I arrived in Frankfurt at around 7:30. At least, that's what I believe the time was. I hate German airports. "Why, Zeb, do you hate German airports? Was it because of customs?" Wait, did you say customs? I'm sorry, but did you mean that little desk with no one there that we just walked straight through? Oh, you did? Well, no that wasn't it. "Was is the other people with you perhaps?" You mean the only other people besides me that spoke and understood the language I love? No. To be honest, I didn't like the bathrooms. Yeah, I said it. That and everyone really doesn't give a rip about whether or not you have a buggy filled with so much luggage it takes all of the Nordic gods to move it. That's most airports, but Germans definitely do not care about other people as long as they don't know them.
Our bus was also an hour late. It wasn't because Frankfurt traffic is terrible (it was Sunday.) It wasn't because the bus completely forgot us. Oh wait, yes it was. Somehow it slipped the bus companies agenda that 40+ people from America would be arriving in Frankfurt and needing a ride to a nearby village that is about an hour away. Silly us for thinking Germans were a punctual people. I guess stereotypes are just stereotypes.
Ok, enough being completely sarcastic and cynical. Germany's initial impression most definitely surpassed all expectations. The rolling hills and greenery were astounding. The best part is when we arrived at Johannisberg (southern Hessen, in der nahe von Wiesbaden.) There I was to learn the basic rules of German culture, language, and etiquite. By this time everyone was warming up to each other, or at the very least trying to. Sunday was spent getting over jet-lag. It might not have been, but I was so jet-lagged that Sunday is pretty much a blank space in my mind, kinda like my first week in Australia.
Going to school at Schloss-Hansenberg isn't quite the same as going to any ol` German school. For instance my teacher, Maik, is pretty much an expert at Capoiera (a Brazillian style of martial arts) and is pretty much laid back. We were allowed to duzt him (in Germany when speaking with a teacher you use the formal 'Sie.' Maik allowed us to call him by his first name, and refer to him as 'du.') The class was challenging but never too hard. The class was very fun and there was a beautiful view of the vineyards outside the windows.
Besides teachers, we had teamers there as well. Teamers are kinda like God. They want to be your friend, but don't fuck up, or they'll get mad and punish you. Well, it wasn't all that bad. They were a pretty cool group. They would have to be.
The group that I went with is a motley crew in and of itself. We represented the American southeast. Or, to perhaps scare you even further, we, being the Southeast, were representing America. Just wrap your head around that for a bit, play with the idea, maybe take it on a date. The southeast. Du meine gute.
Weekends we were allowed to drink. You tell forty American teens that they are allowed to drink and you would expect all hell to break loose. Well, it didn't. I mean, some of us were perhaps more tipsy than others, but overall it never once was a bad experience. Well, that's a lie, but I won't get into that now. If Germany has anything other than fancy cars, it's good beer. And when you give them your empty glass (which you shelled out 4,50€ and your first born for) you get a 1€ refund. It was nice when friends would forget that they even bought a glass and just leave it somewhere. You could just take the glass and get a Euro for it. That's nearly $1.40. That's a cheeseburger and a tip. That's good money.
Somewhere along these lines I'll delve into more detail. Right now I am only dabbling in the art of Blogging, so I'm trying my best to just give an overview. My next update will hopefully have more zest and flavor.
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