Who da Man!
I’m da man!!!
Seriously, I woke up this morning (actually, I overnighter, so let’s rephrase that) I looked out my window this morning, and it was sunny. I’d had the balcony door open, and was able to hit a pigeon with a piece of an apple I had on hand… Suppressions, the day was off to a good start.
The first sunny morning in weeks didn’t let me down. I’d discovered that this one professor was supposed to give me an official form which I was to give to the examinations office before my inerrancy. So, I took a detour, thinking to ask him about it if I found him in his office (since no one else I had asked had offered any helpful info whatsoever). Anyway, I am searching the building for his office (since I only know his last name and the general location of his office), I run into him and started to ask him my question. He says: ” Why don’t you come in, sit down, and we’ll talk about it. Like some coffee?” I’m telling you, man, this day was unique. So, we’re talking, and I eventually end up telling him all about my internship woes (which basically everyone who reads this has heard me nag about!) and he says: “Well, I agree with you!” Agree!!! A professor! Coffee!?!? God, what was going on?! My head starts spinning… Too many overnights? Too much caffeine? Nicotine!? This was unprecedented.
Anyway, he continues by saying:” I totally agree with you, the Athens offer is very attractive. If the project is interesting, why not? I mean, the whole purpose of the internship is to give you a feel for the industry. Still, the committee - with X in it…”(X being the prof who screwed over my plans, who wields a whole lot of authority, whom I didn’t want to cross lest he screws me over some other way….)
The secretary walks in with coffee. The guy says ” If your looks give any information about your character, you’re a caffeine addict”, so I give the only answer I ever do to that “comes with the business, sir…” “Well, me too…So let’s get back to the internship issue…”
He takes a huge sip, and continues:
“Still, the committee, with X in it, might not approve since he already caused you trouble. I’ll tell you what… You’re not Greek, right?” “No” ” Spanish, Italian?” “No, Lebanese.” “What?” “leba- Libanon” “Oh well, Mediterranean.. All the same, you like bending the rules, right?” “that’s what they’re there for” ” Typical.. hehehe” “hehehe” “so, anyway, you look professional… Well, not look, but seem” “hehehehe” (point: haven’t shaved in a week, hair all over the place… You get the picture)
“hehehehe And I agree that it’s a good offer, and unlike what some professors might imply, you should do what’s best for your career… So, here’s what we can do. Get me an original certificate of an internship you’ve done previously, write a few pages reporting what the internship was, what you did… and pass by my office. I can look at it, authenticate it right away and pass it to the pruefungs amt (examination office). And that’s it, you can do your thing in Athens, and not need to worry about the university requirements, since your old internship would cover those…”
I left that office on a natural high! Man, that guy was by far, the most helpful, coolest guy I’ve met in uni. That’s how I imagine all education related people to be. He didn’t force feed me useless regulation crap, he didn’t just say no, he listened, found out my problem and found a solution to it… Anyway, now, I’m free to do whatever I want, I can start planning what I want to do regarding work, housing, visiting home, summer vacation etc… Hamburg is suddenly much brighter! And, to top it all, it’s just 11:16 in the friggin morning… This day could still turn out some good news 
I heard there’s a fashion show in town… Maybe I’ll go there, try to hook up with a model….
one other thing, while having my second coffee, and a smoke on the stairs at uni, I read this article about a 100 year old guy who just broke some record (for elderly or something) for the 100-meter. He ran it in 28.7 seconds. That made me consider quitting smoking. I mean that guy obviously didn’t smoke. Then, I reconsidered.
If I live to be 100. I want to sit around all day,with my wife, on very, very comfortable sofas, and watch Friends reruns, or something. I sure as hell ain’t gonna be running… at that age, running could give me a heart attack…