Hallo! Enschuldegung! Bitte!

Deutscheland was such a good choice, despite the fact that I started making poor (good?) choices almost the instant I arrived there. I dont have a lot of photos, so I'm gonna stick with a couple of anecdotes/observations

Firsts

Immediately, within hours of arriving in Köln (Colgne), I lost my wallet (again).  It was dark, rainy, cold, and I was in a foreign country, already missing SA. BUT I AM A SEASONED TRAVELER. I CAN HANDLE ANYTHING.

So I only cried a little bit.

BUT things were vastly improved the next day when Mack showed up to cover my sorry ass and I got to experience my first Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) with this girl:

Mulled wine in an adorable mug. Day=Better

Deike was the German contingent amongst the exchange students at Rhodes, and... well... a picture is worth a thousand words right?

This was the first night after we met. Yup. We are on a table.

Needless to say, she was a kindred spirit, and getting to see her in her home environment was a lovely treat. Plus, this:

On a rare sunny day, even!

Old Friends, New Places

While I was there for four weeks, I got to see a couple of familiar faces including the fabulous Maureen in Mannheim:

With mustache flats!

And the adorable Nick in Hamburg (ask about our 3-Aussie Night, we dare you):

I'm introducing him to the delicious phenomenon know as the Döner

As well as spend a ridiculous amount of time with Andrew, Mack, and Steph (our actually German friend), my gracious hosts.

Germany Makes You Fat

I think the photo that best describes my time there is this though:

Mandatory suggestive bratwürst eating photo

My god, the Deutsch know how to do warm, hearty winter food. All of the weight I lost from my "Zimbabwean Heat Diet" (Oh My Gawd it is So Hot, Too Hot to Eat Anything), I gained right back. For Christmas dinner, I ate bacon and cheese (and onions) with Steph's delightful family. I understood about 5% of the dinner conversation, but it was so much fun, and I learned a lot. Speaking of which...

German Stereotypes

I know, I know, Germans are supposed to be notoriously grumpy. 

IT'S TRUE

Jokes, Jokes!

Seriously, some of the Germans I met were the warmest, friendliest, loveliest human beings. However, it is true that the average German resting face in public doesn't invite sunshine and bunnies and cupcakes... or idle conversation. From what I gathered, it's mainly because they tend to just mind their own business when they're out and about. Maybe that's why they are amazingly (ridiculously?) efficient and punctual. 

All In All...

Germany was full of up and downs, but most importantly, I started to reconnect to the Old World in multiple senses. And it definitely was not "Goodbye" or "Auf Wiedersehen" but rather "Bis Später," "See you later."