Freakishly Happy

I have noticed in my classes that the Germans tend to use a freakish amount of office supplies. An amount that I would normally attribute to geeks or very girly-girls in the US. Men and women alike come to class with these pencil bags. Within these bags are serious amounts of office supplies. During a given class time, most people have at least 2 pencils, 3 colored pens and 2 highlighters in front of them on the desk. Now these things aren't here superfluously. They actually use ALL of these implements. It's incredible. Sometimes I have problems focusing due to the fascinating pen rituals of the person sitting next to me. The changing of the guards has NOTHING on these people! Seriously. Sadly, I think I'm going out tomorrow to purchase my own pencil case and copious amounts of office supplies. I don't think it can be helped.

In other thought:
My faith was restored in the niceness of German people. A week or so ago I was walking down the street with my friend Lorrie, and this rude old German man purposely ran in to me as I walked down the sidewalk. There was plenty of room, and I got over for him, but he still veered into me and began berating me auf Deutsch. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy. Red faced, fuming and ready to get into a rumble maybe, but definitely not happy.

SO yesterday I was walking home from the post with a HUGE package that my lovely sister sent to me. It was quite a little walk from the post to the train, and the box was pretty much half my size (ok, that is an exaggeration). So I was hobbling down the sidewalk and a very kind gentleman came and asked if he could help me. I think I had "Damsel in Distress" written all over me. Not wanting to seem weak (ha ha) I declined. Thankfully he insisted, and he helped me carry the box all the way to the bus stop. This kind act completely cancels out the other guy's rudeness and has made me realize that Germans aren't jerks like the rest of the world thinks. They're really pretty friendly.

I've decided to get unlazy and start actually working hard. It has been quite an adjustment. Homework is actually hard when you work at it. Who would have thunk it? Its pretty nice though because I only have a 3 day week. It used to be that Wednesday was my favorite day of the week because it meant that the week was on a downward slide and there was only 2 days left to be endured. Now MONDAYS are hump day! Its nice to start the week with the weekend in view. It makes things much more bareable. Today I have that "Friday" feeling. The one where you take a giant breath and realize that no matter how much tomorrow sucks, it'll soon be over and the weekend will begin!!!!!!!!!

Thursday I have to go in for allergy testing. I'm pretty nervous as I really can't handle needles. Especially not en masse. I almost passed out getting my nose pierced, so I'm not really sure how I'm going to handle lots and lots of needles.

But then it'll be Thanksgiving! And I can eat... pretty much nothing ;) (ok, please excuse the sarcasm, it's been a long week of wanting to eat things and not being able to).
We're having an AYF Thanksgiving party. Its a potluck. Please write in and tell me what to bring. I'm really at a loss.

John is on schedule to finish his dissertation by mid-March. Pretty insane huh? So far this week he's written over 50 pages. That folks, is actual disseration work! ISN'T HE AMAZING?????

I just want to tell you all how very Thankful I am for all of you!
John and I will be posting our Thankful list in a little bit.