The Calm Before The Storm

Here I am with a long layover in Newark, preparing to get to board my flight to Berlin by way of Amsterdam. There's not much to report, yet. The journey so far has been emotional, but not particularly eventful. I had a bit of a breakdown last night when I realized that I still had no idea where I was going to stay once I got to Berlin, and for a while I was convinced I wasn't going to get everything to fit in one big bag and a carry-on and I'd be stuck dragging three wheelie bags all over the city. But I did eventually get everything to fit, and I woke up to an email of my new address (though there's still the issue of where I'm going to stay until Monday to figure out). In any case what felt last night like a horrible ordeal, this morning turned into an adventure! I'm going to a foreign country with nowhere to stay, and no idea what I'll do, isn't it wonderful?

It was tough saying goodbye to the family, though. Mom and Dan brought me to the airport today, and Mom hugged me about four times before I finally got in line for security. Dan hugged me twice, but only after I made him. I said goodbye to Dad last night, and I could tell he was incredibly jealous of the journey I'm about to take. I vaguely remember hugging Meghan goodbye before she left for NYC yesterday morning. I'll miss all of them dearly, but in this day of the internet it won't be hard for us to keep in touch.

On the plane ride from Buffalo I started reading one of the German books Dad gave me for Christmas (it was somewhat of a theme). This one's called Culture Shock, and it's about what to expect in terms of German customs and etiquette. It's interesting so far, but something in the "First Impressions" section caught my attention:

"Standard conversation topics of the foreign community here are complaints about this or that aspect of German life, this or that facet of German personality, their being treated this way or that way. Many go on and on about how much they want to leave the place. But somehow they manage to stay on and on.

More typical than the latter legion of grousers are those who will tell you they originally came for a job or an assignment, expecting to stay only a short time. But then they met a mate, acquired some new friends, got involved in this project or that, found this or that aspect of the country intriguing and then, well, you know. Germany exercises a strong inertial pull on people."

So basically Germany is just like Buffalo? Then I should feel right at home.

P.S. Credit for the phrase "Semester Ablog" goes to my good friend Iain and his videoblog from Scotland last semester.