I was looking at pictures of Barcelona on Facebook yesterday that someone else posted, and I realized how far away or maybe long ago my memories of my life there felt. It has only been 1.5 months but I feel like it has been forever. I don’t spend much time thinking about Barcelona anymore. After I came back from the States, I think I had a much harder time settling back into my life in Germany. I think that may have been because I did enjoy living in the States more than I did living in Spain, but also due to how my life in Germany was before I left and after I came back.

Moving to the States was like a much-needed break from my life in Germany, especially in Heidelberg. It gave me a year to come to terms with some things that had happened in Heidelberg, and to come to terms with myself. I wasn’t a very happy person throughout the first two years of university, and Norman provided a sort of escape for me.

After I got back, things really got much better, I had a new perspective on life, and while it felt like starting over again in Heidelberg, this time it went really well, I was able to take the positivity of my life in Norman back to Heidelberg. I think that is part of why I missed Norman so much. It was really the beginning of a much better life for myself.

Now when I went to Spain, while it was nice to get a break from small-town life, I didn’t need it so much. I had a job I liked, school was going better, I had good friends. Barcelona was like putting my life in Heidelberg on hold for a year. It was a great experience, but it simply wasn’t as important to me as Norman was.

And since I’ve been back from Spain, I just feel great here. I am doing an internship. I am spending the summer in Munich, my hometown and a place I see with different eyes, that I know to appreciate now after not having lived here for so long. I have found a place to live in Heidelberg, I will get my job back, and I [most likely] have an internship secured for my next semester break. I have good friends. I feel like everything is falling into place, I am finding my spot in life, and I am content with what I have.

There is simply no need to miss the past because I am happy with the present. Not everything is perfect, of course, whose life is? But I am content with the now and excited about the next few months. I feel like the older I get, the more comfortable I am with myself as a person. I am not happy with everything about myself, but I am proud of my achievements, I am more outgoing, I know I deserve good things, I am willing to work for them, and I appreciate what I have. I feel like I am slowly finding my place in the world. There is no need to live in the past, and while I will never be the kind of person who lives purely in the moment [I do like to plan, to know where I will be in a few months], I am enjoying my life right now.

So, ummm … here I was filling out paperwork for my internship. I wanted to make sure I would not lie [unconsciously], so I asked my mom, if she still had Italian citizenship [from her first marriage]. She said, well she doesn’t know, it’s been so long. So I asked her if she ever gave it up. She said, no. Meaning she still is an Italian citizen. Which was the point when I started looking into how Italian citizenship is passed on to your kids. I just called someone at the Italian consulate in Munich. The guy there told me that I indeed appear to be an Italian citizen. I was just never registered but I can do that now. It doesn’t even sound all that complicated. This is so weird. I mean, I don’t have a single drop of Italian blood in me, but apparently I am Italian. Maybe I should really try to learn Italian properly now?! Dual citizenship will not really make any difference for me right now, but it might be useful at some point.

In other news, I called the university housing office again, and I was offered a room in a shared apartment. I was going to go to Heidelberg to find an apartment this upcoming weekend. And I was set on not sharing an apartment anymore. But? Rent in Heidelberg is so expensive! And I really don’t feel like wasting an entire weekend looking for an apartment I may or may not find. And I will not have to deal with any bills as all utilities are included. Besides, it will probably save my parents a good €200 / month. And while I wanted to live by myself, I am no idiot without a [financial] conscience. I will also have the option to apply to move [into a single apartment] after a semester [keyword apply]. So? I accepted. I will be living in the building I applied for, the International House, which is a new residence building, I will share an apartment with three others, and I will not be going to Heidelberg this weekend. My rental contract starts on September 1st, so I might move soon, but I will not be living there until October as I am working here until September 30th. I figure if it doesn’t work out, I can still move after one semester, and at least I will be in Heidelberg to find an apartment which will be easier and cheaper. And I might even end up enjoying living on campus, something I haven’t done since the States [which was technically off-campus anyway].

Edit: What a day! I just got an e-mail from my former supervisor at the bookstore in Heidelberg, and I will be able to work there again! I am not going to do the exact same thing but I’ll be back at the bookstore in October! Sweet! So far, Monday is rocking my socks off!

The interview for the internship on Thursday went well. The boss I was supposed to meet was actually not in the office as she was sick, but the secretary told me she wanted to introduce me to everyone and give me the paperwork I need to fill out and she doesn’t think it will be necessary for me to come in again, so we will see. The interview itself wasn’t really much of an interview, more of a friendly conversation. I had actually been late for the interview because my train was delayed and then I had to go through security which took a while as well. Usually being late for an interview would be a big no-no, it is so embarrassing, but it really wasn’t my fault [I was supposed to get there 15 minutes early!], and luckily she didn’t mind [but I did call her on my way, so she would not be expecting me on time]. So, the way I understood it, if the paperwork all comes back from their background check and everything goes well, I got the internship. As I don’t see why I would not pass their background check, I am assuming I will be doing the internship. This will be February and March next year, so I will be in Munich for all of my semester break. They also told me, if I can I would be able to extend or start early, and I will see if that is possible, and talk to my professors once classes start. It is unpaid and full-time but it is a great chance, and I’d be silly if I didn’t take it, especially taking into consideration how the job market is for people with a degree like mine. And most of the people working in that department actually were German, so maybe I can make some contacts for when I will be looking for a job after graduation.

I already filled out all the paperwork for the internship on Thursday and Friday; they really are thorough, like they want to know all my trips abroad that I have been on during my entire life and the purpose of each, and also all the addresses I have lived at during the past 10 years, and many more things. Oh well, now I am done, and I will be sending in the paperwork on Monday, so they can process it as quickly as possible. When it comes back, I will have to go in for another security interview, and I would prefer to do that while I am still here [before October], that’s why I am rushing to get everything done.

Yesterday I met up with my sister, which was nice. Good to see her again, I am not even sure anymore when was the last time I saw her, either in January or maybe even last summer. Admittedly, it is still weird to have a sister who is so different from you, who has had such a different life, and where you have few mutual experiences, not really a past you can draw on. But I am glad she is part of my life now.

I also met up with a bunch of friends last night, as Tanja is going to China for two months. I will not actually see her until Christmas or maybe February, as she will not be coming back until after I’ve already moved to Heidelberg.

Today my parents are coming back from their vacation - I had been at home by myself for the past week, and then we will have to look into apartments in Heidelberg. My dad and I will go there next week to find one for me. I will call again to find out about university housing on Monday, but as it is very very unlikely that I will get an apartment through them, I am pretty sure we will have to go to Heidelberg for the weekend.

Hmm, what else is new? Oh, on Tuesday my brother and I went to the Bayern Munich - Inter Milan [soccer] match. It was the first time I was at a match since they got their new stadium, which is really cool by the way. We lost, but it was a good time anyway.

This is my brother and me before the match.

The stadium after the match. Looks cool, right?

Today I met up with the Tex-Pat for the first time. We went to the Brückenfest [bridge fest], it was a blast. We really hit it off, and it didn’t feel like we just met for the first time or awkward in some way at all. We wandered around the bridges, ate some yummy German junk food [bratwurst etc.], and talked for hours. These are the best things about blogging, you get to meet people you would have otherwise not met and make new friends. I am sure we will hang out again soon!

I also took some pictures at the Brückenfest which is part of the celebrations for Munich’s 850th anniversary. That’s right, my hometown turned 850 years old this year! Throughout the summer there are festivities on several weekends, and all kinds of activities going on. This was the first time I went to any of them, though.

Some random pictures from today …

I have no idea why they were dressed up like that, but I think the cellphone makes it all the more bizarre.

The Isar beach

Jamming out at a bus stop

Lots of people out on the streets

Yesterday I went to the sneak preview at the Cinema with Lissy. They have that every Friday night, and you get to see a movie that hasn’t been released in Germany yet, but you don’t know which one it is until it started. Yesterday’s movie was The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Not a movie I would have picked to see but it was fun and entertaining.

By the way, the interview for the internship is on Thursday! Cross your fingers please!

• I received a reply about the internship I applied for. You know, that one … [sorry if you don't know what I am talking about, you should read my protected posts]. I just sent my application on Thursday, and already got an invite for an interview. It all sounds so promising. I really really really want it to work out, it would be amazing!
• I signed up for a few classes for next semester already. The highlight? A class on Ian McEwan’s Atonement and On Chesil Beach. I finally ordered the first one on DVD and the book of the latter. Perfect. Excuse.
• I read Eclipse yesterday. I need help. 25 should be too old to obsess over fictional vampires one fictional vampire that are is way too perfect to ever be real [besides the fact that he's a vampire]. I’ll only be disappointed to find that men? Really aren’t that perfect. Damn! Only a few days until the fourth book comes out, can’t wait!
• It is hot outside. And even hotter in the office. I feel like my brain is mushy and I am incompetent this week. I cannot wait for it to be over. No one seems to be working either, they’re all off sick or on vacation. I miss my co-workers!
• I love making new friends. I really hit it off with another girl [Elisabeth] at Jenn’s wedding. I think I may not be so socially awkward after all. Only with guys. Looking forward to hanging out with her when I am back in Heidelberg. Two new friends in a month is pretty awesome!
• Apparently people [Americans] cannot tell that I am German when I speak English. Which is great! But apparently my German is starting to sound American. Which may be not so great. At the wedding I asked a German waiter in German where the restroom was and he replied in English. Wtf? Elisabeth also said that my German sounded American [intonation-wise and such].
• Jenn’s wedding was great, Jenn was beautiful and you could just tell how much her husband adores her. I will post pictures later. [They are already up on Flickr and Facebook, though.] I think I may want to get married at a castle too, just as soon as I’ve found my Edward Cullen Prince Charming.
• Boxes are all up in the attic. Now I will not have to worry about them for two months. Not sure how I will get everything back downstairs undamaged, though. I’ll ask my brother and maybe a friend of his to help me, because these boxes are heavy and the ladder up to the attic makes me shudder [on the inside] just looking at it. No way am I climbing up there.