Murnau

We chose to live in Murnau, Germany because it has one of the largest trauma hospitals in Germany and the docs do many endoscopic spine surgeries and it is in a gorgeous part of Germany. We wrestled with the decision because we are 7 hours away from our family.

What we didn't know when we chose Murnau was what gem of a town this is. Murnau is filled with character, culture, rich history and most people live here because they have so chosen this incredible town. People are overall friendly and the minute it is not raining many gather in the pedestrian zone. The photos are mostly from the central part of town, the pedestrian zone. Murnau is at the base of the Alps, as you can see these dramatic mountains from everywhere in town. There are beautiful stores, which I know my shopping friends would indulge, sports stores, I think people know me there, and tons of little cafes. All the cafes seem to have their own little atmosphere and attract regulars. We are close to the Italian border so many of the Italian transplants have cafes, gelato shops and delicious restaurants. Murnau has quite a large Thai population so we can indulge in a truly authentic, wonderful Thai restaurant and traditional Thai massage.

Murnau has a rich history. At the turn of the century, Murnau called the "Blue land" because the artists thought the land had a blue hue. Kandinsky, Franz Marc and Gabrielle Münter were some of the artists who moved here and started the "blue rider" movement. Interestingly for us, we have had a Franz Marc painting for a long time hanging in our home in Denver. So that painting has certainly come to life for me. For Tobi's class project he painted a painting in the style of the Blue Riders. The artist community is still vibrant and adds to Murnau's rich character.

Murnau is also in the Catholic southern bundesland of Bavaria. Everyone greets eachother by saying "Grüß Gott", or greeting G-d. Kids take either Catholic, Protestant or Ethic class as a part of their regular curriculum.

What is special about Murnau?
Tobi: Murnau is special because when you look outside you see nice fresh air and no pollution and no factories. When you are at our house, you live next to a farm. You drive 2 minutes and you are in the Tangelman center, right in town.
Hansi: The cool thing about Murnau is that on one side(of my house) there is a farm and on other side there are houses.
Gia: Murnau is special because it allows you to have more freedom and everyone trusts you to make decisions.
Annika: Murnau is special because it is a tiny town so when you go in the market you know everyone. Another good thing is that all the stores are in the same vicinity.
Peter: I like the pedestrian zone with all the little shops. I like to see the Alps in the background andI like when the sun comes out here.

The special bonus is that our family, Witts and Rüggebergs, visit us often, so we feel like we won the jackpot here!

Fasching

Fasching is carnival in Germany. As US carnival is heavily celebrated as Mareigras in New Orleans, so Fasching festivities are along the river Rhein, i.e. in Dusseldorf and Köln. Last Thursday they celebrated ladys fasching and the women cut he men's ties off. We went to Braunschweig and saw Schoduvel, a parade to shoo the devil away. I loved the political messages floating around, like Angela Merkel's arm through the Greek pig. They also had many floats about nuclear waste and environmental issues, which are omnipresent in the media.

Rosen monday is the name of the festivities on Monday, it doesnt have much to do with roses but they do throw roses. the girls were given roses.

I have not heard the term fat tuesday, but tuesday parties are similar to fat tuesday. My mom was is Garmisch 45 years ago and she remembers fat tuesday like celebration on Garmisch's ski slopes, great.

Our family celebrated tuesday's Fasching with these beautiful horses.

Unlike the US where Ash Wednesday is omnipresent, Ash Wednesday is only in the Catholic regions, like the freistat of Bavaria.

We wish you who celebrate a good, Good Friday.

Road Trip

"On the road again": we travel for Fasching week school break....we drive up north to be with the Witts for Opa's birthday and visit the large extended family, which always takes days. We drive on the autobahn daily. At times the autobahn lives up to its reputation with free moving traffic when you can drive as fast as you like. However, some places on the autobahn have speed limits and then you can sit forever in the dreaded "stau", or traffic jam. Auto navigation systems give you up-to-date fast ways around traffic jams and keep track of actual driving times. NPR had a story on the German navigation system. I felt like some little "candid camera" dwarf was filming us as our navi (photo) lead us around the city of Munich for 2 hours, supposedly avoiding traffic jams. I swear navi lead us in circles and pushed us toward road rage.

After the stau turned our 3 hour trip into 5, we finally arrived at our destination, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. You need to know the full names of the towns because many German towns have the same names. They were named over 1,000 years ago and even during the Roman times, i.e. there are two big cities named Frankfurt. Rothenburg is surrounded by a massive stone wall and moat that welcomed Kings and emperors over 1000 years ago. Rothenburg remained intact through the world wars, so it retains its original medieval feel and now romantic charm. It is primarily a pedestrian town so the kids have a blast running down the original cobblestone streets.

Then we sped up the autobahn to celebrate Peter's father's birthday. Peter is driving like a true German 110 mph in the right lane because you have to get out of the way for the big boys (usually BMW, Porsche, etc) cruising around 120-130 mph, much faster. Unlike the US, Germans come by the birthday person's house for cake, coffee and food. So the birthday person can end up entertaining and making food for visitors all day.

Papa's day

7:45 am 150-200 completely white-clad physicians from the Trauma Ortho, Neurosurgery and Intensiv Care departments meet for the 'Morgenbesprechung' in a room with a light floor, white walls and ceiling: It feels like a meeting in heaven...
The meeting starts ontime as soon as the boss arrives: suddenly all chatting is stopped, cellphones are silenced. Professor Bühren opens the meeting and always closes it with some short remarks. The meeting itself is shorter than 20 min, but all hospital-wide admissions and events over night are presented...and the Hospital is the biggest Trauma Hospital in the region!
Nurses and staff are very friendly and helpful: On the ward (Station 34 is my assigned ward) doctors and nurses share breakfast and snacks throughout the day. 'Visite' or rounds are being done twice a day with nurses, PT's and the 'Controller' (Coding and Hospital administration). Patients are being admitted still the day before their operation, even though that is not covered anymore by insurance companies, but Professor Bühren still sees it as a special 'bonus' that the hospital provides for the patient. Patients stay much longer in the hospital as well which is partially supported by the budgeting for this non-for-profit hospital: If less patient days then last year were reached the hospital budget shrinks...
There are five doctors on this Spinal surgey ward. Only one is in the last year of his residency, the rest of them has had 1-10 years of experience. Two of them are 'Oberärzte', three are 'Assistensärzte'. This team is being lead by 'Leitender Arzt' Dr. Gonschorek (on my left in the picture)...Lots of hierachy, but the atmosphere is very nice and personal , on first name basis, a little unusual for a german hospital, maybe?
3-5 Spine surgeries are being performed daily by the Trauma Orthopedic department, about the same amount by the neurosurgical unit. Patients are either covered as part of their mandated workman's compensation insurance or by their regular personal insurance. There is a 10% contingent who come from the United Arab Emirates (Dubai) due to a governmental contract. A large group of patients comes directly by helicopter from the surrounding ski resorts.
I am in the OR a lot and I am scrubbed in with all of the endoscopic assisted transthoracic spine surgeries and hope to bring these skills back home.
Due to my status as visiting surgeon I leave when I want: no paperwork, no dictations, no discharges, no records... like heaven for me. Once I take my white clothes off I am back to earth: help with German homework for the kids, garbage recycling and driving to skiing, soccer, figure skating and gymnastics!

A Tribute

It goes without explanation how well loved Peter is for his nice personality and good sense of humor. Living here in Germany with his family, it is obvious where Peter gets these wonderful qualities. His whole family, father, mother and sister (and her husband and kids) are all so warm, lovely and funny people. We could not have made such an move without the help and support of Peter's amazing family. Peter's mother, Inge, takes care of the entire family, kind of like Mother Teresa. She cares for her 98 year old aunt and always watches the grandkids when parents go away.

Inge has been with us for almost 2 weeks. She decorated our home with paintings she, Peter and Gia painted. Out house feels so cozy with their works "from the heart" hanging. She keeps everything in order. She is not used to having so many people around, but this place is so neat with her here. The German orderliness missed our little family. I swear it as if Inge follows everyone everywhere straightening up as she goes, yet we have also enjoyed having coffee and chatting up a storm. How does she do that? She helps the kids with their homework and taught me most of the German I know. Her patience is truly appreciated. We also appreciate having the input of a garbage expert.

Inge is open to do anything. She loves being outside and very athletic. She just raced the boys sledding. We are so lucky and appreciate how well she takes care of us!

Inge is extremely caring and we are so lucky to have her in our life. No one could ever replace her. -Gia

Inge helps out everyone in the family by cleaning up, making food, and helping out with homework. She has made the move so easy and fun. -Annika

We love when you come and visit us and we come and visit you. -Tobi and Hansi

Susanne is a wonderful sister-in-law, sister and aunt. She spoils the kids and they love it. She always brings her positive attitude and easy-going ways so nothing can really be that bad when she is around. She is like the horse-whisperer and really has a great connection with the animals. She took the kids riding, and a horse was getting feisty with Annika, but between respect, kindness and understanding, she smoothed that situation right out.

Susanne is fun loving and an amazing aunt we love her so much. - Gia

Susanne is athletic and funny. She balances our family out and I will miss her when we go back to the US. -Annika

We love being around you. Tobias and Johannes

We are lucky to have these times together as we become truly attached to the whole family.


Happy Birthday Inge and Susanne.