It's Like Being Home... But Everyone is Still Gone

So this past week was my first week of working at the Reiselfeilder. It was defiantly an exhausting week for me. And somewhat of a comfortable place to be. I felt like I was home on the farm for a while. I definatly enjoy the people I work with, and they enjoy me.

Unfortunatly this is going to be a short blog.... because all I did at work this past week was repair barb wire and replace posts along the way that had rotted out. OH and spread mulch.

There you go blogs over goodbye.

Na but really that's basically my entire week was spent playing with barb wire and post hole diggers.

To nice of a day to take the work truck on patrol

Uwe, Tom, Henrick

Olli

Felix

 We also celebrated the blooming of the cherry blossoms with an Asian inspired dinner on Sunday.

Following lunch Andreas and I headed down to the carnival in town for a little friendly competition at the shooting booth. He beat me by 1 shot. It was a nice relaxing evening and I was glad to get out for a while.

That was pretty much the whole week,

Cody A Glick

I Feel Like a Student Again

Tho we learn something every day it has been a while since I have actually felt like a college student. I've learned a lot here and will guarantee that there is more to come in the near future.  But this week made me come back to structured learning as I prepared to enroll in Fall classes.

I honestly forgot how much I hated scheduling classes, thankfully it only happens twice a year for me. I spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday trying to work out a schedule for classes, as many of you know getting all the classes you need in can be difficult in the first place. Add in trying to finish a degree and leave the optimal amount of time to work open and it becomes a nightmare. But luckily I decided to approach it differently and in a more German way. I made a table of all the sections of classes I could take. Then I made a calendar of a week separated by 15 minute sections. Then made blocks for the length of classes and took it to a (completely different) Artistic side. And used them as puzzle pieces, moving them around until I made something that worked. So amazingly I managed to get all my classes on Monday and Wednesday. Unfortunately my classes start at 8:00 A.M.  and end; Monday at 9:45 P.M. and Wednesday at 3:15. As soon as BRCC gets back to me with which certification through the Red Cross I need, then I can drop my CPR class and have classes end at 3:15 on Monday. I also decided to take an online History, to save time.

Thursday I got to spend time Talking with some friends back home. I miss my friends and it was good to reconnect and make some plans when I get back to the states. I can't wait to actually see their smiling faces and pick at them in person again.

Friday I was off to a job interview, at the Reiselfelder. Its a place that was/might still be to an extent to clean water from the city. The principle is water flows from one pond to another and naturally cleans itself. Now its more of a Nature preserve. Well anyway I got the job and started Monday.

Saturday was my tandem partners birthday and she had a small party. It was a small get together at the house and then we were off for an evening of dancing. It was definitely interesting to find a club playing Spanish themed music in Germany, and it wasn't even every few songs. They have an entire floor that plays it! Anyway the night was rather long we partied away until 5:30 the next morning.

Sunday I basically recovered from my Night on the Town. The only thing I really did was meet up with josh at the next train stop to try out a restaurant we heard about. Unfortunately they where closed for a private party. After looking around for a bit we headed back to Munster and ended up at a tapas restaurant. I just realized how Spanish the weekend was.

This morning I got up early and actually accomplished a lot. I scheduled my classes for fall, at 5 in the morning. Then I was off to the new job. It was an amazing first day, I felt like I was at home for a while. Working outside in the nature was a nice change of pace. I spent the morning hanging gates and checking fences. and the evening putting up notices about closing a walking path for the next few days. The guys I work with are great and I already can feel the fun that will be had there.

The only problem I had was getting on the wrong bus. Apparently the #7 and the #E7 came at the wrong time so I was on the wrong one. Which then stops 3 miles away from my job..... luckily I had brought my bike for the 1km ride from the correct stop. So I showed up 15 minutes late on day one..... great.

Anyway sorry there where no pictures to go with this week. I forgot to pull out my camera this week.

I'll have some next week
But until then,

Cody A Glick

The Remedy to Home Sickness

As of lately I had been having a little bit of a sickness. Not just a head and chest cold but a little homesickness as well. I was missing people from home and the sights. I wanted to see my friends and go riding in the mountains, to drive my jeep and to just relax with them. 5000 miles is a long way to go to see a few friends, and my program isn't just going to hand me a two week vacation. So I ended up hunkering down and trying to figure out how to deal with it.

The week was absolutely gorgeous here, spring has set in with temperatures in the 50's consecutively. After I had my stitches removed Monday I enjoyed a little of the weather before heading to meet Andreas and Erika at the Dom for the Bishops conference. I am of course in no way catholic nor very "religious," however I do appreciate seeing different things from each religious view. 30+ religious leaders was definitely worth seeing. It was the first time I saw them use the area behind the alter for anything, and was it full. They gave a special sermon and the Arch Bishop also spoke, I don't remember much of was said tho.


Tuesday I did a little reading in the garden and a quick trip through the city. That evening I was suppose to have a stomtisch but got skypeing home and missed it. By the time I realized it was to late to go. I was not exactly displeased with this, I had wanted to talk to people, and it was helpful with my home sickness.

Wednesday I set out after lunch to do some more exploring of the city, and hopefully find some geo-caches. I ended up having more time than caches and spent the rest waiting and wandering through the city. That evening I met up with my tandem partner Johannes and we had margaritas at what I believe to be the only Spanish bar in town. I definitively need to go back and get some Mexican food, I miss is so much. Me and Johannes spent a few hours there just talking back and forth switching languages like it was nothing and discussing some fun debatable topics. We discussed everything from religion to home life.

Thursday evening I headed up to Bremen to visit Josh and stay there the night. Watched a few movies brainstormed inventions and discussed some ideas of psychology.

Friday began my big trip and where I found the remedy for home sickness. Now I said 5000 miles was to far to go, just to see a friend,  but 1000 isn't really that bad. So Friday the early morning rise was more bearable, I set out for Ennis, Ireland to meet up with Hannah. A quick flight to Dublin and then 3 hours via train to Ennis. The First night I was on my own but managed to meet a cool guy from Alabama, Steve, who was staying at the same hostel. After a few pints of Cider we had built I guess you could say a friendship. Hannah wasn't coming into Ennis until Saturday evening, so I spent the day looking around the town with Steve. Unfortunately that only took 3 hours to cover every alley in town, the free museum was closed and the library in observance of St. Patrick's day. So most of the afternoon was reading until Hannah got into the Hostel. Then it was catching up and laughs from there on out.

church In Ennis at night

She was in Ireland doing a short exchange project and that was her last night in Ireland. After dinner with her group, we headed out to the bars. A little music, dancing, and drinks. We ended up meeting some Irish guys outside a bar who started the conversation by asking "where is the Library" in German. The look on his face when I gave the answer in German and correct for the location  was priceless. We ended up having a round with them before continue our bar crawl to the next stop.

The next morning I headed back to Dublin, intending celebrate St. Paddy's day. I got some sightseeing in that afternoon and had a traditional fish and chips. But when I went to go try the bars I couldn't get in... I still had my backpack and they didn't want me bringing me into the bar. I ended up trying a few but got the same response... reluctantly I headed back to the Airport and ended up spending 16 hours there until my plane left.

I saw a few sights in Ireland including Temple bar, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Jameson Distillery.

It was definitely what the doctor prescribed to see Hannah. Just having a friend from home here helped my home sickness so much. Over the last few blogs you may have noticed I mentioned a more personal problem was also occurring, and tho I'm not exactly thrilled with the outcome it is for the best we believe. So more or minor all things are in order now.

Until next week,

Cody A. Glick

Welcome to Cody's Chop Shop

I've now been here 221 days leaving only 130 more to go, I can't believe that time has went by so fast, and will soon be coming to an end. I'm really starting to think about my time when I get back home and trying to get everything worked out. It sometimes has proved to be harder than I would have imagined. Some things that are coming up have me wondering where my life went. How is it that I am soon to be looking for my own apartment? Is it really time to start taking out student loans and chasing my Bachelors degree?

All these things really started to roll through my mind as I have been working on things for when I get home. most pressing issues are of course getting my course load figured out for BRCC this coming Fall. Which History, Health class should I take? Apply to VCU for the Spring. And finally securing employment for the Fall.  There is also wanting to start a relationship again when I get home. Ass All this builds up and a lot of the things that will follow these have driven me to the point of almost saying.... well the picture explains it.

Which brought up some other feelings this week, and here comes my sermon to you. I don't want to go back to the crazy stressed life I had before. It never occurred to me then, most likely because I was always so busy I never had tome to notice. But I was ALWAYS on the run. There was never a really time for me to relax, even on my days off work and school I was still either doing stuff for work or thinking of school. It got so bad that I even took part of my relationship as another task to complete rather than it actually being a relationship. My life became performing duties, and tasks. In the fantasy world of Pathfinder, a game me and my friends started to have a time to relax became a little like a job. Being the guy who could keep us going and coming up with plans. I realize now that I was digging myself a whole.

Over the past 6 months I've been the most relaxed and care free for many a years. I read books!!! Its funny how that is such an accomplishment to me. I actually read 3 books!! I forgot how much I enjoyed reading. I forgot how much I liked getting out and going geocaching.

Anyway to bring the tangent to a close; I really enjoy having time to relax, and I think that this is a problem that a lot of you can relate to. Take time to stop an smell the roses as the saying goes. That's my plan when I get back, to make sure I have some free time in my schedule.

Anyway you don't come to read these for a lecture

Host brothers costum

Monday where Rose Monday, I ended up staying in Münster, I had been partied out in Köln. We headed down to the parade and had a good afternoon, It was very similar to the one in Otti Botti the other week.

Tuesday I headed down to town to look about another internship lead. Ended up being a bust. So Wednesday Andreas helped me with some other leads he thought of... no word as of yet but it feels good for me. When we talked to the guy he sounded interested and asked for the paperwork. So I ended up spending most of the day proofing my CV and writing a cover letter.

Friday I started a project. I'm not sure I told you guys that my bike had died on me. The frame had cracked, and then due to the unstable seat I was thrown to the curb. After that I had left that one sit and taken the spare bike. Well on Friday evening I'm siting here and Andreas pulls up with this completely broken bike. So my project was to take two broken bikes and make 1 functional bike.

new old bike before I start working

Old bike disasembled

My host family was surprised I thought to hang the
bike to work on it without it falling over
or having to crouch

Finally after 3 hours I got both front forks off.

So after 2 days of work on this, I managed to build a usable bike. With only two non original bike parks. I'll call one re-fabricated, the brake arm needed to be attached to the frame with a brace. So I took the clip that held on one of the gear changers for the old bike. The other  part is a zip tie holding on the transition thing.

Completed new bike

Zip ties holding on transmition

re-engineering brace to hold the brake arm

So I found it to be really relaxing getting my hands covered in grease and oil. And really satisfying to have built something like this myself. And knowing that someone later will use it and it be dependable.

Anyway that's my week in a nutshell,

Cody A. Glick

A Week to Think and Party

This week was really lazy for me, I spent much of it around the house looking into this or that. I was still riding my emotional roller coaster and wasn't really wanting to be out and about.  So this blog is going to be fairly short. 

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with a show "Little Britain" but I felt like I walked into the travel agency this week. 

me: I would like to extend my internship with the police 

Carolla Beer (CB); computer says No. 

Me: ok no problem How about the forensics lab can they give me an internship 

CB; click click click computer says No 

Me: ok how about with the forestry service, they could probly use an extra pair of hands

 CB; click click click AHHH... computer says No

 Me: ok then I'll contact the city works and ask about giving tours 

CB: click click click Computer says No

It was a little disheartening to have none of these work out. I have a few more leads to follow this coming week so we shall see what comes of it. As a last resort, the cough at the end if you will, I can return to the school and continue working there. Not the worst answer but not the best either. 

The rest of my week was more preparations on the Home front. I had an online appointment with an adviser at BRCC to discuss what I can take next semester to graduate and the status of my graduation. I also got to be the guiniepig for this system being as it has never actually been used. Sadly the video and vocal didn't work to well which took the personal connection out of it. It basically turned into a chat box with some extra tools. The result of this conversation was simply music to me; I Will graduate this fall. I have to fill out the application after posting this and then wait on the official letter, but I was already guaranteed by the reviewer that it will occur. 

Tuesday night I went over to my tandem partners apartment and had a relaxing evening playing Rummy. It was well needed to get my mind off my personal issues. Catching up with the two of them was defiantly enjoyable I'm hoping to stay really good friends with them when I return to the US. 

Thursday morning I was off to the dentist again... This time I was going under some surgery. Never thought that I would need a root canal here but it happened. According to the doctor this was probably a good time to do it, the root had grown together and where strongly infected. So I spent Thursday recovering and hoping to be fit for the weekend. 

Why you ask?  PARTY

The official weekend of karnival started on Friday and I was planing to travel to the capital city Köln. Friday Night I met a group of PPPlers on the steps of the dom for a little stamticsh before we headed to the bar district to enjoy the night. We spent our evening in the Cubana bar and danced away until nearly 4 a.m. The entire city was a huge party, marching bands everywhere costumes galore, and the ever present alcohol. I hadn't thought to find a place to stay in köln so I headed back to Münster on the 5 am train. After a few hours in bed I was on my way back to Köln. 

Last night was defiantly not my most proud of nights here. When I got to köln I expected the group to be out and about, but they where all still recovering or had made it to someones house already. So I grabbed an adult beverage and a coke and sat down. When I finally headed to the bar district to meet up with one of them, I was perfectly ok. However situations left me alone down there for a good 3 hours before anyone else showed up. Anyway The only thing I'll wright on here is a simple phrase.... I woke up like this....

Tomarrow is the big day in köln with the parade and most partying, I haven't decided if I will return or not it depends on how I feel when I wake up. I guess I'm not as young as I once was. 

Sorry this one was a more short and boring post guys, hopefully next week can be more entertaining. 

Bis dan,

Cody A Glick