Dienstag, September 06, 2005
MORGEN!
Someone said HI to me today!! Actually, this old man who was walking (with those two ski-pole like thingies, I forget what it's called) pretty much barked 'MORGEN!' at me as I ran past him--almost looking angry that I hadn't thought to say 'Hallo' to him first. I nearly pee'd myself before I choked out a pathetic, American-sounding, 'uhh...mor-gan.' But, it made me happy too... I *knew* those Germans would come around.
Thought I would post this BEFORE I went into the city tonight, so I have energy. As life turns 'normal' for me, I realize that I am no longer seeing all the awesome things about Hannover that I made sure to detail in my first day here.
I have talked about my LOVE for my bike, right? I rode Ina's bike this weekend because Lars was using mine (it has the baby seat on it) and couldn't help but note the superiority of 'my' bike. Although, now that I am getting better at biking, I think the seat is too low... My calves have been killing me, which is making running painful, which is making me angry. :) So, yeah, I look like a Mommy all the time because of this baby seat on the back of my bike. It is so funny coming home late at night from the city and having my bike be the only one left on the rack in town (near the Ubahn stop). There it is, baby seat and all. People are probably like, 'What the heck is wrong with mothers these days? Staying out until all hours...' Last night, I came home later than I wanted to because the Ubahn had broken down or something, and I went to get my bike and couldn't remember the freaking combination to my lock... I stood there pulling and pulling and pulling on this lock, until I finally realized that I had inverted the middle two numbers. And, without fail, I forget to put my headlight on 99% of the time when I bike home at night and have to stop again and flail around to turn it on. No wonder I wasn't much in the mood for posting last night. I had just had this convo with another American au pair who is having a miserable time (and I think subtly trying to infer that my honeymoon here is about to come to an end), had to wait forever for the UBahn, and then when I finally got back couldn't unlock my bike... Oh Heather...
The family and I live on a brick street. I love it--maybe it reminds me of CW or something. Ina doesn't like it... As a child, she thought she would never live on a brick-lined street because all the planned communities have brick-lined streets--maybe it seemed a little pretentious to her. Pretentious is one of Ina's new fave words--I taught it to her last week when I was talking about my academic self. 'People might think I'm a little pretentious.' So, for me, this street is awesome, but I think for Ina it represents some things she doesn't like. The rule for exiting a brick-lined street is that YOU have to stop for traffic. There is no stop sign at the end of our road, but because it's brick, I stop and the cars on the (asphault) cross street have the right of way.
Because I am an overachiever (and get bored easily) I have planned 'curriculum' for Kathi and I for the year. September is 'garden' month--we are going to make a garden in my room so I can tough out the cold winter. Today, we finished the butterflies (schmetterling) we started yesterday and made ladybug (marienkäfer) cupcakes--vanilla cupcake with red frosted dotted with chocolate chip spots and blue m&m eyes. Aren't I the coolest!?!
Speaking of overachiever, I wrote my CV out last week--the Uni of Hannover may have adjunct prof positions open in the American Studies dept & I need a CV for grad school anyway. (In U.S. terms, a CV is different from a resume because it concentrates on your academic interest and experience--I talked about the presentations I've given, like the Monroe lunch, my thesis, etc.) Anyway, I used this model from the Uni of Tuscon or something. The name on the CV was 'Over A. Chiever' (get it?). The sad thing was... it was my freaking resume, except Over majored in Pscych...
Finally, ELK wins!!!! Thank you ELK for being the first person to send me mail :) (Your letter and my Mom's arrived today, but family can't win--sorry Mom!!) Thought you deserved a Blog shout-out ELK for the pics and great letter!!! I miss you!! I loved the pic from wine & cheese--Kathi made me tell her EVERYONE'S name :) BUT, I especially love how wasted I look in that picture... and remembering some of the info I shared. (PS: Purple is out, pink is in!) Loveya ELK (and you too Mom).
Have a great 4-day week everyone :)
Thought I would post this BEFORE I went into the city tonight, so I have energy. As life turns 'normal' for me, I realize that I am no longer seeing all the awesome things about Hannover that I made sure to detail in my first day here.
I have talked about my LOVE for my bike, right? I rode Ina's bike this weekend because Lars was using mine (it has the baby seat on it) and couldn't help but note the superiority of 'my' bike. Although, now that I am getting better at biking, I think the seat is too low... My calves have been killing me, which is making running painful, which is making me angry. :) So, yeah, I look like a Mommy all the time because of this baby seat on the back of my bike. It is so funny coming home late at night from the city and having my bike be the only one left on the rack in town (near the Ubahn stop). There it is, baby seat and all. People are probably like, 'What the heck is wrong with mothers these days? Staying out until all hours...' Last night, I came home later than I wanted to because the Ubahn had broken down or something, and I went to get my bike and couldn't remember the freaking combination to my lock... I stood there pulling and pulling and pulling on this lock, until I finally realized that I had inverted the middle two numbers. And, without fail, I forget to put my headlight on 99% of the time when I bike home at night and have to stop again and flail around to turn it on. No wonder I wasn't much in the mood for posting last night. I had just had this convo with another American au pair who is having a miserable time (and I think subtly trying to infer that my honeymoon here is about to come to an end), had to wait forever for the UBahn, and then when I finally got back couldn't unlock my bike... Oh Heather...
The family and I live on a brick street. I love it--maybe it reminds me of CW or something. Ina doesn't like it... As a child, she thought she would never live on a brick-lined street because all the planned communities have brick-lined streets--maybe it seemed a little pretentious to her. Pretentious is one of Ina's new fave words--I taught it to her last week when I was talking about my academic self. 'People might think I'm a little pretentious.' So, for me, this street is awesome, but I think for Ina it represents some things she doesn't like. The rule for exiting a brick-lined street is that YOU have to stop for traffic. There is no stop sign at the end of our road, but because it's brick, I stop and the cars on the (asphault) cross street have the right of way.
Because I am an overachiever (and get bored easily) I have planned 'curriculum' for Kathi and I for the year. September is 'garden' month--we are going to make a garden in my room so I can tough out the cold winter. Today, we finished the butterflies (schmetterling) we started yesterday and made ladybug (marienkäfer) cupcakes--vanilla cupcake with red frosted dotted with chocolate chip spots and blue m&m eyes. Aren't I the coolest!?!
Speaking of overachiever, I wrote my CV out last week--the Uni of Hannover may have adjunct prof positions open in the American Studies dept & I need a CV for grad school anyway. (In U.S. terms, a CV is different from a resume because it concentrates on your academic interest and experience--I talked about the presentations I've given, like the Monroe lunch, my thesis, etc.) Anyway, I used this model from the Uni of Tuscon or something. The name on the CV was 'Over A. Chiever' (get it?). The sad thing was... it was my freaking resume, except Over majored in Pscych...
Finally, ELK wins!!!! Thank you ELK for being the first person to send me mail :) (Your letter and my Mom's arrived today, but family can't win--sorry Mom!!) Thought you deserved a Blog shout-out ELK for the pics and great letter!!! I miss you!! I loved the pic from wine & cheese--Kathi made me tell her EVERYONE'S name :) BUT, I especially love how wasted I look in that picture... and remembering some of the info I shared. (PS: Purple is out, pink is in!) Loveya ELK (and you too Mom).
Have a great 4-day week everyone :)
# posted by Heather @ 4:43 PM 
