Digame el verdad.

"Tell me the truth," is what that says. It has no special meaning, I just can't find a catchier title, and what's more appealing than the word "truth" and someone admitting it?

Today is the first Thursday of many; here, it is the last day of class for the week. It is set up like this not because the German education system is (to the best of my knowledge it is not) but because the program gives time for traveling while we're here. As I have mentioned before I think Nuremburg and Passau are on my list to visit... but I may just visit Passau this weekend because we have a group trip to Nuremburg.

However, a lot of people went to Salzburg this weekend... Iwould say about 80% of the group actually. I suppose I could have taken some initiative and ask to tag along, but I learned an importat lesson while in Mexico: you aren't going to enjoy yourself, if you don't like the people you're with. At least, that's my opinion. Take it as you will. I'm happier going by myself to Passau (a small town near Regensburg in Bavaria) than in a large tourist group in Salzburg... I don't know. I just don't like being a tourist.

This is probably a reason for my discomfort here because almost everyone came for the express reason of wanting to study abroad in Europe to get travel in (once in a lifetime thing, you understand). So, I become confused when I actually HAD a purpose for studying abroad again (albiet I wanted to go back to Morelia, but glad I didn't because of the fiasco with KIIS and my university) and am told I need to travel a LOT. Well, there are two problems with this. One, lack of money. I'd like to see some of the people here budget $3000 for four months... while in Europe. See my point? It wouldn't happen. A couple of girls were saying how they'd gone through a $1000 in one week. I do a little better than $3000, but not much and it's very variable when extra money might just happen to show up. Two, I am taking 15 hours abroad. This is above recommended... and it doesn't help that I care about my grades still. Finally, I planned on working on the groundwork for my thesis... and some other research projects, but that's neither here nor there.

So, I become conflicted when trying to decide what to do here. On one hand, I understand that this is Europe and I need to overdose on it. However, I have my ways and one of them is not to be overly tourist-y. I do plan on going to Salzburg and visiting the salt mine and going to Vienna and maybe seeing something about Freud there... but all in due time. I like to be very well-informed and last minute deals don't settle well with me. I do have a list of things I'd like to do such as: visit Prague, explore more of Munich, visit Salzburg, visit Vienna (Wien auf Deutsch), Berlin, Dusseldorf (coal mines there), and other places around Germany. I'd like to make it to Switzerland too... but that's about it. Big plans in my opinion.

However, to be honest, after class ended before noon I have been lazy and have stayed cooped up in my room. I have good reason: a toothache. For most people, that would not have detered them. Unfortunately, I have this severely irrational fear of losing my teeth (it's almost equal to amputation). The particular tooth in question is actually of great worry to me because of this:

A few years back, during a check-up my then-dentist noticed I still had two baby teeth. Apparently, I never had replacements. These teeth are originals from childhood. Antiques if you will. I ask him if it's going to be okay. He then chuckles and says, "Well, most times people can live 'til they're about fifty and keep old teeth. That won't happen with you." He basically put me on this countdown for losing teeth fairly soon in my adult life. However, I had already been anxious about the idea of losing teeth... so this made it into a full blown phobia.

Fun fact: I don't eat raw apples because of it.

I tried eating earlier today, but it was just a tomato and mozzarella cheese sandwich. Nothing fancy. However, I have taken it easy because I'm deathly afraid that this toothache could signify the beginning of the end for the tooth.

On a lighter note, we were able to visit the city hall yesterday that had parts dating back to the 13th century. There was a pleasant visit to the 16th century torture chamber as well. More on that another time.

Cheers!