Monday I opted to skip my German class. I'd have only gotten four hours of sleep before I would have gotten up for class and I just couldn't bring myself to do that. Last time I went to class, my teacher commented on the fact that I'm always yawning. I figured I would spare her of that this time around. I lounged around all morning and then made my way over to M's for lunch with her and L. It was the first real, hot meal I had since before the weekend in Amsterdam and I was grateful. After lunch I went into town. I wanted to walk around a bit and see the progress of the Christmas Markets. I got home later than usual and HM and the kids were back by the time I got back. I spent the evening cooking some chicken and rice soup. HM liked the soup so much that she told me I need to cook every week.
Tuesday was a long day. I went to drop off the kids with HM. As we were getting the kids out of the car, One got mad at me for opening the door. HM started talking to him and he told her that he wasn't her son anymore and that he also wasn't my son either. I dropped HM off at work and took the car home. At home I ironed some of the kids clothing as my daily chore. I went for a run in the late morning and later I went into town. I've been slowly acquiring more warm clothing, sweaters in particular. I did a little shopping, though I didn't find anything I liked. I couldn't spend much time in town, as I had to leave the house at 3:30pm to pick the kids up from school so that HM could work late. It's interesting how much more the kids like me when HP aren't around. I first got Two, who smiled and wanted me to pick him up immediately. Whenever I set him down, he came back to me with his arms up. We made our way over to collect One, who screamed, "Farrah!!" when he saw me and then ran over to me. I wish they would always be so sweet. I brought them home and the three of us watched a movie and played until HM got home from work. We all ate dinner together, including some of the soup I had made the night before. One liked it so much that he drank up the broth. HM said that she could eat it every day. I was playing with One while HM put Two to sleep and he got mad at me (which is very commonplace). He often tells me about how we aren't friends anymore. This time he told me that he wanted to invite me to his birthday party (in April), but he wouldn't be able to do that if I wasn't going to listen to him. Kids say the darnedest things! Soon after this, I had to take him into the bathroom to get washed up for bed. He got really mad at me and started screaming and crying. I kept trying to calm him down because Two was trying to sleep, but every time I tried to talk, he just got more mad and screamed louder. Eventually I grabbed him and hugged him tight. I was sure that he was going to hit me - something he does from time to time. Instead, he buried his head in my neck and slowly calmed down. The entire exchange made me realize that I'll have to be more quick to switch up my approach when something clearly isn't working.
Wednesday wasn't as busy as Tuesday. The morning working hours were without incidence. I had a few chores to do, but mostly odds and ends and not one thing too time consuming. I went back to sleep once they were done, as I was exhausted. I finally got up, showered, and then went to the grocery store for some fresh bread. I spent some time facetiming with my mom in the afternoon before I made my way into town again. I went back to the American store to see if they sold condensed milk to make my pumpkin pie, but I couldn't find any. HM dropped One off with me and then left with Two for swim class. One and I hung out and ate dinner before they all got back. At one point I was reading his book about the ocean out loud in German while he played, per his request of course. HM and Two got home while we were doing this. One exclaimed, "Mama! Farrah can speak German! Really good German!" HD got home later and HM left almost immediately to go over to the neighbors. HD and I put the kids to sleep and then HD also left for the neighbors. I spend the evening "babysitting" the kids while they slept so that HP could visit with the neighbors and some other friends who were in town.
Thursday was Thanksgiving! I worked the usual hour in the morning. It was strange waking up to a house that didn't already smell like cooking food and to not have anyone wish me a Happy Thanksgiving immediately. I didn't do anything throughout the day, just lounged around and relaxed. At 4:30pm my Thanksgiving adventure finally began. I met up with Eddie, Basti (short for Bastian), and Patricia at the Hauptbahnhof. Basti is German and possibly Eddie's best friend. Patricia is also German. The four of us made our way to München (Munich) for a GRiZ concert. I'd never heard of GRiZ before I started hanging out with all these guys. GRiZ is an American DJ and producer who makes electro music with a "funk" feel. We arrived in München without problems and put our bags in a locker in the Hauptbahnhof. We were on the subway heading to the venue when we realized that Eddie had left our tickets in the locker. After some backtracking, we finally arrived at the concert venue. The concert was supposed to start at 8:30pm, but I think it began at 9:00pm. It was a lot more fun than I anticipated. I had only heard one or two of his songs beforehand, so I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy it. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a really small venue. At one point I was standing at the front of the stage just a mere three feet from the artist. That was pretty cool. The concert ended around 11:15pm or so. Our train from München was supposed to leave at 12:30am. We spent the hour walking around and trying to see if we could find a cool bar. We didn't have any luck. The train at 12:30am went to Ingolstadt, where we had to get off and wait for three hours. Yep, you read that right. We had to wait for three hours. We were able to sit and wait inside the lobby. About five other people were also waiting. At one point, Basti, Eddie, and myself were all sleeping while Patricia was listening to music. One of the other people waiting in the lobby approached Patricia with his phone in one hand and his other hand clutching his chest. He didn't speak German and his English wasn't good. We eventually figured out that he wanted us to call the ambulance for him. We did and they came. When all was said and done, there were about five police officers, four train workers, and two paramedics there. The man was eventually taken to the hospital. Basti and Eddie thought he was faking it to get a few nights in the hospital, but I'm still undecided. It was definitely a strange situation. There was something off about it, but I can't say what. It's possible that the man was a refugee, but I'm not sure about that either. About 30 minutes before we were supposed to get on our 4:17am train, Patricia realized that the ticket we had wasn't valid and it wasn't possible to buy the one we needed (the reasons for this are very complicated and I won't get into it). We spent awhile trying to figure out what to do. We even asked a Deutsche Bahn employee about what we should do, though she ended up giving us bad information. We didn't realize this until entirely too late, almost resulting in us missing our third train. We had to change trains again in a place called Treuchtlingen. Our connection was tight and the bad information about the train tickets almost caused us to miss the train. Alas, we finally made it back to Ansbach at 5:45am. The journey to München took just under two hours. The journey back took over five. The reason for this is mostly simple: the last direct train from München to Nürnberg/Ansbach left around 8pm, which was obviously never an option for us. No trains run between about 1:30am and 4am, hence the three hour wait in Ingolstadt. Instead of spending another hour and fifteen minutes traveling from Ansbach to home (40 minutes from Ansbach to Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof on the local train, 15 minutes waiting at the Hauptbahnhof, 10 minutes on the local train to my stop, then another 7 minute walk home), I opted to crash in Ansbach.
My first real holiday in Germany has come and gone (excluding Halloween because it doesn't have the family component to me)! It wasn't as strange to be away from home as I anticipated, but it was still a little strange.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
AMSTERDAM!!
The weekend in Amsterdam was absolute perfection. I wouldn't have changed a single thing. By the end of the weekend, we had walked over 40 kilometers, often in freezing temperatures, rain, and even in hail.
Friday I left the house at 11:45am and took the train out to Ansbach. Adam met me at the train station and we then went and met Eddie in the parking garage. We left Ansbach just after 1:30pm. The drive was going well until we hit Frankfurt. We sat in stop and go traffic for the better part of two hours. We finally arrived in Amsterdam just after 10pm. We first went to our boat to drop off our belongings. The boat was awesome, even if our room was tiny. The three of us could barely be standing at the same time, that's how little room we had. We did have our own sink in the room, so that was nice. There were two showers and two toilets down the hall for everyone in the 10 rooms to use. I thought it would be an issue and there would be a line to shower in the morning, but I never had to wait to use the facilities. There was a little kitchen/restaurant area in the front where breakfast was served. It was a really neat little setup. I was glad I found this place on such short notice. Anyways, after dropping off our stuff, we went and parked the car. From there we headed out into the city. We spent the evening walking around, popping in and out of pubs and wandering the streets. It rained on and off all evening and the temperature was around freezing. I think we made it back to the boat around 3am.
Saturday we were up around 10am for breakfast. We got ready afterwards and ended up leaving the boat just after noon. We did more or less of what we did the night before. We walked around, saw the sights, popped in and out of pubs and shops, and explored. We ended up walking over 20 kilometers by the end of the day. Around 5pm we were back at the boat and spent a couple hours napping and resting before we headed back out for the night. Again, we did more or less the same as before. There seemed to be a lot less people out and about Saturday night than there had been Friday night. All the pubs seemed to close earlier as well. It was even colder than the night before and had been raining on and off all day. We managed to get back to the boat by 3am.
Sunday we had to be up for breakfast by 10:30am and check out by 11am. We were a bit late and ended up leaving at 11:30 or so. We brought our things to the car and then set out to do a little more walking around since it was actually sunny. We were all pretty exhausted by then, so we didn't spend too much time out. Our last stop was for some lunch before we headed back to the car to leave. As we were leaving lunch, it started hailing. We pulled out of the parking garage at 2pm. The drive home was going well until we were just north of Frankfurt. It started snowing hard and fast and it was accumulating quickly (the first snow of the year!!!). Everyone slowed down. There was also an accident, therefore causing us to sit in traffic for nearly three hours. We were originally supposed to get back around 8pm, and we didn't pull into Ansbach until 11:15pm. The next train home for me wasn't until 12:14am, so I had to wait an hour before I could catch it. I walked inside the door just after 1:30am. I was completely exhausted. HD looked at me, laughed, and said, "Wow, you're finally home!"
Here's a few pictures from the weekend.
Friday I left the house at 11:45am and took the train out to Ansbach. Adam met me at the train station and we then went and met Eddie in the parking garage. We left Ansbach just after 1:30pm. The drive was going well until we hit Frankfurt. We sat in stop and go traffic for the better part of two hours. We finally arrived in Amsterdam just after 10pm. We first went to our boat to drop off our belongings. The boat was awesome, even if our room was tiny. The three of us could barely be standing at the same time, that's how little room we had. We did have our own sink in the room, so that was nice. There were two showers and two toilets down the hall for everyone in the 10 rooms to use. I thought it would be an issue and there would be a line to shower in the morning, but I never had to wait to use the facilities. There was a little kitchen/restaurant area in the front where breakfast was served. It was a really neat little setup. I was glad I found this place on such short notice. Anyways, after dropping off our stuff, we went and parked the car. From there we headed out into the city. We spent the evening walking around, popping in and out of pubs and wandering the streets. It rained on and off all evening and the temperature was around freezing. I think we made it back to the boat around 3am.
Saturday we were up around 10am for breakfast. We got ready afterwards and ended up leaving the boat just after noon. We did more or less of what we did the night before. We walked around, saw the sights, popped in and out of pubs and shops, and explored. We ended up walking over 20 kilometers by the end of the day. Around 5pm we were back at the boat and spent a couple hours napping and resting before we headed back out for the night. Again, we did more or less the same as before. There seemed to be a lot less people out and about Saturday night than there had been Friday night. All the pubs seemed to close earlier as well. It was even colder than the night before and had been raining on and off all day. We managed to get back to the boat by 3am.
Sunday we had to be up for breakfast by 10:30am and check out by 11am. We were a bit late and ended up leaving at 11:30 or so. We brought our things to the car and then set out to do a little more walking around since it was actually sunny. We were all pretty exhausted by then, so we didn't spend too much time out. Our last stop was for some lunch before we headed back to the car to leave. As we were leaving lunch, it started hailing. We pulled out of the parking garage at 2pm. The drive home was going well until we were just north of Frankfurt. It started snowing hard and fast and it was accumulating quickly (the first snow of the year!!!). Everyone slowed down. There was also an accident, therefore causing us to sit in traffic for nearly three hours. We were originally supposed to get back around 8pm, and we didn't pull into Ansbach until 11:15pm. The next train home for me wasn't until 12:14am, so I had to wait an hour before I could catch it. I walked inside the door just after 1:30am. I was completely exhausted. HD looked at me, laughed, and said, "Wow, you're finally home!"
Here's a few pictures from the weekend.
The boat aka our home for the weekend
Eddie, myself, Adam
The central train station
A view of the city center from near our boat
One of the many canals around the city.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Jawohl!
Monday was incredibly busy but incredibly good. For whatever reason, the kids school was closed. They were therefore at home with me. We kept busy. In the morning we spent some time at the little playground nearby, at the neighborhood bakery getting some treats, and at the grocery store. We even made a trip to the Hauptbahnhof for the boys to get their little kiddie magazines that they usually only get whenever we're passing through. After all of that, it was time to go home, eat lunch, and put them down for their naps. Typically for nap time/bedtime, one adult takes one kid and another adult takes the other into their separate bedrooms and the process of falling asleep is done separately. When there's only one adult, it must be done together. We always watch something called Sandmann before they go to sleep. It's an app on my phone with short cartoons for kids, typically around the theme of going to sleep. It's calming and relaxes the kids before they have to try and sleep. The three of us were sitting on the couch in One's room and we were all watching Sandmann together. I was on the right side, with Two in the middle and One on the left. I had my arm around Two. One got mad at me and said that I had to have my arm around both of them. I put my arm around him and he leaned in and rested his head against me. It's moments like those where all the meltdowns make it worth it. They both slept for about two hours, giving me time to get ready for the big event that evening. I went to a Death Cab for Cutie concert in Munich with Eddie, Adam, and Aleks. HM got home at 4pm to relieve me of my duties. I left immediately to meet up with everyone. It was just about two hours to get to Munich and get parked. The venue was small and we ended up center stage, about 5-7 people back from the stage. It was a dream come true. I've been listening to this band for as long as I remember, and they've always been one of my favorites. They were incredible live. I'm still excited just thinking about it. If you've never heard of them, here's a link to one of their songs. They performed this one and it was awesome. The show began at 8:30pm with an opener. I think Death Cab took the stage just after 9:30pm and they played for about two hours. We were on the way home around midnight and I walked inside just after 2am. Apparently right after they dropped me off, the three of them got pulled over by cops in my neighborhood. The cops wanted to know what they were doing there at 2am and even went as far as to breathalyze Eddie (who was driving). The cops were apparently ecstatic when he passed, cheering "jawohl!" I guess it's comforting to know we're in a safe neighborhood?
Tuesday was a rainy, cold day. HM told me before I left for the concert that I was allowed to sleep in the next morning. I had planned to go for a run, but I was lazy getting out of bed and it started raining. Instead, I took my time waking up, eating, and getting ready for the day. I needed some toiletries and decided to make my way into downtown to purchase them. I also spent some time walking around to see what was different. They're still setting up for Christmas season and it's cool to see the progress. The evening with the kids was about normal. One was in a rotten mood for a lot of it, but nothing too extreme. HM left to go to her dance class before HD got home and I had to start getting the kids ready for bed. HD eventually got home and finished the process with me. That evening when I was done working, I began looking online for somewhere to stay this weekend in Amsterdam, where I'll be going with Adam and Eddie. I ended up finding a house boat, and we will be there Friday through Sunday!! I cannot put into words how excited I am.
Wednesday was another busy day. I was up at the normal time and we rushed to get everyone out the door a little earlier than earlier. Once everyone was gone, I had to iron some of the kids clothes and do my own laundry. I then went for a run, showered, and picked up some bread from the grocery store. I met Simon for lunch at 12:30. Simon is German, but his English is phenomenal. The first time we met, we all spoke English, so we've unfortunately (for me) continued that trend. As we were walking to the restaurant, some old, drunk, German woman overheard us and started yelling profanities at us for speaking English. Simon hollered back at her and we kept walking. We went to a new burger place and it was absolutely delicious. We walked around for a bit afterwards, letting our lunch digest. I headed home around 3, relaxed for a bit, and waited for everyone to get home. HM and kids were home at their normal time, though HM left quickly with Two for swim class. I was home with One until they got back. One has been in a particularly temperamental mood the past week and it's been really testing my patience. I have to constantly remind myself to take deep breaths. I put him to bed as HM put Two to bed. Since I didn't get to take my normal nap, I crashed early in anticipation of the action-packed weekend ahead.
Thursday was a day of preparation. After being lazy and laying in bed all morning, I went for a run in the afternoon. I then rode my bike to the grocery store to get supplies for the weekend and the car trip. Much to my dismay, it started raining on the way home. HM and the kids got home and the night went on as usual. One had a few meltdowns, which is a recurring theme over the last week. HM left for her dance class as HD got back from his business trip. Once the kids were in bed, I spent the evening packing and getting ready for my big trip to Amsterdam.
This morning was also business as usual. Everyone was up and out the door, albeit a little behind schedule. Since I won't be seeing them again until after I get back from my trip, I said goodbye until I get back. HD said, "Have fun!" and HM followed it up with, "Stay alive!"
I am beyond excited for this weekend. Traveling is one of my favorite activities ever. I'm going to be in an awesome place with awesome people. It's bound to be extraordinary. Stay tuned for the full report next week!
Tuesday was a rainy, cold day. HM told me before I left for the concert that I was allowed to sleep in the next morning. I had planned to go for a run, but I was lazy getting out of bed and it started raining. Instead, I took my time waking up, eating, and getting ready for the day. I needed some toiletries and decided to make my way into downtown to purchase them. I also spent some time walking around to see what was different. They're still setting up for Christmas season and it's cool to see the progress. The evening with the kids was about normal. One was in a rotten mood for a lot of it, but nothing too extreme. HM left to go to her dance class before HD got home and I had to start getting the kids ready for bed. HD eventually got home and finished the process with me. That evening when I was done working, I began looking online for somewhere to stay this weekend in Amsterdam, where I'll be going with Adam and Eddie. I ended up finding a house boat, and we will be there Friday through Sunday!! I cannot put into words how excited I am.
Wednesday was another busy day. I was up at the normal time and we rushed to get everyone out the door a little earlier than earlier. Once everyone was gone, I had to iron some of the kids clothes and do my own laundry. I then went for a run, showered, and picked up some bread from the grocery store. I met Simon for lunch at 12:30. Simon is German, but his English is phenomenal. The first time we met, we all spoke English, so we've unfortunately (for me) continued that trend. As we were walking to the restaurant, some old, drunk, German woman overheard us and started yelling profanities at us for speaking English. Simon hollered back at her and we kept walking. We went to a new burger place and it was absolutely delicious. We walked around for a bit afterwards, letting our lunch digest. I headed home around 3, relaxed for a bit, and waited for everyone to get home. HM and kids were home at their normal time, though HM left quickly with Two for swim class. I was home with One until they got back. One has been in a particularly temperamental mood the past week and it's been really testing my patience. I have to constantly remind myself to take deep breaths. I put him to bed as HM put Two to bed. Since I didn't get to take my normal nap, I crashed early in anticipation of the action-packed weekend ahead.
Thursday was a day of preparation. After being lazy and laying in bed all morning, I went for a run in the afternoon. I then rode my bike to the grocery store to get supplies for the weekend and the car trip. Much to my dismay, it started raining on the way home. HM and the kids got home and the night went on as usual. One had a few meltdowns, which is a recurring theme over the last week. HM left for her dance class as HD got back from his business trip. Once the kids were in bed, I spent the evening packing and getting ready for my big trip to Amsterdam.
This morning was also business as usual. Everyone was up and out the door, albeit a little behind schedule. Since I won't be seeing them again until after I get back from my trip, I said goodbye until I get back. HD said, "Have fun!" and HM followed it up with, "Stay alive!"
I am beyond excited for this weekend. Traveling is one of my favorite activities ever. I'm going to be in an awesome place with awesome people. It's bound to be extraordinary. Stay tuned for the full report next week!
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Die Qual der Wahl
Friday I worked in the morning, took an awesome nap, and then had to wait for the plumber to come and fix the water pipe. In true plumber fashion, he told us he would be getting here at 12. He called HD at 1:45 to say he was on the way. He didn't show up until 3. I was less than pleased, as I was the one at home waiting for him and unable to leave the house. The repair job ended up taking less than 30 minutes. HM got home with the kids at 3, as One was sick and had to come home. I immediately left to go for a run, something I had been waiting three hours to do. M and T came over later with dinner. They didn't get here until about 10 minutes before I had to leave, so I had to eat and run. I made my way to Ansbach for someone's birthday party with Adam. The party was entirely too much fun. It was with the same people that I've been hanging out with in Ansbach, and I enjoyed getting to know them even more.
Saturday I had to work in the morning. HP often take this time to leave the kids with me and run some errands, like grocery shopping. As they were leaving, I was standing next to the driveway with Two in my arms. HD could tell I was hungover, and told Two to "take extra good care of me." He's got jokes. After my working hours came to an end, I took a nap and then went over to the neighbors to help L with his English homework. HP and the kids left early that evening to have dinner with some friends. I hung out for awhile longer until I eventually went to meet up with Adam and Eddie. We didn't do much, just walked around and popped into a few bars. At one point we ran into a guy they both knew. As I was being introduced to him, he told me that I had beautiful eyes and asked me if they were "real." It was an early night for all of us. I was on my way home shortly after midnight and slept like a baby.
Today was finally a day of rest for me. The past couple weekends I had been so busy on Sunday that I hadn't been able to do nothing all day. Today I went for a 6 mile run, skyped with a number of people, and relaxed. HD is a huge Green Bay Packers fan, so HP and I watched the game versus Detroit. I thought American football was confusing, and then I listened to HD explain the rules to HM in German. Wow.
Monday will be busy, but I'm not sure how the rest of the week is going to go. Time will tell.
Monday will be busy, but I'm not sure how the rest of the week is going to go. Time will tell.
Friday, November 13, 2015
Geteilte Freude ist doppelte Freude, und geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid.
Monday morning I was up early for my German class in Erlangen. Right before I left, I went upstairs to say goodbye to HD and the kids. They were all in the bathroom. When I walked in, One looked at me with the saddest expression and informed me that there had been a "poop emergency," aka he had some unexpected diarrhea. I tried not to laugh when HD looked at me with envy and told me to leave, as it was "disgusting." I definitely got lucky. The trains were running slow and I was almost late to class. My class isn't particularly helpful, as I am probably one of the most advanced in the class, but it keeps me sharp. Next time around I'm definitely going to take the class at my ability level, not the one below me just because the time was better. I considered wandering around Erlangen for a bit once class was over, but I was too exhausted to figure out where to go or what to do. I caught the train back to Nürnberg and opted to walk around downtown instead. I noticed today that they are beginning to set up for the Christmas Markets, which will be open at the end of the month. How exciting is that!! HD ended up staying home sick all day, and One did as well. At some point during my nap, the two of them left. They got home later with Two, which signaled the beginning of my working hours. One wanted to make some cookies. It took awhile for HD to find a recipe for which we had all the ingredients, but eventually he did. At the end of it, the kitchen looked like a bag of flour had exploded inside. I didn't actually have to put either of the kids to bed, just help get them ready.
Both HD and One were home sick again on Tuesday. I watched One while HD took Two to school. When HD got back, he told One that we were all going to take some time to rest. One took this very literally, and said that the three of us were all going to go upstairs and get in the same bed. HD and I laughed (albeit a little awkwardly) and I told One that I would be sleeping in my own bed. I ended up taking a two hour nap. I've been really exhausted this whole week. After my nap, I got up and cooked lunch. A few weeks ago at the neighbors we cooked something together, it's called Djuvec. It's a rice-tomato sauce-veggie dish, and I absolutely loved it. It's really easy to make, so basically there's no downside. Anyways, I had been wanting to cook it. I went ahead and did so for lunch for all of us. One refused to eat it, but HD seemed to like it well enough. I also grilled up some pork chops to eat with it, though maybe next time I'll need to find a better way to make those. After lunch I went for a 6 mile run. The three of us left around 3:30pm to go collect Two from school. The four of us then went to the mall to buy some new shoes for One. We treated ourselves to some ice cream while we were out. I got everything ready for dinner while HD played with the kids. After dinner, HD was holding Two while we were still sitting around the table. One's untouched plate of food from lunch was still sitting there and Two saw it. He made motions to it and ended up eating most of what was left. I'm glad at least one of the kids liked it. I then helped get the kids ready for bed.
Wednesday was another incredibly busy day, as all four of us were home. Two threw up in the middle of the night and therefore couldn't go to school. One was feeling better, but still didn't want to go to school. HD made the executive decision for the three of them to remain at home, with me helping out along the way. Late morning we went for a walk to the grocery store down the road for some lunch. It ended up turning into me taking the kids to the Hauptbahnhof so they could get their little kiddie magazines while HD did some work. After lunch they all took naps and I enjoyed some free time. The rest of the day was more or less the same: HD working a little, me helping with the kids, preparing dinner, etc. It was a day full of ups and downs with the kids. I think Two is still slowly coming around to me more. He doesn't seem to cry as much or as long if HP leave, and every once in awhile he doesn't cry at all. One is still a little drama queen, but he too seems to be more responsive to me, particularly when HP aren't around.
In the middle of the night between Wednesday and Thursday, I woke up to a screaming One. (My bedroom and his share a wall, so I often hear him when he's in his room.) He does this from time to time when he wakes up and is either thirsty or has a bad dream. He typically screams for HM, but I have also heard him scream for HD. This time, he screamed for me. He first called for HD, but HD didn't wake up. I heard this but I didn't get out of bed until I heard him calling my name. I was a little surprised, but it makes sense. He knew HM was gone and he knew HD didn't hear him, so he called for me. I'm not sure if that is more reflective of his level of trust and comfort in me or of his problem solving abilities. I went into his room and he informed me that he was thirsty and that his nightlight went out. Very important things for a 4 year old.
Thursday everyone finally went back to school and work. I helped get everyone out the door in the morning and then had to do some laundry. HM got home from her business trip, but not until after I had already left to pick the kids up from school. When I got to their school, Two was crying because he had seen One through the fence and wanted to play with him. When he saw me, he walked over to me still crying, and put his arms up for me to pick him up. We went to collect One, who gave me a huge hug when he saw us. HM was home when we got home and the boys were happy to see her. The rest of the night was typical for work. I helped watch the kids, we all ate dinner together, etc. I often go to sleep around 10, but Thursday night I stayed up later watching tv and bonding with HP.
Another successful week in the books!
Both HD and One were home sick again on Tuesday. I watched One while HD took Two to school. When HD got back, he told One that we were all going to take some time to rest. One took this very literally, and said that the three of us were all going to go upstairs and get in the same bed. HD and I laughed (albeit a little awkwardly) and I told One that I would be sleeping in my own bed. I ended up taking a two hour nap. I've been really exhausted this whole week. After my nap, I got up and cooked lunch. A few weeks ago at the neighbors we cooked something together, it's called Djuvec. It's a rice-tomato sauce-veggie dish, and I absolutely loved it. It's really easy to make, so basically there's no downside. Anyways, I had been wanting to cook it. I went ahead and did so for lunch for all of us. One refused to eat it, but HD seemed to like it well enough. I also grilled up some pork chops to eat with it, though maybe next time I'll need to find a better way to make those. After lunch I went for a 6 mile run. The three of us left around 3:30pm to go collect Two from school. The four of us then went to the mall to buy some new shoes for One. We treated ourselves to some ice cream while we were out. I got everything ready for dinner while HD played with the kids. After dinner, HD was holding Two while we were still sitting around the table. One's untouched plate of food from lunch was still sitting there and Two saw it. He made motions to it and ended up eating most of what was left. I'm glad at least one of the kids liked it. I then helped get the kids ready for bed.
Wednesday was another incredibly busy day, as all four of us were home. Two threw up in the middle of the night and therefore couldn't go to school. One was feeling better, but still didn't want to go to school. HD made the executive decision for the three of them to remain at home, with me helping out along the way. Late morning we went for a walk to the grocery store down the road for some lunch. It ended up turning into me taking the kids to the Hauptbahnhof so they could get their little kiddie magazines while HD did some work. After lunch they all took naps and I enjoyed some free time. The rest of the day was more or less the same: HD working a little, me helping with the kids, preparing dinner, etc. It was a day full of ups and downs with the kids. I think Two is still slowly coming around to me more. He doesn't seem to cry as much or as long if HP leave, and every once in awhile he doesn't cry at all. One is still a little drama queen, but he too seems to be more responsive to me, particularly when HP aren't around.
In the middle of the night between Wednesday and Thursday, I woke up to a screaming One. (My bedroom and his share a wall, so I often hear him when he's in his room.) He does this from time to time when he wakes up and is either thirsty or has a bad dream. He typically screams for HM, but I have also heard him scream for HD. This time, he screamed for me. He first called for HD, but HD didn't wake up. I heard this but I didn't get out of bed until I heard him calling my name. I was a little surprised, but it makes sense. He knew HM was gone and he knew HD didn't hear him, so he called for me. I'm not sure if that is more reflective of his level of trust and comfort in me or of his problem solving abilities. I went into his room and he informed me that he was thirsty and that his nightlight went out. Very important things for a 4 year old.
Thursday everyone finally went back to school and work. I helped get everyone out the door in the morning and then had to do some laundry. HM got home from her business trip, but not until after I had already left to pick the kids up from school. When I got to their school, Two was crying because he had seen One through the fence and wanted to play with him. When he saw me, he walked over to me still crying, and put his arms up for me to pick him up. We went to collect One, who gave me a huge hug when he saw us. HM was home when we got home and the boys were happy to see her. The rest of the night was typical for work. I helped watch the kids, we all ate dinner together, etc. I often go to sleep around 10, but Thursday night I stayed up later watching tv and bonding with HP.
Another successful week in the books!
Monday, November 9, 2015
Bin ich jetzt frei?
This weekend was one of the better ones I've had since I've been here, if not also one of the busiest.
Friday I had to work for a couple hours in the morning and for a few hours after everyone got home. HM had asked me to iron some of the kids clothes that day. When I went through the pile of things to iron, I found items like jeans, undershirts, pajamas, kitchen towels, a duvet cover, and some other things. I felt pretty ridiculous standing there ironing such things, but I have do what's asked of me. I was off work at 7, and that's when I headed into town to meet up with some friends for dinner and drinks. The people I met at the MeetUp event two weeks ago and who I really got along with were the ones I met Friday night. It was myself, Simon, Mike, and Theresa. We went to a Thai restaurant for dinner and then hopped around to a few different bars. After such a long week of mostly being cooped up in the house, I was happy to be out and enjoying some time off. I didn't stay out late, as I had to be up early Saturday to work some.
Saturday I worked from about 9 until 1:30. Most of this time, I was alone with the kids while HP did a variety of chores and ran a few errands. I even took the kids to the park for a bit due to how warm it was. When 1:30 came around, I asked HM if I was then done working (I was about to hit my 30 hours), but I worded it in a way that made it sound like I was some sort of slave. HM laughed at me and quickly corrected my mistake. We all took naps that afternoon. HM seemed to be in a better mood than she is most weekends. I think the amount of time I work on the weekends/the amount I help them get stuff done directly correlates to her mood. It makes sense, as the less stressed she is to get everything done, the happier she would be. Around dinnertime I headed out to Ansbach to meet up with Eddie, Adam, and their friends. The plan was to hang out at the apartment before we all went out on this insane city-wide pub crawl. Most of the people there were ones I had met before. I talked to them more throughout the evening than I had before, therefore getting to know everyone just a little bit better. They're all very cool and interesting people. We eventually made it out, but a bit later than anticipated. We were hanging out until nearly 4am, and I was half asleep by the end of it. I was too tired to catch a train home, so I crashed there.
Sunday morning Adam decided that he wanted to go to a place called Kristall Palm Beach in Stein (a short car ride away from Nürnberg), which is a cross between a water park and a mineral bath. Half of the complex is "fun" stuff: water slides, wave pool, lap pool with high diving boards, etc. The other half is mineral baths/hot tubs. There was also a restaurant and little shop inside. I think the whole setup was pretty genius. In the end it was just myself, Eddie, and Adam who went. We spent 4 hours there, alternating between having fun on the slides and relaxing in the warm water. I basically never stop laughing when I'm around those two, and Sunday was no exception. We stopped and ate some döner on the way home. On the way to Palm Beach, we had to swing by my place for me to grab my bathing suit. I walked in the door at 2:30pm. HD was sitting at the kitchen counter with his hand in his phone. He looked at me with a relieved expression and informed me that he had just texted me to make sure I was ok. I guess next time I stay out all night I should let them know what's happening. It's almost like they're real parents! Just like that, my weekend flew by.
HM also left Sunday afternoon for a business trip. She'll be gone until Thursday, assuming the Lufthansa airline strike is over by then. Since HD typically works longer hours than HM and he therefore spends less time with the kids, a lot more responsibility will fall to me this week than normal. It's nothing I can't handle, but it's still more than usual. I have the feeling that I'm going to be absolutely exhausted by the time this week is over.
Friday I had to work for a couple hours in the morning and for a few hours after everyone got home. HM had asked me to iron some of the kids clothes that day. When I went through the pile of things to iron, I found items like jeans, undershirts, pajamas, kitchen towels, a duvet cover, and some other things. I felt pretty ridiculous standing there ironing such things, but I have do what's asked of me. I was off work at 7, and that's when I headed into town to meet up with some friends for dinner and drinks. The people I met at the MeetUp event two weeks ago and who I really got along with were the ones I met Friday night. It was myself, Simon, Mike, and Theresa. We went to a Thai restaurant for dinner and then hopped around to a few different bars. After such a long week of mostly being cooped up in the house, I was happy to be out and enjoying some time off. I didn't stay out late, as I had to be up early Saturday to work some.
Saturday I worked from about 9 until 1:30. Most of this time, I was alone with the kids while HP did a variety of chores and ran a few errands. I even took the kids to the park for a bit due to how warm it was. When 1:30 came around, I asked HM if I was then done working (I was about to hit my 30 hours), but I worded it in a way that made it sound like I was some sort of slave. HM laughed at me and quickly corrected my mistake. We all took naps that afternoon. HM seemed to be in a better mood than she is most weekends. I think the amount of time I work on the weekends/the amount I help them get stuff done directly correlates to her mood. It makes sense, as the less stressed she is to get everything done, the happier she would be. Around dinnertime I headed out to Ansbach to meet up with Eddie, Adam, and their friends. The plan was to hang out at the apartment before we all went out on this insane city-wide pub crawl. Most of the people there were ones I had met before. I talked to them more throughout the evening than I had before, therefore getting to know everyone just a little bit better. They're all very cool and interesting people. We eventually made it out, but a bit later than anticipated. We were hanging out until nearly 4am, and I was half asleep by the end of it. I was too tired to catch a train home, so I crashed there.
Sunday morning Adam decided that he wanted to go to a place called Kristall Palm Beach in Stein (a short car ride away from Nürnberg), which is a cross between a water park and a mineral bath. Half of the complex is "fun" stuff: water slides, wave pool, lap pool with high diving boards, etc. The other half is mineral baths/hot tubs. There was also a restaurant and little shop inside. I think the whole setup was pretty genius. In the end it was just myself, Eddie, and Adam who went. We spent 4 hours there, alternating between having fun on the slides and relaxing in the warm water. I basically never stop laughing when I'm around those two, and Sunday was no exception. We stopped and ate some döner on the way home. On the way to Palm Beach, we had to swing by my place for me to grab my bathing suit. I walked in the door at 2:30pm. HD was sitting at the kitchen counter with his hand in his phone. He looked at me with a relieved expression and informed me that he had just texted me to make sure I was ok. I guess next time I stay out all night I should let them know what's happening. It's almost like they're real parents! Just like that, my weekend flew by.
HM also left Sunday afternoon for a business trip. She'll be gone until Thursday, assuming the Lufthansa airline strike is over by then. Since HD typically works longer hours than HM and he therefore spends less time with the kids, a lot more responsibility will fall to me this week than normal. It's nothing I can't handle, but it's still more than usual. I have the feeling that I'm going to be absolutely exhausted by the time this week is over.
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Es ist direkt neben der Butter!
Monday I went to Aldi to get some things for HM. Shortly after I got back from Aldi, the cleaning lady showed up so I left the house. I feel awkward being here when she's here because I feel like I'm always in her way. It's just easier to be gone and then it also gives me a reason to go and explore. I went into the city and walked around for the better part of 2 hours. I didn't work the rest of the day and I was still exhausted from the weekend. I think I was asleep by 10pm.
Tuesday I had to take care of a sick Two all day. He was up most of the night coughing. I brought him with me to the Ausländerbehörde, where I had an appointment to pick up my brand new european identification card/the extension of my visa. It was surprisingly easy and took a total of 10 minutes once I got inside the office. I opted to not bring the stroller for Two, a decision I thought I might regret but ended up being happy with. Maybe I just hadn't noticed it before, but so many people would look at me and then look at Two and back at me. I'm sure they were trying to figure out if he was my kid. I'm often told that I look younger than my age, which could lead to many of these strangers wondering if I'm old enough to have a kid. Two is just over a year and a half, so technically it is possible for him to be my kid. Anyways, later on we walked to the post office. On the way back, M drove by us in her car and told me to come on over and see them. We made our way over. Two is usually very happy to see them and goes to all of them without any problem. Tuesday he wasn't having it. When L tried to get Two to go into the kitchen while I took off my shoes, Two ignored him and walked over to me with his arms up, wanting me to pick him up. It melted my heart. HM got home in the afternoon as Two and I were both napping. She said she didn't want me to work the whole day. She left later with Two to pick up One. When they all got back, Two rang the doorbell as he usually does and I went to let him in. As soon as he saw me he broke out in a huge smile and screamed my name. When HM explained that I wasn't going to be working that evening, he got really upset and said he wanted me to play with him.
Wednesday I was also at home with Two. As everyone was getting ready to leave, One came over to me and gave me one of his two fake cell phones. He told me to keep it so that he could call me when he's far away from me. Two and I left the house when HM and One left and did some walking around. We stopped at a bakery in the neighborhood and sat outside eating some treats. About half the people who walked inside either made eye contact and smiled at us or said "good morning!" Some of them even made conversation with Two. Anyone that says Germans aren't friendly just doesn't know what they're talking about. Two was a bit whiney throughout the day, but overall not too bad. I just had to keep him distracted. HM came home early again to relieve me of my duties. The rest of the day I didn't do much, just lounged around and relaxed.
Thursday everyone was back at work and school and I had the day to myself, or more so than I had the previous three days. I got up and went for a nice long run and later a nice long bike ride. I also had to do some yard work, but it didn't take long. It was entirely too warm this week so I was enjoying the last of the warmth before it gets really cold and miserable. It was a normal day for work with the kids, nothing out of the ordinary to report.
I can't believe it's almost halfway through November! Where does the time go?
Tuesday I had to take care of a sick Two all day. He was up most of the night coughing. I brought him with me to the Ausländerbehörde, where I had an appointment to pick up my brand new european identification card/the extension of my visa. It was surprisingly easy and took a total of 10 minutes once I got inside the office. I opted to not bring the stroller for Two, a decision I thought I might regret but ended up being happy with. Maybe I just hadn't noticed it before, but so many people would look at me and then look at Two and back at me. I'm sure they were trying to figure out if he was my kid. I'm often told that I look younger than my age, which could lead to many of these strangers wondering if I'm old enough to have a kid. Two is just over a year and a half, so technically it is possible for him to be my kid. Anyways, later on we walked to the post office. On the way back, M drove by us in her car and told me to come on over and see them. We made our way over. Two is usually very happy to see them and goes to all of them without any problem. Tuesday he wasn't having it. When L tried to get Two to go into the kitchen while I took off my shoes, Two ignored him and walked over to me with his arms up, wanting me to pick him up. It melted my heart. HM got home in the afternoon as Two and I were both napping. She said she didn't want me to work the whole day. She left later with Two to pick up One. When they all got back, Two rang the doorbell as he usually does and I went to let him in. As soon as he saw me he broke out in a huge smile and screamed my name. When HM explained that I wasn't going to be working that evening, he got really upset and said he wanted me to play with him.
Wednesday I was also at home with Two. As everyone was getting ready to leave, One came over to me and gave me one of his two fake cell phones. He told me to keep it so that he could call me when he's far away from me. Two and I left the house when HM and One left and did some walking around. We stopped at a bakery in the neighborhood and sat outside eating some treats. About half the people who walked inside either made eye contact and smiled at us or said "good morning!" Some of them even made conversation with Two. Anyone that says Germans aren't friendly just doesn't know what they're talking about. Two was a bit whiney throughout the day, but overall not too bad. I just had to keep him distracted. HM came home early again to relieve me of my duties. The rest of the day I didn't do much, just lounged around and relaxed.
Thursday everyone was back at work and school and I had the day to myself, or more so than I had the previous three days. I got up and went for a nice long run and later a nice long bike ride. I also had to do some yard work, but it didn't take long. It was entirely too warm this week so I was enjoying the last of the warmth before it gets really cold and miserable. It was a normal day for work with the kids, nothing out of the ordinary to report.
I can't believe it's almost halfway through November! Where does the time go?
Monday, November 2, 2015
Döner macht schöner...oder noch schöner!
Friday I was at home with One during the day. He had slowly been developing a cough, which was particularly worse on Friday morning. We watched a movie, went to the park, went to the fish store, visited M and L so I could shower at their house, made some handicrafts, and just hung out. We did a decent amount of walking. At one point while we were walking, he requested that I hold his hand, just because. While we were getting him ready for his nap, he asked me when "our" parents would be home. When he says things like this I'm not sure if it's a slip, if he's confused, or if he thinks of me as an actual part of the family. He also asked me why I speak German with everyone else and English with him. When I told him it was because I'm still learning German and he's still learning English, he informed me that he already speaks English. What a goober. By the time HM got home with Two, my 30 weekly working hours had been fulfilled and I was free for the weekend. I took the train out to Ansbach to meet up with Eddie and a friend of his, Adam. Adam had a friend visiting, Torrie, who was there. The four of us got along splendidly. We spent the evening visiting some folks at their apartment, bar hopping, and generally causing trouble. We all crashed at Eddie's. No one was in a state to drive and I had to wait until morning for the next train. It was almost too much fun...Almost.
Saturday was Halloween! The four of us got up and went to breakfast in Ansbach. They dropped me off at the train station and I made my way back to Nürnberg. I didn't manage to get much done during the day. I napped while the kids napped. The neighbors came over for Halloween festivities once it was dark. HD stayed home with T and they handed out candy while HM, M, and the kids went trick or treating. HD and T thought of the brilliant idea to hand out shots of schnapps to the parents when they came by with the kids. They would also take a shot themselves when a parent accepted one. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it all happen. I left later that evening to head to Ansbach again, and this time I drove the car. As I was leaving, One came over to the car and told me that I needed to get home earlier than the night before. He also told me that he thought I was really cool. It was an adorable send-off. In Ansbach I met up with Eddie, Adam, Torrie, and Adam's friend Aleks. We all went over to the same apartment as the night before and hung out with a bunch of Germans for a couple of hours. Most everyone was dressed up. Germans aren't as into Halloween as Americans, but it's getting more and more popular here. We headed out to the bars later and enjoyed a night out on the town. I don't think we got back until around 3am or so. Again, we all crashed at Eddie's.
Sunday was one of the busier Sunday's I've had here. I made it back to Nürnberg in the morning and spent several hours nursing my hangover. Eventually Adam called me and said that him, Torrie, and Eddie were heading into Nürnberg so Torrie could see the city before she left. I met up with them and we all spent some time walking around the city seeing the sights. I spent easily half, perhaps two-thirds, of the weekend with these people and we never stopped laughing.
I think I've finally broken the barrier with One. He seems to be cool with me being here, even happy to see me now and again. He still would rather HP do some things, but he's not as mean to me anymore. I have found myself missing the kids when it's been a long time since I've seen them, like this weekend when I was gone from the house for so long.
It's been a full two months since I got to Nürnberg. In some ways it still feels like I just got here. I would say that overall, things are getting better. I seem to be making friends, the kids are warming to me more and more, and I'm getting to know Nürnberg. I hope the next 10 months don't go by as quickly as the first two!
Saturday was Halloween! The four of us got up and went to breakfast in Ansbach. They dropped me off at the train station and I made my way back to Nürnberg. I didn't manage to get much done during the day. I napped while the kids napped. The neighbors came over for Halloween festivities once it was dark. HD stayed home with T and they handed out candy while HM, M, and the kids went trick or treating. HD and T thought of the brilliant idea to hand out shots of schnapps to the parents when they came by with the kids. They would also take a shot themselves when a parent accepted one. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it all happen. I left later that evening to head to Ansbach again, and this time I drove the car. As I was leaving, One came over to the car and told me that I needed to get home earlier than the night before. He also told me that he thought I was really cool. It was an adorable send-off. In Ansbach I met up with Eddie, Adam, Torrie, and Adam's friend Aleks. We all went over to the same apartment as the night before and hung out with a bunch of Germans for a couple of hours. Most everyone was dressed up. Germans aren't as into Halloween as Americans, but it's getting more and more popular here. We headed out to the bars later and enjoyed a night out on the town. I don't think we got back until around 3am or so. Again, we all crashed at Eddie's.
Sunday was one of the busier Sunday's I've had here. I made it back to Nürnberg in the morning and spent several hours nursing my hangover. Eventually Adam called me and said that him, Torrie, and Eddie were heading into Nürnberg so Torrie could see the city before she left. I met up with them and we all spent some time walking around the city seeing the sights. I spent easily half, perhaps two-thirds, of the weekend with these people and we never stopped laughing.
I think I've finally broken the barrier with One. He seems to be cool with me being here, even happy to see me now and again. He still would rather HP do some things, but he's not as mean to me anymore. I have found myself missing the kids when it's been a long time since I've seen them, like this weekend when I was gone from the house for so long.
It's been a full two months since I got to Nürnberg. In some ways it still feels like I just got here. I would say that overall, things are getting better. I seem to be making friends, the kids are warming to me more and more, and I'm getting to know Nürnberg. I hope the next 10 months don't go by as quickly as the first two!
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