And My Name Is..

Well it's now been two months since I arrived. And nothing makes better sense now than to finally meet all the people you've been working around. This afternoon I got to meet a a few people from the department as we partook in the only truly German type of get together: A grill fest. As I'm always working in the student computer room, I was actually surprised at how many other people were a part of the institute, and how young they all were. I would've expected more professory type people, but maybe those people don't like grill fests.

Houston, We No Longer Have A Problem

We're having a party today. I don't care if you're having a bad day or are totally exhausted. I'm hyper and happy enough for everyone. Guess who's project is no longer battling quicksand? (If you didn't say my project- you're no longer invited).

Turns out I was trying to do something that was really, really, really improbable (not completely impossible... just almost impossible). So now I'm trying some different math to do double derivatives without getting hella (yea, I said it.. norcal all the way!) noise. Like filters. And matrices. Boy do I wish I had some of my notes from classes here, but I'm no longer lost and stuck so I'll work through basically whatever now. Geez, I'm really happy. :D

The Future's Coming From 0 to 60

Today I got to see a Tesla! (You really don't need to read any further..) Also there were some other electronic vehicles (or bikes), but really does anything truly compare with Teslas? I maybe should have built up an immunity to them, but despite seeing them all over the Bay Area and knowing the company is basically bankrupt, I still think the Roadsters are awesome... </geekout>

I would totally drive this... if I had my license

There were other cool things too- like a testing station that input shocks into the four wheels of a car to simulate different road conditions. Let's just say roads in the past were really terrible. I think it actually probably felt like a step backwards in technology from riding a horse to riding in a vehicle. Since we were "lucky" we also got to see another wind tunnel (oh goody)- but unlike every wind tunnel tour I've ever been on (probably because it's dangerous) we got to go inside the wind tunnel while it was on. It was really windy (you think ... no, duh, but it was really windy!) You can barely tell from the outside though.

Peanut Butter Jelly Time

So I've recently begun to truly understand why certain students will do almost anything for free food. You maybe haven't noticed, but I am quite aware that the end of the month is fast approaching. Particularly as the stipend left for this month is basically all used up (not that I regret it - travel was awesome). So I've resorted to the cheapest food: PB&J sandwitches. Well almost PB&J. The jam and bread are actually really delicious. However "peanut butter" here is not actually peanut butter. I mean, it has peanuts and it's spreadable like butter, but it's jut.. not peanut butter. It's too sweet/not salty enough or something. I particularly feel betrayed by the marketing as it was advertised as "American" peanut butter. As an American, I do not have proof positive of truth in advertising.

Rest For The Weary

Poke... A free day? On a weekend? Unheard of! Why, you're probably wondering, am I not making more of a good use of this great opportunity to see more of a foreign country?
1. I'm tired.
2. I'm tired. (realllly tired)
3. .... I had thought of more reasons.... Maybe I'll remember them after I take a nap.

Burning Up

Today I got up nice and early to catch a train to Freiburg. Nice and early with plenty (I thought) of time to catch the train. However one subway train + construction at the main station turned my "enough time" to a "laughing-in-your-face-doesn't-life-just-suck?" moment. That's right, just as everyone wars you will happen, when it's time to leave, those darned punctual German trains will leave. Even if you're just about to reach out to the door after running the entire length of the platform at a sprint while the conductor watches you. So uncaring.

So I had a nice time teaching the pigeons some English early in the morning. That's what everyone totally wants to do when they visit Germany, right? (I bet you haven't!)

In any case, I got on the next train nice and early (no chances were taken). I arrived in Freiburg in that awkward time when it's too early for lunch, but not quite the right time to eat breakfast. We solved this problem with ice cream. Ice cream, it turns out has no known "correct eating hour" restrictions, only "correct eating temperature" restrictions. And it was hot.

The problem with hot days are that there aren't many options. (Who am I kidding? For me the distinctly indecisive, that's a total plus). So we gave in to the weather and headed to the Seepark. And went swimming. I was not particularly dressed for swimming. Like at all.

Unfortunately these gutters aren't for wading in

This, I learned, is not really considered a problem in Germany as people will have no issue discarding their clothes to go swimming. As an American, I found I could not quite embrace this particular custom and jumped in fully clothed. (It was that hot).

Sitting by the lake, enjoying the bit of breeze wafting by, I was reminded of why I generally avoid eating out. For people wondering, Flannkuchen is something that is almost, but not quite entirely unlike pizza. For a person like me who avoids cheese and salty things, it was missing perhaps the most important redeeming feature of pizza; tomato sauce.

Since the city resolutely would not relent in burning us to crisps, we gave up and headed a bit outside the city to relax, catch up and play board games. (Should warn you I'm a board game master. Or enthusiast- I'm always game for a game :D) Despite my considerable board game knowledge, we managed to play two games I'd never heard of and one that was the German version of Yahtzee. Since I hadn't had a down weekend to just relax and hang out, I found the relaxed pace very welcome.

To end the relaxed visit, we bookended the trip with... more ice cream. (Seriously, it was so hot out, you wouldn't believe). As I got ready to say goodbye to my friend once more, she let me in on a German saying about how you'll meet everyone in your life twice. I was warned though- simply because we've met twice, wasn't an excuse to not visit anymore!

Roll of Thunder, Let Me Sleep

It's a bit gloomy here. Sort of matches my mood. (Guess who still has a project that's not going much of anywhere?) On the upside (never say I'm not optimistic) all the thunderstorms keep the temperature down. (if not the noise). It really is strange. I know "rolling thunder" is like a figure of speech, but I never really heard thunder "roll" before. It was mostly one BOOM! and then it was done. Here though, there may not be any visible lightning (I guess it sparks between clouds or something) but the thunder just keeps going, and going, and going... (like a drum roll of epic proportions).

As fascinating as it is to finally understand that English speakers don't just attach random adjectives to make stuff seem more poetic, I really do want to sleep.