So it's been about a week now since I've gotten here. Nothing too exciting, nothing not too exciting so far.
Last week on Monday morning I traveled to Koeln to meet other German Fulbright ETAs for orientation. Right off the bat everyone was really interesting and it was nice to be so social for the first time in a few days. We waited around until the buses came to take us to Haus Altenberg for orientation, which is a cathedral attached to an old monastary. The days were long and full of a lot of information (visas, trains, insurace, responsibilities, etc.), but outside of all that it was pretty fun.
It was beautiful there...only regret is I may or may not have opened the automatic side door to the cathedral during a wedding (oops.) Whatever, I'm getting used to being a dumb Tourist again.
I got to know a good group of girls who are in Nordrhein-Westfalen with me, and we're thinking of things to do to keep ourselves sane and occupied because get this...we only work 12 hours a week. Yep...12 hours a week, and we aren't supposed to work more. Fulbright wants us to have time to take other classes, travel, or other things while we're here. I don't think I've ever had so much free time in my life, and the other girls and I brainstormed new hobbies for ourselves.
I think hopefully this week, I'll start a course at the Volkshochschule (community college) maybe in another language...so italian, spanish, or french. Steffi my roommate takes dance classes and Muenster and has invited me along to see if it's something I would be interested in. Those are a little more expensive though. I'm also planning on taking up knitting, just need to travel down to Bolchum so Emily can show me what it is I need to get started.
Yesterday I took care of a lot of paperwork/formalities...opened a bank account, filed for my visa, and registered myself as a citizen of Warendorf (something Germans do everytime they move). Today I didn't feel too well when I woke up, so I've been laying low and figuring out some logistics of things. Steffi is going out of town tonight for a party, so I'll be holding down the fort. All in all I think I'll take today easy and tomorrow go out and investigate the rest of my town.
I start work Monday at 8:30...so hopefully that goes well.
Otherwise nothing new, but if anyone has new hobby ideas for me, lemme know.
Bis bald,
Sara
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