Triftstrasse 9

I'm here!!!

And may I say that the trip was one of the best ever. Things couldn't have been more simple.

I woke up at the right time, got ready, we made it to the airport with an hour to spare, both my suitcases were underweight and I wasn't charged for anything, I said goodbye to my mom both sentimentally and sadly, my sister met me in Denver and we chatted—our last chat for who knows how long (*tear*)—my flight to Munich was calm and I actually got some sleep, and we were about a half an hour early into the airport.

The knot in my stomach was there throughout the whole thing, but the moment I saw the sun rising over Munich, bright and glittering in pinks and golds above the misty clouds, the excitement bubbled up through me, starting at the pit of my stomach and spreading up my body like fire until it brought tears to my eyes.

I love it here.

The red-capped houses are interspersed with dark greens of the trees and the rolling hills covered with grass. It was raining when I got off the train. Later my cab driver told me that I brought the rain with me, chuckling after he said this.

Getting my luggage was easy too—as I always fear they will lose my stuff and then where will I be—but no, they both came out before nearly everyone else's, one right after the other. The hardest part was lugging all of my stuff out of the airport, but even this wasn't so bad. A man asked "taxi?"
"Ja."
"Right out on the side."
His fellow cab drivers laughed as they corrected his English. "It's right outside!"
The only part of my trip that was out of sorts, and even this is a very nice way of saying it because I think it has scarred me for life a little bit, happened during my cab ride.

My driver was driving fast, as they always do, and not really talking to me, so I was busying myself by looking out at the window at what will become my familiar surroundings. We had entered a highway lined with trees that overlooked a park, and all of the sudden I decide to look out of the windshield to the road before us.

A black dog was bounding happily toward the car, not showing any sign of vearing out of the way. The driver hesitated, tried to avoid it, but there was a car on our left. I gasp. Thud. "Oh nein," I say as I cover my eyes and then my ears. I began to feel sick to my stomach, and not in a good way. I have never hit so much as a squirrel with my car. My cab driver sputters "ich könnte nichts machen," and I very sadly say "ich weiss..." It's hard not to cry over this. And I really really wish it hadn't happened.

That was horrible. And so sad! And I hope it wasn't an omen or something. Poor pup. But when we reach our destination, Triftstrasse 9—my new home—the driver acts as if nothing has happened and bids me farewell after I pay for my 57-Euro cab ride.

I ring the bell. Twice. Three times. Oh no, she isn't home. Then I figured out I had to hold down the button and speak. "Hallo? Lisa?"

And my journey to my new home was over. My suitcases barely fit inside the elevator, but alles klappt und jetzt bin ich in München.

I unpacked, and was happy to see that I still had tons of space... very happy.

Then I slept for about 7 hours, which I don't think was very smart... but I couldn't help it. It was even a feat because every few seconds a Strassenbahn drives by, the German ambulance sounds or cars honk below. And one can hear the continuous ringing of the bells of the nearby Catholic church.

But in no way am I complaining. I can't get enough of it.

Now I am gazing out my window, to the man holding his baby on his balcony outside... what should I do tomorrow... walk around and take in this wondrous place.

But first I think I should try to get some sleep, just to get me on German time if nothing else. Gute nacht.