This morning at 9:00am Colby and I got on the S- Bahn and headed on our 45 minute trip to Potsdam. Before I get into it, I should make sure to point out that while I was in Potsdam, my shoes were delivered to my apartment and my sweet host mom put them in my room... Anyway... When we arrived, the plan was to walk around, have breakfast, and find the University in order to pick up my keys. I was told to come by between 9 and 12, and since we are in Germany I knew this meant business. In the email I received, the only information I received was to go to the Studentenwerk. My dumb self (poor planning) assumed that it would be on the Neue Palais campus where I will be meeting people once classes start. After a quick and lovely breakfast we started walking in the direction of where we (I) thought the university was located.
At around 11:00 we gave up and used Colby's phone to map it out. Indeed we had been walking for 45 minutes in the wrong direction. I never thought I'd get lost in Potsdam instead of Berlin!!!
So we caved and took a tram.
Once we got to the designed stop I started recognized the gardens of the palace that we visited with mom years ago. My memory correctly led us through the mile long walk to campus. And it was almost noon. After walking to every building and walking into the last one labeled "Studentenwerk" we gave up and I decided I would return tomorrow. At that point, we sat down to rest and I re-read an email that I received 4 months ago. In this email they actually gave us the address for the Studentenwerk. We mapped it and found out that it was actually RIGHT next to the train station where we arrived to Potsdam. At this point I could barely stop laughing. It was hilarious. We walked for almost 3 hours to find the wrong place, get there late, and the place was at our starting point to begin with. I was soooo glad that Colby was here, because if not, I might have been in tears.
Since we were already soooo far away, since the university campus seems to be forever away from everything, we decided to take a bus by the dorms where I will be living. The area looked great! Far, but great! After returning to the center (or what we named the center) of Potsdam we found a bank and went in to open up a bank account so I can get my DAAD grant. We went into the bank and made an appointment for tomorrow, since I was going to have to come back. At that point we began searching for a nice place to eat lunch. After making the biggest circle, we were indecisive enough to return to the exact spot where we had started. We had a lovely lunch and headed back by tram to the station. Before departing for Berlin, we decided to walk by where the Studentenwerk was so I could find it the next day.
After finding it (on the other side of the door we had used in the morning to exit the station!!!) Colby noticed that the office was open! So he suggested we go in. I felt uneasy knowing that they had asked to come between 9 and 12, and it was already 2:30 or so. When we arrive upstairs, a very nice woman pointed us to an office where we walked into the worst experience I have had thus far. Up to this point the day had been a blast! We got to see most of the city, experienced the campus, and at least set up an appointment for the next day. However... this lady was just about to break me.
As we enter, her first question is.. "You are picking up a key from me??? Can you not shut the door?" (of course all in German which makes it 30 times as scary). Poor Colby's face was priceless. As she proceeded to rudely ask for my last name she pulls out a binder where she has the emails and points out that she said before 12. So, I try to excuse myself saying we can come back tomorrow and that we got lost, etc. She couldn't care less. She keeps saying "but you need your keys! and now you can't get them." So I continue to apologize and say we can come back tomorrow. Oh but no!!! She says "NO YOU DO THIS TODAY!!!" Too much. At that point she pulls up the computer and says you haven't paid your deposit. WHICH I DID!!! In this case I was prepared. Though I didn't expect her office to be where it was, I did expect her to say this. So I went to my email and pulled up the confirmation, which was CCed to her. At that point, she pulls up the email on her account and says that she'd check with finances. They say, NO! They don't have the money. Clearly she looks at the email and says, " we don't know where the money is, this doesn't even have your name (it has my last name and my dad's, because he paid). I (panicking while trying to explain all this in German making sure to sound polite) attempt to explain the fact that the transfer was confirmed, which is what the email said, and the money had left my account and entered theirs. Clearly she wasn't buying it. So she rudely said to find out why they don't have the money and come back tomorrow from 9 - 11, because she doesn't have an office hour tomorrow. We ran out of there! Colby was in SHOCK, he kept saying he couldn't believe she treated me like that.... I couldn't believe anything!
Well... as a first time encounter with the University, it wasn't a good one... But I keep reminding myself that she is just a person... One who clearly does not like anything about her job, but she's just a person after all. I'm sure she has friends, so she must be nice!
After leaving the office we stopped to get waters and headed straight to Berlin, where Colby came with me to the apartment and helped me send some emails and try to resolve the situation. As of now, I just have emails that show that the money was transferred... I doubt she will care, but they have my money, and if they don't want to let me sign the contract and give me my keys, I'd be happy to stay somewhere else, BUT I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!! Anywho... over all it was a great day, and if there is one thing I can take away, it is that I am SOOOOOO thankful to have Colby! He has been amazing and he even agreed to come with me tomorrow and help me tackle the ogre again... He keeps assuring me that my experience is way worse than his first days, which makes me more and more grateful to have him here. After sending emails from the apartment, he came with me to a lovely Italian restaurant and we enjoyed some delicious food!! Overall it was a wonderful day, but I'm happy to be in bed, FAR away from Potsdam and the ogre, hahaha! Actually, I loved Potsdam it is sooo charming! I'll just stay away from her from tomorrow on!
Anywhoo.... here are some pictures from today, and I'm off to bed! Hopefully I won't wake up at 5, but I'll wake up by 7, since we are leaving at 8 to make it to Potsdam at 9 for our meeting with the ogre... Till then I'm going to watch some "sos mi vida," an old Argentinean soap opera that always makes me laugh! Bis Morgen!
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