Through a high school advisor I was given the contact info for a woman in Germany who lived close to Frankfurt and would possibly be willing to show me around the area during my twelve hour layover. What a great opportunity to see a different country and not be extremely bored for half of a day!
Mary explained that there was a train that would take me directly from Frankfurt airport to Manheim station, where they could pick me up. Everything seemed as though it would be very easy and straight forward, so I decided that I would do that. What I seemed to forget is that I don’t speak or read German. And I would be in Germany. And English probably wouldn’t be provided. And I don’t speak or read German... Can you see where this is going? I think I stood in front of the ticket machine for a good five minutes, just searching for the word Manheim. Never found it. Luckily, there was a woman standing close by who said that yes she spoke English. “I need to go to Manheim.” “Oh, this is the wrong ticket machine. It is only for the Frankfurt area. Here...” As we walked over to the other machine I began to wonder at whether or not this was such a brilliant idea. But I purchased the ticket, thanked her, and headed down the stairs to the platform. I wondered at whether I was at the correct one. Once again, I spent a fair amount of time staring at the info board. I realized I’d have to ask someone, so I scanned the other passengers on the platform. Did I approach the group of four older people, conversing with one another? Or maybe the girl standing next to the bicycle? Or the blonde haired girl with the backpack? I finally decided to ask her. She looked to be about 18 or 19 and as I asked if she spoke English, she smiled and said a little. I explained my situation and where I needed to go and was this the correct platform? We both returned to the info board and searched for the station name. (Well, she searched. I stood there because I couldn’t read any of it). She said that it seemed to be the right place, and that I would board the same train as her and just get off before. This came as a relief because I had someone to explain the train system to me now. Hella was her name, and she was a blessing.
Our train came and we boarded. We asked another passenger about getting to Manheim and he said that he thought I would have to get off at Meinz and transfer to a different line. The railway employee confirmed that. So Hella and I spoke the whole way to Meinz. She explained the German college system to me, how she was on her way to take an exam and how it amazed her the size of my family. She was so sweet and such a blessing to me. I am not sure that I could have expereienced the same grace and kindness other places I have been. I’m forever grateful to her.
I successfully transfered trains and made it to Manheim. I called Mary and we quickly found one another. She was at the station with Sylvia (her mother-in-law) and two of her kids, Kyra and Sebastian. Alec was at day camp. We quickly got to know one another on the drive back to their home, and they let me take a shower and fed me lunch. After Sylvia got back from some errands, Mary and I headed to Heidleberg Castle for some site-seeing. It was such a joy to go to the castle and around town with Mary becuase she knows the history of the area so well and explained things as well as a tour guide could. It was a beautiful castle, with the balcony looking over the town of Heidleberg, which is rich in old German architecture. After we left the castle we made our way back to the house where I met Craig (Mary’s father-in-law), Stephanie (sister-in-law), Alena (Stephanie’s daughter) and Alec (Mary’s son). They were all really welcoming and nice. We sat down for dinner of spaghetti, bread and salad. After we finished and they made sure I was full Mary, Craig and I headed back to the airport. They not only drove me back to the airport, but walked me all the way to the security check point. They didn’t have to drive me back there, as I had purchased a round trip train ticket, but this was how they are. Completely giving, completely gracious, completely a blessing. My time in Germany was really wonderful.
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