Monday, August 12, 2013

My First Official Day in Reutlingen

After spending a bit of time unpacking, the small croissant and fruit cup provided as my breakfast on the plane had long been used up. I was hungry, thirsty, and exhausted, but I wanted to get mostly moved in to my room before heading downtown.

In the midst of my packing, the extremely friendly Hausmeister, Herr Pehlke knocked on my door with an arm full of toilet paper and cleaning products for me. He then offered to take me on a tour so I could see some of the facilities the Wurm Haus has to offer! Herr Pehlke showed me around and ended up finding a bike for me to use for the year :)
 
 
Once I got back to the room I finished up unpacking a few things and headed into town! I decided to walk, as it was a beautiful day, and I also wanted to make sure I remembered how to get to town. Despite almost making a wrong turn, I made it after about a 20 minute walk. It turns out that summer is not construction season for only the United States (particularly Illinois...), but everywhere. Workers are tearing up the cobblestone in the town center (the very same cobblestone that I almost broke my ankle on a few years ago!) and putting down a nice slate colored brick. It was all just as I remembered it, and the nostalgia of two years ago hit me. I'm sure I will make plenty of new memories in the next year, but I definitely had the time of my life with my roommate and other friends during my study abroad experience.
 
I made it to the Deutsche Bank and ended up eating Asia Mac for my first meal (Asian noodles). Yes, I made it to Germany and my first actual meal was Asian noodles with veggies and a Diet Coke (Well, Coca Cola Light). None of the quick German food was sounding good, and by the time I found the Asia Mac, I was about ready to eat the next German passer-by's arm off. The Asia Mac, at the bottom of a larger shopping mall area in downtown Reutlingen, also housed Müller, the closest thing Germany has to a one-stop-shop. I also made a stop be the Deutsche Post building downtown to pick up some postcards and stamps for family and friends back home.

 
After this excursion, I took the bus back to Hochschule Reutlingen (it was a welcome relief to sit down - my feet hurt from all that walking and my terribly unsupportive flip flops) and I made a quick stop at the Penny Markt for some food before heading up the hill home.

It was then that I had my first shower experience. Let me tell you, it's nice having a shower in the room and not having to walk down the hall! If only the bathroom was as convenient...
  After my shower, in an attempt to stay awake, I sat down to begin writing some of my postcards. I ended up completing about half of them and will mail them off tomorrow!

After my long, exhausting morning and my even longer day, I was ready to pass out, especially after a hot shower. I, once again, put that off to make some dinner (easy-make noodles was on the menu) and to Skype with my mom. And now, at 11:30 p.m. German time, I am ready for bed. Goodnight!

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