Gude,

I suppose it's probably time for an update on my exploits abroad. I've been awfully busy lately. My weeks are spent going to class and naturally, studying for those classes. On the weekend, I generally take a small trip somewhere. I've already exhausted the utility of my Goethe card (I've traveled to nearly every city in Hessen, with the exception of Fulda and Giessen.) However, I managed to travel outside of Hessen last weekend. I went to Erfurt and Weimar, which both lie in the state of Thuringia. It was my first time in former East Germany (Berlin doesn't really count). I spent the weekend accompanied by Ampelmännchen (East German traffic light figures) and a good friend from an exchange program that I participated in during High School. On the first day, my friend, Alina, and I wandered around Erfurt, which is truly a beautiful city. By far, the highlight of the weekend was traveling to Weimar, where I visited his former house. I saw the room, in which he wrote Faust!!! I also saw Schiller's house and Goethe's garden house, which was essentially a regular sized house surrounded by gardens and lots of sheep. We had dinner in an Italian pizzeria, which was very tasty. Then, we proceeded to return to Erfurt and had a relatively uneventful night, as we were both very tired from walking around Weimar. On my last day in Erfurt, we walked around the city and checked out the storefronts around the city. After this weekend, Alina and I decided to become a couple, which is very exciting and fulfilling, because we've had feelings for another for quite some time. Aside from the usual joys of being in a relationship, we speak German together. As expected, I'm very happy and am looking forward to the next time we see each other. However, I digress to more interesting and less personal details! Aside from attending class, I've signed up for a basketball "class" offered through the university. I've also signed up for a tandem exchange, where I will meet with a partner and speak English for an hour or so and then, an hour of German. Another great opportunity to practice my German. Additionally, I've began to research master's programs in Germany, which is another exciting prospect.

Thanks for reading,
Matt