Back on track

All right, guys, don't worry. Crisis averted.

Today, I received a very eloquent and kind e-mail from the Germans gently reassuring me that all is well in Fulbrightobtainingland.

"Thanks for letting us know. No, this will not be a problem, but please send it back as soon as you can."

That was the entire e-mail. How German of them. Concise and to the point.

In other news, my tasks for this week involve thoroughly reviewing the 872 days' worth of reading material that accompanied my contract and other correspondence as well as the exciting task of dealing with STA Travel to arrange my travel accommodations. Fulbright provides me with funds for round-trip travel to and from the Deutschland as well as some money for baggage fees, so this time around, my summer paychecks won't be eaten by the Airline Monster.

Hooray for small blessings. And basic monster avoidance skills.

Misadventures in mail

I had an hour of extreme worry this morning.

Upon receiving my final Grant Authorization and contract for the Fulbright, in which I sign my life over to the Fulbright-Kommission Berlin for the period between September 6, 2010 and June 30, 2011, I was horrified to note that the contract should be signed and returned... by two days ago.

Needless to say, I went into minor panic mode, hoping and praying that two days will not affect my status as a Fulbright Grantee. I called my U.S. Fulbright representative as well as called and e-mailed the German Kommission, explaining my dread.

Luckily, my U.S. representative was so kind as to call me immediately back and inform me that I should e-mail the German Kommission my concerns and put the contracts in the mail today. She did not sound overly concerned, and she also forwarded my e-mail with her own note to my Program Officers in Germany. As I scanned the accompanying terms and conditions yet another time, I noted a short paragraph explaining that written extensions could be requested. Here's hoping.

Of course, it didn't help that, upon arrival at the post office, the poor soul in front of me was attempting to send a postage-paid package. The postal worker at the counter reassured him about sending his mail: "Well, usually I just go in on the machine and pretend to do it, then give you a receipt."

Great. Now I feel looooads better.

In other news, I am required to inform you, dear Readers, of this little tidbit releasing Fulbright and the U.S. Department of State from all legal responsibility stemming from my Interweb activities. Consider yourself informed.

This blog is not an official Department of State website or blog, and the views and information presented are my own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.

And there you have it.

It's all about location.

So, my mom received a letter in the mail yesterday. Our usual routine is for her to photocopy my important mail, then forward it to me. (The copying is an insurance policy in case of faulty USPS.) I knew it would contain part of my location in which I will be placed in Germany next year. The letter was written in German, so it was kind of fun for me to know that my mom would read the letter, but I would still find out where I was before she did.

When I asked her if she could identify any important upcoming dates that I may need to be aware of, however, she started sounding out the first two lines of the letter... which included the location.

So, I guess the surprise is out. The whole situation was amusing, though.

However, I'm happy to know that I'll be placed somewhere within the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia for you Anglophiles) beginning in September. Here's a map, so you know where to find me. (I'll be in the orangey state on the left.)

And, just for kicks, here's the story my campus newspaper published about me. Apparently I was in disbelief a lot.

My victorious return to Germany!

Welcome back to my blog. I will attempt to resume (hopefully semi-regular) posting here, now that I have some new news about a Dutcher in Deutschland.

I will be returning to Germany from September 2010 through June 2011 through funds granted to me by the American and German Fulbright Commissions in partner with the German Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (Pedagogic Exchange Office). While there, I will assist English teachers in middle and high school classrooms as well as organize extracurricular activities and volunteer in the community.

I don't yet know where I'm placed, but I'm going back!

Hamline University's article on my Fulbright award.

My week on the Mediterranean - in photos

First day
Second day
Third day
Fourth day
Fifth day
Sixth day
Seventh day
Eighth and final day

Photos

For you, my Facebook-less friends, here is an update of photos uploaded since December's journey to Berlin.

Beginning the Year in Lyon, January 2009
Yzeron and the Best Valentine's Day Ever, February 2009
Karneval in Köln - Days 1 & 2, February 2009
Karneval in Köln - Day 3 (because it's just too much for one album!)
Heidelberg with my mom, aunt, and Romain, February 2009
Luxembourg with my mom and Aunt Christy, February 2009

Kurse

So, I'm barely in my third week of courses, and already, I'm having class sessions canceled. On the downside, getting up to go to a canceled class got me out of a 1.5-hour nap. On the upside, getting up to go to a canceled class got me out of a 1.5-hour nap.

These are the courses I'm taking this semester:
- Sociology of Language in Britain (very German, I know, but here's hoping it will apply toward my linguistics minor without too much fuss)
- Europa 1900-1945 (a history lecture of hundreds in which I only need a short oral exam to pass. Plus, it's pure German lecture, which is good for my listening comprehension.)
- Grammatik und Syntax des Deutschen (alles klar?)
- Wortschatz und Idiomatik des Deutschen (Vocabulary and Idiomatics of German)
- Interkulturelle Kommunikation (again, does anyone need a translation?)

Despite how full that schedule sounds, it's really quite beautiful. Each course is only a 2-hour class once per week. I begin Mondays at 2 pm, and my last class is Thursday from 6-8 pm, with Fridays off. The earliest I need to awaken is for a 10 am class on Tuesdays.

My life here is seriously great. Looking forward to that bucket of cold back-in-the-real-world-water over my head next year...