We went to Mainz for Fasching and here are some pics of us being silly and then the last one is the Anti-American float. It's Uncle Sam pooing on the world. And it said "Darauf Scheisse". Sadness. But it was still fun!

Fasching Fun

Today Chuck and I braved going to Mainz for Fasching. We layered up for the cold and snowy sunshine (that's right, there was a bit of sun sporadically today!) and he put on his Indian headress and I did up my face with crazy make-up and mismatching clothes and we boarded the train. It was a bit full, but no worries, we didn't have to stand, though others were. On the train I did his face paint with black sparkly eye shadow we borrowed. At 10:30 people were already drinking and many were carrying not quite modest supplies of alcohol.

As the train pushed on to Bad Munster am Stein, more and more Fasching celebrators jumped on, making the train quite full. Once we got to our connecting station we jumped off and raced to the next train so we could use the wc b/c it was obvious everyone else was going our way. Sadly the other train was already packed. We decided to stand in the door area and I squeezed past into the bathroom as we got going, and then it was impossible to move anywhere. I think I now understand how a sardine feels. It was 45 minutes of standing next to drinking, smoking and slightly smelly people in costumes. Oh, and of course there was yelling, chanting, singing and poundly loudly on the ceiling, walls, whatever they could reach. Both train rides were like that. It was so full, too, that as we hit stops, we opened the door for fresh air but couldn't let anyone on. As we neared Mainz, trying to breath through the nasty smoke, we hit a few sharp turns and everyone slammed to one side then the next and back again, some falling and all smashing even harder into each other. Of course, people got louder and louder as we approached. It was madness, and we weren't even off the train yet!!!

We slowly crept through the train station and then I got a glimpse of outside and thought about turning right around. Pure insanity. What were we thinking? I'm not a crowd person. But we made it out, followed people to the parade, got a glimpse while searching for a bathroom and food which took awhile, lots of lines and pushing through people. Somewhere I lost my scarf that Chuck gave me for my birthday, so we searched for that as well but to no avail. That was depressing. I guess it was a worthy sacrifice to the Fasching Gods. We then attemped to find the Dom (cool old church) but the roads were blocked off. We walked and walked through hordes of people and got shoved around, smelled too much pot and saw drunk people lying on the ground, couldn't get to the Dom and decided we had had enough of Carnevale after just three hours. So we hopped the next train home, which meant standing again, but not so full this time. I mean, we could move, so that was a plus.

And while I think it would have been nicer to have stayed in K-Town and see the little parade here, I think this was a sort of cultural experience, the kind you do once, then never do again b/c why on earth would you want to deal with all that madness? Kind of like the Oktoberfest, and I figured since I tend to not go to those things, this would be a sort of karma equivalent.

All in all (as I read soooooo often in my kids' essays) I am glad we went and it was neat to see and I don't think I'll do it again. But for all of you who thought the Germans couldn't get crazy and party, don't be fooled. I mean, of course they are still organized and together, but they can through a mean Fasching's celebration.

Meine Rosa Peruecke

Fasching (Carneval) is quite big here in Germany. There are huge celebrations in Koeln and Mainz, and Monday we are headed to Mainz since it is just under two hours from here. Today Chuck and I did some last minute costume shopping. Sadly shops are closed tomorrow so we probably won't get the face paint we wanted. I wanted either the cow hat or the neon pink wig, and chose the wig b/c it's so exciting. Most people wear really crazy hats, but I was taken with the wig. Chuck got a really tall, feathery Indian hat. Lol. Thomas thought it was hilarious b/c we shouldn't be playing up stereotypes. But come on, it's Fasching!!!

We also made Matthias a birthday cake with Peanut M&M's, however we forgot to put baking soda in it, and it looks like a colored, cratery moon. Hm. At least it's not boring? Smells great, though. And we got him a plant. In Germany, if it's your birthday you are supposed to cook. I don't like that. So we had to bring a cake/brownies.

It's 6:15 (pm) and not quite dark yet. I'm loving it. Spring will be here sometime!!!! Chuck booked a flight to Barcelona for Spring Break, and it sounds great, but I have to pass. Rita invited me to Portugal sometime, if I can afford it and if I can get away from work. Plus, if possible, I'd love to get to Budapest when it's not freezing. If not, it's still cool just living here. Always lots to do, too.

I have a bit of a cold now, thanks Chuck. hee hee. I swear he catches everything! Oh, we have the bird flu in Germany now and people are getting worried and it's all over the news and birds are being "destroyed". Ew. I don't like that.

We are going to base tomorrow. All right! There are some Ami things I want that I just can't get here, so I'm glad to go there. I'm getting a REAL pillow. I just can't take German pillows. They annoy me to no end. And Halls cough drops. Ahhhhhhh. You have to use dollars there, too. Crazy, huh? I think we're even going to do dinner at Chili's. So weird, but nice.

I'd better go before Chuck decides he can decorate the cake by himself! That could get dangerous.

Cold Again

The Spring-like weather we'd been enjoying has sadly departed and it is winter again. It snowed today but only tiny little spittles that didn't stick.

Things are going well. I had some good lessons yesterday. I was a sub for a double hour and that was a bit dull, but then I had a 12th class that usually does not behave for the teacher, but I discussed the first chapter of this interesting book they're reading, and they were great. They were quiet, paid attention, answered questions. It was amazing. I'd never seen them like that before. Plus it was just really cool, because I like talking about literature.

Then I was supposed to take over the principal's class today, only when I got there, no one was there. Turns out they had a field trip today that neither of us knew about. lol. I tell you, German schools don't know the first thing about organization and getting the word out to teachers/students. Where are the announcements and school newsletters?

Most of the TAs are leaving for a week or so due to Fasching holidays. We only have Monday and Tuesday off, but still. I think Chuck and I will go to Mainz on Monday b/c it is supposed to be crazy with parades and a full city of Fasching madness. Plus it's not far from here.

This week has been quieter than last. I'm ready for Spring!!! And it's just over 4 months until I am home again.

Happy V-Day!

A late Happy Valentine's Day to all! Chuck and I celebrated last night since the week before was so crazy. It was really nice. We went to a Greek restaurant and then watched a movie and he made the sweetest card! And gave me some pretty cool and funky Indian jewelry. I got him this funny Cookie Monster Waermflasche that he kept mentioning, as odd as that sounds. Highly amusing.

The weather here lately has been crazy. Sunny, rainy, sunny, rainy. Changing every few minutes, and well above freezing! It's like Spring!!! Ok, almost. Spring in Germany. I have seen parts of the sky the last few days and I'm loving it.

I've been really busy grading papers for school and reading books and writing papers for Uni. Wednesday we regained our Pub Quiz status. There were so many of us we had to divide into two teams, and my team took third and our friends took second. Whew! hee hee. And Thursday we saw a Ben Hur comedy at the local theater. Hilarious! Audience participation as well. I think I went out every night last week and am ready to have a calm and quiet week. Tonight Thomas is cooking us dinner, so I bet Chuck and I will make cookies of some sort to add to the meal.

I'll be in Berlin most of the second week in March, so if I don't write don't worry. Fulbright is hosting a mid-term conference. They're putting on some pretty cool tours and workshops, and I really want to go on the architecture tour and the one of Medieval Spandau, as well as the workshop on climate change. Doesn't that sound exciting?

I think that's all the news from here. Hope you all are well.

: *)

Manchmal ist das Leben fast Unglaublich

Hallo alle! Wie geht's euch? Es geht mir hier ganz gut. Ich komme gut zurecht.

Ashley and I have been jogging the past couple days. In the forest in the snow. Haven't gotten lost again. So beautiful!

Yesterday Chuck, Rita (T.A. from Portugal, really cool) and I saw Nanny McPhee. Way cool! The set was my favorite part. The colors and lights and all. I highly recommend the film. Afterwards we met up with Ashley and one of her teachers at Extrablatt, which is a cool cafe and was more packed than I had ever seen it! There weren't enough chairs so we were all taking turns sharing. lol. Then Mark and a friend met up with us as well. I was talking to the German teacher, who's been here 1.5 years. We know more people and have more activities than he! So we are taking him to Stammtisch on Tuesday. He needs to meet more people.

It was just so cool. We had people from the U.S., Canada, Portugal and Germany, going back and forth in various languages and the whole thing just seemed magical. I know, that sounds dumb, but you know how I get around people from different countries! It made me want to keep traveling the world and living in different cultures. I've heard you can do that if you teach English as a foreign language.

Tonight some of the teachers are making us another traditional German meal, which should be good. Chuck and I are celebrating Valentine's Day on Saturday, b/c Monday we're going to a soul club with his roomies, Tuesday is dance and Stammtisch, Wednesday is Irish Pub, Thursday we're having dinner and a movie at Jan's (since we can't make it tonight) and Friday he has a sleepover/lock-in with his 8th graders. Lol. Sometimes it amazes me how busy our schedules get!!

I have lots of studying and paper grading to do, so I will write again soon. Macht's gut!

Blizzard

I woke up to a heavy snowfall, you know, those big flakes that you can catch in your hand and they don't melt right away! It was great walking to the train station. Sadly I got confused and showed up at work an hour early. lol.

In 6th hour (it had snowed on and off all day with some sun, really pretty!) the fog rolled in and it was so thick all you could see out the window was white and snow and it looked like what I would imagine a blizzard to look like, and then there was thunder! I was so confused! And mesmerized. I had trouble paying attention to the lesson and kept staring out the window. The kids kept looking, too. Thank goodness I wasn't doing the lesson! When the fog had passed (we are up on a hill--Megan, remember on Hydra when the fog/clouds passed by us? Like that only way more intense!) the world looked like white powder had been dropped on it. However, it's too warm for it to stay, but it was really neat to see.

Last night we lost the Irish Pub quiz quite disastrously. Dang. Oh well, there's always next week! Tonight Jan invited us to dinner (he's on our Irish Pub team) and Chuck and I are making cookies we invented for the ocassion. Then it's salsa tonight! I've convinced a few people to come with. Of course, I don't think it can beat Tuesday night's salsa party at the Uni that Wouter and I stumbled upon. Lots of room and amazing dancers. I was so in heaven!

It is 5:30 pm and it is not dark! Man I love that it's getting later in the year! Oh, Chuck got his plane ticket home as well and booked it for the same day, only he flies out an hour after me.

I think that's the news from my side of the world. I really need to study tomorrow! We might be off to Trier this Saturday, day tripping it, but haven't decided yet. Miss you all!

: )

I Can't Get No....

Satisfaction. Remember that scene in Life or Somthing Like It? Angelina Jolie goes to interview the strikers and sings with them? Well, I don't the reporters are singing with, but there are definitely strikes going on in Germany! Luckily my city wasn't chosen as a place, but areas near me have been, like Saarbruecken. Certain government positions like garbage collectors, day care workers, police, and other people are striking in cities that will have a big impact. The news express concerns about it lasting weeks if both sides don't give in. And what, you might ask, are they stiking against? A 40-hour work week. That's right. They'll have none of it! I think it's upping their week by an hour or two, and I don't think they're getting paid more for it. Ah, yes, Socialist Germany, there you are! Why don't we just call ourselves France? hee hee. Ok, that was harsh. I apologize.

Then there was snow today. Lots but it didn't stick here. However, Bavaria got tons that did stick and it's causing quite a problem. More roofs collapsing (seems to be a common theme this winter in Europe) and people without electricity. Yikes!

Anyone pay attention to the news with the Mohammed cartoons? It is also causing quite a stir on this side of the world!

I'm off to the Irish Pub. I love Wednesdays!

Big Bad Air Base

Yesterday, in between studies, Mark took me to one of the Ami (American) air bases in the area, Ramstein. It's funny b/c the Germans guard it. Then you are in Little America. Subsidized gas, military buildings, Chili's, big cars, a supermarket full of American food, and lots of English. I have to admit, it was very, very odd. Here I am, in the middle of Germany, looking at American postboxes and SUVs and feeling very confused. It is also a NATO base, being the (Mark thought) air headquarters for the org. It is some kind of headquarters of Europe for NATO. And it is a HUGE base. Two gyms, two theaters, two post offices, and everything the same numb color of tan. Some Amis move here for two years and practically never leave base, then they buy a beer stein and go home saying they've "lived" in Germany. Darndest thing!

I sadly missed the Super Bowl, even though Chuck texted me at 12:30 to let me know it was on his tv. I was not crawling out of bed to go watch it. Maybe if the Chiefs had been playing. Oh wow, there, I'm sure we all had a good laugh at that one! hee hee. : D

As of February first we've had a new schedule and I'm still working out the kinks. I've been trying to stop my teachers, one by one, and get a new time for each class. So today was crazy and my usual four-lesson day turned into one lesson that I was subbing for. And it was even my own class! lol. My 8d class, who are usually quite good. I was very disappointed with them today, however. Ok, so granted I gave them a near impossible task of a 500-word story by the end of the hour, but they barely worked, and one group of boys were so not nice to this one boy, and I got quite angry. So as homework I assigned a 250-word essay on why it's important to respect others. Little turds.

It's still very cold here. It snowed a bit yesterday, was pretty. Looks like it could snow again today. I want to go for a jog, but the cold, the closing off of my park, and waiting on Ashley are convincing reasons to wait. Plus I need more bread, b/c to my utter horror, as I went to make a sandwich this morning, it had gone green and moldy. And can towels mold? B/c mine smells funky no matter how many times I wash it and this morning finally decided to trash it and go into town for a new one. I'd simply had it. Enough with the mold! I WILL come out victorious!

Change of Plans

Chuck and I have called off the Ireland trip. I had to admit I just don't think I have the finances, sadly. With the loan collectors chomping at my heels and running out of money, I think we will stick to day trips closer to hear, maybe a weekend in Pisa if Chuck's friend Stefano doesn't mind some visitors. I'll have to put Ireland off for another time in life. I do want to see the Cliffs of Moher, but another time.

Last night I dreamt I was home, so it was a bit of surprise to wake up and find myself here. Val and I were hanging out at Dad's, and then poof! Here I was in my little cell in Germany again. Always an odd feeling, waking up half-way around the world from where you thought you were.

I wanted to go to a movie today, but I think I'll be spending the day studying, instead. Us overachievers get a bit silly sometimes, I guess. However, I really, really don't want to read the chapter in my book about the organ trade in third world countries. Makes me a bit squeamish. Might have to do something I almost never do and just skim parts and make up an analysis. Big fat ew!

And if I get my studying done, I can read one of the five books I'm currently reading for fun! Wow, I sound a bit like a nerd, huh? : )

Down With the Dec

Wednesday I got my 11th graders to ban the Declaration of Independence. Sadly, I had just started on the Bible when the bell rang. Oh well, I'll try next week! I hope they do ban it, and then later I can tell them what they've banned and see their shocked and horrified faces. I like teaching. : )

It's still nice and cold here. What does above freezing feel like? At least we had some sun today!

Tomorrow I have a washing machine in our building for the first time in months. Unfortunately I don't have enough tokens to dry the clothes as well, but hey, I'll go with a real wash for once! I mean, I'm getting up way early to do it, but that's ok with me. Oh bless you washer from Heaven! hee hee. That is, assuming it works.

The fun part of the evening was when I went to take out my trash and then was stuck in the courtyard. The door going out can't be opened from outside and the rock I stuck in it slipped and shut, so I went to the door to go in, but somehow I couldn't get it to open. Oddly, there is no way out of the courtyard surrounded by buildings, so my choices were freeze in the dark with no coat until someone else came to take out trash which could take hours, or see if I could find a way in and out of the underground garage and walk around building, or knock on a first floor window of a complete stranger and beg them to open the door before I froze. I chose Option C. A bewildered man came to his window, peered at me oddly before deciding I wasn't some psycho and he could open his window, and I explained that I could not re-enter the building and would he be so kind? The nice gentleman did open the door for me, and I was once more in the nice, warm hallway. Ahhh, these adventures! I'm using a bigger rock next time.

I'm considering getting a toaster this weekend. I realized, when I was sick, that I lacked one. Hmmm. It sounds like such a luxury. The million dollar question is, where will I put it once I get it? Hee hee.

Ok, obviously I'm just wandering out loud so I'll come to a close. That's my life as of late. Studying, getting locked out in the cold and pondering the joys of a shiny silver toaster. I dream big. It's ok to be jealous.