Beer and Subways

Today was fun. I woke up super late, which I won´t be doing again because I am going to set an alarm now. I read the rest of my book, The Rescue, which is a very good book. And then at like 6 this evening Natalie told me we were going to Maschseefest.

Maschseefest is a festival that is held every year with I guess lots of shows and food. So we took the subway there and walked FOREVER. We finally met her parents, her parents friend and their daughter, and Natalie´s brother and got some food. We hung out for a while and then Natalie had to go feed the baby so I was left standing alone, with no one to talk to. That´s when you thoughts get the best of you... I started thinking about home and started to miss everyone there more and more. Finally Natalies brother, Tobias, came over and we started talking. That took up the rest of the time until Natalie came back then we left. When we got home Natalie saw a package she had to return by tonight or else they wouldnt take it back.´It had to be taken to the internet cafe that´s about a 20 minute walk and she was feeding the baby. SO I volunteered to take it. I went down and took the subway one station and went to the cafe, it was closed. So I headed back home. Now here I am. Tired, tired of walking, not so hot (which is nice) and ready for a new book.

I ventured out...

BY MYSELF! Today I took the subway to the city, all by myself. I have been a little afraid to go anywhere because it´s very confusing and not many people really speak english. Today I did it. I rode the subway to the city, exchanged some money (rate is still VERY VERY bad), actually went into a dillards type store and bought some stuff, then went back on the subway towards home. I took the subway one more stop from our house and went to the grocery store. Then I came home. It was fun, now I know I can do it. Back to the currency thing, I got about half of what I gave back in euros.. it really is terrible.

I cam home and watched The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and then Natalie woke up from her nap. We had grilled cheese for dinner and then after the baby woke up we went to get ice cream. We sat at a table and they had MENUS for ice cream. I had a caramel becher, it was really good. But it was crazy to me that we ordered ice cream from a menu.

Well I should be getting my computer cord tomorrow or Friday so expect LOTS of pictures up soon!

It RAINED!!!

It was blazing hot at 900 this morning and I couldn´t sleep anymore because I was sweating. And it was hot all morning and Natalie, the baby, and I decided to take a nap in the afternoon. When I woke up it was RAINING!! I have never wanted rain as bad as I did today! It took the edge off the heat and was a little relief. Natalie´s mom invited us over for some dinner so we went and had dumplings, sauteed mushrooms, and I had a little steak. It was VERY good. Then we went to IKEA to get hangers for my clothes. I came home and took all of my stuff out of my suitcases and put them away. I can´t wait to show you pictures! Soon. I also took a video of the rain because I was SOO happy about it.

Blah

Blah is how I feel right now.. and have felt all day. Hot weather really just takes everything from you. I pretty much did nothing today, if you can count sweating all day nothing. I went to the store this morning with Natalie´s mom and then Natalie and I ventured into the city for a while this evening when it had cooled a little. I wish I had a fan or something. But I did get a little closet type thing that I am putting all of my clothes into so I don´t have to live out of my suitcases. And my bed is going to be delivered on Thursday, that´s good. My bed is currently on the floor but it´s not uncomfortable at all. There was something I thought of today that is very different in Germany but now I can´t think of it. So check back, I might remember.. someday.. when the heat hasn´t gotten to my head. I hope the weather is ok wherever you are at.

P.S. Jamie has been SUPER cranky because of the heat. So it just makes the day all the more fun!

Church

Well we didn´t make it to the softball game because it´s very hot again and we didn´t want to take the baby out into the heat. She was already super cranky from the heat so we decided against it. We did however venture out for church.

Church was... interesting. My church at home is big, very lively and I LOVE the sermons and my pastor. So when we showed up to a church that´s held in Sunday School room it was a little shocking. There were 18 people there. It was hotter than an oven. I was trying to not make any assumptions on how it was going to go. So we stood for singing and it was very slow kind of traditional music, for like 30 minutes. Then the pastor came up who was from Germany, I´m guessing, and he had a thick accent that was hard to understand. He taught on Jeremiah 15:16-the end of the chapter. And it was a very theoretical talk. I didn´t speak to me at all. And unfortunately Natalie didn´t like it just as much. So, we won´t be going back. I am going to continue to look for another english speaking church. And start listening to my pastors sermons every week online.

It´s still SUPER hot and I can´t wait til the heat breaks. Kind of like a fever, we need rain to break it. PRAY FOR RAIN, because it really is miserable for all of us (baby included).

Unbearably hot today

So the first couple days I was here it was cold. Like New Mexico winter cold. I actually needed my sweatshirt because it was so cold. Today it is HOT. Like New Mexico july hot, but with humidity. Natalie doesn´t have any kind of air conditioning or anything so I am missing my room back home that could be a freezer in less than an hour. And to top it off we walked to lunch so the baby would fall asleep in the stroller!! We walked in this unbearable heat. It wasn´t fun. Oh and we ate at a chinese restaurant which was quite tasty, but the water was gross. There water here is mostly carbonated, and I don´t like that so I get "still" water. But it was just the least amount of carbonation possible. Yuck.

We are going to a softball game tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully it won´t be nearly as hot as it is today. Then off to church at 5. I will update you later today if we do anything worth writing about... and if I don´t melt into a puddle of mush from the heat.

Another quick funny German thing

I love ice in my drinks right? So I get here and they don´t have ice makers. Know what they have? Kind of like ziploc baggies, that you put water in the top and it goes down into little open areas in the bag. It´s hard to explain but I am bringing some home with me when I come. But you just put them in the freezer and then when they are ready you put the two sides of the bag apart and you have ice. Natalie had ones that are heart shaped.. it´s cute.

Shopping Carts

We went to Burger King for lunch today and it was really good and tasted just like home. Mmm.. then we went to a cosmetics type store and the baby fell asleep in my arms and it was so sweet. After that we went to a grocery store where you have to push a coin into a slot to unhook the cart from the others. It was pretty cool. Then we bought lots of food, and I bought Ritter sport chocolate... mm.. that´s good stuff.And now the nurse is coming to check on Natalie. Nothing too exciting today!

Another train ride

While I have been here, the past 4 days or so, I`ve done everything. I came on a plane here, took a train, and took a taxi in Franfurt. Then took the subway. Lots of new experiences.



So last night was a pretty good night for the baby. I heard her at probably 530 then not again until 930 in the morning. Natalie woke me up by telling me breakfast was going to end in 10 minutes so I got up and went to eat. Then I went back upstairs to take a shower because it was about 1030 and checkout was at 11, but Natalie had said they weren`t going to kick us out so to take my time. Well I got out of the shower and Natalie told me (literally right after I shut the water off) that the cleaning ladies had come knocking and they wanted us out in 10 minutes. So, I got ready real quick and put all my stuff together. Then right as we were about to leave they came knocking again. Being in a hurry as adults is bad enough but when you have a baby it is so much harder, so we rushed out. One of the ladies wanted us out so badly she was holding the elevator door for us. It was a fun start to our day. We walked to the train, in the cold. It`s like New Mexico winter temperature here, IN JULY! I don`t think I want to stay long enough to find out what winter is really like :) We took the subway to the train station and once we got there I needed to use the restroom. So we found one and I had to pay .70 euro to go. Yep I had to PAY to use the restroom. I guess they do it so no nasty people go in there and pee all over (that`s what Natalie told me). But they also have antibacterial stuff for you to apply to the toilet. It`s in a soap dispenser type thing by the toilet. Interesting. So the ride home on the train was actually quite enjoyable, the baby slept most of the way. We were picked up by her mom when we got to the train station. We got home, unpacked, ate macaroni and cheese, and watched a movie. That`s it pretty much. I might do some school, or just go to bed, not sure yet.

P.S. a quick note that I exchanged $40 US at the airport and you know how much I got back.... 17 euro! That is a terrible rate!
P.S.S. I am trying to get pictures up but I may have to wait for my mom to send me my cord to my camera. Keep checking back!

Frankfurt Part 2

Well, I am back in a different internet cafe and I have already passed my 20 minute mark so I am going to make the best of my hour now.

Ok, so I left off after we got on the wrong train. So we didn't have the baby's Diaper bag which has all the diapers and wipes, her emergency bottles and pacifiers, and changing pads. So we knew we needed to get diapers. We stopped in a city called Fruda and that's where we got diapers and wipes. I actually didn't use the restroom because you had to pay for it. That was CRAZY! (side note: the z and y keys are switched on the keyboard, making it EXTREMELY hard to type words like crazy) So, after buying the wipes we made our way back to the train platform and got on our second train. We had a little bit of a harder time finding seats on this one, especially someplace where Natalie could feed the baby. We found some that weren't ideal but they were seats so we sat there. That train ride was about an hour long and it went relatively well. Keep in mind that all of this craziness may not seem like a lot but with a baby that hasn't traveled like this and a mom who has never fed her baby in public it was very stressful. Once we got to Frankfurt we decided to ask a taxi if they could drive us to our hotel because we weren't in the mood to figure out the subway. We didn't have the baby's carseat so they were a little hesitant about taking us because he didn't want to get a ticket. Well, you'd never know we had a baby in the car the way he drove. He was crazy! But we FINALLY made it to our hotel at like 7 and found out that it's in the prostitution part of town (which is actually a legal JOB in Germany) So we walk by "houses" whenever we go anywhere. If she would have known where it was we would NOT have stayed there. We went to check in and asked if they had an elevator. Elevators in Germany are like the size of our closets, except the one in our hotel was barely big enough to fit the stroller and natalie, I mean just barely. Luckily we are on the second floor so it's not too long of a ride. Or for me too many stairs. We settled in for the night, we went a McDonalds where I had ice cream (YUM), and went to bed.

About 5:15 this morning the baby started crying a lot, she kind of cried on and off all night because she wasn't used to a new place to sleep but I didn't really wake up until this time. I couldn't go back to sleep so I read the rest of my book and just laid around. Then I got ready for the day and we started off to pick up Natalie's friend at the airport. We got to the subway terminal and there were no elevators so we took the stroller down an escalator, that was kind of scary. But we got on the subway and got to the airport around 1120. Chris (natalie's friend) was arriving at about 1145 so we waited, the baby cried so she took her the feeding room (actually a room designed for feeding your baby) and I waited for him at the exit. We waited and waited. The baby started to cry again so I held her and got her to sleep, then we waited some more. He wasn't coming out and we couldn't figure out what to do. We waited for about an hour and Natalie went to ask someone if there is a different place they came out. Well about an hour and a half after we got there we finally saw him. So we picked him up and came back to the hotel. We didn't do much, we walked around and ate at a restaurant where I had greek salad and french fries, and some real weird water (it like burned my mouth, weird) Then we walked back to the hotel. It's the middle of July right? You would never know that here because it was probably in the 50s today, it was very cold. I bought some chocolate! They are actually snow caps, I thought of you Chloe when I bought them. They are really good. But anyway, after we got back to the hotel the baby was sleeping so the rest of us laid down. I slept for about 2 hours, which could be why I am up at 1130 at night. But then Natalie took her friend back to the train station and we went to grab another small bite to eat at a Turkish place. I had a beef sandwich with some garlic sauce, it was really goo dbut really messy. And now I am here, at an internet cafe across from our hotel, and I hope Natalie's sleeping and not lonely. Hopefully tomorrow's trip back home will be non eventful and then I won't have to write anything about it. Gotta go!

Frankfurt Part 1

So this is a quick post because I am in an internet cafe and I am paying for it. Yesterday was crazy. We were going to try and make the 3 o'clock train to Frankfurt but we missed it so we decided to get on the 341 train. We got to the train station and Natalie's dad and I were waiting for Natalie and her mom. The time was getting closer and closer so her dad went to call them and as soon as he left I saw them going up the elevator. I joined them in the elevator and we got to the top floor and there was a train in the station, so we got on it. Well after the train starting moving we realized it was the wrong train. And not only that but we didn't have the baby's diaper bag. There is so much more but I am going to write tomorrow because I am running out of time. bye for now!

Just a quick note

Just wanted to tell everyone that everything is different here. The electrical outlets are different, the keys on the computers are different, and when you move into an apartment all you get is an empty apartment, no kitchen appliances, no lights, no bathroom mirrors, you're literally walking into a completely empty apartment. The doors can be windows too! You just have to turn the knob a different way. They used to have a WalMart by my friend but they didn't make enough money so they closed down. I thought there would be somewhat like the states, it's not. I am enjoying it so far though. The weather is nice. Natalie and I are going to Frankfurt for the next 2 days and I am not sure if she is bringing her laptop or not but I will post pictures and another blog when we get home.

I'm never coming back!

Just kidding! I just never want to travel that long again EVER! Let me start from the beginning.

I got up at 4 Friday morning. My first flight left at 745. I got onto the plane and I was in the same row as a lady who was my size and a lady who was bigger than me. We sat squished like sardines for 2 hours. It was hot and not so fun. Then the flight from Houston to Newark I had a seat between me and the uy I was sitting with. I tried to talk to him but he just seemed really annoyed so I stopped. After getting off the plane in Newark I wanted to call my mom and say one last goodbye. But I didn't get off the plane until 645 and my plane left at 725 so I had to run across the airport. Once I got to my gate I called my mom real quick to say I love you. And then I boarded my torture chamber. 8 hours on a plane, squished, and tired. The lady I sat next to was really nice and she gave me some tips on what to see in Germany. I only slept one hour and so I was super bored and by the end I was SOO ready to get out of the plane!! After I got off the plane I made my way to the train station and waited. I boarded the train but got on First Class and I was supposed to be on 2nd class. So started from one end of the train to go to the other side. It was not fun! Trying to lug 2 huge suitcases with me through tiny walkways. But once I got to the restaurant part I just sat at one of the tables and waited. The scenery in Germany is just how you see it in the movies. Random little towns with cute houses with pointy roofs, and a church steeple towering over the town. It's so green and beautiful. It is raining right now as I right this. But anyway after 24 hours I finally got to my destination. Natalie, her parents, and the baby were there to greet me and they had US flags. It was cute!

We went and got subway to eat and then headed back to Natalie's apartment. She showed me around and then I held the baby for a while. Then I took a nap, that was nice. Now it's 915 and we are discussing going to the store or not. So that's it for today! No pictures yet.

German word of the day: bahn. it means train. Love you!

Two days to go!

So I am leaving for Germany in two days. I am kind of freaking out because I only have one more day to pack and get a lot of stuff done. But I am excited as well because I will be in Germany in 3 days!!

I am a little nervous about flying so much and also VERY sad to leave my family and friends. I get kind of choked up when I think about saying bye to my family, 6 months is a long time. Alyssa will be done with half of 6th grade! But I know God has amazing things prepared for me. Thanks for reading and check back often because I will be posting once I get there.