Plea from a Serial Loser

So this past weekend, in the typical style of Oktoberfest (well actually, also in the typical Melissa style...), I managed to rid myself of my phone, keys, approx 10 euros, and my driver's license.

I am of the opinion that actually I got robbed, since I definitely didn't take all that stuff out of my purse at any time and my phone was mysteriously turned off. But I went and checked the lost and found anyway, to no avail.

It is nice that that have this sort of thing at Oktoberfest, and also that there is a lot of things that actually do get returned.

That part is sort of heartwarming actually. Sometimes it feels like it's hard to do good in the world, but merely turning someones belongings into a lost and found I think sends a lot of good vibes out there.

As someone who has lost pretty much 90% of things she has ever owned, I can personally attest to how great you make someone feel by doing something so simple. Not to be over dramatic, but it sort of restores your faith in humanity---it's nice to know that someone that doesn't even know you at least empathizes and cares about you a little.

None of my things, other than the 10 euros, were really of value to anyone else, yet as is true of most things, I think we all tend to get a little apathetic. If my stuff wasn't stolen, it was more likely found by someone who was too lazy to turn it in or was not discovered until the hungover person was too far away to bother.

And I totally sympathize. Once I found a driver's license in the bathroom and picked it up intending to give it back, but instead just forgot about it. It sat on my mantel for a while as a guilty reminder. But then again, I also once found a class ring in lecture and turned it in.

But dammit people! Put a little bit more effort in! Make someones day, its not hard.

UPDATE!!!: The angels of Oktoberfest heard my bitter pleas, and when I went back to the Lost and Found a few days later, my keys were there! No sign of my phone or driver's license, although the guy said they would probably show up later. Not sure if I believe that, but all I cared about was the keys anyway. Happy days!

Stollen!

So today I was suprised to see a loaf of Stollen in the Supermarkt near my house. It's traditional German christmas bread, something I usually eat anyway every year since you can get it in the states. It's pretty much sweet bread with different things inside and powdered sugar on top. I think the best kind is when it has Marzipan inside yumm. (FYI Marzipan is a potato paste thing they eat in Germany, often times inside of chocolate. I used to hate it with a passion, but after years of exposure have come to really like it).

And lucky me, this one does have Marzipan inside! It's just funny because since Germany has no Thanksgiving or Halloween to market, they always start up on the christmas stuff ridiculously early. They even had Glühwein out. Kind of ridiculous I think, but at least I get to snatch up some of the best German christmas treats before I leave!

New Hairdo

Yess! After an embarrasingly long time not getting my haircut, I have finally said goodbye to split ends. I even got my first professional highlights too! And the best part being that I got it all for free (pretty much Dennis is the BEST!).

It definitely destress me a bit and I am happy to be no longer mocked by children (its embarrasingly when a children are telling you you have spliss (split-ends) and you should get your haircut Ms. Prince hahah).

New hair-cut, new outlook :)

(photos to come soon!)

Dublin!

The first week of August was my first week of vacation, and I spent it in Ireland. And I have to say that it was everything I had hope it would be.

I spent my first and one of my last days in Dublin, and it's interesting to contrast it with the rest of Ireland.

When I think of Ireland I always think of all the green countryside, which isn't how Dublin is. It is definitely more of an urban center, even though its not so huge. There is a nice park not that far away, but its definitely on the more concrete-y side. It's also interestng, because tourist-wise there's not all that much to do. The main things I did was go to the Guinness factory and check out the pubs, which were both great, even though in places like Temple Bar you can end up paying 5€ (!!) for a pint of beer (in Germany you can sometimes get a whole LITER of beer for that price!).

The Guinness factory was definitely worth a trip though. It is huge and tells you all these cool things about how beer and Guinness and particular is made. Plus you get a free pint at the end!




I had the choice of getting one one top at their cool ceiling bar, but decided to get mine at the bar where they let you pour your own! I even got a certificate for it--how cheesy!



Dublin is definitely has a cool young vibe to it though. Think it would be great to study there, especially because Ryan air is based there, so you could get lots of cheap flights to travel from there---as long as you can put up with the crummy weather!

Camp Lessons 2

4) Crying girls is like the yawning effect to other little girls---it gets them all going.

5) The country sucks because stores close at 6, a bell goes off every morning at 645 AM :( and the mosquitos feast on you everyday.

6) Many children do not know how to control the volume of their voice, especially in the mornings

7) Threating to send them to bed early works amazingly.

8) Despite my complaining I still really like kids, just not 30 of them for a week straight!

Back to normal life (or the closest assimilation) in 1.5 days...

Camp Lessons

Right now I am spending five days with some of the kids from school at a Hostel near Ammersee. And here are some of the lessons I have learned so far.

1) It is not a good idea to send your kids to camp with knives or bags full of candy and coffee-filled candy bars

2) Kids will literally turn into wild animals in the dining room if you let them.

3) Scaring noisy kids at night is fun :)

I'm sure there will be more lessons in the days to come... :)

Whirlpool

Woah. Traveling for 3 weeks (aside of the killer cold that kept me in bed for a few days half way through) was great, but now I am back to reality--- and it is harsh.

With my flight even now not locked in, time is taking on strange qualities for me. Even though I will mostly have about a month left, it feels like I have about 72 hours. Also time is weird in that even though I seem to be slaving away for hours, absolutely nothing happens, aside of the fact that i run out of time. I clean my room, throw out a bag of things I hope I won't need, and suddenly its four hours later and when i turn my head the room is in same mess it was before.

I have so so many things to sort out before I leave, especially since I am leaving the land of beauracracy. A hostile rooming situation has also led to me probably leaving a week earlier than before.

But at the same time I am overjoyed. To be honest, I definitely feel that the German chapter of my life is coming to a necessary close. Although I am sad in that it feels like Europe is my young adventerous life and that that part is coming to an end, I am also stoked to get on with a new adventure and chapter in my life, even if it means I have to spend some hard time living with my mom and sleeping on the couch.

I am currently trying to continue my training in seperating my attachment from physical objects. I never want to throw anything away. But the when I do I almost never miss it. Yet I'm having the common problem where you always remember that one time you threw away you know that crazy popsicle stick holder you thought you'd never need and then you were kicking yourself about it a week later when for once in your life you really DID need it.

Well, at least I probably don't need those shoes with the gaping holes in them...but maybe...