Glücklicher Sonntag!

One-Sentence Summary: I went to a German church service this morning and am excited to start my research this week.

Happy Sunday! This morning I woke up early, opened my window, and heard the church bells ringing. It was a delightful way to start the day. Since I’ve been here, I haven’t needed my alarm clock, which is not typical for me. The sun rises around 5 AM, so regardless of the hours I sleep, I feel very awake at 8 AM. Then the sun sets around 10 PM, giving me more hours of daylight than I’m used to. I can’t imagine living here in the winter when there’s only 8 or so hours of daylight. Good thing I’m here in the summer! The bells I heard this morning were playing from St. Martinus, an Evangelical-Lutheran Kirche (church) only 100 m down the block from where I live. I walked there for the 10 AM service not really knowing what to expect. The entire service was in German and felt very traditional. As I sat on the wooden pew, I felt like the pastor was Martin Luther who would post his 95 Theses on the door after his message. The service did remind me how much I miss hearing the organ. Surprisingly, the only part of the service I understood was the Latin “Sanctus Dominus” in one of the hymns. Now I know why 4 years of Latin was so important.

This is my one good picture from church because I didn’t want to be an obnoxious tourist during the service. I think it’s pretty representative of the rest of the church and maybe the service too. At first I didn’t know what these numbers were, but I figured it out pretty quickly. Anyone think they know? I’ll post the answer in my next blog. This will be some traditional German church trivia for you. =D


My first day at work on Friday went very well. I am researching at the Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf). The edge of campus is 100 m in the opposite direction of the church, so everything important is easily within walking distance. My “work” on Friday consisted of getting acquainted with the other lab members and going through official paperwork and such. When I was getting my medical clearance, the doctor asked me a series of questions, such as “Do you smoke? Do you drink? Do you have HIV?” When she asked me, “Do you take anti-baby pills?” I had to pause to think about what anti-baby pills are. The question caught me a little off-guard, so I had to ask “Like birth control pills?” And she said “Ah, yes, birth control pills.” Haha anti-baby pills. I’ve never heard it called that before, but now I know. No, I’m not on anti-baby pills.

This is one of the entrances for an older UKE building. It is built in the style of many other Hamburg-Eppendorf buildings. Some people compare the red brick buildings to those in Boston. UKE is growing quickly though. Just like at Stanford, there are construction sites around campus for buildings that will house new programs or centers. But I would have to say that Stanford definitely has more cranes and more noise from construction than UKE. When I get a chance to walk over, I’ll post a picture of the entrance to the newer medical center. For now, we can enjoy the “classic” UKE look.

I have been getting enough rest and staying healthy. Thank you for praying. I forgot to mention this in my last post, but I did not have my checked-in suitcase my first night because Lufthansa did not put it onto my LA to Frankfurt flight. However, it was delivered safely on Friday morning, so now I have clothes. Praise God! My first day in the lab went very smoothly, and I’m excited to start my first full week tomorrow. Please pray that I would be making friends, learning enough German to survive, and safety as I explore more of the city. Also, I would appreciate prayer for a family friend who I found out is in the hospital and my future Stanford roommate (noomie!) whose summer plans fell through. Phew, this was a long post. Thanks for reading!

I recited Psalm 36:6-10 in German at church today:

Deine Gerechtigkeit steht wie die Berge Gottes und dein Recht wie eine große Tiefe. HERR, du hilfst Menschen und Vieh. (Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.)

Wie teuer ist deine Güte, Gott, daß Menschenkinder unter dem Schatten deiner Flügel Zuflucht haben! (How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.)

Sie werden trunken von den reichen Gütern deines Hauses, und du tränkest sie mit Wonne als mit einem Strom. (They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.)

Denn bei dir ist die Quelle des Lebens, und in deinem Licht sehen wir das Licht. (For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.)

Breite deine Güte über die, die dich kennen, und deine Gerechtigkeit über die Frommen. (Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.)