Mein Zuerst Tagen in Deutschland

I wasn't sure if I would have much to write in a blog all year, but at the rate I'm going, I'll have TONS! I arrived in Düsseldorf at 7:20am Wednesday morning... I flew through the night and got maybe an hour of broken sleep, but watched the sun rise over England. Breath-taking. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture.

My host mother Ginette, host brother Kolja, and a family friend were waiting for me in the airport along with two Rotary members. Becky Sohler told me to really pay attention to the smell when I got off the plane because the smell of another country is different. So true! It only took me a minute or two to get accustomed to it, but it was cool. Germany is a nice smelling country. =) I do look forward to smelling Nebraska for the first time again when I return. Good ol' cornfields!

I was exhausted when I got home, but I was determined to stay up until night time so I could kick the jet-lag in the butt right away. I went for a walk with Kolja and our dog Paul, drove around, got a bank account, got a cell phone, went out to lunch, saw some really cool houses, and had a supper with some friends at home. My first home-cooked German meal was Kiesch! Sehr Gut!! =) I slept about 13 hours that night. It was great! Yesterday we did some more sight seeing around Haan and went to Solingen (the neighboring city where my host brother goes to school). Last night we stayed home and watched Pineapple Express in German. They gave me English subtitles so I could try to learn, but I don't think it's that easy. This morning I went to Düsseldorf with a Rotary member to take a placement examination for my German course. Needless-to-say, I'm a beginner. My beginner's intensive 4-week course starts Monday. I will start high school in Haan after I have a better understanding of German.

I'm posting pictures on www.getjealous.com/cultural.cultivation of some of the amazing architecture I've already seen. It's funny how some of the churches that I think are the most spectacular structures are just everyday, no big deal to the people here. There are also some pictures of the trinkgut store with the largest bottles of liquor I've ever seen! Stay tuned for a list of first impressions hopefully tomorrow. =)