So I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Cottbus is great, and I will undoubtably have a great time. The bad news is I arrived 17 days too early.
I came last Thursday with Daniela and her parents and did the whole moving in thing. I was a little worried at first when they had never heard of me, but it all was worked out, and I was paired with a Chinese guy (whom I have yet to meet). The room is nice, and I share a kitchen and bathroom with my roommate. During the weekend, I explored the town and it is very beautiful, with stately architecture, clean streets, tramways, lots of young people, and bikes everywhere. It is really a charming place.
Now for the reverse side of this pleasant landscape. I really had thought the French were the most inept public servants on earth, but the Germans are looking for an equal finish in the race. After a long search for international student office on Friday, including asking a woman in French where it is, I located the closed office. Yet, I heard some shuffling around, so I knocked and a woman answered. I asked her where I need to go for the language program that starts Monday the 12th. She didn't know, but called someone else up and said that it started the 26th. So, in frustration I went down and saw this woman she had spoken with, and reconginized her name from e-mails I had sent. She was responsible for sending all mailings out, including the one that said that the language program started the 12th. When I asked her about this her reply was, "It was changed. It's the 26th now." What she should have said and what I was eagerly waiting for was, "OH!!! Mr. Sikora, I am deeply sorry for this terrible wrong that has been bestowed upon you. Please accept my deepest apologies from the bottom of my heart. (Phone rings) Excuse me, yes, Chancellor Schröder, yes sir, Mr. Sikora is here, you CAN apologize to him now....". I guess I didn't expect that much, just a simple "Sorry" would have done the job.