I got there, and people were swimming laps. There were starting blocks, lines along the bottom, but no lane lines. And as logical as we know Germans to be, it was pretty impressive to watch them bumble around. It'd be like driving down a road without lines. But I hopped in, and just started swimming anyway. I would describe my workout best as "slalom swimming". After about 45 minutes, I got what I needed (sort of), and headed back for breakfast.
I took care of some things on my bike, watched a short movie, and also started to clean & organize for my move on Sunday. I then met some of the adidas people for a couple hours down at the Herzo Old City festival. But Saturday closed quietly, and I enjoyed my last night for awhile in a bed.
Sunday was all about laundry, finishing my pantry, and packing up. My life was put back into suitcases again. After a couple of 20 minute trips with bags, I got fully settled into my new "place" around 6pm. I would have the corner of the common room for my stuff, but the price was right (free!). It was 3 adidas guys slightly younger than me, each also doing an internship. 1 German guy inbusiness & 2 guys from India studying industrial engineering. They were very welcoming & pleasant, and as the evening closed, we had great conversation.
It was time for bed, but the couch was too small. So I pulled off the cushions, put them on the floor, and slept there. It was not how I imagined my 3rd week would begin, but I also realized it could be much worse.
On Monday morning at 5am, I learned what time the sun comes up. And I also learned that the Indian guys get up at 7am. And as the week would go on, I knew when the bathroom or kitchen was being used. But I was strangely happy that I had managed to find a free temporary place to stay in less than 2 weeks.
I still got to work via shuttle, and could actually start doing work things! I started on my training modules for simulation software. And I realized I could finally focus on work. My mind wasn't stressing and drifting off about apartments. When the work day would finish, I would grab groceries and then headed back to my place. There was no room in the fridge, so I ate mostly bread and dips. Since I didn't have a key, I also didn't have the luxury to come and go. But as I said, things could have been much worse.
Monday night came to close, and I had survived 2 weeks! But my goodness, it had felt much longer. And, as a perspective, I had been in Australia only 4 weeks ago. Life was seeming a bit crazy at the moment. It was being broken up into 2 week segments. And it would be ~2 weeks in this current situation. Maybe thats why its also called a "fort night"...because its just about defending and surviving.
The friebad (pool)
My first swim in Germany!
Germans trying to swim at Herzo pool
My 3 new roommates
My corner in the world
The kitchen
The common room
View out the window
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