I like to call the fridge 'the black hole'

Finally internet at our home. I'm sitting on my bed right now and wishing the time difference wouldn't be that big. You guys are all sleeping and dreaming over there, while I'm still fighting my jetlag. Last night I woke up at 3.45 am and was wide awake. I wrote a little, read a little, had a pee... and fell asleep eventually. But I also get really tired at around 5 to 6pm. I have to make myself stay up. I didn't think it would be that hard.

Today was the first day of orientation week. We had to be on Campus at 8am so we wanted to take the bus at 7.15 but it didn't show up (and there is only one bus per hour). Usually this wouldn't have been that bad, but since it was -16 degree Celcius we just called a cab and shared the fare. Maybe it's me, but the cold is really killing me, even with three layers of clothing you can feel the cold creeping into your bones and once you are cold you take such a long time to get warm again. And getting warm also hurts like hell. It's supposed to get warmer during the weekend.

We got to Campus on time, had some nice breakfast with the other international exchange students, were given a lot of information. Like how to get into student clubs, what to do to get good grades. This one is particularly interesting, since they told us, that your grade depends on how well your teacher knows you. So if he/she can add a face to the name on the paper and if he/she also likes the face/person it will help getting a better grade. So I might as well carry the bag for my teacher. Let's see how that works for a change.

We were also told not to drink alcohol on the sidewalk or other public places otherwise we'll be put in jail or we'd have to do community service. So no drinking in the park when it gets warmer.

We also met the guys that we share the basement with. They are really nice, one even has a car and offered to help us in case we need anything. A car really is essential around here. It takes such a long time to go shopping for groceries, since all the shopping places are not easily reachable by foot, especially not under those weather conditions. I already miss having Aldi and Netto around the corner. But I'll get used to it. (For those of you wondering: as far as I can tell none of them is husband material - I have to keep looking.)

Also a lot of events seem to be centered around eating and food around here. People tend to think from one meal to the other. Also people really like their shopping malls and department stores. I was hoping this was an overexaggerated stereotype but I guess I was wrong. Never mind, the Bafög must be spent one way or the other.

Me and my housemates are already planning trips to places that are 'close' to Binghamton. Binghamton itself really is a small city, there's not that much to do around here. Most of the student activities happen on Campus in the student clubs and some bars and restaurants you can find in the city center. So once you get to know the city, you find there isn't that much to see around here – it's really nice that places like New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto are not that far away and buses go there directly from Binghamton as well. So now might be the time to tell me, from which places you guys want a postcard.

Somehow my spoken English is getting worse. I don't know why, but the harder I try to keep myself from making mistakes the more they happen. Also when I get tired I mix up German syntax with English vocabulary and the other way around. Sometimes I can't express myself in a proper way and I feel stupid, since I know what I want to say, but is does not come out the right way. I hope this is a problem that will gradually fade away (is that the right way to say it?).

My skin is really dry from all the heating air and the tap water tastes like chlorine and you can't drink it. Everytime I take a shower my eyes look like those of a stoner. Ah, but I'm whining. 

There are a lot of nice things here, too: everyone around here is so friendly. I was afraid I would get annoyed by this, but no. After a while you can't really tell if someone is just being polite or genuinely friendly and frankly: you stop to care about that. You just accept it the way it is and start being nice back. This also makes it easier to meet new people – you just smile at them and ask them how they are and whoops: you are having a conversation. (But I still don't feel comfortable when the cashier at walmart starts putting my stuff into the plastic bag for me.)

This reminds me: I bought some really nice houseshoes there for just 4.99!

Dream on.

Astrid

Here we go:

Nine hrs on the plane included one movie (Robot & Frank I highly recommend it), two meals (delicious as ever), and about 6 hrs of sleep. Those nine hrs trapped on the huge machine gave me the opportunity to give my body the rest it didn't get throughout the last two weeks I had in Leipzig.

As soon as my butt and I found a comfortable position on the Air Berlin aircraft I began to realize: this is it, there is no turning back. And as soon as this hit me, tears were running down my cheek. I haven't had the time to think about what was happening until that very moment. BAM! Augen zu und durch.

After the plane took off I pulled out the wishes, some of you guys wrote down for me on my good-bye-party. Someone wants me to have 'einen harten Euro' and cats... I was laughing and crying at the same time. No cats here but tons of squirrels, they are like rats only cuter (and also black). Aaand we also have racoons! As soon as I see one I'll catch it and domesticate it. And take tons of adorable pictures.

After the plane arrived in NYC at 4pm American time, I took a shared cab to Manhattan, Port Authority Busstation, took the next Greyhound to Binghamton, which took another 4hrs.

In Binghamton I took a cab to 127 Laurel Avenue. My new home. We share it with four American guys – also students at BU (Binghamton University). I haven't met them yet, but as far as I can tell, they like to party – concerning the amount of empty beer cans and red plastic cups that are lying around in our shared cellar.

Things that are very typical:

The weird bedsheets – three layers of thin cloth tangeld up in one. My bed consists of two matresses on top of each other. Prinzessin auf der Erbse.

The huge fridge. We are never ever going to run out of space in this one.

4 liter milk/juice bottles.

Walmart – wtf – they really do have everything. I know I will buy too much crap there.

A dream coming true – the walk-in closet.

No way of drying the washed clothes without using the tumble drier. Well, here we go wasting energy. (Oh, and no separating the trash.)

Fresh produce is very expensive here. Chips and Coke pretty cheap. Who would have thought?!

My flatmates are three very nice girls: Sina and Katharina, also from Leipzig, and Riva from Utrecht. We get along very well. All we need now is a pet, preferably a racoon. :D

I already have an American mobile phone number: (+1)-607-232-0920

Today (Tuesday) we are having this huge welcome dinner at BU, we'll meet tons of new people and find out about how everything's working on Campus. Freshmen style.

I really like my new place - the wooden floor, the front porch, the kitchen, the mailbox – you get the idea. I think I have to get used to the long walking distances. I will also not be able to ride the bike to Campus, since I'd have to use the highway (and there is no bike lane, of course). I'd have to take the bus to go shopping as well, since the all the shopping places are on the perimeter of the city. 

 

Also it is really, really cold here. I look out the window, and although we have clear blue sky the temperature is -12 degree Celsius (I also have to get used to miles, inches, pounds, ounces, and Fahrenheit. Damn it Americans, get over yourself and use the metric system already!) And it will get even colder throughout the week. We all hope the heating is not coming down and the cold won't last that long.

As soon as I have a better internet connection (I am using my phone as a portable hotspot right now) I'll upload some picture for you.

Bye - for now.