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Dark have been my dreams of late

It turns out that Carl, my broest bro here (meaning in Munich, not Germany–that award goes to Cihan), got rejected for all of the internship positions he’d applied for. He heard back from all three today. He came into my room after class and asked me to translate a voicemail. It was extremely long, I’d say 2-3 minutes, and after it was over, I said, “Um. Well, basically, they said they don’t have anything for you.” And he said, “Yeah, I thought that’s what they said.”

About 20 minutes later he got an e-mail from the company which was his last hope, and they also said no.

I’m skipping a class right now as I write this so I can put in some serious work toward preparing my study materials for Chinese (last review session is tomorrow, final exam Saturday morning), as I want to be free tonight. I talked to the guys around here this afternoon, and we’re going to take Carl out to the bar tonight, drinks on us.

We’ve already sketched out backup plans and a list of auxiliary contacts to make use of. Fortunately for Carl, he and I take a class with the head of the CS department, and I know the guy loves Carl. It will work out. Quite honestly Carl seems overqualified for the internships he’s applied for, and I don’t think companies are willing to pay him what they think they’d have to.

More fun, though. Most of the Americans have received letters from the housing agency in Munich informing us that we have to get the hell out, as our contracts only run through February. One of the guys already went down there and explained we’re here for two semesters, not just one, as the agency must be assuming, and was told to get the hell out anyway because they’ve already signed a contract with another student, who moves in March 1.

There’s possible recourse in our program coordinator, who might be able to harass the housing people on our behalf, but two factors complicate that: 1) She’s our program coordinator only for the duration of our stay as students. It’s her job to get us through the semester, i.e. end of February, and after that, we fend for ourselves. 2) We signed a contract that gives the housing agency the right to kick us out at this date. I don’t foresee any German arguing against a signature.

Add to this the fact that Franzi is still grieving about the recent death of a family member, as well as already about my eventual return to the U.S., and hasn’t spoken a word to me in days.

Only one thing to do when you’re feeling down.

There. I feel better already.