The leaves are turning...

I haven't updated this for about a month. My apologies!

What has been going on since I last posted... I had my birthday. I started meeting with a friend of a friend who needs help with his English for 10 Euro an hour. I have had six beers since being in Germany (this is an accomplishment given that I really disliked beer before coming here).

I feel like I am fitting in. A far cry from just six weeks ago when I thought I'd never survive. I may have been a bit melodramatic :) My only hope is that I get to experience more of the city's culture and history. Frankfurt is substantially new because it was so heavily destroyed during WWII but there are hidden pockets of what it once was. I guess I am struggling with the feeling that I am "missing out" on the sites (not that Frankfurt itself is full of the sites). But that is the difference between coming on vacation here and living here. I am not here just to see the big stuff, I am here to do and see everything I can. I am here to feel what it is like to live here, and be a part of this city. I think I am doing a good job of this.

Funny things people have said to me because I am American:

"You can't be American, you're not slutty enough."
"So I have to ask... BUSH?!?!"
"I'm very surprised that you are a smart person."
"Doesn't everyone want to die in Seattle?"
"You're not going to finish that? Doesn't everyone eat a ton in America?!"
After a lengthy lecture on the faults of American politics from this German guy...
-"I'm so glad you get to live here for a year and really understand what the rest of the world is doing."
-"Yeah, so have you lived outside of Germany? ...have you been to America?"
-"Well... no..."

-"Seattle?! Like that movie... what is it?"
-"Umm... you mean Sleepless in Seattle?"
-"YEAH! Awesome!"
This is funny to me because to be honest, I have never seen this movie. It came out when I was five. But that seems to be the main thing people think about Seattle other than Microsoft/Boeing and Nirvana.

Luckily, once people talk to me they usually get a better impression. I am glad to be a pleasant surprise, but it makes me a little sad that somewhere along the line, these assumptions are what they have come across.

October has brought cold weather. At this point it is similar to winter in Seattle as far as the temperature goes, so I am not so sure I am prepared for what is to come in the next few months. I may be spending a lot more time next to my heater!

Yesterday my family left for the week. Originally I was going to go to Berlin this weekend but it turned out my German class does not have a break at the same time as everyone else, so I stayed home. I have the house to myself and very little to do until Saturday.

Until next time...