Mittwoch, August 24, 2005
It's a small world...
I think that my world here is going to be vast but very small. Every day there is something new to learn--of course, the language, but also the way Germans do things. Today I learned how to throw out garbage. We have an 'organic waste,' 'paper,' 'plastic & metal,' 'glass,' and 'residual waste' (everything else). Ina gave me a brochure on the German gov't because there are elections coming up in a month. I don't get to vote, of course, but I would like to know what is going on and why!
My world is small in that every day is pretty much going to be the same. Well, my school (schule) doesn't start until October, but Henrik & Ina (a teacher) start tomorrow. I will pick up Kathi in kindergarten, get Henrik, come home and prepare lunch, take care of the kids in the afternoon. I will pretty much have evenings off... and weekends, too, unless Lars (the dad) is on a business trip. I will be biking everywhere. Now, in America of course we have the saying 'it's just like riding a bike'--you never forget. Well, you may not forget but you CAN get rusty. Lars took me out biking last night. The bike is 'sized correctly' which means that I can just touch the ground from the seat...not used to that. I was soooo wobbly, and we had to keep making the seat lower (I guess I am a bit shorter than all the other au pairs!). I could tell he was thinking, 'This girl is going to be biking my CHILD around.' Well, I am already getting better! However, having a child on the back makes things tricky. I'm sure by the end of my time here I will be Zipping around and laughing at the girl who came and couldn't do anything. Lars took me for ice cream after our bike tour--he had spaghetti ice cream! Doesn't that sound gross... actually, it is just vanilla ice cream shaped like spaghetti w/strawberry sauce and white chocolate in parmesan-shaped flakes. sooo funny :) I had a fruity sundae... mmmm......
I can't tell if I am homesick. I think I am just still tired/jetlagged. It's funny because I did get homesick at camp (in connecticut)--well, and I just didn't like it. I think *that* homesickness came from knowing that I was leaving for Germany and wanting to spend time with family before I left. Well, I did that, no regrets--had a great time :) I am glad I did. I feel like I can talk more logically to myself. 'I miss my family.' 'Well, that's nice, but you DID get to spend time with them this summer and you will see them again soon.' Plus, the internet is great because it keeps us sooo connected :) It was fun to 'watch' all the WMers start school today. I honestly don't really miss that. Of course, I LOVED college and DO miss my friends... but that time of my life is done. I have mixed feelings about that, of course, but I think 'seeing' all the other 05-ers start new lives is helpful. So many ppl are 'real adults,' with their own apartments, jobs, etc. DIFFERENT people are living at Bryan Corner, I no longer have 'my' computer at the WRC, someone else will teach Kickboxing at the rec--and I am excited for those people :). Plus, I have so many friendly faces staring at me from all my pictures!
Haha, I am still afraid (?) to do some things though. I won't listen to my NickelCreek CD yet, because I don't want 'When You Come Back Down' to make me cry. Oh... I almost bawled when my parents and I hung out on my last day and listened to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The song 'Teach Your Children' just CHOKED ME UP!
You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good-bye.
Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you. (awww...)
There are some things I really love about Hannover. I like going to the market daily to buy ingredients for lunch. I like biking. I like the public transportation. I am enjoying the German meal-system: muesli for breakfast, BIG lunch, evening meal of breads and cheeses. I really enjoy this family... I feel at home already. I'm sure at some point I will actually be homesick... maybe once I get to know German better and can't understand, unlike now where I listen but don't try to comprehend...
Anyway, lotsa love to you all! :-) Keep in touch, drop me an IM, email, or a real letter!?!?!?!
<3<3<3
I think that my world here is going to be vast but very small. Every day there is something new to learn--of course, the language, but also the way Germans do things. Today I learned how to throw out garbage. We have an 'organic waste,' 'paper,' 'plastic & metal,' 'glass,' and 'residual waste' (everything else). Ina gave me a brochure on the German gov't because there are elections coming up in a month. I don't get to vote, of course, but I would like to know what is going on and why!
My world is small in that every day is pretty much going to be the same. Well, my school (schule) doesn't start until October, but Henrik & Ina (a teacher) start tomorrow. I will pick up Kathi in kindergarten, get Henrik, come home and prepare lunch, take care of the kids in the afternoon. I will pretty much have evenings off... and weekends, too, unless Lars (the dad) is on a business trip. I will be biking everywhere. Now, in America of course we have the saying 'it's just like riding a bike'--you never forget. Well, you may not forget but you CAN get rusty. Lars took me out biking last night. The bike is 'sized correctly' which means that I can just touch the ground from the seat...not used to that. I was soooo wobbly, and we had to keep making the seat lower (I guess I am a bit shorter than all the other au pairs!). I could tell he was thinking, 'This girl is going to be biking my CHILD around.' Well, I am already getting better! However, having a child on the back makes things tricky. I'm sure by the end of my time here I will be Zipping around and laughing at the girl who came and couldn't do anything. Lars took me for ice cream after our bike tour--he had spaghetti ice cream! Doesn't that sound gross... actually, it is just vanilla ice cream shaped like spaghetti w/strawberry sauce and white chocolate in parmesan-shaped flakes. sooo funny :) I had a fruity sundae... mmmm......
I can't tell if I am homesick. I think I am just still tired/jetlagged. It's funny because I did get homesick at camp (in connecticut)--well, and I just didn't like it. I think *that* homesickness came from knowing that I was leaving for Germany and wanting to spend time with family before I left. Well, I did that, no regrets--had a great time :) I am glad I did. I feel like I can talk more logically to myself. 'I miss my family.' 'Well, that's nice, but you DID get to spend time with them this summer and you will see them again soon.' Plus, the internet is great because it keeps us sooo connected :) It was fun to 'watch' all the WMers start school today. I honestly don't really miss that. Of course, I LOVED college and DO miss my friends... but that time of my life is done. I have mixed feelings about that, of course, but I think 'seeing' all the other 05-ers start new lives is helpful. So many ppl are 'real adults,' with their own apartments, jobs, etc. DIFFERENT people are living at Bryan Corner, I no longer have 'my' computer at the WRC, someone else will teach Kickboxing at the rec--and I am excited for those people :). Plus, I have so many friendly faces staring at me from all my pictures!
Haha, I am still afraid (?) to do some things though. I won't listen to my NickelCreek CD yet, because I don't want 'When You Come Back Down' to make me cry. Oh... I almost bawled when my parents and I hung out on my last day and listened to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The song 'Teach Your Children' just CHOKED ME UP!
You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good-bye.
Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you. (awww...)
There are some things I really love about Hannover. I like going to the market daily to buy ingredients for lunch. I like biking. I like the public transportation. I am enjoying the German meal-system: muesli for breakfast, BIG lunch, evening meal of breads and cheeses. I really enjoy this family... I feel at home already. I'm sure at some point I will actually be homesick... maybe once I get to know German better and can't understand, unlike now where I listen but don't try to comprehend...
Anyway, lotsa love to you all! :-) Keep in touch, drop me an IM, email, or a real letter!?!?!?!
<3<3<3
# posted by Heather @ 7:09 PM 
