First Day of School

So I finally began classes today after having a wonderful (not so wonderful) 4 month vacation. On the tram into town I got checked for the first time to make sure I had my ticket. It was really scary. The checker was dressed in plain clothes and came up to me and flashed his badge at me. I got out my ticket and everything was fine but my heart was pounding!

Today's class, Literature of the Weimar Republic, is the only one I have with actual Uni Freiburg students, the other ones I'm taking are designed for exchange students. I got to the University and the first thing I noticed was the lack of a campus feel, which I know is because there is no campus. I kind of missed the buzz of excitement you feel at Mt. Holyoke on the first day of class. It's also weird walking around the university buildings because all the students are so much older than me and I kind of felt like a little kid.

The classroom was about as legit as you could get. It was a huge lecture hall with stadium seating and really uncomfortable wooden chairs. There were about 150 students in the class, so it was the biggest course I've ever taken. The professor came in, turned on her microphone, and spoke for an hour and a half in German overviewing the class and saying what we were going to be doing in every single lecture (very German). When it was over, all the exchange students in the room went up to her to ask what we could do in order to receive credit for the course. For one credit, all we have to do is show up and take notes, which she will sign after class. For two credits, we have to write a ten page paper on a topic of our choice. I am kind of freaking out about writing a ten page paper, and only getting two credits for this course (which I thought would be worth 3). I might have to pick up a 6th class now in order to have a full time courseload here, which is insane. We'll see. I still hate school.