Just Another Thursday - ein ganz normal Donnerstag

Christof’s had a birthday on November 19th, and while I am not at liberty to tell you which one, I would like to point out that he once made references to a cult from the 80’s that Sandra and I had never heard of. On his actual birthday, Sandra and I drove to the town of Lippstadt where Christof teaches to surprise him with cake and the greatest gift of all, his son. One of the best things about living abroad for the first time is that even visiting the next town over is so exciting, so we walked around the downtown awhile before heading to Christof’s school. 

All of the teacher’s were supposed to be back from their lunch break at 3, but we couldn’t find the Niemeier family car in the parking lot, which lead to us standing in the parking lot with a stroller for about a half hour. At one point, Sandra went to check if his car was around back, and I couldn’t stop laughing thinking about Christof pulling in at that moment and wondering why his nanny was standing with his son in the middle of his school’s parking lot a half hour from where we were supposed to be. It ended up that he was already in his classroom and after we carried Mathis in his stroller up 3 flights of stairs, Sandra knocked on his door, we left the stroller in the doorway, and we hid down the hall. We thought we were so sneaky until Christof immediately informed us that he’d seen us walking around the downtown on his lunch break, and was checking out the window every couple of minutes wondering when we were coming to visit. So much for surprises, but for sure there is never a dull moment with my life.

We celebrated the next day with four different cakes (how cool is that!), a visit from Christof’s mom, and a big dinner with the whole family. On Sunday I took advantage again of the chance to see another small German town and ride on the Autobahn when I went with Sandra to drop Christof’s mom back to the town where he'd grown up. It was so cute and had a beautiful castle, but it is really starting to get cold outside and these days there is only so much being outside that can be handled. 

Thanksgiving Thursday in Germany, and I’m guessing in every place in this great world but the States, is just another day. But here it’s not just another boring day because on that particular Thursday in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, it snows! A lot! I have been trying to avoid Christmas music until after I celebrated Thanksgiving, but I could not help blasting “Let It Snow” and dancing around Mathis. Now he’s certain that I’m crazy. I built a snowman, which is way harder than I remembered, and we still currently have an extra snowman head lying the in yard because I accidentally rolled it over Kara’s poop. Class was fun because we read an article about Thanksgiving since the whole group knew I loved it so much, and I loved explaining the holiday to the skeptics. They already think I’m the strange, eccentric American because I sang a song about nominative pronouns that I’d learned in high school, so I’m used to the weird looks by now.

I successfully drove home in the snow and Sandra had made a super delicious meal to celebrate, against Christof’s suggestion to eat frozen pizza. I am super appreciative of how much they go out of their way to make me feel at home here, and I’m positive it’s their wonderful family that makes it easy and fun for me to live so far away.  At 10:30pm my time, however, I didn’t feel so far away, because I got to SKYPE with all of the Thanksgiving guests at my grandma’s house in Charlotte, NC. It started with my brother telling me to call back because they’d just started eating, and went through my both my wonderful grandparents, cousin, uncle, family friends that feel like relatives, and back around to my parents. I can not even explain how much happiness talking to the line of guests brought me, and I could not stop laughing and smiling even after I’d finished talking to them. 

Sometimes it takes stepping away from everything you’re accustomed to to realize exactly how much you have. Lucky for me, I have more gifts than I could possibly ask for. Most of the time I am too busy focusing on all that is new and different day to day that I forget to realize truly where I am, to appreciate where I've come from, and to be thankful for how great both places are. And so, to my caring family and closest friends that make me feel loved at all distances, to the Niemeiers that accept me even while slaughtering their language, and to American holidays that find relevance even across continents, thank you. This Thanksgiving, I am so very thankful for you!

Ein Römisch Urlaub - A Roman Holiday

Rome is, by far, the most chaotic city I've visited during my time in Europe. At the same time, there was something so great about the Vespas whipping by the Colosseum and the intrusive street venders lurking by the Pantheon. Rome is also a city I know I will need to revisit. With all that happened there and so many thing's currently occurring, it was overwhelming.  Good thing I threw a coin over my shoulder into the Trevvi Fountain, which insures I will be back to visit.

The huge Trevvi Fountain aka tourist city.

While the chaos and dirt of Italy sometimes makes me crazy, I can't help but love the food. I took a train to Düsseldorf, a plan to Rome, and a train to the city center in order to get there, so when I found Margo in the main train station we naturally headed straight for the pasta. Margo is my friend from College of Charleston who also graduated in Arts Management, and the best part of traveling with her was our similar views on food! We ate as much as we could stand and it was fantastic. 

Italian's use stale bread to stabilize tables.

They gave me a heart pizza!

My pictures are out of order, so we can jump to Sunday! After a full weekend, Margo and I had seen so many beautiful things, but didn't quite have time to visit Vatican City. Bright and early at 6AM on Monday, I woke up and set out alone to take in the grandeur of the Vatican. It was beautiful in the morning sun, and have no lines to get into the Basilica made it even better.  I got to see Michelangelo's famous Pieta sculpture, and the lucky St. Peter statue.  The line to get into the famed Vatican Museum was not as fantastic, though, and I waited over an hour to get in. Once inside, I sprinted past all of the paintings, tapestries, and other artifacts older than America and made it to the Sistine Chapel. I had a few minutes to admire before I sprinted out of the Museum, took the subway, caught my train, made my flight, missed my train from the airport but caught the next one, and made it back Monday night. While sitting on the couch of my German home, it was almost unreal to think I'd been standing under Michelangelo's famed ceiling that morning. 

Walls of the Vatican with the St. Peter's Dome

Beautiful stairs in the Vatican Museum which I sprinted down
in order to make my train!

St. Peter's Basilica - Where the Pope does his thing. 

Now back to the rest of my trip. Saturday and Sunday were filled with the "musts" when it comes to Rome. We stood in line for the Colosseum and took an audio tour, followed by a stroll in the Roman Forum and on Palestine Hill where Romulus and Remus did their work in 100BC. The ruins in these places were from around 150AC, which is way too old for me to wrap my brain around. Margo and I did a free walking tour in the late afternoon of some of the main city center sites, and continued the tour Sunday morning with a walk to the Pantheon. I never got to see inside, though, so I guess the oldest Dome in the world will have to be visited next time. 

Margo and me in the Colosseum.

Ruins, Ruins, Everywhere

Rome loves it's Piazzas. 

We were lucky enough to get entrance tickets into the Borghese Gallery on Sunday afternoon. We read that sometimes you have to wait months for openings in the gallery's schedule, and after I visited I now see why. It was absolutely beautiful and I got up close views of some of the art I'd studied about in class. My two favorite pieces were sculptures both by Bernini. I felt nervous standing in front of his "David", which his muscles flexed and forward flow, because it seemed like he would let go of his slingshot any second.  The park surrounding the gallery was beautiful to walk through, and after going to eat gelato with our Australian hostel-mate later that night, I went to bed early, dreaming of pizza, chocolate, marble, and the time of gladiators and Caesar. 

My favorite place in Rome, Villa Borghese

Wo ist der* Mais? - Where's all the corn gone?!

*thank you Christof for helping where my German lacks.


I've been back from my big trip for a couple of weeks, but it took me until just the other day to realize that all of the corn is gone! Mathis and I are big on going on walks, and normally we stroll gracefully by the tall fields (or completely chaotically with the wind and rain and Mathis screaming), but no longer. The fields are clear and the wind is extra brutal, especially for a girl who grew up in the foothills of the warm South. 


Besides living in the Arctic, everything is great here! I've been working daily on perfecting my graduate school applications, which don't have to be finished until February. You know me, the super non-procrastinator....  
Between that, German class, and taking care of Mathis, there is no time to be bored. Oh, and I'm reading my first full-length German book! I'm trying to read most of it out loud to myself, like an insane person, but it's helping me with pronunciation and with not being terrified to read out loud in my German class. The book seems good but I'll let you know how it is when I'm finished. In 2015. 


On Friday, I went to my first German movie, which was a total success. The movie ("RED") was hilarious and easy to understand, and I got to meet some of Sandra's friends from tennis. They were great and so much fun, and have kept in touch with me since the weekend so we can go out again. On Saturday I cooked chili and made key lime pie, and on Sunday I went to my first restaurant in Rheda-Wiedenbrück with Christof and Sandra. Small, tiny miscommunication in the beginning about whether THEY were going out to eat or WE were going out to eat, and I was not ready when the Grandmother came to stay with Mathis. When you read this Christof and Sandra, I'm sorry again if I made us late! They spoiled me with a far too fancy restaurant, but it was beautiful and delicious, and added bonus: the waitress spoke English!  It was a big weekend for me. 


Right now the house smells like the boiled broccoli that Sandra is making for Mathis' baby food. It is making me so happy with memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas' at my grandparents. 

This weekend I'm visiting Rome! Can't wait to see the Sistine Chapel and gladiators killing each other. I miss everyone back home, but a really appreciate everyone reading my blog and keeping in touch. It means so much to me! 

Mathis in the bear costume my parents sent!