La Trotamundos: May 2013

Long overdue but here it is my first blog! I have now been living in Göttingen, Germany for exactly 7 weeks, 2 days, and counting, and there is so much I want to share with you all!

Getting to Germany was an emotional roller coaster to say the least. Leaving behind people I truly love, friends and family, wasn't the easiest task—especially when you know you’re bound to be gone for an entire 2 years! But I did it. And I couldn't be happier with my decision. I remember out rightly how it felt when I first lay foot on German soil. I arrived to Berlin’s airport totally jet lagged after a 24-hour layover in London’s airport that left me haggard. Thankfully, I was welcomed by an awesome Spaniard (Javier) that I met through Couchsurfing, who picked me up at the airport and offered me a place to stay for the night before catching my train to Göttingen the next day. Although sleep deprived, we walked through the streets of Berlin for hours and oh my gawd was that city amazing! There was something about the air in Berlin that made me fall head over heels in love with Germany in no time. The art in the walls, the beautiful architecture, all of the eccentric individuals that roam its streets… simply fantastic.

Next day after a good night’s rest I headed out to my lovely new home—Göttingen. Many people, gringo friends and Germans alike, often ask me why Göttingen? Well simply put: there was no particular reason. Like most things in my life, it kinda happened by accident. 1) I wanted a Masters in Development Economics. 2) I wanted to get out of the states for a while. 3) I didn't have much money to spend and so—voilà! I find myself here. And what can I say, I really lucked out by landing Göttingen as my new home. Let’s just start by saying Göttingen IS the place to be if you are a student. This town is a university with a city, because really, Göttingen's university is what it’s all about. In fact, the reputation and love for this city’s university is such that it saved the town from being bombarded by Allied troops during WWII. As you can imagine history is everywhere. Buildings that date back to the 16^th century, documents and paintings of its founding kings and rulers in the Great Aula, and the statues and memorial plaques commemorating the geniuses that once walked its campus. All of the great perks that come with living in an old university town. But that’s not all that makes this place so special. The people, I’d say, are truly its biggest asset.

***** I feel like a little side note dedicated to my German friends is needed here *****

I can’t express how thankful I am for my German friends. From day one they have been extremely supportive and helpful. They are truly a blessing straight from heaven for any foreigners that find their way into this little German town without any knowledge of German or clue as to what to do with themselves miles and miles away from home. Annika, Tanja, Marina, Christoph, Jean, Felix, and Andrea. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Before coming to Germany, I heard from so many people that Germans were very proper, and so I toned down my Puerto Rican crazy-self to not send them running for the hills. But even when my true nature manifests itself in its Puerto Rican ways the sweetness of my German friends prevail, while they watch me with endearment as I accidentally press all the buttons in the coffee machine and end up cussing the machine in Spanish because it served me hot chocolate instead of coffee (it happens more than I’d like to admit). For your friendship, dankeschön. May it be an everlasting one.

One last thing, beer, yes, beer is great in Germany no doubt, but Oh-My-Freaking-Goodness CHOCOLATE!! Chocolate is the shiznet in Germany! I’ve been eating so much chocolate that for the first time in my life I am very thankful for my abnormally fast metabolism. I swear, I've been chowing down more than 200 grams per day and that’s on a normal day, no joke. That said, if you happen to cross paths with me again soon and you notice your Gabbers is sporting a cute lil’ muffin top, well yea… you’ll know it had nothing to do with German beer.

Thank you to all my lovelies for following me through this journey. Excited to share all the memories and experiences with you!

Xoxo,

Gabby

P.S. Lost in translation? Just a tad! Couple of official language barriers:

Number six, written in German as sechs and pronounced as “zeks”, comes out of my mouth as something more like sex, every single time. It has gotten me more than a few excited looks from the gents around this area.
Reading my mail is quite the task. It seriously takes me about 3 hours to go through it and that’s with the help of Google Translate. So I currently have a pile high of letters I haven’t gotten to. Hoping none of them are time sensitive. Yicks!

Here are some pictures of my lovely new home: