This weeks happenings......

Monday was my first day of Deutsch lessons on my own. I decided to do the second course at home to save money. It is going good. My tutor, Carolin corrects my work and gives me some pointers. I am pleasantly surprised that I am learning it well. Just need more practice speaking. I must say learning another language is pretty challenging but a really cool experience that I have never had before. Monday night was a night of Bowling with big birthday party group where we had to wear party hats, give high fives after every bowl (for extra points) and speak German. Oh wait, they do that anyway! Ha, it is still fun to pretend I know what they are saying and to say a few words that I know myself. I didn't live up to my last name by the looks of my score but I did get a few strikes and spares even when I rolled it down the lane with two hands a few times. On Tuesday I met up with some of my classmates from the first course because one of them was going back to Cuba. She insisted that we have some wine and some true Havana Club straight from Cuba at her place even though it was only 2 in the afternoon. With a couple drinks and some salsa music and dancing the afternoon was pretty fun. Then I went to a place called Cave 54 that evening. On Tuesday nights they have a Jazz Jam Session. The place is in the basement of this old building and really does look like a cave. Very small and intimate. It was really good. I think I will go more often. Wednesday I volunteered for a Halloween party for little kiddos at the German-American Institute. Was cute to see how excited some of the little German kids were since they don't celebrate Halloween in Germany. I have been networking with some of the people at the Institute in my job search and have been able to speak English more. They also have a Library with english books and dvds so I will probably be there more often. Tonight we are off to good ole' IKEA for a some shelves and lights for the apartment. Tomorrow my classmates and I have plans to go to Schwetzinger to the Schloss Gardens. It is a very beautiful garden area and castle not too far from Heidelberg. I will post some pics this weekend. The weekend will probably filled with unpacking some more and just hanging out. The weather is definitly getting colder and it is feeling more like winter. Can't believe it is almost November and I have been here almost 2 months. Crazy!