December started and fortunately Michigan’s winter seems to be on a break now. Even though it is always around 0 degrees Celsius, the snow melted. The last two weeks haven’t been less exciting than the weeks before – quite the contrary.
Last week I was invited to Nadine’s farewell party in downtown Detroit. As a former intern of AutoCom, she was living in a big apartment building in the center of the city, where we had a rooftop party. After my 50 minute drive around the blocks of Detroit (Redwings and Tigers were playing this evening), I was fortunate enough to find a parking spot.
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| View out of the sky lounge. |
Enjoying an awesome view out of the sky lounge, we spend an
amusing evening with nice people including funny stories and some bottles of
beer. After a short billiard game in the end, I left very late.
As usual I tried to find the way back to Royal Oak with my
mobile, but recognized very quick that I was driving through other streets than
on my way to Detroit. Mistrusting my GPS, the streetlights were getting fewer
and the areas darker. After I was terrified by a road crossing person, I
noticed in the very last moment, I decided to turn around to find another way,
because I was told, areas close to the city shouldn’t be visited at night, even
by car. Finally I found my way and was happy to be driving on the highway I-75
with other cars and many streetlights :D.
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| Ready, Set, Go! |
After a short week, a long weekend approached – Thanksgiving.
My colleague Denise invited Merle, Anna (a friend of Merle) and me to her house
for Thanksgiving dinner. Until then I only knew all the facts about
Thanksgiving from what I was taught in school. Therefore I was very excited to
be a part of the American culture at Thanksgiving evening.
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| A selection of our delicious dinner. |
After Merle finished
her fight with the electrical knife against our chanceless turkey, we had a
very delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Along with turkey, we ate sweet potatoes, brussels
sprout, cranberry salad, tasteful stuffings and for dessert besides pumpkin pie
a traditional Italian pie made by Anna. After the never ending eating-marathon,
we had many leftovers and were prepared for the following Black Friday (many
sales off on this day in malls all over the country).
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| Kobe Bryant seconds before he scored. |
Another highlight has been the NBA game L.A. Lakers versus
Detroit Pistons this week. It was the first time in my life watching a NBA
basketball game live. Jon, our new housemate, and I got great seats in the
center of the huge Palace of Aurburn Hills.
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| Thumbs up for this great event! |
Until the beginning of the 3rd
quarter, Pistons and Lakers were shoulder to shoulder. But then suddenly the
world famous Kobe Bryant started his one man show and used all of his tricks to
help the Lakers win in the end.
Aside from the game time, it was all in all a great show
with several show acts of Piston’s cheerleaders, good bands and funny dancing
security guards (one of them has been suddenly on the screen – he took this
moment as an invitation for showing his crazy moves on the stairs to the noisy
audience :D).
After these great moments in the USA I am looking forward
to update you in three weeks. First I have to
go back to Germany for my final Master’s presentation in the next weeks.
Be
prepared!