This week started with our trip to Norderney to visit the Badehaus. The class took 3 trains and then a fairy to reach the island. Norderney is known for its thalasso therapy techniques. The therapy is based on using the sea to cure individuals. One main feature of the Badehaus is the Saunas. Saunas originated in Finland and are popular in northern Germany. This was a fascinating experience as there is a focus only on your body and the löyly. The behaviors and cleanliness in the saunas made me comfortable in them.
Dr. Wasser led ti chi and workouts on the beach followed by a plunge into the sea. The northern sea is cold but after working out and getting your blood flowing, it was refreshing. This was also apart of the thalasso treatment.
One excursion on the trip was a walk through different ecosystems on the edge of the island. The walk started in the Marsh where the silt was fine and you would sink too about mid calf. I was not a fan of the mud squirting between my toes. There is a plant that looks like very thick grass which is considered a delicacy in the area and tasted salty. The walk continued to the water where the size of the sand granules also increased. The increase in the sand granules created more structure and resistance. At the water we saw jelly fish and learned about how the purple are safe and orange will sting. The walk was very education but also challenging to focus as the weather was a constant downpour of rain and strong wind.
The atmosphere of the island was so enjoyable that I would like to visit again in the future.
We had a four day weekend where Maddie, Kim, and I went to Belfast Dublin. There was an interesting change in the culture here on this island. It was also nice to be in a place where people spoke a similar language. In Belfast we took a Game of Thrones tour where we visited different locations of the scenes featured in the show. While I do not watch the show, it was beautiful to see the countryside and the landscape of Ireland. The Giants Causeway was one of my favorite stops and I love the folktale that goes along with this landmark. 
The next day we made our way to Dublin where we did a Guinness tour and met up with other classmates. This tour was a fun experience and I was able to pour a perfect pint of Guinness. I do not recommend buying souvenirs after you finish a pint. For dinner we went to a pub with live music and a great atmosphere. The food this weekend was by far some of my favorite since coming to Europe. For a Sunday night the bars were hopping and the Irish people know how to enjoy themselves.
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