Guten abend!

(This will be true on two counts and false on one. False, because it isn't, for anyone in the States reading this as I post it; true, because it's very much evening for me, and most of you won't see it until this evening at dinner. Either way – )

Guten abend, my family and friends! I made it safely to Lüneburg last Wednesday, and only now have internet access to contact all of you. It's been an exciting week, chock-full of orientations and classes and settling in and wandering around town. I've lost track of the times I set out to get myself lost, only to find myself right back where I started.

Lüneburg isn't very big, as we reckon things, but it is a thriving university town. This ought to seem a little strange, given that the architecture is older than the United States. My apartment house, for instance, was built in the early 1600's! Everywhere is old red brick and tile, beautiful, with trees and flowers – and buses. Lots of buses. Lots of bicyclists, too, and either set will run you down quite noisily if you don't get out of the way.

We've started classes already. There are 43 international students all told, including two from Mexico and one from New Zealand (none from Canada, alas.) Less than ten of us are staying for the year, though; the rest are going home in December.

We've also attended our first cultural events. I think all of us, or nearly so, wandered over to a Renaissance Faire on Sunday, and the farmer's market on Saturday and Wednesday. This Saturday we're all going to Hamburg for a short tour and history lesson, as well as a quick run-down of German politics.

I have an apartment all to myself, but there are three other USAC students staying in the same complex. It's good to have some people near with whom I can actually speak; that shouldn't be such a problem next semester, when I'll have learned at least some German, but it's quite convenient for the time being.

I promised you all pictures, I know, but I couldn't find my camera to bring with me, so until I get another you'll have to make do with letters!

Peace,
Breeann