der landstreicher

Gut Wein

The sun is shining over the mountains just outside my window. How awesome is that!?! I've begun to feel at home here on the sixth floor of the Theophil-Wurm-Haus (everyone here just calls it "Wurm"), and I am hoping to start actually meeting some of the other folks on my floor soon. You see, we arrived here in Germany at the end of the semester for the students of the Hochschule. So, they are beginning to prepare for their final exams--which count for 100% of their class grade. Needless to say, everyone else around here is beginning to hunker down for some crazy studying. As for my studying, classes begin tomorrow. I've been placed in the advanced German class (eek!) which may prove to be a wonderful challenge, or just a big pain. I'm hoping for the former.
I went to church this morning at the Marienkierche in downtown Reutlingen. It was pretty cool--the hymns were pretty familar, as were the organ and choral preludes. I was even able to understand some of what was being said. There are very few gospel texts that center on "die gutes Wein", so I was able to keep up pretty well. This evening our group is heading over to Tubingen to meet with the VU students who are there (German majors who are spending the year abroad) and also to meet Herr Springer, who teaches at the Uni. Tubingen and will be teaching my European Art course here at the Hochschule.
And looking ahead, I am making plans to attend my first German soccer match. This Wednesday evening Reutlingen's team (3rd Division, Bundesliega) will be hosting Schalke 04, the top-division team from Cologne. I can get a standing-room ticket for less than 10 Euro...so excited! And it looks as though a group of us will be traveling to Munich next weekend--more to follow, I'm sure.
So, time to get ready for the afternoon in Tubingen. Bis bald. Tschuess!

posted by John D. Nevergall @ 07:10