Guten Tag!

Hehes~ Hallo! I'm in Germany! To be more precise, I'm in my room, looking out on the snowy rooftops of the buildings near mind in Kolpinghaus (where I'm currently boarding) in Dusseldorf. It was snowing this morning but it seems like it has stopped but even so I think I'm going to be having a lazy Sunday afternoon in. Just to give you a taste of what the picture is like....



Yup! First time I've seen snow so its a pretty big deal for me. I don't know where I read in one of those horoscope things for 2010 but it said I will be 'going on a trip' which I guess in a way turned out quite true. This trip to Germany will be a milestone for me in many ways. First, I am truly away from the family which is new for me even if I have been to uni overseas but since I have been living with my brother, you could almost say I chose the safe option. Secondly because there is a HUGE language barrier here which I will force me to learn something at least! Did you know? There are about 2 bookshops in Dusseldorf with English books which I guess is mind-blowing especially for someone who survives on books the whole time. But worry not peeps, I did bring some books to tide me over this period! Or not I swear I will be English starved for these 5 weeks or so~ I'll be so gaunt! Haha but its ok, it's all in the experience.

So where to start? Haha - the first day here was a crazy one when I got settled into the youth hostel which although isn't a fantastic place is pretty livable and best of all, quite cheap. Sure, I would love to have an ensuite bathroom but c'est la vie :) I'm sharing the room with a girl from Japan. Her name is Erina and she's here to study ballet for about a year. She arrived in October and will be staying until July I believe but at the moment, I'll be in the room alone as she has flown to Vienna for a few days and will only be arriving back on the 17th Jan. Yup! That means the whole room is here at my expense - although to be honest I don't believe I'll be using it much especially with early starts like waking up at 6.30 for work. Like seriously.. I head out to work in the dark and by the time I get back from work.. it's dark already. I'm missing my sunshine!! It's hard for a girl from Bangkok! I'm losing my vitamin D by the minute! Of course, it doesn't help that I'm in a room all day~

The public transport system is a maze I tell you! I was making this comment to my dad just yesterday. On the most non-existent level of public transport systems lies KL which has such a small range of stops, you really don't get to go anywhere without using a car. Next comes Bangkok with its MRT and BTS which is relatively ok but enough to get around the city. I guess with the planned extensions it will be even better but so far, its pretty mediocre with only 2 lines on the BTS. The next one up is HK's MTR system which is *pretty* extensive with all these lines running over both Kowloon and HK island. The number of stations there can really "do" one's head in and its seriously a challenge remembering the name of the stations! Although for those who grew up there *ahem* its like breathing air! Haha but yeah... I thought that was bad... until I came here and saw... this:

Complicated or what? Ahaha - I think I almost fainted after I saw this! Lol - and the stops aren't even really labelled as stops, just simply thicker white lines on the coloured lines. It's pretty I guess with all the colours but at close-up... haha~ crazy stuff! Thankfully I have learnt enough to get me to work, to get from work which is located at Holthausen, quite further down south from where I live which is near the Alstadt area. Oh - I also was introduced to several asian groceries and restaurants in the (I guess what could be considered as the) Asian quarter of Dusseldorf on Oststraße. Good stuff!! They even have 'yau char kway' there! Hehes :)

OK lah ... I think I have written enough for today~ Feeling like eating some of my Bengawan Solo biscuits that I brought over~ :) I'll update more later! Tschüs!! XD