First Impressions

Today started late. Susan and I slept until almost eleven because of jet lag, but we were up quickly enough and poised to meet Ulrike at the Institute at around quarter to noon. We caught the 11:39 bus into town, but sadly realized that we took the bus going the other way, and so sat on the bus for 45 minutes as we did circuit to the end and back around. We finally arrived at Banhopf strasse and easily found our way to the institute, where a nervous-looking Ulrike was waiting outside for us.
Dr. Brauer (who is in charge of us over here) was in class, so Ulrike brought us to the cafeteria for lunch and we got some tasty pasta for only about 2 euros! She showed us the inside of the Institute, where we met first Dr. Serembus, and then Dr. Brauer, who gave us our rent money (though who we’re supposed to give it to, no one seems to know…).
The day was not rainy like yesterday, but it was windy and overcast – quite cold. I discovered that my rain jacket was not packed like I thought, and so Ulrike, Susan, and I walked around town where there are many stores and found a jacket me for and for Susan – who hadn’t accounted for the cold weather. After we obtained our coats, Ulrike showed us around town a bit and we popped into several more stores and bought notebooks for classes. Susan and I wandered around town and took pictures for an hour or so after Ulrike left for class and then we had class with Dr. Serembus. The class was American Political Values and Ideals. Class was from 4:15 to 5:45, but it didn’t seem long at all. Dr. Serembus had some really interesting takes on the interpretation on the Declaration of Independence that I’d never thought of before, and I was riveted. Apparently Susan and I were riveting to the class however, because after Dr. Serembus introduced us, they couldn’t seem to take their eyes off of us.
After class I asked Dr. Serembus to join us for dinner since we really had no plans, but he invited us instead to dinner at an Asian buffet he knew. He was going to pick up his friend who came with him and then meet us there. We walked there the way he directed us, and it took us only ten minutes or so, so we arrived long before they did. We stood outside for about fifteen minutes – unsure of what to do, but it was getting really cold, so we just decided to go in and sit down.
I asked the man if he spoke English, and he responded with “No, I don’t speak English.”I resisted the urge to laugh at the irony while Susan explained to him in impressively good German that we were waiting for two more people. He seated us, and we ordered the flat-rate buffet meal and drinks. The food was quite good, including the deep-fried banana, which I found delicious! I was brought my water and a small of glass of some kind of alcohol. Dr. Serembus reasoned that it was “cherry-water”, and I tried some, but the kick was too great and I left it alone.
After eating, Dr. Serembus gave us a small tour in his car, and we stopped off at the neighboring town of Wieck to look at the water. Afterwards he brought us back to the apartment and here we sit, getting ready for bed.
I’ve noticed that Greifswald seems rather American-ized. The brands in the drugstore and the music on the radio are partly American, and ads that I see remind me of ads I see at home, so the culture may be similar too. That sort of surprised me, and Ulrike told me that some people resent it, while others don’t mind so much.
Gute Nacht for now!