Buchstabiere bitte?

Oh my yikes. That is all I have to say. This week has been interesting to say the least. Today was the turning point in German class when I realized that this is going to be a lot harder than I thought. There are bajillion different “the’s” in German and a million endings that you add when something is plural. Not to mention that you throw in like two letter words everywhere. How do people learn a language just listening to it is what I want to know? I ask everyone to spell everything so I can see what it looks like and then I still pronounce it incorrectly. We learned words for things that are in a house. So now I know all these random words but still have no clue how to make a sentence other than “Das ist eine Rechnerlampe.” Which brings me to my next story.

So I leave late for German class on Tuesday and ride with my brother on the train since he heads in the same general direction for University. First of all, I guess taking the train that leaves nine minutes later means 9,000 more people on it. Thank goodness I am tall so I got the fresh air because literally you couldn’t move. Anyways I am going to be late to class since I took a later train, but at this point I was like whatever it’s not a big deal. It turns out I was a lot later than I thought I would be. I come up from the train stop which is further than normal and there is this 85 year old woman that starts asking me a question. I ask her to repeat it, “Buchstabiere bitte.” (my new go to phrase) and I understand the word Sparkasse, which is the bank I go to, so I know where it is. I tell her to follow me. We were on Berliner Straβe (original I know). So this woman doesn’t know any English, but I just motion which direction. It is a few blocks to the bank, and let’s just say we were barely moving. I have accepted at this point I am going to be very late, but I figured helping this woman would be more important. So we start the walk, and people are just staring at us. Ok first of all, she is maybe 4’8 (I am being generous) and so I have a solid foot on her. I am trying with all my patience to walk slowly, but realistically I probably could have crawled faster. Clearly, this woman does not believe me that I know where the bank is because she stops and literally asks 8 people where it is. And says, “Wobout Berliner Straβe?” The first word is not a German word, so everyone looked at her like she was crazy and told her she was on Berliner Straβe and then looked at me and I just gave them the I don’t know look. Then I would try to convince her that it was ahead still and we would walk some more, but she was holding all these envelopes and kept dropping them and wouldn’t notice. I would stop and get them and then we would ask another person. I am not kidding we walked one block in 15 minutes probably. She looks like she is struggling so I offer her my arm, which she willingly accepts. This whole time I am racking my brain for German word to tell her it is just a little further or where it is. I got nothing except all these stupid German words for furniture or what is your address or telephone number. Or what is your job, your parents’ names, or what are your hobbies. All questions that are irrelevant. I did use my German though and asked her name and where she came from. Which still I have no clue where she lives after I asked her three times. I was going to have her spell it, but I figured that wouldn’t be worth it. We are on our third block with about one more to go when sure enough she stops to ask another man. She shows him the envelope and he tells her it’s the other direction and they start walking away. Inside I am kind of having a panic attack. I just walked this 85 year old woman at snail speed three blocks only to find out that she has to walk back where she came from plus more. I feel so bad, but the man is talking to her at this point so I just sneak away and continue down the road. I mean really I tried to help. I did. I guess knowing one word in the sentence and numerous names for furniture isn’t enough.

Elaine, me and Lynnae

Yesterday was a fun day though, I skipped class to go on an AIA team outing. We went on a 12 km hike around a lake. The bugs were horrible though, but it was still a good time. Tonight, I went and watched soccer practice even though injured people don’t go; I just like to be around the team. It was pouring rain though so kind of miserable, but I just entertained myself fetching balls and attempting to converse with the coach, which didn’t work too well.  It is interesting because every time I am around the team I will randomly be one on one with a girl and they will speak English with me. I think there a lot more than two that speak English; they are just being shy about it because they think it isn’t good enough. When in all reality it’s great, I wish my German was half as good as their English. In due time though… hopefully.

The other great news is that I got a new FREE bike. Like I wrote about earlier, the bike I had hurt my butt SOOO bad, and sounded like it was going to lose a wheel any second(Yes Leah, it’s your bike. You did not get a good deal). My new bike is a woman that’s father died so she wanted to give the bike away. Kind of morbid I guess but it’s great. The bell works and so does the reflector. I am going to get a sweet basket to put on it so I can carry things (it’s the cool thing to do here). All in all, Hercules is my new bike. That’s what kind it is. And it’s pretty cool. If you come visit me, I will give you a ride in my basket. Don’t all jump at once.