The Corners and the Cornerstones

After a long day of tidying my apartment, hanging sheets, watching children, and exam preparation, I am finally sitting in my favorite spot: the corner of my bed atop a pile of pillows. The window is opened just wide enough to share the sounds of the night outside while offering me a taste of spring air. It's the end of January and the rain storms have been marching through Cologne all week, but that is no sure sign that winter has been fought off for very long. I am savoring the air, however, because that momentary ambiance of spring brings joy to my senses and my fingers as they write.

Just after midnight!
(Oldenburg, Germany)

January was quite eventful I suppose, looking back. Bjoern and I celebrated our first New Year's Eve together alongside 25 other friends in Oldenburg, Germany. We shot off our own fireworks, despite my personal aversion to the idea, and kissed all the way through the midnight minute as the city around us sparkled and cheered. Since Christmas, the necklace he gave me has not come off my neck; there is a silver airplane charm dangling and constantly reminding me of both my wanderlust and the words he whispered, "the airplane keeps us together and kept us apart." Those machines might make me shaky at takeoff but they connect me to my future, my love, my joys in life; I can never take that for granted!

My birthday dinner from left to right:
Rita, Charlene, Bjoern, Me, Katrin, Ornella, Marta, Sayra, Juan

On January 9^th, I celebrated my 22^nd birthday in Cologne. I invited over several of my closest friends from my time here so far, cooked them my favorite dinner of fettuccine Alfredo and a salad with homemade Ranch dressing from the seasonings sent with love from my mother back home. It was a wonderful time as I chatted with friends from Germany, Mexico, Russia, France, and Poland; opened presents from their own home countries; ate traditional, American recipes; and reveled in the recognition of how truly intercultural my community has become. We danced the night away in a local place near Zulpicher Platz and, sometime at the end of the night, Bjoern took me in his arms, kissed me fondly, and announced: “I am going to kiss you on your birthday for your next 80 birthdays, starting today.”

Tulips, croissants and fresh orange juice.
Welcome to Amsterdam

After a brief visit to me in Cologne, my darling Irish friend Emma and I left on January 17^th for Amsterdam aboard the luxury bullet trains called the ICE (Inter-City Express). We remained in Amsterdam for 4 days and had an absolutely grand time of things, further details of this trip will be provided in a location bio later on. While alone aboard a regional train to explore some traditional windmills, I helped two exchange students find their way and we ended up spending the next few hours together eating mustard soup, tasting cheese, walking across frozen canals and chatting about our own cultures and experiences abroad. Chi and Tony, from Taiwan and Spain respectively, shared with me about their current program in the Netherlands and how they are teaching languages while focusing on international studies. I am constantly left in awe of the people in my surroundings; not a dull moment exists once you open your eyes and introduce yourself to someone new.

Currently, final examinations at the Fachhochschule are dominating both my schedule and mental capacity. At the same time, though, I am somehow finding time to write letters; file my taxes; conduct research for my internship; indulge in a bit of painting; coordinate rent agreements for next year; read Rich Dad, Poor Dad; research the stock market and add some new investments to my portfolio. I suppose there is never a moment when I don't have an idea or something to do, but I don't feel overwhelmed in the least. On the contrary, I feel finally able to open up, relax and embrace the opportunities that lie around every corner. Trust me, Europe and Cologne alone have quite a few corners. What will I find next?

Meeting the Family: An Outsider's Way In

Decorating the Christmas Tree: Success
(Oldenburg, Germany)

After spending six months in the wonderful land of Germany, I can hardly say that I was prepared, nay equipped, for the Christmas holiday with my German boyfriend's family. Two months of German language lessons twice a week left me struggling to follow the quips, sarcasm and overall flow of conversation that came as soon as the car door opened in Siegen en route to Oldenburg. I felt ready to rip my ear off, dip it in a good beer and toss it to my new "German Family" in hopes that somehow I wouldn't be lost in translation any longer. Many mistaken der, die, and das in between hearty meat, good cake and Christmas beverages later, we were all laughing over a game of billiards (during which I reportedly had become the "profi" professional). Perhaps communication lines are eased when a bit of healthy competition, fun and good beer are thrown into the mix.

When it came to Fooseball (called Kicker in German), my boyfriend would apparently much prefer to work up a sweat and crack the table in half than lose. However, even table soccer needs cheerleaders, so I contributed with some jolly and mispronounced "ja Woll!" "gut gemacht" and "toller Schuss!" (Yes sir, well done and nice shot!)

In Germany: respect the process and theme of
decorating the tree and you just might survive!

It is very important to note, however, that there is a sort of mathematical curve in terms of German language abilities and beer consumption. These two are generally directly related and, as beer levels increase, so do speaking capabilities. This goes for billiards skill in relation to consumption as well. Unfortunately, as goes for the optimum tariff we've been studying in International Economics here in Cologne, there is a maximum level of benefit. After that level (of tariff % or drink consumption) the curve shoots you back to either trade decline or missed shots and misunderstandings. Let's just say that I properly performed my research and graphed this curve unwittingly and much to my own embarrassment. Fortunately, the whole experience became a good laugh for all, we lost at billiards, I made up my own version of what I thought was Deutsch and I was dubbed the "Sweet Girl" for the duration of my stay.  I must say that I'm relieved that that was the name I received after all the hullabaloo, but that might be because I never caught word of any other granted titles.

Though I may have caught my own hair on fire from the candles on the Christmas Tree (O' Tannenbaum!), eaten a pile of pink termed "Heringsalat," and crashed my bike into a

One of the nightly spreads on the dinner table!
(Pork filet wrapped with prosciutto in a cognac-cream sauce
accompanied by baked hash browns and creamed veggies.)

 lamp post amidst the frenzy of dozens of hurried, Christmas-shopping bikers, I learned to adore his German family with their traditions, present opening schedules, and especially palate in terms of what is to follow the hearty call of "GUTEN APPETIT!"