Dresden

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to post. I have had quiet a week. On Monday June 6, I took a train to Cologne and was picked up by the Fulbright Commission. From the city we drove an hour to Altenberg, a church and monastery that is used as a christian camp. The church was beautiful, thought simple, and the monastery was comfortable, although I was not a huge fan of the food and it lacked internet and phone access. After three days of seminars and lots of information, I left for Dresden.

Now here is where it gets interesting. On the train from Cologne to Frankfurt I accidently left my wallet. I did not realize this until I was on my second train from Frankfurt to Dresden. I immediately talked to a conductor and he called the last train where it was found. It was a relief to know that someone found it and that it would be returned. I was told to call Munich, the last stop on the first train, to get it back.

I did not worry much about my wallet because I was distracted by getting closer and closer to meeting the teacher I was going to work with. After five hours on the trains, I arrived at the main train station and Dresden and was welcomed by two of the teacher I will be working with. They very kindly assisted me with my very heavy luggage and then took me to where I was going to stay. I am living in a middle class residental area called Striesen. It is close to the botanical garden and lots of stores. I met my roomate, Julian, and showed my bedroom. It is long and narrow with a very high ceilling. My window looks out to the backyard that has lots of trees. It is quiet nice. I unpacked and got settled in and then went to bed early.

Then on Friday, I went to the school where I will be working, had breakfast with all the English teachers and had a tour. I explained my situation and they were very helpful giving me pass to ride the public transportation and some money. On Friday, I called Munich main train station but always got a busy signal. For the next eight hours I tried with no luck to talk to somebody about getting my wallet back. Only after I could not reach anyone in Munich on Saturday did I start to freak out....