I live in Vauban, a quarter of Freiburg fifteen minutes from the city center. It’s positioning is quite similar to Lakeshore in Madison. A nice, quiet, full spot away from the center of things, but within a stone’s throw. There is one great and magnificent difference between Vauban and Lakeshore, between Freiburg and Madison.
Madison lacks family life. If it doesn’t lack it, it sure doesn’t mesh with student life. I’ve seen perhaps three children my entire time in Madison. Here, I live in an infinite playground. I have to wade through children to get from my door to the train, like pleasantly trudging through the ball bin at your local McDonalds. Not only do I wander through these two feet inhabitants, I scramble through their homes: pirate ships (built to scale, though non-functioning, pirate ships), sand castles, and sliding twirling oscillating contraptions. I live in a small building with students, inside a large complex of nothing but families. This could not be more pleasing to me.
It really is a wonderful neighborhood, full of different people and life. I’m a two minute walk from the cheapest “whole foods” like grocery store in the world. There is a river that runs all around the neighborhood, and operates many water-requiring games and playplaces for the children, of course. There’s always a family (as in, a large group of neighbors, 30 or so multigenerational friends) cooking around a fire. There’s often a crowd of neighbors gathered giving away clothes, books, soup, and chai.
Half of the inhabitants here live in buildings. Apartments. Actual living, built, structures. The other half live in cars, wooden ensembles, and under fabric rain covers.
It’s a fantastical place. 
Madison lacks family life. If it doesn’t lack it, it sure doesn’t mesh with student life. I’ve seen perhaps three children my entire time in Madison. Here, I live in an infinite playground. I have to wade through children to get from my door to the train, like pleasantly trudging through the ball bin at your local McDonalds. Not only do I wander through these two feet inhabitants, I scramble through their homes: pirate ships (built to scale, though non-functioning, pirate ships), sand castles, and sliding twirling oscillating contraptions. I live in a small building with students, inside a large complex of nothing but families. This could not be more pleasing to me.
It really is a wonderful neighborhood, full of different people and life. I’m a two minute walk from the cheapest “whole foods” like grocery store in the world. There is a river that runs all around the neighborhood, and operates many water-requiring games and playplaces for the children, of course. There’s always a family (as in, a large group of neighbors, 30 or so multigenerational friends) cooking around a fire. There’s often a crowd of neighbors gathered giving away clothes, books, soup, and chai.
Half of the inhabitants here live in buildings. Apartments. Actual living, built, structures. The other half live in cars, wooden ensembles, and under fabric rain covers.
It’s a fantastical place.
Homes homes homes.
Vauban.
And for anyone who may be interested:
Benjamin Morris
c/o Academic Year in Freiburg
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität
79085 Freiburg
That goes for anything that is through the post. If something uses a courier service (DHL, etc) you'll need a different address. Also if you ever want to send a package, let me know, certain grounds need to be established to get through customs.
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