Leute, Leute, so viele Leute!
I just got back from a brief jog along the Steinlach, a
little river right next to where I live. I say this not to show off, but to use
one of my favourite Denglish (German Anglicisms): the verb ‘joggen’. I just
bumped into my German flatmate who claims that ‘walken’ is also a verb.
Amazing. The number of Anglicisms always
suprises me, but then a lot of the newer ‘trends’ in health and technology are
from America. Another corker is the verb ‘downloaden’, which our teacher
discussed with us today.
On that note, I should say that yesterday was the first
official day of the ‘START-Kurs’, an intensive German language course designed
for Erasmus students starting at Tubingen University. We did a written test and
then briefly spoke to one of the teachers and were then assigned our groups
this morning. My group is lovely, and I’m quite looking forward to starting the
course proper. This afternoon was filled with banal but very important
bureaucracy, and we have been given the whole day off tomorrow to get
everything done so we can matriculate into the uni. The people in my group are
really lovely, and from all over: the Czech Republic, America, Mexico, Italy,
Spain, Ireland, Russia, Israel and so on. When I first thought about my year
abroad, I wasn’t so sure about studying at university, but being an
international student is a very different experience and one I am glad I haven’t
missed out on. Having moved around a bit with dad’s job I have been in
international schools, but it feels very different at university level. Maybe
it’s the fact that I’m having to speak a second language most of the time
rather than Englsih. In any case, it’s both exhausting and really interesting!
Getting to meet and know all sorts of people has been my
main occupation thus far. Its fresher’s week intensified and often made harder by
linguistic confusions! I’ve met some other nice people along the way. The other
day I met two old German women who walked me in the right direction for the
main bus station, one of whom was also a Russian speaker and complained about
her aching bones. On Sunday I managed (despite the buses running weirdly due to
the ‘Stadtlauf’, more on that in a minute) to get to a 9.30am church service 10
minutes early!!! Those of you who go to church with me in Cambridge, or just
know my time keeping skills, may well be surprised. The service was actually
much easier to understand than I thought it would be and was really
encouraging. As a Christian I always find it cool that although there might be
different ways of doing church, it’s something that can work in any language or
culture. Sitting next to me in the service was a lady who is soon to leave Tübingen,
and was also there for the first time. She then showed me where I had to go to
meet some Erasmus students to watch the Stadtlauf, an annual 10k through the
centre of Tübingen. (See pictures and video below- look out for the juggler!) Despite
torrents of rain, it was still good fun to watch, and I also got to eat some
Currywurst (a German speciality comprising sausage and curry powder and some
unknown sauce) and chips (which felt ironic as I watched people puff and pant
away, but hey ho). The competitors of the amateur race and the faster race were
quick to grab a beer afterwards, which made me giggle a little.
Food has generally been a highlight so far- bakeries
everywhere and fast food that’s cheap and delicious. A low point in my German
culinary experience though has to be today at the ‘Mensa’ (Canteen) where my
lunch although edible, included a chip which seemed to have sprouted hair. Yes
I did take a picture and yes you DO have to look at it.
ANYway I am rambling so if you have made it thus far I
congratulate you. Safe to say things are going quite well thus far, and I feel
really lucky to be in such a beautiful place. If I go running again soon I will take some pictures, as the views round here are stunning! J
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