Ducks on a Frozen Pond

So today I was walking home from the gym around seven or so, and there's a little pond in the center of campus that you have to cross. And on this pond were these two ducks, sort of walking across the mostly-frozen water looking confused. And then I had a really cliché and lame thought that I am going to procede to record on the internet for all time and present to anyone who stumbles across this, which is that I am a duck on a frozen pond! I had just been thinking about how I feel Europe is good for me, it makes me happier, it's a culture I feel is healthier for my mental state than America's (for a million and one reasons). Yet I'm not European. And so I'm in the habitat I feel is the most natural (Europe/the pond), yet I cannot actually immerse myeslf in it or fully enjoy it because there is a barrier (America/the ice). Yet the barrier is slowly dissolving, like the ice on the pond. And eventually (hopefully after living here for years and years in the future), I can find my way into the water. See? Lame and cliché. But something about those poor struggling, yet not unhappy, ducks made me a middle-school philosopher.

ANYWAY today we got to spend three hours in the place I would most like to go ever: the BMW manufacturing plant here in Regensburg. Due to my love of cars, machinery, and factories this was clearly the place for me. After a half-hour long slide-show presentation, in which the years between 1930 and 1945 were conveniently avoided on the timeline, and after a few short "Films" that clearly were just commercials, we headed out for our TWO HOUR long tour of the factory itself. Parts of it were actually really cool. The workfloor itself has 1500 people and 900 ROBOTS. and these robots were putting together cars ALL BY THEMSELVES. And later, there were robots painting cars, and they way that they opened and closed the doors was so gentle and human-like that it freaked me out. 

I also watched factory workers do their thing and was reminded of why I hate factories. Nothing is more depressing than the idea of mindless endless assembly lines. AND I hated studying Lowell. So to combine those ideas in my head I am miserable. Also, I was continually reminded of my tour around Abbot over the summer, except this time it was manual labor on steel rather than scientists working on cells. So similar, but such a difference in interest level and income. I find it fascinating.

Besides from that, though, I'm not sure how much I really got out of the tour. Except half a free diet coke (the bus was coming and we couldn't take the bottles outside of the plant because they recycle them - and I wouldn't?). But yes, intersting to some extent, three-hours worth was excessive. But now I miss driving, and really really want a car! So I guess their propoganda won me over a little? Ah well, I never claimed to be above influencing.

Bis bald