This place is wonderful. The University is wonderful. So wonderful, it was rated the top (top as in Nummer Ein) University in Germany by the Times Higher Education for the year 2010. In fact, it's so wonderful here they have produced 44 Nobel Prize Laureates (the highest ever in any European cities—minus Stockholm). Wunderbar is German for wonderful. Like the chocolate bar invention of Cadbury (Sad fact: Cadbury has been bought over by Kraft—The American Food Giant), Wunderbar (also known as Star Bar in some parts of the world)!.
I suppose then that because of the No 1 rating along with numerous Nobel Laureates originating from this small city, they get to charge tuition fees in the coming year. Quite a big sum too in comparison with other cities. Not entirely sure why but will dig further real soon.
Although established in 1734, it isn't the oldest out there. Not even listed in the Top 10 of oldest universities in Germany. Still, there are more Nobel Laureates to brag about no? Who cares how old the place is anyway. *Pft
But enough with that, today I dropped by the AStA (Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss or General Student Council) building around the corner at Goßlerstraße 16a to get my bike fixed up. Here you can get free advice, address your frustrations (or questions) about the semesterticket and/or even get a loan. And of course, to get help with your bicycle, which was my intent.
Known as the Autonome Fahrradwerkstatt (Autonomous Bicycle Workshop). The actual workshop is located at the basement of the building. But most of the repairs are taken care of out in the open, right next to the building. The man who runs this place is an opa named Andy. One of the nicest Germans I have met too. Speaks English and has a funny principle of never ever buying a bicycle from a supermarket like Real, or any for that matter. So Der Mann had a look at my bike, asked a few questions (quite the doctor) and diagnosed the problems. Principle two was never to buy a bicycle from the Arabs (or Turks and Lebanese to be exact), due to a prime example (my case) of how a bicycle could be problematic within a week of purchase. Now the fault is that the bottom bracket used was too short causing the gears not to shift correctly because the frontal gears were too close to the frame. The solution was of course, to replace it (bottom bracket), at a cost.
At the end of the day other problems like a bended rear axle used in the construction of the bicycle was noted. No way I could have seen that coming if not for taking off the rear wheel and feeling it at a certain angle like the bike mechanic had shown me. I guess it's my own blardy fault in the end to have bought it from a person who put a bicycle together at his own home. Either that or he's Lebanese. Can't seem fair though since I have bought a bike from a man who fixes bicycles up from home in Holland. And it is still running pretty well. So it must be that I have bought it from a Lebanese and the fact that he put it together himself. Tomorrow will tell as Andy was smart enough to have suggested calling him up for repairs or reimbursement and to which, he agreed to fix the problem himself (scary thought somewhat).
Having gone through all that trouble for an old man, Andy was kind enough to decline payment. Which of course, I took it to heart for coming back in the future to somehow perhaps, help the business, when my bicycle really needed repairs. I somehow believe it to be rather soon. Doubt the visit tomorrow to the home-based Lebanese mechanic would be fruitful.
No comments:
Post a Comment