The second day is always better

It was good to be able to travel from Stuttgart to Göttingen with fellow students who will also be studying here in the next year. And even better was it that two of my fellow travelers had already been here for a semester and knew their way around. We went straight from the train station to the Stift- which will be my permanent residence for the remainder of my time here. To be honest my first impression was a bit overwhelming.

I as entered the Stift I was greeted by this grand staircase, which was nothing at all like I had pictured the Stift to be. I don't really know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. From here I was rushed to visit the Hausmeister where I received the necessary keys, papers to be filled out and a tour of my room (on the top floor!), all the while being spoken to in German that was more than a mile a minute. I have learned to wait until a good nights sleep to make any permanent judgments. After waking up the next day- I certainly felt much better about my home and began to see the charm that is within its walls. Never have I lived in such a place and perhaps will I never again live in such a place.

The view looking down the staircase- quite charming.

It's amazing what a throw, some candles, plastic flowers and wrapping paper (covering the doors to my wardrobe) can do to brighten a place up! Somehow I avoided all the traditional cliches of college life, never living in a dormitory with small bedrooms, lofted beds, and shared bathrooms, so now is my chance to live into that. I like to think of my room as a two story room, my living room, study and breakfast nook is downstairs and my bedroom is upstairs. Although having to climb down the ladder in the morning before having truly woken up is perhaps a dangerous thing.

After nearly a week of camping with my winter mummy bag and travel pillow, I found a good deal on bed linens making my "bedroom" nice and cozy (yeah for bargain bins!). Notice the HUGE pillow. They don't come much smaller than that around here. And also for the record, it seems as if sheets aren't common- I do fit in! Also notice that there is plenty of space for a second mattress for visitors...

Tomorrow is the first day of classes, which I'm excited are finally here. Hopefully the preperation at Goethe Institute will pay off and I'll be able to understand the lectures.