The Friend that Always Wants to Follow

Short, dark, and handsome—and always with drink in hand. 56mm tall and a petite 9.6 kilograms, the Focus comes in, it glides into the room sporting a midnight blue coat with white trim and an international label that reads “German Lightweight Engineering”.

This is my graduation gift to myself. Instead of a down payment on a car for working in the US, which brings regular, irritating monthly payments, my senior-year savings contributed to a full-payment (no “down” crap around here—aside from the direction all of my bank accounts have gone since traveling abroad and purchasing such a ride in Euros.)

One month and 255 kilometers into our relationship, we’ve already seen much together, survived a few bruises through the days, and gotten lost together—following a random man in a skin-tight uniform back to Stuttgart. (It was another guy on a road bike in full biking gear—it’s more humorous to describe it the first way. Basically, I was taking a different way back; we very shortly we figured out we were both headed back to Stuttgart and he pointed out the turns to the city. It was nice having a pseudo guide to make sure I found the way safely. I found the path again, thanks to his directions, and then I zipped back on the way I knew.)

So this Sunday the 26^th, I woke up late, as usual, and with a city map in my riding backpack, I plunked my finger on my city map at places that looked interesting and said “I’m going there.”

The first stop was a look-out point over Stuttgart. Weissenburg. As you figure from the words “look-out point” and “burg” (mountain/castle), it was UP the hill. Biking that direction was initially hard. We traveled about 3 kilometers away from my apartment to this place that featured a pleasant beer garden/restaurant at the top.

Next, after enjoying the downhill ride, a few unplanned turns planted me at Marienplatz (Platz=square)—a primary subway stop with restaurants and cafes around it.

A quick look at my city map incited an interst to head off to Feuersee, (Feuer= Fire, See=Lake/Sea) (By the way, I didn’t take any of these photos, obviously. I forgot my camera, and just swiped these from online so you can see what I saw.) In the middle of this residential area with the University down the street, I arrived at a large, sandstone-colored gothic church as a peninsula in a man made lake, which happened to host an electrical model motorboat race that afternoon. Along with the café and restaurant visitors, a small crowd gathered to both observe and participate in racing the 15-inch contraptions around red and white buoys stationed in the pond.

The next large construction I was to pass was the Rotebühlbau (Bau=building), which turned out to be the finance agency for the city. To my disappointment, the area was quiet without guests, reception, or tours.

However, the next stop—Robert Bosch Areal and the Liederhalle (Song Hall)—are the locales for evening entertainment, featuring classical performances in the hall and the latest movie releases at the Cinemaxx theater.

But only around the corner, I find myself in the city park, adjoining the University of Stuttgart. On this sunny afternoon, Germans are out with beach blankets and books, most as students preparing for their final exams in the next two weeks.

And here I find myself. Alongside my blue, German stud seated calmly in a beer garden/restaurant in the middle of the park, I found it a perfect chance to detail my ride and my rad (Rad=wheel, i.e. bike).

I ride about 3-4 times a week, typically around 30 kilometers per time (approx. 18.6 miles) and am really proud of my progress to date. With my last ride of 30 Km, I averaged 27.7 kmh/17.2 mph with stop-and-go in city traffic, but, more importantly, I floated at 31 kmh/19.2 mph when actually riding. It’s not pro by any means, and it is flat riding along the river in Stuttgart—the Neckar—but it’s progress I’m proud of. I still need the glasses and the skin-tight gear to round out the biker look. But, to-date, I’m pleased and it’s still treating me well, keeping me active, showing me the city, and providing my best defense against an impending gut from the delicious meats and cheeses available everywhere along with the regional specialties—delicious but dangerous—Maultaschen and Käsespätzle.

A buddy that goes everywhere I want to, shows me the city, works out with, never criticizes, always poses a new challenge, and always looks sharp; that sounds like a pretty good friend.

Later Days,

Rick

German Grandmas Bake Cake

(i'm skipping a lot here, but this weekend is fresher in my mind)

The last three (four) days each will likely remain unforgettable. Friday remains something I have to get used to. I haven't had obligations on Fridays, basically, for the last three years (since fall of my freshman year, when I wised up to avoid having classes on Friday--ever). After 13-hour days Tues & Wednesday and an unaccustomed obligation on Friday, I seemed to seethe discontent. I left at 4:00 to ride to 4 hours to a city near Basel called Steinen, where Philipp--a great friend from Freiburg--lives.

The summary, it was extremely comforting to spend time with a good friend. Being around Minneapolis with great roommates, friends down the hall, and a small college (the business one at least), friends are always close. But I'm new in Stuttgart, and Germans are slow to befriend, so it was such a great weekend to hang out with Philipp. (Plus, I hadn't seen him for almost 2 years, so that added to the anticipation.)
First, you'll note the amazing view in the picture. It's the view out one of Philipp's balcony's. You know, it just happens to look right into the rolling hills of the black forest with (just off to the SW) a castle clear on the hillside--happenstance.

This picture also shows half of the village Philipp lives and grew up in. Awesome it's still called a village. The little white house is where his Grandmother lives.

Here's Philipp's Oma (Grandma). I was hoping she'd be the cute grandma stereotype--conversational, busy-bee, bakes a lot, proud of her family, her garden, and her cakes. She certainly was!

She's from Cologne, so she speaks her dialect Koelsch. I understood a 1/3 (at best) of what she said. Philipp can understand, no problem (despite the fact that many of the words are actually different.) But I was unable to tell that a Buggle Broden was a Tuette Broetchens. (Something to such an extent. Like I mentioned, I don't what she said.)

She was great. She was pitting cherries (very German) for a cake. And, as Philipp informed me, there will always be cake when you visit his grandma. We had 2 pieces and somehow ended up with 1/2 a cake to take home!

She was a lot of fun. (I just hope I didn't offend her when I'd screw up the formal and informal address.)

As the first photos show, I finally visited the village of Steinen, where Here lives Philipp=Hier wohnt Philipp hangs. And, as must be expected, we enjoyed a few chilled Rathaus biers simply relaxing and chatting on the balcony.

Despite my desire to adapt to Germany, to become eingedeutsched (this is the adjective used to describe english words in the German language, like Managen, and Hedge Fond). Anyway, note the food. I didn't even think about it, but Philipp called it and and laughed "ha, it's true that Americans do eat like that!" For me, these little differences are always amusing.

Philipp was a tourguide through the village of Steinen, the town of Loerrrach, and the city of Basel (in Switzerland.) I think the UofM is bigger than Steinen and Loerrach (definitely) and, with as many commuters as we have, almost as big as Basel. I grasped the size concept quite quickly and the tours were brief. Anyone remember touring the UofM as a prospective student and they tell you to plan for nearly 2 hours?

Philipp works at UBS as a trainee (i.e. on-the-job training before being a full-time employee.) Germans are great at creating new forms of education. It's actually what helped them become a leading economy--honestly, it's one of their strong points--education and Rothaus.
I basically mandated this photo. Like I said, I take no real tourist photos, but I'm always stoked to see businesses I know.

In essence, it was a relaxed weekend--visit a great friend, sit on the balcony, make some breakfast, walk around town, have some dinner, fall asleep in front of the TV as a bad French (stupid French) movie drags along, sleep in (until the church bells ring for an hour without stop), eat some more, have a beer. Yep, simple, but unforgettable.

Today still counts in the "last 4 days I won't forget". Well, it's the latest I've ever worked in the office. Granted there was the all-nighter while at E&Y, but that was at home and for other reasons. But I officially left the office on the next day. (Surbhi and other I-bankers, you're free to attack and call me out for almost whining.) It wasn't bad, but it does remind me that working late is one thing, typically very tolerable. But working late and going home when everything is closed, I mean almost EVERYTHING. Typically you could leave late and still get groceries or pick up paper towels from Target. In Germany, I feel I have to leave early just so I can beat the stores from closing before I leave work. We'll see how long I can go on 1/3 container of milk and some almonds...

Until next time (maybe I'll get around to the drag show in Konstanz where I was pulled on stage, the first days in Stuttgart, the irritation that is the Foreigner's office, or the hobos that get to listen to classical music in all the places the city doesn't want hobos hanging out. Until then.

Later Days,
Rick

Finally what $3,000 bought for me.

To come to Germany, I applied to this Transatlantic program; it's sponsored by the German American Chamber of Commerce. They help us with the work permit and host this 10-day seminar in Berlin and we pay them, basically $2900.

First problem with this number is that here was what my personal balance sheet before I had to pay the fee:


(it's like any American college student's balance sheet. We're broke, we know it. I'm no different.)

(4 years of business school and now this is how my brain works. I could have just said "I'm a college student and seldom have $3000 just sitting around. Nope, I need the balance sheet.)


I figure out the fee. Done. What did I just pay for? The company I'm working at, I actually applied to last year on my own. The program doesn't help with housing search or the residency permits (pain in the rear. There's more about that later.)

However, after having to leave Minnesota 2 days after graduating, and after shelling out 3K for something I'm uncertain of, I started the program in Berlin. Cozy hotel, so much food, and a couple of day trips for show. 3K for a broke college graduate. Alright, alright, alright. Now it's clearer.

From May 23-June 1, 20 students from across the U.S. met at the Hotel Ambassador to practice our German in speech courses, meet with German business men and women, take tours, and travel to nearby cities.

Let me first start with meeting my roommate. He's a jazz studies major from So. California who wears a beanie to hold his 3 foot long hair. Chill guy, aside from snoring he was totally fine. But the contrast is certainly funny

My side of the tiny (European) hotel room (Left): (as you know, I'm a strong Type A personality)
His side of the room (right)


From 4:00 p.m. that Saturday that we first met to June 1st, we were basically together all waking hours of the day. From breakfast around 7:30 to last moments of dinner's dessert at 9:00 p.m. we were one pleasant group. It wore on us so much that basically half the group was ill or falling asleep constantly by the end of the week. Side note: The coffee is not as strong here. Largely unpleasant.

What else did we do, I'll summarize with some photos:

We toured ALL of Berlin. (...right after lunch where we had our own bus and comfy seats for the 1 1/2 hour long tour. Even the speech instructor was nodding off! That made me feel better when I napped for 15 minutes of the tour)










We practiced how to talk to our German bosses. Be very formal. Remind them who the heck you are and why you're bothering them. Be patient. Be prepared to hear no.

Turns out, my boss/supervisor the first time I met her interrupted me to say "we are all informal around here. It's all on a first name basis." ...don't know how realistic this practice was.


We learned about green roofs. Literally, roofs that are green because they have plants growing in them. It's a way to prevent rainwater runoff and to increase insulation.

Note that our guide, the one to whom we're supposed to dress (i.e. if she's in a suit, so should we, if she's in business casual, so should we). She's there in jeans and a t-shirt and we're in suits. Always we had to be in suits--it was a bit overdone and looked so awkward, like in this photo.



Here are the green roofs. This is at Postdamer Platz, which was built around 1994, shortly after the reunification of West and East Germany. Hence, the modern technology in an old city.










We saw German news being reported. It's almost like a photo from a zoo. They're working, we're dripping over the rails oogling at what they're doing.

On the right is the chief editor (in the tie) talking with a colleague who's writing the front page headlines.
This was the Berlin Tagesspiegel--one of the most distributed newspapers in Germany.



We went to the Federal Ministry of Economics (and Technology) and spoke to the director of policy for middle market companies, which represent about 97% of all German companies.
(under 500 employees and under 500 Mill Euros per year)

This was my favorite, since it was all about the current economic state.
The guy we met is way in the middle (hard to see). The others were bored, but I had a blast.



We went to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The speaker was really fun and animated. He spent the time going through how the German parliament is set up, which was news to most of us.
















I had the joy of presenting this man from the Office of Foreign Affairs (the equivalent of our State Department) with my Minnesota gift. I opened my bag in Berlin to find that Chicago security had ripped the gift open only to cover the thing with their wonderful "INSPECTED" tape.






We traveled to Dresden and toured the Volkswagen manufacturing plant where they make the Phaeton, their luxury $80,000 car.

Like no other factory I imagined; it's all glass, completely clean, extremely quiet, and very modern. It was clearly designed to bring car purchasers in so they could see their car being made.






We listened (dozed) through a presenter speaking in Sachsisch. Dresden is in the state of Sachsen. They, like Bavaria, have a certain dialect that gets hard to understand. Imagine either a far north Minnesotan or a deep south Alabaman. +the foreign language, + dimmed room, + after lunch = nap.






We walked around Dresden. Here's just the city center. It's a wall mural depicting the 16 kings of the city (I think.)
There's nothing like this in the U.S. and here it's just something the local residents pass by every day.











We toured Airbus in Hamburg.
The guide was ridiculous. He was a Brit that married a German. He spoke half the time in German, but he'd assume we didn't understand him, so he repeated the majority in English. There were two German students along with our group who barely spoke English. They were not happy.





We took public transportation in Hamburg--a boat. It runs like the light rail, but is a much cooler form of transport.


(Behind me are the cranes that unload the boat shipments that come in through Hamburg's famous harbor)







We toured Hamburg with a real estate developer.

This was about day 9. We were exhausted. We had no free time. The topic was great and interesting, but we were just done.








We took part in the local culture. This was more on our own time.
(We bought a pitcher at a Biergarten and each had to take a photo like this.)











We had a cultural training seminar. (This was a bit outdated. From my experience at the firm I work, it's so laid back. This trainer warned us it would be way different than what I perceive it is.)














10 days, each full of meetings and different experiences. We went out a few nights, but were exhausted to try anything else in the city. From June 1st I rode the train to Stuttgart where I've been for almost one week. I'll add more about the pains of German bureaucracy and how the redeeming factor is constantly my great workplace.

Later Days,
Rick

No, I do not Have the Swine Flu.

I finally made it to Stuttgart, the city where I'll work. It's been almost two weeks in the land of bier, punctuality, and bureaucracy. Hence, I'll focus on the better parts. (p.s. This is Germany. The red dot/arrow is Stuttgart)

I flew out on May 20th with the pleasant Air India. Well, first it was a 5:30 a.m. ride to the airport to arrive in Chicago as early as possible, because Air India kept changing the flight to Frankfurt. So what once was a 3 hour layover with time to get lunch and change airlines became a 20 minute impossibility.

While en route, I ran into Alex Moss in the airport and this guy, Kevin Daly, in Chicago. Listen up graduates, it must be true when the Carlson School tells us our network of alums is worldwide. (It might be a cheap plug, I realize.)




The flight was amusing. Here's my attempted photoshop recreation of the experience:
My window seat (with no window, just wall) placed me next to a priest and a hygenically challenged swear-to-goodness IT Indian male. (I figure I'd avoid using someone's name in vain because of that priest.)

The swine flu:
I arrived in Frankfurt and spent the night in a hostel in the red light district. As soon as I got to the hostel they, fortunately, let me check in to my room where I woke up this french girl. She takes a moment to become coherent and we converse briefly. In which she asks, "Do you have the swine flu?" Apparently all Americans probably have swine flu, because we had the most cases of it. You know how I feel about the French...add this illogic to my list of things about the French.

(note the room number--same as my home town area code. Woot woot for Southern Minnesota. It's not really that awesome, but it was small things like that and finding soap that was named "Sticky Ricky" that made me laugh--it made me not want to use the soap--but it made me laugh.)

So while in Frankfurt, I found the Houlihan Lokey office. Houlihan Lokey is where a good friend, Surbhi, is working full time (for those of you who might not know her.) And what do I without fail do when I find a cool office that I recognize, I become a tourist. Old castles, museums, sculptures, street artists don't motivate the photo, sweet offices do. It's slightly embarrasing to report, but I definitely have more photos like this.


After spotting all this, I stumbled into a market square where these stands were each selling a variety of foods. I ended up with currywurst and a beer; it made it official that I was in Germany.

Funnier yet were the stands selling Bowle. Bowle is the German form of Whop. Whop/Bowle is fruit soaked overnight in alcohol (vodka for calmer events; everclear for parties) and then mixed with a variety of juices and other alcohol. The fruit is so laden with the vodka, it is nearly the equivalent of a shot. The mix becomes fruit punch (uh, so I've read...). I've only seen Americans try this at parties, Germans are just selling this stuff on the street like it's an option equal to a coca cola. Yep, welcome to Europe, Rick.

So was the trip from Minneapolis to Berlin where I completed a 10-day program. That I can describe in the next post, which will certainly be sooner. A 10-day whirlwind with us busied between 7:30a.m.-9:00p.m. Following is the joy of German bureaucrocy and settling in to Stuttgart.

Until then,
Later Days!

Again the Intern; Subscribe to Laugh Along

Hello!

I am off to Germany once more. This time, I will Intern in Stuttgart, Germany with Horvath & Partners, a European management consulting firm.

If you're interested in following along with German photos and tales of culture confusions, congenial folk, and these European adventures, please, feel free to enter your e-mail in the box on the right side of this screen. You'll receive an e-mail when something interesting appears.

For now, enjoy the ridiculous photo I had to send to my employers. Germans require a photo on your resume, something American HR professionals have actually cringed at.

Later Days,
Rick

Meine erste Woche zurueck...

The ride back to Minneapolis was a long one. I rode 2 hours on the fast German Train (Deutsche Bahn ICE) from Freiburg to Frankfurt am Main. Then in the airport I had 3 hours to wait before departure. I first checked in; was selected for random check because of my electricity converter. Whatever; I had time. Then I put my bags on the scale and they are both over--which I anticipated--but the fees were twice as high as I expected and in euros. A nice 80 euro fee to ship my heavy luggage home then came PLUS a tidbit that the plane I was flying on was overbooked. I had the opportunity to go on Standby and if all the spots were full, then I could stay in Germany that night, Lufthansa would give me 600 Euros Cash and pay for my hotel and food. I was talking to the counter attendent practically begging her to let me stay in Germany. She was excited to see that I was gung ho for Deutschland (im Vergleich zu den Foerdern fuer die USA, wie der normaler Typ). But as the line filed on the plane and the tickets were counted, she regrettedly gave me my ticket back to the United States and with welling eyes I accepted it and boarded my plane at approximately 5:00 p.m (17:00 Germany Time).
Because the plane flew from Germany, all the flight attendants were fluent in German. 9 Hours later I landed in Chicago, making it 7:00 p.m. CST and feeling like 2:00 a.m. German time.

My first step was to go through customs. I had three hours again so was not worried. But in the line, I declared that I brought back bacon for my father, real black-forest bacon directly from the butcher and purchased at the marketplace by our city cathedral that I visited regularly during my time in Freiburg. The damn customs agent checked it and said, "Nope. You can't bring this into the country," despite it being air-sealed and pork. The bastard confiscated my gift for my father, the gift I had carted 8,000KM, the gift perfect for my father the Farmer. This customs agent took it away because there was at one point in Germany's history the case of a disease.

Through customs, I finally find my terminal for Minneapolis. I purchase some french fries and was surprised that I received a bill for $1 (Euro uses a coin for 1 and 2 Euros). And then I bought a Mountain Dew--something I had been craving for the past 6 months--and was surprised to find that the price listed on the sign was not what I had to pay. It said "Pop-$2.09". So i laid $2.09 on the counter and the guy asked for, "$2.36". Damn it. So I paid the tax. "Welcome to America, Rick".
One nice thing was that while waiting in the seats to board for Minneapolis, I realized I forgot my entire Study abroad binder on the plane from Germany. But as I went to talk to the gate attendant, a Lufthansa flight attendant walked up and asked if "Rick" was around and had my black binder in hand. This woman came all the way from the international terminals, searched my connecting flights, and found me at the end of the domestic terminals just to give my my lost item. I love German companies and German service.
Flight to Minneapolis--check. Landed at 11:50 p.m. = 6:50 a.m. Germany time. Realize I had woken up at 6:30 a.m. the day before and had NOT slept at all on the traveling to the U.S. Then I was supposed to be picked up by my roommate (Matt) at 11:30. I had no phone. I had no coins. I had no way of reaching him. I'm panicking for a bit and pacing up and down the corridor hoping to catch a glimpse of my roommate. But Gott sei dank that I found a friend I knew from Minnesota, asked her if I could borrow her cell phone, found a number for my Roommate on my Palm, and ended up speaking with his mother who then gave me his cellular phone number. Got in touch, he showed up 15 minutes later. We loaded everything in, my other roommate came too (Jon), and when we were in the car, the conversation was as if I had never left. They didn't ask about Europe; they simply discussed normal events and happenings. When back in the apartment at 1:00 a.m. CST = 8 :00 a.m. Germany time, I dumped my stuff down and fell asleep very quickly.
The next few days contained the goal to see as many as my friends as possible and do as much "Minnesota-things" to remind me that I wanted to be here. After two days, I visited my friend Bridget in Maplewood. Pictured here is Jill and me taking a "MySpace Photo" (where you simply extend your arm with the camera in it and take a picture of yourself). Jill followed my blog the entire time I was abroad--something that really made me feel that a piece of Home was always with me in Freiburg.
While driving around with Bridget, I had the hard feelings of adjusting back to American ways. The streets were different, the businesses were different, the ads, the people, the cars, the skys. It wasn't home; it wasn't pleasant. But Bridget was always right there and she had just returned from Boston and had loved it. She left a lot as well, so in that day we could empathize as each missed home while being in it already.

Always amazing was/is Julie. Julie and I hung out for the first few days of my readjustment to American life. She had to put up with me always referencing what they would do in Germany and she had to tolerate my poor English because a lot of words were coming to my head in German and I then had to translate into English.
The second night, Julie cooked a deliciou pasta dinner and made caramel apples with sprinkles. Kristi is admiring her suggary delight here left.
Then a few days later, Julie, Sarah, Chris, and I went to the state fair (photos available on Facebook) and had an amazing time at the "Great Minnesota Get Together". I had so much fun with these friends, I still think about it often.

ich vermisse mein Heim.

I'm still adjusting to all the intricate aspects of American culture, currently emphasizing homework in addition to final exams, and missing Germany a lot. However, I am looking heavily into internships in Frankfurt and London next summer. If I'm in London, then I could work with Philipp and if I'm in Frankfurt, then I'll be back in Germany. I have a lot of work to do, but I'll make it happen and I will go back to Germany. I miss my home and there is no way I can leave it forever.

So I thank you for reading this blog. It has been an adventure abroad and a pleasure to know that you took the time to see me. Thank you!

Later Days,
Rick

The Last Week in Freiburg

The last week in Freiburg was one of the best. I spent every moment possible with friends and enjoying everything that I knew I would miss.

(Left) Friday night, Philipp and I went to a real German Football (Fussball=soccer) game. We had talked about it for almost a month as he insisted I see a real Football game before I fly to the U.S. We had real Rothaus Bier, we could see the Black Forest mountains behind the stadium, and we wore our Freiburg Sport Club Scarves with pride. My scarf was a parting gift from Philipp and rode by my side the entire flight/trip back to the US.
Philipp also insisted I learn the Baden Lied (the song from the region the team comes from). The entire game, I was cheering on Freiburg and shouting and singing in German with the German fans.

Philipp and Anne. These two are fantastic together and just started dating two weeks before I left Germany. They're adorable and I am (unendlich) endlessly happy for Philipp that he is happy in this relationship.

She works in marketing for the Sport Club Freiburg, and Philipp has been visiting these Football games with his father since he was big enough to stand.

After the game, Philipp and I met his father in the outdoor bier garten to discuss the sport, current developments, and enjoy a Rothaus together. (His father is the manager of the TravelEx banks in Switzerland)

And about Philipp and Anne, this showed me more of the European style of dating. They are more conspicuous in public in comparison to Americans. But the silver lining I found and try to tell myself, is that potentially it's good that I left them in Germany. Then as Philipp spends more and more time with her and less time with Viktor and me, I won't be as hurt as I slowly lost time to spend with him.

Philipp and Viktor after the Football match (Freiburg vs. Paderborn. Freiburg won 1-0!)
We met to enjoy a bier at Feierling Brauerei, Philipp's favorite micro-brewery in Freiburg.

Afterwards we went to the movie theater to see Transformers. Unfortunately, the movie wasn't showing any more that evening so we picked Quentin Tarantino's Deathproof (Todsicher), in which I fell asleep after about 15 mintues of the movie. I made a concious judgement that the movie was not better than sleep, so I opted for that. Good thing too, because Philipp and Viktor told me afterwards that the movie was pointless and absolutely terrible.

If you haven't seen a theme yet, let this remind you--we grill a lot. For my farewell, I invited a few friends over for drinks and grilling. Here Philipp, Anne, and Viktor prepare Shish-Kabobs for enjoyment.










While at the StuSie Bar one night as Viktor was bartending, I met two great Juristen = Law students. Thedo & Melissa gave me the bottle of Baden Champagne (Sekt) that I have at the apartment. We just had so much excitment chatting with one another (quatschen!).

They walked almost an hour to get to the farewell party becuase Thedo thought they were close and decided against taking the tram.

One of the best pictures from Freiburg. The day after the Farewell, Philipp, Viktor, Anne, and I got together for a "Veg-Out" night. We had pizza, bier, sweats, and movies. Well, I had sweats, Viktor was still over-dressed, and Philipp searched for a casual/comfy sweater, which was really great that he gave it the effort.

This was the beauty of my time abroad. Amazing friends having a great time, simply spending time together around a few beers and movies. I know I have my friends in Minneapolis, but I don't have all of them; I don't have some important ones. So I miss 'em.

As "Veg-Out" wrapped up, Viktor, Philipp, and I met the next day to hang out in the city, take photos by the Muenster, cook dinner together, and end the evening with drinks with friends at Philipp's place. That was the hardest night as I had to leave but knew that it was the last time for over a year that I could say "good night (or gute Nacht)" to my friends. It was so unfair that I had to leave all of it behind in Freiburg.

And on the final day, Philipp and Viktor arrived early at my WG, my Apartment, in Vauban to have breakfast together and spend the last four hours together. It meant alot that they came so early to take advantage of the time remaining. So I said my goodbye's to my roommates and we headed off to the train station. There, we waited for the train with all my luggage and in the chaos of climbing on with an apartment's worth of luggage and attempting a final goodbye, Philipp and parted as I began my journey 8000 km away. However, Viktor rode with me for the next hour as he was going in the same direction to go home for Semester Break. Having his company for that bit was a good consolation, but I was still distraught having just said good bye to Philipp and Freiburg in the same moment. Then as Viktor exited the train in Karlsruhe, my European adventure was officially over. I had to return to the United States and I had to leave, what developed to be my home, 8000 KM away.

The story of Readjusting is in the next post.
-Rick