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Ohsup.
So I intended to update my blog at the end of last week but that did not happen. Most likely because I was either eating or busy, both of which I can proudly announce that I am very proficient at.
So last week was my first whole week at my new school: Helmholtz Gymnasium, Karlsruhe. On the first day I arose at the ungodly hour of 6 am, rushed through a bowl of cereal and coffee, and shot out the door and onto the tram! When we arrived at Muhlburger Tor (the stop infront of our school) it was still dark! We went straight to the office and had a brief albeit rather important meeting with the principal, during which Moritz discussed and arranged my schooling for the next 12 or so months and I idly fiddled with the strap of my satchel. So began my first ever tuesday at school in Germany. Little did I then know that Tuesday was the longest and most exhausting day of the week, and I was about to be sucked into a vortex of confusion and misunderstanding. The day began with Geography, held in a computer lab, during which I spoke French and English and a bit of German with the ladies sitting next to me and twiddled about with my shiny new translator (which I am sure the teacher thought was a gameboy advance given her disapproving looks). Once that class had ended Moritz decided to introduce me properly to the teachers and ensure that they entirely understood the purpose of my electronic lifesaver! So the day went on, Music was next, during which the teacher (quite the comedian) awarded me 15 points for recognizing the John Coltrane song he was playing on the piano. Finally Physics came along, and as I have never formally studied Physics past a junior level, I stared into one of Karlsruhe's many square's, this one conveniently visible from my seat.
I should probably mention the school itself here. It consists of a really beautiful old building (shown in the image above) and two more modern constructions which are tastefully interconnected using glass walkways and cobbled courtyards. It is one tram stop away from one of Karlsruhe's busiest areas, a street lined with modern shops, scrumptious bakeries and old buildings. After this final 1hr 30 minute lesson Moritz and I took a walk down to this area, named Europaplatz, and enjoyed a German kebab specialty named Yufka. It was YUM AS. We then hit up the local DM, which is somewhat like a pharmacy without the prescriptions and chemists in fancy white jackets, where I bought me some shampoo and a sim card! Our final stop was the local sports shop, where I purchased some Asics running shoes for about 60 euro, down from 120. Im not going to lie, I was happy with a 60 euro saving!
The purpose of these shoes was the next thing on our agenda. We loafed around for about half an hour and then headed off to the local gym, where we had Physical Education for an hour and a half! It was quite intense, involving a muscular workout and then 45 minutes of soccer. I teamed up with Moritz and played pretty well, dribbling through three defenders to slot the ball into the back of the net for the first goal, and then bagging a cheeky second soonafter. All the members of my class thought I was the MAN. By the end of the class I was EXHAUSTED and it was 6 pm. I had been at school for 12 hours and I was jetlagged. And SO SO TIRED. But I still had choir, which went for another hour and a half, finishing at 7:30. We sung Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen, and I met Moritz's friend Max. I also nearly fell asleep five times, despite the impressive vocal quality amongst the boys I was singing (and yawning) with. This heralded the most EPIC schoolday I have ever participated in.
The next three days went super duper fast, and I really enjoyed French class on Wednesday, as I was one of the more proficient students in the class! Friday was the best I must admit, as I participated in only one and a half hours of class (just one lesson) and was home by 10 am! That evening I went to a basketball tournament which Moritz organized, and drained some sick as balls in radical style. Turns out Im not terrible at Basketball either - At least I really enjoyed myself!
The weekend was a really relaxing but enjoyable one, on Saturday I got up late and played music after lunch for about 3 hours, banging out some notes on the grand piano downstairs and attempting some composition. Moritz and Anton were out playing basketball until about 6, so went for a walk into Durlach at about 3:30 and picked out some sweet as German pastries from the local bakery to bring home for the family. I arrived home at about 4 pm, and let myself in. When I opened the door I immediately heard a movement upstairs, and the floorboards creaked suspiciously.
I crept into the kitchen to put the pastries down and heard a gruff mans voice say something in German from upstairs. I had NO IDEA who was up there and what they wanted. I left the kitchen to sort the rascal out and turned the corner and BAM! There in front of me was a tall dark man with black curly hair and glasses. I just about peed my pants. It was rather scary. Turns out this cool dude was Jurgen, my host mothers boyfriend, who had just arrived from Dusseldorf and of whom I knew nothing about. I managed to piece together his German and decided that he wasn't a threat, putting down my baseball bat on the stairwell. Yeah thats right I would have knocked his lights out. BAD ASS STYLE.
So after a rather brief introduction and offering of pastries I returned to my room and hit up Skype and had a good ole chinwagg to my main man Max. I resurfaced for a scrumptious dinner later that evening, involving a traditional German Kartoffelsalat which was super duper primo. Over dinner Moritz asked me if I wanted to go out, and of course I said HELLZ YEAH! So we went over to Niko's house (Niko is a good friend of Moritz) for drinks. I had my first German beer, a bottle of Hopfner ale! I also made my first German language joke that evening, ripping out Valentin (another of Moritz's friends) for pronouncing findest "finnst", which previously caused some confusion in our conversation. We then took the tram into town and headed towards a MASSIVE university party. It took up three buildings and two floors and the dance lights were blazing on the inside. Problem was that both me and Moritz were skint and it costed ten euro just to get inside! So we hung out on the exterior of the epic party and aided others in remaining vertical. I lent Niko my ID as he was only 17 and as it was a uni party the minimum age was 18. I told him that he would be dead if he didn't return it at school today, but fortunately for him (you know ima beast when im angry) he did. Moritz and I returned home on an early tram and were in bed by 2. Thank goodness because BOY WAS I TIREEEEDDD YO.
Sunday was another late rise, this time with Brunch at Moritz's friends place on the menu. We drove over to this cute wee flat up the top of a quaint old building in a cobbled street (they have lots of streets like that) and climbed four flights of stairs to the front door, where we were greeted by all the awesome dudes and betties that I had met the previous night. We had a MEAN AS feed, involving various varieties of Nutella and a mean as bread selection and WAFFLES SHAPED LIKE CLOWNS. We stayed there for about three hours just chatting and eating (these peeps do brunch in style ima tell you that), and then we returned home for a leisurely evening at Duerrbachstrasse, during which I beat Anton 10 - 0 in foosball upon two out of three occasions! We also watched the bundesliga highlights and had a mean as feed (as per usual).
Today was my first Monday, and I was heaps tired! It was a good time though, and great to see some now-familiar faces around the Gymnasium. This week I have been invited to dinner by the family of a rotarian: Herr Kind, whose daughter also goes to Helmholtz, because the entire family is leaving for New Zealand for four months in a very short period of time! I believe they are living in Christchurch and they are also visiting Dunedin! Anyone keen to meet em? Haha
Anyway hope I haven't rambled for too long, this writing thing is MINT fun :)
See y'all on the flipside of 358 odd days
<3 YOU GUYS! MISS YA!
Nic
- comments
Bobbie Mackie Brilliant account of your time, Nic. You seem to be doing a lot of eating wonderful pasties etc (very jealous of this). Keep up the wonderful commentary, it reminds me of our very brief trip to Germany last year. Yes, keen to catch up with your new friends when they visit. x
Mum Oh Nic- what a fabulous account of your first week. Well done. Will skype again soon. Heaps of love.
(main man) Max Yeah thats right I would have knocked his lights out. BAD ASS STYLE. DEECE ENTRY.
Santa I'm not even lying, kid, your English writing skills are nearly as good as mine!
Carlotta I had the same problems with the translator :D