Bikes of Passage

Left to pit his wits and will against nature's fury. It was his initiation...his time in the wild for he would return to his people a Spartan or not at all.

So here I am, sitting in my lecture hall, waiting for the most compelling class "Social Structure & Culture" to start when a future colleague of mine, sitting a few rows behind me asks: "are you in this class as well?" I answer with a solid "Yeah" too tired from staying out way past my recommended bedtime in order to make some new German friends to formulate solid German sentences. "Well it apparently starts next week the 18th of October" I chuckle to myself and, recovering from the haze of tiredness that's consumed me the entire morning respond with a, "That really sucks, I guess we could have checked that earlier." Now I am here, in my lecture hall completely alone, writing a blog post. Things you will learn if you ever come to study in Germany (or any other foreign country for that matter), but primarily things you were learn about biking culture because bikes are Münster's primary form of transportation. So, without further ado....

 1. Like Learning to Ride a Bike 

Promenade

There are some things that are really invaluable lessons parents give there kids. I know in this modernized world bike riding doesn't seem to be too prevalent in the United States, perhaps because the cities are too big, the time to get places is too small and the people are too impatient but I cannot stress enough how awesome it is to ride my (my guest family is awesome, I can't stress this enough and were kind enough to buy a bike for my usage while I'm here) bike here. Germany is known for these stretches of sidewalk that are designated bike paths, but Münster goes above and beyond with its very own bike promenade. In addition, there's rules, right is slow traffic, left if passing traffic, you ring your bell if you want to pass someone and you use your arms as turning signals. All pretty basic stuff, but there's something seemingly intimate about being able to simply hop on a bike and ride into the elements.

2. 0 Degrees Celsius 

Speaking of the elements, I was not prepared for this nonsense. Why yesterday, when I was out with Dexter and my new group of German friends did I not bring a jacket? I thought, "Hey, it's a nice 50 degrees, I just played Lacrosse in Germany, everything's okay!" Everything, my friends, was not okay I practically froze and only survived because of the kindness of Philipp, my new German buddy, and Dexter who loaned me gloves and a beanie respectively. This is all fine and dandy when you're just standing, or drinking seemingly comfortable locations, but the wind tearing into your face and reminding you that it really is zero degrees Celsius (32 F for you who may not know middle school science). I have my gloves, thank goodness, and a jacket and hat from my host family but just know I still don't think I'm going to survive this winter.   

3. Hot Wheels 

One of the most necessary steps every college aged student must take in Münster is being under the influence of alcohol (no, I am not saying incapable or pass out drunk, simply under the influence) and riding their bike to or from a party. It's just simple fun. It's a terrible practice and I do not suggest anyone making it a practice as much as I do not suggest anyone driving under the influence, but it was certainly a good feeling to ride along with the compadres and see how simple fun riding a bike while drinking a beer can be. These crazy Germans. 

4. All That Junk in the Trunk

Since I spoke of Lacrosse briefly...Münster has a Lacrosse club/team and we had our first practice yesterday. Aside from having to spend close to 200 Euros for the deposit it was awesome. Our first game is this coming Saturday and it couldn't be more exciting. The practice isn't the real highlight of my life though, it was the biking back from it with all my newly rented equipment. So I hooked up everything, strapped it onto my backpack and made my way back home. It was an experience, I'll say that, but it was definitely something worth merit. Seriously though...who needs a car when you can bike?

5. Cum Tempore 

It was really awesome learning how to bike to class in less time than it took me to drive to campus last year. Class starts fifteen minutes after the hour, in this case it's scheduled time is 10:00 (had it really been held today) which means the lecture would have been held today it would have started at 10:15. I woke up at 9:43. Got here at 9:59. But to be clear, Germans, who are known for their timeliness have so far disappointed. My lectures with my British and Venezuelan professors have definitely started more punctually than the others. But That's okay, I'm cool with it. Gives me more time to relax. I'm not mad at you German professors, do your thing. 

But in addition to my punctuality successes, it's so awesome learning new cities and new places. Being able to direct someone through Münster is going to be an awesome experience, and it won't be too long until I can do that, seeing as I bike everywhere. I think I need to name my bike. If anyone has suggestions feel free to lay 'em on me. Just know that I name all my objects females. Just one of those things, I think it ties us together more closely.

6. Water Weight

I sweat like the dickens on my bike. I don't know if there's any other way to say that. It's just ridiculous how much I sweat. Dexter and I talked about this last night and he revealed that he brings a towel with him when he's biking places. It might be a genius idea. Even when it's ZERO DEGREES CELSIUS, I still sweat. Of course I'm usually not an idiot and I wear a jacket but that's besides the point, it's still so cold and to be sweating through my multiple layers is just astonishing. I had a temporary, irrational fear that I'd come back to the states an obese human being because of the fact that my guest father and I cook marvelous meals everyday, and even when I'm not cooking, he does it. (which would be the ultimate irony, wouldn't it? Leaving America and coming BACK obese, impossible.) But then I realized with all the biking, walking, Lacrosse-ing, there's no way.

I Eat Like This Daily

7. An Apple a Day

Scarves, Jackets, Tea, Cough Drops, Soup. All of these are good protectors from cold. But I am going to be superstitious during this winter (I'm really not joking about this winter stuff) and I'm going to go ahead and be sure to keep up with the old adage. Every day I eat an apple. Every. Single. Day. Why you ask? Because that one day I don't eat an apple, and I'm blogging, sickly and depressed someone would come along and say that stupid saying and make me feel dumb. So if I get sick, in spite of all the apples, then screw you, screw your cute rhyming phrases, I'm going straight to the doctor.