Normal - Normal

Today is my last day of normal work. I use the word "normal" loosely, since I wouldn't consider any day with Mathis normal, but I should probably use the word "work" very loosely as well. Everyone always says that you should do what you like and it'll never feel like work, and this entire year was proof of that adage. I really felt like everyday was a chance for me to explore in such a beautiful place, and if Mathis wasn't crying and/or spitting up, he only enhanced the entire experience.


Even things that I became accustomed to as everyday conventions were remarkable in the beginning. Here's a quick list:

• There are no middle sheets here. The comforter fits into giant slipcovers that are interchangeable like pillow cases. 
• There are baking sheet racks for the oven. We don't own actual baking sheets, just two interchangeable racks and a normal rack that fit into the oven perfectly. Seeing it's frequency on my list, I'm now thinking that anything "interchangeable" is big in Germany. 
• Everything is in Celsius and measured by the metric system, making baking much more mathematical. 
• The German trash! While I struggled greatly in the beginning with the proper places for plastic, organic, and paper, it all makes so much sense now! When in doubt, it goes in the general trash bin. Except diapers, which have their own bin and trash pick up day.
• It all closes down on Sundays and religious holidays. You can't forget to go grocery shopping before a Sunday and Catholic holiday double whammy, or you're left without food! McDonalds, pizza delivery, and chinese are all open, though! 
• And bakeries. Bakeries are always, always open. I've grown so accustomed to fresh bread that I'm not sure what I'll do with the stuff that comes pre-sliced in a bag. Which brings me to my next point:
• No Wal-Marts! Weird, huh? I've gone almost a year of my life without visiting a superstore.
• There is no air conditioning, which is surprisingly OK. 
• Clothes choices for the weather are very different in Germany. There were many, many, many days when I would go out dressed totally different than everyone around me. And on the opposite side of this subject:
• Naked babies everywhere! All right, well not really everywhere, but parents are much more comfortable with their kids being naked at the public pool or the beach or a relative's house than any parent in America would be. 
• And finally, everyone speaks German here! I know it seems silly to state, but speaking in German is so standard for me now. I'm also used to everyone around me speaking something other than English. I can't imagine what it'll be like to go shopping for something (maybe in a Wal-Mart!) and not have to do a couple hours of intensive research in order to ask the attendant for exactly what I'm looking for, with the correct case and verb endings. Now that I think about it, they normally just respond in English anyway. 

Now back to packing! Thank goodness for the quality assistance - I could really use all the help I can get!