Well in a completely spontaneous, last minute manner, somehow I have found myself in Germany again. I was told at work that I should take vacation and they told me about 5 days before they wanted me to take it... I put it on Facebook that I was off for 9 days or so and Pete suggested Munich as a vacation spot. He didn't think I'd take it seriously, and I didn't at first, but it got me thinking... In an I-can't-believe-how-crazy-this-would-be sort of way, I started to look up flights and before I knew it I was set on going. I've never planned a trip so spur-of-the-moment... I booked flights only four days or so in advance, and I packed about two hours before my mom came to pick me up. The whole time I couldn't believe I was actually going to go through with it, and even now I can't believe I'm back. It's been just over two years since I left, just over three since I came here the first time.

My mom took me to the airport and had lunch with me there. The flight went well--flew out from Hartford with a layover in Philadelphia. The captain came on the speaker system shortly after boarding and said something, but in my typical Sara fashion I was absorbed in a word puzzle of some sort and had absolutely no idea what he said. I hesitated to ask the woman next to me because I was worried about annoying her--when I got on the plane she had to get up so I could get in, and then immediately after I realized that I had put my bag in the overhead compartment and I wanted stuff in there, so I made her get up again so I could get it. She looked like a professional, a buisnesswoman of some sort, definitely accustomed to flying. I figured she would think I was a froot loop. She got up after the announcement was made and still I had no idea what was going on. Eventually I asked her what was said--apparently the plane was delayed because Philly was too busy. She was very nice about it though, and said that Philly is always like that (I was right, she was flying on business). She asked about my connecting flight, assured me that they pad the schedules so we probably wouldn't be too late, and when we got there she let me go ahead of her so I could go quicker. We ended up only being about 10 minutes behind schedule, and I had plenty of time to catch the second filght. I don't have the foggiest idea how the first flight went--I was out cold before we even took off, and woke up just in time to land. The second flight was longer--I read, ate, and slept. No big deal. It actually went surprisingly quickly.

I had bought a blanket and pillow at the airport before I left. I debated whether or not that was really necessary, but I was so glad I did. I tend to be cold and the blanket I brought was much warmer than the one provided on the plane. I ended up using both blankets and both pillows and it was amazing. The best part was when I spilled tea all over myself during breakfast, an hour and a half before we were to land, the blanket helped catch some before it soaked into my pants, and then I used it to help mop up the rest. I am a genius.

Then I went through passport control and the lady seemed very skeptical of me--i have never experienced such scrutiny during one of those things. Usually they just glance and send me on my way. First she asked me if I was with the people who just left. Which would be weird, because if I was, I would be mad becaues they were walking away, not waiting for me. So i told her no, and she asked if I was travelling alone. Since there was no one around me, I figured this was obvious. I replied yes, I was. She asked me when I was coming back, and I told her on the 8th, a little over a week. She then asked me, "To Germany?" Huh? We were in Germany! And I had just flown here. And I was going through passport control so I could leave the airport. So I responded with something witty and clever like, "What?" She clarified "Only to Germany?" "Yes" Now that my verbal test was apparently over, she took a good 10 to 15 seconds to scrutinize my passport, flipping pages, looking at me, flipping more pages, looking back at me, looking back at my passport, turning it around. Who knows, maybe they don't have Asians in Germany. With a last scrutinizing look, she finally surrendered my passport and I was free!

The rest was easy--the first bag I saw was mine, so i grabbed it. Pete wasn't there when I got off the plane so I found an ATM and got some Euro. I debated trying to call him or something but I went back to look for him again and I found him waiting for me. I snuck up behind him and asked if he was waiting for someone--I think it surprised him because I was coming from the wrong direction.

We went to his house, dropped off my stuff, and headed out towards the Karlsplatz area, near where I used to live. We wandered around and sat on a statue, like old times. Pete seems as fun as ever--goofy and silly like always, we've laughed a considerable amount already and i haven't even seen him that much. I can't wait to hang out with him more. We've done a considerable amount of reminiscing--it seems unbelievable we met about three years ago.

Then we got lunch at the Hofbräuhaus outside. I had käsespätzle (I'm not sure how many umlauts are in that word... I'll just throw a bunch in) and beer--so German! I miss that stuff! As we were eating, an oompah band started playing, and a pretzel girl was walking around. All the waitresses were in dirndls. It was perfect.

Then we went back to his house and he had to leave for work--just a half day. So I wandered out again and found myself back in the same area. To my surprise and delight, I wandered by a Burger King (that was not the surprising and delightful part, but I'm getting there.) There used to be a guy there who played the violin (badly) and sometimes over his head. He was a fixture, and I often left him money--there was even one time with Pete and Perk that we asked him to play over his head for us (I feel like I need Pete's feature and make that a link to his blog.) Pete and I had been just talking about him, and he said that he hadn't seen him in a while. I was hoping he was okay. Anyway (surprising and delightful part) when I went by Burger King I saw him! He was playing the same as always and when I put a few Euro in his case he grinned at me, played his violin over his head, and blew me a kiss. I'm sure he didn't recognize me, but it was nice to see that he was up to his old antics. It made me smile.

For old time's sake, I went and got my hair cut at the first place I ever got it cut in Munich, right next to where I used to live. I love getting my hair cut in random places--Maine, Georgia, Munich, Paris, Beijing--I don't know why. The place has changed--it's bigger and more people work there, but I'm pretty sure it's where I got it done that first time. For some reason I suddenly couldn't keep my eyes open--I actually fell asleep briefly as I was waiting in the chair, and then while the guy was cutting I kept closing my eyes and trying not to nod off. He was laughing at me.

I could probably have used Pete's computer at some point, but just for fun I came back to the place I used to go for internet before my computer arrived. It is still here, and it seems the same as ever. It is some sort of game place--there are all sorts of games that are constantly beeping, whirring, and playing snippets of tunes. It sounds very familiar. So here I am again on this crazy German keyboard, switching Y and Z and constantly losing the at sign and question mark. And since when does it require shift to make an apostrophe? I keep typing random things like ö and Ä and spelling things like crayz.

My current tentative plan is to visit MIS tomorrow while Pete is at work. Then ultimate frisbee tomorrow night. I'm not sure if I wll be able to play--I sprained my ankle a couple of weeks and it stil bothers me, which I think is just stupid. Ultimate frisbee is exactly what I should not do for an injured ankle--running without looking on uneven ground, stopping, starting, turning, and twisting. But I think it's stupid that it would still bother me, so I might just give it a try. Regardless, it will be good to see everyone and hang out afterwards, which, lets face it, is what frisbee is all about anyway. I'm not exactly Miss Athletic, who are we kidding?

Anyway, since I am back in Munich, I thought it fitting that I add a blog entry to this old page that I haven't touched in two years. I thought it especially fitting that it be from the same internet place. Drinking spetzie, which is orange soda and coke mixed together. I have no idea how to spell that word--I looked it up and didn't find anything useful. I might write another blog, I might not. I'll try to write some more and take pictures as well. Tsüss!