PICTURES!! as well as a written update.

I had every intention of writing more last week but I was having issues signing in. Maybe I wasn't but I thought I was. Anyways, I won't explain because it works now and that is all that matters...

So it takes forever and a day to upload pictures on this thing and I realized that I can just make a link to my facebook album. Perhaps I should be more private with so many pictures but I can't think of a good reason why. They aren't the type that would come back to haunt me if I ever ran for president or something. Anyways, I will shut-up and just give the links:



Change of plans (6-10-2007) I don't like the idea of having all pictures available to everyone...so if you want to see them DONT HESITATE to ask and i will email the link :)



The rest of the week was good. I spent Wednesday with Ruth and Benny and Timmy. The majority of my time there was spent baking cupcakes so it was an enjoyable time. It's a little difficult there only because it is new and I have to get to know Ruth, the house, the kids, and just how she wants things done, just as I had to do at the Schowalters. This just moves more slowly as I have only been there twice. But even this past week I notice a big difference from the week before.
I found myself in the most cheerful of moods on Friday--the weekend. And people were arriving that evening. I picked the first trainee up at 16:00 in Ingolstadt(25 min drive on the Autobahn). We waited for anther who came around 18 then had to drive home, take two vehicles and go back and get the rest who were all coming at different times. At around 19:30 we had 6 out of 8 so we drove to the Old city of Ingolstadt to grab some food and drink while we waited. We had some issues finding parking but I won't get into that. Anyways, some wanted to go home because they were tired. So mitch half home while I waited with jason for jessica and sarah jane to arrive. Sarah jane didn't get in till after midnight.
So for this weekend I hosted 8 trainees. 4 dutch, 1 swiss , and 3 german all drawn to Oktoberfest. They stayed at my place Friday and saturday night. Saturday morning we took the 9:30 train from Ingolstadt to Munich. We arrived in time to catch some of the opening day parade. We then walked to the Oktoberfest grounds.
First of all let me explain how it all works. Oktoberfest is only in Munich. It starts in September yes, and goes on till the second week in October. It like a big fair only the highlight are the tents. And beer is ONLY served in the tents. And you must be seated in one to be served. Once you are seated you have to buy at least 2 litres of beer(in those really sweet 1 litre mugs) and a meal. so around 25 EUROS. So that is the ultimate Oktoberfest goal. But...since it is the biggest volksfest/beerfest in the world its really difficult to get a place in the tent. Especially opening day...SO since we went on opening day that was a pretty unrealistic goal. But we were able to stand inside the one tent at exactly 12 and where we counted down to the mayor of Munich tapping the keg. The official start of Oktoberfest--the beer can now be served.
After we saw this special event. We decided to split our group of 9 into groups of 3 since small groups are always better for maneuvering about. Of course all 3 groups went to find beer elsewhere. I, Angie, and Jayne found ours in a nearby grocery store. We sat on the hill facing the festival ,along with many others, and watched the people go by. Then we thought it would be a good time to ride on the really high swing ride. After 4 euro, very short, but so worth it ride. We had enough of that and we decided to visit the nearby cathedral and climb it's tower.
Then we walked to the English Gardens. We didn't get very far into the park when we had to head off to the meeting point with the others. The planned event for the evening was a concert which was the main reason for having the trip to begin with. The band is called Architecture in Helsinki. I never heard of them before. But that didn't stopped me from dancing and thoroughly enjoying the concert.
The next day we took our time in the morning. I had to make to trip Ingolstadt which was a bit of a pain but whatever(I'm definatly mastering stick-shift and the no-speed-limit autobahn).
4 trainees had to leave on Sunday and the others were staying over night in Munich so I remained with them and didn't have to leave till 0:30 when the last trian for Ingolstadt left. The afternoon was spent visiting Dachau work/concentration camp, which is located between Ingolstadt and Munich. We stayed there till it closed then took the train to Munich where we searched for some food. Everyone was in the mood for a good old-fashioned american burger, so on the way Angie whipped out her handy-dandy Lonely Planet guide to Munich for an American Restaurant. There was only one-but it was a good one! We hung around there for the rest of the evening. Well acctually Jane and Angie went back to Oktoberfest to ride the ferris wheel. But we met them again at the train station where I would catch my train back.
On the way back there, in my car there were less half-passed liederhosen wearing people like the night before. But I was with a group of still very much alive drunk people drinking and singing drinking songs very loudly. It just makes me smile though...only in Germany. I sat next to a german man who I chatted a bit with in German! I don't think he was drunk but then again he did ask me 4 times how long I'd been in Germany. I like to think that it was only because he was really that impressed that my Germany was so good for only being here 6 weeks. But I made it home safe and sound around 2.
The next morning it was back to work. My host parents had a super busy weekend...selling eis at 3 different fests. That only meant one thing for me, over 100 boxes to clean. But, in all honesty, I don't mind it that much as far as jobs go.
Today I cleaned the downstairs, made lunch, cleaned the eis kitchen, and drove Hanna to her friends house. For supper there was a different sausage on the table and I thought I'd give it a try. It seemed like it should have been cooked, it was like I was eating raw ground beef. Thank God I only took a small piece. I didn't ask because I didn't want to know what it really was. Some sausage here is really good, some is like not. But theres no doubt, there is a lot of it here. After supper, Sonja and I spent a lot, or it seemed like, a lot of time studying German. It's really nice of her to spend the time with me. Sometimes I don't feel like doing it, but I am very thankful that I do.
Before I stop I will leave you with two inter-language jokes mitch pointed out this weekend--
-You can "du" someone once you are on a first name basis
-On a menu it said a "dose"(amount) of beer--so my prescribed dose of beer is....
well never mind it's kind of hard to explain written.
YA NA...Tchussssssss

Working for the weekend

I want to write. But I think it may be short because I can't make my break too long today.
Friday Mirjam, Hanna, and I took the train to Neustadt. On Sunday there is a Mennonite gathering that was happening in a town nearby and it worked out so the girls could go there on Sunday and stay with thier cousins in Neustadt friday and saturday night. They wanted me to come and then I could stay with Rebecca, another trainee who happens to be in the same town. So I did just that. The train there was nearly 4 hours. I assumed the girls would bring an overabundance of things to do on the train as they were very excited about the journey. But they didn't bring anything...games, nothing. So most of the way was very boring and quiet. Except the last hour we gained some energy and managed to entertain ourselves with hanna's stuffed hedgehog, my mp3 player, and camera; we made a video of the hedgehog dancing to the music.
So often I have not idea what exactly is going on becuase of my inability to understand the conversation around me. This weekend was no exception. I had no idea how I was getting to Rebeccas or what. But the girls aunt met us at the station and then took me to Rebecca's place: "Heidehof", the family actually has a name for thier dairy farm/house. Impressive...ha.
The next day we rode the bikes into neustadt and explored the town. In the afternoon we entertained ourselves with a website rebecca discovered that has like every tv show you can watch. O how i missed my american tv!!! That night we went to a winefest(the biggest in the world, at least thats what i was told) We went with a girl she had met through her family. As well as a few others. It was a good time. Very crowded though. But I musn't complain as I plan to go to Oktoberfest this weekend. Although everywhere else in Germany the drink is beer, in this region(the Pfalzs) its all about the wine.
Sunday we went to the special Mennonite service. We went to the teen service where I met up with Catarina and Sarah who were my ride back to Doerndorf. Lunch was there and we didn't get to leave till around 3:30. We stopped at McDonalds on the way home...oh mcdonalds...food i only appreciate when i am NOT in North America! :)
Monday work day was spent all in the kitchen, preparing fruit for the ice cream. I was pretty moody the whole day but of course I here i try to hide it. But I decided to myself that after work I would ride bike to the Edeka grocery store. since 1. I. needed to buy things, and 2. i wanted to excercise 3. it was really nice outside and only for that day. But when I told Mirjam of my plans she told me that we would drive to the store on the way to pick up hanna from clarinet lessons. NO!! But she made me do this. I was already moody and the best thing was for some alone time and I couldn't have it. Really there was no reason for me to come along. I was a little peeved and still a tad bitter.
This morning I cleaned the ice cream trailor and shop. This afternoon I clean some inside then also the ice cream kitchen. Busy, busy. In my spare time I've been trying to work out plans for the weekend which I'm super excited for. I think it makes things worse, not better when there something I'm really looking foward to in the near future. O well. I must go now.

My week

I'm not sure where to start since it's been several days or more since I've written. I guess I'll start with Sunday not that it was anything so eventful...At church I had a translator once again. The sermon was good, I think the pastor is pretty original and thought provoking although I've only heard two sermons from him so far. Sara and Catarina were finally back from Espana. So I could talk to them, although they were busy making plans for this coming weekend for some youth event 20o km away which I will be not going to, but getting a ride back with them on Sunday.
Monday was Hanna's birthday party which she decided to have Playmobil Land. If you don't know playmobil open a new window and google it cuz i don't feel like explaining it. I can tell you that it's similar to Lego and huge for Germans under the age of 10. Playmobil Land would have defiantly been heaven on earth for me...10 years ago. It doesn't have rides like an amusement park but places to play. I'm pretty sure many things there could not exist in the US thanks to lawsuits. But its certainly a shame. The girls enjoyed it but it was cold and then rainy in the afternoon.
This week was an eventful week for the kids, in the sense that they went back to school. So it feels a little stranger not having them home in the mornings. But lucky for them they are home at 1:30...not fair.
I had short moments this week in which I felt a little depressed and not really because I was bad. However, I started thinking that maybe the family was growing weary of me, not that I really had a reason to feel this way. I asked Sonja on Wednesday if things were going okay and with me being here. And, if she was being honest, things are good and they consider me part of the family. So I feel okay with that now.
Now, since I have been here long enough my family is telling me to speak more Deutsch and less English. I'm pretty good with understanding, I think:) It's the speaking that's so difficult. 95% of the time my grammar is bad. Seriously, I cant get this sentence order and stuff. But I know, I know... I just have to keep at it.
This evening I took Toby to his Football practice and picked him up. I arrived at the field at 7:30 like he told me but his practice went late so I stood there waiting. There was some flea market going on there and the workers were there started talking to me. It was kind of funny. They were from India so I don't think their German was the best either. But I did understand some!! perhaps 75%...They just asked me where I was from and stuff and they wanted to give me some cheap underwear they were selling. I found it amusing.
Wednesday I got my passport back with the visa. I think it's pretty cool, so official. I really am in Germany-working-living-for a year...:)

Life in the Artic (never mind i guess i'm still in germany)

The weather has been so cold this week. Around 10 degrees all the time... and rain. People assure me that its not normal for this time of year. But I am not normally here. And I HATE COLD weather. ugh... besides the weather things have still been good.
Looking at the date I see that I am coming up on 1 month. Which means now that it is the longest I've ever been in Europe and away from the family. So I just thought I'd put that out.
Like Monday, Tuesday involved lots of driving. In the morning I went to the grocery store and beverage store with the girls getting groceries for the next couple days. I enjoy that. In the afternoon they had to sell ice cream at a "volksfest" in Eichstadt. Rolf was already set up with the trailer when I arrived with Sonja and the 2 girls in the afternoon. They told me the volksfest that day was special for the farmers and apparently the agricultural minister of Bayern was there speaking in a big tent which I did not bother to take a look into. But the volksfest looked to me like more or less a carnival with rides and games. But much of the games involve buying little tickets that called "los" that you can buy then look inside to see if you won. I walked around with the girls who decided to spend the majority of their money on these tickets. Hannah managed to win a big prize and chose to buy a large teddy bear that she has been carrying around with her ever since. They won other little prizes, which they took forever to pick out. I was standing there holding their bags, 3 umbrellas, and the giant teddy bear while they did this. A little annoying but kind of funny too. When we got bored of the fest the girls went back to the parents to show off their prizes and get some ice cream, then we drove into the city and did some exploring after getting some coffee and cake in a WARM cafe. The city of Eichstadt is very nice, not too big. Apparently its famous for it's fossils. I dunno. At any rate, it was a pleasant afternoon.
Wednesday, I cleaned the downstairs in the morning and in the afternoon we made more applesauce. My family is really a good family. They have fun with each other and laugh a lot. Of course like all families, yes mom, we are not the only ones, they argue and yell sometimes. But they are normally fun. At supper, like they have before they start talking about the plans they have for their business. They get so carried away with ridiculous ideas and perhaps some good ones. I love it.
My family worked it out with another family in the town that I could go to their house once a week a help out the mom with whatever, cleaning, cooking, and watching the kids. They have two boys I think one is 5 and the other 4 or 3 or 6. I don't know for sure, but they are super cute. Anyways, today I spent the day there. I visited with the woman, Ruth and her husband Oliver in the morning and showed them pictures on my laptop. The couple both studies biology and Oliver now works from home for a company but is often away with the business. Ruth is now staying at home with the kids. We prepared lunch and then went to the kindergarten to pick the boys up. She told me they were very excited about me being there and that I would be there at the kindergarten. I enjoyed my time with them but I feel so bad about not being able to understand the boys, Benny and Timmy. I usually just not my head and say yes. Ugh. In the afternoon they painted with finger paints which evolved into body paint. I think I will enjoy my time at their house as well as with the Schowalters and I like that I can have a variety like that.

"Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose...."

First of all I just want to say that I appreciate the comments that are left. It is good to know that others besides my parents are reading this. Although I think they check this thing like 5 times per day. Second, I have to make a correction from the last post, yes renee "berg" means town but I meant to type "burg" - or castle.
I see that its been a week since I wrote anything. The work week was pretty good but I was very ready for the weekend. And last monday I did end up going swimming. We went to a water park in Ingolstadt. It had a couple slides and there was no wait for them. Pretty nice.
So then I come to this weekend.... My host family had a family reunion in a retreat center called Tomashof about 3 and a half hours away. We arrived around 7 friday evening. When I arrived I met up with another trainee, jeff who works at tomashof. I was able to stay in one of the other workers room cuz he was away for the weekend. So while my family was enjoying their large family gathering jeff and i did our own thing.
Friday night the one worker had a little barbeque for her birthday so we were there. But before supper we walked around the nearby town of Durlach. Then went to the supper. And then to Karlsruhe in search of a discotech or something of that sort. We did find something but not the biggest crowd like we wanted. But it didn't matter too much. We still had tomorrow.
The first part of Saturday was spent searching for a place to rent a car. It involved talking to a lot of people and walking a lot! Our search ended at Europecar. We rented a SMART CAR!! under my name. Inside i was freaking out as the the lady punched in all the information into the computer. And even more as I signed my name next to the 750 euro deductible on it.
But it turned out to be well worth it. Without going much detail because I'm sick of being on the computer today...
We went to Heidelberg (the old city with gorgeous castle) and Frankfurt. So in other words...4 cities in 24 hours! Not that it was our intention but we did whatever we felt like. We returned to karlsruhe and even found ourselves back at the same discotech. But it was much better sat. night.
But its not like the weekend was without "problems". It took us sometime to find our way or whatever we were looking for. But i hesitate to call it a problem cuz it didnt really matter and we always did find our way. Although the weekend to hurt my bank account a little bit but that was quite alright too.
I am convinced that this is THE best way to travel. Without any goals or itinerary or large group. And minus the 750 euro deductible and there was "nothing left to lose" :)
Sunday we then returned the car without any damages!! thank god.

I felt depressed sunday night that one of the best weekends was over. But really things were not bad back at home.
Today was very good as far as work was concerned. In the morning I drove to the one town w/ Sonja and the girls to get my visa. I left my passport with them so i guess I'm stuck in the EU for this week. I'm getting pretty good with the stick shift :) On the way back we stopped to pick raspberries. We came home to a good lunch. After my lunch break I had the difficult job of eating ice cream that was too old to be sold. I then had to cut strawberries but all the kids were helping as well as sonja and we could talk while we worked. I then drove toby to his football (soccer)game and mirijam and I stopped for groceries on the way home. We bought oatmeal so that I could make baked oatmeal for them. I told them that we typically eat it for breakfast but the said they wanted it for supper. So that is what we had! That and apple sauce mixed w/ cream. I think it was a good transition back into the work week. I think all mondays need to be like that!!
I'm so tired of writing but I know people, mainly my parents want to know whats going on with me. But I'm going to stop now. tchuss.