This week has been kind of crazy so far, and it's only Monday! I wasn't sure if I was going to get a chance to blog about week 2 in my apartment before I left for Italy, but unfortunately I just got kicked out of my 10am class, so that should give me plenty of time to write this.

I guess I should start off my explaining why I got kicked out of class ;] Even though I tested into German level F1, I really wanted to take the grammar class for German level M2. I knew I couldn't get credit for it, but I really wanted to just sit in on it and work on actually learning and using all of those grammar rules I memorized for tests years ago... I didn't figure that it would be a problem to take the M2 class; I'm actually taking the M2 level Korrektive Phonetik class because there were too many students signed up for the F2 class. But I was wrong... & of course it didn't help that I wasn't in class last week for the first day and my tram took longer than it normally does this morning, so I walked into class late. Everyone was already sitting down and the prof was just starting to take attendance, so when I walked in she looked at me disapprovingly and asked what I was doing there. Even after I asked if I could just sit in the corner of the class and listen without getting credit, she said "The test was there for a reason. You need to go to F1." Dumb. Germans can be so obssessed with rules and procedures some times! But on the bright side, it gives me some more time today to blog and get things ready for Italy =]

I realized there were a few things about my first week in the apartment that I forgot to talk about, for instance what my apartment actually looks like =] I've already mentioned the actual building is a ways away from the city center... about 15 minutes by tram... but it really isn't too awful. There is a tram stop about 6 minutes away from our apartment & you can make it in less than 3 if you run, trust me ;] Our actual apartment is on the very, very top floor...the tenth or eleventh I think. thank goodness for the elevator! I actually have a really nice view of the mountains from my room and our balcony, and Friederike's room has a view of the rest of Lobeda/West/Ost. I think it's quite pretty at night =]

In addition to the tiny kitchen, common room, and wc & düsche (so a separate room for the toilet), we each have our own bedroom. My room is pretty big.. at least 2 or 3 times the size of my room at 404. It's ironic that my biggest room in college will be the only time that I don't have a bunch of stuff to put in it. I'd actually kind of prefer a smaller bedroom; it looks so bare and prison like because I only have 2 suitcases worth of stuff to put in it =/ But I'm working on making it look more like home, even if it's only for 4 months. I brough quite a few pictures with me that I've put up on the walls and I bought a poster of Starry Night, which is my favorite painting from van Gogh. So I think it looks a little better now than when I first moved in =]

Last Monday was the start of the DaF ATS program and my first real day of classes. I only had one, though, and it wasn't until 2pm... so even though I had every intention of being productive in the morning, I slept in and lounged around the apartment for awhile before going for a run. I really need to get better at being more productive with all my free time here, but it's so easy to get sidetracked by absolutely nothing. Sigh. When I got to my class (Korrektive Phonetik), the room was already pretty full...and then another 15 or so students showed up. The prof seemed pleased that her class was so popular, but that many students wasn't going to work, so she asked us if anyone would mind taking the Korrektive Phonetik Class for M2 at 4pm. Even though I tested into F1, I still don't feel as confident about my German as the students in my class seem to. Granted, the F1 and F2 students have classes together, so that could definitely have something to do with it, but I still was more than happy to go to the M2 class =] I think this class will end up being really beneficial for my Aussprache, or pronounciation.

After class I met up with Stefanie. She had invited me to come over to her apartment and watch Germany's Next Top Model with her and a few of her friends. It was a lot of fun to watch, and pretty similar to the American version. Drama, clothes, fashion, and photo shoots... but this time with Heidi Klum und auf deutsch. Just another fun way to practice German, right?! =]

I was planning on going to that class I got kicked out of today last Tuesday morning... but I made the dumb mistake of turning off my alarm at 6 instead of snoozing it for 5 minutes. So instead of waking up at 6:05, I woke up at 9:30 =/ & class starts at 10, so there was definitely no way I was going to make it. I was pretty mad at myself, but at least it was a class that I wasn't planning on taking for credit anyway. & now it reallydoesn't matter, because I apparently wasn't allowed to take it anyway!

I had Interkulturelle Bewegnung und Landeskunde at 4pm on Tuesday as well, and I think this will be a really cool class! It's basically a class on culture, history, society, politics, etc... a pretty broad topic lol, but the prof seems really nice and friendly. She reminds me a little of Professor Aronoff =]

On Wednesday morning Kathrin and I had yoga again- & we were there early this time ;] I'm totally sold on the idea of taking a yoga class back in the States. It's so relaxing and a great way to destress and become intune with yourself. Sounds a little cheesy, maybe, but it's true! I only have one class on Wednesdays, but unfortuantely it's at 10am which means I don't really have enough time to go back home and shower before I go to class. Totally wouldn't be a problem at MSU...I'm a pro at going to class right after morning practice... but here everyone dresses up for class. Like even heels sometimes! Crazy Europeans... anyway, I looked a little out of place in class in my yoga pants and tank top, but oh well =] We got our first mini project assigned to us on Wednesday, too... we were divided into groups and given a place in Jena to research. First we had to come up with hypotheses about why it is important, then we had to ask other Germans what they knew about it, and finally we have to do some research of our own. We're going on a mini city-tour during class this Wednesday...which should be interesting in more ways than one. I think the history of the city here is fascianting, but I'm also going to have to sprint from class to the train station to catch my train to dusseldorf. So I'll be lugging my bags around with me on the city-tour. should be.. interesting...

I had two classes on Thursday, Akademisches Arbeiten and die Vereinten Nationen. They both went okay... Akademisches Arbeiten better than die Vereinten Nationen. The prof didn't speak as clear the second time as he did the first day of class, so I had some trouble following the latter part of the lecture =/ But I had practice after lecture, and rowing always makes me feel better =] The river here is kind of a pain because it's so narrow and there are so many turns, so you're constantly having to make sure that your line is okay... but I still haven't gotten sick of seeing the mountains when I row. So beautiful =]

I purposely didn't schedule any classes on Fridays to make taking weekend trips more doable, so I made an appointment on Friday to go get my visa. I was a little nervous, though, because when my friend Amy went they were kind of rude to here and told her she had filled out part of the application wrong. There was sooo much paperwork to figure out, and even Kathrin, who helped me with it, wasn't sure what all of it was. & she is from Germany! My friend Amy also went with her Tutorin, and I wasn't going with anyone, so let's just say I was keeping my fingers crossed that everything went smoothly. & luckily it did! better than I expected, actually =] (aside from the fact that you can't smile in your visa photo and I look like a criminal!) I had all of the paperwork filled out that I needed, the lady was really nice, and the visa didn't cost me anything...which was a very pleasant surprise. Normally visas cost €60, but they waived the cost of my visa because I'm here on a German scholarship. So that was pretty cool =]

During the day on Friday I went in search of a long dress of skirt for Easter Sunday mass with Friederike. I was so happy she came with me, because I am so indecisive & there were a ton of long dresses at H&M. Luckily we found one =]

Later that night I met up with Jennett. Two of her friends were having a party to celebrate moving into their new apartment. Getting an apartment in Jena is not easy (Germans here have told me a number of times how lucky I am to have found one so quickly), so it was definitely a cause for celebration =] It was a little awkward at first because I didn't know anyone there besides Jennett, but all of her friends were so friendly and welcoming! They seemed kind of suprised when I told them that overall I had found everyone here to be really welcoming, and those that had been to the States said that they felt that way more in the States. I think maybe in both places people are more apt to be inviting when they know that you're not from that country. But regardless, it was a fun party, and it was cool to see a college party in Germany. So much different from back home!

Around 2 or so we decided to walk to Havanna, the dance club I mentioned in my last blog. We were walking on the sidewalk and came up to a street we needed to cross. Jennett was walking in the group ahead of me, and I was talking to one of her friends who had studied abroad in Ohio. There were no cars coming, but the cross sign thingamabob was red, and normally Germans always wait until it turns green...even if there isn't a single car around! Weird. But to my surprise Jennett and her friends stepped into the street. I was about to follow them when the guy I was talking to grabbed me (like Diane and I have to grab Meagan anytime we cross the street ;]) and told me to wait. A second later I understood why: there was a Polizei car behind us that he had seen, and all of the sudden we heard over the loud speaker "Nur dumme Köpfe überqueren die Strasse, wenn es rot ist!" which translates roughly as "Only dumb heads cross the street when it's red!" I couldn't believe it! Then the guy explained that you can get a ticket for €15 and lose points on your license for crossing the street like that. Crazy...

On Sunday afternoon I met up with Di Ne for coffee and a photography lesson =] I'm still in the process of figuring out my camera, and she is very good at photography and told me she'd teach me a few things before I left for Italy. It was a really fun way to spend a nice afternoon outside, and we took turns awkwardly posing while the other one would try and take pictures. Haha I could totally never be a model... but it was fun nevertheless =] Next time we're going to make Luca model for us!

There's so much more to write about, but not enough time at the moment. I have a super long train ride to look forward to on Wednesday, though, so hopefully I'll have a chance to fill in some blanks, in particular how much I love Luca, Kathrin, and Friederike for helping me sort out my trip to Italy, in this blog then.

Ciao!

Marissa