I had my German class tonight after work. I’m only going once a week for now, but plan on increasing to twice a week when it gets cold out and winter is depressing.

I forgot how hard it was to go to school during the workweek, and the non-airconditioned muggy room is not exactly the best condition for staying awake. The teacher doesn’t speak in English at all, which means I only understand about half of what’s going on.

I feel like I’m not getting better, but I’m convinced I have to be growing and absorbing even when I don’t realize it. Memorizing vocabulary is the most frustrating for me and we’ve even started having a word of the day at work. Last week it was necklace. I got really good at saying I like your necklace, you have a necklace, do you have a necklace?, you have a pink necklace, you have a pretty necklace.

…

Tomorrow night I am attending a “wedding eve” party or Polterabend. Or as we call it in America, a rehearsal dinner. I’m told these are a pretty big deal, and knowing how these people throw parties here, I’m excited. It sounds like we also might be throwing porcelain objects on the ground.

I already made mini chocolate cupcakes (no flour, Robert) to bring in on Friday. Apparently, you have to bring your own food and host your own celebration for your birthday too, which I have no problem doing.

I’ll consider tomorrow night a “bitrhday eve” party as well, although I won’t mention it for fear of being ostracized for celebrating my birthday early.