The Rest of the Story

So I promised I would be back and here I am, well rested.

I spent a lot of my weekend in Stuttgart, our free trip of the week was there and so it was a good excuse to visit the Abele's. Apologies to all in the states, because it is beautiful here. Upper fifties and sunny. I guided a miniature-tour of my own that may or may not have included a group of Stuttgarters giving out free hugs.

That night, I bid ado to my group and went to the Abele's house where we went to Ray's volleyball game. It's beginning to be quite a tradition and I am apparently Ray's biggest fan. I was told, but this is a lie, that I was the first to yell at an out ball (In English because my reaction times are not that fast in German) and I'm pretty positive everyone thinks I'm insane. I'm fine with that considering their team is pretty awesome. Ubly girls volleyball team: we're going to take a field trip to Germany to watch these guys play. Next week is against Konstanz and I've considered making a "That just happened!" sign. Other than that, I napped a lot. Love visiting Nick.

On the train back to Horb I took my first real test in German: How well can she speak in the real world?
Score: Eh.
I went to the Hauptbahnhof myself and was a little behind schedule. While jogging to my platform (Is it weird I had to look up the English word for platform but knew it in German?) a conductor stopped me and told me that if I wanted to go to Horb the platform had been changed. Bonus points for not having to have to ask him to repeat himself.
On the train itself I asked a man if the seat beside him was free. That is a four-word sentence in German. It took four words for that man to realize that I am American. Nevertheless he conversed with me the entire hour long ride back to Horb. He spoke no English, and that's where I feel I succeeded. He told me about his fifty-six years of working and what his retirement plans are for next month. Yeah, I am going to take that as a personal accomplishment. In a sink-or-swim situation I belly flop and then doggy paddle my way through.
 Bis bald.