All moved in

Yesterday I moved into my new home. It is great. I carried my three suitcases through the front door and dropped them in my room and called'er quits for the day. Pretty tough move ;) Well, that is all I have in Chicago at the moment cause I came here straight from Germany. My car and most of the remainder of my stuff in it is slowly making it's way out here. Last night I made Sari and I dinner and we sat and had a bottle of wine while visiting to get to know each other. She is great and we get along very well. I think the situation will work out good. Still have to organize and move some things around in my room. Since it was a quick move in she wasn't quite prepared and still has personal things in there. We'll slowly get it all situated. For now, it works and I am gradually getting comfortable. Today I got some groceries and then I found my new church. Since I am going to have to work on Sundays I needed to find a Saturday night service and I found it. It was a younger crowd, good music, and good message. They also have alot going on and lots of ways to get involved so it should be good. That was easy (not surprisingly when I think of how everything else has been coming easily as well). After church, I walked around the city a bit and then headed back to the condo. All of the sudden I got in organization mode so I reorganized the entire kitchen. It was actually pretty fun and helped get me familar with all that I had access to. Sari didn't mind cause she doesn't cook much, but the kitchen is always my favorite place in the house so I'm glad I got to be a part of it's new creation :) Tomorrow will be a full prep day for the start of my new job on Monday. Coming down to the wire. One more day of my extended vacation :)

Quick hunt and thankfully over :)

So I went and looked at my first room rental this morning and meet the owner and person who would be my roommate. It was great! She is great and the place is beautiful. So many amenities and close to work. That was easy :) When you "go with the grain" in life, things always come a little easier. I have learned that many of times :) It is right in the city, a few blocks from the lake, very nice neighborhood, in a high rise building with floor to ceiling windows, 2bed/2bath, fully furnished (remember, I don't have any furniture since I sold it all before the move to Germany) and a 20 minute walk to work. Sari will be my new roommate and she is very sweet and friendly. We both have a travel bug so will have lots to talk about. Looking forward to moving in this weekend. So glad I can now just relax and prep for my new job starting on Monday. Tomorrow will be so nice to stay at the house (my cousin's house that is). Still jet-legging a little but getting closer to on schedule :)

On the hunt

This week is apartment hunting week. Was difficult for me to drag myself out of the house and go into the city yesterday but very glad that I did. Thank God I have friends that push me when I need a little shove. Just felt a little overwhelmed when I first got here but I was calmed a little after my days events. Picked up some maps, rode the EL, visited with a potential roommate, walked around a bit, and stopped in my new store to explore and say hi to my new boss. The store is so nice. I LOVE IT! The music was fun, the employees were all happy and friendly, the displays were beautiful, and I walked around admiring this new place called "my work." I had a quick visit with my boss and the education director and they are soooo cool and genuinely friendly. Although I am quite nervous, all of those factors make it exciting to get started and get the new job jitters out of the way. Today I have a couple more places to look at. I really hope I find a good one so I can be done with this. I'm not a big a fan of apartment hunting especially finding a new roommate right now. I'm sure it will work out just fine :) Update soon...

The end of a chapter...not the book

A very hard goodbye once again but this time quite a bit harder. After a chill Saturday of fruehstueck with Suse, some walking, a little shopping, a friend Stefano's basketball game, and some Gilmore Girls, the last day of my trip to Heidelberg had come. Sunday was sadly a day of goodbyes and some very heartfelt moments. Sunday morning I met up with my American girlfriends, Grace and Abby and we had coffee at a cute little breakfast place. They were both very sweet to meet up with me and walk me back to the apartment as we wished each other the best. Then Gerhard picked up Caro and I and we went to watch her little cousin Felix play basketball. I was able to spend some time with Kay, Gonilla, Niklas, Felix, and Katharine one more time and say my goodbyes to them. (Gonilla is Anke’s niece, Kay is Gonilla’s husband) They are such a sweet family and another part of Caro’s family that was so welcoming, made me feel like part of the family,will be missed and forever be in my heart. They gave me a very sweet going-away gift of photos, of when I first came to Germany, that were placed in a little photo cube. Sooo thoughtful and very cherished. After the game we headed back home for a little afternoon coffee and kuchen and made our way to the USC-HD basketball game. (Another of Caro and I’s Sunday traditions). We, not surprisingly, missed the bus AGAIN so decided to splurge and take a cab so we could actually see the beginning of the game for once. It was a great game and afterward we followed another tradition and went to our favorite Thai place for dinner. After dinner it was time to do some last minute packing and avoid going to sleep in hopes that the morning wouldn’t come so quickly. In avoidance of the sadness and for a little laughter, we watched a few episodes of Gilmore Girls and then attempted to sleep for a couple hours. Then…. this morning came :( The inevitable goodbye. Why do they have to be so hard? They are especially hard when you leave someone whom you have seen and/or talked to most every day for the past 9 months, someone who has become your best friend, someone who has influenced your life in so many ways in such a short amount of time, and someone who supports you, loves you, helps guide you and understands and accepts you for all that you are. Your heart aches, you’re short of breath, a big knot sticks in the back of your throat, and tears continue to periodically fall from your tired eyes. It seems I have had a couple versions of this experience, more than once and yet it never gets any easier and always hurts like hell; a part of life that we can’t avoid as much as we may try.
At 7:30am this morning, Gerhard and Caro gave me a ride to the Frankfurt airport. It was a pretty quiet trip but very meaningful. After an hour and a half, we made it to the airport, I checked my bags in, and we had a little breakfast. We shared some laughs, some hugs, and some tears and then the time came for me to pass through the gates and step on a plane taking me to the other side of the world once again. While crossing the point allowed for passengers only, I couldn’t stop turning back to wave goodbye, not wanting to let go, not wanting to face my extreme sadness or deal with the fact that I was actually leaving and not coming back for a while. It was a pretty awful feeling. Now, I’ll give myself the chance to grieve a little and then push forward as I always do. I guess it’s time for another adventure; a new chapter. The mind of a man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps….so here I go. It's gonna be a busy next couple of weeks apartment hunting and starting a new job. But never will I forget the chapter that is now coming to an end. Even if it didn't go quite as I had planned, I came out pretty good after a little decision last June to work at a kids camp in the middle of nowhere, California. It, so surprisingly, led me up to a chance to live in a new country, knowledge of a new language, meeting a new group of family, and being blessed with another amazing best friend. Things always happen for a reason and I can give you so many other examples of events in my life that have ultimately led me here. Interesting how we sometimes don’t actually see the reason for some of those evnets until a good chunk of time down the road, if even at all. All I know is… Germany, so unexpectedly, now holds a piece of my heart and always will. Goodbye Heidelberg :( …Hello Chicago :)

Last weekend in Germany

Friday morning was spent packing up all of my things so that I could enjoy my last weekend without having to worry about it. It will be interesting to see if the bags are too heavy. I have a pile of books to lug back with me so I’m a bit concerned. After packing, my afternoon was spent with Anke, Caro’s mother. It was sooo nice. We walked around a couple book stores looking for a good German cookbook to take home with me. I found a couple little ones with some traditional recipes in them and am very excited to try them. Then Gerhard, Caro’s father, met up with us at a little coffee place and we enjoyed our coffee while having a great visit. I enjoy their company very much and will miss them dearly when I leave. They have done so much for me while I lived here and are very special family to me. The evening was spent cooking Schafskaese with our friend Suse. Schafskaese, meaning sheep cheese, is baked in the oven with onions, peppers, tomatoes, garlic and spices and then accompanied by a fresh baguette. Very delicious! One of my faves for sure. Caro got home just as the food was finished and we sat down for a great dinner and a couple bottles of Prosecco. It was such a fun girls night with excellent food, good drinks, and great friends. We visited, listened to music, and enjoyed our time together on the Hauptstrasse in Heidelberg. I must say my German was in prime condition and I am sooo sad that I won’t be hearing the language much anymore to practice and learn. A couple more months and I would have definitely had the hang of it. BUT I already found a great place in Chicago where I can take some German classes if I can find the right class times. YEAH!

A little side note

Last week I baked a "German Chocolate Cake" while in Germany :) The other funny thing is that it was actually an American box cake so it wasn't German at all! Hee hee :) OH WAIT....I guess I did use German eggs, water and yogurt so one might consider it slightly authentic ;)

Mein letztes Hausgemacht Deutsches Essen

Last night I was able to enjoy one last homemade German meal with Anke, Gerhard and Caro before I leave. It was great, of course. On the menu this time was steamed brussel sprouts, steamed kohlrabi in a home-made "cream" sauce (a little cream, flour, water,broth, and spices) and pfannkuchen with cheese and ham. Pfannkuchen is a German flat pancake made of milk, flour and eggs. Anke is most always using whole grains and the best ingredients, so of course it was probably a little healthier than some in the country. Pancakes here are eaten mostly as a savory dish rather than a sweet one with syrup as in the States. You put the pancake on your plate and fill it with what you like (in this case it was cheese, ham and maybe the kohlrabi with sauce) and then you roll it up. I could definitely make something of this sort back home. Very delicious. In fact, I am about to go out in search of my very own German cook book to take back with me to Chicago so I can prepare some of these dishes when I am missing Heidelberg. Also, I can then share them with all of you!

Creating more memories of Heidelberg

Alter Bruecke in Heidelberg

Train to Koenigstuhl

Up the Mountain to Koenigstuhl

Heidelberg from Koenigstuhl

Grace and I at Koenigstuhl

Grace and Abby and I at Fasching Party

Me and Barack

Joining the Parade

Tuesday was a beautiful sunny day in Heidelberg, not to be wasted by sitting inside. Of course, Caro, unfortunately had to work and I was at home alone, STILL unemployed and on my long vacation :) It will be strange to actually have to go to a place of work 5 days a week starting in March since I haven’t done it in over 3 years! But who can really call going to a rockin’ grocery store, doing what I love, actually work? Gonna be great, after I get passed the new job jitters and get in the groove of things. Anyway, I started my Tuesday events by enjoying a little coffee with my American friends Abby and Grace at a cute shop at the back of the Hauptstrasse called Café Moro. We reminisced a while and Grace and I made a plan to do a little Touristy stuff as it is my last week here. We hopped the bus to Neckargemuund about 20 minutes away. It’s another little German town basically connected to Heidelberg along the Neckar River. We walked around checking out the architecture, taking pictures, and enjoyed the sunshine. Then we decided to catch the Bergbahn (mountain train) in Heidelberg up to the top of the mountain, a point called the Koenigstuhl. Even though I was a little nervous about the old box car train snapping the pulley system cable on the way up the steep track, the ride was quite nice. The view of Heidelberg was incredible from the top. It was a little bit hazy but still viewable. After a quick view and some pictures at the top we had to head down the mountain in order to make it to Abby’s before a big parade crowded the Hauptstrasse where the front window of her apartment over looked. Tuesday was the Fasching Parade and she was having a party at her apartment on the Hauptstrasse in honor of this well known German event.
What is Fasching you may ask? (Just like I did, of course.) Well….. New Orleans has Mardi Gras. Venice has Carnevale. Germany has Fasching. Around the world, the days leading up to Ash Wednesday mark a time of revelry, merry making, and celebration. Some places, more than others, seem to have the honor of hosting the grandest, most spectacular festivities. Fasching, as a term, is derived from the word Fastnacht, meaning "eve of the beginning of the fast." Linguists speculate that "Fasching" also developed out of the Middle High German "vaschanc" or "vastschang" (Fastschank), which means the last drink served before the Lenten fast. Let’s just say it seemed as though many really did think it was the last drink they would get for a while. Some stumbled down the streets while others crowded the bars. The main street in Heidelberg was crowded with people of all ages dressed as if it was Halloween, adults and teenagers “getting their drink on” and little ones dressed up in cute little costumes with bags or baskets ready to catch the candy thrown from the groups and floats in the parade. The parade consisted of all sorts of groups in elaborate costumes, marching bands, and decorated floats being driven down the street. Some floats threw candy, others threw bread and soft pretzels (I would expect nothing less in Germany, the bread capital of the world), and one of my personal favorite floats, the Heidelberger Braurrei vintage auto, threw beer. (Ok maybe they didn’t throw it and actually handed it out in a keg cup but it would have been pretty funny if they did.) An afternoon of adults getting drunk and kids in costume collecting candy was a slightly funny combo to observe and ponder about…just picture that in the States at Halloween…a ring at your doorbell…kids trick-or-treating and adults trick-or-drinking and at the end of the night candy and beer bottles strewn across the livingroom floor being separated out for trading and future enjoyment. “Hey daddy, how many Heinikens did YOU get?” “I’ll trade you 5 packs of gummy bears for that big pretzel.” Sorry got a little side tracked with that one…moving on… continuing my explanation of Fasching… it began as a blend of pagan traditions with new Christian customs. Dressing-up as fools, clowns, or comical servents is a common characteristic that stretches across cultural and political borders. Apparently, long ago, the lower classes used Fasching festivities to wear masks and costumes that mocked the clergy and aristocracy, using the celebrations to avoid punishment. Today, the costumes range from the traditional masks and fools, to contemporary pop culture references. You might actually think that Germany celebrates Halloween eight months early.
One of this year’s features was Barack Obama. I even have evidence of meeting the man himself (he’s just wearing gloves and kneeling down in the photo).
To join the festivities, I borrowed a Marti Gras mask from Abby, ate a little gumbo prepared by her Louisiana native husband, drank a few hurricane drinks and a couple German beers, and enjoyed the show, while also joining the parade from time to time. All together an eventful day topped off by a couple episodes of the Gilmore Girls at home in the evening. Caro introduced me to the series and I’m now slightly addicted. Good things she owns all 7 season although I’m not sure I can make it through 75 more episodes before leaving. Only a few more days left and then time to pack up for my flight back to the States on Monday :(

Back In Heidelberg

Strange to be back in Heidelberg but great, of course. Part of me feels like a never left, yet another part feels like it has been a really long time. After 27 total hours of travel, 14 hours flying, 12 hours sitting in airports, 1 hour on the train, 4 flights, 3 security checks, 3 hours of sleep, and one missing bag upon arrival, I finally walked into my Heidelberg apartment. Caro met me at the train station in Heidelberg with a big hug and relieved me of some packing weight. Was so great to see her again even though I was a bit delirious. Friday night was spent just catching up and resting. Saturday we went to Caro's little cousin Niklas' basketball game and then Niklas and his brother Felix came and had a slumber party at our house. Was really fun to have them at the house even though it is strange not being able to communicate with them very well. They are 9 and 7 so they haven't had much English Language classes yet and I am a bit rusty on German. Sunday we went to Caro's parents house for a huge brunch with them and Niklas and Felix's parents and little sister, Katharine. Of course, Anke and Gerhard, fixed up a huge feast of about 4 different pastries, salmon, frickedellen (type of meat balls), fruit salad, crossant wrapped sausage, and pizza bread. All amazing. Sorry, I meant to take a picture but forgot my camera! It always looks so nice set out on the counter. Sunday night Caro and I went to the USC- Heidelberg basketball game. Kind of a Sunday night tradition and I was glad to go one more time while I am here. I am still trying to get rid of my jet leg. This morning I thought I was waking up at about 10 but it was actually 2:30 in the afternoon. OOPS! I had to look at 4 different clocks to believe it. Many of you who know me well know that I am actually an early morning person so it is strange I was able to even sleep that long. Guess I needed it. Since I have been here it has been great to pick up on the language again, eat some of the german food, and walk around beautiful Heidelberg. I sometimes struggle to be in the moment but I am constantly reminding myself so that I can make the most of these next two weeks. Every once and a while I get caught off guard and feel the saddness of leaving but change and letting go is always hard. So those feelings are just going to happen. Just gonna make the most of this trip and know that I will be back. I leave on the 22nd of February and will be on my way to Chicago for another new adventure!

Enroute to Germany

This morning I hopped on the first of my four planes in order to make it to Germany tomorrow afternoon. Yesterday was a busy day of helping out with sick kiddos, packing, taking care of last minute travel details and dinner with friends. Last night we went to Moose's in Kalispell for the fun atmosphere and awesome pizza with friends, Kurt and Marchelle. I finally got to bed around 1am just in time to get a few hours of sleep before going to the airport at 5am. Now I am in the start of my 24 hour trip to Germany. Montana is always a bit more challenging as a departure location when going anywhere too far away :) Looking forward to my return to Deutschland and a reunion with my dear friend Caro for a couple weeks before heading out to Chicago to find a place to live.

Spending time in Kali

Even though most of my time with my brother Levi, his wife Cami and my neice and nephew Addy and Jackson has been spent trying not to get sick, I have had a great time. I am very happy that I am able to help out around the house, cook dinners, play with the kids and visit with Levi and Cami. They always do so much for me so I am glad to return the favor and also be able to spend some quality time with family. I got here on Thursday and on Saturday night Levi, Cami and I went to the Chalet up in West Glacier to watch one of their friend’s provide the musical entertainment. We enjoyed a bottle of wine and toasted to my new career and new adventure in Chicago. On Monday, Addy stayed home from school with me and we went shopping, we colored, we cooked, and we played outside. We made a big snowman and she said he needed a friend and it needed to be a snowbunny. What a great girls-day. My last couple days here, I am spending running errands so I can be ready to go, cooking dinner, and helping out with the kids while Cami and Levi work. Even pulled out the guitar and played a little. All and all it has been a great time even though everyone has been a little under the weather. I am overdosing on Airborne every few hours and am still hoping that I succeed in not getting the bug that they have all had. Doing ok so far. That would definitely not be fun fighting the flu on my 24 hour trip to Germany on Thursday.