Early November was crazy busy for us. The week after Berlin we went to Hamburg for a German Fulbright Alumni Association event, which included things like wine receptions at the US Consulate and “networking” – AKA hanging out with current Fulbrighters from the US and past Fulbrighters who had recently come back to Germany after their Fulbright year. It was a really fun weekend, and we got to meet so many new people, but we spent a lot of time conferencing, so I’d love to go back to Hamburg sometime and see more of the city itself.
Gabby, Breanna, and I all dressed up for the reception at the consulate for the German Fulbright Alumni Association
The next weekend and the following week most of us decided to stay around the Ruhrpott to recuperate from all the galavanting across the country we’d been doing. We hung out in Bochum and enjoyed some sunny weather, and Susanna, Gabby, Claire, and I spent the day cooking tasty food (because it is everything) and having a Lord of the Rings movie marathon.
Sunny days in Bochum
The next week the Christmas markets officially opened in all of their glory (they’d been open before, but the festivities really got underway after Totensonntag (Dead Sunday – an old Prussian holiday where you remember all of your dead loved ones on a day where you’re not allowed to play music or dance. Afterwards you can celebrate Christmas!). We saw the world’s largest Christmas tree lit up in Dortmund. Jess and I went to the market in Herne, which was actually extremely sad… so sad we just got on the train and went to the one in Bochum. We’ve spent a good few nights after class at the market in Bochum. On my birthday, I went to the Essen market after class, where the crew bestowed me with one of those adorable little gingerbread hearts. They’re the best.
Dortmund Christmas Market
Dortmund Christmas Market
Roommates made me a birthday cookie cake! “The best thing to come out of America. I mean, besides you, of course.”
My roommates also gave me a homemade advent calendar hanging above my bed. Too cool!
Birthday in Essen!
Laufen mit Liz 