Traumatic Bus Ride

Hello Everyone!

So yesterday I had a very interesting experience on the bus in Aachen. I never take the bus because it is 2,30 € and that is quite a bit when I can just walk somewhere. So, on my way to school yesterday, I walked past the bus stop where I usually see my friend Dixon, from class, waiting for the bus. Usually Dixon tries to convince me to take the bus and I say, "no." However, on this particular day I thought, "Why not? I'll just take the bus." I was running a few minutes late and was pretty tired so I went for it. Now Dixon and my other friend, Berk, have bus passes. They just walk right on. There is a turn style to get in the bus. I see a little number sign, like a cash register would have that says, "2,30 €." So, I start getting out my euro coins and sticking them in the slot next to the price. Makes sense right? Well, they wouldn't go in the slot. I try for about 30 seconds, even though it feels like an hour.

Finally, the bus driver looks at me and says, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

I say, "I'd like to take the bus sir."

He says, "I have to know where you are going first."

I say, "Oh well, I'd like to go Bayernalle please."

Evil bus driver, "Well that will be 2,30 €."

Again, I try to put the euro coins in the money slot. Again the bus driver looks at me and says, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

I say, "I'd like to pay now."

Finally... The bus driver says, "give me the money."

And out of the slot where I was sticking the money comes a receipt. This felt like forever but was probably only a minute. Also, the bus was full so everyone was watching me. The bus driver was also speaking English to me the entire time. I think that made it worse. Needless to say, I will not be utilizing the bus system in Aachen anymore.

Love,

Courtney

Scary Old People

Hi Everyone!

Something very strange happened today. Normally I am not sexually harassed while walking down the street in Germany (Except by the garbage man.) In France and Italy men will yell at you when walk down the street. (My sister says they will grab at your chest if you aren't careful in Italy.) I was relieved to find out that the Germans don't do this. However, today as I was walking down the street a normal-looking old man looked at me in the eye as he passed and then rubbed my stomach. Not like a stomach grab but more than a hand graze. As much as I would have loved to yell obscenities at an old man I held back. I guess if he was crazy enough to rub my belly he might be crazy enough to steal my book bag or lunch money. Good times in D-land.

Love,

Courtney

German Mafia

Was geht Leute?

(This is german for "Whats up everyone?") I may as well speak a new ghetto-form of German while I'm here as a way to teach people about my hometown, Cincinnati. So, lots of things have happened since I last blogged. Last week I received a letter from the German mafia. There is a company that collects money from everyone each month according to how many tv's and radios they have. For every TV you own you have to pay about $20 a month. Radios are around $5. Enno has already registered his TV with the mafia so I don't have to pay anything. However, the letter was addressed to Herr Courtney Phillips. (In case anyone forgot, this means Mr. Courtney Phillips.) I have to give Enno's ID number and mark a box that says he is my partner. So now the German mafia believes we are life partners, which is cool with me. Apparently if you write down that you have no TVs or radios they will show up at your door and search your crib. This is why people call them the German mafia. Pretty wild stuff.

Love,

Courtney

Garbage Man

Today I was leaving the apartment to go to class. I walked past our dumpster that was completely full and overflowing with garbage. As I walked through the foyer, I passed two garbage men. One looked me up and down and said, "sehr, sehr nett." This means, "very very nice." Apparently Borat was a big influence on him. When I came back from class the dumpster was still full and had not been emptied.