Arrival

So my journey has already begun. I can't believe I'm already here. The flight over here was a breeze. My dad flew with me, which made everything a lot easier. Before boarding the plane, we sat down to have a cheap glass of chardonnay and had an enjoyable conversation. Then after we boarded and took off at around 7pm, the stortists came around with the usual airplane meal options (the meat dish which was beef and mashed potatoes OR the pasta dish which for that flight was tortellini). I had the beef and then read a little bit of my SELF magazine before I fell asleep for the next four and a half hours. When I awoke they were serving breakfast and before I knew it the plane landed safely at 11am (Swiss time) and I was off the plane, grabbing my luggage and freshening up before I was in a car off to Freiburg. Nicolas, my dad's business partner's/Josef's son, drove me from Zurich, Switzerland to my future home for the next 5 months.

At the IES Abroad Center I was given my schedule and IDs and then was driven to my apartment with a girl named Afton. When I arrived at the apartment, EngelbergerstraBe, my housing tutor introduced himself as Ralph and showed me my room. I settled in for a little bit, but only had about an hour before it was dinner time. Ralph and the other IES students living in my apartment all went out to an Italian pizza joint and shared many laughs (stereotypes, soccer or futbol, food, etc). To cap the night off, the students and I went to the bar that was right behind our apartment. Apparently the bar was an old morgue and our apartment was a hospital for a military base I found out from a fellow student the next morning. There was about ten of us and had a good time playing pool and ordering Becks, Heinekens, and a round of shots. We all did ice breakers to introduce each other and get acquinted. The night ended and after a full day I was exhausted and went to bed.

The following day I woke up and met outside with the fellow IES students at 930am. We then walked to the IES Abroad Center. I was happy to hear that the walk was only about 15 to 20 minutes compared to a 15 minute tran ride from the other apartments/dormitories. At the center we were welcomed with breakfast and more mingling with other IES students and introductions by the staff. At noon we toured the city and ate at the University of Freiburg's Cafeteria. It was a pretty nice day, besides the overcast.

I can see that i will begin to love this place. My hunter boots, sweaters, and jeans are all i need and I'm set. Can't wait to blog to you next. Till then... Auf wiedersehen!