Let the journey begin...

Our adventure began today at 7 am as we caught a train to Fulda, Germany. We borrowed backpacks from Jara's neighbor, and just guess who's backpack was the heaviest? MINE of course! In my defense, I'm carrying this computer!

My backpack is way too top heavy...that has to change very soon! It was quite a sight to see us on the train. Scott had to lift my backpack up to put it on my back, because I can't even lift it. I feel like I'm transporting a 10 year old child!

Jara, Reina, Theresa, and Scott

We came to Fulda to attend the 18th birthday party of another foreign exchange student, Theresa. Reina, my brother's friend from Bakersfield and who was Theresa's host family, is here staying with Theresa. So it was a reunion! They picked us up from the train station, and while Theresa was getting things ready for her party, Reina gave us a tour of the city.

But first, we ate a Cuban restaurant called Viva Havana. I'm discovering it is more fun to just close my eyes and choose a menu item, because I can't understand anything on the menu anyways. So far my luck hasn't failed me!

Today my finger pointed to a Tortdillo de la Casa. It was a crispy flatbread full of corn, broccoli, onions, chicken, sausage, and a house sauce!

Then the city tour began! We saw the Cathedral Dom! There was a smaller chapel beside it that was built in the late 1800s! Then we saw Fulda's castle, the castle's gardens, Theresa's school, and downtown Fulda. Fulda is a lot older than Hannover, since not much of Hannover was destroyed during the war. This place doesn't have much to do, but it's cute.

Now the place we are staying in bed and breakfast run by the Henning family. The family also runs a butchery on the 1st floor of the bed and breakfast and a "biergarten" aka beer garden in the back! That is where we ate dinner tonight. (Dad you would love this place) I had my first German bratwurst tonight! Scott was SO excited to find a TV channel in English and it just happens to be MTV with german subtitles. Scott and I were excited to meet up with another English speaker today, because after awhile it gets annoying to only hear german and not understand it.

Now we are off to Theresa's birthday party. It is supposedly going to be a "big deal."

Three Things I Learned Today:

1. German's 18th birthday party is like America's 21st birthday celebrations but even bigger.

2. In Fulda, students go to school based on how they test. There are 3 levels of schools. If they are smart aka good test takers they go to a "better" school.

3. You must make reservations to get on some trains, especially night trains, and this reservation is on top of the train ticket itself.