Today began as a nice, relaxing Sunday. Veronica and I woke up mid-morning and grabbed brunch at Cafe Sommer downtown. We both got tea, scrambled eggs, and a small brötchen - I also got ham. It was the most American, and most delicious, breakfast I have had since getting here! Both of us had gone to Cafe Sommer with Herr and Frau Brixner, who recommended the place to us the last time we were in Reutlingen.
We made it back to the university with just enough time to get ready for our evening fun - the final day of the Cannstatter Volksfest (a.k.a. Wasen) that we have been awaiting for months had arrived.
Wasen is the second largest beer festival in Germany (second only to Wiesn in Münich), and Herr Veit had gotten around 2,600 tickets for the students and faculty of Hochschule Reutlingen at a great price.
Veronica and I met everyone at the bus stop.
The bus was crazy - I think everyone was all heading to Stuttgart at the same time. We filled the bus to the max. There were even people who were preventing the doors from closing in order to try to squeeze more people in. The poor bus driver had to contact his supervisor to get permission to go straight to the train station with all of us!
Wasen is the second largest beer festival in Germany (second only to Wiesn in Münich), and Herr Veit had gotten around 2,600 tickets for the students and faculty of Hochschule Reutlingen at a great price.
Veronica and I met everyone at the bus stop.
Getting ready to get on the bus at Pestalozzistrasse
The bus was crazy - I think everyone was all heading to Stuttgart at the same time. We filled the bus to the max. There were even people who were preventing the doors from closing in order to try to squeeze more people in. The poor bus driver had to contact his supervisor to get permission to go straight to the train station with all of us!
I rode on the train with Tobi, Augusto, and Carlos, and when we arrived, we set up and then began to take the tickets from hundreds of excited students. Each ticket got the student two beer tickets and a food ticket. Having worked in a fast-paced environment at good ol' Steak 'n Shake definitely prepared me for the mad rush of students. I actually really enjoyed myself. After a while, the flow of students stopped and we waited around.
Carlos, another international student, and I gave students their tickets for food and beer for the first two hours that the university reserved spots in the Fuerstenberg tent.
Around 5:30, we were free to go and enjoy ourselves. I found my friends and joined their table - I got the try both the typical chicken and the plate of Käsespätzle. Both were delicious! I was very happy to be with friends after working during all the fun!
Rafael, Thea, Emma, Sam, me, and Lineke at Wasen
Me, Julia, Sarah, and Tammi during the festivities
We danced the night away and had a great time. The band that occupied the tent did a fantastic job, and the atmosphere was something that you cannot even imagine if you have not experienced it. I would have to say that I preferred Wasen over Wiesn, mostly because of the crowd of people I knew, our wonderful reserved table, and the free food and beer I received since I worked for part of the night. You can't beat that!
Perhaps some people are wondering what going to a beer festival has to do with my professional experience in Germany - having enjoyed and understand this type of cultural event has given me the chance to "be exposed to new people, places, and ideas," "be a more interesting and well-rounded applicant," and has will help my internship "sound like more than the traditional on-campus student job because
of where it was, what you were exposed to, and what you did." (quoted from How Study Abroad Prepares You For Your Career) I couldn't have said it any better than that, Ms. Lucier.
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