Week 1

Well, I am now settled in Hannover.  I live in the international student dorms, on the 9th floor.  My room is white walled with gray cabinets/closet/desk and brownish laminate flooring.  Luckily, my German bedspread has a very bright color palette of orange, blue, yellow and green... it sounds like a lot, but its actually very cheery and happens to match the orange sink countertop and blue shades, so that's nice.  I have a great view of the city from my window, complete with a church bell tower.  I've never really been a city person, but I must admit, I am very happy to overlook this part of town.  Even though the room is small, its just the right size for what I need.  When my suitcases finally arrive, I will feel much more at home.  They should be here by the end of the week hopefully!

The bathroom and shower are conveniently right next door, and the kitchen is down the hall where I have my own cubby and room in the fridge and freezer. I haven't cooked anything yet though, since most of my free time has either been spent at this desk answering emails or winding down with a book on the bed.  It has been a very busy couple of days, so I am thankful to seclude myself for a while, even though everyone I have met so far has been very friendly and welcoming.

The two people I have been in most contact with are Steffi, who picked me up at the airport and helped me get registered, and Franchesca, who is my tutor-friend.  Steffi showed me where my second internship with the Freundeskreis Tambacounda, a non-profit organization that deals with development projects in Senegal and relations between Hannover and Tambacounda, is since her friend works with them.  I will have an interview next week to hopefully finalize my participation with them.  Steffi and I plan to keep in touch, and might go out for a drink soon.  Franchesca, who is actually Italian, will be with me for my entire stay here in Hannover.  I am very happy to have her as my tutor and already consider her a good friend.  She has helped me set up my bank account, get my student Bahnkarte and ID, and we even went shopping together, as I have no clean clothes to wear yet!  She also helped me find the internship I am currently interning for at the EIZ, the European Information Center for Niedersachsen.

I've only worked there for two days, and will have a better idea of what project I will be working on in the days to come.  So far I have read through the huge binder of intern information that describes my secretarial duties and what to do when visitors come.  Basically, I direct them to the proper pamphlets and fliers they need to answer their questions about the European Union.  I am looking forward to my assigned project that deals with relations between Niedersachsen and Scotland.  I will soon help in writing to the Minister of Scotland, inviting him to our branch in Germany for a conference concerning renewable energy.  The people I work with are also very nice, although the head boss lady is rather intimidating.  The other intern there, Chiara, pronounced "Key-are-ah" (I think its a very pretty name), is Italian as well and has helped me figure everything out.  She is very talkative and friendly and since she isn't German either, it helps relieve some pressure off of me :)  I'm actually the first American intern they have had, since normally its German students who intern there.  I work at the EIZ MTW from 8:30-4 and on Thursday until 6pm.  Fridays and the weekends are off!  Tomorrow I will go to an international- student excursion to Königslutter, where we will visit a music museum and I think some old ruins.  I'll probably talk about it later.

I hope to do more exploring in Hannover once I have better adjusted to my surroundings.  So far I know how to get on the bus/subway system, which I am very proud of, and where to find the bakery near my residence, the discount supermarket, and the international center.  It has been very gray and rainy and actually quite cold, but I hope I'll have a nice day soon so I can enjoy looking around more.  Its funny being in Germany again... things I thought I forgot from my childhood keep popping up, like the little chocolate koala bear treats I used to eat.  I am also very much enjoying the good German food!

I'll write again soon, please contact me whenever you want with questions!