Finally 21

Here is a picture from after my Rugby Game on Saturday, I am in the first row, second from the left.

The other Picture is of my friend Joe from Pittsburgh and I. Joe is a hell of an athlete, very fast with good ball handling skills.

On Monday I finally turned 21, a bit anti-climatic considering I'm in Germany, but a relief nonetheless. In Germany you can buy a beer at 16. In America you can go to Iraq at 18, 17 with permission from your parents, but you can't buy a beer until your 21, even if W were to write you a note himself. I'll give a kidney to anyone who can explain the logic behind that. My building has a party basement with a pretty good speaker system, a bar, refrigerators, and even a disco ball, so I threw a party. I was surprised at the turnout, not only from other Americans in the program but also from the few German friends I have made. Everything was just peachy until I had to throw out a guy who no one seemed to know. He was rather angry at his forced exile from the party, so he decided to kick in the glass outer door of my building when I refused to come out and fight him. This drunk German had taken his shirt off like an idiot indicating his serious intent. When he tried to flea the scene of his vandalism (which I find funny because the Vandals were a Germanic tribe that sacked Rome and "vandalized" it) I ran out and tackled him, restraining him with a knee in the ribs and a hand around the esophagus while we waited for the Polizei to come. It was an unpleasant near-end to the night, but these things happen and it seems to be taken care of now. The days leading up to my birthday were tough without my family and friends. I am still mourning the loss of my friend and fraternity brother Justin Bowlby, who we tragically lost this summer.

On my birthday we just happened to have a tour of the BMW factory, headquartered here in Munich. It was an unbelievable tour, with security as tight as the pentagon with strict prohibition of cameras and phones. We saw the cars go from pieces of sheet metal being stamped out to the cars being tested upon completion. The sight of all that German mechanical perfection was enough to turn on the guys in our group. I felt like I i needed either a cigarette or a cold shower afterward. Apparently they lost the order for my new 650i, so I'll have to wait 8-11 weeks, haha.

This past Saturday was my second Rugby game which we played against the other club in Munich. They are a better, more cohesive team, but most of them were young guys and could not compete with us physically, allowing us a dominating victory. I have two games left in the season and I am trying to put off my ear surgery until afterward. I am glad I have joined the Rugby team; it has allowed me to meet a lot people and it's been a while since I've tried a new sport.

All the leaves are turning and it is quite pretty outside. So far the fall has been unusually cold, and from what I here last winter was very mild, so I fear we are headed for a cold winter. I guess the winter brews from the local breweries will come in handy!

My classes so far have been very interesting. I have an art history class which is held entirely in Munich's museums and historical buildings. It's unbelievable. On Tuesday we examined portraiture on the late Renaissance, including a great one of Emperor Charles V by Vecellio. My two courses at the university have been more than just an education in religion and history, but also of the incredibly difficult Bavarian dialect. Whew!

This Saturday my program is making a trip to Nuernberg and the Third Reich Museum. I am sure it will be incredibly interesting, and I'll let you all know all about it.