OMG WIRELESS INTERNET!!

Day 9, June 3rd

Today, something incredible happened: I got wireless internet! I made sure to bring a spare wireless router from home (and an extra plug converter), but like so many other shoddily made products it requires different current amounts than Germany gives it. Thus, it wouldn't work.

So, I spent hours searching through every electronics store in Freiburg until I found it: a current adapter, which allows my router to work. However, the current adapter was 40 euros, which I found absurd.

I found a German wireless router that cost only 20 euros (I know, right?) so I figured that would be the better option. So today, FINALLY, I can happily say that I have a wireless network!! I can finally surf the web and download new iPhone Apps *sob*, it's so nice. Also, the ability to walk anywhere in my building using the Internet is fantastic. And you can never give enough credit to the incredible power of port forwarding.

Besides that, I've another item to add to the now-famous list of "I Can't Believe I Forgot That!": My digital camera battery charger!! I was taking this really nice video today and wouldn't you know it, the camera died. I went back to my room to charge it, and oh crap, I had no charger!!

None of the electronics stores sold Sanyo digital video cameras/chargers, so I thought i was screwed. Then i remembered the incredible power of the Internet, mainly eBay. I found a German vendor on eBay who was selling the charger I needed for only 5 euros and free shipping, so i jumped on that pretty quick. I'll have video up in a jiffy!

Prices in this country are really screwed up...
Tiny glass of coke: 2 euros
Ice Cream: 1 euro
Wireless-G Router: 20 euros (in the US they're at least $40)

Also, funny experience on the tram: so Germans from what I've seen are a quiet people just about anywhere, compared to Americans. Some Americans perceive it as being less friendly (they really don't smile as much as Americans, I've noticed, it's actually true), but I think it's more cultural difference than lack of happiness or something.

Anyway, so I was on the tram with a friend and we saw this German guy who was singing on the tram. Not especially loudly, but I'd never seen a German speak on the tram save for his/her cell phone or to a friend, so this was quite the occasion.

After a few minutes he noticed my friend and I, and saw that we were obviously not German. He spoke only some broken English but immediately started a conversation with us, a first for us.

"English?", he asked. "No, American", said Ben. "Ah, American!", he laughs. "Barack Obama, eh?" he said with a smile on his face. Ben and I start cracking up. "Surprised me!", he said, then he exited off the tram.

Other Germans were clearly giving him looks like he was insane, but Ben and I were cracking up for quite a while. The funniest guy I've met so far in Germany, and everyone thinks he's crazy. Just goes to show you the cultural differences, I guess. Also, that you can't judge an entire people by a stereotypes, as this guy clearly fit no stereotype I had ever heard for Germans.

In health related issues, there seems to be an ongoing competition with my body right now, and I don't know what will win out: On the one hand, we have German food and beer. The food is DELICIOUS but not especially healthy, and the beer...mmmmm...sooooo good.

On the other hand, we have the excessive exercise requirements every day. I easily walk 20x times the distance each day I did in the US; you literally have to walk everywhere if there's not a tram going to the location you want to. Going to lunch every day is a hike even. We'll see what happens, who knows what my weight will be when I get back to the US.

In other news, I've been searching the whole **** city for a newspaper shop that sells the International Herald Tribune, the New York Times international publication. Today, I finally found a place with it that's close by, so more superb news. Otherwise, we're still learning about the various complex relationship that the Balkans have to Western Europe. I really haven't studied the Balkans region much before so it's really interesting to learn about it's deep historical roots and also the genocide and human rights abuses that went on in the area.

In more other news, Obama is supposed to make a speech in Germany soon! I wish I had the day off, I'd so go see him, but he's far away in Hamburg I think. Oh well...

Finally, I'm heading to Basel, Switzerland tomorrow for an afternoon. The tram goes directly there and it's only like 20 minutes away from where I am now so I figure why not, right? It's free anyway. Over the weekend I think I might go to Strasbourg, France, which should be pretty fun. With any luck my EuroRail pass will have arrived by then.

I'd post a picture and video, but oh yea, my battery died and I am charger-less. Till next time, peeps!