The Results of my Trip Down Memory Lane: A perfect sunny day!!

The rain is gone, the sun is out, the sky is blue, and I'm so excited that I had to share!!!!

Monday, however, was still very gray... which could be the explanation for the fact that I woke up for my 8 am class at 12:15 pm. I'm blaming it on a migraine I had, but I bet the weather had something to do with it. I stayed inside all day and used my extra time (since my afternoon class was cancelled) to do some research. My first presentation/paper I am targeting is on the Edict of Expulsion in Spain in 1492. Though it is in English... it will take some time. My goal is to be done with the presentation by this week. My other presentation I have been working on is on a song that describes the generation or a political issue in the United States. Unlike the Spanish students that are presenting on songs dealing with the student protest or the Italians with the government chaos going on... my options involved pretty shallow songs about love and alcohol... So instead I chose "Pumped up Kicks" my Foster the People, which talks about a troubled mentally ill youngster that gets a hold of a gun. My group, which is made up of an Irish girl and an Australian, will present on the debate of mental illness and gun control in America... Therefore.... I have had a bit of research to do! Turned in my script for my section on Tuesday for correction, so I am off to a good start!

Tuesday involved a late start, class, and a very productive afternoon!! After finishing class, I rushed back home grabbed two VERY stuffed IKEA bags with dirty laundry and finally headed to the Waschbar to do my laundry! I had been putting this off since I didn't want to pay to dry my clothes only to walk outside and get soaked again. My experience there was wonderful as always. I feel like my little laundromat bar is going to be one of the places I remember the most! I ordered some nachos for lunch not really knowing what to expect, and I got back Doritos with that cheese sauce you get in a jar at walmart... I was thoroughly surprised. After that, I went home and put away all my clothes! Then... I headed back out to Kaufland to do my grocery shopping for the week! After getting a variety of food (and ingredients to make tacos!!! Whoooo!! Makes me feel like I'm in Mississippi!) I was ready to walk out, but the Greek little stand caught my attention. While I drooled over the olives, feta cheese, sauces, and stuffed grape leaves they had to offer, the salesman came back out of nowhere. Before I could compose myself, three girls walked up as well.... and then... he started feeding us. He made us try all sorts of stuff (hey... this is DEFINITELY NOT a complaint) and joked. He kept talking to the girls talking about how his German wasn't good, blah, blah, blah... too funny. After they ordered (nearly 5 or 7 minutes later), it was my turn. And for the first time since I got here, he asked where I was from before I even opened my mouth!!! Excuse me???? Anyway, he got really excited when I said the US and Mississippi, and he started speaking in English trying to use slang like: darn, man, oh my gosh, etc. I died out laughing and tried to get my stuffed grape leaves as fast as I could. But there was NOOOO getting around it now. He gave me his card (he gave the girls before me his card too) and was like "please call me if you ever have parties, I'll cater." I could not stop laughing! Parties, I thought, "parties with whoo???" Bahaha, which you were back home, you would cater for me ALL the time! Hahaha! After a dragged out conversation, I walked away with my 3 leaves. Oh wait, before leaving I also stopped by the Chinese stand and got some of his noodles with vegetables, chicken, and sprouts! Ok, ok, quit judging! It was not all for that day! The Chinese noodle, which is meant as a meal, lasts me 2 meals, and the grape leaves are another!!! Seee!!! Not tooo bad! Anyway, after that, I returned home, read some more, and hit the hey!

Today, was the perfect day that inspired me to write a blog post!!! I was woken up at 6:30 by the sun!!! I woke up thinking... "what is that shinning on my face! Can't be the sun!??! I must be dreaming!!!" With that thought, I woke up, showered, cleaned my room, swept, made breakfast, and had some hot tea ALL before leaving to catch the 7:58 am bus to class!! When I walked out at 7:52, I saw a bus (clearly running late) heading for my stop, so I got a little jog in and caught it! Early to class and thrilled with my productive morning!!! Class flew by and so did my second one! After class, at noon, I checked my emails and found out that my afternoon class was cancelled (my teacher is sick).

Sooooo.... I headed home! It is unbelievable how wonderful a day can be, simply because it is noooottt gray!!!! Instead, the temperature is perfect (not shorts yet)! I had a quick lunch at home enjoyed the kids playing outside my window, while I watched an episode of 7th Heaven. After my lovely hour of rest, I started my walk to Starbucks to do my homework! I figure this incredible day could not be wasted! I took a new path through the palace gardens and enjoyed my book on tape as I walked for over an hour.

At Starbucks, I ran into my teacher from my German class. She was so excited to see me, because she said she had my corrected script in her bag! After hurrying over and bringing it to me, she continued off with her friend. She is sooo sweet and lively. I think, from what she has told us, that she studied abroad in Argentina, and I can totally see how she would fit in! After finishing an analytical analysis of my Edict, I headed back home on my walk... With an ice cream cone... (not my fault, the Germans in Potsdam (AKA not tourists) do not walk outside on nice days without an ice cream come... So I couldn't help myself!!!) I decided, after finishing the walk through the gardens, that instead of walking the main road, which I usually walk, I would walk the side roads that house all of the little houses I have previously written about.

After more than 3 months here, I have yet to get a straight explanation about what these houses are!! They really look like houses out of a fairy tale and they are accompanied by exquisitely laid out gardens that are taken care constantly by owners. I have seen people raking, weeding, planting, watering, and laying out... but these houses are REALLY not big enough to live in... right?? Well... I don't know. I have been told the houses are like sheds and that people only have these plots to garden and spend time outside. This makes sense, because Germans really value time outside and green space... But... some of these houses have satellite dishes and ... I'm guessing those aren't decoration for a shed. Sooo... others say that they are weekend houses.... I have been told that if their flags are up, it means the families are home... Truthfully, I'm not sure what they are, but I can tell you I walked by over a hundred (no exaggeration, I promise) and EVERY single one had someone outside either gardening, laying out, sleeping, reading, or just sitting there enjoying the wonderful weather. I tried to sneak some pictures to share with you guys, but it was kind of awkward, because the little streets that they are built around are just for walking and bikes... so they can see you clearly as you walk.... and as I said, everyone was outside! Some of the streets are fenced off and some aren't, but the little communities are everywhere, and the one between me and the palace is HUGE!!! Without exaggerating I estimate way over 100!