YOOO: You Only Oktoberfest Once

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. For a brief introduction to our time in Munich, see the photo slideshow below.

Clearly, that says it all, but if you'd like some ACTUAL words to sum up one of the best weekends of our lives, here it goes....YOOO was out mantra for the weekend: we only had one chance at Oktoberfest, and it HAD to be done right. Friday morning was our first full day, and thanks to the always reliable (well, sometimes) word of mouth and the handy dandy Oktoberfest iPhone app, we believed the beer tents opened at 9 am. So, obviously, we arrived at 7. There are lots of different tents, but the Hofbrau tent is where 99.9% of all American college students studying abroad take up residence for the weekend, so naturally, we flocked there first. The guards literally herded us like animals- they blew a whistle and all of a sudden hundreds of American college students eager for beer and a good time shuffled all around the tent to at least 3 different entrances until finally they let us settle at one. Since we were at the front, we were in the worst mosh pit EVER. Seriously, none of us could breathe and/or move. The doors to the tent opened towards the crowd and everyone got a little too up close and personal- hands were crushed, tears were shed, but then we were finally in- no damage was done that one nice, giant, liter beer (or two, or three....) couldn't fix.

Everyone settled at tables and Penn took over an entire section of the tent. Seriously, ALL of Penn abroad in Europe was here (in addition all camp friends, home friends, Hebrew school friends, home friends' best camp friends, etc.). It was like a frat party on steroids. In order to be served, everyone at your table had to be sitting, so for the first half hour all of us were sitting patiently at our tables waiting for the beer to come out. Soon, giant German beer ladies wearing wrist guards started plowing through the crowds delivering beer to all of the tables (they literally carried 10 beers at once, and the glasses were HEAVY *plus they were filled with the liquid equivalent of 4 beers each*) and shortly thereafter, the chaos ensued. Happy, fun, crazy, beer-infused chaos. And this is where the pictures need to do the talking... Here's a few more.

 

Day 2 was no different- wake up early, wait on line, settle at tables, drink, chaos. And obviously of importance to mention in all of this, is the food. If I never see another pretzel again for the rest of my semester, I think I'll be fine. All day, other waitresses come around carrying baskets of GIANT soft pretzels, donuts, pickles, shnitzel sandwiches, and cheesy bread and then others with plates of mac & cheese, rotisserie chicken, sauerkraut, and sausage. There is nothing better than drunk eating mac & cheese at 10 am.... Seriously, YOOO.

Note to parents: This was truly a cultural experience. 75% of Oktoberfest attendees are German. This is their culture. And oh, what a culture it is....

On our last day, we also got the chance to explore Munich, which some may consider a more "cultural" experience (debateable...) than Oktoberfest. We walked around Marienplatz--the central square of München, as it is known in Germany--exploring the streets, visiting the Munich Jewish Museum, seeing the New Town Hall, St. Peter's Church, and the city's oldest park, the Hofgarten, and window shopping in all the stores (that are also all closed on Sundays- womp). Now, for some pictures of tamer times. 

All in all, this weekend was one for the record books. It has taught me never to take advantage of the time you spend with your friends all in one place, because we won't all be reunited again for months. Laughs were had, tears were shed, too many beers were consumed, glasses were broken, glasses were stolen, ten kids were successfully shoved into 2 hotel rooms intended for six, and memories were made. It was an unforgettable weekend, to say the least, even if we don't remember it all. You Only Oktoberfest Once, and if you do it right, once is definitely enough.