Getting the bad luck out of the way?!

Jan. 1, 2009
What a way to start a new year -- a semester long adventure in Germany! Hollis delivers us to Lambert Airport in plenty of time, the baggage is overweight since the Lufthansa site incorrectly states that they allow 75 lbs., but no worries. We will probably leave much of our "stuff" behind.
We boarded the United "puddle jumper" only to find that there is no room in the overhead bins for backpacks, and they do not fit under the seats. The flight attendant, not happy to be working on New Year's Day, quickly whisked our bags away to be put into cargo. I felt very uncomfortable because she didn't give me time to grab my passport and drivers license. No time for protests -- she was on a mission. After the shot flight to Chicago, the crew, not happy to be working on New Year's Day, took fifteen minutes to get the carry ons up from cargo. When my backpack at last way thrown onto the landing, I was fearing for my computer and for making my connection with Lufthansa, which was a concourse away. The front pocket of my bag was open, but Ron was yelling that we were going to miss our flight to Frankfort. I just closed the pocket and started running. When we arrived at Lufthansa's gate, the doors were about to close, and, of course, my passport and drivers license were missing. United was absolutely no help, so Lufthansa took us under their wing, so to speak. They gave us reservations for the next day without a charge, documents to take downtown to get an emergency passport, and maps of Chicago.
We stayed at the Hyatt downtown to be close to the passport office. They had a $140 room, which we thought was not too bad for a last minute room downtown. (We forgot about add ons. When we got the bill it was a bit over $400, not to mention the taxi charges.) I stayed up until midnight so I could call for a reservation since the line did not work on New Year's Day. I luckily got a 9 a.m. appointment, which meant we had to get up early to get passport photos. When we arrived at the office, there were at least 25 others with a 9 a.m. appointment, but, unlike most government offices, they moved swiftly. We were out of the office by 12:30 and on the way to O'Hare for our 3:45 flight.
We were worried about our luggage being in Frankfort by now, but Lufthansa does not send luggage on without the passanger. I love that company. We had a delightful flight that seemed quite short (especially after going to New Zealand two summers before).
The head of the American Studies department was waiting for us in Leipzig to take us to our apartment. He showed us my office building on the way, where to get groceries across the street from our apartment, and even helped us lug our luggage up four flights (no elevators in this old GDR building). The apartment was a great surprise -- roomy, clean, a great view of a square surrounding Nikolaikirke, big, bright windows, and comfy beds.
We immediately went across the street to buy some supplies and food and were delighted to find the most sumptuous aroma coming from the bakery section. These lovely rolls would make delicious sandwiches for dinner.
When I bit into my sandwich and started chewing, my permanent bridge, which covers the bottom left of my mouth where I never did get teeth, suddenly popped out. This couldn't be. It was glued in with the strongest dental glue, only to be removed by a dentist. What bad luck! We decided to take a walk to avoid jet lag and to forget about the bridge until I could talk to my dept. chair and arrange for a dentist. When I put on my warmest coat make for the Russian front, the zipper broke. It cannot be repaired, and to replace it would cost practically the price of a new coat.
Jan.3 We went to the train station, which is much like Union Station in St. Louis, except they have trains. The station is only ten minutes from our apartment. We thought we might be able to find a new coat. In the meantime, I was wearing Ron's extra coat and looking like a bag lady. All the shops were for young women and had short jackets that certainly would not keep one warm. Leipzig, in fact all of Europe, is having the hardest winter in 20 years. We arrived to one foot of snow, which increased for three days as the temperature eventually dropped to -13 degrees F.
Jan.5 -- My student assistant, Jakob, came to our apartment to show us some of Leipzig and take us to my office, which is supposed to be about 15 minutes away. We walked for an hour and got very confused because the tour was a circuitous route to the office. On the way back to the apartment, we stopped at a department store, and I found a beautiful coat with a warm lining that looked like lambs wool. The outside of the coat was a slinky but waterproof material. By the time I walked home in the coat, I realized that the lining was not attached to the outside, and it rode up my back, making me look like a hunchback and leaving my back protected only by the slinky material.
Jan.6 -- I walked to the office to get some work done and to unload my books, which had just arrived. Luckily I mailed them almost a month ago. I got a little lost and the 15 minute trip turned into almost an hour. I also had an appointment at a dental specialist to fix my bridge. The good news is he was able to glue it back into my mouth, but the bad news is that I need major dental work to truly fix the problem, which will take about 9 months. Too bad I couldn't go for that option since Germany has free insurance. Another student aide had come with me to help translate, and I told him that I could get home alone since I could see the spires of Nikolaikirke. I still got lost and ended up walking another hour when it should have taken ten minutes. The temperature kept dropping.
Jan. 7 -- I couldn't stand the cold any longer and decided to take my coat back to the department store. As a note, not many people speak English in Leipzig, and even few do in the surrounding towns. With no dictionary or translator, I went to the department and explained that I had a problem with the coat. Through my poor German phraseology and demonstration, the clerk completely understood and invited me to find a new coat. Well, it's not as cute, but it certainly is warm. Ron found a "handy" or cell phone for 9,95E, I got speakers for my computer for 9,95E and a clock for our sitting room for 5 E. We also found a great restaurant in the department store.
Jan.8 -- The first day of class, which is in my office building. I got lost only once, so I made it in 45 minutes through drifting snow. I was careful to mark the way so I wouldn't get lost after class.
My students are delightful: attentive, respectful, and eager. At the end of the class, they knock on their desks, which is the German equivalent of applause. Of course, American professors are not used to so much attention, and I felt myself blush (if you can believe that). The class was over at 6:45, and I boldly set out to walk straight home. It was imperative that I make no mistakes as it was -13F that night. Of course, I came staggering into my apartment at 8:00. I don't think a compass or map would help me. I'm going to take the ell the next time.
Jan.9 -- The first day of Literature of the American West, and it is only about 5 minutes away. My student aide Jakob met me at the apartment and walked me there. Another fantastic class with wonderful students. I do have some limitations in the class room itself, though. They have no smart rooms. I have to request a projector to go with my own laptop, and I couldn't figure out how to make it work. Again, I will have to ask my aide to meet me there and help with my AV problems. In fact, I was out of chalk, but a student told me where to get it, and she went herself for me. Then I couldn't find an eraser. The students explained that the sponge, which looks like a sea sponge, is to be wet (there is a bucket of water next to the chalk board), and the board can be cleaned with the wet sponge. (Another throw back to the GDR?) I have much American geography and history to explain while teaching the literature, but I'm loving it because that is what American Studies is all about. Again, the students gave a rounding knock on the desks, and some even stayed after to talk to me. That surprised me because these students are much shyer or maybe more respectful than American students. I made it home in ten minutes, and my husband could hardly believe it. He was beginning to think I might need a homing device.
Jan. 10 -- Good intentions to go to Berlin (an hour away by train), but the jet lag finally set in. We slept all day.
Jan.11 -- We went to a medieval town one hour by train. Erfurt is like something out of a fairy tale. Unfortunately, we left too late to see much, but we did find an extraordinary restaurant that had been in business since the 1500's. Their potato rolls, roladen, and red cabbage were the best I had ever eaten. We will go back another day to spend more time and visit the medieval sites.
Jan.12-- I spend much time on the computer every day loading assignments on the Lehrbox (similar to pc common), grading journals, and checking three different e-mail sites. The days are short because it is very dark by 5 p.m. The snow is starting to melt, and the temperature is up to a balmy 25 degrees F. Most days have been sunny, but I told Ron we shouldn't take them for granted. I'm thinking we might be in for much rain after the temperature gets beyond freezing.