The main goal of this summer is to prepare for my research language exams in September. I am required to demonstrate reading proficiency in French and German enroute to my PhD and what better way to prepare for these exams than by moving to the German-French border for the summer?
Here is the plan - Fly from New York to Frankfurt with an afternoon layover in Iceland. Eventually get to Heidelberg. Get an apartment. Move in. Watch the World Cup. Cheer. Drink German beer and eat Bratwurst – daily.
Study German everyday, French when I feel like it - practice speaking in both the pubs and Bierhäuser at night.
Get in touch with the German Assyriological community – Heidelberg University and the Voderasiatische Museum in Berlin. Check out the Ištar Gate.
Take a “vacation” for a couple days in the middle of the summer. (Barcelona? Pompeii?)
Stay at a Bed and Breakfast in France.
Go past being a tourist and try to “get” Europe this time.
The trip was so easy that I felt like I was cheating. My intention to enjoy a brief layover in Iceland was cut short by the excessive rains in the east coast of the US – we were delayed and I barely made my connecting flight in Reykjavik. This loss was made up for by the company of the young man sitting beside me during the flight however. Urius is from the northernmost city in Iceland and he speaks the most guttural dialect of Icelandic. To speak to him you seriously get the impression you are speaking to a Viking, and he takes every opportunity to remind you how proud he is of that heritage. We had fabulous conversation and he convinced me that I have not lived if I have not visited Iceland.
(Special thanks to Hoffmann for his picture - Unfortunately I did not take any because I wasn't there long enough.)
