Day 10

This morning I got up at 6:30 and tried calling Mother via FaceTime, but the call wouldn't go through for some reason... So, instead, I called Kelsey to see what she was up to... (Sorry Mom!) After our chat, I hopped in the shower to start getting ready. I was dressed and out of the dorm by 7:25.

I got to the Institute and had breakfast as usual with my two cups of coffee. I went to class and everything was going well until we had a listening exercise. I couldn't stop nodding. It's always that darned first period. I always seem to get enough sleep and give myself enough time (and coffee) to sufficiently wake up... It's just crazy. When the first break came around, I couldn't have been happier!

Accompanied by another cup of coffee I sat down at a table where some of the Americans were sitting. Then I was joined by a small Turkish guy named Alper. He said (in German) that he had heard me yesterday playing the piano and wondered if I could give him lessons for the last two days that he'll be here. I insisted that I wasn't even close to being a good piano player, because naturally I was comparing myself to Becca, but he just wanted to learn so I agreed to meet him in the cafeteria (where the piano is) of the Institute at 2:00 that afternoon after class.

Back in class we worked on some of the things that we would be tested on if and when we would be taking the proficiency test. We had to read a section of text that stated an argument that we would then have to refute or support in front of the class for three minutes. My partner volunteered the two of us to speak first. Longest three minutes ever. Afterwards, Cecile told me that I was "rhed like my wuter bottle" in her French accent. I'll tell you what! I felt red. But, despite the general discomfort it was a very good exercise.

After the second break we went to the media center to research new technological advances in the past year. My partner Fred (from Brazil) and I researched a new robot bartender. Pretty cool what they can do now with technology. We joked that we probably weren't all that far off from having a real Terminator someday. During our time at the computers I took the opportunity to print off some sheet music to save for later.

After class I went downstairs to have lunch with everyone. Today it was some sort of beef chunks with gravy, a side of rice, and a salad. It's continually surprising that such unsavory-sounding foods are always so tasty especially in hindsight.

I had to run back to my dorm to get cash to pay for my second key deposit for the key to the cafeteria room. It was raining so that trek there and back weren't all that fun. When I got back to the cafeteria I began playing. However, one of the interns came down to tell me that there was a test going on in the room above the cafeteria until 3:00. Alper was going to meet me there at 2:00.

When he got there, I explained what the predicament was so we started talking about the notes, the way they are named, the different types of notes, and how to count out a measure. Luckily for me it was easier for him to understand me when I was speaking english. Musical terms such as treble and bass clef was not going to be fun in translation. He showed me how he had learned to play a few different songs from apps on his phone like Pachabels Cannon, but he had never learned how to read music.

Once 3:00 rolled around we started talking about how any song can be played in any key just as long as you know the right intervals to play. He asked me if I could play the piece that I kept referring to for things like key signature or accidentals: All of Me by John Legend. Once I had played a ways through and stopped, he asked if I could sight read a piece. He said that he would be right back; he had to go upstairs to get an internet connection. Afterwards he came back down with the first page of Let It Go from Frozen. It took me a few minutes to get comfortable with the music, but I eventually started playing the melody and Alper was grinning from ear to ear. Sometimes I forget about the gifts that I can and should be truly grateful for each and every day.

Alper left again and this time came back with the whole set of music on his phone so it wasn't an easy read, but it was doable. I played through the entire piece, most of the time just playing the melody. We had fun. During this time, there had been an older couple setting up the area to get ready for the coffee and cake dinner that would be happening at 4:00.

Once our lesson was done we picked up our stuff and I said hi to Stephen and Andy who had just walked in and found a place to sit for the dinner. Alper and I sat with them and watched as cake after cake was brought out to the buffet. It was full of beautiful-looking cakes all made by the woman and one man of the Goethe Intsitute. Really they're called the Freudinnen und Freund of the Institute, but that translate as the female friends and the one male friend of the Institute. It just sounds a little funny in translation.

When it was time to eat, we were told that everyone was to get two pieces of cake and then come back for more once everyone had gotten their two initial pieces. When everything was done, I had had six pieces of assorted cakes. I felt kind of bad, but then Stephen told me that he was on his 8th piece. During the meal I sat across the table from an older German gentleman named Karl. He had come because his wife, although at the moment out of town, was (and is) a member of the female-friends of the Institute.

After everything had died down there was still lots of cake left. One of the woman came around asking if Stephen or I wanted any more. We said no; we had had enough, but she said that we would need it in the morning with our coffee. That was okay. We were both sent home with 3 different kinds of dessert wrapped in tin foil!

I walked back to the dorms with Anneke, Yuka, and Stephen, but realized that when I said hi to Charlotte that I had left my backpack back at the Institute. Crap. I left my cake with Charlotte and back I went to the Institute. Then it was back again to the dorms. Since it had been a generally moist (cringe) day I was sweating a good deal by this time. I was about to get ready for a shower when Kels texted to ask if we could talk earlier rather than later because she, Hannah, and Bess were going to look at another apartment this afternoon. We talked for about 15 minutes and then I hung up and hopped in the shower.

I put on comfy clothes and went next door to chat with Charlotte. She had mentioned that she was up for another movie night, so we decided on Identity Thief. She was working on homework and I helped with a few things that she had questions with. It was good for me to reaffirm some of my grammar skills as well. After we finished the movie we took a cake break. Then, since it was relatively early we started watching Horrible Bosses.

Once the movie was done, I left and headed back to my room to get ready for bed. I've been typing for about 45 minutes now. It's good to get all of my day out and into record. Well, it's time for me to brush my teeth and head to bed.

Gute Nacht!