cross-dressing in the library

I am updating only because I can feel my mother silently willing me to across the Atlantic Ocean. And she won't shut up about me coming home. I love this, because it makes me feel missed and loved and all kinds of warm, fuzzy things.
I've been busy. And actually busy doing productive, student-like things. Yesterday Julia and I had our Theater Referat, which is up there on the list of "Scariest Things I've Ever Done". (other favorites on this list are the Ferris Wheel at Cedar Point and taking my drivers test the second time)
Most German college classes don't have any homework or work sheets or busy work. Instead, all that's required of you is a Referat and a Hausarbeit. A Referat is kind of like a big presentation, but really you're kind of teaching the class for the day. You have to make a handout, be an expert on the reading, and answer all questions. And, seeing as I am absolutely terrified of speaking German in front of large crowds, I was on the verge of wetting myself throughout the entire thing.
Hausarbeit is basically a 15-30 page paper about what you do your Referat on. Absolutely nothing I would ever worry too much about. I would glady write a 50 page paper in German if it meant I didn't have to get up in front of a room full of people for 10 minutes, even. Gah.
Julia and I wanted to get our Referat out of the way before break, so we picked the day instead of the topic "Heiner Mueller and Mythology". Sounds harmless.
HA.
When we finally go to the library on Friday, and saw the entire section on Mueller, I think that was when we officially started to panic. Reseach is a pain, but imagine doing it in a language you're only half fluent in. And I think the Germans purposely make their libraries impossible to figure out. There is no rhyme or reason to the system. And you're not allowed to check anything out.
We basically unloaded about three shelves and went into overdrive. I pride myself on being a good student, but Julia is could win awards for how indepth she goes into things. However, she also procrastinates, stressed out, and puts too much pressure on herself, I fear.
Needless to say, we were quite the pair running around.
We returned Saturday morning, hungover, underslept, and wearing dirty clothes. We copied about 10 books and then crawled back into bed.
Sunday night and Monday morning were when we did the bulk of what we needed to, got to class late, gave our Referat, survived, and then got Burger King to celebrate.
I also gave Monday morning the official lable of LEVEL 5 HIGH STREE LOCKDOWN. I went back to bed, but Julia was at my kitchen table furiously writing. It was intense.
That afternoon, Julia called me "the most tolerant woman on the planet" and thanked me for her help. I was speechless. It was splendid.
Basically, Heiner Mueller was absolutely nuts. He took old Greek plays and made them crazy to understand. He was a Socialist in East Berlin during the 60's and 70's, so he was basically using these plays to slyly hint about his personal political and philosophical beliefs. He took out punctuation, staging, and many times, the subjects in sentences. And I'm not talking about reasonable stuff, like using passive voice. He prided himself on being a realist and didn't care if he just confused the crap out of everyone.
Now, that would be hard enough in English, but German? Psh?
However, I think we did very well. After we spoke, the class and our professor responded with some interesting questions, all of which we were able to answer. Stephanie told me I didn't sound nervous at all, which was nice to hear.
We don't know our grade yet, but I'm not too worried. I feel that we did well.

Obviously, my entire weekend was consumed by crazy Socialist playwrights, but Friday night Julia and I did decide to get our party on. Her WG was having an "Austausch" party, which I was initially wary of. Her WG is basically my second home, and I have an outrageous crush on her roommate Andi (who has an undeniably adorable girlfriend, of course) so I obviously couldn't miss it. I also simply had to walk up two floors.
Austausch means "exchange". The point of this whole shindig, was to come in clothes you didn't want anymore, because everyone was "exchanging" them the whole night. Everyone runs around stripping and putting on different outfits. Guys were in girls clothes. Girls were in guys clothes. It was amazing.
This all started with some crazy guy running up to me and saying 'WILLST DU DEINE HOSEN TAUSCHEN?'...so I gave him my pants and in exchange got some funky dress. Throughout the night I wore "Mom jeans" (high waisted with tapered bottoms...like my mom), parachute pants, a men's Large polo, a very short skirt, some kid's soccer shirt, etc. My jeans went through several different guys...I don't think I ever saw them on a female. And they didn't look half bad on German men, I have to say. It was kind of frightening. I had to eventually fight Garrett for them back at the end of the night. I left in my original jeans, but got some random men's t-shirt, which I actually kind of like. Julia says one of her roommates has my shirt. I hope she enjoys it.

I'm amazed at how comfortable German men are with sexuality. It's refreshing. For example, they're all phenomenal dancers. In the US I feel like a lot of college guys think being able to move to a beat isn't masculine, for some reason. Meanwhile, running around on a field and running into each other is, of course, respected.
And dancing in clubs in Europe isn't as insanely sexual as it is in the US. Dancing isn't even dancing anymore in the US, and it's obnoxious. Here it's still sweaty and loud and dirty, but you also get personal space. I happen to be a huge fan of dancing and personal space.

This weekend I got to Tuebingen for a night, and then I COME HOME. I am super super super excited for that latter portion. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss having a fridge that goes to eye level. Today I rewarded myself with a day of solitude, which was spectacular. I ran around the city picking up random Christmas gift and then sat in Aspekt...with a Milchkaffee...and Kartoffelsuppe. I got through half of 'Kafka on the Shore'. Niiice.

Ok I am out of whitty things to say so I believe it is bedtime.
My newly aquired men's t-shirt is great to sleep in.