das kranke Hühnchen

Friday I worked in the morning, including my usual Friday morning chore of washing the kids clothes from the week. I still didn't feel back to my usual self, but I was tired of sitting around at home. I was really only at home one full day (Thursday) this week, but it felt like more since my outings on Tuesday and Wednesday were exclusively for work. So if you'd ask me, I'd say I was on house arrest Tuesday through Thursday (and unfortunately throughout the weekend as well). Once all my chores were done and I had eaten, I set out to do a little Christmas shopping. I went downtown to the Christmas markets where I managed to find a little something for almost everyone on my list. I'm not completely proud of what I bought, but I don't think any of the gifts are complete garbage. I'm the kind of person who enjoys giving presents when I know the recipient is absolutely going to love it. I don't like giving something just to give it. I want to know that I put so much thought and energy into the present that they will be blown away. I don't feel that way about what I bought. Alas, it's still something. By the end of the shopping, I was absolutely exhausted. It had only been about two hours of activity. I guess that was my body's way of telling me that I'm not healthy enough yet. As I was walking home, M drove by and had me jump in her car. We ran a few errands together before heading back to her house, including stopping at the little organic food store up the road. The lady behind the counter, who often helps me when I buy bread and who asked me about my parents last week, was there. She already knew M by name. When she saw the two of us come in together, she looked absolutely confused, her eyes going back and forth between the two of us. She asked M if I belonged to her. M clarified everything, telling her that I am the au pair of the R family, but that my host family is basically her family, so therefore I'm her family too. It was quite a roundabout answer, yet somehow made sense to everyone. Lastly, M introduced me by name, which prompted Jenny to then introduce herself too (and from now on I'll refer to the "lady behind the counter" as Jenny). We all had a good laugh about it. M brought me back to her house to give me yet more medicine to take. I'm taking five different things now, some as many as five times a day. I went home for a bit and rested before the family got home. Though I wasn't working that evening, we did go back over to M's for dinner made by Oma D (T's mom, Oma means "grandma"). We weren't there long, maybe two hours or so. Dinner was delicious, as always. As Oma D was cooking, M brought over some of the food for me to test it. Oma D said something about me. I didn't hear the whole thing, but I did hear enough to hear that she called me, "das kranke Hühnchen," or literally, "the sick chicken." HD and M thought this was rather hilarious. I'm not sure if it was more of a term of endearment or poking fun. We were home around 9pm and I went to bed soon afterwards.

Saturday I had to work a couple hours while my host parents went grocery shopping. The kids weren't terrible, though that's a pretty subjective word for them. One yelled at me a number of times, which is commonplace. I was pretty exhausted from watching the kids for even two hours, so I skipped lunch and took a nap instead. I woke up feeling a lot better than I expected. It was the first time since I got sick that I truly felt noticeably better.  I think this cold is finally coming to an end! I didn't do anything the rest of the day. I just hung out with the family. I had hoped to go and meet up with some friends, but nothing came along. I suppose it was a good thing, as being out all night may have hampered my healing. After the kids were in bed, I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with HP. Apparently HD has watched the movie countless times and loves it. He's only seen it dubbed in German, however. I was hoping it would be available to stream on Netflix, but it was not. I think I made it about halfway through before I called it a night and went to bed.

Sunday was another long day of doing nothing. Despite being able to sleep in as late as I wanted, I was awake around 9:30. I guess all the mornings of waking up at 6:45 are starting to train me. HP and the kids were on their way to the Christmas markets as I was getting up. HD was kind enough to ask if there was anything I wanted them to bring back for me. I took my time eating and showering while they were all out. During the week, I enjoy the peace and quiet when I get to do such things, and on the weekends that does not exist. They were back rather early, gone for just under two hours. I spent a few hours hanging out with them, watching tv and chatting about things while HP did random chores. In the afternoon I went for a long walk. It was a beautiful day, in the 50s and sunny, and HM had encouraged me to go for a walk, saying the cold air would be good for my cough. I walked around our neighborhood and eventually down to the river. I had originally wanted to go for a long bike ride along the river, but HM absolutely forbade me from doing anything too physical while I'm still sick. When I brought it up she said something like, "Nope, nope, absolutely not, you aren't allowed to do any kind of hard exercise until you're healthy again." She was very firm and unrelenting. I didn't bother arguing with her.

Two ran a fever for a bit this weekend. He's not allowed to go back to school until he's without a fever for 24 hours, so tomorrow (Monday) he's staying at home with me. And Christmas is this Friday! I can't believe it's already here. My time here is absolutely flying by.