Awesome Tuesday

Today started off with me being the only person to show up to my 5-person German class.  So, my super awesome professor, Kerstin, took me to Dussmann (if I haven't mentioned it before, it's like the Bloomingdales of books. It's 7 stories, and has everything you could possibly imagine).  We went and looked through children's books that would be appropriate for me to buy for myself :) It was so much fun, and I got to have a lot of conversational German with her.  It is SO fun learning languages from people who you feel comfortable speaking (read: making mistakes) around.

After that, I went to lunch at the Mensa with two board professors who are reviewing our IES program, the dean of some of the IES programs, and 3 other students.  One professor was from William & Mary (sigh...) and the other was from another good US uni but now teaches at Humboldt (fun fact: he went to HWS, how cool!).  They were both fascinating individuals, and were SO interesting to talk to over lunch.  I dread the day I leave academia and have far fewer conversations that are as mentally stimulating as today's.  Both professors have incorporated German/Germany into their fields of study and are fluent (or, as we at IES re-named it, "gefluent" [it's a conjugation joke]).

I left that feeling much more inspired about my life in Germany and my progressing language skills, which is a boost that I've really been needing.  Then, two hours later, one of my program directors, Ella, in conjunction with our student assistant who will be leaving after this semester, told me that I would make a great student assistant after graduation.  I thought she was just being kind and being the "mom" she is to us, but she was serious, and told me why I would be fitting for the position, etc.  I was so surprised... I can't think of a more appealing and fun job to help me get more gefluent.

So after all of those things, I was pretty excited about life and the future and the opportunities God seems to be constantly opening up for me (despite my annoyingly pessimistic outlook on the future).

After, I went to the gym, and on my way back came within approximately 6 inches of getting hit by a smart car who was turning left on red as I was crossing the street legally.   I think the driver was more affected by the situation (sorry, that isn't the right phrase, but my English is really suffering) than I was.  Perhaps I shouldn't wear a dark coat at night.  But perhaps we should also abide by driving laws.

In other news:
Rest in peace Jar #1 of Wegmans peanut butter (and thanks Lauren for this awesome shirt!!)  :)