Brownian Motion

I'm often reminded of this theory whenever we are out with SJ. Basically, Brownian motion is the theory that small particles move about in random directions quite a bit, but since the movement is random, there is no net movement. Two steps forward, two steps back, two steps to the left, two steps to the right, etc.

This also pretty well sums up our Saturday morning. We were very thankful to receive two packages this week, or more precisely, two notices that we had received packages.

Now logic would have you believe that if you recieve two packages at the same address in Germany that the post office would : a) Ask you to come pick up the package at a post-office that was relatively near where you live, and b) that both packages would be at the same post-office. Unfortunately, neither of these turned out to be the case.

So, Saturday morning we set out to take public transportation to Kessenich, which is a good deal south of where we live, and then turn around and take public transportation to the Old City, which is a good deal north of where we live. As an aside, while people complain about the quality of the public transportation in Boston, which is definitely inferior to Germany, public transportation is very expensive here - $2.50 each way.

We had to set ou early Saturday morning, because like most things in Germany, the post office is only open a couple hours each week when people aren't ordinarily working. So, we got down to Kessenich, waited in line, and proudly handed over our package claim form.

There's a classic FarSide cartoon that contrasts what people say with what dogs hear. In summary, according to the cartoon dogs only hear "blah blah blah" 90% of the time, and only manage to comprehend a few words hear and there. I feel this pretty much sums up most of my conversations in German.

Now, back to the post-office. "The package is not here", came the reply. This was confusing to me, because the slip clearly said to come to this post office to pick up my package. In response to my consternation, the post-office clerk said "Blah blah blah blah blah blah Schumann Street". At least that's what I heard.

Now, I wasn't going to be shooed away too easily, as I already had visions of taking a hike to Schumann Street (which is probably somewhere outside of Berlin), only to have them tell me the package wasn't there either. So, I persisted.

Eventually, I gathered that they didn't seem to have any idea where the package was, but that maybe if we call next week they might be able to find out. Wonderful.

Thankfully, our second trip to the post-office wasn't nearly as eventful. As a Hail Mary, I presented the first package slip at the post-office as well - thinking maybe, just maybe, the package was there. Unfortunately, 'You must go to Kessenich" was the reply I got. Been there, done that.