Tobias and Johannes' first day at school

Today Tobias and Johannes were warmly welcomed at their school, Seidl Grundschule. Tobias' teacher, Frau Lanzendörfer, is also the vice principal (seen face on in the picture). Joannes' teacher, Frau Rehfeld, is seen walking with Johannes down the hall. The school is very open and modern, nicely decorated with sculptures and totem poles. They felt like school lasted forever, but it seems like they have made a friend each, which exceeds our first day of school expectations. We are very proud of our brave boys.

The girls school on the other hand is far from welcoming. We have been emailing and calling the school since September. They have yet to remember us so each and every contact is like starting over- so the girls missed starting school today. Instead, Anna, Annika and Gia baked the boys a cake. Tomorrow, we presumably have a meeting with the school scheduler, so we will see what happens.

Three Kings Day

It is the 6 of Jan, which is 3 kings day here. Look who came to our door! Casper, Melchior and Balthasar came with their frankincense, sang songs and told stories of when they brought gifts to baby Jesus. Last time we were in Switzerland, the three kings came as well. Three Kings day is a holiday here and Christmas break ends after the 6 of January.

Peter played with his camera subjects, Hansi and Tobi, as they boarded at their new elementary school. I really hope the kids have some fun times at school, learn German and make friends. I love hanging with my three "kings" when they all play and goof with each other.

A Happy Garbage Day!

Anna Baumgartner, one of our wonderful aupairs, is visiting us from Austria and we are so happy to have her with us again! In addition to her easy going personality, she brings with her garbage expertise. Germany (and Austria) make little landfill and recycle many more things then we can in the US.

We humans have created a big landfill problem but to make little landfill is complicated, as I alluded to in a previous entry. Really garbage can and must go one of 6 places as modeled by garbage-master Peter: paper, bio (compost), glass returnable, glass recycling, the infamous gelbe Sack (yellow bag) for small cartons and wrappings and restmull (landfill). The garbage people pick up paper, bio, restmull and the gelbe bag from houses each on a different day of the month, so clearly explained by the schedule included. Some plastic and glass bottles get returned to the supermarket for refunds and the other glass we drive to the glass recycling bin. It seems that dividing out the garbage in that many different piles is just a small step above just littering your whole floor and maybe house with garbage. But it definitely makes you think about what you buy, as you develop a panic for overloading one of the 6 garbage piles at home

When Peter's mother was here, she made sure all garbage was in its correct resting spot, but without her we've had many discussions and spent much time checking the list of what goes in the gelbe bag (also included for you benefit). Anna helped us figure the many garbage details we had been missing and the garbage people actually took our garbage-yippie! I am amazed that our family produces very little landfill garbage (right end of the 3 compartment bin).

It is strange to dedicate an entry to garbage, but Germany, Austria and Switzerland (and likely other European countries) have highly sophisticated recycling and environmental preservation is clearly a priority.

The German Kitchen and food

I try to learn how to cook in a German kitchen. As I feel more comfortable in the kitchen, the more comfortable I feel in the grocery store. For example, every German kitchen has a bread cutter. Once I made peace with that brutal blade, I realize that is essential to cut the wonderful loaves of bread they sell.

Another thing that every kitchen has is a window that opens up as well open to the side.

German dishwashers really clean! I swear there is an elf in the dishwasher because you can put a totally filthy dish straight into the dishwasher and it comes out sparkling clean. I don't know about you, but I always prerinse my dishes. I love my dishwasher elf but I have yet to see him, as I tell the kids.

One thing you will not find in a German kitchen is a crockpot. Slow cookers are slowly making their way. In the meantime, I have much adjusting bc in the states I depend on a slow cooker. Any suggestions are welcome!

The kids are developing a taste for the popular foods such as currywurst (hot dog w a curry sauce) and tuna fish pizza. However, they are still not thrilled about having to eat their pizza with a knife and fork. The nutella pizza made everything better, though.

Annika and Gia have their own blog:
sisterstogtheralways.blogspot.com

King Ludwig II

King Ludwig II was a bit behind his times but left 3 amazing castles. King Ludwig II, born 1846 and took the throne at the ripe old age of 18, revered King Louis XIV, who built the palace of Versailles in 1660s. However by the time Ludwig took the throne, Europe had gone through a few revolutions and the monarchs became less ostentatious, except for Ludwig young King of Bavaria. We live 20 minutes from to this castle, Linderhof. This was Ludwig's get away hut where he spent 8 days a year nestled in the woods. Like the sun king, he loved his gold and used half a ton in his castle alone: The curtains are ladened w gold. After constructing Linderhof, he built Neuschwanstein, now made famous by Disney. Our guide was offended when I alluded to his craziness, but he put his family as well as Bavaria into debt by his ornate endeavors.

Upto now, we have enjoyed our skiing and excursions with Peters parents, Inge and Günter, his sister Susanne and her husband Eckhard and sons Tim and Alex. They have all returned home (6 hrs north around Hannover) for now.:( We could not make this German stay here happen without their help. Their loving welcome gave us a great start. Thank you Witts and Rüggebergs!

Sylvester

Celebrating Sylvester, New Years Eve, is full of traditions here in Germany. After a full day of skiing on the Zugspitz, the highest mountain in Germany 2,962m, we ate typical dinner (Germans usually eat rachlette o fondue) and berliners, a sort of doughnut, for luck. On the table we had table fireworks, my favorite. They are benign and fun: after the initial bang, out pop hats, masks, noise makers,etc. At midnight, people light their own fireworks (not as benign), the church bells (we live in the Catholic part of Germany) ring like crazy and hotels have a firework shows. Needless to say, the vibrant energy of the excited people increases the palpable pulse here. All the kids shooting off fireworks, unnerved me and the thick smoke left behind smelt awful. Good thing Germany is so wet, Colorado would go up in flames under these conditions.

On new years day we saw Neujahrsspringen: the traditional ski jump competition in Garmisch. We saw the skiers jump into the new year, the blimps toodling around and tons of people walking about.

Thank you for all your holidays cards. It is so nice to receive your wonderful cards in the mail here. Happy 2013 to you all!