Internationale Studierende

Emma and I walked, in the rain, around the Alster yesterday. We did the 6 miles in 1.5 hours. It's so much more fun working out with her!

Tonight is Pub Quiz. Last week we took second place, which was pretty cool. We got to share a box of chocolates as prize. The first place team got a bottle of whiskey, but they shared it with the whole bar.

Today I went to the Rathaus, the town hall. International students were invited for a presentation and then drink and get-to-know-you. It was quite nice. I wish I had taken my camera! It is so beautiful inside! The room we were in had tons of gold plating, very ornate decorations, very high ceilings and walls that were half-covered with murals of the harbor.

The message was really nice as well. Hamburg is trying to make the city more international and has upped the quota of foreign students and is also encouraging them to work and stay here, making laws easier for foreigners, etc. They really do provide so many services and are very encouraging in many ways. I know I always complain about things (honestly because it is funnier!) but in all reality they do make quite the effort. Tuebingen was also a city and uni where foreigners were impressively catered to. I liked how they talked about the future of Hamburg as an international metro area.

This city really is a gorgeous, vibrant place that I like better than the other places in Germany that I've lived. It's a big city with culture, international people, technology, 38,000 students, many universities, an alternative district, a red-light district!, amazing choices for food and art, the harbor, a river, beautiful architecture, and just a really alive feeling. I can see how people love it here.

In conclusion, I just wanted to say that I think it's really commendable how Germany is making such an effort to attract foreigners and make them feel welcome and adjusted here. I must admit I am thankful for all that people have done for me.