Viva das Leben!

So I need to start this entry out by letting everyone know that the (kid's) bike Dieter brought back from Basel was stolen from him three days later.  He thought it so shoddy a bike that nobody would bother stealing it.  Well, he was wrong, and now it is sitting in a bike shop in Freiburg with a price tag of €60 on it.

Monday, September 7th:  We had a mandatory session about financial matters in Germany.  Namely, we were told how to properly make deposits/check our bank statements.  Nothing terribly exciting.  After this session, a group of us went to an international dining market.  Everything was really pricy, and I just wanted some Döner (Turkish equivalent to the gyro...though not as tasty).  I did happen to find an empty plastic bottle at the market though, which I was able to claim the Pfand (refund) for later.  I got my Döner kebab and afterwards was left feeling very parched...again with a strong desire for milk.  So a couple of us went to the Pennymarkt in the city, where I was able to claim that Pfand (¢25 baby!) which I was able to put toward my milk purchase.  I got a liter of milk for ¢17.  Take that MUHS cafeteria!  I drank the whole thing...and believe, milk was a bad choice.  Immediately after lunch we had a reception at the International House–the language institute where we would take our intensive classes before the school year begins.  Little did I know they were going to be having a little reception...with food and beverages.  Orange juice after a liter of milk=bad idea.  We were introduced to the staff and then took a placement test to divide the 45 person group into three smaller groups based on proficiency.  I made it into the middle group, which is exactly where I would have placed myself.  Finally we were going to start classes, but not until...

Tuesday, September 8:  The first day back in the classroom is always the hardest...but when it is all in German, it's a bit more difficult.  We have class from 2 to 5:15.  From 2-3:30 we have a grammar course.  Following a 15 minute break, we have a conversation course from 3:45-5:15.  These classes will go until October 1st.  This is what I have been doing for the last two weeks.  Nothing terribly exciting happened during this week (excluding the purchase of olive oil on the 8th...man did I miss me some olive oil), until...