Sweet Jesus. I just went back and re-read that last entry and I sound like I'm on speed. I apologize.
I just got back from brunch with Natalie, which we do on occasion. Surprisingly, a lot of places around the city are open for Sunday brunch, but we generally stick to Aspekt. This time we both got a Milchkaffee and the Frankreich breakfast, which includes orange juice, two types of cheese, salami, butter, jam, honey, a hard-boiled egg, this amazing cheese spread, and a basket of Broetchen (little breads). There are several types of breakfasts to choose from, and they all are equally amazing. I plan on taking many a visitor here.
We sat around and talked about our breaks. She spent Christmas in Heidelberg and then 9 days in Paris with her French friend Laurent. For Christmas he bought a sheep for her which will go to some remote village to help poor women make things out of wool. I could not think of a better gift for Natalie, which gives you all one example of why I like her so much. After she said that I chuckled a bit and said "You'd fit perfectly in my family. My little brother saved a turkey and my step-mom is helping some woman start up a business." She gave me a funny face and said "You mean there are other people out there like me?!?"
We are tentatively planning a trip through Budapest and then around a bit of Romania, which sounds amazing to me. The pictures are breathtaking and in Eastern Europe we could actually afford to stay in hotels and get first class train tickets. Of course, every day my travel plans change, so who knows.
Natalie and I are both the type of people who would rather have a drink or two, talk with locals, and go to bed early instead of going to crazy clubs. Sure, that's fun occasionally, but I just felt that there was too much of that in Prague and Vienna. Granted, I did have a lot of fun with my friends, but partying too much stresses me out.
Anyway, back to my list of stuff to talk about. Ah yes...leaving home.
It was actually harder this time around. The first time I had no idea what was in store and I was setting off on this huge adventure, so all of that excitement took over. I was also basically a ball of adrenaline for the entire first flight, so that fought off the jet-lag.
This time I actually got to the airport a good 4 hours early with my passport in my hand, so I have learned my lesson. Mom got all sappy saying goodbye to me, which almost made me cry. My mother is not the type to tear up often, even though Laura and I cry often and very loudly. I have no idea what happened there, but at least Mom puts up with us.
The first time around I think my mother was happy to get me out of the country because I was stressing her out so much. I can't say I blame her.
My plane actually took of 2 hours late because they put too much fuel in the plane, and had to de-fuel? WHAT? This was after I had been sitting in the airport reading Time and Vanity Fair for 4 hours and pacing about anxiously, so I was ready to get the flight over.
Finally, we got on the plane, which actually wasn't much better because I was sitting between a horrible smelling French woman who came equipped with a smokers cough, no sense of personal space and she didn't speak a word of German or English. On my other side was a young German guy who was nice but was nervously clutching his rosary through the whole flight.
Tail winds were on my side that day. Literally. The flight only took 6 hours.
At baggage claim I ran into Stephanie who happened to be on my flight. Crazy that she and I didn't see each other, even though our plane was gigantic. It sat 3-4-3, which I think is the biggest one I've ever been on.
This time, adrenaline was not helping me, so I could barely stay conscious on the train back to Freiburg. Once I finally got home, Peter (another American) offered to come cook me dinner to keep me awake, which worked for a bit but I kept breaking or spilling things, including a gigantic plate of rice all over the kitchen. Christoph laughed at me in my "sheep costume" (my new robe) and told me I'd better go to bed. I agreed with him.
I slept from 8 PM to noon the next day. 16 hours. Oh it was blissful.
The next day I woke up horribly depressed, mostly because I was bored, overslept, and immediately missed my family. This lasted for about an hour until I snapped out of it. I'm young and in Europe. I am not going to waste time feeling sorry for myself. I love my family and of course I should miss them, but it'll be August in no time. Carpe diem, dammit.
I called Julia.
Julia- Well, if you're really bored you can come walk around Freiburg with my mom and me?
Becca- YES! I WANT TO RUN THROUGH THE STREETS. I NEED TO GET OUTSIDE.
Julia - Uh...
This ended up being the best idea ever because Julia's super English mother made me laugh and kept going on about how lucky we are to be in Europe. We hiked up a bit into the Schlossberg which gives you an amazing view out over Freiburg. It didn't hurt that we were up there during the sunset. All of this just reminded me how much I love this city.
God comes to me at interesting times, but when she does, I feel that she gives me unmistakable signs. A glorious sunset and good company was the perfect cure for my melancholy. I should really start making a collection of the coincidences and heart-warming experiences that make me believe in God. Some are very odd, but hey, that's how I operate.
The other day, while scouting out travel guides with Drew, I ran across the map section of Buchhandlung Rombach. They come in long cylindrical tubes and I was fighting the urge to swordfight with them, of course. For a long time I've wanted a really nice map of the world but last year I had hardly any wall space, so it wasn't an option. I treated myself to a 14 Euro laminated map of the planet. It's a bit colorful for my tastes, but it's glorious. It even shows currents and wind drifts!
I hung it right above my desk so right now I'm at eye level with Bolivia and Botswana. I also have Jimmy's football picture up, one of Laura and me at the Renaissance festival, and one of Skit looking very handsome.
Friday afternoon Laura IMed me "Mom's dying...Becca" which is a horrible, horrible thing to say. I immediately got violently nauseous, thought that she had been diagnosed with cancer, I'd have to rush home, etc.
Laura, however, was exaggerating and after yelling at her about scaring me half to death, she gave me the story. Basically, my poor, poor mother got the flu, had 2 unsuccessful root canals in one week, and woke up Thursday night shaking, sweating, and with the most intense pain of her life. She got rushed into oral surgery where they found some nerves and fluid and infection...(Don't you all love my medical terms?) But Laura told me that she was at home, sleeping and being taken care of by Earl. I told Laura to get home and get home NOW because I couldn't, obviously.
I immediately began calling Earl's phone and then tried my mom's, which she answered. She sounded horrible, which just made me cry and cry...and then cry more. My mother is my tower of strength, so to hear her like that was really rough.
15 minutes after hearing this I had to go babysit Isaac, which was actually good for me because it forced me to stop crying and get out of my room. Also, happy, playing 4-year-olds can immediately cheer a person up. I told him it was his job to cheer me up, which he did with some books about train stations. After he went to bed I also got some quality journal time.
Anyway, Mommy is doing a lot better now and is eating lots of soup and mashed potatoes. Gott sei dank.
Obviously it was scary because I love my mom and I hate thinking that she's in pain, but it was also a reminder of how helpless I am here. Technology does wonders, but only a plane ticket can get me home to be next to my sick mother. If I were in Ann Arbor I could be home in a half hour, but it's not that simple from here. I am thankful that it was nothing life threatening, but being aware of that possibility scares me to no end.
Family, stay healthy, or I'll kill you.
Alright, as it is a rainy Sunday afternoon, I am going to enjoy some J.D. Salinger and take a nap.
Carpe diem, no?
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