finding comfort in my four inch mattress

Guten Tag!

A short week ago I posted a blog complaining of uncontrollable matters and the slight bit of bad luck that had come my way.  Since then things are looking up. Including myself.

I lay here on my four inch mattress looking up at my not so white ceiling with all kinds of time on my hands. Classes have now started leaving us to get up at the crack of dawn to catch the bus, and having us back to our rooms around lunch with the rest of the day free of scheduled events.

"So this is what people call free time." -Sumer Starks

If I was still in good ole MKY my day would start just as early, my "free time" would consist of stuffing something from the T-Room down my throat, and then I would be off to work or to one of the 17,623 sorority functions planned for the week.  I would probably complain about never having time to breathe, and as soon as I had a day off I would be quick to fill the time with something else. I've always got to be doing something... That's just me.

Needless to say, I would never go back home watch two movies, take a nap, clean my room, read a book, and blog about every second of it.  Well, there is the big difference about Murray and Regensburg, and I must say I'm learning to love it.  Now, I'm sure this routine will become repetitive, but for now it works.

Although I do still miss the things fall semester brings at MSU's campus.  Such as new faces, fall weather, football games, and much much more! I wouldn't change where I am and the experience I'm gaining for anything.

                                               I managed to tune in to watch the Racers play, only until about 2AM though!


I will admit, my four inch mattress isn't the best.  I actually have daily thoughts of myself jumping on my own bed back home.  But, I do have comfort in knowing my mind is at ease when I lay down at night. Which I couldn't say about the first few nights of my journey here.

Between the 1 euro gelato on every street corner, and Monday night karaoke my biggest concerns at the moment are running out of movies to watch in my free time, having Skype dates with my friends and family, and narrowing down countries we we soon be traveling too.

                                     The girls and I grubbin on gelato! YUM! (Whit is not pictured due to be the photographer)

I'm their biggest fan!

I must say things are looking up, and the future is much brighter than the color of my walls.

From my new home-- Tschüss!

Sumer

Culture Shock

Dear the lovely 5 people reading this:

I know you have been worried sick about my well being...have no fear. I'm still alive. Just hanging on by a thread though.

Our journey has had a bit of a rocky start. Soon after arriving at the airport we realized our flight to Philly was canceled and we stood there in shock. After a good five minutes of being froze we pulled up our big girl panties and figured we should talk to someone. About 45 minutes later we got our flight rescheduled. We were no longer headed to Philly, but to Charlotte instead.

After we arrived in Charlotte it wasn't long before we were boarding our long flight to Munich.  I may have slept a total of two hours on flight over. Partially due to the fact that the woman beside me was sleeping on my feet that were up in the seat. All in all we landed safely.

I was quickly reminded that my German skills aren't up to par.  After we were all gathered in the airport we had a two hour bus ride to Regensburg. We loaded up our luggage and listened to the short speech of our mustached bus driver.  About 30 minutes in I began to doze off off, but was quickly awaken by the boom that came after we blew a tire.

<quick list of everything that went wrong since that moment so I don't bore you to death>

-Carrying three large suitcases up to the 4th floor
-No AC
-Realizing they don't bag your groceries after they scan them all
-Not knowing what you are ordering at restaurants
-Taking the wrong bus an hour around town
-Bus driver cutting the engine and telling us "bye bye" when it wasn't our stop
-ATM charging me 53 dollars to take money out
-NO INTERNET!!!!!!!!!! (yet)
-Can't call on my cell phone
-Everyone in our group takes subway while Whitney and I walk miles and miles because they shut the subway down
-Getting rained on....getting rained on again.
-Getting excited about Wifi...then it not working
-Finding a spider in my room
-much more.

There have been some perks along the way. We went to Dultfest which is like a mini October fest in Regensburg. They serve you a liter of beer which was actually pretty tasty. Also, unlike our fairs back home where you might find corn dogs and candy apples they have homemade mac n cheese and chocolate covered strawberry skewers. Yum!

After Autumn, Whitney, Kristen, and I stayed up late last night complaining and planning our future traveling arrangements we decided to get up early and walk around town with our heads lifted and a better attitude.  About an hour in to our walk we stumbled upon the Black Bean Coffee shop. My love for coffee and Internet were reunited.  Couldn't be happier!

Today we are taking a boat down the river where we are getting off and going hiking it should be a good day.  That's all I got for now folks.

Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing you!

Much love-- Sumer