The Weekend

I'm sitting here in my swimsuit on because I am supposed to be going swimming this afternoon but I don't know when we're leaving so for now I will start writing...

Saturday at 1:00 we had to take Toby to the train station in Ingolstadt cuz he was off to visit his other grandparents. But we came to the city in the morning. We went to the "bike fleamarket" to look for my bike. The average price of a used bike was about 80 euros. But I found one (w/ out any overtly bad features) for 45 euros. Its pink, and its called a "Nevada". I don't know much about bikes but we thought it was good. It should do the trick. SO now, I HAVE BIKE:) I named it schlowmy schlumpf. (i have no idea how its really spelled. its means "brainy smurf") which, since friday has become Hanna and my word. After I got my bike we headed to the library to look for a book that I could read for college credit. I was looking for a classic German book in English. No such luck finding one, which isn't so surprising. I doubt many libraries in US have Charles dickens and Shakespeare in any other language but English. But the librarian spent a lot of time trying to help us.
After the library we took Toby to the bahnhof and saw him off.
Sonja reminded me that that afternoon here cousin and a friend of her cousins were coming to stay for a few days. They, two women around 40, arrived around 4. I also forgot to mention that a boy from chuch was staying for 2 weeks while his parents are away. He's 14. Anyways, I asked him, and the girls if they wanted to ride bike with me. So we went for a ride past the field and into the woods and around to another village. My bike says it's "all terrain" and that's exactly what we did. I have to admit I had a lot of fun riding around, I felt like a kid too :) Mirjam wanted to predend our bikes were horses. I guess I should say we rode our horses around. The weather was perfect and has remained so. Like seriously perfect!!
After dinner I watched the german equivalent of candid camera on tv with the kids and then went into the kitchen and chatted with the adults for a while. It was a good day.
Sunday was good too. We went to Church. And of course I had to go through the dreaded 45 min. after the service when everybody is visiting. I hate it so much. It makes me miss my church. But o well.
After church we rode our bikes to a dairy farm in a nearby village that was having an open house and my host parents were selling ice cream there. For lunch I finally had the infamous Bavarian specialty of "white sausage". It was ok...not the best but then again I didn't have it with the traditional sauce. lol. The cousin and her friend wanted to see some sights in the area and asked me if I would like to come along. Since I don't believe in passing up any opportunity to go somewhere while I'm here I agreed. We went to a berg, about 20 km away, on a hill that overlooked the Danube/Rhine canal or something like that. In any case, the view was gorgeous!!!
We took a tour of the berg and then had coffee at the cafe on the hill. Then we drove another 5 minutes to a hiking place. I will say again the weather was perfect. We hiked a little ways to a cave and took a tour of the cave. It was pretty interesting and cold. It was a pleasant afternoon. We ate supper around 7, then played dutch blitz and another game which they call "menno-poker". That was fun too. And we stopped a little before 11 then I went to bed to get my rest for the work week ahead.

Friday night and I have nothing better to do...

I'm finding myself rather bored right now, so I have not excuse but to write. It's pretty pathetic considering it's a friday night. The kids are watching tv, I don't really enjoy watching things I cant understand. Last night I did watch the german equivalent of americas funniest home videos, and mr. bean.
This should be one of the few weekends where I have nothing. Cuz I will plan to travel and sara and catarina will be back from their vacation. But I can't help feeling a little sad knowing the dutch trainees are all in Amsterdam for the weekend and I'm sitting in my room. Tomorrow we do have plans to find me a bike(hopefully, since there is some bike flea market going on) and some english books at the library. I have to read books about germany or something to get credit for EMU.
Wedesday and Thursday work was spent cleaning the house in the morning and up the stuff for making the ice cream in the afternoon. But yesterday before I cleaned in the afternoon Mirjam, her friend Anna and Hanna first rode bike around the fields and then rode to Dekendorf(the bigger town nearby) to get a few groceries. I enjoyed that.
The majority of my workday today was spent cutting apples and making apple sauce to freeze to make apple ice cream this autumn. My left shoulder is killing me right now from cutting and using that shoulder more in general with all the manual labour that I'm not used to doing so much of.
Speaking of manual labour, while cleaning yesterday I was thinking about how people say that even with mindless jobs you can learn the value of hard work. But what really is that value?? I don't really know... except that working is part of a successful life and that you should accept it. And I don't know why I just shared this. ha.
Anyways I'm going to stop because my arm needs a rest.

It's getting better all the tiiiimme...

my german is... I think. I don't know what else to put for a title .

This week so far has been good. The work not to intense.
I am really enjoying my family. It's been good getting to know them and we have fun talking with each other. Yesterday, Sonja and I cuz a billion strawberries but the whole time one or all the kids were there chatting and laughing. Hanna is really so funny. She's is always chirpy and hyperactive but not in an obnoxious way.
They are trying really hard to help me with my German cuz they know I really want to learn it.
Two nights ago Hanna had me read a couple childrens books to her. Yesterday we went to the bookstore and bought the books I will need for the classes in Sept. But meanwhile they are going to give me a headstart in them. While cutting strawberries Sonja made me spell a bunch of words in German and then count to 100. I feel like such a little kid doing basic things like counting. Its kinda funny.
Today after lunch the 3 kids and I went for a bike ride around the fields. We raced at the end and I pretty exhausted now. But it was fun. I really want my own bike.

Photo Journalism :)

We made it!!!
The Intermenno 07-08 Group My New German Friends in Nuremberg
Sara's Car! The best way to get around Germany:)
Uno with Mirjam and Hanna.

More pictures to come...it takes forever to load

First Unhappy Day (well half-day)

Yesterday was the first time since arriving in Europe that I was truly unhappy/grumpy/depressed. Not that I haven't had moments before but they didn't last so long. I felt this way I think, first of all, was because I am supposed to have weekends off. But they had me doing the dishes, and picking strawberries in the morning. Friday night Sonja's brother and family came to visit from east Germany and were here for the weekend. So lunchtime they were as well as her sister and her family from southern Bavaria. Also the last member of the showalters (Hanna 10 came home from camp) I guess I felt lonely then and bitter because I was working. But after cleaning the kitchen after lunch and a pissy phone call to my parents the day got better.
The relatives were all very nice and the kids (6 of them all under 11 were all very cute). Her brother and family have been to the states a lot and has friends in Lancaster. And her sister is planning a trip to the US for next year.
So the afternoon was relaxed and I was feeling fine. At six I went with Sonja to one of the many fests. This particular one was at a held by a brewery. They were there to sell their ice cream. I didn't do much the except look around. But I really love the atmosphere. It just what you would imagine a German/Bavarian festival to be like w/ LOTS OF beer, pretzels, music, leaderhosen, and driedel(i think thats what the girls wear or not(but i really want some!)), and happy people. But was just a spectator and didn't feel so much a part of it. But I'm looking forward to going to some just to be there. Anyways, I was only there for maybe an hour. And I did get to try the beer ice cream they made special for this event. It was good. It tasted like...um... beer.
Today was hanna's birthday so after breakfast she opened her presents. Shes a crazy one. (in a good way) She makes me laugh even though she doesn't speak English too much. Then I went to church. After the church service is probably when i am most out of my comfort zone. Because everyone is talking and I don't really know people and I can't speak with most of them. But the people are nice I think. Today a family invited me over for the day. Because Rolf and Sonja were busy selling ice cream. They lived in Ethiopia so they spoke English very well. They have 2 girls 13 and 15 that i was with and also a girl who is 6 who drew me a picture :) We played dominoes and watched Harry Potter. It was little difficult to make conversation sometimes but overall i enjoyed my day withthem.
I have found certain things that make me smile (to myself). Random things that make me happy for a moment and again when I think about them. Some of these things being: When the 12 year old daughter and her friend say"shit" and "damn" when its just us. When the grandma is talking to me in German (i have no idea what she says) then drops names like "Lancaster" or "lampeter" "shoe-fly pie", or "stoltzfus meats" and just nod my head, yea i know it. And today when the 6 year-old had fake cannabis leaves decorating the outside of her door (I'm sure they didn't think about it). These and other things are just amusing to me. And I have to find entertainment when I often have no idea what's going on.

I Don't Know Sheisse.

I just finished lunch. We ate potato pancakes and appelsauce. I always thought it was a jewish food but they said it was traditional german. Well maybe it's both. Whatever, it was good. Meals times are nice. We all eat together, usually the grandparents are there too. The grandparents are sweet but they speak little english. But thats good for me and my German.
So maybe you're wondering how my German is going. I feel like I haven't learned much yet but I'm definatly learning. I think maybe I should have them speak more German to me. I still get a praise everytime I use German. I like to think I know more than I do. For example, at the store the clerk asked me if I needed help. I just asked what, thinking that if they repeated it I could understand. But I really don't know much. Thats happened several times. I think I should have the look on my face trademarked (The face of me when someone says something in German). It's kinda funny, but mostly I just look stupid.
I am enjoying getting to know my family. Although the one girl is still away at camp and I haven't met her yet. Last night I was showing them pictures on the computer and showed them facebook and tried to explain it to them. I spend a lot of time with them. Especially Sonja cuz she is usualy the one showing me my work and helping me with it. Then when I do the work (mostly cleaning) next time it will be by myself. I don't really have to much routine work yet except for doing the dishes and watering plants. Then once a week I will clean the house.
I thought I had a room to myself but apparently a zillion mosquitoes had already made it thier home. This morning I counted over 25 bites on my arms, 3 on my head, and at least 10 on my legs which have accumulated since I've been here. While I'm talking about bugs I will mention the slugs here are huge! Like the ones in Oregon (maybe bigger).
I'm sorry my writing isn't the most chronological or coherant. There's a lot more I could write about but I don't. If you want to know about something just ask. I want to put pictures on but it doesn't work. But I will keep trying to figure that out.

My whereabouts of the past 7 days.

Has it only been seven days!? I suppose it has. It feels like much more since I have done so many things. Maybe you want to know everything, but there is so much to say... but I will do my best. Sorry for if you were hoping to hear more sooner but really I have not had that many chances. I finaly made it to a point where there was internet and an a suitable adapter.

So anyways....Part 1

I arrived at the airport as anxious as ever. I met my group there. We flew Martin Air ("the other dutch airline") into Amsterdam. In toronto one of the Intermenno commitee members met us and gave us the tickets. He was only there to give the tickets but he was not on our flight. I eventually said goodbye to my family and finally in the air! On the plane I was thinking about how independant I am. I'm not used to it. But I love it!! In Amsterdam I got my many bags right away. No one had problems. The Dutch intermenno people met us there and got us on the but to Mennorode, the retreat center it elspeet. By then it was 6 in the morning... that whole day I only was able to sleep an hour cuz they wanted us to get over jetlag. It was though. But i made it then I was fine.
The time spent at Mennorode, without going into too much detail involved orientation meetings, various activities, a talent show/party and all the while getting to know the group. It was a good time. I'm looking forward to our next times together and hopefully some traveling together. I love my gr0up. And it feels pretty good to be in a group of mennonites and have more than 2 or 3 degrees of separation between them.
The commitee leaders are really nice and they are very organized. I felt satisfied with the info they provided in the orientation.
Friday we took all our luggage and the German/Swiss people headed off on the train. People got off at different places along the way. I traveled with others to Frankfurt and from there I was on my own. I was nervous as heck because I had to find my way with all my bags with me. I switched trains once though. The others of the group who are in Germany are much closer to eachother and I am rather isolated. I'm the only one in Baveria. So I was a little disappointed about that. But I think things will be okay.

Part 2....

As soon as I got off the train my host mom sonja met found me with all my luggage. Mirjam (12) was also there to pick me up. I arrived at the house and met Rolf and was given a tour and shown my room after dinner. I was exhausted and I went to bed at 8.
I will try to describe the house now: First of all, its in the small village of Dorndorf. Its on a farm. But its not the farm house that anyone in the US would think of. Its right in the village then all the land it behind it. The house is nice and big and is attached to the grandparents house. My room is the coolest cuz it has a shower and sink in it! The house is on one side of the driveway and the tiny icecream shop on the other.

Sunday we went to the church in Ingolstadt. They even had someone translate the whole service for me! The church is about 100 people I guess. I was told that a lot were away on "holidays". A girl my age from the congregagtion, sarah, invited me to her house for chocolate fondue with another friend, catarina. I went that evening and had a really good time. I think we will be good friends.
Monday I began working. They had me weed strawberries, water plants, cut flowers and help make lunch. I also went to get work papers and pictures for the visa.
Tuesday I woke up and ate breakfast at 8 and expectedd to begin working as the day before. But Sarah called asking if I wanted to go shopping w/ her and Catarina in Nuremberg. I said I wanted to go but only if it was ok. But they said i could go. I guess its pretty pathetic taking a day off on my second day but it was how it worked out. It was my first big german city. It was relaxing. But Sarah decided she maybe could find the dress she was looking for at miss sixty and we had to ask like 10 people before someone knew. But it was worth it cuz she did find a dress there and the worker there was very helpful and very gay. It was fun. The whole day was very nice. I'm glad she invited me.

Finaly I am at today... So today began with breakfast then several hours of picking strawberries. Something I'm not a stranger to. Then I saw a little bit of the ice cream being made, which i will probably help more w/ later. Then Mirjam, Toby, and I took Lucky for his daily walk around the fields. Then I helped prepare lunch and a few other little jobs. We're making apple sauce at 3 and I think I need a little siesta now.

"What am I doing?"

My intention for this trip is to keep an online journal for those few who may care to know what I am doing. So here it is. This journal has to start somewhere and this seemed to be a good time...(sitting on my bed at the radisson hotel by the airport in toronto.) Tomorrow I fly out of that airport and will be in Amsterdam the next morning.
Since february so much of my time has been devoted to thinking about, planning, and explaining and discussing with others what I will be doing. I'm weary of that now and I just want to go. At least I am all packed and have been since last wednesday since we took a little Canada family vacation before hand, which was probably one of my family's smarter moves. My last moments with them are not then spent being stressed about packing and keeping w/in the weight limit (which proved to be a big challenge).
So maybe I should write about my feelings about this trip. I'm excited and of course a little aprehensive. But honestly I just want to go and experience it, I've done enough imagining it. I will try to sleep tonight but as tired of thinking about it as I am, it probably won't stop me now that I am finally less than 24 hours away!! So here it goes...