Just a few more hours left...

"Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before."



Erich Fromm

23 days left!!

Well today I recieved my informational packet regarding my stay in Germany, but it wasn't quite what I expected. I was hoping for more information about my host family rather than just a name, address and phone number- but maybe that will be a little later? Anyway, for any who want to write I will be staying with Frau von Weber, Bonnerlandstr. 95 50996 Köln, Deutschland. I'm not sure yet exactly how the phone numbers work out there, but my number will be 02236/61430. I don't believe that has the international exchange attached to it, but I'll get that information soon.

There are a total of 15 students going, almost entirely made up from Oregon State, so I will be the only one from New York. I'll be staying with another student with my host family, Marek Zbyszewski who I also don't know anything about. But this is what this whole experience is about- just diving right in without knowing everything.

I can't wait to travel to Germany, and at the same time I am nervous about how much I have learned and accomplished at RIT and this past summer studying on my own. At the same time I realize that I shouldn't have any concerns at all, but it helps me stay focused on my studies while I work.

I will be arriving in Köln around the afternoon on September 29th and for the first night I stay at the Hotel Allegro. Thurnmarkt 1-7 / Ecke Rheingasse Tel: (011-49) 221-82-60. The website states: " Im Herzen von Köln mit Blick auf Dom, romanische Kirchen, Rhein und Altstadt liegt unser 3-Sterne Superior-Hotel." Which roughly translated states that the 3-star hotel lies in the heart of Cologne with a view of the cathedral, romantic churches on the Rhine in the old part of towm. Here is the website; www.hotel-allegro-koeln.de. and a few pictures of the rooms...

Doppelzimmer (moderner Stil)

Doppelzimmer (bayerischer Stil)

Around 6:30pm I will meet my Program Site Coordinator Hartwig Prüßmann and go out to dinner at Paulaner im Roten Ochsen. Again, the website... http://www.paulaner-cologne.com/ and I can't wait to try an authentic German dish (Check out the menu under Essen & Trinken {Food and Drinks})! Here are a few pictures I found in advance of the pub.....

Well anyway, it's time to get back to studying my German. Feel free to contact me whenever you wish or leave comments and I will respond as quickly as possible- ctytin23@yahoo.com and ctytler@rochester.rr.com.

Auf Wiedersehen,

Chris

Kolsch and a Beer... can't go wrong!