Hamburg, meine Perle.

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Hey all,

I know, it has been far too long. Life continues to get busier by the day. Let's see... what has happened.

Finance continues to be extremely stressful because of this term paper- how my partner and I will each right 20 pages on forward freight agreements, I don't know. We have until June 10th (why the deadline isn't the end of the semester, I don't know) and we don't officially receive our topics until this coming tuesday. And the greatest hitch of all? No internet resources. WHAT?! I don't think I've had to use a library for research as much as this since middle school. Other than that, my other classes are okay. It just feels weird that I'm not more stressed out right now- at home, classes are much more structured and have tests, here there are none.

A few words on my term paper partner, Kerima. She boosts my self esteem.. haha. I know this is the absolute wrong approach to learning a language, but I've spent my time here not speaking as much as I should. I have been very intimidated around native speakers, but apparently I shouldn't be, because they never guess that I'm not German.. they usually think I'm just from Bavaria, which I think is hilarious. Anyway, my phrase has usually been I don't speak german.. but I never said I couldn't. I can't speak it when I get nervous, I just freeze. This has always been a battle, however. Anyway, one day I decided to speak German to Kerima because I started to feel comfortable around her and her friends. They were speaking German and didn't think I understood. She kept translating what they said for me, but I understood exactly what was going on- so, one time I just joined in the conversation. Kerima just kind of stopped and I got a blank stare for a couple seconds.. She keeps telling me how good I speak german, every time I say something. When I write to her per SMS or email in german, she always asks if I wrote that by myself. My answer is always the same: "Natuerlich ganz alleine!" It's a good self esteem boost that a native speaker would say I speak the language well. Not the first time I've heard it, as I've also been complimented by random cab drivers in Austria or employees in a store. But I still don't feel like I speak well. I don't know, I guess I'll listen to what people tell me.. sometimes.

Moving along... last weekend Joe and I went to Stadtpark and actually went through all of it. It really is beautiful. We went miniature golfing, and I got my butt kicked, majorly. The course was extremely simply laid out, nothing like we are used to in the states, but the courses for the most part were very difficult! Joe beat me by 20 some odd points, and half way through I started to get violent.. Joe found this hilarious. Other than our mini golf experience, our weekend was basically the usual: eating out, movies at night, and riding the U Bahn to random places during the day. Most weekends now he stays down here in our apartment, since he spends all weekend here anyway. I don't blame him, he lives 40 minutes away.

This past weekend we went to Farmsen, way out again in the booneys. It was really pretty there, and they use mostly buses rather than trains. I much prefer the city, but I'm biased now anyways. Sunday morning we went to our favorite breakfast spot on the Alster pavilion, and as usual it was amazing. Only place where a decent breakfast can be found (which pretty much means they serve more than croissants). The rest of the day for me was just spent napping, since Bryan and Joe have a weekly tradition of going to Harburg to play a game with friends on Sunday evenings.

Well I think that is all I can think of at the moment, and I will try my hardest to write more. At least if I do, I won't forget things that have happened, which I'm sure I have, since it has been two weeks. Well, Bis spaeter!

Love, J.

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Photos

Aerial Hauptbahnhof
I forget where I took this picture from, but I love it.

Aerial Hamburg (city)
I love this even more.

Jungfernstieg Marathon
This past weekend we were on our way to Starbucks when we saw that Jungfernstieg had been completely blocked off for a marathon. It was cool.

Colonnaden
Building on colonnaden. Joe loves taking pics of architecture, and this was his doing.

Colonnaden
Again, Joe stole the camera.

Farmsen
We found a German flag! You have NO idea how hard it is to find one... I've been told because of a certain history that people don't fly the national flag.. it's sad.

Random truck in farmsen
We found it funny...

Rathaus view
This may be my favorite view of the Rathaus, even though only the steeple is seen. This is taken from Colonnaden.

Colonnaden
Clouds : ) Can't help it, I love them.

Joe
I wasn't there for this, but Joe accidentally took my camera home with him and Joe and Bryan had some fun with it. He looks so deep in thought!

Bryan
I know, I was hesitant to put this up, but I may have one picture of him when he is being nice. What can I say.. he is just so charming.

My drug of choice
Black Bean Coffee shop= life

Marilyn Monroe room
This is my german classroom. I nicknamed it the Marilyn Monroe room because there are 4 pictures of her in it, and the moldings are pink. And there's a random German map there, too.

Das Rathaus
Another one of my favorite views of the Rathaus, this time from Ballindamm.

HSV!!
Gotta represent our team...

Paddleboats
at Stadtpark on the lake

Stereotypical German Fence
We just had to take a picture because we thought it was such a confirmation of stereotypical thought that when Germans want to keep people out, they do so with force. These were really sharp..

Gorgeous tree
Stadtpark

mini golf
This was the last hole, and by this point i was insane with rage.