Somebody's gotta make a beer run

We went to another neighbor party. This time we were actually, personally invited to, in advance, so it seemed like they actually wanted us to come. Our downstairs neighbor Matti is going to the University of Michigan for a year and this was his going away party.

Our gifts to Matti: a bottle of wine (obligatory German party gift) and a laminated map of Michigan and Wisconsin from an old National Geographic. We also let Matti and his girlfriend Saskia borrow our defaced American flag to use as a decoration. Saskia said that the holes we'd cut into it made it a lot easier to hang off the banister.

And the party went as most German-speaking parties do, in other words, awkward. I tried to make small talk in German with the other neighbors there and one with of Matti's friends from out of town. Brian sat nearby, kind of following along and talking to me or anyone nearby who wanted to work on their English. We did have the special distinction of being the only actual Americans at this party in honor of the host's going to America. We could have had a little booth with a sign saying "real Americans - ask us a question, only 10 cents". Someone wanted to know why Michigan's teams are named for a wolverine, which is not a very scary animal and doesn't actually live in Michigan. We also had to explain how a gopher is different from a groundhog, and describe various positions in American football.

Matti is studying law, so most of his friends are lawyers, or will be soon. They are not the slick, swaggering, courtroom-dominating kind of lawyers. They are the nerdy kind. They are the kind that  review contracts and never leave their desks. Add in the fact that they are German and what you get a bunch of not very outgoing people. But even nerdy lawyers like to drink beer. At about 8:30, the supply was already running low. A fatal German party flaw - everyone brings wine but drinks beer.

So we, as Americans, offered to go on a beer run. But, being German, Saskia said 'no, no, it'll be fine, don't worry, we'll manage'. Matti said the same thing, but with a little less resolve. So we started to insist. The breaking point was when Brian said to Matti, "Quit being so German and let us go buy you some beer"(a nerdy lawyer nearby thought this was hilarious). Going on a beer run is a thing that Americans will do for their friends. No one wants to be at a party when the beer is gone by 9pm.

And, honestly, it was nice to have a break from the party. A hot, crowded apartment where you don't know any of the guests and they all speak a foreign language can be too much. Plus, we had a job to do. As Brian and I walked down the street, each of us holding one side of the case, we were saving Matti's party. Or at least we were delaying the point at which the nerdy lawyers would start uncorking the wine they brought.