Did you know that today, Friday July 13, 2014 – is the FIRST time since 1919 that Friday the 13th and a full moon occur on the same day? Bizarre! (Well now that’s in the past because I did not get this posted in time!)

Random information… but those are the types of things we write in journals, right?

I have always been a journal kind of gal. At some points I have been extremely diligent… others, not so much.

But thankfully, during the most important and interesting periods of my life, I kept really detailed records.

I hate the thought of those memories just sitting in binders in the attic.

I’ve decided to type up my journal from my time in Europe after I graduated college. For two reasons – one – I want an electronic copy of my journal. And Two – I think it’s a great story that I may one day turn into an actual memoir.

So why not share it with you all? So on Fridays, I will give you bits and pieces of my adventures. I hope you’ll read and share!

 

Germany 1999

This is my journal entry. If I actually make it to a memoir, I will clean it up and of course, show more than tell!

A little bit of background before jumping in. I graduated from the University of South Carolina in August 1999. Shortly after graduation (and a really fun vacation down the coast with my bestie Kerry!) I packed up and headed to Europe. I did not know exactly what would come of it. I had a temporary work pass for France, but I knew I wanted to travel.

And of course, there was a boy. I was hoping to see if things could work out with my boyfriend from when I’d been in France.

I wanted to start my adventure in Germany. I had a very good friend (more like a sister) in Germany. Kathrin had been our exchange student several years prior, and the two of us had really bonded. I planned on spending some time with her, and then I would move on to France.

Now that you have a little bit of context, here we go.

 

August 18, 1999

My first full day in Germany.

I actually arrived yesterday, but I don’t want to count that because it was spent in planes, trains and automobiles.

I finally made it across Germany with all of my stupid luggage (I swear, I only brought half as much stuff as when I moved to France for school, and it’s still unbearable!)

I missed the first train to Kathrin’s house, so I took an hour to relax. I called mom, at a brotchen (mmm) and sat and waited. I finally made it to Sachsendorf at 8:38p.m. Kathrin met me at the platform – a tiny little platform in the middle of absolutely nowhere – thank goodness I had been here before so I knew where to get off the train! We went to their family home and had pizza.

Kathrin is working crazy hours in a bakery about 40 minutes away. She works from 1opm – 7am, so she left and I spent the evening with her parents and brother. That was interesting, to say he least, since non of them speak any English, and my German is truly basic.

I went to bed at about 10:30, absolutely exhausted, and they woke me up at 8:30a.m. when Kathrin returned from work.

This was our routine for the next few days. Her younger brother, Christian, showed me how to check email on their computer, so I could at least write home and check for news.

When Kathrin left for work, I’d sit in her room and listen to her music. She’s totally into dark, gothic music, which is half frightening, half bizarre, and just straight up bizarre. The background has such a solid beat, almost like techno, but their voices are so scary. It reminds me of vampires. When I listen to it, I imagine a scary movie starring me and it’s always a death scene. A dark room, a slow murder – that’s what this kind of music evokes. Horrible, yet erotic. Sick, I know.

Of course, Kathrin’s not satanic or anything, she is just all into the Goth world. You should see the two beautiful goth gowns she has. They are long, flowy, and dark black – just like something a vampire would wear. With her pale skin and jet black hair (yes, she dyed her gorgeous blond hair black!) she looks like a vampire. But just spend a moment talking to her, and her warmth and kindness is apparent.

It’s colder here than at home, so tomorrow we’re going into to town to get a few things. I want to get some sweat pants – or “jogginghose” as they are called in German.