back to cologne

Kölner Dome+me. This was supposed to be my Christmas greeting card if I was not able to go home to Pinas

My first time in Cologne (Köln auf Deutsch) was during the last weekend before we had the Christmas 2011 holidays. I visited my friends Simi and Holger living in Bonn and they brought me to see Cologne for the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas bazaar) and the famous Dom. We drove from Bonn (after having a very nice vegetarian soup and Knödel) to catch the Dom before it closes.

i kissed mensa goodbye

Mensa means canteen and/or cafeteria. Affordable food, drinks, snacks are served. 
Schnitzel, salad, soup, pasta, pizza, fries, chocolate pudding, cakes, asian wok meal and a lot more.

Clockwise: bistro lamps, hobbit-like door, mensa

Most of my classmates knew that I am no mensa fan. As much as possible, I prepare my own food for many reasons. I cook better rice than mensa rice to name one. But if I don't find time to prepare my lunch, mensa provides many options for me.
Mensa is not just a place where to find something for our hungry stomachs, but also a safe venue to exchange our thoughts on different things.


-Extension of discussions cut short during the morning class
-Experiment time for german and other 'European'-named dishes (and criticism to soggy pasta and salty soups)
-Catching up from each others' weekend trips, last night's party, papers and exercises due
-Laughing and chill breaks from class

Marburg, Korbach, and Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe en route

From Darmstadt, on my way to Willingen and Brilon this weekend, I had a 40-minute stop in Marburg, Germany. So instead of counting trains and passengers at the railway station, i decided to check out what's outside the station. One thing that interests me about Marburg is that my friend Steffi will move there by September and she will leave in the castle. I knew it, she is a real princess in disguise! Another thing, the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) - Europe is located in Marburg. So I had a short walk in the fine sunny weather...

Marburg church and buildings by the river

Forty.Vierzehn.Quaranta.Apatnapu

Today marks the forty day countdown before my program ends here in Darmstadt, Germany. It had been 268 days spent in Europe. (My short visit in the Philippines including travel time was already deducted).
Forty
Vierzehn in German
Quaranta in Italian
Apatnapu in Filipino
Recently, i had been packing my things - vacuum-packing my thick and bulky winter clothes and shoes, checking accumulated papers/notes and hopefully scanning them. Not just because I had to leave soon but because I will have a new friend coming to accompany me all throughout the month of June. It was a bit sentimental cleaning and gathering my stuffs - which should I throw away, which I want to keep. Old train tickets, tourists maps, receipts, information flyers from museums, pine cones, gathered dried leaves, weird seed in the forest and many more. How can i keep all these things? Is it really possible not to lose any part of my European journey? *Sigh*

Of washing - Abwaschen

During my first months in Darmstadt, I met wonderful people named Maria and Sebastian - very good-hearted, young German couple who touched my life in many ways. They invited me in the church, to their house and to other places in Darmstadt.


One day, I was invited (again) for a dinner in their house and I also agreed to cook a Filipino dish for them. With much thinking, I decided to prepare Chicken Adobo with Potato and Boiled Eggs, and of course, rice!
It was a great night, and even greater with Stefi's presence, some red and white wine, fresh apple juice and Basti's (aka Sebastian) ice cream with melted chocolate. It was a great night full of stories and sharing!

26 before 27

How the break was spent in Darmstadt? It was too late for me to plan where to go during the Holy Week but I had a really great time in Darmstadt. Before the turn of another year in my life, i had celebrated more than 26 kilometers of physical activity as a way of thanksgiving to my faithful Creator.

13.3 kilometers

Eberstadt to Darmstadt Bike Route 23

Google Maps via Dailymile

It was my first time to ride a bike for longer-than-house-university-route and for 'real' biking experience. I was so excited that day to check the Frankenstein Run 2012 route (as i was planning to join the run). After checking the map where I should head, I prepared my stuff and went by tram to Frankenstein. Yes, Frankenstein, the one that was said to influence Mary Shelley to write about the famous fiction.
Unfortunately, i was not able to reach the Frankenstein Castle because i was a little bit lost and i find it too difficult to go with my heavy bike. But it was a great ride!


"Varied terrains, from off road, road, paved slightly rolling steeps until Beerbacher Straße. Checking out FrankensteinLauf 2012 route at 10-11°C. (at least I know what to expect). Few meters between Reuterallee and Heidelberger Landstraße, my mtb got a little trouble. But then I was able to go home safe. More, more, more!" (Dailymile log)

Before and after. Tired and gasping after the rolling climb. And a smile on my way down after a short stop.

Wonderfully sunny and bright

Now that the sun is still up until 8:00 in the evening here in Darmstadt, why not write about a wonderful sunny experience that I had. Puerto Galera is my yearly Holy Week destination! Why? Having fun and enjoyment are understatement on how the Lord's creation amazes me, mouth-watering food, wonderful people, sun, sea and sand!

 

I bask under the sun, walk along the shore and go crazy with the sand! Oh lala! When I am tired, I can have a restful short nap or goodnight sleep in the hammock city, with the wind and waves singing me a lullaby. Hammock city is a covered hut with more than 10 hammocks of different sizes, colors and designs! 

NoynoyINGermany

In the bliss of writing about my experiences during this bright, sunny and happy Springtime, I decided to take time off from writing my paper due three days from now to share an unexpected afternoon with Pinays in Darmstadt.


From my German language course, I headed to Rewe to buy talong and saging (Aubergine+Banane). I was happy to see some Filipinas hanging out in the food court near Rewe. So after buying what I need, I decided to approach them. I had met already a couple of them, and some of there are new faces, but no matter how long I have known them, still I belong (irregardless of age too!). The usual short "Hi, I am here to drop by, bye" extended to more than two hours - hanging out and "Noynoying."

Links Likes and RTs

Connecting. It is now easier, so much easier with the technology that we have, especially from the developing countries. I can go on enumerating its benefits to many of us who became users and subscribers of this worldwide environment connected via internet. Even super-ultramarathon away from the Philippines, news and bits travel faster to me. Well, yeah, i do not have my personal FB or Tweeter accounts, yet there are ways to learn what's happening about something somewhere.

Enjoying and Adapting. Coping Mechanism 2.

From the dry and wet Philippine seasons to four seasons in the temperate country. How will a tropical raised survive winter and cold temperatures?

Eis und Sonne  

Ice and Sun

Italian ice cream. Vanilla and Pistachio medley.

I arrived in Darmstadt in summer moving towards autumn. A perfect timing transitioning from tropical Pilipinas to cold Alemanya. I remember during my first day, my flatmate Linda accompanied me all throughout the city center, to my university and hows on daily tram/bus commuting. On my first weekend, it was a perfect sunshine just like in Los Baños. I was wearing sleeveless and eating Italian ice cream with Linda, Sina and Jenny. Yummy and rich!

Mia, my dear friend, walked with me one summer evening to the Rosenhöhe (Rose Garden Park). We stayed there until half past 7pm since sunset begins at that time. She also fetched me to bike to the woods another afternoon, passing Orangerie on our way back and ended the day once more with gelato.

A Taste of Home. Coping Mechanism 1.

Before I came here in Deutschland, I know that the biggest challenge I will face will be homesickness. So people left and right are trying to reach me up to the last minute to assure that they can bid goodbyes, instructions, advices and share ways on how to survive the overseas life. Well, people with experiences away from home understand a lot how it feels far and alone, especially I am up to finishing my two-year study before going home. (Erm, not final, subject to changes.)


My program requires me to stay siebenhundert einunddreißig Tage (731 days) or more depending on my final year of study which will be in Rome. More than a hundred days had passed, and a lot more. Counting it now by days gives me a deep sigh and longing that clock will turn faster.

Hundred days after

Should I not attempt to pen what had transpired for the past hundred days, or should i wait before it is too late. Should I wait for the snow to come down in Darmstadt or the semester to end?


Commencing today, I shall not miss the chance of articulating the life and experiences as a student more than 10,000 kilometers away from home. I shall not wait for another Paris trip, for the next sleet rain falling down on me, for the next solo trips in Germany and beyond. Tada! Sharing to you the things i am glad i knew and learned before this experience: