Today is officially day one of my cycle of studying. I have an exam in a week, and around 300 slides to go over and memorize, like the good old days in India, where memorizing is all we did. It just seems so hard to study for exams now, the way I did in India. See, America is easy. There are so many homeworks, tests and assignments that you do not have to depend on the exam entirely. I have never spent more than 2 days of studying on an exam there, and definitely no sleepless nights. But here.. I am back to being in school in India, where slogging was a way of life.
Technically I should not be complaining. I had 3 months to study, and even if I gave myself 3-4 hours a week to actually sit down and study rather than being plain bored, I would have better off right now. But as they say "Procrastination is a man's best friend" or rather I just say.
Since the summer really, I have not studied much. A study abroad is more or less like a vacation term where you pass time by taking few classes and traveling. So getting into the whole studying grove is proving to be much more difficult than I had originally imagined. The good though, believe it or not I actually stay way from the internet while I study. That's very much my biggest achievement in a very long time. I am this super addicted to "chatting to friends back home" person, so this is good for me.
Today I spent the Sunday by waking up at noon (yes yes I am one of those), and then just sat in the kitchen with Marie and Rob and studied. I am a little glad I was not studying for the same exam as them, since I have no idea how they ever got anything done with the amount of discussion that was going on between them. I managed to finish around 150 slides, which is not bad I'd say. But the question how much did I retain!!!!!! SIGH! I get 45 minutes and 3 questions, and I have no clue how that works. At least in India, we had 3 hours. I have never written such a short exam, so I am clueless about what is actually gonna happen.
Now the fun part!!! Yesterday I went to Saarbrucken. The capital of the state Saarland, very close to the french border. One day trips have always been my favorite, and I have not had one in a while, so I had amazing fun. It was the four of us, and just 2 hours each way.
Marie has a friend there who showed us around. The WeinachtsMarkt (Christmas Market) was just beautiful. Gluhwine is the thing for Christmas here. I dont know what they call it anywhere else, but its bluish in color, has some spices and is boiled before drinking. Every Weinachtsmarkt has tons of places selling that. The city is not that big, and the shopping street is the highlight. Wherever I have been in Germany, I have come to realized how every city (small or big) has a big shopping street with all the brands (small or big). I guess people like to shop here, even if the prices are killing most of the times.
Last week I had dinner with a German family. They made me some turkey. It was nice to have a typical German dinner with a typical German family. They live outside the city (in a suburbia kinda place), but public transportation is still available. That's one thing I like about this place, living without a car is just too easy. People dont drive unless they really have to. Most of them like to bike around, even if the distance is 30 kms. After all, Germany is big on environmental protection. I never gotta bike here though, got too cold, and I really cant take the wind when on a bike.
Vielleicht muss ich in Deutsch schreiben, aber dann, mesiten leute mich nicht verstehen wollen. Ich bin hier seit drei Monate, und noch, mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut. Ich versuche mit viele Leute in Deutsch zu sprechen, aber viele Fehler.
I dont know why I wrote the above paragraph, being random is my specialty I guess by now! So anyways I am studying, studying, not absorbing anything, and having a little bit of fun here and there. I am not excited to be here after the 21st all by myself, since everyone leaves pretty much for home. Christmas. 9 days without anyone in my apartment DO NOT seem to be fun. I live with 9 other people in my apartment, and for 9 days I'll be the only one living in it. Sounds boring and depressing. I hate being alone. I tried to pre pone my tickets, but thats just too expensive.
I sorta have a list. Things to do when there is noone and nothing to do:
- Read a German book, should easily take 2 days. (I have already bought one)
- Watch a German movie with subtitles (not too keen on this one)
- Go to Berlin by yourself for a day (ehhhh.. may be)
- Shop some! I have a list of things people want (Pooja's birthday present or presents)
- Hang out with some Germans, some of them are probably gonna be here
- Work more than usual
- Blog..only if there is something to blog about
- Talk to people back home (Pooja plans to be busy, Ali is an idiot..shows no love, Ankit..I am sure he'll be too busy studying even on break, Tushar.. heights of ignorance, Aditi.. people need to take an appointment from her, Gauri.. she never has much to say)
- Hang out with Cheryl. May be she can spare some time even though her boy friend will be here
- Plan summer trips
- Go to a club...drink..dance.. (I dont really think this one is gonna happen)
So here is my list. And I am sure I wont do most of it. Given that I am lazy like crazy, and I hate dressing up unless ofcourse its one of those random days where I would wanna do that. Hopefully after the 20th.. I would not just be complaining about life. A big SIGH!!!
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