This is my team, Maike and Steffen, as we worked on our project. Sidebar: They were in complete amazement that I was 44 years old--when I was showing them my family on Facebook, they were trying to figure out if I had kids when I was 10! I guess I didn't stick as the old one too badly.
Spring school at Zeppelin University is over. Our class was told at the last minute that our 10 minute presentations had to be cut down to about 5 minutes because the director of marketing at ZU had only 35 minutes total to hear 7 groups present on social media. The entire class did an awesome job and there were some great suggestions for the use of social media. And, surprisingly, Tim Goebel (the director) really changed his view on its use. He finally realized that to be an "innovative, unique and interactive" school that they claim to be, they need to be using social networking tools in their recruiting. That was a huge change from last Monday when we first met him. It was great to see it work!
Then we ate our last meal at ZU (it was a wonderful salmon in a pastry) where I had a great conversation with a student from Denmark. He told me that young adults get paid $700 a month to GO to college(which is also free for them). And he was blown away how much we had to pay to just do our week class in Germany! But then he went on to say that the wealthiest Danes pay 75% in income tax and the lowest rate is 45%. He was really for socialism, but was very interested in how the U.S. opperates. I really had to go back to my 6th grade civics class to tell about the electoral college, checks-and-balances, etc. It was a stimulating conversation to say the least!
Then it was back to Hotel Traube to say farewell to a wonderful accomodation. Packing our suitcases were a little more difficult with the shopping that happened this week and I think my suitcase weighs more than 60 lbs. plus a backpack coming in at 20 lbs! When it is time for the plane, I will use my duffel bag to get my suitcase under the restricted weight.
We were thrilled to find out that our train ticket to Munich was only €41 for all 3 of us (Shalyn, Lana and myself). I guess up to 5 people can ride for that price as a group rate. So on the train we went, hoisting our luggage wherever we went (I have bruises to prove it). First to Lindau which is a beautiful spot on Lake Constance in the mountains. There was a lot of snow, it reminded me of Minnesota (I wanted to cross-country ski). Then we met a young man (we guessed him from 16-21) who helped us figure out the train in Lindau, and he joined our ticket (since 5 could ride) so our ride was even cheaper per person. That was a really long ride (2.5 hours) but on a fast train through beautiful country. I do have to say the trains are the best way to travel, and it's unfortunate that the States don't have a great system.
Shalyn did a great job getting a hotel near the city center (but on the street with the strip clubs--like Vegas!) We made a wrong turn out of the train station so this kind gentleman with no English, tried his hardest through gesture to point us in the totally opposite direction on the other side of the tracks! We have developed such strong muscles hauling our luggage, but we made it.
We wandered the streets tonight (it is very cold) and found a modern German restaurant that the hotel clerk recommended. I had some pasta and off course a dunkel bier. Tomorrow we will really see the town and go to the Hofbrau Haus. Time for a good night sleep.
a view of the Alps from the train window as it whizzed by
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