Guten Morgen Sonnenschein

Heidelberg is absolutely wonderful and sunny! Weather is nice and when we are at the Mensa, we sit outdoors eating our lunch. Food here is pretty cheap, at least for a Swede, and I am quite happy that I don't have to starve myself with a student budget.



This weekend I went to Bremen to celebrate Helen's birthday. It was a little bit too crazy than expected. However, it was loads of fun and I also got to experience the real Deutsche Bahn experience.
On my way to Bremen the train was 80 minutes delayed, which annoyed me so immensly but I survived (eventhough the last two hours I had to stand because there were no seats left, and I had no reservation for the journey there). As I got off the train, I was greeted by Helen and Anja who came to fetch me, and back at the HHMA commune; really yummy mini-pizzas were awaiting!
Then came the party the following day, but first with a fantastic brunch at Piano and an almost 10 hour sleep. Like I mentioned; the party was pretty crazy and we can leave it at that...

Travelling to and from Bremen, it takes about 6 hours one way. Sometimes you have to "umsteigen" (switch trains) but I was lucky to have a direct train home. A nicer train and with a seat reserved for me. On my way home I was thinking about how small Heidelberg is and if I would meet two of my close friends on the bus from Haupbahnhof - which I did, funny enough. We (Hamad, Jenn and I) met up with two more friends towards the night for great dinner at Moshmosh (kinda of like a Wagamama feel).

Meine Wochenende

Things are happening really quickly at the moment and I barely have time to update the blog.

My German teacher is constantly giving us tons of homework and I try to do them but I always end up choosing to go out and party. I now fully understand the Erasmus lifestyle and what it's REALLY all about.

This weekend the floor beneath me had a Faschingsfete (sort of like a masquerade party) for the entire building. Really loud music, crowded but many familiar faces. It was pretty nice and I went as a leopard. For once it is nice to not have to think about when the last bus leaves and if I need to find myself a sleeping place.



Saturday was IKEA day and I took two person's IKEA-virginity. Loads of fun! We ate meatballs and Daimtårta before doing our shopping. Felt like being home, just with German headings and text everywhere. Oh well, it was good enough for me and I got what I wanted to make my room a bit more homey.



Sunday we went to the Heidelberg Zoo which was a bit of a disappointment. Not too big and some animals were just a great bore. I ate my first Currywurst since Bremen last year - God I have missed it!
after the zoo we took a walk through Neuenheimer Feld to the Neckar (by the river) and had ourselves some icecream and beer. And as the rain was about to fall we managed to get back home and bake some carrot cake.



Cosy weekend. :)

Die ersten Tage

Major update!

I came to Heidelberg for exactly a week ago and things started really badly. For starters; I thought I knew my way around Heidelberg by staring at Google Maps in Stockholm - apparently I was in for a shocker when I got here.
So the first day was very exhausting. Imagine pulling four suitcases with a total weight of 50+ kilos and having another person to look out for. Also, being a bit uncomfortable with speaking in German to all the Germans was not too ideal for me.

I eventually adapted to my new standard of living and have already started to speak more German. Now when I've settled in, I actually find it more fun to speak the language and I get by pretty alright!

Since I've gotten here I have had my Einstufungstest, which was alright. I found the second part with the two essays easy to write and apparently I was placed in Mittelstufe II. Hmm.. Mittelstufe II is pretty fun and a challenge, I just never thought that I would have so much to catch up on since everyone in my class seems to have studied German for more than five years and I posses German knowledge of six months. Oh well, I will just have to fight some more.

Friday night ended with a Kneipentour and I found about three favourite pubs! We were also introduced to our Erasmus bar "Brass Monkey".

Saturday evening, all the exchange students met up at the Spaghettisäule for a Stadtfahrung. Instead of listening to our guides (who were very kind) me and the others whom I got to know a bit better were busy getting to know the people we were walking around. I love meeting new people!

Back home in Sweden, most of the Erasmus students attend Quiz nights at pubs. Well, I am really happy that I found two pubs that host such events. So I gathered a group and we formed a team and attend these quizes. Sweet prizes and last time we got a free round of Baby Guinesses. Not bad.


I might have started off harshly by not liking Heidelberg at all, but it is slowly growing on me.