Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Lessons
The biggest lesson we are learning is patience. We need to be patient w ourselves and each other because some of these lessons require practice.
We feel lucky to be skiing in Garmisch, site of the 1936 Winter Olympics and 1979 World cup. Lift lines are a sport unto themselves as there is no organization to them. Lines are survival of the pushiest. In order to make it to the lift, you must scootch in any free space around you. If you dont crowd and scootch, someone else will and you may go backwards in line. To make things more complicated, we enjoy loading chairlifts together. Making our way through a liftline together, requires even more skill. Needless to say, there is no rest in a line; in fact it is the most stressful part of skiing. Our cousin is quite adept at the line, he always is the first of us to load a chair. We will learn as this is true for any line, not just skiing.
Contrasting with the chaotic "line", is traffic. People abide by the strict traffic regulations. For example, no German will be passing another car on the right side. Faster traffic is always left.
Garbage Recycling is very complex and if you screw up, no one will pick up your garbage.
Birth certificates are often needed. In the States, our passports suffice as birth certificates, but not here. Needless to say, I didnt bring the certificates.
We feel lucky to be skiing in Garmisch, site of the 1936 Winter Olympics and 1979 World cup. Lift lines are a sport unto themselves as there is no organization to them. Lines are survival of the pushiest. In order to make it to the lift, you must scootch in any free space around you. If you dont crowd and scootch, someone else will and you may go backwards in line. To make things more complicated, we enjoy loading chairlifts together. Making our way through a liftline together, requires even more skill. Needless to say, there is no rest in a line; in fact it is the most stressful part of skiing. Our cousin is quite adept at the line, he always is the first of us to load a chair. We will learn as this is true for any line, not just skiing.
Contrasting with the chaotic "line", is traffic. People abide by the strict traffic regulations. For example, no German will be passing another car on the right side. Faster traffic is always left.
Garbage Recycling is very complex and if you screw up, no one will pick up your garbage.
Birth certificates are often needed. In the States, our passports suffice as birth certificates, but not here. Needless to say, I didnt bring the certificates.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
door to door
Thank you all for your support of our German adventure. December 23 we left looking like the a version of the beverly hillbillies (thankfully nobody stuck a rocking chair on top of the car) and arrived safely. Thank you Shannon Smith and Chris Hageseth for schlepping us to the airport. After being quite the sight for the Germans, we are so happy to be in our cute little Tyrol house. The view os the Alps from home is breath taking. We are so appreciative that the Ondas are taking care of our dog Mickey, The Fraser/ Goldsteins have our lab, Diesel and Brian Rosen is caring for Puff, our bearded dragon. It certainly takes a village. Peter's parents found this great house and have so warmly welcomed us to Murnau Germany! Happy Holidays.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
packing up..
We are working to accomplish a dream of ours,ok of Peter and I: to give our kids the gift of being bilingual and bicultural. We will have a semester abroad as a family. Peter will be learning a highly specialized surgical technique. Annika, Gia Wiebke, Hansi and Tobias will attend German public school. I will study German and find a massage table so I can work as massage therapist. As we go through the emotional challenges of leaving our friends and community, we are trying to keep an eye on our vision.
Why are you going to Germany and what is your goal?
Hansi: My goal is to learn more german and to speak real good german and to be nicer to my self
friends and family
Tobi: My goal is to know what it feels like in germany and to be myself.
Peter: Work with german surgeons to learn new techniques. Learn to speak german..again, not like an American.
Gia: My goal is to excel in gymnastics and spend time with my family.
Annika: My goal is to come home as soon as possible. However, while I am attending school I will try to make the best of it.
Carla: My goal is to become as fluent as I can in German. I hope to enjoy wonderful adventures with our entire family and friends.
Why are you going to Germany and what is your goal?
Hansi: My goal is to learn more german and to speak real good german and to be nicer to my self
friends and family
Tobi: My goal is to know what it feels like in germany and to be myself.
Peter: Work with german surgeons to learn new techniques. Learn to speak german..again, not like an American.
Gia: My goal is to excel in gymnastics and spend time with my family.
Annika: My goal is to come home as soon as possible. However, while I am attending school I will try to make the best of it.
Carla: My goal is to become as fluent as I can in German. I hope to enjoy wonderful adventures with our entire family and friends.
eye on our goal
German bound...to the land of the beautiful roaming cows where we will hear "more cow bell" (as Will farrel says).
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Last Blog from 184 South Ulster....
This is the last message from 184 South Ulster.... in 8 hrs we will wake up and leave for the airport.
What a last day!! Annika clearly has the hardest time leaving ... at times we were afraid that she might be abducted by her friends... that would have been very sad!
She is certainly sad, but we are sure that it will slowly get better for her.
We are all excited to go, everybody in their own way!
Good bye and Good night!
What a last day!! Annika clearly has the hardest time leaving ... at times we were afraid that she might be abducted by her friends... that would have been very sad!
She is certainly sad, but we are sure that it will slowly get better for her.
We are all excited to go, everybody in their own way!
Good bye and Good night!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Organizing, trashing, ...packing
For weeks and weeks now we have been preparing for our "Deutschland" adventure:
Departure date had been set early: 12/23/2012, arriving in Munich 12/24/2012...we will then load up all these bags and more into a BIG van and arrive in Murnau am Staffelsee, our home for the next six months.
Departure date had been set early: 12/23/2012, arriving in Munich 12/24/2012...we will then load up all these bags and more into a BIG van and arrive in Murnau am Staffelsee, our home for the next six months.
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