Stuttgart

Last night I returned to Bonn after spending the long weekend with Naemi in Baden-Württemberg, seeing Tübingen for the first time (the town Naemi goes to college at) and then back to Esslingen and Stuttgart--which I haven't been to in 4 years. It was nice to be back, and see many familiar faces and places :) On Thursday afternoon I left Bonn by train and headed South toward Stuttgart. I had to change trains a total of 4 times.. and let me tell you, it was a fiasco. It somehow took me about 6 and 1/2 hours to get there.. when in reality it should have maybe taken me a little over 3. Don't.. Ask.. I finally arrived in Tübingen around 11:30pm and Naemi was there to pick me up. We walked back to her apartment which was pretty much right next to the train station and I was able to meet her two roommates. They were both really nice. Before going to bed Naemi and I somehow got on the topic of the Swedes. (I think it was because I told her how a few people here have guessed that I was from Sweden). We started talking, and we came to the conclusion of, honestly, what DO the Swedes bring to the table? We decided it was nothing more that blonde hair and Fish Soup. The next day Naemi and I walked around Tübingen with some of her friends from school. We saw a lot of cool buildings, and walked up to the town's old castle that overlooks the whole city. It was really beautiful--and the weather helped; it was amazing out on Friday. After exploring the town, and Naemi showing me her school buildings etc. we made our way back to her place to start cooking dinner before he boyfriend Chris came from Zürich. We had a nice little dinner and then all got ready to head to Esslingen for the rest of the weekend. As soon as we go to Esslingen, we dropped our things off at Naemi's house and then went to the bar Cafe Mayer to meet up with Fanni (whose birthday it was) and some of Naemi's other friends that I have met before. It was nice, but we got there kinda late (11ish) so we didn't stay long. At around 12 or so we left to go to Dennis' house and meet up with the boys--most of whom I had met on the 2 times I had come to Germany before, and 4 of them that I actually spent a 4 day holiday with in Switzerland. So I was excited to see them all again--Freddie, Marcel, Lutz, Dennis :) We all hung out, drank good German beer and caught up. I couldn't believe it had been 4 years since I last saw them! They also tried to get me to pronounce the HARDEST word in the German language. I still can't say it right. Eichhörnchen. It's impossible. It means Squirrel BTW. We went home probably about 2:30 or so. Saturday, Naemi, Chris and I went into Stuttgart because Naemi needed to buy some new snowboard boots (she was so excited about them). We walked and shopped around Stuttgart for most of the day and Freddie met up with us again at one point. Afterwards, we went to Naemi's dad's house to have a small visit with him. Oh, MarkusAdventsKalendarMosgowi! He is so cute. After spending time with her dad the three of us--Naemi, Chris and I--headed back to Chris' to have dinner. Chris' brother Stefan and his 2 friends were planning on cooking a big dinner, so we joined them :) It was delicious. We didn't leave Chris' house until around 1am and I was surprised it was already so late. We went back to Naemi's to go to bed. Yesterday--Sunday--we slept in (which was nice) and then had a small breakfast. My direct train left from Stuttgart for Bonn at 3:20, so we decided to just go into the city and go to a cafe or so until it was time to leave. We walked around for a bit and then settled on a coffee shop. While drinking our coffee and talking, the guy sitting next to us spoke up. He was from South Carolina and has been living in Stuttgart for work for the past 2 years. I swear, I have ran into Americans EVERYWHERE here. It's kinda crazy. Anyway, we drank our coffee and then it was finally time for me to head to the train station. I said goodbye to Naemi and boarded my train for Bonn. It was weird--as much as I loved getting to see Naemi again, I missed the city of Bonn while I was away. Very strange to feel how I am already becoming attatched to the city and the familiarity of it.

Okay, now before I go any further, I have a confession to make to all of you. I know I told you how I had purchased and begun reading New Moon this past Wednesday. Well.. I finished it 3 days later on Saturday, and while in Tübingen.. I.. may have.. well.. ok, I bought Eclipse (the 3rd book in the Twilight series!) I am so embarrassed! I can't get over it. I refuse to admit that I truly like them, but they keep me entertained. UGH! Whatever. I can't believe it. Anyway, when I came home for the train station I confessed my secret to Kai and Lisa also. They started laughing and told me that they made a small change to my room while I was gone and they were sure I was going to love it (they said this with a very mischievous smirk on their faces). I ran upstairs, and flipped on the light, and there above my bed was a giant poster of Kristen Stewart and Robbert Pattinson aka "Bella and Edward". I burst into laughter and I could hear Kai and Lisa laughing downstairs as well. They are too funny. I came back down and we all had dinner. Lisa's 22 year old brother, Bertus, was here too and stayed for a bit. He seems really nice as well, and hopefully I'll be able to go out to the bars or so with him soon.

So.. that was my eventful weekend in Germany :) This Thursday is of course Thanksgiving, and it's making me a littl homesick--I wish I would be able to be home for it, but obviously that's not happening. I don't know what my plans are yet. I am going to try and get a hold of Pat sometime this week and see what he is doing. Hopefully something will come up. I hope everyone is well back home! I miss and love all of you and will update soon!! Ich Liebe Dich!!! xoxo Megan

PS-How 'bout them Buckeyes?! 6 years in a row.. how much longer can Rich Fraud really have a job in Ann Arbor?????? HA!