Well, the concert was at this place called the Docks, which I knew to be located on the Reeperbahn. All I knew, though, was that I had to get off at that stop on the S-Bahn, and then I was lost from there. So I got on the train, and there were a bunch of girls next to me, all dressed up and such. Now, it was only 6 o'clock in the evening, and it is true that Germans drink at all times during the day and go out all days of the week, but I hedged a bet that they were going to the concert too, and not clubbing on a Wednesday night. Sure enough, two of them whipped out their tickets and I was like, muahahehe. So I tapped the girl next to me on the shoulder and I said, "Sprechen Sie Englisch?" She did, and I explained that I really didn't know where I was going, and it ended up that they didn't either, but she very kindly invited me to wander along with them until we stumbled upon the concert.
When we got out of the subway and were trying to figure out which direction to go in, I saw a group of girls similarly dressed and had the brilliant idea of following them to the concert, because they surely must know where to go. As it happens, they had the same brilliant idea as I had. In the end, though, we got there, that is the most important part.
Now, the cool place about this venue was that it was only for 1,500 people, so even if you were in the back, you would still be relatively close to Jason. This was not like when I went to the State Fair to see the Jonas Brothers and could have used a spy satellite to focus in on the stage, I was so far back, no. So we waited through the opening acts (BTW one girl came on, she's Danish and her name is Nabiha, REALLY GOOD, so if anybody wants to check her out I recommend it...) and two other girls heard me speaking English and asked me where I was from. I'll cut to the chase and tell you that in the end, we figured out that I'm going to their old high school, and I actually live literally one minute away from them. This was super cool because I was an hour away from my house, in a city of almost 2 million people, and I met my neighbors. ANYWAYS they were vairr vair nice and even gave me a ride home at the end of the concert. Howeverrr the point I'm slowly getting to is that Mr. Derulo was awesomeee in concert, his shoes were BALLIN' (I want a pair soooo bad), he could dance like Usher, and his abs were CUT. Let me share with you the highlight of surely mine, if not every girl's, night:
I realize that his head is not visible, but in reality that's actually not important, and that was not what I was aiming for when I took the pic.
So, all in all, I was very happy I decided to Ride Solo (hahaha get it?!) to the concert, as I met some very nice Germans, and I even got a Ridin' Solo bracelet to top it all off. Beauuuutious.
The other thing I want to share happened last weekend, when I was out with my friends from Colón. We went to the workplace of this other kid that goes to Colón, a bar/lounge/dancefloor place called the Indochine, where he bartends. It's right on the harbor, which is beautifully lit up at night, and a classy place. I knew that not knowing German at some point would pay off, and this is when it happened.
Adam had put us on the list so we could get in for free (VIP much?) and as we were going in the bouncer dude started talking at me in German, which, as I have mentioned previously, I don't understand. I looked at him with what I can only imagine was a blank face, and said my #1 catchphrase: "Ich spreche kein Deutsch." [I don't speak German]. He said something again (because I would understand it the second time? I mean, really?) and again I just looked at him, so he gave up and waved me through. Viola! My friend Stéfanie informed me that he was asking if I was over 21, because for some reason it was a 21 and older night. This is strange, because in Germany, at 18 you are a full adult, and that includes any and all drinking privileges, UNLIKE a certain country I'm familiar with... nevertheless, I was happy that I didn't have to lie, because I would of.
ANYWAYS we got in and it was salsa night, so on our way to the bar area it was necessary to make like a dodgeball player and dodge all the couples swinging around. The people were maddd good at salsa-ing, and as it happened one of our friends is Columbian, so he tried to teach us some of his moves... ahem. Needless to say, we collectively decided we want to take salsa lessons. I'm telling you, these people were LEGIT. The club even brought in two professionals from Cuba who absolutely broke it down.
Okay this is not the important part, however. Adam took us aside, and was like, "I'm going to bring you guys to the ice bar." So I'm standing there thinking, sweet, we're getting ice cream! Explanation: in German, ice cream is "Eis," pronounced "ice," so naturally, being in Germany, I thought in German and thought he was bringing us to an ice cream bar. WRONG AGAIN. Honestly, I try and I try to learn German, and when I think I've finally understood something, they're talking in ENGLISH. Will I ever win here? No, that's the answer you're looking for.
So we go into this room where there are tons of jackets, coats, mittens, hats, etc lying about, and then I started to put two and two together and realized we were really going into a bar made of ICE. Indeed, we suited up and walked in, where everyyything was totally iced out. The seats, the walls, the bar, even the shotglasses were made of ice! Of course I didn't bring my camera because I didn't think I'd be taking pictures of an ice cream cone, and I can't even rob any pictures from my friends' Facebooks because they're not up yet :( Basicallyyyy it was mad cool and I thought to myself, this is the cool thing about being an exchange student; doing stuff like this!
Lastly, the Fischmarkt. What is the Fischmarkt, you ask? Ah, well. It is and isn't what it sounds like: a fish market starting at 5 o'clock Sunday mornings. Why would I wake up to go to a fish market at 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning, you are dying to know? It's because, actually, I never went to sleep Saturday night! So, the other part of the Fischmarkt: the so-called "last party" after at night out on the Reeperbahn. Here, in the wee hours of the morning, is probably the only place in the world that you can find girls dressed in stilettos and miniskirts at a fish market at 5 a.m., ever. I am willing to bet money on that. It is also one of only places in the world where you will find a rather large group of people drinking beer at seven in the morning. All week my friends and I planned on going, because the Fischmarkt is THE place to be in Hamburg if you're not on the Reeperbahn. Seriously. Today, at school, my teacher asked me,
"Have you been to the Reeperbahn?"
-Yes, oh yes I have.
"Okay, have you been to the second destination in Hamburg, the Fischmarkt?"
-Aha, oh, haven't I.
"Ach so. Have you been to the third destination, the ____?"
-Could you spell that please?
I wasn't able to read his writing. I'll let you guys know when I hit up the #3 spot.
ANYWAYS I took a power nap Saturday evening in preparation, which was a good thing, because I strolled in the door at 7.15 Sunday morning. I had just dined on a nice breakfast of currywurst and hot chocolate (I'm not German enough for a beer at 5.30; needless to say, one of my friends was, although I shall not name names :)), and fell asleep on the subway home, therefore almost missing my stop, had it not been for my friend (and also American Rotary Exchange Student) Amy's timely wake up.
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