Hi all,
I hope everyone is well. I'd love to hear news whenever you've got a second on the email / skype!
It was great to see everyone at the Saracen's Head only a week ago. It was fun month prior to that containing a million good-byes. All good times. Thank you.
Here are some updates from my travels in you're interested...see the photos on picasa or Facebook to help put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Don't carry bikes around the world:
I've been dragging my bike case around and it's as massive pain. I caught the train from the Frankfurt Airport to Mannheim and upon arrival would've just walked another 2kms to the Youth Hostel but instead chose to hire a cab even though due to the railways it would have been quicker walking. A pain at the time but having a bike in Europe is brilliant!
Bikes:
Speaking of bikes: they are ever where. It makes me happy! I borrowed one from the National Theatre and cruised the city and also rode to Heidelberg. It was an absolutely glorious ride. I have posted some photos on Facebook or MannheimHeidelbergByBike
Similarly, I joined a "fun" ride on the outskirts of Hannover today and did a 155km loop of the smaller villages and countryside. Rad Touren Fahrt. I rode with a couple of randoms that I met along the way. I might have hurt a few of the old guys who tried to tag along! Couldn't resist. Next time I will ride with a stronger group and they can inflict some Eric Zabel pain on me...
Germans:
- They design / build the most safety conscious cars and yet helmets are not required when riding a bike. In fact riders wearing helmets are very much a minority.
-They have a very expensive health care system and yet still you get to choose whether you want 'raucher' or 'nicht racher' accommodation, internet cafe etc.
- In Italy after a bike ride everyone eats pasta. In Australia after a bike ride everyone goes for a coffee. In Germany after a bike ride they eat Bockwurst and Weissbier...
Hannover
I've been to Hannover twice now and I really like the mix of old world architecture and the newer design work. They love their sculptures and pride themselves of the fantastic restoration of the city after it was bombed so badly that 90% was unrecognisable after the war. The Herrenhauser Gardens are of the old design yet they have a room of psychedelic art as part of it. I can't wait for Schuetzenfest in two weeks! http://picasaweb.google.com/ajoest/HannoverJune09
Business School:
I went to visit the MBS people and they offered the opportunity to sit in a lecture. I was taken the lecture theatre where the Head of the School Prof Homburg was taking a lecture on Marketing (his specialty) and in particular 'Customer Satisfaction'. This two hour lecture got me very excited about study in September; particularly after meeting some of the current students after the lecture over a coffee. Most of the class has now met on Facebook and already there is talk of catching up early to look into a few interesting Social Entrepreneurial projects.
Accommodation:
I'm currently staying in Hamburg in a share flat. I'll be here for a month to learn German. I've organised to rent a share apartment in Mannheim. My home from September will be Langstrasse 26, Neckarstadt. It's a very nice area not far from the top of the Quadrat and less than 10mins to the Uni by bike.
New Mobile Phone Number:
Best to get me on Skype ('ajoest') or email. I'm about to cancel my Australian number and now have a German prepaid card (+49151 2683 2288) in emergency!
Cheers,
Oest
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Adrian J. Oest
+49151 2683 2288
twitter.com/ajoest
ajoest.googlepages.com/home