About that time

So now that I am half-way through this endeavor I believe it is about time that I start recording it. This whole experience has been different then expected but better then I ever thought. First off, Dresden is a beautiful city. It is not the typical German that I thought it would be from picture, it could just be Columbus. I thought there would be old buildings left and right but you get a big shopping center right when you walk out of the train station on one side and on the other you get a lovely view of the strip club 'Angel's Nacht Bar' (haven't visited yet but I am only half-way through so...). We are only one train stop from the main train station and across the street from our classroom building so placement is clutch. I live on the 2nd floor so I am stuck taking the stairs even when carrying heavy object because we all don't want the looks that the Germans give us when we get off at two. I have the double room to myself, rock it out. Four/five train stops down the line from our dorm is the Dresden I expected, there lies the Frauenkirche, Nikolaikirche, Semper Opera House, the Zwinger and the palace. Its amazing to me how I am able to go from 21st century living to 18th century buildings in a matter of minutes. It is weird to think I have only been here a month and I am already sad that I have to leave so soon, there is so much I haven't done and places I haven't been. I will have to say one of our favorite things about this country is the lack of a open container law. If you want to walk around with a bottle you can, this is nice because who wants to sit inside and drink on a beautiful evening in the summer, and there are beer gardens galor! The bars(Kneipe if you will) here are great. I am practicing all my German skills by ordering and chatting up the fellows while out on the town. Our professor even said "have a few beers then start practicing your German, at that point you don't care if you sound like an idiot". I always like to take the advice of my professors. One bar I would never recommend, unless you are into kult dancing, is a goth bar. One of my more frightening experience since I have been in Germany. We walk in and there is a skeleton behind bars holding a cigarette just chilling on the left. You go in and everything is black, leather, and chains. Lets just say Katie with her bright pink pants did not fit in. Though I was told I was a natural at their dancing style, auf Deutsch naturlich,though I believe German's are much better at sarcasm. Classes are intense, we have German straight for three hours a day and one of the teachers speaks 0 English. This is an entertaining thing to watch I imagine as we play charades and butcher the language that she knows so well to explain simple topics to her. But I know we are getting better, and we all like to think that this is just a cruel joke that she is playing on us to make us think that she can't while laughing on the inside.

I have made some fantastic friends so far, its hard to believe we have only known each other a month but I guess thats what being in a foreign environment does to someone. We have made field trips to Meißen, Freiberg,Moritzburg, and Berlin. It is hard to pick a favorite between them because they are all so different. I will say that I say 17 prostitutes from dinner to a bar in Berlin(Thank you Henni). But thats it for now. But Anna I promise to at least try to write everyday. Love Katie

Last minute advice from dad

Never tell anyone where you are going, tell them you are meeting your dad or boyfriend. Also kindly reminded me of the movie Taken on the way to the airport. I have faith that John A would stir up a bigger storm then Liam did. Another two tips were don't run over turtles and don't be a Fleebeitz, but I guess you have to be born in the forties to understand that one.

His biggest tip was to keep a diary and this is it.

Auf Weidersein USA!

And we're off!