Look at me entering the 21st century! Several people asked me if I was going to start a blog. I had never thought about doing one before nor saw a reason for it with Facebook and email already part of my daily routine; but I suppose living overseas qualifies for special circumstances suitable for starting a blog. I figured that I would send the link to this blog to my interested email contacts and also post it on Facebook each Monday. But I will try to update it throughout the week.
Our first week has been full of ups and downs. A lot of unknows about Andrew's employment transfer, start date, new pay day, and when we would receive the relocation money to assist with all the extra upfront expenses of house/apartment hunting in Germany caused much stress. Not knowing the language is also a big deal. Heather was promised a language tutor within the first week or two and then we were told the earliest would be February 8th. It is true on a whole that a lot of Germans know English, but the ones in the shops of our area either don't or choose not to use it. But Heather and Alisa, (our friend from the states who has been tromping all over Europe and is now with us to help with the kids for a couple months) have successfully navigated the grocery store several times.
Here are a few highlights of the first week...
1. I bought a can opener. (Tuesday, Jan. 19th) LOL not really what one would think of as a big deal. But my first purchase "on my own" (meaning with out Andrew who has a nack for figuring out language stuff) was a can opener. Alisa and I took the two kids to the popular Koln shoping center on the train by ourselves, figuring out that was a success in itself. I was determined to find the big department store, Galeria Kauphof. After wandering around for a while we found the store and looked around its 6 levels! Finally finding the home/kitchen department we located our can opener. Why did we just need a can opener you ask? Well, the one in our "furnished" apartment that includes maybe 4 kitchen utensils broke. So it seemed like a simple enough task to do :)
2. We looked at more houses to rent. (Wednesday, Jan. 20th) On our house hunting trip at the beginning of January we saw severel good options, one in particular I really liked and thought it would fit the needs of our family very well and was at a good price. I was hoping that this would remain on the market until we returned and could do our second house search. On Wednesday we went on the hunt again to see if there was something just as good or better. While we did see many other lovely homes, (better than I ever thought!) they were either a little more than we cared to pay or were in not as an ideal location as our 1st favorite. So we have decided to move forward on that and negotiations are underway (yes, the relo company makes negotiation on rentals just like you would for a house for sale in the states.) This particular one is in Bonn, but does not have a kitchen (very common in Germany). By no kitchen don't just mean it is missing appliances, the current kitchen belongs to the current tenant and they will take their counters, sink, oven, etc with them when they move out. So its IKEA to the rescue! We are hoping to move in February 1st.
3. Andrew and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary! (Friday, Jan. 22nd) There is a tradition in Koln to go to the train bridge by the Dom and put a lock on the bridge gate that separates the train tracks from the pedestrian trail across the river. Many people inscribe their names and wedding date on these locks. You put the lock on the gate and throw your key in the river for good luck that your love will never be undone and last forever. So, thanks to the help of Alisa babysitting the kids, Andrew and I were able to go over to the Dom (cathedral) and do our own private vow renewal, and then headed to the bridge to place our lock among the other lovers of Koln. Buying the lock and getting it engraved was another big feat that I mastered alone and in German/hand language/English :)
4. We took our first site seeing outing! (Saturday, Jan. 23rd) Andrew, Alisa, the kids, and I drove to Aachen, Germany right on the boarder of The Netherlands. Aachen was Emperor Charlemagne's capital during his rein where he build one of the most beautiful cathedrals I have ever seen. From there we drove to a park that is the point at which Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands all meet. At one time, I stood in 3 countries at once. Mason also took his first "trip", or steps, to a foreign country by himself. Pretty good for someone who isn't even 2 yet! He went to Belgium while mom was in The Netherlands and dad stood in Germany. It was great fun.
5. Heather gets on the health wagon! (All week and from here on out!) One of my goals once I arrived in Germany and had nothing to do except take care of the kids was to get back into shape and get healthy! On a whim I had picked up the book "Skinny Bitch" before I left the states. It was not what I expected and turned out to be a pretty interesting expose on the food industry in the USA. While I'm not sure I will become the life long vegan they promote, I am giving it a try for the most part and since Monday, Jan. 18th I have been eating all fruits, vegetables, and legumes. I have completely cut dairy out of my diet. I have been soda, candy, and chocolate free since then as well. I have also cut meat out of my diet and am actually trying to be as close to vegan as possible for one month. From there I may slowly reincorporate some animal products in certain areas where it is fairly hard to avoid. We have also walked to the grocery store every time we needed food and have cooked every meal in the apartment, except for the anniversary dinner that Andrew and I went out for. Once my first week of getting healthy eating back in check, I have not added in my exercise as my next step. So wish me luck on becoming just a "Skinny Chick" :)
Well, that is our week in review, it is hard to believe that we have been here one full week now. As we get settled in, we liking Germany more and more and know that we have made the right choice for our family to take this little adventure.
Ciao!
Our first week has been full of ups and downs. A lot of unknows about Andrew's employment transfer, start date, new pay day, and when we would receive the relocation money to assist with all the extra upfront expenses of house/apartment hunting in Germany caused much stress. Not knowing the language is also a big deal. Heather was promised a language tutor within the first week or two and then we were told the earliest would be February 8th. It is true on a whole that a lot of Germans know English, but the ones in the shops of our area either don't or choose not to use it. But Heather and Alisa, (our friend from the states who has been tromping all over Europe and is now with us to help with the kids for a couple months) have successfully navigated the grocery store several times.
Here are a few highlights of the first week...
1. I bought a can opener. (Tuesday, Jan. 19th) LOL not really what one would think of as a big deal. But my first purchase "on my own" (meaning with out Andrew who has a nack for figuring out language stuff) was a can opener. Alisa and I took the two kids to the popular Koln shoping center on the train by ourselves, figuring out that was a success in itself. I was determined to find the big department store, Galeria Kauphof. After wandering around for a while we found the store and looked around its 6 levels! Finally finding the home/kitchen department we located our can opener. Why did we just need a can opener you ask? Well, the one in our "furnished" apartment that includes maybe 4 kitchen utensils broke. So it seemed like a simple enough task to do :)
2. We looked at more houses to rent. (Wednesday, Jan. 20th) On our house hunting trip at the beginning of January we saw severel good options, one in particular I really liked and thought it would fit the needs of our family very well and was at a good price. I was hoping that this would remain on the market until we returned and could do our second house search. On Wednesday we went on the hunt again to see if there was something just as good or better. While we did see many other lovely homes, (better than I ever thought!) they were either a little more than we cared to pay or were in not as an ideal location as our 1st favorite. So we have decided to move forward on that and negotiations are underway (yes, the relo company makes negotiation on rentals just like you would for a house for sale in the states.) This particular one is in Bonn, but does not have a kitchen (very common in Germany). By no kitchen don't just mean it is missing appliances, the current kitchen belongs to the current tenant and they will take their counters, sink, oven, etc with them when they move out. So its IKEA to the rescue! We are hoping to move in February 1st.
3. Andrew and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary! (Friday, Jan. 22nd) There is a tradition in Koln to go to the train bridge by the Dom and put a lock on the bridge gate that separates the train tracks from the pedestrian trail across the river. Many people inscribe their names and wedding date on these locks. You put the lock on the gate and throw your key in the river for good luck that your love will never be undone and last forever. So, thanks to the help of Alisa babysitting the kids, Andrew and I were able to go over to the Dom (cathedral) and do our own private vow renewal, and then headed to the bridge to place our lock among the other lovers of Koln. Buying the lock and getting it engraved was another big feat that I mastered alone and in German/hand language/English :)
4. We took our first site seeing outing! (Saturday, Jan. 23rd) Andrew, Alisa, the kids, and I drove to Aachen, Germany right on the boarder of The Netherlands. Aachen was Emperor Charlemagne's capital during his rein where he build one of the most beautiful cathedrals I have ever seen. From there we drove to a park that is the point at which Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands all meet. At one time, I stood in 3 countries at once. Mason also took his first "trip", or steps, to a foreign country by himself. Pretty good for someone who isn't even 2 yet! He went to Belgium while mom was in The Netherlands and dad stood in Germany. It was great fun.
5. Heather gets on the health wagon! (All week and from here on out!) One of my goals once I arrived in Germany and had nothing to do except take care of the kids was to get back into shape and get healthy! On a whim I had picked up the book "Skinny Bitch" before I left the states. It was not what I expected and turned out to be a pretty interesting expose on the food industry in the USA. While I'm not sure I will become the life long vegan they promote, I am giving it a try for the most part and since Monday, Jan. 18th I have been eating all fruits, vegetables, and legumes. I have completely cut dairy out of my diet. I have been soda, candy, and chocolate free since then as well. I have also cut meat out of my diet and am actually trying to be as close to vegan as possible for one month. From there I may slowly reincorporate some animal products in certain areas where it is fairly hard to avoid. We have also walked to the grocery store every time we needed food and have cooked every meal in the apartment, except for the anniversary dinner that Andrew and I went out for. Once my first week of getting healthy eating back in check, I have not added in my exercise as my next step. So wish me luck on becoming just a "Skinny Chick" :)
Well, that is our week in review, it is hard to believe that we have been here one full week now. As we get settled in, we liking Germany more and more and know that we have made the right choice for our family to take this little adventure.
Ciao!
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