In this blog, I intend to better explain Heidelberg and my university and, as indicated by the title, tell you the tale of my wonderful roomate.
First, the university:
--The University of Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany, built in 1386.
--It has around 25,000 students, of which almost 5,000 are foreign (Where these 5,000 are, however? No clue. I've met about 100), coming from more than 130 different countries.
--Uni Heidelberg is known for it's teaching and research
--Uni Heidelberg does not work off of the American "fall" and "spring" semester system. Instead, it has a winter and summer semester. Right now, German students have just finished their winter semester and are, essentially, on winter break. Thus, one of my roomates, Michael, left the day that I arrived to go vacation in Australia for 5 weeks. The summer semester will start in April (the same time when my normal German classes will begin).
--German professors are....(for lack of a better word)...blunt. When handing back grades, no discretion is used. They announce all grades as they are being passed around, and, if you did not perform up to standard, my professor has no problem announcing that your work was "TOTAL KATASTROPHE"...or a "total catastrophe." It makes me laugh (or cry, if he's referring to me).
--I've moved up to a higher German grammar class that is much better suited for me. I'm being challenged more (albeit doing more homework), but my new classroom has a view of Heidelberg castle (beats the heck out of looking at the construction on Veneable at UNC).
Now, the short tale of my adorable roomate. He is, to give an understatement, extremely intelligent. He is currently writing an 80-100 page thesis (in ENGLISH) for his physics degree about some algorithm he's written to help people find tumors in men suspected of having pancreatic cancer or something. He wants me to edit his paper at the end...(HAH...like I know what he's talking about....)
He's been over-the-top nice to me, however. Despite acting as my 24-7 babysitter at times, he has been generous and kind. He's always busy and running around, but finds time to help me get my bearings every day. This morning he text messaged me to inform me that whenever I woke up, that he had made coffee and breakfast for me. Next week we are going shopping for groceries so that he can teach me how to make something other than spaghetti with tomato sauce (fyi...tomato sauce here comes as a small powder in a package that you mix with water on the stove...).
Anyway, I guess that's not much of a story, but I thought it was worth noting.
The following, then, is just a list of pictures that I wanted to post with my last blog, but couldn't because of the slow speed of the internet. Enjoy:
Walking through the Altstadt (the old city)...I take this route everyday on the way back from class...wie schoen (how pretty!)!!
I am very proud to say that we found the grocery store and that food is cheaper here (except for fruits and vegetables), but not so proud to say that we couldn't find anything in our teeny-tiny Euro store. Above: Deborah (Arizona State University), Marissa (U of Arizona)
More views of the Altstadt.
My walk to class every morning across the die alte Bruecke (the old bridge). I'll get a picture of my classroom building soon...too cute.
My apartment building (which kind of looks like the Hilton at Nags Head). I'm on the top floor with a beautiful view of the city and the mountains behind.
My teeny-tiny kitchen (note the tiny oven), shared with 3 other people who had kindly already stocked it with pots, pans, dishes, etc. and are letting me use everything. Above: Alex (UNC-CH).
More views of the city. I walk this route everyday too.
First meal at a German pub, ironically called Hemingway's. Left to right: Kate (Australia), Marissa (U of Arizona), me, Deborah (Arizona State), Alex (UNC-CH)
The view from my bedroom window (THE SUN CAME OUT!!!)
Other view from the window on a sunny day.
Well hopefully I'll have another blog up soon! Love to all!! I miss you!
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