And so German life begins..

And here marks the beginning of mein Leben in Deutschland! I’ve been in Germany for 2 weeks now and it’s been a pretty crazy rollercoaster ride! I made the epic journey here.. 2 planes, 2 trains and once I arrived at the station; I got a taxi to the international office to pick up the keys for my accommodation. The first thing the taxi driver asked me was, “Are you French?” ha! Good start to German life then :P I got to the office where they handed me my keys, asked me to sign a few pieces of paper and told me to get the M16 bus, get off at Michelfelderplatz, walk about 100m and I’d find the student halls. Helpful. I managed to find it without too much trouble by following a bunch of studenty-looking people who got off at the same stop! A little creepy, I know.. but what else was I supposed to do?! So I finally made it to my building, floor and then finally, room, where I was greeted by the saddest, emptiest room ever! After dumping all my stuff, I decided I should better go out to get some food and to try and buy a duvet and some pillows before it started getting dark.. when I suddenly realised, I had absolutely no idea where I was or how to get to the centre of town/anywhere near shops! I had no map, and no internet to even look it up.. nothing! So I just went for an adventure.. got on the bus to see where it would take me.. haha. I came across some shops before long, so got some food in Lidl and managed to get pillows in Aldi! But had no idea where to find a home shop so ended up giving up on finding a duvet that day, so just cut my losses and headed home. I was so tired! I got back and unpacked a little, trying to make my room a little more homey.. I headed to bed pretty early with my pillows; sheet and duvet cover with no duvet! The days following my first were basically just a case of sorting one thing after another.. I couldn’t get my student ID without transferring money to the uni, I couldn’t transfer money until I had a bank account. Without my student ID I couldn’t use the computers, eat in the canteen, do my washing or get the bus for free. And so it went on.. the ridiculousness of Germany and their rules, you just end up tying yourself in knots. Basically to sum it all up, I’d say my first week here was probably one of my least favourite weeks of my life thus far. A combination of; missing home, wanting to be back in France, stupid rules and sorting my life out, no friends, no internet and horrifically bad German.. it wasn’t great! But just the first week.. my mum saved me that week! On my second Tuesday here, after I arrived, I bumped into an English girl at the international office and things vastly improved after that! I know I didn’t come to Germany to meet English people, but just meeting someone who’s having to do everything you’re doing and having the same problems as you.. makes you feel so much better! So after that day things finally started looking up : ) I was getting my modules/classes sorted (that was a whole other drama that still isn’t really solved) and was beginning to meet people. I went on an international night out on the Thursday and was introduced to a whole load of other students/assistants/aupairs from all over the place, but spent most of the night with 2 English assistants (one Scottish, one English). It was a hilarious night and we talked to so many people, in German, French and English! Since last week, I’m starting to become quite the social butterfly and beginning to feel like myself again. I went to a church on Sunday which I loved and pretty much know already that I’m going to stay there. It’s really buzzing and with a congregation of around 150 people, it’s quite a shock after getting used to my little church in France. There’s even a young adult’s cell group just like the student cells at G2! The people are so great too.. God is so good!