Looking Good

I’m happy to report that since my last post, things have really gotten better for me here in Jülich. Maybe it’s also because I’ve actively been concentrating on only the good things, or just that I’m getting used to countryside living, but either way, it’s awesome. =D

A summary of all the nice things that have happened to me in the last week: One of my co-workers showed me a different path to get to lab. I like this path much much better than the other one; not only is it shorter, but it also goes entirely through residential areas and foresty places, so I don’t have to bike along the main road anymore (which is quite scary I must say because the sidewalk next to the road is quite narrow). This path is very lovely–a wide path where lots of bikers go to and from work, pretty much leading straight from the Forschungszentrum. I think ever since I started taking this path to and from lab, I started liking Jülich much more because I now get to experience the prettiest parts of this countryside town. Now, instead of dodging pedestrians and craning my neck to check intersections, I can enjoy the scenery–sheep, chickens, plots of cabbage crops, farmhouses, a nuclear power plant–from the comfort of a wide, nicely paved path covered by a thick shade from the surrounding trees. Now that I’ve also gotten more comfortable on my bike (although I still have problems getting on now and then), I have taken some pictures while riding home, in an attempt to portray here the serenity of the Jülich countryside.

This morning, I thought of something: to describe my lab, I can say that I work in a “secret” high-tech lab, hidden somewhere in the heart of a dark German forest, like in some sort of sci-fi film. =P Although it’s not all that secret or anything, I still think it’s rather amusing that I do work in a very well-equipped research center built in a tiny town and situated in the depths of a forest in Germany. (Apparently some other people have encountered wild boars in the path through the forest!) It sounds rather Romantic, like from a novel about a hidden lab.

Another good thing: today I biked quickly to the bank where I’d set up my bank account for the summer, and my stipend has finally arrived! It is really such a relief because I am to pay rent on Wednesday. I’m also glad to report that I have reached a decent system concerning the laundry. So, with the reception of my living stipend and the truce with the washing machines, I think I have officially settled in here! =D

This past weekend was very fun and relaxing. Friday, after work, I watched some of my labmates play a friendly soccer match against another institute here at the Forschungszentrum. I think it’s really neat how there is a huge space cleared out of the thick forest–all for the purpose of this soccer field. Again, like the Forschungszentrum, it’s as though this field is this obscure little thing hidden in the middle of this dark forest. Makes it kind of quaint I think, although every time the ball was kicked out of bounds, I wondered if it would be so deep into the forest that they wouldn’t find it! It was entertaining to see my co-workers out on the field as soccer players, and in the end their efforts paid off because we won 4-2!! I heard that our team is doing much better than last year, so perhaps this victory will be a hint of more to come!

On Saturday, some friends and I went into the town square, where there was a special flea market going on, in addition to the usual morning market. There were all kinds of hand-made crafts, and I ended up buying some delicious, extra-fine strawberry jam (for only 2 €!) and an adorable hand-crafted mug with a little froggy peeking out. (I would have taking a picture for here, but my camera ran out of batteries that day). And, of course, we got more ice cream--at 0,50 € per scoop! So far, the flavors I have tried are hazelnut (nuss), “cookies,” Amarena (a sort of pink licorice-cream type flavor I think), white chocolate (weiße schokolade) in Berlin, whiskey cream in Leipzig, and one other one that I cannot remember right now! But of course, all of the flavors have been delectable, and I’m hoping to try all the flavors from those two 0,50 € per scoop shops in Jülich!

I have also gotten more adventurous with cooking in my apartment–meaning, now I am quite adept at making cheese omelettes! Sunday, I also cooked spaghetti with a tofu bolognese sauce and tried some of the famous German breads. Too bad I forgot what it was called, but it’s a dark bread, round in loaf shape, and has a chewy sort of consistency and a very distinct but undescribable taste; tastes very good with strawberry jam… =D Perhaps next time I will take a picture and post it!

This next weekend, I think I may take a day trip to Köln on Saturday, so I should have some nice pictures to share next time I post! So far, I’ve heard about Köln’s enormous cathedral (visible from the Hauptbahnhof) and immense shopping opportunities. This will be fun!

About the pictures: an open expanse of fields with a glimpse of rolling hills on my new route home; the lovely, wide bike bath home from work; the other IBOC members hard at work on the pitch; a close-up of our team’s pretty blue soccer jerseys; a coat on display at Saturday’s flea market–it sort of looks like it’s made of recycled paper, doesn’t it?