Tanz in den Mai!

I'm listening to Burial's album Untrue with headphones on. You almost have to with this album. I woke up this afternoon with a massive headache. I never thought it could hurt to have blood pump in your veins. Every pulse was like a punch in the side of the head. I laid awake and thought about the night before. About walking all the way to Frauenhoferstasse. I felt a tap on my shoulder just as I was rounding the corner to the Wasserman. The restaurant at which we were meeting. He said "Was ist los" or something and I waved him off. I said "hallo" and kept walking. He started speaking to me in German that I didn't understand. I know he was looking for something, but I wasn't sure what he was saying. He continued to talk as I saw Chai standing outside having a cigarette. I shook his hand and he asked, "Is he with you?" Referring to the man who was talking to me as I walked up to him. I turned and looked at him for the first time. He had large, bulging eyes. One was bigger than the other and sat lower on his face as if gravity and time had pulled it down. He held a handful of coins in his hand and kept looking down at them when asking whatever it was he was asking. I know a bit of German. Mostly, enough to understand people and answer questions. I decided that whenever someone would ask me where something was (which happens a lot) I'd just say, "Noch Links, ich glaube" or "Take a left, I believe." But this guy was actually asking something serious and persistently. I tried to tell him that I didn't speak German and I didn't understand what he was saying. Chai and I discerned "Flaschen" and "Automat" or bottles and machine." After 2 or 3 minutes of speaking without communicating anything, he asked us if we wanted to go inside and have a Vodka Red Bull. We said "nein, danke" and went inside where I found Luke, Ilana and a beer waiting for me. The waitress came around and Chai ordered us shots and I ordered another beer, which took a minute because she didn't understand me for some reason. I felt a bit disappointed with my German, but I was getting drunk and didn't have to work the next day, so I was okay with that. We went to a pool hall around the corner where we could drink and smoke. A "Raucherclub." It's illegal to smoke in public places like restaurants and bars in Munich now, but you can still smoke in clubs. So bars have started requiring people to "join the club" by signing a piece of paper. So, Chai signed us in and we sat at the bar and smoked. Chai ordered us Jagermeister shots. The large older man behind the bar heard me speaking a little German. I asked him what was the best type of liquor they had in German and his eyes lit up. He was so impressed. He asked where we're from and I said "Ich und sie kommen aus Amerika und ihm...(pointing at Luke) kommt aus Angland." He said, "Also, ein Anglander." and waved his hand as if to say, we won't worry about that. Haha. He said that he went to LA for a while and rode a bus or something to Mexico and had this huge adventure. I picked out a few words. There were women involved and autos and it sounded pretty funny, so I laughed. He said that his nephew was just born in Sydney, Australia where his sister lives. I said one of my best friends was from Australia. I said that I was going home in July and that I love Munich and Germany and that it is very beautiful and he said that America is beautiful. I then said "Prost!" but he didn't have a beer, so he reached down and picked one up. I asked him if he could drink while working and he said "Genau! Warrum nicht?" or Of course, why not? I felt great. That was the longest conversation I had ever had in German. We played pool and drank more. Chai and Luke won a round of beers from two younger guys. We had about 7 or 8 beers floating around. No one was sure which beer belonged to whom, but we were sure going to finish them. We drank and smoked and played pool. Luke and I played the two guys and Chai and Ilana talked over on the side. A group of people with huge backpacks came in and out. The Frau und Mann were very nice. They were just taking care of people and laughing and Luke had picked out a great selection of music. Including such hits as "I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meatloaf, "Born in the USA" by Springsteen "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, and "November Rain" by Guns n Roses. We held our pool cues like guitars and air-guitared the classic solo. Everyone in the bar doing their best Axel Rose impression. We finished all the beers and headed out. As is Chai's style, we took a cab home to Landwehrstrasse and someone (Possibly me) suggested we get Doners. We walked around the corner to my favorite place and got sandwiches. After eating it, I don't remember much else. I walked home alone and passed out. Today is May Day. In Germany, the night before gives kids the chance to party and on May Day itself, people tend to spend time with their families doing typical German stuff, like hiking, bike-riding, eating a lot. In Pre-Christian Europe, May 1st was marked as the first day of Summer making the Summer Solstice Midsummer. For me, May usually marks the time when I start thinking about camp. About packing up my life into boxes and storing for the summer. Hopping in my car and driving to the welcoming, cool mountains of Western North Carolina. Reuniting with old friends and getting healthy. I have about 10 more weeks here. 8 weeks, or two months of work left. I've been away from home for 4 months and in a few more days it will be the longest I've ever been away from home. For now, I'm holding on to what I have and struggling against isolation and loneliness. I find solace in the city and the busy streets. The only place I can really feel alone is when I'm out walking around the city. Silent, anonymous, part of the scenery until someone asks me how to get somewhere, then I'm prepared with "Noch links, ich glaube...bitte schoen!"