Freiburg

The day finally arrived that we were to make the last leg to my new city of Freiburg, Germany. Once again we checked out of another hotel and this time were driving from Munich all the way to Freiburg. The trip was really long because there isn’t a straight drive so we had to go up to around Stuttgart and then head south. The drive was pretty silent, at this point it was two weeks into everyone seeing eachother all day. The traffic in Stuttgart was real bad, and we got lost for a bit…but nonetheless we made it to Freiburg around 5pm. We drove in through the south of town on the way in and first impression was a little skeptical. Europe as a whole has so much more graffiti then in the US and its actually really good from an artistic standpoint, but freiburg especially from where we came in at there was tons. I was like oh great, where are all these beautiful photos from online that they must have photoshopped. As we drove more into the center city, the old town part it got much more beautiful. So we find our hotel/ bed and breakfast thing which was really nice actually, I liked it a lot and got checked in no problems. Then that evening my new friend, Vanessa, who lives right outside of freiburg came into town. It was really cool she showed us around the whole center of town and it was great to get a feel and perspective on the city before I started. She showed my where by EU building was, where I will have to check in and take my classes. Then all went out to dinner at this Italian restaurant and had a great meal. Then we kinda split into smaller groups some went back to the hotel. But there was a festival or something that night and they had a few streets blocked off by a whole bunch of bars and there were like D.J towers set up, so many people and we got some drinks. Good first night in my new town.

The next day Vanessa’s and her family invited my family and I over for a barbeque. We hopped on the train for a bit and she picked us up in their car and went to their house. The black forest really starts to take shape as you get outside of Freiburg out there it was crazy, big rolling hills with the thick pine forests. Looks a little bit like driving through central Pennsylvania, but better. Anyway, we meet her parents Daniel and Carmen who were super nice. They all speak very good English so the conversations were good and we talked a lot. They showed us around their house which was so modern and amazing, the whole front of the house is glass, with window shutters that slide into place with a flick of switch., Solar panels on the roof.  However their barbeque must be very different then our are idea of one at home because it was like a full sit down three course meal. Food was incredible though, tomato & mozzarella salad, baked potato, then some kabobs of vegetables, steak and lamb on the grill. Then we went on a hike up behind their house. Germans are serious about their hiking, like hours and miles worth. But it was good we hiked up to the top of the mountain where there was a really old lodge on a farm that was a little restaurant. That’s the other big thing, then hike then get  Kaffe & Kuchen (coffee and cake) half way..but you can get water or tea too. It started to rain, but all and all it was a good day. They were so overwhelmingly nice and offered anything I would ever need here or get me out of trouble, anything. So its nice to have that away from home.

Then my family and I head back to the hotel, nothing more exciting that day because it was later and raining. The next day was my last day with my family in Europe. I had to check into school that day but not until 5pm at the latest. Got up had breakfast with my parents and started to pack up all my stuff just to get it out of the way. Then we walked around the city once more, got lunch and went into some shops. I had seen a couple of kids with a mass of suitcases on the street so I figured they were in my program. I was so glad I wasn’t them flying from America that night before and getting in to take a train by themselves with all that luggage and having to find the EU building in the city. So I was getting anxious and just wanted to get checked in. Said all my goodbyes and went over the checkin. Pretty weird at that point, started to feel real then.

I will write the second half in the next update quick, because it will be to long to combine them..So next up is moving in and starting school.