Ich habe angekommen!
So, here I am sitting in my host families home in my bedroom, which used to be where my host sister stayed. She is currently on her own exchange year in Chile. The past zwei tags have been stressful, but VERY exciting. I will admit, yesterday being in the airport was an AWFUL experience. I was supposed to land in Frankfurt, purchase a train ticket, call my host mother to tell her what time the train would be coming in, and then hop on. However, it was silly to think it would be that easy! So, I arrived in Frankfurt at 6:30, while in USA it was late night. I was exhausted from traveling, and hungry, and thirsty. I didn't really want to stop and buy food, figuring it would be easier to eat at home, and I wouldn't be able to understand(which was true). I got my bag, got through customs, and then started looking for the train station. After walking in circles for 5 minutes, I decided to ask someone who spoke English and seemed kind. This ended up being the woman whom I had exchanged my dollars for euros at. However she turned out to not be so nice. (Keeping in mind this was my first impression of Germany) I asked her where I could find the long distance train station. She asked me "When are you going?" and I replied "I haven't bought a ticket yet." She repeated the question with a more angry tone and I was very confused. Then she yelled, "WHERE! where are you going?!" She had just messed up her English which would not have meant anything to me, however she was embarrassed and got very mad...She finally told me where to go.
To get to the train station from the airport in Frankfurt is quite confusing. It is outside across 2 VERY busy streets, and up a set of stairs. I dropped my suitcase headed up the escalator which was pretty embarrassing because i got caught on it going up and had to jumped down 3 steps to get it. Anyways, buying a ticket turned out to be pretty easy, there were English settings on the electronic teller. However, coming from a small town I'd never really been on a train more than once, so I didn't understand many of the terms. Next, I attempted to use a payphone to call my host family. I had the numbers, including the country and city codes(which I didn't realize weren't needed) and I had a credit card. I could not figure out the phones, and I needed to buy a phone card but I did not know where. I asked the information counter and she spoke English, but didn't understand why I "Don't know how to use a telephone???" I tried about 3 more times before deciding to call when I arrived in Cologne and wait. I was also frustrated because I had bought a train ticket for 9:10 and it was only 7:15. I thought I would need more time to find the correct Gate. I was pretty scared and confused so I decided to find my gate and wait for the train, for 2 hours. Hah. I didn't realize how stressful it would be, how heavy my bags were, and how EXHAUSTED I was. I was on the verge of tears while looking for my Gate, thinking I would never find it. I eventually did so I went and sat down. I was completely rethinking my exchange at that point, maybe I wasn't ready, wishing I were at home and thinking I should have never applied, thinking could not make it.
While waiting I looked to my left and a girl about my age was sitting next to me smiling. She began speaking to me in very good English, explaining that she was also a Rotary Exchange student and had been to Columbia, two years prior. She had seen my blazer and asked if I needed help, understanding my situation. She turned out to be so helpful. She told me that the type of train ticket I bought could go on any train in a 24 hour period to my stop. She happened to be on the same train getting off one stop after me. She sat next to me on the 7:30 train to Cologne, used her mobile phone to call my host mother, and we talked about exchange and my city. She saved me, otherwise I would have been so lost.
After getting off the train, I met my host mother Edith, and saw Cologne for the first time.
I will update again soon, and add pictures. :)
Bis bald!
(One more thing, I don't understand ANYTHING, however my host mother is so helpful and speaks to me in English, translating when I ask!)
So, here I am sitting in my host families home in my bedroom, which used to be where my host sister stayed. She is currently on her own exchange year in Chile. The past zwei tags have been stressful, but VERY exciting. I will admit, yesterday being in the airport was an AWFUL experience. I was supposed to land in Frankfurt, purchase a train ticket, call my host mother to tell her what time the train would be coming in, and then hop on. However, it was silly to think it would be that easy! So, I arrived in Frankfurt at 6:30, while in USA it was late night. I was exhausted from traveling, and hungry, and thirsty. I didn't really want to stop and buy food, figuring it would be easier to eat at home, and I wouldn't be able to understand(which was true). I got my bag, got through customs, and then started looking for the train station. After walking in circles for 5 minutes, I decided to ask someone who spoke English and seemed kind. This ended up being the woman whom I had exchanged my dollars for euros at. However she turned out to not be so nice. (Keeping in mind this was my first impression of Germany) I asked her where I could find the long distance train station. She asked me "When are you going?" and I replied "I haven't bought a ticket yet." She repeated the question with a more angry tone and I was very confused. Then she yelled, "WHERE! where are you going?!" She had just messed up her English which would not have meant anything to me, however she was embarrassed and got very mad...She finally told me where to go.
To get to the train station from the airport in Frankfurt is quite confusing. It is outside across 2 VERY busy streets, and up a set of stairs. I dropped my suitcase headed up the escalator which was pretty embarrassing because i got caught on it going up and had to jumped down 3 steps to get it. Anyways, buying a ticket turned out to be pretty easy, there were English settings on the electronic teller. However, coming from a small town I'd never really been on a train more than once, so I didn't understand many of the terms. Next, I attempted to use a payphone to call my host family. I had the numbers, including the country and city codes(which I didn't realize weren't needed) and I had a credit card. I could not figure out the phones, and I needed to buy a phone card but I did not know where. I asked the information counter and she spoke English, but didn't understand why I "Don't know how to use a telephone???" I tried about 3 more times before deciding to call when I arrived in Cologne and wait. I was also frustrated because I had bought a train ticket for 9:10 and it was only 7:15. I thought I would need more time to find the correct Gate. I was pretty scared and confused so I decided to find my gate and wait for the train, for 2 hours. Hah. I didn't realize how stressful it would be, how heavy my bags were, and how EXHAUSTED I was. I was on the verge of tears while looking for my Gate, thinking I would never find it. I eventually did so I went and sat down. I was completely rethinking my exchange at that point, maybe I wasn't ready, wishing I were at home and thinking I should have never applied, thinking could not make it.
While waiting I looked to my left and a girl about my age was sitting next to me smiling. She began speaking to me in very good English, explaining that she was also a Rotary Exchange student and had been to Columbia, two years prior. She had seen my blazer and asked if I needed help, understanding my situation. She turned out to be so helpful. She told me that the type of train ticket I bought could go on any train in a 24 hour period to my stop. She happened to be on the same train getting off one stop after me. She sat next to me on the 7:30 train to Cologne, used her mobile phone to call my host mother, and we talked about exchange and my city. She saved me, otherwise I would have been so lost.
After getting off the train, I met my host mother Edith, and saw Cologne for the first time.
I will update again soon, and add pictures. :)
Bis bald!
(One more thing, I don't understand ANYTHING, however my host mother is so helpful and speaks to me in English, translating when I ask!)
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ReplyDeleteI knew the traveling would be a big challenge, but I also knew you would be able to handle it! So glad you found a fellow rotary girl, and before you know it, you will be the one helping out an incoming traveler in a confusing train station in Germany. Love you!
ReplyDeleteSofie! What a brave and admiral girl you are! I am for sure following this blog because real life adventures, especially relatives, are curiously exciting! Glad you made it to your destination safe and without a meltdown lol. I totally know how you must of felt but you handled it well and conquered the challenge ! Have fun and enjoy your experience Sofie!
ReplyDelete