Next time: Facewash.

Not much to update about tonight. I'm kind of tired today and the schooling is catching up with me. We have six hours of school a day and so it leaves very little for other things. Although, I am nowhere near complaining since I have no job right now (that might happen in Tuebingen) and Elke doesn't have many requirements of me, maybe to help load the dishwasher because that's hard for her to bend down on crutches. She even does my laundry! What a crazy world these Germans live in...

I am getting this feeling that my German isn't actually getting better, despite the comments from my host family, but rather worse. I realize this probably isn't so, but when the thought of attending another University completely in a foreign language is looming over your head, you have your doubts.

That is only compacted by the fact that Germans can, without any mistakes, pick out a foreigner. Especially one from the United States. It's like a sixth sense. Or maybe I emit a pheromone and it reeks of McDonald's and fanny packs. I have no idea, but either way on some subconscious level they just know I am not one of them. It is sometimes a hostile feeling that's hard to explain.

For example, today a little kid threw a snowball at me and I felt discriminated against. Honestly indignant: I was thinking, why would he throw that at me? Is it because I'm American? Do I yell at him? Oh crap, how do you insult a seven-year-old in German? Afterward I considered avoiding him and ended up sulking away with my head down and proverbial tail between my legs.
Now let's be real here, the kid probably lobbed a snowball at any mobile object in his range, so I shouldn't be hurt. Then why was I worried? It's a weird feeling, truly and definitely something interesting to think about. (Epilogue: I told Elke and Volker about the incident and they said next time chuck back as many snowballs as I can before he runs away. I take that as permission to facewash him in the snow.)

I believe that's all for tonight. Best to everyone back home and a big thank you to everyone who reads. I hope you enjoy.
Bis bald.