Dora's exciting trip to Ikea

Today I went to Ikea. By myself, and without a car. Ikea isn't really designed for a lone visit; it's a big, intimidating place, which requires moral support. It's also not designed to be visited on foot. Trekking through the car park felt like taking my life into my own hands. I also got really lost. On the way there, I was fine. On the way back I decided it would be clever to go a different way even though I didn't know where I was, and as anyone would predict I got very lost, carrying my Ikea bag and trying to look like I knew where I was going as I traipsed up and down residential streets. I didn't want to ask for directions...that's not my style. The station turned up eventually and it had definitely moved.

Ikea itself wasn't bad at all. I think it's the one place which is just as confusing in England as it is in Germany, because everything's already Swedish anyway. Sadly, Ikea don't take Visa or Maestro card, and the cash point there didn't like my cards. So I ended up with only 30 euros to spend. This meant I had to put back three amazing purchases that I didn't have any money to pay for; a fluffy rug, a retro alarm clock and a small heart-shaped rug that was definitely aimed at children. Sad times. I'd planned where to put them and everything.

So Ikea wasn't as successful a trip as I'd hoped but at least I have my own bedding now and at least I know where to find the place. Once my new free travel pass starts working on Friday, I'll be able to go back any time I want for free so I can go reclaim the items I couldn't have today.

I have successfully joined the Bochum Ruhr Universitaet now. But I still need to buy another ticket to get free travel all over Nordrhein-Westfalen. Despite what the British Council say, this doesn't seem to be inclusive in the price of joining uni. Warum muss alles so kompliziert sein?! Who designed Germany, anyway? I want to inform them that I could have done a better job.

Dora.
xxx