May 10, 2012

Up bright and early at 8am today to go to our first, and only, lecture at the University of Regensburg. The University was only a mile or so from our hotel so it didn’t take us long to get there. Once we found our building and met Professor Bierlin, whom we had had dinner with the night before. For the next three hours we sat with him in the room and asked him questions while he talked. He gave quite an interesting lecture on the economy, international relations, and the government within Germany.  After the lecture was over he introduced us to one of his master’s students who would be taking us on a tour of the university.

Not surprisingly the university was quite large, especially when compared to VI. The student body alone was 26,000 students. We explored some of the buildings and he took us through some quad like areas that were crawling with students out studying. There were people everywhere some sitting and relaxing in the grass, others are rushing to class, and some enjoying the wide selection of food choices on campus. Given our rather lack luster night the previous night we decided to ask our guide, Robert, if he could tell us the best way to meet some people and what students our age do at night. He suggested the platza and also suggested a bio party that all the biology majors would throw in their building. Partying on campus seemed like a completely foreign concept to us so we thought that may be kind fun to do later that night.

When we said goodbye to Robert we decided to head back towards downtown and go to the mall that Dr. Copeland and Rivello had told us about earlier. We wondered around the mall for a while and went into some shops. All the clothing was very similar to what you would find in the U.S. and some of the stores were even the same, such as H&M. None of the clothes stood out to me until we went into a show store and I found the most amazing pair of heels! Unfortunately these shoes also cost about 50 euros. No way was I going to pay that much for a pair of shoes so I decided to head back to the sale section, very disappointed and not expecting to find anything that would interest me. Browsing through the shoes that were piled in that shelf wouldn’t you know I open a box and there are the exact shoes I had just tried on only in a different color! Barely able to breathe I look at the size on the shoe and am completely shocked to see a size 10 on it! Taking this as a sign I buy the 50 euro shoes for only 9.95 euros. Go figure that I would go to Germany without a pair of heels and only survive two days without buying one.

Having made a successful purchase we go down to the grocery store in the mall and find some drinks to take to the party with us. This was quite a bit more challenging than we had initially thought since all the drinks are in German and we have no idea what is good or not. Finally Andrea gets up the nerve and asks some of the guys standing in the aisle what was good or not. Either they couldn’t understand us or didn’t know how to reply because all they said was “it’s good, have fun!” Not extremely helpful to those of us who don’t really want to end up poisoning our bodies.  In the process of asking several different guys what was good we finally strike some luck and get a guy who can speak English. However, he is about as helpful as the rest of them, though he does invite us to a party at his house and we kindly decline the offer, telling him we are going to the Bio party at the University.  Finally we decide on this Cream Fizz drink that is Pina Coloda flavored and add some coconut rum to the mixture for good measure.

It’s fairly late in the day by now, so after grabbing some more eis at a stand in the mall, melon flavored this time, and some bread for dinner we head back to the hotel for a short nap before preparing for tonight. Waking up about two hours before the party I decide to go on a run to explore more of the city. Being told by Dr. Copeland that there is less traffic towards the University I head up that way. After running about two miles I come across what appears to be a dirt path that leads off the main path I was running on. On a whim I decide to take it and start running down it. About a half mile later I turn around because I have to start heading back and wouldn’t you know it as soon as I turn around I see a sign that says something along the lines of this path being private property and do not trespass. I book it back to the main path, slightly scared that my first day in Germany I’ll end up being arrested for trespassing on private property. Luckily I make it safely back to the hotel and start getting ready for the party.

The Cream Fizz stuff that we bought ended up being the most discussing alcohol I have never tasted and after one glass I decide that I would much rather grab a beer at the party then drink any more of that.  After the others are all set to go we head up the road to the university. Robert had told us about a band that was playing on our way to the university and we decided to stop there first and see if it was any good. However, finding the place proved to be a little more difficult than we imagined. First of all it was supposed to be right on the street where our hotel was, but it ends up being two streets over. We have to ask about four different people where the place is and after we finally get there we are told there are about ten people in the club and that there is a cover charge. Deciding that it isn’t really worth our time, we skip out on the band and continue on our way to the university.

We arrive at one end of the university and see a huge party going on a decide to maybe check that one out, only to discover that that one is by invitation only, but the bio party is all the way across campus. At this point I am slightly regretting wearing my new heels, but am immensely to stubborn to admit it and refuse to change into the flats that I took along. Finally we run into two guys, Dennis and Alez, who are extremely helpful and escort us to the biology building where the party is being held. Finally we arrive at the party and can I just say wow. The entire building is one huge party! There are about four stands set up inside all selling alcohol and beer and there are people everywhere! We walk through the building and find the main dance floor that really reminds me of chrome.  Heading through the crowd we come outside again and they have a bratwurst and sausage stand set up and people are grilling all over. I’m pretty sure by this point my mouth is hanging open since this is not what I even imagined a college party consisting of. There had to be at least three hundred people at this one party alone.  After exploring a bit we head back inside and dance for a little while. At this point Molly and I are both tired and ready to walk back to the hotel. Since the other two still want to stay we decide to head back by ourselves. Outside we run into Alez again and he shows us how to get out of the university and points us in the right direction to our hotel.  Regensburg is an extremely safe city and I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all with walking back to our hotel with just Molly. Finally back at the hotel I crawl into bed exhausted once again, but pretty happy about how the whole day had gone.