Off to Germany I go!

Germany has been one hectic country. I definitely will say that I am ready to go back to the U.S. but in the meantime I am having a lot of fun at my new college. I arrived in Magdeburg on June 1, and ever since have been loaded with activities and trips -not to mention class everyday at 9am. Since a lot has happened, this potentially could be a book, rather than a blog post, so hold on while we recap the last 2 weeks. 

June 2- So waking up at 7:30 was not as fun as I thought it would be during my summer... break? However the German class today was pretty great. However, being as I have only ever had one German course... taking a B1 level German course isn't the easiest thing. Most of the time I truly haven't a single idea of what she is saying... and I completely bombed the first test she gave us. So lets hope that the course is based on your growth and not just how good your German is. Ooh, I almost forgot to mention... I am not on this trip alone, there are other Americans! :D Who are my class mates for the duration of this time, and I also live with them in the hostel. There are 8 in all, all from good 'ol South Carolina. 4 guys and 4 gals make up there group and I mean they are pretty fun. Although about every stereotype from the South/ the U.S. in general are portrayed. You have the uptight Christian/Jock, the big guy who is engaged at 19, the rich kid, the immigrants, the pretty popular girls (who probably ruled high school), the smart one, the bla-  African American, the pot smokers, and the young father. Ooh, and of course you have the Gay one. 

So tonight we had a welcome party, which simply consisted of the whole group going to a riverside bar (beach bar) and having the school (Magdeburg) pretty much buy anything that you wanted (alcohol). #gottaloveGermany

June 3- Tonight we had a "Campus Fest" at our campus here in Magdeburg. It consisted of 3 bands, which were surprisingly really good! Definitely had a great time. The approach to college, while much more intense here isn't the same as in the US as alcohol is imbedded in their culture. So quite obviously they served alcohol at the fest, which was on the campus green. It was so much different than any festival I had been to at my home university in the US, which is a completely dry campus. 

June 4- Well, I have been here for 3 days already, it is quite crazy to think that in exactly 20 days I will be home. It has been a long 4+ months in Europe and I am very excited to be arriving back in the US! Today wasn't the most exciting adventure ever... we got a guided tour courtesy of the university. We got to see the best parts of Magdeburg, which (obviously) consisted of 3 churches and a few older government buildings. The oldest church that we saw was built in (I believe) the 1600's and the majority of it has survived through the wars. Which not much has, we learned that Magdeburg used to have amazing architecture, however after the war much of it got destroyed and only a few things - one building with stone statues near the doorway, the church(es) and one other building which is now the government building - survived and are a staple of the city. They also had a person who is very regarded in Physics. He was the first person to prove the function of a vacuum. He demonstrated this by taking a 2 half metal circles and sucking all the air out of them, they then attacked each side to a horse and had the horses attempt to pull them apart... It got lost in translation, but I don't think it came apart. 

June 5- Today I personally didn't do anything, the rest of people went to this medieval festival... Which just simply isn't my cup'o'tea. However there is a pretty awesome festival that is beginning... And rumor has it they have rides! 

June 6- Anyone ever heard of VW? As in the car manufacturer? Well today I got the chance to go tour their factory where they make the cars. When we arrived at the facility we got informed that we would get to ride in a cart, which we later found out was created to look much like a VW car... and a roller coaster! So we got to sit back and get driven through the plant. We actually got to see nearly every part of production in the facility which focused on 2 main models (the golf and tiguane) but will be expanding to future models in the future. We found out that each time someone orders a VW it is manufactured at that facility according to the person specifications they requested. Which I though was very awesome! After the facility we got to tour their VW car land which has different buildings for each VW car brand (Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi etc). Due to time restraints I was only able to visit the Audi building and the history part, which had all brands of the cars. All in all, I totally want to purchase a VW when I get a car! Definitely great German manufacturing going into those cars! 

June 7- After WWII most of Germany was destroyed. However one city (which I forgot the name) wasn't destroyed and still has much of its original structures! It is what they consider a classic German town, which now is on the list of protected cities and can no longer be undated or renovated. Many of the structures in that town date back to the 1600's. They are maid with nearly all wooden beams and nails. Definitely a great site to see, unfortunately it was nearly a billion degrees today so the heat kind of ruined it. We also went to a gigantic hill/ mountain which has great German history of dancing witches. We got to take a gondola up to the top and then walk around and see all the amazing sites. I would love to upload pictures on here, but unfortunately I seem to have misplaced/lost my camera :$ 

June 8- Today was another brutally hot day, we went on a sight seeing tour to Stendal. In Stendal they have the sister school of the school I am studying at here in Magdeburg, DE. Some of the buildings here are equally as old as the town we toured yesterday, although the history of Stendal is very rich. Around the year 1600 Stendal was a vibrant and powerful city. They had many wealthy residence who would trade their goods with local towns and made Stendal a very popular city. Unfortunately as time went on the money did not stay there, and now it is not a very big city, nor is it at all powerful. Nut none the less it has some great and rich history, 

Well that was the first weeks recap of my stay here in Magdeburg, Germany. I will be writing and uploading this weeks journey as soon as it gets finished. Hope everyone has enjoyed reading about my time in Europe... Only 1 week left and I will be states bound. 

And... I have to leave

Well, the time has finally arrived that I actually get to leave this place. While I am not going to lie, I have hoped for this day for nearly a day now. Now that it is here it seems very surreal and I am sad to leave. While in Amiens, France I have met so many amazing people. That is the hardest part, leaving all my friends I have met here. Luckily in today's modern world I will be able to talk with them anytime I want, and they are also mostly from North America, so a short plane ride, or long car ride, and I can be at their front doors.

So I am all packed up and leaving in 2 hours. I will have to catch a bus, then another bus, then a train, and another train, and then 2 more trains after that. But by roughly 6pm I will finally be in Bochum, Germany where I will stay with one of my best friends from high school! After a short weekend with her I will have to, yet again, travel back to college. However, not in the U.S. as you may think... I stay in Germany. I will have roughly 3 weeks of intensive German course in Magdeburg, Germany... after which I will FINALLY be able to go back to the U.S.

While in Germany I am going to try my best to keep updating my blog, however I cannot make any guarantees. Wow, I am sort of in shock that it is over already. Anyway, in the meantime I will leave you with a picture of my sunrise/ cloudy sky here in Amiens, at 6:20am.

Till next time ~~ Alex

My days are numbered!

As of yesterday I am officially finished with classes in Amiens, France. Which also means that my study abroad semester has come to an end. I am unsure of how I exactly feel, on one side I am happy to finally be done with this semester and am definitely ready to go home. However on the other side... I still have another month left, as I travel to Germany for a summer program.

As of today 5/23/14, I have 6 days left... which now that I think about it I really cannot believe. In those 6 days, which I am sure will go by super fast, I have to still check out Paris (as I have avoided that place at all costs) and meet up with a fellow Minnesotan who will be traveling through. Then continue to pack and make sure everything is finalized in France, as well as in Germany.

I would just like to take this time to give a huge shout out to the International Exchange Office at Northern State University, and especially Liz Hannum. Without her I do not believe I could actually be here. She has had extreme patients, as she has had to deal with my billions of questions not only before I left... but also while I have been here. She also has dealt and talked me through (prior to choosing France) my changing of study programs, and my indecision. As I had originally choose Germany (over a year ago) and then Korea, then Germany again, then Korea again after I found out when Germany's semester began... and finally France after I decided on the summer course in Germany (which for travel reasons, France was a much easier decision than Korea). Through all the bulk emails I would have pestered her with and the stupidity of the majority of my questions, she has answered and help me through.

If anyone is thinking about studying abroad, and would like to receive more information you are in good hands with Liz Hannum and I definitely not only suggest that everyone goes and talks with her about study abroad opportunities (RÉSUMÉ BOOST!) or actually plan your own semester or summer program abroad. Just go, walk down to Lincoln Hall and visit with her! Trust me, you will definitely not regret it! And you can still, with some planning, graduate on time!

In the weeks to come, I am sure my life will begin to get filled with new experiences and an extreme amount of German language. I will do my very best to be much more structured at posting about my trip and what I am doing at that time.

So, until next time... Alex

C'est mon anniversaire!

Well it is officially here, my birthday... and the start of the final week in Amiens, France. It is astonishing to believe that I have been in this wonderful country for such a long amount of time. I must say I am not very sad to be leaving and continue my journey to Germany. While France has been an amazing host to be for nearly 4 months I am ready to wrap it up and be back home. Of course I won't be home for a little over a month from now, but finishing off in the amazing country of Germany will make me feel a bit more at home. Currently I do not have to much more planned as far as traveling. I will be however seeing one of my best friends from High School in her home country of Germany. That is something I am very excited for, as it will be the closest thing to being home I can possibly acquire while living in Europe.

As I stated it is my birthday, and I turn 22 years old today. While having a birthday is generally a wonderful and exciting day, having a birthday on a Sunday, in Europe... not so great. In the majority of Europe on Sundays everything is closed for a day of rest. The vast majority of stores and restaurants are closed and most people do not leave there house on these days. I have come to a realization that France is just celebrating my birthday for me and that it has become a national holiday.

On a different note, my final class of my time here starts tomorrow (May 19th) and I am super excited for it to be finally here, and even more excited to be finished with it. In a short week I will be completely finished with all my schooling in France and be transferring my focus onto preparing to leave. Thankfully there is not much to do, as I have already done all necessary paper work so that I will be able to leave easily. Last thing on the list would be closing my bank account and printing out my train tickets.

Until next time... Alex

Good Morning From Venezia

Today is day 2 of my trip to Venice, Italy. There is nothing quite like Venice. The city is quite amazing - and not going to be here forever - with walking paths weaving through the entirety of the city. Before coming here I didn't realize that Venice consists of many different island. Of which some are connected by bridges, others are not. Currently the hostel I am staying at is on the Island of La Giudecca, which is a smaller island consisting of mostly houses. It is also one of the islands that are not connected to any other via bridge. So we have to rely on the boat taxis (pictured below) to bring us to and from. Luckily for us they run all day and night, at rougly 20-40 minute intervals. 

Currently we are getting ready to go to a few islands. Morano and Borano two rather famous islands. The first, Morano is famous for their glass blowing factories. The island has many different companies which specialize is the glass blowing. Glass blowing is an intensive job, which takes many, many years to master. By their numbers it taked 15-20 years of apprenticeship to become a master, however it is often handed from father/mother to child. While the island doesn't have a ton to see, it is a must for shoppers! Next is Borano which specializes in making lace, and silk. This island has nearly anything you can think of made of pure Italian silk or lace. The majority of the lace products are shirts or table doilies, while the silk has many table clothes, dresses and table liners (the things that in the middle long the table). 

While Venice is amazing, with its rich history, and beautiful views. I cannot say I am in love, as an impatient person, waiting for the water bus and riding the water bus would make living hear a real pain. It also makes travel quite slow, and often it is easier to walk to places rather than use the water bus. However, as much of a hassle it is to travel around Venice - not to mention the tourist crowds - it is definitely a must do, if you are given the opportuniy! As sea levels continue to rise, and these islands begint to sink lower and lower. This beautiful place will cease to exist. So come while you can, enjoy some pizza, pasta and gilato. And just enjoy the beautiful city that is Venezia. Caio  

Croatia!

Since my last blog post I have finally started to do some actual traveling around Europe and I started that traveling off with a trip to the beautiful country of Croatia. Most people probably do not know where Croatia is located, or that it is even a country. If you see on the map, Croatia is just across the see from Italy. Pula which is the city where we stayed is the red arrow. The place was amazing, it was nice and sunny. Had gorgeous beaches and landscapes. Also because it is so close to Italy the food is very much similar to Italian food. Which meant I got to dine on delicious hand made pizza, home made pasta and fresh gelato.  

My first day in Pula I was informed of a red bull air show which was in a city not to far from Pula. So me and my friend from my college here decided to go to that because I mean lets be real... its the red bull air show. After an hour bus ride we arrived at an amazing beach front, the sun was nice and bright in the sky and the temperature was fantastic. Unfortunately the air show started to late so we weren't able to actually see any of the planes go through the course which was designed. However just spending the day walking around, eating nearly everything in site and doing some great shopping was much worth it. Plus we all got pretty tan. 

Pula also had rich history as it was once controlled by the Roman Empire. Much like the Colosseum in Rome, Pula has one much like it. While I am not actually sure if the building has the same history of fighting as the one in Rome does, it is a pretty amazing site to see something so old in such great condition. They also have a temple that due construction we couldn't see, however our host at the hostel we stayed at was a very big advocate for seeing those building before we left. 

The remaining 2 days were sat laying on the beach and soaking up that gorgeous sun. If anyone ever plans on going to Croatia (which I definitely think you should consider it) you definitely have to spend time on the beaches, it is a staple of Pula and many other cities. Their sun rises and sun sets have been rated as the most beautiful in the world... it is also fairly cheap while you are there. Most meals cost around 15€, which for pasta in Europe is very cheap. 

Below are some more pictures of my trip to Pula, Croatia. Stay tuned for an update on my upcoming trip to Venice, Italy. 

A seal that was resting on the shore. They are extremely protected animals and there was a man who was on the beach to make sure that no one disturbed the animal. 

LONDON!!!

Well, a little less than a year after first coming to this amazing city. I returned! Of course this time I actually had free time to tour around... Which I did! So much walking over these last few days have left me rather crippled. 

While I absolutely love London I must say 4 days here is just to much for me, of course there is definitely a ton I didn't get the chance to see. But there is always another time to come back and journey more. 

A few important things I have to share would be the second night me and my 2 friends I came with went to find a bar... So we hop on the bus and go closer to London Centre. After passing a few bars we decide that the next bar we see we are going to get off and go... which we definitely did! Found this really really cool looking bar that was described as an Irish Pub (it literally said... "Irish Pub"). So we jump off the bus and go across the street, open the door... and discover it was a watering hole for the local elder men. The average age I would have to say was 50 years old. So needless to say we didn't stay long before we got back on the bus and drove onward. Going closer to the city we discovered that drinking establishments close super early, and we kept getting told "Sorry we're closed". So finally we found a bar that was still opened for another hour, sat, relaxed and had a drink before admitting we were exhausted and got back on the bus and going to our hotel. 

Sorry... got distracted by this Russian woman who is yelling at the front desk. Its rather humerous as her English is more like Rusglish. 

Okay. So the other big event while here was the stumbling upon an anti-fascism rally. Which was more or less a bunch of people yelling about rascism and then playing bob marley. 

All in all I must say that I am very much ready to head back to France. This city is absolutely amazing and has so much wonder and rich history... but it definitely has gotten the best of this boy. 

I found volleyball!!!

Well, I did it. I some how discovered a men's volleyball team/gathering/club. I truly don't know what to call it. But it meets twice a week for like two hours, which is super awesome!!! I also found another day that is from my other college (French Business School). So now I will be playing volleyball 4 days a week. Currently I have played 3 times this week (yesterday and twice today) so I am super sore! My shoulder is going through a little syndrome I personally call Pussidus. Which is a medical term for you wimping out. Another great thing is that not many of the guys there speak English... so FINALLY I am forced into using French.

After the practice (I discovered a better word for today) a guy offered to drive me home, which was great because I didn't have to wait for the bus! On our 8 minute drive to my dorm we had a great conversation in broken french/ broken english. It was great to not have someone to be able to understand what I was saying in English (or completely understand) and having to try and recreate a sentence in my head. Finding different words and putting them in different places to attempt to get what I wanted to say across... and the craziest thing happened. I didn't die, he didn't laugh or kick me out of the car... so I would call that progress. Me like many people who are trying to learn a second language get so stuck on having to speak well and being absolutely sure about every little phrase we speak that we spook ourselves out of speaking. Instead if you just attempt to speak, they will attempt to understand you and you will be able to build off of that experience.

To anyone else who is attempting to learn a language, please just speak with a person who speaks your target language. If you can master just a few simple phrases and understand a few words you will be able to begin speaking with someone. If you can't remember the word, just play charades and they will understand what you are saying.

I hope everyone is enjoying reading my journey in France. I know I don't post a ton, but the majority of it is all the same and sort of boring.... Because I am studying all the time ;) ;)

Sorry! Was having fun

So I apologize for not posting in nearly two weeks! Not a ton has happened here, but I have just been busy hanging out with friends and studying (wink wink). But France is going amazingly well! I finally started my business classes at the French Business School (FBS) and after sitting in class from 9:30-5 I must say that it wasn't as terrible as it sounds! The class went super fast and the teacher was very energetic. Which helped a lot!

Many people may believe that they don't have to or that there major doesn't allow them to study abroad. But it is amazing how much information I learned on my first day that back in the States we never went over in any detail. Of course Economics or Business is going to have a major twist depending on which side of history you are looking from. However I truly believe that any major you have will be improved by looking at it from a different perspective. Working for the International office I got to talk with many different students, many were excited about the option to study abroad and some were very against it because "they couldn't graduate in time if they studied abroad".  To that I respond that its a crock of ****. Even if you have to take an extra semester or a year it is so work so much more than you could ever even imagine! As our technology improves more and more companies are doing business overseas potentially in a country that you can study in!

In college is your time to LEARN! Don't just fly through school and into the work force as fast as possible. Something I have really learned here in France is that you truly only have one life. That doesn't mean to stop caring about everything and just party all the time. It means that you should spend more time enjoying your life, working all day nearly everyday is not living. This is something that the French are very clear about (as nearly EVERYTHING closes between 12 and 2) the businesses understand that making money is important but allowing everyone to actually enjoy some of there life is more important.

I would write more but I have to catch the bus... so GO WOLVES!

I got mail!

So I ordered something a week or so ago and it finally came! Although because they knew I was foreign so they made it difficult! So needless to say, I saw more of the city!!! (Currently I am in French class... Where he speaks in French and I pretend to listen.) after the 45 minute walk one, way I arrived... at the wrong place. Luckily the lady didn't speak French and wasn't any help! But just a short journey down the road I arrived to a mall which I guess is called Auchan. Luckily La Poste inside was very easy to find and I made it back in time to actually eat something before Volleyball Class (Yes, it is actually a class). 

Volleyball is definitely my favorite class, as all we do is play volleyball! I just get super tired after I get done, and of course I have to go to a class and sit down for 2.5 hrs after being actuve and running around.

Today is very rainy and windy and I dont like it at all! Really wish we could just have 60's and sunny. On the flip side, I am going shopping today as they have amazing sales on hopefully something that will fit me!!! 

I apologize for this post being all over the board. This weather is making me hurt and be tired all the time. I need to see the sun soon!!! On a happier note, atleast I am not back home!!! Its -20. Bye! 

It's like a heat wave!

Well the past couple days have been pretty amazing! The weather has been PHENOMENAL! High 40's almost reaching the 50's... and we have had some sun! Today is the second day that it has rained during my time which is very nice in comparison to some other exchange students.

I finally have everything straightened out with my school(s) so all my classes are scheduled and I just have to attend them which is very relieving. I also applied/signed up for a bank account, which was sort of terrifying and my French is terrible and her English wasn't very good... but I believe everything should work out fine.

So I have now had a full week of classes and it is very different from NSU or any other American college that I can think of. For example, my French Language and Civilization classes meet only 1 time per week for 2.5-3.5 hours. They are both only in French so I understand about absolutely nothing. But I have begun to actually be able to hear individual words so I am going to go right ahead and call that progress.

My "actual classes" - that I will be needing for my major - are also rather weird. Each class is only 1 week long and consists of 3 course days. These days could be any 3 days in a week. From what I have been told so far, "they don't really know" so I will be informed of what times my classes meet and what days they meet on "at the very latest the Friday before the class begins [on the next Monday]." From what I have been told generally the classes consist of 9:30-12 and then 2-5:30 for any combination of 3 days in the week and on the third day you will have a exam or some sort of test to grade you. Also they don't have ANY books. Which personally I love! I mean the fact I don't have to waste 100$ on a book I probably won't even open makes me very very happy!

All in all I am definitely beginning to love it here! I am looking forward to the days when I can actually communicate with people, without looking/feeling like a complete moron. And who knows maybe I will decide to come back in the Fall!

This internet tho!

Well the super bowl has come and passed and sadly I couldn't watch it. Whether or not i could have stayed up the whole time is a whole different story from the fact the internet is so slow! Every 30 seconds or so it has to load which then causes it to skip ahead and ruin the viewing pleasure. So this morning I awoke to realize the Broncos had stayed in Denver, while the Seahawks had there way in New York. 

I finally went venturing on my own and have a feeling it is not as scary as it may seem. While I obviously look like a foreigner I truely don't care any longer. In the future I know I will be able to navigate these streets in the native language... I just wish that day would hurry the hell up! 

Never thought I'd say this... but YAY CLASS!

Well, today I found out that my classes start... today! While I was told that they began at 12 I later discovered that they actually start at 1:30. Luckily I was told they were earlier than later! My first class will be about French Civilization. I am assuming it is all in French so I will probably just be looking at the teacher with pure confusion... but hey, it beats sitting alone! I also got a chance to meet some of the other American students studying here. Two of them speak fairly good French and the other is just a bit more advanced than me.

Other than that I discovered they have volleyball on campus and I am soo glad that I brought my gear because my shoes are just crying to play some volleyball!

Things are definitely starting to look better on the French front and this should be one heck of a semester!

Oh before I forget, I tried Crescents and truly I don't understand what the hype is all about. They are good but they definitely do not beat well I don't know what they don't beat... but i'm sure it is something great!

like... HONESTLY!

So things in France are not going well... at all. So far I have pretty much been in my room trapped by the lack of language skills. Hopefully today I will be receiving my French Language Course schedule so I will actually have something to go to.

On a different note the city of Amiens is quite big, the campus of Jules Verne is on the outer edges of the city away from the busy-ness of the city. However there is quite a lot of traffic right in front of the dorm and around the campus. I just have not figured out where all the cars are going to... as there truly is not a lot around this area. I was able to find a restaurant about a mile down the road which was named "Quick" and was very similar to McDonalds.

Other than that around campus there is a shopping place which is like a downgraded Walmart. It is quite big, but is mostly food instead of clothing and also has any other necessities that you would need.

It has been very cloudy here. Well that is all that it has been, however sun is in the forecast so it should warm up and stop raining. Or at least I truly hope so!

First Morning

Well I slept like a champ! 15 hours in total. I believe in the rush of getting here that I may have forgotten to eat all of yesterday, which would explain why I am still tired. I must say I still cannot believe that I live in France now. It is just crazy to think of it like that, but yelling in the hall way makes me realize I am not in South Dakota any more!

A helpful tip when packing for studying abroad... DONT FORGET A TOWEL! Because when you get to your dorm the first thing you want to do is take a shower and sleep. Which isn't impossible to do, however a towel makes it a lost less cold!

This was a fun journey.

Well all in all I made it in one piece. After waiting at the wrong bus station for nearly an hour in the cold wet weather of Amiens, I made my journey bound to find the college. With the help of one amazing lady who assisted me to find the correct bus and a incredible student who allowed me to follow her to the campus I arrived a bit unorthodox but never the less I did arrive.

Currently I am exhausted and am having a hard time believing that it is nearly 7PM and that I am 5000 miles from home. This semester hasn't gotten off to the best start, but as they say. "No where but up from here".

They let me through!

Security was a breeze and I got right through. The weather is another story. It is very windy and the gusts are picking up each time. Hopefully 5pm come quickly and we can get out of this tundra on time!

Oh and I think a fellow wolf is in the airport. However I am not totally sure. Wouldn't want to make a fool of myself already!

The day has come!!!

It is finally here! In a few hours I will be arriving att he airport on this snowy sunday to begin my journey of four months. Please stay tuned as this adventure continues. From my first stop at "customs" to figuring out a train and a bus. I am sure I will make it. But we'll just have to see!