I just changed the settings on the blog so it will allow comments by anyone who wants to, as opposed to just people who have certain accounts. If anyone wants to comment on something, feel free.
I kind of just assume that people are reading this, and that I'm not just sending this out into cyberspace.

I think, for the first time in my life, I'm actually feeling a little bit homesick. I've done the living in another country for a while thing before (some man just told me to be quiet because apparently speaking in a low voice in the library is not quite whispering), but I think the language barrier is finally getting to me.
I'm glad that I am here with people from home. I think I would be batty by now if I didn't. Apparently I#m already having hallucinations of things that aren't there. Too much sun, perhaps. I love the German language, however, it's moreso the little things that are started to make me long for the comforts of my first language.

Zum Beispiel (for example):

1) My brain is always on. If I need to interact with people, I have to always be thinking about what they are saying, and thinking about how to respond, how to properly form a sentence, und so wieter (and so on). Relaxing anywhere but in the safety of my own room is usually not an option. Even just being surrounded by it is reassuring.

2) I'm nervous to talk for the first time in my life. For the same reason as above, and also because my German is by no means fantastic. A man sat next to me on the tram one day and said something to me and I had no idea what he said, so all I could do was smile and look away quickly. Or when a woman said something to me at mass one Sunday, all I could do was shake my head and say, 'Ich verstehe nicht (I don't understand).'

3) Communicating with everyone at home is a lot more difficult. The first time I tried to use a German phone, I was ready to commit phone-icide. First of all, actually finding a phone was one of the biggest problems. When I finally did, I was unable to call collect to home as I had been able to in the Berlin Airport. Then I was not able to find the button which switched the language to English. Now I have use specific phones because they are the only ones that work for me. Seriously, I have to take a six minute bus ride, or walk for 15 - 20 minutes to call my parents, my grandmother, and my friends (when I remember their numbers). When I lived in Harlow, I had my laptop with me, I bought a cheap cellphone because it was an investment, and I was able to talk to someone if I needed/wanted to.

4) I miss chicken! Sometimes I wonder if chicken exists here. Whenever we go out to eat, there is nothing chicken on the menu. I consume as little red meat as possible, but most of the meat dishes are red meat dishes. I ordered ribs the first night in Heidelberg, but I'd never order ribs if chicken was available. I also feel like a moron if I go to ask a waiter or waitress if they have chicken dishes.

Now, I'm not by any means saying that I want to go home (not yet anyways), I just feel like I've been writing about all the wonderful and weird things that have been going on, and I ought to note some of the other realities of being here as well.