I got up and walked to the train station while chatting with my family - it was nice! Then I made it to the airport and waited and waited.. it was intense finally after 30 min of waiting I decided to ask.. so I asked and then I was sent to a different desk and then finally I just made an announcement on the speaker thing for Alex to come to the info desk. And then we were reunited.. lol it was crazy and scary waiting and not knowing. But anywho.. the whole mishap was because I did not know there was another place to come out - when you did not have any checked luggage.. but.. now I know.. not that it matters now but now I know right??
Well later that day we made our way to Heidelberg. Where we then met up with Krista, Dan and Sarina who were able to sleep a little bit more and take the next train! It was a good plan we all met up and then we explored the city. It was fun - Sarina and had never been so I was the tour guide. We made it the castle with stops for ice cream and a bit of shopping on the way. The weather was nice for us as well! Then we returned to Marburg and ate some grub - Auflauf. Alex was a champ.. lol He stayed awake all day!
On to Sunday the 29th - KASSEL!!
Kassel was fun. I had never been there so it was new for all of us. We being, Krista, Dan, Alex & I were on a mission to see all that we could. We saw the castle and walked around the gardens then made the hike up 535 stairs to Hercules.. only to see the construction going on. But the view was pretty awesome - so no complains here! Then we just walked around and enjoyed each others company before heading back to Marburg to pack up Dan & Krista's things to set them off on their adventures! (well to continue their adventures!)
The weekend was a lot of fun and def packed full of things to do! OH and the game old maid now has a new name - Alter Schmetterling for those who don't know.. that means old Butterfly! That is an awesome memory! :)
MONDAY - May 30th
One word can pretty much sum up this day - PACKING! It was crazy trying to shove 10 months of clothes and gifts into two suitcases and two backpacks can be quite a feat. However, it did take us a couple of times to get them to be at least manageable. ( Later on that week was the intense last time packing!)
Other than packing was STUDYING for my final that was on Wednesday - we had review session in tutorial and then Beth came over and we made tacos and studied for just under 2 hours. So we thought we were golden!
TUESDAY - May 31st - Last day of May
Again consistent with the packing and cleaning this time. Alex was a dear and cleaned while I went to class the last one of Visualizing American History before the final. So it was good to go - not that I really wanted to be there lol no one did but either way.. it was the last class. Then when I got back I studied some more and cleaned and all that good kinda stuff! and tried to prepare for the longest day of Study abroad - Move out day :(
WEDNESDAY- JUNE FIRST- MOVE OUT DAY!
Okay not only was it move out day, it was last day of class, Final day for my Visualizing American History class, Red Bull Boat battle day, & the day of the farewell program for our group!
It was ONE BUSY DAY!!
So first off, cleaning everything and moving it out into the kitchen.. it went well :) Then the hausfrau came and checked it all out.. and then.. she cleared me and gave me my papers and then locked the door..as I got one last picture of my room in Germany!! I can't believe its over! But then I had to rush into town - wait wait wait.. I took one more shower and studying and ate some of my food up before rushing into town to eat a Doener & Alex had a Doener box and then got my deposit back and then...... to the tourist store to buy some t-shirts and then finally off to TAKE MY TEST!!! (final)
So the test..[that I studied my butt off for] was a PAIN for a couple of reasons
1. studied all the wrong stuff
2. the paintings that were on it weren't even the big paintings
- let alone in my opinion important
3. It originally worth 2/3 of our grade :/
But turns out she changed it to 1/2 our grade so I am a lot happier :)
While I was taking the test I left Alex with Sarina to watch the Red Bull Boat Battle. Which was hilarious- I ended being able to watch some of it in between my Final and meeting with my Tutor for the Martin Luther class. Then we walking around and just enjoyed Marburg. We ended up walking into the Oberstadt and enjoying some Ice cream at one of the famous Italian Cafe's. YUMMM (I miss it already) After that we only had a little bit of time before our Farewell program. So we just sat around and chilled with fellow IUSPer's :)WE had some delicious soup - to bad everyone thought it was delicious :P oh wellThen we watching a movie made by some fellow IUSPer's (it was a joke about a member) then we got our gifts from the year (jump drives) & the semester ppl got mugs :)Then finally went for some Ice Cream again lol twice in one day! Made it back to the room and tired to relax and ate some spaghetti then it was bed time for me to prepare for my last day in MARBURG - GERMANY!June 2nd - Last day of Germany adventure!
Basically I got up and ate some breakfast - made sure we had everything packed and hung out with Sarina. Then at around 3:40 we started our way towards the train station. The bus was an interesting experience. We made it on the bus, but of course someone was trying to move a mattress the same day we had all of my suitcases. It made for quite a tight squeeze, to top that off we had to switch buses for some odd reason. But finally we made it to the train station with the help of Sarina. We met Steph and Beth there. Sadly Sarina could not take me all the way to the Frankfurt train station, so we said our final goodbye on Gleis 4 in Marburg. :( We were both strong and didn't cry but it was really sad, hopefully we will see each other soon!
Well then Steph, Beth, Alex & I continued on our way to the Frankfurt main Station. When we arrived we went to Mcdo's all got a shake and then I said goodbye. Lucky for me, saying goodbye to these two was a lot easier seeing as it is more like see yah later. Seeing as they live relatively close - Green Bay and Duluth (roughly lol)
Then Alex & I had about 30 min until our train departing for Paris would leave.
Then we boarded our train and tried to fit my luggage. That was a task in itself. First attempt to lift my heavy black suitcase up.. fail.. 2nd attempt - success!!! :) We settled into our seats and prepared ourselves for our 4 hours journey! As the train pulled out of Frankfurt, I felt apart of me feel relieved and the other part extremely sad. One because I had made it a whole year in Marburg and two that the whole year was coming to an end.
Well I feel like this blog is long enough and sums up the end of my journey in Germany but my Journey home was just beginning - leaving Marburg was step 1. leaving frankfurt step 2. crossing into France step 3.
Stay tuned for the last days of my European Adventure!
Love you all!
<3 Ris
