Yesterday I dropped by the RWTH Uniklink to donate blood. It's kind of an intimidating building, what with this giant, neon green helipad right out front and all of these Matrix-esque pipes running along the outside of the building. Once I got inside, I could've sworn I was on the set for 2001: A Space Odyssey. The university-run hospital was designed in 1966, so I suppose the old-fashioned futuristic vibe makes sense. Luckily, the blood donation technology was a bit more up-to-date.
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| Greetings from the Starship Uniklinik! |
The process started out like any other time I've donated at the Red Cross in downtown Salem or at a South blood drive. You have to fill out these forms about your drug use, exposure to HIV/AIDS, travel history to malaria-ridden countries, etc. They also asked about Ebola, which was new since I last donated in June, but obviously important and relevant information at this point.
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| The donor center was packed with people trying to get their gute Tat (good deed) in before Christmas. |
After I'd filled out all the forms and had a mini check-up with the clinic doctor, they tested my iron. Unfortunately I was just short of the required amount to donate, which wasn't a huge surprise. It's always been a 50/50 toss if I'll have enough. The doctor still drew a little blood to have on file so I'm cleared to donate come January and gave me the paper with all the iron-rich foods like liver, raisins, and nuts. Then she said I should really just eat some Blutwurst. For some reason the American Red Cross never had that on their Iron Rich Foods list...
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| I guess if you're going to have a crappy bar, you might as well be honest about it. |
Speaking of wurst, I found the "Wurst Bar" in Aachen. It's terrible! Nah, I'm just kidding, but when I saw the sign in the atrium to Flic Flac (a great circus show I saw Sunday night with my soccer team) I couldn't help but chuckle. Flic Flac is Chippendales-meets-Cirque de Soleil-meets-motorcross-meets-German/British clowns-meets-Tron. So pretty unique entertainment to say the least, all underscored by "Tubthumping" from Chumbawamba.
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| The tightrope walker jumping from line to line. |
It was a Christmas circus, which I guess means there were a few angel costumes and they had this whole play on words with the theme of the show, "fire," and the German word for holiday, Feiertag, or as Flic Flac put it, "Firetag." But Christmas is almost here! It's said way too often, but right now it's so true: 2014 has flown by.
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| O Tannenbaum! |
Only one more door is left unopened in the advent calendar house, the tree has been professionally decorated by my host brother and me, and I can smell cranberry chutney brewing in the kitchen. Christmas time is cozy time. I hope everyone's having a safe and memorable holiday season wherever you may be this year!