24th February 2006 - Day 130

I woke up at 0700 this morning and met up with the other people going for the excursion.

The excursion is part of one of the modules I'm taking here. The company we're visiting basically builds Chemieanlagen for other companies.

We left in 3 cars each with 3 people. Since there was someone leading the way with his navigation system, I just sat behind and did the usual thing as the vehicle moved, only waking up if the vehicle stops.

It so happened that by the time I woke up, we were about 50 kilometers off. The car I was in decided to break away and find our own way.

After some more wrong turns and a very irritated driver who cannot hold his anger, we reached the place 1 hour and 15 minutes late.

The others were still not there.

The irritated driver couldn't help but comment on his intelligence and the stupidity of the 2 other drivers.

*Yawn*

I was expecting to see some real chemical plants and a tour around the complex. But it turned out to be a full day lecture-styled excursion. We helped ourselves to the free flow of biscuits and drinks.

Lunch was on the company at its' own cafeteria, which is not unlike Mensa. For once, we queued and took the food we wanted without paying. The queue-up-for-food-scenes in the movies or TV programs always leave out the payment part.

Then it was back to some more presentation, some computer simulation and me falling asleep.

Dinner was at a Gasthaus which was quite cosy. Had Rippchen mit Sauerkraut und Brot, Apfel- und Traubensaft, and a cup of coffee. I was quite surprised when we walked out without paying. It was sponsored by the company as well.

We went our separate ways after dinner. I followed the same car. They decided to visit Frankfurt am Main for a while even though it was already after 2000. We went to the Stadtmitte anyway.

I was back in hostel by 2330 and decided to go down to the K4 Bar to find Nan, who is celebrating his birthday.

Met another Chinese there. I've seen him around before and thought that he must have been here for at least a year. Turns out that he came over only during last October. A pleasant guy to talk to.

Alex seemed a bit crazy today. Asked me a lot of funny questions in Chinese. Maybe he drank a bit too much.

I did not stay for long as I was a bit tired. Slept late last night.

So, clothes washing day tomorrow.