Days 24-28

I’ve really been slacking on this!!

Wednesday through Friday I was in Weilerswist. I worked an extra day so I could go to the Betriebsfest (company party) for Volk’s Bank.  I really like being at the bank.

Though it’s small I get to see a lot of different aspects each day. I still have the job of collecting the payment slips but other tasks are being added on, like making copies, making coffee, getting signatures and so on. It sounds like typical internship work but really it’s almost like a class. This is because in between all of these little tasks we’re meeting with clients and I get to observe what goes on and how the bank helps with their problems and concerns. Afterwards I get to ask all sorts of questions and even make suggestions, which is really neat. I don’t think I could have gotten this much one on one attention at a larger bank.

Friday, after work, Herr Küpper took me to the Betriebsfest. The fest was held at an old castle (go figure!!) I couldn’t get over how neat that was.

 At first I was very uncomfortable since this fest is in celebration of everyone’s hard work for the bank in the previous year and I wasn’t part of this group. I was also concerned about how I would be precieved, since at this fest a lot of the people would be drinking and I wasn’t sure if I should considering if I did it could be seen as an American indulgence or if I didn’t I wasn’t embracing the culture. This was all really silly looking back at myself. I did end up having a Kölsch (beer of the area) at dinner and enjoy a cocktail later in the evening and it wasn’t strange, I didn’t look foolish and everyone was too busy having a good time to worry about what it was I was doing. (It’s funny how hard it is to shake societal structure even when you’re out of the said society.)

The fest was a very casual version of the Gerstacker etiquette dinner.  There was Champaign to begin with some casual talking before we were ushered in to have a very nice dinner. ( I can’t get enough of the food here!!) Afterwards we went upstairs for cocktails, dancing and karaoke. I loved how involved everyone was and how much singing was done. It was a great experience.  The fest lasted almost to 1 or 2 in the morning but I left a little earlier.

I ended up going home that night with Emma and stayed at her house after meeting some of her friends.  It was nice to stay at her house since it had that homey feeling. J

The next morning I had breakfast with her family. It was really interesting because her parents are Russian not German. It was a little hard to understand their German but Emma helped clear things up when it was needed.  I love the breakfast’s here. Totally something dad and Uncle Jeff would enjoy with all of the meat and cheese and doughnuts and everything. (though I know they would miss their eggs and bacon!!)

Emma took me home and came over later that night with some of her friends. We watched the Simpsons and played Taboo (in German).  It’s a great way to practice German I think we should look into buying a game for the program at Albion.

Sunday was spent lying in bed and doing homework. Not too much to report.

I have two more days in Weilerswist next week and one in Brühl. Hopefully I won’t slack this time. Though I wonder a lot if anyone is really reading this. Especially since no one answered my candy question. L Oh well. J

Tschüß!!!