Day 15

So I'm really starting to like this idea of sleeping in... I've been showering before I go to bed and then, instead of waking up at 6:30, I've been setting my alarm for 7:30. It's so great!

This morning in class we worked on how to properly work with tasks being done or tasks that had been done. It seemed to be a little confusing at first, but after a long time working with it I think that I am sicher (zish-her = secure) with the topic. When you talk about something that is not yet completed you say that it will be done. Otherwise, when completed, you say that is "is done". Hmm... Besides that last bit, it now sounds pretty easy in general. I must just be great at explaining things. ;-D

During one of the breaks I went and signed up to go on the weekend trip to Mainz. It costs €16, but that's not too bad, because Central College pays for two excursions for its participants! I talked with Charlotte and she ended up signing up too.

After class was done for the day, I went to the cafeteria as usual and had lunch with Charlotte, Andrew, and Anneke. Today's meal was curry chicken with rice and a salad. Like all of the lunches so far it was really tasty and I didn't have to make it myself.

After lunch Charlotte and I went back to the dorm to get changed. Along with the weekend trips to Mainz, we had also signed up for a walk to the Comburg Monastery, which, two weeks ago, I had guessed was a castle. We got ready and met in front of the Institute at 2:00. We walked for about 2 km before we got to the monastery. I hadn't yet been inside so I was snapping pictures left and right.

A group had a tour guide who was full of interesting information. The only drawback though was that  because she knew that there were a whole mix of German language abilities in the group she talked very slowly so that everyone could have a chance at understanding what she was saying. However, this made the tour seem like it was taking a lot longer than it actually was.

We learned briefly about the history of the monastery and then got to go inside of the church. It was really cool (both figuratively and literally) and therefore the church was only to be officially opened on the 1st of March. Our time in the church lasted about 2 hours. Two long, cold, boring hours. It helped further my opinion that I don't like to learn in depth about things as much as I like to see them and learn a tid-bit here and there.

After the tour was done, Charlotte and I walked for 40 minutes back along the river, into Schwäbisch Hall, and back to the dorms. It was 4:45 (16:45) when we got back so we decided to meet in the kitchen to make dinner at 6:00 (18:00). We both just needed a little recoup time. I used my time to post my new photos to Facebook and check my email.

At 6:00 (18:00) I went downstairs to the kitchen with my bag of groceries. I had bought a 3kg bag of carrots my first week here so I took the remaining 1.5kg and peeled (with a knife) and coined them. Let me tell you, I will be thankful the next time that I use a peeler instead of a knife. I put them in a pot of water and set them on the stove to boil. Meanwhile, I buttered a slice of bread, the bread which I had bought yesterday at the bakery outside of the Rewe, and got my grilled cheese supplies ready. Apparently cheddar cheese isn't a thing in Europe like it is in the US, so I was practically elated yesterday when I found a pack of cheddar cheese at the Rewe. As the frying pan was getting warmed up I also prepped a specialty ham that mushrooms in it. When it was ready I put the bread in the pan butter side down with the cheddar cheese and the ham on top. Then I got a lid from the cupboard and splashed a little water in the pan and covered it so that the cheese would be melted by the steam.

Once everything was ready, I had an amazing dinner! I really gave me hope again to believe that I wouldn't just be living on spaghetti for the whole semester. I'm already really excited for dinner again tomorrow night!

Once everything was cleaned up I took my things upstairs, put everything away, and took a shower. This was followed by working on my blog entry, which is now almost finished. I'm still trying to figure out a way for me to be able to share my photos with those of you who aren't on Facebook. Hopefully I'll have it figured out by tomorrow.

Bis Morgan!