Ich bin ein Hachenburger

We've left the familiarity of Brussels to find a much better place: Hachenburg. Its a tiny little town in the west of Germany, and home of the University of the Bundesbank. We had some seminars on Friday, including one that our group presented on NOrth American Monetary Union. Unfortunately the one the Germans gave was a piece of junk. Basicallz she explained what the European Union was, and that it has different member states... WOW. good thing we found that out now that we've been on this tour for two weeks, visiting all the institutions of the union.

Anyway, short of the grouchiness, its a very beautiful place, we're staying in a castle, and the beer is ridiculouslz cheap, so everyone is super happy. We went for a Rhine cruise today, which set a relaxing pace which we reallzy needed after weeks of lectures. We will be very sad to leave for Frankfurt on Monday. The bus trip here was a total gong show, because our driver was extremely surly and we had way too much luggage to fit properly. He redeemed himself though, by saving our skins driving past another bus on a one lane road. HARROWING!!! I am also happy to be out of Brussels so that I will never again have to eat at Sultans of Kebab, which I almost throw up in every time I smell it, but at least its cheap. Here we have super high quality German dorm food. Tonight: Stroganoff.

A delegation from the Chinese central bank was here last night, and the got SUPER drunk, and began singing traditional Chinese songs in the bar, which invited competition from the Canadian delegation. I actually think the Germans were quite overwhelmed. Unfortunatelz thez didn't spill the beans on when they will revalue the Yuan. Unfortunatelz internet access is very verz poor from Hachenburg, despite being an applied science university, so my updates have been and may remain sporadic.