After Matt was through with work on Friday we went out in Frankfurt. Matt's not overly familiar with Frankfurt, so we walked around awhile before deciding on where to eat. After eating, we stumbled upon an Apfelwein festival, so we stopped by and enjoyed some Apfelwein and live music. Apfelwein literally translated is "apple wine," but it's more like a cross between a cider and a wine. It has a light apple flavor like cider, but is lighter like wine. It's delicious. As I paid for dinner, I realized I had forgotten the customary way to interact with the waiter. In Germany when you ask to pay, the waiter comes to your table, tallies up your bill in front of you, tells you the total, and then waits for you to pay (typically in cash - many places don't accept card at all). They give you your change right at the table from a large wallet they carry on their person with their whole shifts worth of payments. It's common to tip just slightly. For example, if your total is €16,50, you would tell the waiter €17, and they'd keep the €0,50. This slight tip is probably more due to convenience for the waiter than anything else - keep in mind the large wallet they carry around. As I paid for the €18, I forgot to do this with my waiter, and she ended up keeping the whole €20. Not a big deal, but it reminded me how many of the little things I had forgotten.
A representative from Amnesty International approached us looking for a donation that night as we were walking around. I was thrown off guard for a minute. At the moment I'm still not expecting people to randomly start speaking German to me, and I end up looking like an idiot. In fact, the girl looked at Matt and asked "Spricht sie?" or " Does she speak German?" I was mortified and immediately felt like I had to prove myself, thus I quickly spit out some German phrases. I remember that it took some time for me to expect German and understand it from strangers, so that's another thing I have to re-train my brain to do.
Yesterday was amazing, as Matt and I made a journey over to Mainz (where we studied abroad last year). Mainz truly feels like home for me. I know where everything is, how to get everywhere, where the best places to eat are, all the good tourist attractions, etc. We spent the day walking around - 11.25 miles, to be exact - seeing all the old places we used to go. We also ate some döner (shaved mystery meat, possibly lamb, in a toasted ciabatta envelope with vegetables and sauces) and also schnitzel. We went pretty much everywhere in Mainz, even to a few places I had never been. I also rediscovered my dislike for German doors. I'm not really sure how to describe doors here, but they're kind of opposite from ours. I always end up pushing when I should pull and pulling when I should push. Surprisingly, this has little to do with my brains inability to remember push (drücken) and pull (ziehen), which aren't even on most doors. I just simply can't remember which ways the doors go. In the end I always end up looking like an idiot, which I suppose really isn't that uncommon for me.
Also, it's really hot here. It was in the low 100s when I got here on Friday, and yesterday it was in the low 90s. It's not quite as humid, but they also don't have air conditioning.
I'm not sure what the plans are for today. Mostly lounging around and then we'll head out for some exploring and dinner.
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