First off, I must apologize for how long it has been. It has been very crazy around here, and I've been trying to focus on transfer applications, as well as balancing my school work with maintaining my social life and just living a Swiss life. It's been really great thus far, but like everything in life, there have definitely been a few snags here and there. Nothing too bad, and I've been able to keep my spirits high these last few weeks in Switzerland. It seems like everything is going by in a blur. I have just over 40 days left in this country, a country that has truly been home for these past seven months. I'm not going to make this some solemn "good bye to Switzerland" post, because I'm sure that will come in the coming weeks, and maybe even once I'm back in the states (assuming I can get up-to-date a lot faster than last Academic Travel...) That being said.. would you like to go on an adventure? Muy bien!
I don't know why Spanish was my go-to language there... oh well. European Problems..
Academic Travel: TVL-285 Hamburg, Copenhagen and the Baltic Sea
This travel was one of great interest to me. I did not have any major interest in the subject (Urban Sustainability and Development) but I decided it was interesting enough to hold my attention, and it had some great perks. I mean, three countries in two weeks? Who would turn that down?!
I started writing a blog while I was on travel, and only managed to get the first three days done before I was overwhelmed with the culture. So I'm sort of "cheating" these first three posts, because it's already written out for me! I just have to go through and add some pictures!
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March 11, 2012. Day one.
Today was full of emotion. I was up until 6am cleaning, packing, and writing a piece for Aunt Sharon to read at Grandpa’s funeral on Saturday. I still feel a bit guilty being here while my entire family is over there for his funeral. I would love to be there more than anything, but I know he would want me to be here - doing what I love. I’m in Germany, so I can at least try to learn something about my culture, his culture, and do him proud. It’s the least I can do since I won’t physically be there for him. At least my words will be. I hope that means something to him and to Grandma.
I slept from 6 am until about 11, but didn’t get out of bed until noon. My cab was schedule to pick Natalya and I up from Girasole at 1, and I had a few last minute things to pack and tidy up, such as unplugging all of my appliances. I swifter-ed my place to try and make the place look tidy for inspection - I should be fine.
The cab came and took Natalya and I to the Agno-Lugano airport. We passed the entire group of my travel that had taken the FLP train and walked the rest of the way. They all live up the hill, so it was easier for them to do that (and cheaper, too). It worked out to be about CHF 14 each, so it wasn’t bad. We got there around 1:15 and our flight wasn’t until 3:30. Professor Prisner, our leader, wanted us to get there early, just in case something happened, such as forgetting a passport; to be honest, though, no one checked my passport at all.
The flight from Lugano to Zurich was smooth - about 35 minutes over the snow-capped Alps. It was beautiful, as always, and soon we were above the clouds. Zurich was cloudy and dreary - kind of like the New York of Europe, but a lot less concrete and more cows right beyond the fences...
We had an hour and a half layover in Zurich and I got a sandwich (ham, cheese, and a pickle) and some chips that tasted like the flavor packets from ramen noodles. I met Amanda on the flight over, and found out that she’s form Buffalo, NY, but if actually going to Quinnipiac! I think we started to have a bond just because it was something to talk about.
CT Represent!
When we boarded our flight from Zurich to Hamburg at 17.35 I found out that I was sitting next to none other than.... Amanda! More time to talk and just get to know each other. The sun set while we were above the clouds and there were brilliant shades of pinks, purples, and oranges. Landing in Hamburg was incredible. This is my first time ever being in Germany, and I’m ecstatic. It was bittersweet, though, because it was dark and you couldn't really get a feel for the city. We took a bus to our hotel (Hotel Panorama) and got our roommates. I’m with Ahto from Estonia. He seems nice, and is a sophomore studying International Business, if I remember correctly.
We were only in our rooms for a short time before we headed out to the Einstein for dinner. I sat with Amanda, Natalya, and Will. I knew Will from a Computer Graphics class that I had taken last semester. We had a lot of fun and clicked instantly. I ordered a cocktail (a Hemingway) which had gin, vodka (or wodka, in German!), pineapple juice, orange juice, triple sec, and something red. It was delicious.
When I ordered it the waiter asked if I wanted to do the two-for-one, and I was like “sure?” I was under the impression that I could get one and then another cocktail from the list, so I asked if anyone else wanted any. Natalya ordered a Tropic Margarita. When they brought them out, they had 2 Hemingways and 2 Tropic Margaritas. The deal was that if you ordered one you got two cocktails. So Natalya and I naturally shared our drinks with Will and Amanda. We talked about where we were from, what we’re studying, and just stories about ourselves, and what we were looking forward to most on travel.
I had a Creole pizza, which had tomatoes, jalepeños, shrimp, green peppers, and dried coconut. It was pretty amazing, if I do say so my self. :]
After dinner we went back to Will’s room for a little bit before walking around the hotel area a little bit. We’re RIGHT NEXT to the Audubon. It’s crazy to walk on a bridge over this road where cars are flying by. We found a path along a river and sat on a bench and talked some more. It’s nice not having the quiet hour restrictions of Switzerland for the next two weeks!
It started to get cold outside, so we walked back to the hotel and went back to Will’s room since he doesn’t have a roommate yet. We watched some horror movie that was dubbed over in German (The Uninvited). Amanda had seen it so she was able to tell us what was happening. It was terrifying and hilarious because we spent most of the time subtitling it ourselves. The movie ended around 12:10 in the morning, and now I’m back in my room with Ahto. We’re both on our laptops, but there’s no internet.. He’s watching a movie and I’m recapping my day so it makes it easier to update my blog once I find internet.
I still don't have a charger for my camera, but I’m going to have my iPhone with me at all times! I’m even going to bring a memory card around with me in case some of my friends let me borrow their cameras! I’m feeling so much better about this travel already. I think it’s going to be great, and I think Amanda, Natalya, and Will are going to be great friends. It’s going to make it a lot harder to leave. I’m down to 67 days until the end of the semester. It’s such a tough decision, but I have to do what’s best for me, and the Creative Writing program here is lacking...
That’s it for today! We have a tour of the inner city tomorrow, and a presentation at 15:00-16:00. Then free time. This travel has so much free time - I love it. Lots of time to just explore the city on our own. I think that’s the best way to learn a place. Just get lost and see how long it takes to get back. Best feeling in the world. Europe is beautiful. Germany is beautiful. Hamburg is beautiful. I can only hope Rostock, Copenhagen, and Malmö are the same!
ciao!
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