The six-week Eutin weight loss program
Eutin is a pretty small town compared to Lawrence. We have one major department store, two large schools, and a cathedral and a small castle (but who doesn't?). Before we flew out, the program informed us that it was a "Bike-friendly" town. To a degree this is true: at every corner you find bike racks and shady spots to lock up your "Fahrrad". There's ample sidewalk space for both pedestrians and cyclers. But, much like Lawrence, the city is built on a few rolling hills. Every morning I pedal my way the two miles or so to the school, up two hills. Then coming home, I do get to coast down a ways, but when I bike up it's into the wind. Needless to say, my legs are amazing. It used to take me about 20 minutes to make the ride (I always had to stop about halfway up the biggest hill and just walk the rest of the way) But now I can get there within 5 minutes, no stopping.
Unfortunately, about three days into the first week, I got a flat on my way home. So my awesome sporty blue bike has been replaced with an old creaky red one. We're starting to come to an understanding, though, so it doesn't punish my muscles the same way it used to...
Speaking of cathedrals and castles, the group has made a habit of touring every one we find in our travels. (Except in Lübeck... they have something like seven huge cathedrals...) We also make a habit of paying to scale each and every tower and dome that is open to the public.
Do you know how high 132 meters is? I don't exactly, but my thighs do. That's how high we climbed in Hamburg's St. Michaelis Kirche, the tallest in Germany. It's also so far the most beautiful, and the view from the top of the spire is breathtaking.
Not as high, but about twenty times more life-threatening, was the Schweriner Dome, about 117 m tall. The climb is up a winding staircase, wide enough only for two tiny people or one regular sized person. Going up there is no handrail, the steps are old dusty cement only wide enough for the balls of your feet, and you can't see more than ten feet in front of you. Coming down, your legs start screaming and you try as hard as possible not to think about what would happen if you tripped. Oh, and if another person is going up while you're coming down, you better hope there's a window to squeeze into before they catch up to you, or you're gonna find your personal space severely invaded...
Food is also done differently here. The Americans always eat lunch together as a group at some local restaurants, but that's always our biggest meal of the day. Dinner and breakfast consist of mostly bread with meats, cheeses, or jams, kinda like a sandwich bar. It's all good, but was definitely strange to adjust to at first. I'm also used to cooking for myself, when I want and what I want, but my diet is pretty much out of my hands here, besides the choice between noodles or pizza at lunch. I was kind of grumpy for a while because my family never eats fruit that isn't in a dessert or vegetables that aren't corn or potatoes... but I took the initiative to go to the grocery store finally and just pick up some produce for myself. So I have a supply of apples, peaches, and vegetable juice up in my room.
And the water... I'm dealing with it. I have never in my life appreciated the taste of mineralwasser, and I didn't magically start liking it here in Europe. But I found out how to distinguish between the different kinds (some actually are plain and uncarbonated, and relatively cheap), and I can at least stomach it long enough to empty a bottle and fill it with tapwater.
Ok, a group of us are going to go study now, so that's it for this update... I will probably be back later this week, so check back later! Tschüss!
Unfortunately, about three days into the first week, I got a flat on my way home. So my awesome sporty blue bike has been replaced with an old creaky red one. We're starting to come to an understanding, though, so it doesn't punish my muscles the same way it used to...
Speaking of cathedrals and castles, the group has made a habit of touring every one we find in our travels. (Except in Lübeck... they have something like seven huge cathedrals...) We also make a habit of paying to scale each and every tower and dome that is open to the public.
Do you know how high 132 meters is? I don't exactly, but my thighs do. That's how high we climbed in Hamburg's St. Michaelis Kirche, the tallest in Germany. It's also so far the most beautiful, and the view from the top of the spire is breathtaking.
Not as high, but about twenty times more life-threatening, was the Schweriner Dome, about 117 m tall. The climb is up a winding staircase, wide enough only for two tiny people or one regular sized person. Going up there is no handrail, the steps are old dusty cement only wide enough for the balls of your feet, and you can't see more than ten feet in front of you. Coming down, your legs start screaming and you try as hard as possible not to think about what would happen if you tripped. Oh, and if another person is going up while you're coming down, you better hope there's a window to squeeze into before they catch up to you, or you're gonna find your personal space severely invaded...
Food is also done differently here. The Americans always eat lunch together as a group at some local restaurants, but that's always our biggest meal of the day. Dinner and breakfast consist of mostly bread with meats, cheeses, or jams, kinda like a sandwich bar. It's all good, but was definitely strange to adjust to at first. I'm also used to cooking for myself, when I want and what I want, but my diet is pretty much out of my hands here, besides the choice between noodles or pizza at lunch. I was kind of grumpy for a while because my family never eats fruit that isn't in a dessert or vegetables that aren't corn or potatoes... but I took the initiative to go to the grocery store finally and just pick up some produce for myself. So I have a supply of apples, peaches, and vegetable juice up in my room.
And the water... I'm dealing with it. I have never in my life appreciated the taste of mineralwasser, and I didn't magically start liking it here in Europe. But I found out how to distinguish between the different kinds (some actually are plain and uncarbonated, and relatively cheap), and I can at least stomach it long enough to empty a bottle and fill it with tapwater.
Ok, a group of us are going to go study now, so that's it for this update... I will probably be back later this week, so check back later! Tschüss!
posted by Authoress Amanda at 6:23 AM
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