floor and were deteremined on not reclining. The ticket conductor came 6 times during out 14 hour journey so we were woken up (if we slept) every two hours. Finally, I fell asleep to wake up with a Czech man above me. He then proceeds to try and sit on Jude's legs..seemingly, our cabin was for sharing with the rest of the Czech Republic. So Jude and I sat up very sleepy and very hurt and glared at the man until we reached Prague two hours later.

Friday:
We decided that saving money would be the best thing to do as students so we decided walking to our Botel from the other train station (not the main one) was the best idea possible. It was snowing and raining and I stood in every puddle and ditch that the good Czech Republic provided. After half and hour of walking I realised that we were going the wrong way...of course. We did a complete turn about and went the other way! I asked a woman if she spoke English, German, Spanish or French to see if we were going the right way but she just hacked up some phlegm from her throat and looked at me in a not-so-friendly-way so I thought it for the best that I backed away before I encounter a Llama like situation. Finally we got to the river, we walked along it completely drenched and found out Botel.

The Botel:
It was everything a Botel could be! It was called Florentina. We had two very cozy beds, friendly (english-speaking) staff and it was dry. Our cabin was small but perfect. There was a percariously placed TV that was hung over Jude's head. After I said she'd be decapitated by a Grundig she decided to move her pillow. The bathroom was fitted with shelves that have borders so in rough weather all your things would stay on the shelf. When you flushed the toilet it tried sucking you out too much like airplane toilets. It was wonderful. After drying off, putting on new socks and puttin them into my wet shoes...(sigh) we headed off into town!

We headed into the Altstadt to the Christmas market where we had Trdlo which is impossible to say but is entirely delicious! The Christmas market was full of beautiful table clothes, pastries, cakes, crystal and glass sculptures. The smell of roasting chestnuts added the Christmas feel as did the ENORMOUS angel Christmas lights! We headed to Wenclelas square where there was a smaller market before we headed to Charles Bridge which is currently under reconstruction so a lot of it is in scaffolding. We met a sailor on our way who tried selling us tickets for a boat cruise. He said his name was Elvis, "Elvis left the building, went to Africa and got a tan", the entire crew of the ship were black and all had different names and stories. There was Elvis, Lassie, and Lenin. Once we got away from the bargain cruise deals we got onto the bridge. The snow falling down slowly on the bridge made it that little bit more magical. We rubbed the dog (for luck/good fortune) and the woman (that supposedly indues fertility and pregnancy) so we wished that our good fortune with the rubbing of the dog would reverse us rubbing the woman. (What an odd sentence).

Friday Evening:
We went to our Botel and had a nap, got ready and went out to see a Caberet show which turned out to be a strip club. The man lied. We went of waffles covered with melted chocolate from the "Number one Chocolate shop in Prague! Then we decided maybe we didn't really want to see the show so we headed to a cocktail bar where I ordered something grotesque and Jude ordered something that tasted like happy. So I was not pleased with my choice. Jude found a shot of rum which was 80%. After a whole lot of persuasion, we got it. I had never felt so much pain and fire in my throat before! And I don't ever plan feeling that pain again! By 11, our 14 train journey and lack of sleep had caught up on us so we headed back to our Botel.

Saturday Morning:
We got up at 9 and went for our breakfast. It turns out we were the only guests and that they had been waiting for us since 8.a.m to serve us breakfast. Breakfast was something peculiar. She said we were having "Eggs and Ham" (Sam I am) and then she produced a plate of watery scrambled eggs with burnt red onion that tasted like ham but no ham was to be seen! Ah, Eau de Jambon! I finally figured out that in the scrambled eggs there was chunks of smoked ham fat. We ate all the bread instead. While we ate there was a radio station playing which played 80s classics that had been translated into Czech, "Downtown", "Take on me" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Turn around, Bright eyes = Tur Arni, Barna). We went up to the castle today and stalked the guards. Jude wanted a photo of the guards marching out of a gate so we followed a group of twenty armed guards and waited for the to come out. One of the guards was playing peek-a-boo with me as there was a tiny window in the door he was hiding behind. It was hilarious to see a 6ft man wearing a fur hat the size of a fat cat and holding a bayonet pop up and down at a window. Finally, the soldiers came out, some giggling, other with smirks and others laughing out loud. We came across a little church that played "Hey Jude" so I sang to Jude which she didn't exactly enjoy but I'm sure deep down inside she loved it. Then we found the Loretta whihc was closed off to the public so we took like 50 photos of ourselves doing differnt poses on everystep outside the Loretta there are 22 steps. We then went looking for a maze that is just below the eiffel tower viewing point. We got lost. Very lost. Paths just seemed to end. So we claimed we were in the maze which made us feel a little better about ourselves. Along the way I made many different snow statues and art works so it passed the time...for me anyway!

Saturday Evening:
We had a lovely Czech meal of some sort of meat in sauce under the umbrella term of Goulash. I don't think I'll ever know what I ate but it was nice...whatever it was! Then we went to our trusty chocolate shop and had another waffle! We met a nice Australian who travels around the world teaching people how to make hard-boiled candy. I tried my best to try get a free lollipop by fluttering my eyelashes, flicking my hair and being charming. I thought I was doing well until Jude unsubtley said in the lull of noise in the shop "I don't think he's falling for you just ask him for a lollipop" That sorta ruined my work so no free lollipops came out of that. Next time we're going to learn subtlety. Then around 7 we headed to the train stattion. The Bartender of the botel, stood outside the boat and waved us good bye (nawh). We arrived to the train station to find out it was the wrong one but it didn't matter in the end after we both had heart attacks! The station we were in is in the rough end of town and there was a man that kept flicking open his pen knife while staring at us. I was ready to pepper spray! But the police came and marched him out of the building! (The police are called Policie, I think it sounds adorable but these men have VERY large guns)

Finally the train came and it was packed, there were people in our seats, people along the corridor so you couldn't move but we got it sorted out and made friends with an American girl called Amanda who is awesome and did not steal out wallets while we slept. She was getting off the train at Fulda at 4.a.m and I woke up at 4.3o and she was still sound asleep in our cabin so I woke her up and there was a lot scrambling as she got off just as the train was pulling out! No one came in our cabin so we slept til 9 when I woke up and realised we had 10 minutes to gather our things before we arrived in Freiburg if I hadn't we would have woken up in Switzerland!

It was a brilliant weekend! Jude and I want to become the next Thelma and Louise (yes, we know the consequneces!) but I want to Thelma and so does she so we're going to be Thelma and Thelma!

Good night!

YAY

2008-12-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

Well we're in the final countdown to Prague. Today it snowed so I tried to capture it on video but as many of you know I'm awful with a camera! Enjoy my lack of talent!

Til then I'm Czeching out! (I can't get over that pun, sorry)

I'm Still Alive!

2008-12-09T07:02:00.000-08:00

Hello there! I realise I have no written in such a long time...which isn't that long at all but for me it's a long time! This is just a short notice that I am in fact alive. Since my amazing birthday weekend (That's a photo just to show you I was in fact in Dublin for my birthday. I have Patricia as proof)I have been working away trying to get organised as I am going to Prague this week! I had a lot more to do than I actually thought. I've been flying about the place so I was away from the pooter most of the time! I will write more after Prague as I'm sure I'll have somethig to tell you then!

xHx

24th-27th Of November

2008-11-27T12:14:00.001-08:00

Hey there! All good here mainly because I've been counting the days until I come home!!! I'm beyond excited!

Monday: was a busy day as I received an email from my lecturer changing my presentation so I needed to catch up on what she wanted! So I worked away on that and made mushroom soup which is now if the freezer (just a pointless fact for you). Choir went well but our crazy voice warmer was there (as per usual). I think he has reached his full quota of crazy now as he decided a good way to warm our voices would be to bend your knees, hang your arms and bounce, so you look like a monkey. I was not on for this so I watched and then he made everyone go "ooh ooh ooh", yes just like a monkey. He is a new kind of crazy!

Tuesday: as ever was very good. I met up with Claudia (I dunno if you know her) but she was the girl I met in Dublin who I was emailing as she is a student in Freiburg and she was giving me information on the college and we didn't know that the person we were emailing, we sat beside in linguistics class. So that was pretty awesome as we were friends already! Anyway, slight deregression there. We met up for lunch anyway. German food is still weird, I mean I will give them a lot of credit for some of the stuff they produce but half the time I poke my food to make sure whatever on my plate is dead. As I still can't read much German (we learnt the colours in class) it's always a surprise what I get. Claudia is well but has a weird thing on her leg that there is no known cure for so doctors are having great fun trying new things out on her! She's not as amused as they are. After German class, a few of us went to the Christmas market for ginger bread and Gluhewein, Gluhewein (I have learnt) is not my favourite thing in the world but this was relatively alright! And I got a free cup (glass and a picture on it) which I will give to my family as a Christmas present and pretend I bought it. (I understand that they follow this blog but the truth will come out at one point anyway).

Wednesday: Today I had my presentation which my lecturer changed yet again on the actual day! And she wanted a very strict speech according to her points so I read off the sheet word for word and did not divert! It went fine, I doubt any listens to any of these presentations. In my feedback, she said I need to stop reading the sheet and to divert from the main points she made. I think she is schizophrenic as sticking to the main points and not diverting on pain of death was quite clear in the emails she sent. Oh well. We went to a photography musuem in my next lecture but the most exciting thing that I learnt was my friend (who looks like a lion, from bavaria, very hairy, wears massive jumpers) is an MC and raps in German and he invited me to his gig next week! This is something I cannot miss! He looks like he carries a banjo hidden in his jumper! I am excited.

But tonight was my German birthday! So I invited everyone I knew well enough to invite into my home for drinks and then we'd head to the bar next to my house (as it was 50c shot night...and a bad idea). Jude came over early and we decorated with Christmas decorations Mum sent me. It started off rough as there were three people who were on time and they were the shy ones so they did not want to talk to anyone at all! But the ice broke after a few of the chattier ones came! We had quite an international party; Ian, Christie and Kaelyn (American), Stefan and Adrian (Germans), Fidel (Mexican), Howard (English), Jude (Scottish), Heibar (Afghanistani), Ola and Brita (Swedish), Paolo and Carlo (Italien), Claryce (Sinaporean) and last but not least Irina (Romanian). We petrified the Germans..It was wonderful! It was really lively and good craic. At about 12, about half the people left as they didn't have their bikes with them and had to get the last tram back. Carlo refused to go but he was literally dragged out. Carlo is famous for saying "Anti-sex" which means a girl has no sex appeal and I live on the Sixth floor (sechs = zex) so he was thrilled and make anti-sex jokes about every piece of furniture in the floor! Then the rest of us went out to Stusie, we lost everyone, found everyone, lost them again and got back in at 4. So a good night! I'm sure there's incriminating photos somewhere but I didn't have my camera

Thursday: Wednesday has left quite a mark and a bruise on my arm. So I took the day quite slowly and stayed in bed where it's safe after Jude left. Then I headed out and got a few more Christmas presents. Had class at 4 and German class was cancelled! YAY! The Italians tried getting me to come to the pub but I ran! I packed and made myself a packed lunch for my journey tomorrow! I can't wait to go home! And eat my packed lunch! I did a pretty good job! I gave Ian Pharoah for the weekend. Ian is slowly understanding my madness which is good, I also bribed him with eggs that are going off on Saturday. I'm listening to Leonard Cohen and I feel like Mum. The only reason I feel like Mum is because Leonard Cohen is playing...Still.

I'M GOING HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

17th - 23rd Of November

2008-11-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

This week was a bit of a mixed week but it was alright.

Monday: I actually don't remember what I did. I think i started with my presentation but I went to sleep pretty early due to the Beats-related exhaustion.

Tuesday: Romantic Poetry was invaded by 30 other students so I sat on the floor at my lecturer's feet so I wasn't noticed when I tried to make a point my puttingup my hadn. I was short of pulling on his trouser legs. I worked all day on my presentation that I was giving on Wednesday and I was really happy with it.

Wednesday: Well, today was the day of my presentation. As you know, I have had a lot of experience with speeches so I wasn't nervous at all. SO I get up there, set up my presentation and I start. One minute into my presentation my lecturer cuts across me and just says "I want to make sure you got that piece of information that Helen said as it's realy important". After two hours, I am still standing there waiting for my teacher to stop talking . Every now and then she made gestures like to say something during a class debate so like it was impossible. Then she looked through my sheets and was like "oh wow very good idea about the class exercise..but I don't think we'll do that today" So needless to say I was furious by the time I got out of the class room and worst of all, the presentation is worth 30% and she wouldn't shut up...sigh. I went out with Jude that night to the Handel-bar, yes just like a bike! So I stayed til about one until the exhaustion kicked in.

Thursday: Yet another night of no sleeping so I was much like a zombie all day. I can't remember what i did today either. Short term memory loss and all that.

Friday: Oh dear, another blank day in my memory. But Christie came over that evening and I met her entire family over Skype which was nice and odd and all they wanted was for me to read out something or speak irish so they could hear my "awesome" accent. They are lovely though.

Saturday:

Christie stayed the night and get up at some INSANE hour (around 10am) then i stayed in bed and she ran off to work. I got up at 3 and then got a call from Christie to go clothes shopping. If you visit Freiburg, you'll realise they do not know what fashion is so clothes shopping takes about..20 minutes. But somehow we lasted an hour. Christie got a dress for my birthday and she looks lovely in it. Hopefully not too lovely as I must look fantastic! Then I stayed in last night and did not go to the two parties I was invited to! Yes, two, I am THAT popular!

Sunday: WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!!! It snowed! I ate breakfast as fast as a five year old on Christmas day and was out making snow men within half and hour of getting up. No one else was up which was probably a good thing. Brita, Ola, Paolo, Carlo and I went to France, the whole hour away from us, to Colmar where there is a big Christmas market, pretty much the entire town becomes a market. We froze and ate something that was described as "thin slices of pig with fumes"..it was delicious but none of us decided to question what it was further. Then after shopping for 4 hours we headed home, everyone passed out except for Paolo (who was driving) and me (who was in the passenger seat and felt obligied to stay up). He has an..interesting taste in music from Beauty and The Beast classics and Aretha Franklin hits. It was a hilarious drive home. Paolo kept telling me I wasn't wearing enough clothes, I was not going to tell him about my thermal underwear, so when I got out of the car, he would not let me leave until I put on my coat and kept saying "boot Helene you are like a nekid" So I put on my coat. A good day indeed :)!

Ok, So I can't organise photos very well!

Finally I found it!

2008-11-18T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is the song that Ryanair plays during their flights

http://www.mrsuperfly.com/?partner=MRSUPERFLY&pos=FARE_TERMS

Well worth a look. Be cautious, your ears might bleed

Beast!

2008-11-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

Well, the weekend was disastorous but I think we had a good time and we learnt a lot about ourselves. I am a terrible hostess, navigator, German speaker and geographain.

Beast Arrived on Friday and I picked him up from the train station. I told him to stay put so of course he moved so it was rather hard trying to find him on a platform that he had left. Finally our paths crossed and all was good! I brought him to my resies and introduced him to Pharoah, who was happy to meet him until he forgot about it. That evening we went for Schnitzel and beer (we are in Germany) with Jude, and I had bought everyone tickets for Mozart's Zauberflote. And if you have ever talked to me about opera; it is my favourite opera of all time! So I personally was beyond excited! So we run to the Historic Kaufhaus and a man informs us that we're half and hour late (my heart skips a year of beats) but he kindly allows us in. Much to my confusion the opening piano duet is only being played now. After the pianists finished, a woman in a suit and a man in a suit stand up and a powerpoint presentation turns on. I for one am very confused. Jude and Beast seem a little confused. So after 10 minutes, we realise this is not the opera but a powerpoint presentation of the opera and it's meaning! After 15 minutes we leave. The woman in charge of the door did not give us looks of disdain but complete understanding! It was AWFUL. We then went to my favourite micro-brewery "Feierling" where the beer is sweet and milky (it's not gross) where we met up with my Swedes and Italians. After a long evening there, Beast and I walked home. I got to sleep on the floor which was...not very enjoyable but oh well!
The next morning we went to the markets and to show Beast around the place. Then we have some inspiration to go to Switzerland and see The Alps. A wonderful idea to do on a Saturday. So we got tickets to Basel to see The Alps (Noticing anything wrong with that? We didn't). Off we go to Basel with Schkolade Kirsch treats and we arrived in Basel and we were met with the great...industrial village and towering buildings. We could not understand where the Alps were. We pride ourselves in our geography, especially Beast and BOTH of us thought Switzerland was surrounded by a ring of mountains...it's not. So we were grealt put off Basel, confused by the fact people love it there and we understood it because we knew tha Alps were there. After finally getting over the shock that the Alps were missing we went for a long walk to the Zoo. The Zoo was great fun. We saw leopards with fluffy tails, elephants and other wonderous creatures! Basel is actuualy quite a nice place, once you know that there are no Alps. So if you don't know that, you feel a little stupid when you're there. We crossed the Rhine which as Roman history fans was momumental :) That night we met up with the Swedes and Christie (American friend). We ordered Bacardi Razzes and Beast ordered a Mai Tai cocktail which came out with a colourful strimmer coming out of it and looking a little ridiculous but hilarious. Everyone secretly wanted one. So cocktails came with the second round which were more colourful and outrageous than Beast's! After that, Beast, Christie and I went home (to my parts) to book Christie's flights to Dublin (She's coming over for 30 hours for my birthday!) Christie missed all the trams possible and walking home from where I live isn't a good idea (Beast bought me Pepper Spray, how exciting!) so she stayed the night with me and had a 7am wake up call as I had a choir performance on the Sunday!

Sunday was a better day for disasters. The choir did really well and sounded good. Beast tried getting into the Lutheran church where I was singing and was confronted by a hoard of German grannies who weren't keen on letting him in, but his charm got him in no problem. The church was colder than outside so after the performance I was like the Ice Queen. Then we went home and put on our thermals. Then we went up to Shauin(something) and went up in a awesome ski lift and went high up into the Schwartzwald, it was very misty so it was like the setting of a horror movie! But we walked and walked and realised I am out of shape. We went up on a viewing tower and that was high up! It was amzing, we couldn't see anything past 15ft but still it was cool! When we got back, we went to Feierling and Beast chatted up the waitress to bring him some sort of Bavarian sausage special which looked shocking! But it was nice in the end, it shows you, I strive to speak German but Beast says one or two words of English or sorta German and they're all falling at his feet. It's just not cool! I got to sleep by myself in my bed which was a bonus for the night!

Today, we went on an extreme shopping mission. I am about to collapse most of the time from exhaustion. But we got trad bratwurst, climbed the Muster tower which was...painful but worth while, stood beside a MASSIVE bell when it rung which almost stopped my heart. Beast fell in love with a Gherkin seller, the feeling was mutual. The man would ask me what I'd like to buy while he feed Beast didn't types of Gherkins, both of the boys had a great time with eachother while I tried following his German. Beast's suitcase is mainly filled with Gherkins as he left me with a bag of his clothes here. Then Beast and I rushed to the best cake shop and chocolate shop in town and he chatted up the girl that she tried gift wrapping everything he bought! I want this charm! Then with twenty minutes to go we went to mine and repacked his bag! And we arrived to the station with 4 minutes to go. Theia requested Bretzels so I ran to the Bakery to get then and the idea was to shove them into the window of the train. I got back just as the train pulled away. Beast clung to the window as he drove past. I dunno if it was for the Bretzels or me...I'm pretending it was me!

Overall, a badly organised and mislead weekend...but a great one at that! I had fun anyway :) Thanks Beast xx

This week!

2008-11-12T02:37:00.000-08:00

Apologies to those who thought I had died over the weekend! I was away from my computer :) I was told by Beast to change my fontsize so there you have it!

Monday: was a extremely good day! Beast booked flights to come over and see me this weekend!!! Excited, much? Yes siree!!! I'm trying to organise cool things to do, which there are a lot of! However, everything closes on Sunday (But Shhh don't tell Beast), Other than the pure excitement of Beast's travel annoucement, not much else happened! I went to choir as we're "performing" on Sunday in a church so lots and lots of singing! Then I came home and Ian (My housemate that is fun Hawaii and has the complextion of milk), Knocked on my door, asked to borrow a movie and after 10 minutes standing in my room with my 5 movies in hand, he annouced "None of your movies are really blowing up my skirt"...I hope you're as lost as I was. I decided to take offense to this, guessing he wasn't being nice as he rarely is! But he left with Juno which I haven't seen since.
Tuesday: Well, Tuesday is usually my favourite day! I had Romantic Poetry and at the start of the presentations, my Lecturer says "Well, I hope you all kept Helen's excellent presentation in mid from last week as well she raised a high bar and I expect more from you more" *cue looks of absolute hatred from the class*. At the end of the lecture the group of Autralians came up to me. I feared mildly for my life. Bianca (The ring leader) just said "eh hi, You seem pretty cool..so I'd like to invite you to my joint 21st birthday party". Supposedly, I've sat beside her friend (the other birthday girl) and we talked and she thought I was cool. I have no recollection of this girl. But I'm sure it'll come back to me! I have a vague idea...couldn't be too sure. Jude and I then met up to discuss travel plans (we're going somewhere Thursday week!). But instead, we found out it was St.Martin's Day and all the bakeries were selling little bread men. So the obvious thing to do was to collect as many different men as we could. We got 6... and yes, I do attend college Pat, I just have small adventures when I don't! After the breaded excitement, we went for lunch (Jude paid 50c more than me and as you see in the photo, the difference is shocking, I have learnt my lesson) where I met a friend Pei-Ying (yes, paying). Who introduced me as "This is Helen, She really cute" *cue confused looks from Jude and I*. German class is still not very helpful but I can tell you that the lamp is not a pencil...the teacher seemed to think that was important. After German, a group of us went out for dinner. Schnitzel and Beer! YAY! I asked for Schnitzel Nummer sex which was with a Bernaise sauce which was described as a "eggs, mayonaisse and herbs" So thing's just don't translate well. We got the house special which is a tray with 11 beers on it (There were 5 of us) but unfortunatley I didn't have my camera. Carlo, Paolo, Britta, Ola and I were the only ones that went. Ola and Britta are a lovley couple from Sweden and Carlo and Paolo are Italian. Paolo says "eeez ver-ee nigh-sss" over and over if he likes something which is hilarious! After dinner, we went to a local brewery where the beer tastes really fresh (as it's made in front of you). Carlo tried making me to come dancing with him and shouting "what thee-ngzzz do you avvv to do and not danzzzz", he's quite an animated guy! But I got away in the end with Paolo who kindly walked me home. Ian had a female caller at 1a.m. And they talked loudly! Then I think I passed out with exhaustion but at 3a.m. the girl tried leaving much to Ian's loud disappointment! She couldn't decide if she wanted to stay or not outside my door. At this point I was short of frog marching her into Ian's room and locking the door but she finally left! Then the tap started dripping...just one of those nights!

Wednesday: All good today, mainly did work all morning. American Identity class is an confusing as ever but I met up with th Australians who think I'm cool in class today! I went to the Supermarket with one of them and she introduced me to Nashi Pears, These things are delicious. like an apple but so juicy and crunchy at the same time, it's amazing! Also, Bianca said that if I want when i come to Sydney in 2010, Hannah and I can sleep on their couch! YAY!!! Mum sent me a beautiful scarf and a broch...how do you spell that? Brotch? Anyway, I was and am very pleased! I mainly worked all day and made myself caragean (a milky dessert thing made with seaweed...it's really nice!) But Ian when I told him that it was seaweed and not candy said "I think I'll have to throw up now" No one seems to "get me over here"

Thursday: I worked a lot during the day. In preparartion of Beast's arrival. I had American short stories and a gorl gave a presentation that was so bad the lecturer asked for her to stop before she finished! It was a little too mean and then he carried on ripping her unfinished presentation to shreds which was not so enjoyable to watch! After that I went to a Cafe for a coffee with Irine, A Romanian friend. I ordered a San Augustin coffee just hoping for the best. It was the most bitter thing I have EVER tasted in my life. My mouth practically felt like the desert! Then I carried onto an incredibly boring German class, after which Britta and I had an email of making Christmas decorations. I resorted to Montessori school type snowflakes and Santas. I thought we'd be on the same level...no. She made a 3D star with tranperant paper, carboard and a geometry set...I had pathetic little stars. Next week, we're going to bake...I can feel another pathetic input on my part! :)

Friday: Beast is coming today!!! YAY!!! So I need to find a bed in IKEA for me to sleep on! My keyboard is going mental, I have to leave the caps lock in order to type normally, how odd. Sorry for that slight degression! Anyway,The excitement is killing me! So I think that's enough from me! But I will fill you in one the shenanigans of the weekend!

xHx

2008-11-06T04:54:00.000-08:00

Hello there!

The week started off well! I worked on my presentation for Romantic Poetry on Monday and presented it on Tuesday. I kicked ass, we all know I have no modesty so we'll forgive the previous comment! All the other presenters had their head in their sheets and made little effort so I took the room by storm :). My lecturer said it was the best presentation he had seen in a long time and he loved it! I'm coming to love the straight-forwardness of th Germans (well, as long as it goes in my favour).

So I was on a roll all of Tuesday and was quickly shot down in German class; I did not learn how to say the shop assistant sells flowers and my teacher takes no prisoners. But I got over my German failure. Then I went to the Mensa (which is the place all the kids are at...no really) to watch the election. They wouldn't let us in and kept saying we could go in but kept stopping us when we tried. Oh to speak German that would be nice. My American friend was short of taking out her passport and pull a "but I'm an American citizen" move but we decided to run to the Irish pub cuz we figured it was bound to have the elections on...we were wrong. The football was on and the pub was full of irate Americans who clearly thought the same thing! So we settled down for a drink and chatted about our different cultures (Swedish, American and Irish). I also found a picture of a sister of girls I went to school with which was a funny surprise. I tried to stay up and watch the elections but the fatigue of my big day hit hard at 12.30a.m! But YAY OBAMA!

Wednesday was interesting. In my American Identity class, we have a know it all girl who everyone hates and as they are Germans they show it! I love Germany. Everytime she speaks, the teacher rolls her eyes and the class sigh! She seemingly hasn't picked up on it! She lived in America for 4 months and now "knows" and "understands" Americans more than they know themselves. She checks her appearance in her laptop screen every five seconds.

Her only friend is a French guy from Marseilles who "loves the Irish because they are the Irish", I stopped listening to him after he asked me to speak Irish in an Irish accent. He wears Lacoste airtexs, marco polo pink shirts, pointy leather shoes, chinos and well fitted jackets. His hair is so perfectly part and his eyebrows are so well shaped that I look like a ship wreck beside him. Our "American" German and he talk all the way through class about "politics" and matters concerning "the interest of the class". My lecturer at one point said "why are you even in my class, you seem to know everything already so you canjust leave, you're wasting my time and your time" My class clapped (well, knocked on the table which we do instead).

I was made stand in the place of my lecturer in How to Read Images as I was "so good at finding meaning in paintings", so I was made stand there for 10 minutes straining my mind to find as many contrasts, meanings etc to Thomas Blackshear II's "Forgiven" painting which after 10minutes becomes quite hard.

I woke up this morning with "Spais" written on my neck, in pillow marks. It was written backwards so you could only see it in the mirrow. "Spáis" in Irish sorta means walk so I decided who ever carved into my neck was telling me something; so I went for a walk so I didn't anger it! So if you hold this very unattractive photo of my neck up to a mirror you can read "Spais" I'm petrified! :) (that really is an odd picture, I've my chin up my, neck doesn't had such a weird bulge!)

Thursday; I organised a gang to go see the new Bond movie however one only turned up! Faithful Jude! So we went for dinner, €4 for a MASSIVE bowl of pasta and then we had to wait and hour to see Quantum of Solace in English at 22.50pm! So I missed the last tram home but Jude walked back with me so it was all good. In the cinema, they sell 1.5ltrs of coke to go along with your gargantunan popcorn- i refrained but watching Jude try to carry the 1,5ltr cup was a funny sight to behold! The movie was ***, I won't ruin it for everyone so you can go and see it yourself!

Friday, Jude and I met up as we're going to go on a European adventure! We decided on Florence, Rome, Madrid, Cologne, Paris, MArseilles, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Prague and I think that's all. So we went to Deutsch Bahn and handed the unfortunate man the list and asked him to send us on the cheapest train to one of these places, we've got one or two deals but next week we're going to go harass Ryanair! Yay! SO there is an adventure in the making! There after we went for some fleischkas-wei-something which was very tasty. Being in an adventurous mood we went for a trip up to the lift into the Schwartzwald which was, of course closed but we found a playground which appeased us. The walk home was beautiful as we decided to shun the bus and walk through the amber trees! Then this evening I had a movie night with Kaelyn and sugared popcorn and sweets so my teeth are now decaying as we speak but I did it to myself so we can't complain!

Hope your weeks went well!

xHx

Halloween In Freiburg

2008-11-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

Halloween is NOT popular at all in Germany. I was very disappointed as if you know me at all, I adore Halloween. So, i tried convincing my floormates that Halloween wasn't "childish, for kids, just a reason to get drunk, for people who have a weird sense of humour and Americans" but they stuck to their opinion. Stefan was the only one of my floormates who was vaguely interested in Halloween and said if he had nothing better to do after midnight, he would go out with me. Understanding that he meant there's no chance in hell that I'd go out with you I made my own plans.

Jude and gang were headed to the Stusie so I said I would go with them; they were all dressing up so clearly the right bunch to head out with. They were at a house party before so I stayed awake by doing college work (yes, I'm that exciting but I was tudying Edgar Allan Poe so it was rather suiting...I freaked myself out a little bit).

The bells tolled midnight and a knock came upon my door (How Poe!). So I opened the door and there stood Stefan whose mouth dropped when he saw me. I may have left out the fact that I was dressed as Pippi Longstockings with piggy-tails, drawn on freckles and a LOT of blush (One of Jude's friends said I was"every paedophiles' dream" which was rather disconcerting). I quickly assured him I was dressed up for Halloween and not dressed up just to go out. I still hadn't heard from jude, so Stefan and I went to the Stusie without her. He's a really cool guy with a sense of humour sorta like mine (with German influences) so we got on really well! By 2am, I decided that Jude had died, gotten lost or the house party was too much fun. All the Germans in the club kept singing the theme tune to "Pippi Langestrumpfhose" to me everytime they saw me. Amidst the singing, I heard a squeal and a stumbling Jude ran towards me! Her phone refused to work for her so she couldn't call me and by the looks of things, I'd say it was true! The gang were dressed up as Cruella Devil, A rock-punk band, and Army chick and a German who refused to dress up but had the personality of a plank. Stefan decided to take "a look around" which I'm told is what most German guys do..just...because...well, no one really knows.

By 4am, Jude et al were exhausted and face paint deteriorating so they headed off. Stefan decided it was too early to go home. At this point, Pippi was no longer peepy. He wanted to dance but I refused as I thought I'd collapse with exhaustion.

At 5am, Stefan finished his drink (which he said after he finished it, we'd go home) which he had nursed for an hour. The walk was freezing and spooky as hell as a lingering fog filled the Stusie grounds, everything was misty but this fog sat in the air and didn't move. I was creeped out but Stefan seemed fine but I'd say he was shaking in his highly practical shoes.

So by 5.30am I was in bed shivering as my heating has decided not to work so I put on all my thermals and slept practically fully dressed. It was a different but really good Halloween!

Oh and as It's all Souls Day, all the shops are closed and I am now very hungry and will be til Monday. Life is hard.

Talk to you soon xx

Only in Germany

2008-10-29T04:47:00.000-07:00

Well, my week started off on an odd note. I went to Choir, and they've hired a mad man to warm up our voices. I'd say we did maybe 3 scales and that was it. The rest of the time was spent hitting ourselves and each other. I know what you're thinking, but I haven't lost my mind yet. We were instructed to standing in comprimsing strecth positions and hit our ribs cages, arms, legs and beat our chests like Tarzan. After self-inflicting pain, we got to turn around to the person next to us and hit them on their backs. Germany is a confusing place to be...

When buying milk I came across the Lego exhibition. The above picture is entirely made of Lego. There were also Roman and Greek Temples in Lego, Freiburg Ciry in Lego, New York in Lego and needless to say a lot of people with time on their hands. But it did make my trip for the cheapest milk (61c) worth my while. I've yet to beat 61c for milk but I hear there's a Penny Mart where it's 60c, How exciting!

Thomas's wife has visited him, she looks about 14 so they are well matched. Ian asked if I knew if it was a "shotgun marriage", we haven't asked out of politeness but now we're curious. It's nice to have a girl around the place. We get on great even though we have no common language, which is probably why we get on so well...there's a thought.

The bells are tolling! (the bells, the bells!) It's wonderful to hear them...even at 2am but you get over it pretty quick. The sound of them is awesome when you stand in the Rathaus Square or at the Munster (The Cathedral). Here's a smaple of what you hear most of the time when it's on the hour. Ok, so I wan't born a professional camera man, I don't quite get the whole taking a video thing (Ask Jenny) but here's what the bells sound like and how bad I am with a camera. Enjoy!

Just a general update!

2008-10-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well, that's the state of my elevator! It's scarier in real life but here's just a taste of it's scariness!

Life is good in Freiburg at the moment! All been college related but it was Jude's birthday on Saturday, so we headed out and celebrated it in The Stusie! It's the club next to my apartment. It has three floors; popular floor, punk, rock and techo floor and mellow floor! It's a bit of an odd place. The main dance area is like a town hall with a projector screen in it. They have an...ecletive taste in music from wedding floor emptiers, the not so hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s, German anthems and then the odd recognisable song.

As some of you know the clocks changed on Saturday night (when we were out) so when it came to 2am the clocks were put back to 1am, therefore the club was open until 4am (previosuly 5am). I got home around 4.30am(5.30) and decided it would be a good time to decorate the apartment with the Halloween decorations that Mum sent me. So after Halloween-ifying the kitchen I went to bed and slept til 2pm.

I came into the kitchen to find me floormates staring with awe at the kitchen (that kind of awe that you can't tell if it's good or bad...it turned out to be good) They called me crazy and then said I was mental when I toldthem when I did it.

I found out I was on bathroom duty *shudder*. I share with three boys who cleaning is an alien concept to. So I scrubbed the tiles, showers, three sinks, two toilets til they bled and until I semlt like bleach and lemony fresh. The place gleamed. I cannot find the words to describe my horror when I saw the bathroom an hour after I cleaned it. Boys are monsters!

After doing the bathroom, it turned out I was on cleaning the kitchen duty. I mopped, scrubbed, bleached, brushed, disinfected, shined, washed, scraped, sponged and made the kitchen sparkle. The oven caused gagging and the maggot (Singular, I know there's more of them out there) I found; I befriended in hopes of him telling me where the rest of them are. The kitchen looked great, then the 7 monsters came in and began cooking; the aftermath looked like they had a food fight with some apes. So I stormed in and "Mother Goose"ed them to bits, they began cleaning slowly with pouts while I watched over them *whipcrack!*

In other news, there are NO nice dresses in Freiburg. The dresses I could find are frilly, frumpy, floor length, neon lime, retine burning, poufy, sequined, shoulder padded disasters! I thought I could buy one in hope of making a "statement" with it...but...even I couldn't pull that off! So I went and bought a dress off the net

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion/Dresses/GRECIAN-EMPIRE-PROM/11059 w.warehouse.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion/Dresses/GRECIAN-EMPIRE-PROM/11059

It's beautiful! (oh and if you're wondering, this is for my 21st birthday, I'm not just spending my food money on dresses)

That's pretty much all my news; off to choir in an hour!

Talk to you soon,

xHx

The First week in College.

2008-10-23T12:09:00.001-07:00

Well, That was fun! I've made friends (go me!).

<----- That's my student booklet ---->

Romantic Poetry = amazing

Renegotiating American Identity = Run by a scary woman who spent an hour explaining how coutries, even though they are invaded by another country still are their own nation and that they are individuals. Then she askes if there were any British people in the class. I didn't move, she looks confused and says "we do have a British person here, where's Helen Regan from Ireland" I said I was Irish not British to which she replied "Yeah, you're part of England" I think she's missed the point of her own lecture.

How to Read Images: is also pretty awesome. We look at different ads, films and TV shows and see how images and themes are portrayed in them. I made a comment on a ad that was disgustingly sexist and she cut across me during my main point and said "Here, Ladies and Gentlemen, is your class raging feminist". She is also a "raging feminist" so we seem to get along. The boys in my class are now petrified of talking :) I like when I make some sort of impact.

Baby German Lessons: Ich Heisse Helen, Ich komme aus Irland, Ich spreche englisch. And I can also name parts of the classroom. My homework for next week is to be able to say lamp in German (Die lampe...if my article is wrong, I don't care...I face death next week if I don't know the article by then..until then I shall tempt fate)

The International residence association: full of third year, medicine students there for the booze and the free food so not many international students hung around as all the old residents formed groups and wouldn't talk to anyone. Awkward. I lasted an hour of talking to three French boys that were nice when they spoke English but when they spoke French they weren't as nice; they talked about my long legs, and appearance of other body parts...all very nice comments but awkward as hell. People should really ask about what languages I speak before they start talking in another language) but the last straw was after trying one of the cold-ketchup-filled-meatballs...I left.

Overall, a good week; I made friends, I spoke German. I bought a clock that ticks so loud I can hear it from the kitchen. So all in all....yeah, fun times

My First Day In German College!

2008-10-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Hallo!

I feel like I'm five again! I am beaming with delight at the day. First of all, I had to go to sign up for my German classes, and also my German test. Which is another story! So I'm all sorted German wise, the advice I was given for the test was "just write you name". So that's what I'm doing for every question.

I met a nice Romanian girl outside my lecture room who lit up when she heard I was Irish and talked about green fields for the next ten minutes. She said she was doing my course but when we all went in so waved at me and walked away.

Our lecturer is fabulous! And started off the class by pairing us together and making us find out each other's name, what we study and somethign quirky about us. I was paired who a girl called Jenny whose quirk was that she gives things so owns names; her coffee maker Dell, Her Ipod, Joey and Peter...her sponge. She decided that the quirkiest thing about me was that I was from Ireland. I dunno.

The other students are a mixture of those who lied about their English language skills, those who are fluent (me and two australians) and Germans who find the most obscure images and metaphors hidden in the poetry we're studying. For example, "abortion" is the most prevalent issue in Blake's "London". Our lecturer stood with his mouth open scanning the poem and just looked up with a confused expression and in a squeaky voice said "no". Much to the amusement of the class.

My lecturer loves me cuz I'm great (Modesty was never something I counted amongst my traits). Jan (We're on first name terms) asks me my opinion on everything he asks because I've "very good at analysing" and I have "unique input". The Australian Girls don't like me so much as Jan corrected one of them and said they should follow in my footsteps and stop translating the poem literally. Jan asked me to attend his Experimental Drama course to provoke debate in the class. See! He really does think I'm great :)

The German test. Well, I actually didn't have to take the test, thanks be to goodness! But the "absolute beginners" (Nothing to do with vodka) were taken on a tour of the SLI buildings and room which are the language rooms. After this we were seperated into different groups, my group consisted of Spanish girls and smelly boys, they actually smelt, I'm not just being immature. So we spent an hour and a half learning how to say our names and where we came from. There was no common language, not even German so it was pretty difficult. After the hour and a half, the teacher became so confused she just told us to leave. A good start! So I'm surprisingly ahead of the class, I know, me! Thanks to Kinnie's help I am the top student! Yet, I still haven't advanced beyond saying my name but we all have to start somewhere.

It's bucketing outside now. I confused an American girl by saying it was spitting outside as we were leaving to which she ran out of the buiding shouting "CUT IT OUT THAT'S DISGUSTING". I had to explain no one was actually spitting on her. She smiled and said "I love the Irish"

God knows.

Ok, so...

2008-10-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I am wide awake and this is probably the latest I have been up in Frieburg (Ok, so it doesn't have a booming night life). I've butterflies which presumably is due to the fact I finally start classes tomorrow (well in 9 hours). Also, I have to take my German Assessment Test which I have to pay for to find out that I really don't have a word of German.

Today, I was given great news! Felix has moved out of our floor, that's not the good news; he was an excellent cook. The good news is that his bitchy girlfriend went with him! YAY! So now I can go into the kitchen without feeling her icy glare on my back! However, this means that my floor mates are now: Tomas, Konstantin, Ian, Adrian, Terry, Stefan and Daniel. Anyone else notice what I'm getting at? Yes, I am the only girl (eep) and Konstantin has given me the nickname of "Mother Goose" even though I haven't been in any way motherly to any of them! Konstantin said I should look on the bright side that (he yawns, stretches and looks around the room) I'm surrounded by 7 good looking men. A sweet but perhaps dillusional thought...

Also, I came into the kitchen to met my new floor mates Stefan who greeted me with "You must be Helen that everyone is talking about" I'm never too sure how to respose to that sort of statement...

I spent my day reading whiny novels written by angry lesbians and angry women who want to be lesbians, they've even written books about it (the dedication is however to their husbands...God knows.) Then I went to Choir, which was fabulous! We're doing a version of a Laudate Dominum, and Agnus Dei and something else which has slipped from my memory. I met a nice girl who's perfume made me sneeze so I think a distant relationship with her will be for the better.

We're performing in November in a church somewhere, also in January I think. They speak German to me but I get the general jist of things. But I heart my choir. There's a guy that looks like Friar Tuck with a nervous twitch where he tries to suck in the room through his teeth. The conductor is a fabulous character, very passionate and looks to be at least 8 months pregnant but is in fact a man. So overall, a thumbs up for the Romanische Choir!

Right, I'm going to inject some sleepy tea into my system, cold sleepy tea as someone has run off with the kettle. I'm going to put up missing posters around the floor until he comes back, Tea just isn't the same without him...

I met a cat today, that is white and looks like was hit woth black and orange paint. He's going to be my Coco incarnate, I have named him Herr Coco. I thought it sounded authentic.

Good night!

SURPRISE!!!

2008-10-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

As few of you know, I arrived home for a surprise visit. What can I say people just can't live without me and were falling apart. So once again, I saved the day. Ok, I might be exaggerating just that little bit but you're all too far away to give out to me!

Most interesting and shocking thing about arriving home would have to be the 184 bus driver buying me a cup of coffee, cuz I "look like i needed it". Compliment? I think not. But FREE coffee!

There was tears, laughther, confusion and door slamming (Thanks Ciarán) at my arrival. I'm really sorry if I didn't get ti see you, I had a bit of a hectic time trying to organise everything! If you did see me, please don't tell UCD that you did!

Ryanair has out done themselves, the flight to Dublin, had ads playing the entire time and the new "Ryanair" jungle which has suicidal side effects. It's awful! Then ads for the Ryanair lotto, their new sexy girl calender with girls lying on airplane wings,Ryanair wine, duty free, free flights, girls, rent-a-car, the jingle, lotto, girls, wine, duty free, jingle. By the time I got off the plane, I was an alcoholic, road raged, high flyer, girl crazy, lotto manic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e6v8JvQWzA There's a terrible recording of it but you get the jist

The Flight from Dublin was eventful, My crotch zip set off the mental detector, which lead to some unpleasant and unwanted touching. I also had a at least had half a pig in sausages from Hick's (thanks mum!) which induced a bag search which they found my sandwiches which they claimed were the "suspicious" items.

I arrived back to my room about 12.30 a.m. I was greeted by Pharoah (My fish) at the door. I didn't know fish were homing pets but he was outside my door, asleep (Not dead, which I had initially thought). Konstantin was minding him, and had changed his water twice which he was quite happy about. I refrianed from telling him that this fish doesn't like his water being changed (The pet shop woman told me...I'm trying hard not to kill this fish)

Isn't he Pretty? --->

Freiburg is the same as I left it. I have a new floor mate who is lovely. Honestly, lovely. I wanted to hug him the minute I met him. I wants be a primary school teacher. But...BUT...he is MARRIED and I am older than him. My mouth dropped when he told me (clearly, I was coming on too strong, lol), I had to turn the mouth drop into a very forced yawn. So now all the roomsare full...I am the only girl, who is meant to be here. I'm really hoping I've miscounted the rooms as I would LOVE to have another female in the place. Other than the bitchy girlfriend of one of the guys.

I made around 10 potato cakes today, it took me two hours. You must be confused as to why. I had to mash the potatoes with a fork, a dessert fork. The only clean fork I could find. So, after two hours, I had pretty much gone off eating them. So a salad it is!

I'm off to try shove my potato cakes into the crammed freezer. Fun times.

x x

Reasons Why I Love My Family

2008-10-13T01:52:00.001-07:00

I actually couldn't find a photo with all five of us in it! (Sorry Mum). I came home to find a package sticking out of my letter box, with perhaps a quarter of it actually in my box.

A PACKAGE FROM HOME! They remember me!
Oh the excitement was unbearable!

I love my family.

The parcel contained:

1) 4 Yellow Clothes Pegs, 2 white, 4 red, 2 green and one blue.
2)A green Ribbon!
3)Leather gloves
4)A hat
5)A reflective belt for my bag, let's just face facts, I will be hit by a bike. So let's not be too surprised when you get a phone call from A+E.
6)Lovely little notes and a threatening one from Beast :)
7) A Yellow Highlighter
8)Two pairs of tights (Thank God. As I've destroyed at least three pairs already)
9)A Blue biro
10) A little wooden rabbit
11) And a spot light that plugs into my Laptop. Which I'm pretending is a wand.

I'm wearing all that I can, including the clothes pegs.

I.love.my.family.

oh! I just put my hand in my glove to find sewing thread! They know me too well :)

Things I've noticed...

2008-10-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

I enjoy making observations while I'm here. Such as my municipal library has four copies of "Das Boot" in their DVD collection, rather than the measly two copies of it in their VCR section.Germany is a fascinating country. There's three things that have recently caught my attention; Germany's population of odd people, Germany's vast range of questionable fashion and Germany's sadistic water system.

I'm not one to judge "odd" people but Germany truly excels in the range of odd people.

There's the "forever young" rockers that sit on grass with their dogs, usually vicious looking pitbulls or alsatians. They usually are coverd in piercings and must be a delight to deal with at the airport mental detector. They usually mumble, or shout at passer byers or just take drugs right in front of you which is always that little bit unnerving when you're sitting on the tram with them.

There's the "Bin scavengers". These people are middled aged, well dressed people who poke in bins and eat what they find. I have seen this in all age groups. It seems perfectly normal and no one seems to bat an eyelid when people take things out of the bin and then proceed to eat whatever they find! Perhaps it's out of politeness or fear, I have no idea but my eyes are still out on sticks. People also collect cigarettes off the street or bins which are still lit...I think bin scavenging is an acquired taste.

The "Head Shakers". This group is mainly women who can be offended by anything at all. You know when you have offended when they start to shake their heads at you and loudly tisk you.

It's funny but when you smile the shaking increases with heart breaking scolds.

Then there are just crazy people. I mean this in the nicest way possible. These people are the ones that ram people with the shopping trolleys, make noises behind you like the dead woman form "The Grudge", bang sauce pans in the street (wherever they get them) and shout at people in wheelchairs to walk. Luckily, for me, these people mainly use a mixture of French and English so I can understand fully what they are saying. And rightfully be scared the hell out of.

Fashion:

Fashion is something that seemed to have missed Freiburg entirely. If you can see that photo it's a picnic blanket that has been fashioned into a pair of trousers. You can only guess the horror I see everyday if this is what they sell in shops!

The 80s came and stayed here. Though this isn't the "cool" revival of clothes from the 80s that Dublin is currently going through. These are clothes that were kept from the 80s and are still worn. The clothes that have survived from the 80s are retina-burning tracksuits and hideously eye tricking patterns. Pop socks are also wore with short skirts so there's smooth, tanned legs up until there calf and then it's bare leg up to the thighs, when the skirt occasionally begins, but we are not always so lucky.

Skirts are either long or like belts. I get distasteful looks for wearing my knee length skirts and dresses but then again I can never tell if they're just judging me and remarking to themselves that I look like Heidi. Which has happened!

The Sadistic Water System:

Ok, I am very much pro-a nice working and efficient water system. It gives cold, lukewarm, tepid, warm, hot and scolding water depending where you move the tap to. There is no medium. You must choose what you want and it provides the temperature immediately. This doesn't work so well with me. I've been scolded by all the taps I have come across in Freiburg!

My shower is a cruel mistress. It chooses to be very warm and nice but at rapid intervals it goes scolding hot or freezing cold for 2 seconds; giving you time to scream and then realise it's all back to normal. It'll do this for the duration of your shower. Also the air in the bathroom moves the shower curtain so it sticks to you! So I devised a plan to keep it down by placing shampoo bottles. It works but when you get shocked by the shower, i usually end up out of the shower or tangled in the shower curtain. Life is hard.

Wedding Friday

2008-10-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, so seeing a wedding is always an impressive event, even if you're not invites. Today, I saw not one, not two but 6 weddings. Each wedding was..unique in it's own right.

The Greek Wedding:

We arrived too late but we met this wedding as they were having their champagne reception under some trees in the sunlight. The Bride was wearing white, however they were all different types of white. Her shawl was pure white, her boddess a creamy white and her skirt was a yellow white. It was an..interesting combination. The Groom wore a suit that was a least two times too large for him, but he had immaculate curls so that forgave everything. They had hired a woman to play an accordian, she wore a head band and looked like something from Braveheart and sprang about. Half way through a song she started shouting and another woman appeared , put down her shopping basket and took the accordian. The Groom was smoking constantly and the Bride kept burning her hand off his cigarette when she wanted to hold his hand. His cigarette was nervously close to her dress, however I still haven't decided if it would have been a good thing or a bad thing if it did catch fire....provided she wasn't in it.

The Red Wedding:

This couple did not vote for the champagne reception so they were quickly marched out of the Rathaus(Town Hall) and into their cars. The bride wore a bright red dress with a red veil which made the whole outfit look rather sinister. Her Groom was difficult to recognise and she marched out holding hands with two men. I don't know what's legal in Germany but I was impressed. The Mother of the Bride wore a long white dress which looked much like the Greek Bride's dress but all in the same colour. That wedding was a bit confusing to observe.

The White Wedding:

The Bride of this wedding wore traditional white and a nice long dress, the Groom was identifiable. But the Bride or Groom did not win the prize. A small boy at the reception got more attention than the Bride or Groom. And rightly so, He ran about the place with a heart shape balloon and he was wearing pixie wings. The photographer ignored the couple and ran after his cupid-pixie.

The Second Red Wedding:

Don't you hate it when you turn up to an event and someone is wearing the same thing as you? Especially when it's your wedding. So we had a second wedding with a different bride but the same red dress. Oh dear. Again, the Groom was not clear to the eye but presumably he was in fact there. The wedding came and went pretty quickly like the red wedding before. All very suspicious.

The Silk Suits Wedding:

Everyone down to the two mothers of the Bride and Groom wore silk white suits. The Bride on the otherhand arrived wearing a meringue which she let trail around in the gutters. The Groom wore black and looked out of place. The Bride needed a two small boys in white, silk suits and one small girl in a sil, white dress to carry her trail and also to help her into doors by holding up the hoop of her dress.

The Teacher's Wedding:

Once the Meringue Bride disappeared into the church, 30 children arrived to the courtyard. One of which I wanted to steal, he wore a navy knitted vest, white shirt and the smallest tie I have ever seen in my life. But the sweet thing was he was carrying a small guitar which strummed as he walked. Every child had a sign with writing on it: "how many legs does a catepillar have?" and other questions. Their pockets were bulging with poppers. Two women organised the children into lines and sent in two boys into the Rathaus. The boys came flying out, shouting "they're coming! they're coming". Out of the Rathaus comes a Bride who is wearing knee high, brown, suede boots, a mini, skin tight wedding dress and a long white trench coat. The Groom wore a morning suit. The children erupted in cries, cheers and bangs (the poppers). And my favourite little man stepped forward and started strumming away on his guitar, bless.

So Friday seems to be a good day to get married. I looked it up but there doesn't seem to be a tradition to get married on a Friday but I'm going to ask locally and see if they say other wise!

Part 3

2008-10-09T04:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday started off as a bad day but greatly improved! I got up terribley early to go to my appointment with my Erasmus English seminar co-ordinator. I knocked on her door and wait, no reply, I try the door, locked. So I hang about a little while and I see a teenie-tiny note on her door saying "Something in German but amounts to that she won't be in today". So off I go to an internet cafe to try sort out my courses, I've gotten 4 out of the 15, I need to take. Yes, 15. I think I need to talk about that to the Co-ordinator as there aren't 15 lectures that i can take.

Orientation was boring yesterday, I got to sit through 2 hours of German instructions on how to use a computer. But Iwaited as afterwards there was a tour of the city. Finally, it ended and I got talking to a nice girl called Anja.Who couldn't believe I was Irish and started laughing hysterically and told me to speak in Irish, which I did and She still wouldn't believe me as I didn't sound like I came from Kerry. Luckily enough, A man from Laois came over and asked a few questions and verified I was in fact from Ireland. Our city tour was in english, thank goodness.I met a girl from Scotland called Jude, again I met someone who has some sort of song reference to do with their name.

Our tour guide showed us a "good" Irish pub and told us that the Irish are crazy; "They have this big Greenand they wear hats". Then I'm called upon as the token Irish person.

Tour guide: You know of this Green party?
Me: eh...yes. are we talking politics?

Tour guide: HAHA you are so funny, you Irish. Do you wear hats at this Green party?

Me: The Irish are known to wear hats occassionally.

Tour guide: Oh you are too much, you Irish.

The group was greatly amused until the tour guide found out that the Green party was in fact called St.Patrick'sday; "that is not a funny name though" The tour ended in a pub where I asked for a small coke and got a 500ml tankard of coke at an extorionate price.Jude and I got on extremely well and we met a Swedish couple who also don't speak German so we got in Swimmingly!

On the tram home, a baby started making faces at me. He was adorable and I felt much obligied to make faces back and gestures. The mum asked me a question, and the baby answered all surrounding laughed. I still have no idea what was going on.

I went for my walk and looked up at the mountains. There was a black curtain cascading down the side of the Swartzwald. Then the Thunder came, then lightening. So putting two and two together I began to run as I was twenty minutes away from home. The black curtain came sweeping in with a black mist running through the trees.Just as I got to my door, there was a massive crash of lightening and thunder and the heavens opened.

The rain was torrential; I'm very glad I'm on the 6th floor as the bottom floor is bound to be flooded

Part 2

2008-10-09T04:22:00.000-07:00

I went to get my internet todaysurprisingly it was there, brought it home, didn't work, brought it back, the woman says "Oops I forgot to tell you, it won't work til Thursday! God loves a trier.

All good here. Lacking in sleep at the moment. Pharoah is not a good sleeper. In fact, he spends most of his time sucking at peebles, then he drops them making noise. So I'm missing my beauty sleep and looking like something from a train wreck. But Pharoah is still looking perfect.

Orientation began on Monday. Every single tricks, tips and advice are in German (Obviously) much to my disappointment. I met a nice American at a map of the city when I was trying to find the same buidling as her. Her name is Katelin and is from Oklahoma (oooooooooklahoma). I find it impossible not to sing tunes of the hit musical "Oklahoma". However, to try maintain at least one friendship I shall resist. The English Department were taken on a tour of the University's English library (the vast majority of books are written in German...just my luck), the tour was given in German so now I am expert in what most Germans are trying to say with their hands. I'm picking up on key words so that's a bonus. Being thrown into the deep end is a understatement! People love the Irish over here. Everytime I mention that I'm Irish, their eyes light up and go "awwwwh, you are Irish, I love the Irish!" In their best foreign accent they can muster. Clarice from Singpore said all she knew about Ireland was that we have leprechauns. I laughed and she asked if I had seen one, I said I've seen a couple laughing. She's telling her boyfriend tonight that she knows a girl who has seen leprechauns. I haven't the heart to tell her the truth.

I met many nice people. The English Department consists of Germans, Irish(ME!), Swedish, Iranian, Singaporean, Russia and some other nationality that I was told but his accent was so thick that it could have been anything. My Iranian friend, Goanze...or something (it's the name of a flower) and I get along swimmingly! We talked of Joyce, Shaw and Wilde. Then she asked me where I learnt my German, I said I hadn't. She still is a little confused but that. My nodding and smiling is THAT convincing. Clarice (from Singapore) said I was the nicest person she had met all day! Clearly, she hasn't known me long enough. Clarice has never cooked a meal in her life and nor has her mother. Her mother works so it's cheaper to eat out every night in Singapore. I was a tad worried about her food but she told me not to worry as she can make instant noodles...well, thank God for that.It's a horrible thing to say but it's nice when you meet other ERASMUS and International students who are struggling just like you.And here's the horrible part, the ones who are struggling more really make you feel that little bit more organised and confident.

The sunset today was absolutley stunning. I went for an energetic walk and saw a swan take on a dog. The dog lost and the swan then went for the dog's owner. I'm avoiding all German swans, just in case I encounter that one. Today, I got my non-working internet and I went off to Seebrug. It's extremely pretty but a bit empty atthis time of year as it's more of a summer town with a big lake and boating houses. The train ride was good though.We past through Titisee and one of our stops was at Aha, yes, just like the band. So for the entire day I wassinging "Take on Me". Finding Aha in Germany got rid of those internet blues!

I met a new floormate when I got back. He came into the kitchen holding a bleeding leg of some sort ofanimal, no joke. Then he proceeded to shake my hand...the cross-contanmination in that kitchen was unbearable.Although, he was carrying some part of a dead animal, Daniel seems lovely.

That's all from me at the moment! How's Ireland holding up without me?

Talk to you soon, Helen x

Freiburg 1

2008-10-09T04:18:00.000-07:00

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

My Erasmus Year

My Last Week And Last Blog

Last Blog For The Time Being

More...

Just an Update

News Flash!

Stuff and Fluff

The new girl

Things seem to be disappearing.

Busy three weeks

The Dairy Milk

New Problem

We've got it!

My new flatmate

Helen is getting a little emotional

Salzburg - A Very long Blog

The day of the crazy men!

Breakfast with Tiffani

The perfect essay

Shiv's Visit

*Clair*

I'm back!

Itsa Girl

Well you may have guessed I'm home!

The Girls

The Stolen Bus Story

Milan - Book Well In Advance

My eventful weekend!

Only in Germany!

My Weekend!

For Lisa

Zombie Attack

I'm back!

Photos for the Prague Trip!

Prague 11-12-08 --13-13-08

YAY

I'm Still Alive!

24th-27th Of November

17th - 23rd Of November

Finally I found it!

Beast!

This week!

Halloween In Freiburg

Only in Germany

Just a general update!

The First week in College.

My First Day In German College!

Ok, so...

SURPRISE!!!

Reasons Why I Love My Family

Things I've noticed...

Wedding Friday

Part 3

Part 2

Freiburg 1

Clair