This was the weekend that I really got a chance to connect with my great Aunt Gudrun and Uncle Butch whom have lived in Heidelberg for 30+ years. On Saturday after successfully walking to their beautiful house right near the Neckar River, I felt so much deja vu from my first and only trip to Germany when I was four years old. With my aunt I talked about some of the differences in German culture, the first being that Germans keep doors closed all the time. It actually makes sense. Why let the heat escape? Especially if only that room has heat. We then had a very nice lunch of chicken, potatoes, and vegetables. They were very happy that I was a potato person and assured me there would be no shortage of them in Germany. My uncle then took me to Rewe a much classier grocery store than the first one I had been too. Rewe was much bigger and had a great chocolate selection! My uncle then showed me two great Catholic churches, St. Raphael that was built 150 years ago and St. Michael that was built in the year 700. Of the two St. Raphael was much prettier and mass started at 11:00 so I chose to go to that one.
On Sunday morning a bunch of my classmates and I went to church at St. Raphael's. I was able to bring the readings in English and listen to the German. I was so great to hear the priest speak in the Catholic universal tones and some what understand what was going on! However singing was much more difficult. We were able to figure out which song to sing when but foreign language pronunciation has never been my thing.
Forgot my camera, stole this one off the net as Gudrun calls it
After my first German Catholic mass experience I headed off to my aunt's and uncle's again with a bag full of laundry. I went for a great and very unexpected hike with Gudrun! Of course I forgot my camera's memory chip in my laptop from the last blog post! So I guess I will just have to do the hike again. We saw Nazi Amphitheater and the monastery ruins. She introduced my to my first very tasty Apelschorle apple juice with mineral water. It tasted like what I imagine an apple juice beer would be like. Gudrun also said she was impressed with my walking!!! Coming from my crazy in shape German aunt that is the best compliment! We then went home and ate dinner that's when I realized German dinners are not nearly as big a deal as German lunches ;)
Today was the first day of classes. Not really exciting but I get Fridays off!
I also went back to Rewe and used my German to get a "schokolade croissant" and a "pretzel brot." I also bought some more beer and Coke Leight.
Enjoyed dinner with some travel reading
Enjoyed the German Soccer Game with some needlepoint!
GO DEUTSCHLAND!!! (except when the US is playing)
PS The beer wasn't that good! I don't think I will ever buy canned beer again!
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