8 hours on a train...

On Wednesday Christine drove me to Muenchen so that we could meet up with Susanne and her family. We went to their house, had cake, drank umpteenth glasses of champagne, tea, and water, and then had quiche. We walked to the soccer stadium where we met up with Christines husband, Ingo, for the game. The German team, Bayern Muenchen, won 4 to 1. It was such a cool game!! Saying goodbye to them that night was bittersweet. I was excited to stay with Susanne and her family but sad to say goodbye to them.

On Thursday Christine took me to Bavaria Film Studios where we went on a tour. It was very cool!! I got to see how some of the most famous German films were made, and also see the sets! I also participated in the acting portion of the tour, where they had volunteers from the audience act some stuff out. The tour was in German so I was a bit nervous about understanding the directions and reading the lines, but I did great!!

That night we went to a beer garden where I drank beer mixed with lemonade and had a nice chat with Susanne and her husband, Uwe.

Today Susanne brought me to the train station. I took a 3 hour train ride to meet Antje to get my suitcase, and from there I went back down south which took another 4 hours. Karin met me at the train station in Nuertingen. She screamed, Molly! Typical Karin, haha.

This evening we had dinner at Omas and I tried some delicious red wine.

Time to go, Molly

Who knew service here was this bad??

On Sunday the Tassinger family and I went to a triathalon being held on the Kuhsee. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed watching the participants swim, bike, and run. Christines mom took part, which I think is commendable, considering Im like 40 years younger than her and I couldnt handle that much exercise. But I suppose she does sports all of the time.

Anyway later that evening we went out to a beer garden. Everyone except Christine...the boys had strep throat last week and gave it to her. We met up with family friends at the beer garden. It took us 2 whole hours to get our food. How long can it take to make spaghetti for the kids?? I mean, come on. We waited another half hour to pay before Ingo decided he couldnt take it anymore. He left a napkin with the bartendar that had his name and phone number on it and what we ordered. He said if they wanted the money, theyd have to call him. Thank goodness we have better service in America!!

On Monday I got up late, had a meat and cheese baguette with Christine, and then went to a little performance at Nicos preschool. They sang songs and it was very cute. Last night we had a nice dinner outside, and I enjoyed some yummy white wine.

Today I got up around 10, had spaghetti with Christine and Simon around noon, and then later we took Simon and Nico to a thing at a local gym. They play music in the background as the kids do various basic gymnastic activities. After that we went to a travel circus type thing that had a lot of moon walks and things like that for kids to do. There was also a 4 wheeler (motorcycle) for the kids to ride. Was very strange, as the kids running everything were around 10 years old. There were no adults in site. Was very shady. In America the kids would have to sign waiver forms before driving a 4 wheeler...am I right?? At least after that we got to go out for ice cream...I had mint chocolate chip and chocolate...yum!!

Tomorrow Christine will take me to Munich where we will have coffee and cake with Susanne. After that we re going to a soccer game...yay! But then Ill have to say goodbye to the Tassinger family, since Im staying with the Deuke family for my last 2 nights in Bavaria. I hate goodbyes!! Ugh!! But I do know that I will see these people again next year, and that is comforting. Years go by pretty fast.

Time to spend a bit of time with my host parents on my last night here.

Bye, Molly

Movies, Beer, and Good Friends

On Wednesday Christine, her son Simon, and I, went to the Freibad, or the public pool as we call it in English. I relaxed in the warmest pool they have. Was very nice.

In the the evening Christine and I went to see the movie The Proposal, or as it is called here, Selbst ist die Braut. The theater was holding a ladies night. So basically we got a free mini bottle of champagne each and admission to the movie. Was really a very cute movie and the champagne was delicious. I just keep thinking of Ramone..the way he is spelled his name using spanish pronunciation is just priceless. Christine and I just couldnt stop laughing.

On Thursday Christine took me to Munich. We walked around a bit, had lunch, and then I met up with my friend Lotte. I hadnt seen her in 4 years! We made Maultaschen for dinner, then went out shopping. I went crazy and bought tons of stuff from S. Oliver and Esprit, my two new favorite stores. Later that evening we went to see the movie the Hangover, which was pretty funny. Weird though, since it was dubbed into German....

On Friday I took the train back to Augsburg. I got off a stop too early and had to call Christine and tell her to wait for me because I had to wait for the next train. Ugh...stupid me. Later that day we went to a fest outside for Simons Kindergarten. It was on a farm so there were lots of beautiful horses running around. The kids sang, and then we ate some delicious food...everyone had to bring something. After Christine, Ingo, the kids and I went to see the marching band perform in the town square...there were tents set up and everyone was drinking beer out of those huge mugs. It honestly looked like stereotypical Bavaria, which was hilarious. Christine and I split one of those huge mugs of Radler, which is beer mixed with lemonade. It was actually delicious. Unf. the marching band ended up getting rained out, so we headed back home. We watched a Krimi on TV and then I went to sleep.

Today Christine and I went to Schloss Neuschwanstein, the most famous castle in all of Germany. We had to walk up a steep hill to get there, but it was definitely worth it. Its so very beautiful there! We went on an English tour, and unf. the guide had horrible pronunciation, so much so that I could barely understand her at times. But that was okay, since Christine and I got a pretty good laugh out of it.

This evening I am relaxing, and watching Degrassi. I havent had a relaxing night like this in a while and I am enjoying it a lot.

I should probably sleep soon. Bye!! Molly

Gruess Gott!

...That`s what they say when you enter stores in Bavaria. So on Monday of this week, I made the journey from Hahnenklee to Augsburg. That involved taking the bus to Goslar, which arrived late. Then I bought my train ticket and proceeded to miss my first train, so I had to wait 45 minutes for the next one. Thank goodness I had my cell phone with me to call and tell her that I`d be arriving at the train station an hour later than expected! When I did arrive, I was so excited to see them.

That evening we had dinner outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Yesterday Christine and her son, 3 year old Simon, and I went to Augsburg. We shopped and saw the sites...There was a sale at Esprit and since that is currently my new favorite store, I had to stop in and buy a few things. My new fave color is purple, so I have a bunch of purple esprit shirts that I`ve bought since I`ve gotten here.

Last night there was a BMW Grillfest to celebrate the hybrid project, so we did go to that. It was interesting to see the differences between a German work party and an American work party.

That`s all for now, Molly

So long...farewell...Auf Wiedersehen...Goodbye

It's not goodbye Germany...not yet anyway. It's goodbye to my "host family" and the little town of Hahnenklee. I've been here with this family for 4 weeks and I've really been loving it. I'm really trying not to cry, to just suck it up and move on tomorrow. Not the easiest thing for a person like me, but I'm getting better at it. The rest of this trip will hopefully be just as amazing as the first half.

This trip has been making me think so much about my future. I've got just one more year of University, and I'm going to make it count. By make it count I mean have the time of my life... And after that I'm getting the heck out of Michigan. Nothing wrong with Michigan, I do like it a lot. It has its charms--Northern Michigan especially. And I love being near my family. But I've got this Wanderlust in me. I have to travel :-) So the plan is, at the very least, to live abroad for a year after I graduate. Before I move back to the states, I have to have perfected my German and my Spanish.

I think that glass of wine is getting to me...goodnight.

M

Sangria :-)

Yesterday Frauke and I took Jan and Maya and went grocery shopping. That's always interesting, considering Jan grabs everything and says we have to buy it, haha.

Later in the evening, after the kids went to bed, Kerstin came over and the 3 of us had salad, and later Sangria. After one glass I think I was a little bit out of it, but I had 2 because it was so delicious. The conversations were quite interesting, and Kerstin has led an interesting life. She actually didn't travel abroad until she was 26, but since then she has been traveling quite a lot. Her life is the kind I want to lead. One that involves Au Pairing, traveling to exotic and different countries like South Africa, and of course, going to England and other parts of the United Kingdom.

Today is my last day here in Bockswiese/Hahnenklee-Goslar Area. Kind of sad, but I'm excited for the next half of my trip. For what is to come. 

Bye, Molly

I think I'm addicted to ice cream... :-)

So yesterday we spent a full day in Hahnenklee. So we walked "downtown," ate ice cream, and the kids played at the park. (Lia and Leon, the neighbor kids, came with us). By last night I was exhausted from all of the fresh air, so I relaxed and watched Somewhere in Time. Good movie :-) 

Today I ate, and I ate, and did I mention I ate? I did work it off though. I took Jan for a walk in his stoller so that he'd go to sleep...it took forever. Once we walked passed a smart car, and then horses, then dogs... And there was just so much to look at. So I took him into the forest for the rest of the walk and then he fell asleep. Guess the environment was too boring for him.

Time to go pack. I am being picked up here by Marianne's parents on Saturday, then they are driving me to the airport on Monday. I will be flying to Munich. Wow, I can't believe my 4 weeks here are almost up!! I'm really sad about it, actually. It's okay though, I'm excited for Munich, Augsburg, Amsterdam, and Paris!! 

Bye, Molly

Trying to get together with every friend you have that lives in Germany within 8 weeks is nearly impossible...

Hola,

I need to stop and realize I cannot visit everyone I know. Although I do want to see everyone I care about that lives in Germany, that's simply not possible. It costs a lot of money, but also a lot of time that I don't have. It's time to start saying NO:I'll see you next time around, even if I don't want to.

Yesterday Frauke, the kids, and I went on the Seilbahn (the ski lift) up to the top of the mountain. There we had a beautiful view of Hahnenklee & nearby Goslar. Although I was a bit nervous at first (I'm a bit afraid of heights), I was really glad I did it.

Today we went to Hahnenklee and ate ice cream. Surprise--haha. Speaking German and eating ice cream is basically all I need while I'm here...haha.

I'm here til Saturday, then it's off to Hannover to visit Marianne's parents...then on to Munich!! What a busy 8 weeks this is turning out to be!!

Heart, Molly

Think before tipping...

So on Friday night, after we got back from Oma's, Angi and I went out for cocktails with her friend, Britta. It was happy hour or something like that, so some drinks were 1/2 off/reduced. So I got a strawberry daquiri for 3.80 Euro. Before I drank it I was exhausted, after I drank it I was drunk. When the waitress came over and we paid, she told me I owed 3.80 Euro. I told her six, which I was thinking meant that I would get six dollars back. (In Germany the tip is already included so it is customary to just round the total up to the next dollar). Instead she gave me 4 Euro back. And I was thinking, what did I do wrong? Whoops, I should've either said 4, meaning that I wanted to pay 4 Euro, or have clarified that I wanted 6 dollars back. Because in Germny if you just say 6 for example, you are saying how much you want to pay. I was too drunk to notice apparently and gave a majorly huge tip, one bigger than I would've even given in America. Oh well...

On Saturday Angi and I went into town for ice cream, and then we headed to a monestary. It was pretty beautiful there, and there were a few weddings going on that were fun to watch. The Italian couple was especially interesting-they looked so sad to be getting married. After that Angi and I drove to Flacht, where she visited her parents and I went to visit the Schmitts (they live on the same street). We ate waffles, drank coffee, and caught up. Then Elke, Erica, and Eva and I went for a walk. Later in the evening Angi picked me up and we went to our friend Steffi's to celebrate her 22nd birthday :) Was really cool to see her. The last time I saw her was 4 years before at her 18th birthday. Weird, huh? I also saw some other people that I knew. I met Angi, Steffi, and other students when I visited Gymnasium Rutesheim (a high school) during my first stay in Germany. We got back to Angi's "dorm room" at about 2am...blah. I was so exhausted this morning! 

Today we just had breakfast and she took me back to the train station. It was hard saying goodbye. It was such a nice weekend! But hopefully we will see each other soon. Time flies by pretty quickly...

My my time flies... (haha Jenna).

Bye, Molly

Ritter Sport, Shoppen, und Schlaitdorf!

Today Angi and I went to the Ritter Sport Museum. I've been before, but wanted to go again. Was cool, we even got a couple free chocolate samples! Hazelnut chocolate tastes great by the way. After that we walked around a little town that wasn't all that interesting or attractive...a rather dead town...

Then we headed over to Oma's in Schlaitdorf. We had coffee and cake with her. I had 2 pieces of two different kinds of cake and felt like I would burst! Then Angi and I went shopping at an outlet mall. We both bought something at the Esprit outlet. I got a cute purple jacket, she got white shorts.

We then headed back to Schaitdorf. We first sat out on Claudi and Ralf's balcony along with the 2 of them, their son Jannik, and Claudi's parents. Jannik can speak a bit of english so we had fun goofing around in both lanuages. Ralf likes to TRY speaking english. The key word is TRY--the outcome is always hilarious. We all headed to Oma's for dinner, and we had a nice dinner full of lively conversation. On our way out, Oma gave us both a bar of Ritter Sport chocolate. Well I got 2...haha.

I am exhausted exhausted...more later...

Gruesse, Molly

Greetings from Tuebingen!

Hi Everyone,

Its been an exhausting week, which translates into me not updating. Which also means I'm racking my brain, trying to figure out what I've been up to this week.

Tuesday--We took the kids to Goslar again so that Thies could get a hair cut. The kids and I went on the Bimmelbahn. It's a little train that gives you a tour of the city. Was cool and I learned a lot more about Goslar.

Wednesday--This was the rainiest of all rainy days, so we stayed inside most of the day. I entertained Jan for a long while. He is 2 and adorable. We all ended up going to the supermarket, which also has a Mediamarkt, a toy section, and a book section on the second floor. Thies and Jan and I went to look at toys. Thies is 5 and doesn't wander off....Jan can't sit still. So basically I was chasing Jan everwhere and Thies would be like...Molly, don't leave me!! Not that I was trying to. It was just hard to keep Jan in check...

Thursday--I took the train to Tuebingen. Was 6 hours long, but I felt like a princess since I was in first class (it was cheaper than 2nd class, don't ask me why.) So I was sitting, sipping tea and reading a book the whole way. Was amazing... haha.

Angi met me at the train station in Tuebingen. It was so awesome to see her. It's been 4 years!! Anyway, after we put my things in her room we walked around the city a bit. She bought me ice cream--I had chocolate, she had straciatella--and then we just walked around town. I bought a few things at the bookstore--suprise, suprise...

Later on in the evening we got to go on a punt (I'm told this is the English word, however it sounds wrong to me), actually I would call it a gandalla, like those boats they have in Italy. Angi reserved one for us, which was such a cool idea. One of her guy friends steered the boat--which is a lot of work...and we had a mini grill on board. So we grilled out, had salad, bread, and champagne...All while on this boat sailing down the Neckar. It was honestly one of the coolest things I've done in Germany!!

I am excited for the rest of this weekend. If I ever want to do anything, I better go get ready.

More later.

Tschuess, Molly

Pizza for 2 meals in one day...

Yes it's true. I had pizza for 2 meals today. It's my fault for having pizza for lunch. We ate at this fast food type place that only offers fish, so I went across the street and bought a slice of pizza. LOL. My stomach could not handle any fish today...

So today we took the bus to Goslar. I managed to buy pretty much nothing, except for the large amount of chocolate which will be used to feed my addiction. I'm doing pretty well managing my money, but that's easier during the week than it is on weekends. This coming weekend I'm visiting Angi, and I'm sure that will be costly. Although I've already paid for the train ticket (I'm going 1st class, it was cheaper--yay!) , there will be disco admissions, drinks, food, souveniers, etc. Will be worth it though. I haven't seen her in 4 years and I'm super excited.

Tomorrow I will eat better. More salad...maybe 2 salads to balance out the pizza.

Tschuess, Molly

Would you like a salad at the snack stand? That'll be 45 minutes.

Today I woke up after having slept for 12 hours, so I was feeling pretty good about life, haha. Frauke and I, along with her friends, and of course her kids, headed to a nearby lake. It has a play structure, our main reason for choosing it. It gives the kids something to do. When we got there we found out there was admission-2.50 Euro for adults. The kids got in free. Makes no sense, right? As Antje said, it's not as if we're going to go on the play structure or something.

But anway, there we did put our feet in the lake, was nice, and the surroundings were beautiful. Problems did end up coming our way, however, when we sat down to eat. We ordered food at the snack stand, and then proceeded to wait for it. While others who ordered after us were getting their food, we were still waiting. And during this time, Jan fell over on a chair, Thies was complaining about being hot, and Maya was crying because she was hungry. They are kids, it's to be expected. It's just difficult when you're trying to help, but you can't, because all they want is their mom. Anyway, we did get our food after we complained. My greek salad was good, but the other food wasn't all that great, so they eventually took it back and had them do it again. Rightly so....

Later in the afternoon I went swimming with Peter and Steffi, two of Frauke's friends. It was really refreshing to be able to take a dip in the water after such a hot morning/early afternoon. Our surroundings were the Harz mountains, and I was reminded again how lucky I am to be here. I absolutely love it here ;)

So after I graduate, am I going to be an Au Pair for 6 months? You bet...because there is no way I'm going to start working...2 weeks off in a year is just too little!

Love from the Harz (haha, I mean the Harz mountains),

Molly

Using the bathroom on a train...

So last night Kristin and I went to see the movie  Ice Age 3, which was super cute, especially since it was in German ;)

So I wasn't feeling to chipper today, so I decided to just spend one night at Kristin's, and come back tonight.

Today we took the train to Weimar and then the bus to Buchenwald, where we saw the concentration camp. To be in there, to see the barbed wires, to see where this people were gassed, to stand there where they stood...it's impossible to explain. Incredibly emotional....I was speechless. Eventually my emotion turned to disgust. Across from the barbed wire there is what used to be a little zoo, where the S.S. and their family got to walk around and relax with their children. These people-the one's that were helping to kill those in the camps-had a zoo they could bring their children to-right across from the concentration camp. Disgusting. It's one thing to read about this in books, it's quite another to see the remains yourself. It's chilling. The camp is still there for all to see. Rightly so-a memorial to those who've died-and a reminder to us all never to let something so terrible happen again.

After that I ended up heading back to Hahnenklee. This involved 3 trains, a bus, and a walk back to the house. So on one of the trains, I sat across from this disgusting looking couple that felt the need to kiss each other every 2 seconds. I wanted to gag! Then,  I had to go to the bathroom. Have you ever tried going to the bathroom on a moving train? Oh my gosh. I kept swaying from side to side. I was surprised I was able to pee! Toilet paper flew everywhere when I tried to grab some. I survived though. After all three trains I had to make the bus. My train arrived at 8:04. My bus left at 8:05. So I had to run run run like a maniac down the steps, up the steps, and managed to just make the bus, only to realize that it was full and I'd have to stand. No biggie-at least I made it. The walk home was fine. I'm surprised nothing happened...would be just my luck.

I have a headache, not feeling too well, but trying to think positive and am looking forward to the rest of my stay here.

Adios, Molly

Seriously??? Am I in America??

Hola,

So yesterday Oma and I took Jan and Maya to the park and to feed the goats...very cute to watch Jan feed them.

Today I took the train to Jena. Well, more specifically: I took a bus to Goslar. Then a train from Goslar to Jena-with 3 stops in between. But I made it, and now i'm here with Kristin.

She showed me her University and around town. We got ice cream, and as I always do in Germany, I ordered 2 scoops. I felt like I was in america--the scoops were so damn huge! What's up with that?

It's so hot here I could die. Come on Germany, I love your stormy weather!

Molly

I'm in desperate need of an internal GPS....

Hi-I've been here like 10 days I think, or more, and I still can't remember how to get to many of the places I've already been to! Argh!

So yesterday was a day of going to the park, eating ice cream, sending postcards... Simple and yet absolutely perfect. 

Today didn't go very smoothly with the kids---they are all a bit sick unfortunately... so although we did make it to the ice dealer (where I got a banana split--yum!), the park wasn't such a huge success.  2 1/2 year old Jan decided to throw sand all over 9 month old Maya's hair, and while she was crying, 5 year Thies jumped off of part of the play structure and hit his head. With two of us, though, it worked. Frauke took Thies to the doctor and I went back to the house with Maya and Jan. It's really amazing seeing what you have to do as a mother. It's not like a 9-5 job, where there is eventually an end. Once you have a child, you're a parent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And although I can see that it will take a lot, I do eventually want to have kids. Because I can see that it's worth it. However there is a lot of time for that, and I want to travel and see the world first :)

This weekend will be another exciting one for me. I've booked a train ticket-albeit an expensive one-to go and see Kristin in Jena-yay! Will be very cool to see her again after a year of being apart.

Time to go to sleep...or watch videos on you tube. Wonder which one I'll choose?

Later, Molly