Deutschland!!! Black, Red, and Gold

January 11 has made 4 months since I have been in Germany. I think I am at that point here I have enough experiences to share about my time spent here. So I am going to do it by topics; if you guys have any questions or topics that you think I should speak on do not hesitate to leave a comment.

Where are you Melissa?

I live in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GAP), which is a small town in Southern Germany. It is in the state of Bavaria and is home to the highest mountain in Germany—the Zugspitze. The hypen is there because GAP use to be two separate entities until they were forced by Adolf Hitler to come together in 1935 in anticipation for the 1936 Winter Olympics. OK! Enough with the history lesson—I live in the Abrams which is dorm style housing provided by the hotel that I work for. The Abrams is a renovated hospital; not any kind of hospital but a Nazi Hospital. No, No, No there aren’t swastika’s hanging around all over but some rooms have sinks where operations use to take place. I have a roommate her name is Sarah. She is HE-LARRY-US! If you have seen Bridesmaids, my roommate is Annie, they act Exactly Alike! It’s quite an adjustment going from having your own apartment to sharing a TINY room. But imp in Germany! Paying no RENT can’t complain right?

Food

Bavarian Cuisine is delicious—depending on the time of day. When I went to the Leonhardi Bad Tolz, I had a Weibwurst with pretzel and sweet mustard—Das Nicht Gud! Most sausages are made of pork so I generally have to sample and I pray I don’t get sick off that.

Water comes in two forms here—with gas, and without gas---oh yea let’s not forget about Tap water. But that has to be specified because water is not free as it is in the states. For instance, if you go to a restaurant the water comes in a fancy slender glass bottle.

Beer

What can I say about German beer? STRONG! HEAVY! CHEAP! Yup that’s the best way I can describe it. Beers consumed in Bavaria is Helles, Dunkels (which is dark) and Weiss—from what I can remember. I am not a big beer drinker. But I have learned a thing or two from my roommate who is an advent beer drinker. One thing that has surprised me was the fact that Beer is cheaper than water.

Culture

Germans are efficient. They are punctual, clean, and strict. Just with the time I spent here I found that Germans they are very environmentally conscious for instance in the grocery stores they don’t provide plastic bags or they charge an extra .25 euro for bottles when you purchase them in hopes that that will persuade you to bring the bottles back to get your money back---but helping the environment all at the same time.

Men

Europeans in general dress fairly well, so I don’t have a problem with clothing. German men like black women from what I hear, from what I know or experienced they are “interested” in black women. Kind of like how I am interested in them. So I was talking to this German who shouldn’t really count because visually he looked German (blonde hair, piercing blue eyes) but he considered himself Bolivian. He spoke fluent Spanish, his mother was Bolivian but his father was German who wasn’t really involved in his life. But anyway he was what he liked to call “Macho”---which is a very manly man. Did I agree? Yeah, he was pretty manly handled all his responsibilities, I mean how much more manly can you get being a Lumberjack? Lukas (his name) was amazing for the time that we spent with each other, but we ended on not so good terms. This resulting from his childish way of saying good-bye which essentially DID NOT make him “Macho” to me. Eww let me stop a bitch is sounding a lil bit bitter...mmm.

Another topic that has brought plenty amusement to my roommate and I is circumcision. So it’s been brought to my knowledge that Europeans—Germans DO NOT get circumcised!!! This has is mostly due to their religion of Catholicism but I feel that Europe is pretty civilized and cultured---even the most primitive parts of Africa circumcised their boys! Any whom it’s just came as a very giant shock to me.

GERMAN MEN CAN DRINK!!!!! My historical black college graduating from ass was ill-prepared for the amount of alcohol consumed by Germans. They drink on their lunch break and still return to work functional. They can party until 8am in the morning and still mention an after party to go too! With their disco techs (that’s their name for clubs) and their techno music. What I found funny, which I am not sure if it’s true or not it’s illegal to play more than 30 percent of German music in German, now I do not if that’s true but what I can attest to is that they  play the most American Music you can possibly think of. You come to Germany expecting to hear some music traditional music and you’re listening to Nicki Minaj.

Well I can’t think of any more topics right now…but if you have any questions I will be more than happy to answer!!

One Big Room, Full of Bad Bitches

Can you guess where that line is from? Well if so place a comment. So this post is dedicated to all the Bad Bitches in my life. I have a great deal of friends and family that influence my lifestyle. The first BAD LADY in my life is my mother. Boy, do I love that woman! She is my rock, she is my everything really. She is so supportive yet annoying (lol), but I can't do without her. She always asks me if I am her daughter because we are nothing alike. But my mother is hilarious--just like me. Whether its calling me "Dadey!" on the top of her lungs in the middle of flatbush or referring to my sorority sisters as "Gardening Sistas". Overall she is amazing, and right now I am in Germany with a stuffy nose and a congested chest and I really wish I had my mom her to make me some porridge or soup that would stick to my ribs and make me feel better. Love you, MOM

Next is my little sister, Tymala. Tymala is a BAD CHICK, she has this bootylicious body (putting my body to complete shame) physically she looks like the older sister. Anywhom she is 17 and has a twin brother. She has grown into such a beautiful young lady. I remember when she was elementry school and I was in highschool and I wanted her to be exactly like me. Like I would try to dress her and tell her to do her things MY way. I use to call her names and couldn't figure out why she would not do things my way. But what I didn't realize was she was listening and absorbing but she was finding own way---which amazed me. By the time it was time for her to highschool, I was going to college, I was so consumed with my college I kinda forgot about my sibilings--Not who they are but I didn't call them as often. After I got all my partying out my system and I went back to New York from time to time, my little sister was teenager with her own everything!! Like her own life, her own friends, her own clothing, her own handbags, and jewelry. I almost felt like she forgot about me, but what she did was she did everything I said just in her own way. Kinda like we reached the same destination we just took different forms of transportation to get there. LOVE YOU, Tymala

My BROOKLYN BITCHES!!!!! Linda, Salisa, Joy, Itisha and Alexia. These ladies are my closest highschool friends. Linda is my ace boogy---she is kind, smart and full of scriptures (lol). Salisa is my cook and my 2nd home--- she is loud, funny, and aggresive. Joy is my drinking partner and board game partner---she is impatient, rational and a great mother. Itisha is my street roaming companion with all the gossip--- she is competive, intelligent and annoying. Alexia is my travel buddy--- she is cute, messy and judgemental. All in all we are all very similar yet different. These women have seen all my stages from the cornrow braids to the payless boots. They always keep it real with their brutal honestly and their unrelentless humor. If you every seen the show Girlfriends we characterized ourselves--I am Tony (fashionista with drama), Salisa is Mya (ghetto family members even though she dont have the baby),  Linda is Joan (always wants peace and tries to keep us together) and Itisha is Lynn (horny freak). Alexia I guess has no choice but to be William. I can always count on these women and I think we are gonna be friends for a long time to come. Love my BB.

Now the Crew (lol). I got love for all the girlies I met through college. But these girls are one of THE MOST ENTERTAINING set of women I have ever came across in my life. Who knew that something sooo unintentional would stirr up the way it did. With them its always something. But the birthplace, the orgin of this group started where out beloved sorority was founded-----in DC. Flyness lives here. I can just hear Tiff sayin "we die for this shit, man" while twistin her fingers into the shape of a D and C, as Mullins laughs at the top of her lungs at Tiff and B who is bent over doing her infamous stanky leg. Along with Hips sayin "We Out", while Brit has a mysterious smirk on her face possibly thinkin about all the craziness that happens on our trip. PLus we got the best names hahaha, "It Aint Trickin' If You Got It", "Strong Black Woman....HURTIN", "Baby Mama Drama", "Side-line Hoe...with a Key", "In Denial", "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"---can you guess who has which name? Love my DC Crew.

Last but not least are the bitches who I just love to be around, or have great laughs with and we share the most memorable times. Yall know who yall are shout out to BBS---ShaDonna-Donna, Tyne-ne, Janae, Tara, Toya, Tamara, Erica Archer from Queens, NY, Quitta-Quitta; AKA---ALL THE ONES I BANG WIT (don't act like it ain't alot of us); Branch Beauties--Mone, Rukiya, Necca, Bree, Skittles, Diyah, Heaven, Kat; Dewey--Chrissy; VSU--Whit, Keya, Dede, Ash; Richmond--Kelly and much more.

Well---
"Oh, all you basic ass hoes out there
Man I got rooms full of bad bitches
They don't need Gucci, they don't need Louis
We swagging, ehh, meow"

I am in a room by myself, right now with a sore throat and a congested nose, but I got a room full of bad bitches, hope they read this---especially that tomorrow is the BIG 23 for me. Yup its MY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!! It falls on a day where the weather is bad and I feel sick but I am happy its here!

Till I type again!

Talk about Fate

Niggas ain't shit. Yup that may seem like a funny way to start this whole thing out but it is what it is. Please understand that when I say "niggas" I mean men. But best believe that is not the driving force of my blog. I just want to give you guys some background on how things came to be and how I ended up where I am writing from (no I am not in jail).

I attended Virginia State University (Go Trojans!) as a Hospitality Management Major, I graduated this year which is a year later then when I was suppose to graduate. I needed to complete my internship in order to walk across the stage. I was in a relationship with..hmmmm what should we call him?  Lol, lets use Pinoy because that what keeps popping into my head. ANYWHOM, Pinoy was having trouble finding a steady job that would blossom into a career, long story cut short he enlisted into the army and left for training in early Febuary. In case your wondering, Febuary made two years for Pinoy and I. As far as our relationship it was strained---badly. We were trying so hard to stay together we pushed each other further and further away.

While in training Pinoy kept on pushing marriage and that did not sit right with me--especially because we were always off and on, and our relationship was hanging on by a thread. Now I am not a person who jumps into a situation blind sided, so I repeatedly said No. He was far from my Prince Charming and I was far from forgiving him for his past mistakes. But I still supported him all the way from managing his bills to taking care of his dog, Ebony. I completely disagreed with his choice to enlist but I made it my duty as a girlfriend to support him all the way. Now you are probably wondering what this all has to do with me ending up where I am, right? Well be patient I am getting there!

Anywhom since I was rudely interrupted, in order to graduate I had to present my internship that I completed at the Omni Richmond Hotel. A representative from Edelweiss Lodges and Resorts was sitting in on my presentation and took interest in me. My professor advised that I interview with him,  the first thing I thought is "I am not going to Germany". While in the interview I was ill-prepared I did not have my resume. But I clearly blew him out of the water because he sent an email to my professor requesting for me to fill out an application.  So I decided to fill out the application all the while thinking that "I am not going to Germany".

While waiting on a response, Pinoy made his way back to  Virginia after graduating. We both rode back with his {foster} parents and had a great time. Well I was being bamboozeled the whole time. Supposedly while I was worried about our relationship,  he was keeping in contact with his ex-girlfriend. We got back form Georgia on Saturday, I went back to my apartment in which he said he would meet me, the next day. He never turned up on Sunday, thats how I knew something was wrong. Out of everything Pinoy was he had never been a liar. His words were blunt and harsh but never did he lie. Thats how I knew--yup--thats how I knew. I will never forget it was a Monday, he came into my apartment after I didn't hear from him, he was speaking irrationally and off the wall--then he layed it on me.He said it was over. Those words have been said plenty of times by the both of us but this time it was real. I could feel it. While I am in my bedroom crying my eyes out and asking him what can we do to fix this {even though I knew myself, this should have been done a LONG time ago}, I recieved an email.

I got an email stating "Having reviewed your application I would like to extend the offer for you to come to Germany". All I could do was cry and smile. I was crying out of  happiness, joy, and pain. That day has proven to me more then anything, that when one door closes another one opens. Well Pinoy went off to marry his ex-girlfriend a few weeks later, which hurt me really bad, but things were not meant to be. But everything worked out because now I am working for the military as a civilian in Germany, forfilling my dreams of traveling for a living. Oh yea, the secret is out I am in Germany. Think about it, what if I said yes to marrying him? Or what if I did not fill out that application? Wow, talk about fate.