Week 2: Oktoberfest, Course Selection and Trip Planning

Oktoberfest

This past weekend, Kellie and I traveled to Munich, Germany to attend Oktoberfest! On the morning of Wednesday, September 25, we walked 2 miles to the local train station and boarded the 12:33 am train to Sheffield that then would take us to the Manchester Airport. We arrived in Sheffield around 1:30 am and we immediately got kicked out of the train station because it closed?? Who knew the train station closed... not us. So, we did the only thing we knew, we sought out the yellow arches for a snack and some free wifi! Our train to the airport wasn't set to depart until 6:00 am, however, at McDonald's we found an earlier train that would leave at 4:00 am instead. We decided to try to sneak on the earlier train and see what happened. To our surprise, they never scanned our tickets and we made it to the airport without a problem!

Once at the airport, we boarded a plane that was headed to Munich, Germany with an hour layover in Brussels, Belgium. Everyone in Brussels was so kind! After arriving in Munich, we took a bus to downtown Munich and drove past many attractions and landmarks that we later would visit. In Germany, we planned to stay in an Airbnb, however, we had trouble connecting with the host to check us in because our phones only work on wifi and there was NO wifi to be found. Luckily, Kellie screenshotted our hosts' phone number and after an hour of waiting, we went to a hotel nearby and asked if we could use their phone to connect with them. The hotel receptionist was so kind and spoke to our host in German and told them to meet us at the hotel. 5 minutes later, our Airbnb hosts showed up and showed us a place to grab a quick bite to eat, an ATM, and then our Airbnb. As soon as we made it back, we ate dinner and crashed! 

Thursday, September 26, Kellie woke up very sick and we stayed in most of the morning. Our hosts were very hospitable and brought Kellie hot tea to make her feel better. They also told us where we should visit in town and how Oktoberfest works. Once Kellie felt up to it, we walked into town and found the Viktualienmarkt which was a huge German market that had EVERYTHING. Then, we walked to the Odieonsplatz which is a beautiful landmark and had dinner and drinks at the Ratskeller Munchen. After dinner, we walked to Oktoberfest to check it out. We were shocked by all of the shops, carnival games, and rides that were available and how vibrant everything was!

Friday, September 27, Kellie and I woke up and went to a small bakery to grab breakfast and along the way, we stumbled upon a somewhat affordable dirndl and lederhosen shop. Before coming to Germany, Kellie and I went to a costume shop and purchased 2 Bavarian costumes, however, after walking around Oktoberfest last night, we decided that we would look absolutely ridiculous in those so we purchase 2 authentic dirndl's. 

We went to Oktoberfest around 2:00 pm and immediately went to a beer tent. As soon as we walked in, we went to the girl holding a clipboard. She looked official and we didn't really know what we were doing. She informed us that all of the tables had been reserved but she knew a table that was open to having more guests. We sat with 2 best friend couples from Denmark that were so sweet and kind. During our time sitting with them, we learned so much about Denmark and European culture. After an hour of talking to them, we got up and walked around the tent and jammed to the band. After a while, we decided that we needed to run back to our Airbnb which was a 5-minute walk away to grab some more cash because Oktoberfest is cash only and we were running low. We got back to the Airbnb and rested for an hour and grabbed some food. 

We went back to Oktoberfest around 6:00 pm and to our surprise beer tents were starting to "close". We were so confused. We had just gotten into one no problem a few hours ago and now there are over 100 people lined up to enter a tent and loads of security guards yelling in German at people to stay behind the roped-off area. We were shocked at how fast it filled up. We asked a fellow Oktoberfest-goer what time the security guard said they would open the tent and they said 8:00 pm. Kellie and I immediately left that line and tried to get into another tent... thinking it would be easier. The next tent was even crazier. At first, there was only one security guard and a huge group of people broke through the rope and rushed into the tent. However, Kellie and I didn't make it and the security guard started chasing people and throwing them back behind the rope. After a few people rushed past the guard, he enlisted for more help and now there was 4 guards and there was no way we could sneak past them. I told Kellie to follow me because I overheard the way to get in is to sneak through the back door. So, we walked to a different tent side door and I saw the guard open the rope to the Biergarten so I took Kellie's hand and we kept our heads down and walked past the guard no problem. We were 50% of the way there, now we just had to get in the main door but guards were blocking every entrance. We waited for 2 minutes and as soon as the guard opened the door to let people out of the tent, we ran past the guard and we DIDN'T look back. WE FINALLY MADE IT!! 

This tent was INSANE. Beer steins were everywhere and people were crazy, drunk, standing and stomping on tables singing along to the band. This is the Oktoberfest you see in pictures. Beers were being slung left and right and 1 beer was like $20 USD but they were so worth it. Everyone was so joyous and friendly and we made enough friends to stand and stomp on the tables and sing along with the band. We shut down Oktoberfest and it was so insane.

A few things I've learned this week in Germany at Oktoberfest

1.) I can somehow kind of understand German???

2.) You have to purchase an authentic dirndl from a vendor. If not, you will stand out.

3.) They don't open the beer tents until noon, however, the rides/attractions are open much earlier. 

4.) There are over 6 million people each year that attend Oktoberfest. It is crazy. It is wild. Brace yourself, the Bavarian's go HARD. 

5.) Once you get into a beer tent past 4:00 pm remain in that tent until they close at 10:00 pm because they "close" tents after they meet capacity and they DO NOT let anyone else in.

6.) If you didn't know #6 (like us), then find a back door and keep your head down and when the security guard lets people out of the tent... RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AND DON'T TURN BACK. 

7.) Kellie has the gift of persuasion and I have the gift of sneaking into places. 

8.) Make friends with locals, they will let you stand on the table and dance with them. 

9.) Kellie speaks Spanish?!

10.) Most of the beers were over 14% alcohol content so I wouldn't suggest drinking more than 2! 

Course Selection

After we returned from Oktoberfest, Kellie and I received an email from the USA Derby Uni Rep saying that we had been denied for a class that we wanted to take because it involved working and we do not have VISA's. So, we were back to square one with courses and classes started this past Monday, September 30. 

Originally, Kellie and I thought we'd only be taking classes on Thursdays and Fridays and had already planned several trips around that school schedule so we told our USA Derby Uni Rep to switch a few things around and find any course on Thursdays afternoons and we'll take it. So, our final and approved schedule for classes is... 

Thursday 9-12: Individual Differences and Learning 

Thursday 2-6: Ancient Forms: Written 

Friday 9-12: Social and Cultural Landscapes 

This schedule will allow us to travel for 5 days straight and truly enjoy living abroad. 

Trip Planning

With our new found schedule, Kellie and I have been doing some trip planning. 

On Friday, October 4, my mom and step-dad and aunt and uncle are coming over to visit! We're spending this weekend in London with them. Then, Monday and Tuesday were showing them around Derby and Wednesday, we'll be in Liverpool with them. After classes on Friday, we're flying over to Ireland with them and seeing a few different towns and finishing the trip out with a pub crawl in Dingle, Ireland. I can't wait to see my family!!

Kellie and I are also working on a trip to Iceland at the beginning of November! 

We have so many different things planned and in the works, I just know that experience is going to fly by, so I'm going to enjoy every second while I'm over here!