Warum nicht?

During my first two weeks I had a lot of extra time on my hands. I could have used it to write some more in-depth blog posts, study more intensely, or be more productive in general. Instead I spent two weekends alone, hesitant to leave my bedroom. What broke this pattern was a small spontaneous act of bravery. Before the sun decided to try to cook us all on the city streets, I took a cooler-than-average Friday afternoon to walk the Philosophenweg on my own. (A perfect time to avoid the tourist crowd, I discovered). It was such a calming walk. The quiet canopy of leaves and gentle, cooling wind clean the mind. Without this time to myself, I don’t know if I would have been able to find the courage to visit a local church that same weekend or meet new people at a local festival. I’ve been taking small steps during this program, but I feel that I’ve taken more of them in a few short weeks than I have since starting school in Bellingham last fall.

I’m sure if you’re reading this, you’ve been wondering what exactly I’ve been filling my time with. Aside from class, the school offers activities in the afternoons. On weekends, you have to make your own plans, so connecting with other students is extremely important. Since my last post, I’ve gathered a collection of photos (and sketches) of the places I’ve been so far.

Our first real outing was to Schloss Heidelberg, the city’s main attraction. It went through several owners with additions and renovations, enduring fires and lightning strikes. Now the ruins are a preserved historical site that watch over the Altstadt.

I feel like I’m always looking forward, I’m always ready and waiting for the next thing. I need to have my week and (most importantly) my weekend planned out. I want to travel more and experience as much as possible while I’m here. But I also want to stop and actually enjoy the experience.

The times when I feel most “in the moment” are when I’m sitting down sketching or writing my quick daily journal entry. I felt fully present and content at Schwetzingen when I was sitting down to rest in the shade provided by the ruins. I got to sketching and struck up a conversation with Igor from Macedonia. It was relaxing just to sit, draw, and listen. You really can’t beat it.

Sketching: June 12-25

This is another view of the back courtyard at the school I am attending. During breaks, people gather around the tables to chat, sip on their tea or instant coffee, and (many) smoke a cigarette.

As it says, this is the park nearest where I live. There’s a playground to the left and many more people not pictured. The sketchy ghost image is of the guy who tried really hard to ask me out and did not succeed.

This is a lazy sketch of our classroom. I started adding color later. More students now fill the empty seats pictured. Classes here are in a state of constant change.

I scribbled this view in ink on my first visit to the Philosophenweg. On my second visit with two other girls, I started to add some color. I plan to return within these next 5 weeks to complete it.

This last Saturday I joined some Germans I met at the local festival to an afternoon at a nearby lake. Everyone was so nice. While my shoulders acquired a decent sunburn and soreness from swimming, I was able to relax, draw and paint, listen to German, and see some fluffy little ducklings.