I woke up on time and got ready without any problems. I can’t remember what I wore, but I know it wasn’t warm enough for the day. It was very cold as it turned out.
But Monday was my most productive day at work so far. I met with Frau Auer and “helped” her write another press advertisement. I also had the bulk of my translating to do. And then I researched the topics a bit more. Frau Auer’s text is currently very lofty and academic, which is a little hard for kids who are seven to understand. So, I tried to find some more interesting facts that kids would enjoy. I also took my hour lunch as usual.
Since I had tentative plans to talk on Skype with Ryan and Gavin that evening, I needed to make sure they’d both gotten my emails from the day before. So I went in search of some free internet, since I can’t check my own at work. I went to the city library, which is in the same square as the cathedral and city hall. I’d seen they had an internet café, and I planned on using it. It was barely after their opening time (noon) when I arrived, and quickly scarfed my sandwich in the foyer before going in, but the internet café was already full.
This can be explained by the fact that their café only has two computers. However, there are about eight computers for checking the library database. I didn’t have all the time in the world, so after looking around the books and movies (to wait and see if I could use one of the computers in the café), I took matters into my own hands. Though I did find an informational VHS tape on belly dancing that looks like its from the early 80’s. Basically, I used one of the database computers. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to, but I did it quickly. Everyone had gotten my messages, which was great.
It was so cold I couldn’t comfortably walk around outside, so I ducked into Billy’s. Billy’s is the equivalent of a Spencer’s in StL but with more china and nicer gifts. Though not without the inappropriate ones, of course. I won’t go into those details, though. After looking at everything I went back towards the museum. I also stopped in the bakery across the street to see if they had an chocolate croissants, which they didn’t. I always feel bad for going in a store, being the only customer, so the salespeople have to talk to you, and then not getting anything.
I spent the rest of the afternoon “researching” which included attempting to do real research with academic sources. This is impossible, because the Museum has put restrictions on the computers. After not being able to find any real sources through the search engine (Bing), I said screw it, I’ll go to Webster University’s Library page and look up some articles there. When I went to actually read the articles, they were blocked. So, I did what all my teachers and professors have been telling me not to do, but I had no other choice. I used Wikipedia. And then I read the wiki articles about the Franciscan, Dominican, Benedictine monls, and the massacre of a bunch of French “Heretics” in the 1300’s.
The walk home from the train station sucked. I ended up with a very bad throat ache and then my jaw (around the ears) also hurt really bad. I quickly changed clothes, then drank some juice and the piece of cheesecake they’d saved for me. I felt a little better. I was also to go over to the Reinls that evening to translate something for Melanie’s work and then use their wifi for Skype. I was at their house by 6:15pm, still a little rushed.
What ended up happening, was that the translating was already finished. So we ate dinner (turkey curry goulash with noodles) and then I set up the wifi with Melanie’s help. I had not anticipated so much free time with the internet. I had told Ryan to contact me on Skype at about 7:40 and Gavin at 8:00. So I had almost an hour and a half to do nothing. I know I read the PostDispatch and got on Facebook. Somehow I kept myself occupied.
Ryan failed to get on Skype and I still don’t know why. But that’s OK. Gavin had had to go buy a camera from Best Buy that day and then set it up (his real one is coming next week) and basically had a nightmare of a time setting it up. An hour later, we could finally see each other and then I didn’t have my microphone turned on. After figuring that out, we talked for over an hour. I didn’t leave the Reinls till about 10:30pm. Frau Reinl drove me home and asked me to give her love to the Brauses and said that maybe the next night we should eat together and she’d call the house.
By the time I got home, Frau Brause was already asleep, but I said goodnight to Herr Brause. I also forgot to set my alarm, which I found out the next morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment