Fußball, Nearly Free Health System and Thanksgiving

Right sportsfans, so last Wednesday while I was dying of boredom in my office, I updated my blog only to have everything deleted, so I was a little frustrated. I am over it now, so I am back with full force to let you know what is happening. I appreciated all the comments that I got, and I too look back on those memories...we had a great time!

I will back track a bit, and start with Thanksgiving. Those who have seen my other entries for this joyous feast know that this is bar none my favorite excuse to see family and eat like a pig, and this year was no different on the second count. I had an enormous feeding frenzy with my fellow American Kate, Cathy from Ireland and Daniela from Horba. We made a little turkey, mashed potatoes and even authentic tasting stuffing. To top it off we find the nearly impossible to get sweet potatoes, and Kate made a special treat: Homemade pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin. It was to die for.

In other less satisfying news, my immune system decided to crap out on me for awhile, after having gorgeous weather around that turned cold, and I guess the old body couldn't take much more of it. So, I went to the on campus clinic expecting some dive, but it turned out to be a normal style little thing, with old people and everything (here I was thinking it was for students). So I went in there, found the word in my dictionary for "Disgusting yellow crap coming out of my nose" and that I had a throat that felt like I had been jugging moonshine the night before. I understood the doctor and somehow she got what I was saying, and filled out some forms. Germans love forms, maybe more than the French, just with less stamps, and the doctors office is no different. I was given one form explaining the medicine that I was given including dosage and whatnot, and two others for the prescription. The conversation that ensued went a little something like this:
Me - "What is the pink sheet for?"
Doctor Whatsherface - "That is for your anti-biotic. The insurance will pay for that."
Me - " Oh great. Well what is that blue slightly longer sheet for?"
Doctor - "Those are the three other medicines that your insurance will not pay for?"
Me - (Thinking: "Holy crap, I pay 50 euros a month for insurance, paid 10 euros for a consultation fee, and you are expecting me to fork over more money)
Doctor - (Thinking: "Why is the American glaring at me? Is it true that they are allowed to carry sidearms?")
Me - (Clearing my throat) "Why do I have insurance then?"
Doctor - "Didn't you see my new Mercedes?"

Well, it did not go that badly, actually she was quite friendly, and the woman at the front desk thought that the system was crap too.

Anyway, braving the cold and with a diseased body I still went through with plans to go to my first soccer game in Europe. That's right loyal readers, I went to an exciting Energie Cottbus game! Well, it was not that exciting, and they lost 1-0, but it was still a fun time. I went with a Canadian guy Paul who is in my program. Paul is an interesting fellow to hang around with. A former banker, he gave it all up one day and lived in the Canadian wild for a couple of months, then packed up ship for Germany. He is very interesting to talk with, and can speak German, French and Hungarian. We had a good old time.

Well, that is all for now, the weather is not too bad, but getting cooler, hope all is well with you!