Grocery Store Game

I have this game I like to play. If you've known me for any length of time, I have probably told you about it.


I make up stories about strangers. All. The. Time. I do this walking down the street. I do this on the bus. I particularly like playing this game in airports on long layovers.


 Now, some people think you need to teach kids not to eavesdrop on conversations. I disagree. A great deal of creativity comes from eavesdropping, in my opinion. 


I observe some detail about a person and fill in the rest. Sometimes I'll give them names, occupations, relationships, problems, or plans. I listen to things they say and watch things they do and edit the story in my brain as things conflict. I know...I'm nuts. But it really is fun to me. I don't always talk about my made up stories if I am with someone...but they are still there. Sometimes they are elaborate. Sometimes very simple. It's really fun though. You should try it sometime.


Now I play a version of this in the grocery store that is a bit different. I like to look at the odd combination of things a person is buying and either think about what they could be making or just ponder the strange combinations.


Today I was doing this in the checkout line. The burly man in front of me had only two items. The first item on its own made me chuckle to myself. The addition of the second made my mind put a scenario together very quickly.

First item: 

These chips

(In case you can't read that...this flavor is called Chakalaka and tells you underneath that it has African seasonings)

Second item:

This book

(Tell me, what is Africa like?)

I really like to think this big burly man went to buy this book and then saw the chips and thought to himself, "Self, you know what would make my new book about Africa all the more enjoyable? These African flavored potato chips! That's what!"


or


He was buying the book as a present for his niece or nephew's African-themed 5th birthday party and was just trying to be festive.


or


He went for the chips and was so grateful for his favorite African flavored chips that he found the book and really took to heart that he should learn something about the place that gave him his favorite chips.


or


He teaches 7 year olds and is currently doing a unit on Afrika. 


Anyone else have any ideas?

Feeling right in a new home

So, earlier this evening...


it's currently 1:12 a.m. but I am not one of those annoying "It's technically tomorrow so you should say last night (insert the 'I have to be right' face)" type of girls


So, earlier this evening...


I went down to lake for the first time. I know it as "Der Bodensee". Apparently it's English name is Lake Constance, which is weird if you ask me. Anywho...the lake is wonderful. There is a long promenade lined with trees and gardens. In the water there are even ducks and swans. Which, of course, makes me plenty happy. You may or may not be aware, depending on how long you've known me, but ducks are my favorite animal. Hands down. No contest. My first word was even "duck" or so my mom says. That's not really the point here.


The main thing to see down by the water is the Seebühne, or the lake stage. I had seen pictures of it already online because when you type "Bregenz" into a google image search you will undoubtably see lots of pictures of it. Mainly because it's a big deal here. There is actually a huge opera festival held there every year in the summer. It's basically a stage on the lake. Maybe "in" is a better preposition. It's in the lake. Essentially a giant, elaborate, floating stage is what you should see in your mind's eye. 


Or right here:

Here's a picture of all the things the stage has been in years past:

Yeah. I think it's cool at least. And they just let you walk in there and walk around when it's not in use. Which, coincidentally, is how I took those pictures.

Before you get to the stage there is a gold colored modern statue that is surrounded by a shallow pool of water. This is where I had a really cool moment earlier.

So, I am walking up and begin to hear music...but not opera...so I knew it wasn't coming from the stage. Then I see that in that shallow pool of water surrounding the statue is a PIANO! In the water! With a guy playing it for the people to enjoy as they take a nice Friday evening Spaziergang along the lake at sunset. I sat down for a while and relaxed and listened. He played in kind of a Damian Rice-y/Regina Spektor-y/Kate Nash-y type vibe but fancier. It was lovely. And in that moment, I realized how happy I am to be here. I have been in Bregenz a week and already feel comfortable here. Yes, I still feel like a foreigner, but that's ok. I am one. But still, it's nice to know I can be happy in this place.

So, I'll leave you with pictures and a sideways video of the lovely piano man in Bregenz.

and bigger/zoomed

notice the ripples from him using the pedal...just too cool for school

And now that I have finished my beer and this post, I can say "Gute Nacht!" and hit the sheets.

Grüß Gott, Bregenz!

I'm here! Where exactly?

I arrived in my new city a week ago tomorrow. What has surprised me is how much I want to compare and contrast everything with Regensburg. Basically, Bregenz doesn't have as much obvious charm as Regensburg. I am perfectly alright with that though. They are very different places in two different countries. My comparison is unfair. 

That being said, Regensburg doesn't always win in the war for my heart. In fact, my apartment alone makes Bregenz feel more like home than Regensburg ever did. Plus, Regensburg wasn't right next to a giant lake nor was it near the Alps. Also, the people here are unreal. Seriously. I am convinced some of the nicest, sweetest, and most hospitable people on Earth live in the province of Vorarlberg. They almost put us southerners to shame...but more on that later.

Today was a great day in my book. I spent the vast majority of it on the bus. Having not exactly figured out the best way to get to school yet, I sat down last night with a variety of Fahrpläne and made the decision to do some trial runs today.  You know, to figure out the fastest route. And that's exactly what I did! *Side note: If the Amazing Race came here and needed to get to my main school, I would be the perfect person to ask.* Now, to most people a day spent on the bus/waiting for a bus may not seem fun. However, I LOVE it. It's great for people watching and getting oriented to a new city. Plus, I got to see some pretty views.

See...

Anyways, I eventually arrived at my first school after two trial runs and took pictures of the signs. 

Coming soon...or at some point, anyway..... to my blog: A video tour of my apartment. Get excited.