Traveling alone is not something I typically enjoy. In Africa, I've never felt particularly safe doing it. Interestingly, though, it was when I was alone in Nairobi that a couple of tourists actually invited me to dinner with them- I guess in recognition that it can be lonely to be a girl alone, so clearly far from home. Thus far in Germany, no one has approached me, or even spoken to me, when I have been out and about. Since I don't speak much German, that may be for the best, anyway. However, in a way, I'd welcome that. I suppose what I really should do is approach someone myself- find the lonely looking person, or even a friendly seeming group, and just dive right in. At the moment, though, I'm just feeling too shy for that. Touring the country on my own is enough of a big step for me as it is...:)

Okay, well, I am continuing to be a terrible blogger, after such promise during the first week. Ah well. I cannot believe that I've been here nearly a month already (okay, I guess I'm still a week shy of a full month, but, still). I'm definitely still adjusting/settling in- in some ways, I probably won't really be able to settle in until after I get back from my language course in late October... I am realizing that two months is actually a really long time to be taking a language course, particularly one that meets 4+ hours a day. And I'm hoping that there will be at least one fellow Humboldtian in the course, meaning someone roughly my own age, as opposed to a lot of youngsters. Not that I have anything against hanging out with people younger than myself- I certainly have friends that are a lot younger than me, but it would also be nice to have some peers around.

I'm debating about what I should do with myself this weekend- I'd like to take a day trip on Saturday, but I'm not sure where to go. I finally downloaded a travel guide to my Kindle, so at least I can have a better idea of what's out there, and how to get around. I've heard great things about the Bodensee, so maybe I'll go there? The weather looks like it'll be gorgeous- probably great for a swim. :)

Okay, back to work.

The days continue to fly by, while the nights drag on and on, mostly thanks to the nocturnal activities of the Siebenschlaefers, also known as edible dormice. They scurry around the roof, and it's apparently mating season. The mating ritual of the male dormouse involves lots of screeching. And apparently some kind of circular courtship dance. In any case, they've been waking me up repeatedly throughout the night for the past several days, meaning it's probably time for me to invest in ear plugs. I've also been making the poor decision to get my laptop out, and of course the middle of the night in Germany is early-mid evening in the US, which means a great time to catch people online.

And, with that, I must get back to work.

Okay, so, I have been a bit of a slacker with the blog posts, and I will endeavor to do better. It's strange how fast this past week went; it seems a bit crazy to me that I've already been here more than two weeks. I have thoroughly impressed myself with my ability to procrastinate.

While I still go through spells of feeling utterly isolated and alone in this foreign land, in many ways I am settling in quite nicely. I am fortunate that the folks at the Institute are quite friendly. On the vast majority of days, I can count on having someone to go to lunch/coffee with, since I've been here I've been to a few parties and multiple dinners out, and last night I went out dancing with a group of girls. The last was a fun experience for a number of reasons; first, it's nice not to be the only awkward female academic on the dance floor. But also nice to be with others who seem to embrace or at least own the fact that they are lacking rhythm, and who will just go for it, regardless. This group is extraordinarily international- five girls, five countries, and there is no one language all of us share. Seems to mean that there will be a lot of French spoken around me, but, I have taken French on multiple occasions in my past, so maybe I'll start to pick up bits and pieces again? One can hope. I suppose I *should* focus on my German before thinking about any other languages, tho.

I think that's what is on the docket for today- German language CDs. I really should have started with those months ago, and, at the least, since I arrived here, but I've been spending my evenings chatting with people online rather than working, so, yeah. One of my friends proposed that I really need to wean myself away from the internet- from my connections with people at home- ostensibly because it could take away from my time/focus on my life here, and getting to know people here. And I'm sure that as I continue to settle in here, I won't spend quite so much time on the computer, but for now, I'm glad to have the support network.

Time for Sunday chores...

Still getting into the swing of things, and apparently the "swing of things" here means 2 hour lunch breaks- generally, 1 hour for lunch followed by coffee. And then there are the ice cream breaks. ;) Very different sort of work environment. My productivity is not being helped by the fact that despite my continued tendency to wake up around 5:45, I don't get out of bed until after 9. Ah well. I'll get there. As AJS says, "slowly, slowly." Actually, when one of the other post-docs heard about what I've been through this year, she told me to take as much time as possible off. To just enjoy Europe. To find a beach and sip cool drinks. Hah. I'd feel bad if I did that, and it's not like I haven't gotten anything done- I just haven't gotten up to full steam yet. :)

Today begins my second week in Germany. While there are still some logistical things that need to be sorted out, I no longer have any real excuse for not properly getting to work. So, here I sit at my desk, surrounded by paperwork... blogging. Oops. This'll be a short one.

My Sunday was quiet; I suspect that this will generally be the case, as stores are all closed here on Sundays- even the larger supermarkets. Harkening back to an earlier era, I suppose. I am not sure if it's quaint or irritating. Perhaps a little of both. I'm actually a bit surprised by it, because the Germans I know don't seem particularly religious, but I guess it's become more of a cultural thing.

Now that it's August, town will be quiet, as the University is on break, and as is the case in many other European cities, people disappear in August- go off on vacation somewhere or other. My first experience with this came in Paris last year; I was shocked to learn that much of city just sort of shuts down in August- bakeries, restaurants, shops- many are closed. For a month! So, if you want to experience Paris in the absence of the Parisians, go in August.

Anyway, I've officially gotten settled into my apartment; I re-arranged some of the furniture and the plants, etc. I should have brought some photos with me, something to put on the walls or on the bookshelves. Something to make it feel more like home. Guess that's something I can work on this week (getting prints made, that is)...