Spring has arrived!! :)

Guten Tag alles!

Im sorry I haven’t been writing.. Yesh yesh, I promised myself too that I would write regularly, so don’t worry! I’ll always blog! So this time, it would be a long long loooooong entry! hehe!

Ok, which day did I stop at? I cant remember what I exactly did for all the days.. But I’ll try to remember.. :)

Ok, Wednesday, Day 17, I went to a talk on the Palestine-Israel conflict.. 'The Palestine-Israel Conflict- Past, Present and Future'.. It was interesting because I wasn’t the only one that wanted to go.. So thank goodness I didn’t go alone.. hehe! It was at the university campus.. The auditorium was about 5/7-filled.. Many that came were Muslims, and there were a few others.. Ok, please don’t ask me what the talk was about exactly, because I didn’t understand it!! It was in German!! Lol!! I only understood the first speaker, because he had a PPT slide, which pictures! And he spoke really slowly.. So I could understand about 80% of what he said, which was mainly about the history.. I didn’t know the history before this, so I was happy I understood him! If I were to take a history module here in TUD, it would be great if it was like that.. hahah!

Before the talk started..

So basically, I was ‘gone’ by the third speaker.. I really really tried very hard to understand them.. Sometimes when I don’t understand, I feel like Im making up stories in my head! Like when you understand the meaning of a few words in a paragraph, you kinda form your own story.. Lol! Yup! I did that.. :P:P Then they had some questions and answers.. I also try to make out what they are trying to say, by the tone of their voice etc.. Lol! It was bad.. I felt like I didn’t get much out of it.. It was seriously frustrating, because I wanna know, but I cant understand a thing!! And I also realized that by 7pm, do not talk to me in German! I take a longer time to process in my head.. hahah! The talk was quite long.. I think from 5.30pm to about 8.30pm.. Yesh yesh, naturally I thought it was longer and draggy, because I didn’t understand.. hahah! Oh well, it was an experience.. And it is making me a little worried about my modules during the semester!! Im soooooooo dead!!

Day 18, after lunch, we went to the Rathaus, to register our residence in Dieburg.. Yup! So it looks like Im staying in Dieburg for good.. haha! We all wont be moving anymore because its now complicated to change our address.. We’ll have to change our address at TUD, the bank, the health insurance company, the Rathaus and the place to do our visa.. So its quite troublesome now.. But its ok.. We have kinda gotten used to it.. So alles gut! :) Anyway, it was the first time walking in the centre of Dieburg, and I find it very nice!! I liked it.. I love the buildings!! hahah!

Day 19, Friday.. It was Bruno’s birthday! Yup! Nothing special in the morning.. Just our usual, eat and then go to the supermarket etc.. We reached Quartier 56 quite early.. But we met in the kitchen to celebrate his birthday.. It was a surprise! We got him a cake.. Actually, 2 cakes because 1 wasn’t enough for all.. Lol! Ching was sooo cute.. She practiced the whole night to play a very very simple birthday song on the guitar for Bruno.. I thought it was super sweet of her!

Two cakes for all of us! About 20 people...?

Yen Ching on the guitar..

Day 20, Saturday!! We didn’t have any travel plans.. I was glad actually.. I also wanted to just get to know Dieburg and Darmstadt.. So we left quite late.. We wanted to look for a flee market in Dieburg and Darmstadt.. We knew there was one in Dieburg that opens every Saturday 09:00 -13:00.. Then we planned to go Darmstadt to find the flee market too.. So on the way to the flee market near the centre of Dieburg, we saw something like a garage sale!! So cool! A few ladies were selling some stuff.. They were super friendly and nice! They gave some of us muffins for free, when we didn’t even buy anything!! haha! We didn’t make it to the other flee market in Dieburg because we were gonna catch a bus to Darmstadt.. Too bad, we didn’t get to go.. Probably it’s a much bigger one..

So in Darmstadt, we went to the tourist information centre!! Lol!! We asked where the flee market was.. Apparently, it doesn’t open every Saturday! They have specific dates etc.. So there wasn’t any that day.. Schade! [Too bad!] So we went to the garden beside the uni.. Yesh, I’ve been there before.. Oh, then we went to the Prince George Garden again!! Then now there’s flowers!! OMG!!! The other time, it was lifeless!! hahha! Sooooooo cool!! We went to the building beside it.. It was actually a library! Ok, not exactly a library, but a book place.. There were shelves of books.. Anyone can enter and read the books here.. They can read in the place itself, or bring home.. PROVIDED you leave another book there, in replacement.. So basically you can exchange books there.. Very cool concept!! Then we went back to Dieburg.. There was a party in Darmstadt at night.. I think most of them went..

Ok, this is Luisenplatz.. I didn't notice the many bikes parked here! Lol!

Some colours in the Prince George Garden.. :) Of course, this is a failed attempt of an artistic shot.. :P

In front of the 'library'.. Kate, Nico, Gerardo, Pedro and Asli, from left..

In the 'library'..

Day 21, Sunday.. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE Sundays.. It is seriously my rest day! I NEED Sundays.. I think so does everyone else, that’s why the shops are all closed! So I guess, I can slowly understand the people here..

Day 22, lessons as usual.. Nothing much! The same old routine..

Day 23, TUESDAY!! Yeay!! I skipped German lessons that day! Well, the teacher said we could skip lessons maximum twice! So today was one! Lol! Well, I had a good reason k! hehe!

So.... My reason was...... FRANKFURT!! I met my aunt and uncle there, to collect stuff from Singapore.. Hehe! We went for lunch, then walked around and bought some stuff.. I walked together with some of Paman Munir's flight crew..

One of the arms, the one with the hammer, moves up and down! So cool!!

The thing I looked forward to.. FOOD!! Good food!! hahahah! I eat alot! Finally!! I haven't ate seafood for soooooo long too, so it was fantastic! Salmon lasagne, pasta, spinach, calamari and pizza!! hahahha! 5 dishes for the 3 of us.. Lol!

We walked past a cake shop.. The cakes are super cool la! Spongebob cakes! Shark cakes! Beetle cakes! Soooo cute!! hahah!

The view from the hotel.. It's really really nice..

I had lots of fun! Took many many pictures!! This one was just outside the hotel.. haha!

It was really nice.. I had a wonderful day! And it really felt great to see a familiar face.. I was really really happy! :):) But it made me miss home more! :s

Day 24, Wednesday, I went to the office to extend my student visa.. They only gave 3 months, and apparently I need to extend this before I travel.. I have no idea why.. So I had to do it asap! I didn't get to do it then because it takes like 1 week for the Rathaus to process my residence thingy! Don't know why so late! My name wasn't in the system yet.. So wth! Some of us were thinking, 'If it was in Singapore, we could probably do it on the same day!' haha!

Then, I walked home.. I went past a playground!! And they have this skate board area.. The ramp? Yeay!! Now I feel like buying skates, or a skate board!! I wanna play here!! I think now is a good time to try something like this because I would be embarrased to try it in Singapore! Some teens, pros etc.. They would hang out in these areas, so I better try now! Anyway, there wasn't many people in this playgroung.. Only kids and their mothers playing in the nearby playground.. So its cool! And probably it'll be a good idea to try it after 1st April.. When I am insured!!

Anyway, there's a new guy in Quartier 56.. but he's only staying here for a few days.. He's Gustavo.. He holds a Brazilian and Portugese passport.. And Im talking about him now because he was born in Brazil, and has never been to Portugal! I thought it was interesting because as long as you have Portugese or Italien descendants, you can hold the country's passport.. So I thought it was damn interesting because he has a Portugese passport but has never been to Portugal.. He's actually part Italien too.. He has a very typical Italien surname.. haha! So cool! Lucky he doesn't hold an Italien passport too.. It'll be damn confusing! Lol! Anyway, since I've been here and talked to sooo many people from other countries.. I find the topic of race very interesting.. Many people see their country as their race.. But it's interesting that we don't see as such in Singapore.. There's no Singaporean race..

Day 26, I went to TU Lichtweise.. My campus.. Its not in the city centre.. I accompanied Kate to see the department staff regarding our modules.. She's in the same department as me, which is civil engineering.. Apparently, TUD's civil engineering department and the architecture department is very good.. A handful of us exchange students are from either these departments.. I was hoping that with its good reputation, maybe there are many modules in English.. But noooooooooo... So YESH! Im gonna die!! Help!!

At night, at about 7pm, there was a Chinese dinner gathering.. Some Chinese people from Quartier 56 organised and cooked for us.. I didn't eat, so it was quite weird.. They cooked dumplings, chicken (cooked in coke), fried potatos, tomato salad and beef.. But it was nice.. We just talked and made new friends.. Mainly those that came were from the German classes, so it was familiar faces..

Day 27, Saturday..... Nürnberg!!! Before I went, I had no idea where it was, what there was there and I didn't even know how to spell Nürnberg!! Lol! But now I think it was a VERY nice town.. There was a lot to see.. Probably it's better than Heidelberg! Haha! It was fairly cheap.. We used the group ticket, so one person paid 7,80 euros to and fro.. I think it was cheap, because I paid 13,90 euros to and fro Frankfurt, when Frankfurt is much much nearer to Darmstadt! So it was good..

Me, in the train..

We were supposed to meet at 5.50am.. Guess what time I woke up?? 5.50am!!! OMG!!! Kate actually knocked my door to ask me to hurry, but she didn't know I just woke up! So they all left me!! I rushed like crazy!! This was the fastest I've took to get dressed etc.. About 7 mins in total! So I ran to catch up with them.. But I didn't.. I only met them at the busstop, which was super far! Remember it was a Saturday, so there were hardly as buses to my nearest busstop.. OMG!! I was panting sooooooooo much!! It was terrible.. Imagine, you just woke up and you had to run like crazy!!

So we left together to Darmstadt train station.. The funny thing is................................. The train from Darmstadt actually pass Dieburg!! It past Dieburg at about 7.30am!! I was soooooooooooo annoyed, because I could have slept somemore!!! And we didn't have to leave early! Goodness!! We wasted soooo much time.. But its okla.. Lesson learnt! Do more thorough research! :P:P

This was outside the Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof.. The main station..

I thought this was interesting.. This is the map for the blind/ visually-handicapped.. It is in the transport information centre, in the main station.. I wonder how is this useful to the blind, because maybe the blind can read the map, because it outlines the buildings and road etc.. But how is he getting to his destination?? hahah! Maybe the thought that counts.. Very disabled-friendly country..

Yesh, this is for the reading.. But I don't know what is the contents.. Lol! And it should be in German.. So hmmm.... It'll be quite interesting.. Oh! Is there something similar for Chinese??

This is the view of the outside of the handicraft centre..

Just a picture of a shop in the handicraft centre..

I love this picture.. Btw, Hoffnung means hope..

Eier!! Eggs!! Very pretty! Over here, since Easter Day is coming, you'll find LOTS of eggs! Eggs everywhere! I wonder how Easter will be like here.. It seems like a very very big thing.. Which I never really felt in Singapore.. Anyway, they invited me to join them in the church on Easter.. Hmmm... It'll be good to just see, but I don't know eh.. I haven't decided.. Most of them here are Catholics btw..

This wall is a common sight.. It seems like these are the walls that surround the city central area..

Ok, a brief history of Nürnberg, Nuremberg in English.. Nürnberg is a very historic city/ town.. It was an important city during the Middle Ages, due to its location on key trade routes.. During the Nazi era, the Nazi Party chose the city to be the site of huge Nazi Party conventions–the Nürnberg rallies. The rallies were held annually from 1927 to 1938 in Nürnberg. After Hitler's rise to power in 1933 the Nürnberg rallies became huge state propaganda events, a center of Nazi ideals. There's this huge Nazi Party rally ground that I really wanted to go, but it was really out of the way.. Schade.. [Too bad..] Then the Nürnberg trials.. Between 1945 and 1946, German officials involved in the Holocaust and other war crimes were taken in front of an international tribunal in the Nürnberg Trials. The Soviet Union had wanted the trials to take place in Berlin, but Nürnberg was chosen as the site for the trials.. So it's a very significant city..

I believe this was built after the war.. This is about human right etc..

Each pillar has the articles, I believe, for a law passed after the war.. I don't know exactly.. So on each pillar, it'll be written in German and in another language, eg Arabic, Chinese, Portugese, Spanish, Greek, Hindi etc..

This is St. Lorenz Church. This is a medieval church.. Honestly.. I think the building is very grand and beautiful.. But I don't understand why they have many scary figures.. Evil-looking statues, naked people etc.. It's really scary and ugly.. Very gothic style..

Me, Kate and Asli in front of this St. Lorenz Church.. I went in, but we were not allowed to take pics..

On a bridge..

This is the Frauenkirche, which means Our Lady's Church.. We didn't go in.. I can't remember why.. In front of it, is a huge market, Hauptmarkt.. This is usually the main attraction.. You'll see alot of postcards with this..

There were lots of fruits..

And flowers....

And more flowers....

And more and more flowers.... Spring is coming, you see..

Ok, another picture of me.. :)

hahah! Flowers by the street!!

We went to the TOY MUSEUM!!! OMG!!! I loved it ALOT ALOT ALOT!! I felt like a kid then! It was 4 storeys high!! There were all kinds of toys.. Some were very familiar, like lego and other simple toys.. It was super cool la! It really made me soooooooo happy!!

Hehe! Huge Lego blocks!!

Trains!! Imagine working here.. You get to play with all these toys etc.. Very cool job! I like the train section too.. Only the dolls sections that I don't like.. It's a little scary for me! Reminds me of Chuck and his bride.. hahah!

Just a huge steel structure, made of short metal strips joined together.. Then a girl actually climbed that thing!! haha!

Little miniature models.. All complete with the furniture!! Very cool!

I think this was funny! I spent 5 mins playing with this thing! Lol!

Ok, this is another medieval church.. Another scary, gothic church.. St. Sebaldus Church.. Yesh, I entered this one.. I think the churches here are mainly Protestants'..

I learnt that the churches must have high ceiling, so that everytime you enter a church, you'll feel small.. Like how you should feel small in front of your god.. So these usually makes the churches very grand.. I like the tall ceilings.. Spacious!

No idea what this is..

HUGE organ! I haven't seen a church that doesn't have a huge organ like this.. [Actually I've only been to 3 churches.. haha! And all have huge ones like this..]

This is at the very front of the church.. The left, according to my friends, is where the wine and bread are.. A symbolic thing.. The right, I don't know what it is..

Ok, FYI.. This shirt cost more than 1,000 euros!! When I saw the price, I laughed! And an old lady couple, who was near me, turned to me and laughed with me.. They knew why I was laughing.. Because it was ridiculously expensive!!

Ok, I found many street performers! Balloon guy!

A clown with his dog.. And many many more...

When I was walking back to the main station, I met this guy.. He was very interesting.. He had a bible in this hand, preaching.. Very 'emotional' guy.. And I saw a bunch of youngsters/ clowns talking to him and I think disturbing him..

Before boarding the train.. From left, Yen Ching, me, Kate, Nicolas and Gerardo..

Yup yup! At Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof! :)

On my way home, the sky was beautiful! Pink, red, orange etc...

Today is Day 28.. Wow! Exactly 4 weeks here! My goodness!! Time really past sooooo fast!! I have about 4 more months left here! :s

Ok, so today is Sunday! Like I’ve said, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sundays! My rest day.. I think its nice to stay at home, in Dieburg.. I cooked lunch! Spagetti, with sausage! Its soooooooooooooooo yummy!! I LOVED IT!! So proud of myself! hehe! Then I went jogging.. I went with Bruno and Thiago.. I intended to find the mosque in Dieburg, but I couldn’t find it!!! I promised Bruno that I’d show him a mosque, because he has been asking me to! He’s just curious, I guess, like how I was curious about the churches..

Anyway, I went jogging! Yesh! In the COLD!! It was TOUGH!! It was cold and I only wore one layer of clothes, when the temperature was 9 degree Celsius!! It was kinda bad for me.. Because Im breathing in COLD air, and my body is warm.. It was difficult to breathe.. Its not that my legs were tired [btw they were COLD], so I had a hard time! Probably slowly I’ll get used to it.. Im hoping for nicer weather! Please come!!

And Im soooooo happy that it’s the 22nd!! It’s the start of spring! Weeee~!! It makes me happy thinking of good weather! I think I love the weather in Singapore! I know sometimes it can be very humid, but I prefer warm weather than cold weather! I love the sun!! I don’t like to have to wear soooo many layers of clothes! And I have to wear 2 thick socks, and it can be very troublesome.. Anyway, last week, we discussed about the weather in class.. And there’s this quote.. “Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechte kleidung", which means ‘There’s no such thing as a bad weather, just bad clothing’.. hahahah!!