Who Needs Sleep?

My last day at home was blissful. Chris and I had breakfast at probably the best breakfast place in Baltimore--Miss Shirley's--which is only a short walk from his doorstep. This was followed by lazing around and relaxation until we had to head to the airport.

It was hard to leave home, but I made it. I'm here. In Germany.

Of course, as usually happens when I fly to Europe, I slept very little. This time it likely had to do with the fact that there was a kid screaming and/or crying 2 rows up. A kid whose parents did hardly anything to calm it. And once the mother picked him up, she realized he was all wet everywhere and then blamed her husband. Huh, funny. I probably wouldn't be too happy if I had to sit in wet clothes either. After he was changed, he was quiet the rest of the flight.

When I arrived in Frankfurt, my muscles and I loaded my two giant, packed-to-the-max suitcases on a cart, then went to find my bike. My sponsor and her husband were there to pick me up. I guess I was easy to spot--a single woman pushing a cart with a bike box, tall end up, and pulling a giant suitcase, trying not to hit anyone, since I couldn't see over the box.

My sponsor had to go back to work for a meeting, but her husband took me to my hotel. Thankfully my room was ready, so we got my stuff to the room, I brushed my teeth, then slept for about 90 minutes, before I forced myself up.

My sponsor, her son, and their standard poodle Bacchus came to pick me up at 1. We went to base to register, then she showed me around quickly. I can't tell you where anything is, but I signed up to take my driver's license test, got information on registering my new car, and somehow signed up for a new bank account.

After all this, we went to the city center of Wiesbaden, walked around, then found a place to eat outside. I don't usually drink alcohol or coffee my first day after changing so many timezones, but I knew certain friends would be disappointed if I didn't have a German beer at my first opportunity. So, my first food and drink was very German: wheat beer and Wiener Schnitzel! You're welcome ;)

I surprised myself with my German and did pretty well. I was able to communicate with this old woman next to us, who was doting on Bacchus and how cute he was. (I have to admit that he is really cool and he doesn't have that stupid ass poodle haircut--he actually looks and acts like a dog.)

After I got back to the hotel, I was able to stay up until just past 9 after watching The Pursuit of Happyness and playing around on the internet. I woke up wide awake at 12 and after getting on the internet and reading an article in the New Yorker, I fell back asleep around 2. This morning I woke up at 8:45, but fell back asleep until 9:15, when I realized if I didn't get up, I'd miss the breakfast offered.

So today I may go and explore the open-air market that exists every Saturday and then I'm going to dinner wth my sponsor and her family and a few of their friends tonight for their son's 13th birthday.

Since I haven't showered since 9AM EST Thursday, however, and it's 5AM EST Saturday, I'm going to do that.