I think I've completely adjusted my sleep schedule now. I've been going to bed around 11 and waking up around 8 on my own. Until I have Internet in my room, I have nothing to do there. I don't even have any books to read. All I can do is sleep or eat, and I don't even have much food. I want to befriend my neighbors, but I've yet to hear any of them moving around. Classes don't actually start until April 22nd for everyone, so people are still moving in. However, I've been completely surprised as to how busy campus is even though no classes are currently taking place. I guess since JGU is in a big city, students probably stay here year round.
As soon as I woke up today, I got ready and headed to campus. I needed to finalize my rental contract for my dorm with the university. I needed a copy of my rental agreement to take to the Bürgeramt so that I can register with the city. In Germany, you have to register with the government when you live somewhere. I'm not quite sure why, but I have to bring my rental agreement to prove residency. It took me awhile to find the right person, but I did eventually and our entire conversation was auf Deutsch. Afterwards, I headed to the Mensa where there is a Vodafone shop. I've been wanting to get a German SIM card so I can have a German phone number and also have enough data to be able to email and iMessage folks back home. I arrived at the Mensa shortly before 10 and the store wasn't open. On Friday, most places have abridged hours. They either open later and close at normal hours, or open at normal hours and close around noon, or something of that nature. I didn't know if the store would be opening later so I was just going to sit around and wait for awhile. As I was waiting, an automated message comes on the speaker system. It first said it in German, and then English, and informed us that an "incident" had been reported in the building and that everyone should find their nearest exit. I have no idea what such an "incident" might be, and neither did any of the workers there. We all exchanged bewildered looks as we exited.
I decided to leave the Mensa and head down to the Alte Mensa where I was to meet with Rosie at 11. We planned on going to find the results of our placement tests there to see if we would be taking the intensive summer courses. Once she found me, we walked and saw our results. I am a B2.1. It's not great, but there's nothing I can do about it now. I blame the placement test from hell.
We then hopped on a bus and went over to the Hbf. I had to go to the Bürgeramt and then we were going to go to the bank, post office, and phone store. I ended up waiting in the Bürgeramt for an hour and a half. When I arrived, I got my ticket and was number 896. They had just called number 794. I was there for awhile waiting when a woman came up to me. She was on her way out and couldn't wait any long. She asked me if I wanted a number that was earlier than mine. Of course I said yes, and she gave me number 893. When my number was finally called, I went to the correct desk. A middle aged man began helping him. I gave him the appropriate papers and told him that I needed a form to take to the bank so that I could open a bank account. He began talking and then I was lost. He could obviously see my confusion, so he switched to English. He put all of my information in his computer and gave me what I needed. When I was talking to him about my birth place he became incredibly confused. It took me awhile to explain that the Marshall Islands are not a state in the US and that they are their own country. He asked for the city in which I was born. When I said, "Kwajalein," he gave me a piece of paper and told me to write it down. He also informed me that I have to make an appointment by phone with the Foreigners Office because I am not a member of an EU country. Sometimes being an American really sucks. I'm not sure what I have to do there, but I have to talk to them about how long I will be in Germany. He also told me that I must come back to the Bürgeramt a week before I leave and "say goodbye" to them. Lastly, he told me that he was going to "give me a present." He left his desk and came back with a huge folder containing a bunch of information about Mainz. The public transport, stores, restaurants, coupons, maps, trash collection, other government offices, etc. I was completely blown away. There were several other students from orientation also at the Bürgeramt at the same time as me, and none of them got this. I'm not sure if it was because the gentleman was a very nice and thoughtful man, or if it was because I tried to speak German with him, or if it was because I was polite with him. Either way, I'm excited to look through the information and see what I can learn.
Speaking of the other international students, I've found that many of them are quite uninterested in making new friends. There are several groups of kids that all came from the same country, and they only talk to each other. During orientation, one girl from Poland said hello to me because I was with another Polish girl. As soon as she heard me speak and knew I wasn't also Polish, she stopped talking to me.
Once we left the Bürgeramt, the bank had already closed. Everything closes really early here on Fridays, and the bank closed at 1. Now I won't be able to open my bank account until Monday. So, Rosie and I went in search of the Vodafone store. I had been wanting to get a German Sim card so that I could text new friends and also keep in touch with home, especially considering that I won't have internet in my room until Monday at the earliest. We finally found one and I purchased a Sim card for 45 euros that will last 3 months. So, for 15 euros a month I am getting 200 mb of data, 100 minutes, and unlimited texting. Not a bad deal at all! If I want to reload the card after the three months, I must go back. I tried to do this exchange in German, but I had a total brain fart and couldn't remember how to say numbers. I was completely embarrassed. When I asked Rosie how to say the number, the woman told me that she knew how to speak English. I told her that I wanted to speak German, and she smiled at me.When I left the store, I realized that I should probably see if the Sim card fit before I got too far away. I couldn't find anything small enough to open the Sim card port and I was getting very frustrated. Eventually, I realized that my earring was just the right size. And the port popped right open. Sure enough, the card didn't fit. I went back to Vodafone and told the woman that the card didn't fit. She said that she had thought that I had an iPhone 4, not 5, and that she would have to cut the card. She cut the card and I was on my way yet again. I powered up my phone and put in my sim card and voila! Then there was internet.
Now I write to you from Starbucks, yet again. When I got home last night I went looking for the basement of my dorm where the internet genies have their office. I could not find how to get downstairs! I was not paying enough attention on the first day when Christof showed me to my room, so now I don't know how to get to the basement. This is quite unfortunate, considering that the basement is the home of the internet genies, the laundry, and the bar. Shame on me.
In a little bit, I will be heading to meet Joe at a Palace. He's never been, and obviously I haven't either, so he wants to go. It's right in the middle of us, between Wiesbaden and Mainz.
Tomorrow, I leave for Bad Kreuznach. The international student department (I can't remember it's name) is putting on something called the "Mix Tour." Approximately 140 students will be going. We're spending the night in Bad Kreuznach at a youth hostel. They are throwing some sort of party and we will also be doing something outdoors. I have no idea what to expect. Many of my friends from orientation are going, but I am also excited to make new friends. I will get back sometime Sunday, so I likely won't be posting anything until then. Tschüs!
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