I was under the impression my only connection would be Munich. The train pulled into Munich, and I got off to find myself faced with dozens of train platforms, and I didn't know which one I needed or what time my next train left. I couldn't understand why my ticket didn't list any connection information or platforms or times, but there was nothing. So I ran up and down the station looking for a marquee that listed Parsberg. None of them did. It's Oktoberfest in Munich right now, and everyone in the world was in the way in either a dirndl or leiderhosen. "Entschuldigung! Entschuldigung!" (excuse me) every five steps. Finally, I began asking the train agents scattered throughout the station where to find the train for Parsberg. I showed them my ticket, just in case they couldn't understand the babblings of a panicked American with too much luggage. Each one of them sent me to a different platform, none of which were the right train. Finally, I found a gentleman train agent who took me over to the ticket kiosk and printed out an itinerary for me with my entire trip details and every platform I would need, as well as departure times etc. Then he pointed out my next stop was Regensburg, not Parsberg, and I would need to catch the train to Parsberg from Regensburg.
All of my confusion had lost me a little time, but I would still arrive only about half an hour later than I had expected in Parsberg. Eternally grateful, I hunted down platform 29, only to realize this train was much more complicated than the last one had been. Instead of having a row of identical train cars, this was a long distance train with a dining car, 1st and 2nd class cars, etc. Fortunately, picking out Klasse 2 is not too difficult, and thank heavens for a few similarities between the German and English languages. Also, I somehow managed to find a seat next to a girl about my age who spoke English really well, and she was able to explain the train a little better to me. I'm sure that none of it was actually as confusing as it seemed at first, but since I was panicking, it all seemed more overwhelming at the time.
I made it to Regensburg, found my next train and made it to Parsberg without another hitch. The weekend in Hohenfels was so relaxing. Brandon didn't have his car yet, so we just stayed on base, went to the bazaar that was there for the weekend, and visited with some friends of his as well. The weather was perfect too - sunny all weekend and just warm enough. It's so much quieter on base than it is where I live. Employee housing isn't conducive to good sleep, so I felt like I actually slept for the first time in a month. There was an amazing food stand on base with delicious chicken sandwiches and curry ketchup. I really like curry ketchup now. :-) The PX in Hohenfels has so much more stuff than mine does here. Brandon spoiled me and bought me new work shoes and insoles for them because my feet have been killing me at work. And I got a satchel from the bazaar so I don't have to carry my backpack everywhere anymore which is really nice.
The weekend was over all too soon, and I bought my return trip ticket online, and this time the entire itinerary printed with the ticket. No problems, I knew where I was going this time. I bought the cheap ticket for 21 euro, which would put me in Garmisch at 1am, and I had to work at 7am, but it was doable. Then Brandon had to go on a training exercise Monday and didn't get back until late, and when he did get back, they came up with more duties for everyone as well. So when it came time for me to leave, he wasn't able to take me to the train, but thankfully a friend did. He did get to say good-bye briefly, and then there I was hurtling down another train toward Regensburg.
I arrived on platform 8 and had to get to platform 1 according to my ticket. But when I made it to 1, the marquee wasn't showing the right train. As a train pulled up on that track, a man climbed off the train and asked me where I was going. I said "Munchen" (the German word for Munich). He said that the train does not go there and I should follow him. I looked at him skeptically and stayed put. It was 11:30 at night, and I wasn't going anywhere with someone I didn't know. He walked away, and then returned. The engineer poked his head out of the window and the man asked him if this train goes to Munchen. The engineer said, "Nein" and then a string of other German words I didn't understand. Then they directed me to platform 9. So I had gone all the way to platform 1 from 8, and I needed to be at 9. I should my head and ran for the train, because it would be pulling out any minute and I was afraid I would miss it. Thankfully, I made it.
All seemed well with the connection in Munich, and then about 30 minutes or so after we pulled out of Munich, the train made a routine stop in Tutzing, and stayed there. And stayed there. And stayed there. Finally word came down the line that someone was trying to jump in front of a train to off themselves, and so they had shut down the line until they could find the person and stop him/her. The train that left an hour before mine ended up sitting on the tracks for 3 hours. Mine was only delayed for around an hour. But even with that, by the time I arrived in Garmisch, waited on a taxi for half of forever while everyone from Oktoberfest caught one before me, and then finally arrived home and went to bed, it was about 3a.m. When I got home, I took out my contact lenses, changed into some more comfortable pants and went to bed. I got up a 6am and caught a cab to work. I literally rolled out of bed, got dressed, brushed my teeth and hair and went to work. I was a zombie all day. I forgot to put out part of a coffee break at one point, randomly dropped things, and generally was not a model employee.
I picked up my paycheck at the cash cage, which I'd been waiting on for a month, only to find out they've paid me for 29 hours instead of the 46 I worked that pay period. Went upstairs to accounting to fix the problem, but everyone in accounting was on leave that day. Walked home with a killer headache, went straight to bed, and woke up with the worst migraine I've had all year. Spent most of Tuesday evening trying to get rid of it. All I can say is that the 'calm after the storm' when you've successfully quelled a migraine is one of the best feelings in the world. You go from wanting to pull your own head off to feeling light as a bird. It took an Excedrin and a bottle of Mountain Dew before mine left.
Yesterday was a vast improvement over Monday and Tuesday. So I think the week has turned around. I guess if I can be glad of anything, it's that I know my way around better now and I think I can take the train with a lot more confidence than before. Also, I will hopefully remember in the future that a nap won't cure my headache and I have to take a painkiller BEFORE I lie down.
Today, I plan to go argue with accounting (I'm going to call first to make sure that someone is working), do a little shopping and run some other errands I've been needing to get done. So long, until the next installment of adventures.
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