It feels very odd to be writing my ‘rounding up’ blog of my
time here. The months have really gone by very quickly, almost absurdly so! So
it is with sadness (as well as laziness) that I face up to the prospect making
my way to the airport and flying back to the UK. Before I get into to reminiscing mode and you
all roll your eyes and stop reading, I should probably pick up from where I
last left off…
I mentioned in my last post that I was preparing to sing in
a few concerts with the Tübingen Akademischer Chor. The three concerts were all
enjoyable, but the last one, in the Stiftskirche in Tübingen was definitely the
highlight. My mum had flown over to see me and the cathedral was jam-packed.
Some lovely friends of mine also came to see me, which I hugely appreciated,
particularly as it’s not a short piece…
I was also in a play on 1st February entitled
“Die Erfindung der Brezel” (The Discovery of the Prezel) with the International
Theatre Group I was a was in. Some suitably embarrassing pictures shall follow.
(I should probably explain that the headgear I’m wearing is an original
headpiece that belonged to a distant relative of our Director. It was pretty
terrifying having to wear it, since it was so old, and, somewhat disastrously
it actually started to rip during the day. The woman directing us, however, was
so chilled, and just said that it was great that it was being used rather than
sitting in a box…) We rehearsed the whole of Saturday which was tiring but it
seemed to pay off. Despite very little time for sorting out props and stage
management, it all somehow came miraculously together. My role, the nagging
wife of the Dukes baker, suited me uncannily well. I had little problem getting
to grips with eye-rolling, foot tapping and being bossy. It was particularly
fun acting alongside some of my closest friends here in Tübingen, and making
new friends. Although only international students were involved, the Director
was German and the play was also all in German.
My glittering sports career in Tübingen came to an abrupt
halt last Monday, when I sprained my ankle in Floorball. I won’t go into the details
of how it happened, but safe to say it occurred just after scoring my fifth
goal of the match, certainly not due to turning to vigorously whilst flailingly
(yes flailingly, failing and flailing at the same time) attempting to get the
ball… It actually turned out not to be too bad, but I had to forgo Lacrosse and
then a planned 5K race on Saturday (no really, I was actually planning on doing
it!!) I would attach a picture of the aforementioned injury, but the pictures
don’t convey how dramatic I thought it was at the time…
The academic side of things is all over since Tuesday, when
I had my last exam. They all went fine,
thankfully, and I generally enjoyed all my courses here. I do sometimes have to
pinch myself at the freedom Cambridge gives me to choose courses and have time
to do lots of other things.
Prerequisite to going on a Year Abroad is being all
spontaneous, right. I would pretend that dying my hair fits under that category
but in actual fact I have been umming and ahing about it for a long while, and
started to have second thoughts during it, the rebel that I am. I’m actually
rather pleased with the result. Again I would include amusing photos but they
on my friends phone. Maybe I can stop the incessant apologising with the
promise that my next blog will be ONLY pictures and no words?!
This past few days has involved manic packing and goodbyes,
both of which are the WORST. But as I consider the prospect of hobbling to the
airport with my 30kg bag, I am trying to cheer myself up by reflecting on all
the fantastic moments I have had here… Meeting a fellow ‘Sister Act’ fan…
Eating ice cream on the Neckar bridge… Introducing the Christmas Tree dance to
Tübingen night life... Trying food from around the world… Impromptu singing in
front of the Stiftskirche…
The next adventure is soon to begin, after a short stop in
England. Tübingen, ich werde dich nie vergessen. xxxxx
