Days #217-231

So I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd updated my blog until three of my family members all contacted me on the same day to ask if I was ever going to update it again. I suppose that's when you know.

Since it's been roughly two weeks (EEK, SORRY), I'm going to give you a play-by-play, real quick rundown of a few highlights because it's been JAM-PACKED, NON-STOP FUN, YEAH!

Friday, April 24:
This was a momentous occasion indeed. The Heidelberg ESN (Erasmus Students Network) arranged an international dinner where everyone brings food from his or her own country, and you vote on the best food. Fittingly, Tom and I made Swedish meatballs to represent our Swedish heritage. You know, since we're cousins. AND WHO WOULDA THUNK- WE WON THE PRIZE FOR BEST SAVORY DISH! Granted, we did alter the original recipe a little bit by adding some taco seasoning... but it all worked out in the end.

Saturday, April 25 - Sunday, April 26
SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT, WOO HOO!!!!! My friend Heidi (who is from California and part of my program here in Heidelberg) and I accompanied the Heidelberg softball team to an overnight tournament about an hour away where we played 7 games, camped outside in tents on the grass, and pet at least 6 dogs. 

I got to play left field, second base, and catcher, and here's the thing about German softball slash German sports in general: No. One. Cheers. At all. Everyone is silent. So of course, Heidi and I were the loudest ones on the team (she played softball in high school as well). 

We played against lots of american teams that were mostly comprised of people who were stationed in Heidelberg and decided to stay in the surrounding areas. But these teams were... well.... very American. I'm talking pink and american flag camo, culturally insensitive team names, talking about how America is the best country in the world, didn't-ever-bother-to-learn-any-German Americans. No wonder we get a bad reputation abroad.

BUT despite all this, we had a fabulous time- our coach brought his guitar and we sang along before going to bed Saturday night. Even though we left Heidelberg at 6am Saturday morning, slept on the ground, and played 7 games before getting home at 6pm Sunday night, I was extremely happy (and exhausted) when I got back.

Monday, April 27 - Wednesday, April 29
Classes.
Also, I realized on Wednesday that I had a presentation due Thursday LOL but it was on a play that I had already read, and it was a super interesting topic, so I didn't mind staying up all night to work on it!

Thursday, April 30
My presentation went off without a hitch! I even included a Harry Potter slide, which made everyone laugh and now maybe the Germans in my class will accept me and think I am funny, which would be totally brill (an abbreviation for "brilliant" that my adorable British friend uses). There was also some kind of festival up on a mountain, but as it was raining and kinda cold and I hadn't slept the night before I decided to forgo that idea and, instead, sleep forever.

Friday, May 1
Yay for no classes on Friday! Two of my friends and I did a day trip to Stuttgart, which is a little over an hour southeast of Heidelberg by train. We got to explore Stuttgart's Fruhlingsfest, and it was actually very lucky that it was raining because a) since we spent most of our time inside it didn't affect us anyway and b) because the inside parts were MUCH less crowded, and therefore we could breathe and see and not get run over! We explored the city a bit, and even got a rose from a man dressed in lederhosen, which apparently is a big deal. Other exciting things: we saw roughly a billion bachelorette parties, and Stuttgart had a Dunkin Donuts in their train station.

Saturday, May 2
HOLI! Holi is an Indian festival, which is the celebration of color. A group of friends and I went to Mannheim, the next town over from Heidelberg, so attend the celebration where basically you throw color at each other and dance and are happy all day long. We took some pretty awesome before and after photos. And during photos. And just awesome photos in general.

We're a 90's hip hop band called "Those Kids Your Parents Warned You About"

We found some flowers

This is how the color happened

And this is what we looked like after aka when we were all smurfs.

Sunday, May 3 - Friday, May 8

Homework. And classes. May 4th was obviously a great day because it was STAR WARS DAY! (Get it? May the 4th be with you?). And, of course, the next day is Revenge of the 5th. We got to sit out on the banks of the Neckar and we're almost attacked by geese, so that was also a very interesting experience. Yesterday (Friday) my friend and I planned a (hopefully!) trip to Poland, and this morning I got to skype with Kayla where we planned a (hopefully!) trip to Brussels and Düsseldorf. It's been an action-packed few weeks, my avid readers, and don't forget that tomorrow is Mother's Day! 

Happy now, Uncle Mark? :)