Christmas Junkies should avoid this country.

I know...I'm a terrible blogger. I have been for some time now, so there is really no need to judge.

The last month has been full of Christmas markets and counting down the days until I can go home for Christmas. There has been Dortmund, Essen (x2), Gladbeck, Warendorf, Muesnter (x3), Duisberg, Dortmund, Duelmen, and after this weekend Muesnter again and Enschede. I really love Christmas markets. They have given me this epiphany...Christmas markets show what Germans are really all about.

Sure...I've become slightly anti-life over the past few months. It's been a bit rough having more downtime in a day than I would have normally had in a week, a slightly frustrating (slightly...I'm being polite) life at school here, and an overall loss of motivation; however, Christmas markets have rekindled my love for everything that is German. Let me try to explain this better.

A day at a Weihnachtsmarkt is like going to Disney world with Santa Claus. You walk from little adorable stereotypical German house to German house looking at occasionally overpriced, but always worth the money crafts. The food is generally fattening and delicious, and after you've walked all around the park and seen the 100 ft. tall Christmas tree you can stop for a drink with friends, and it sort of feels like Santa is serving it to you. I mean I've been eating those candied almonds or chopped up pancakes with sugar on top followed by more and more Gluehwein. Gleuhwein is typically red wine with mulling spices served hot occasionally with a flavored shot of schnops. It's really warm so you feel like you are drinking well...warmth in a cup. It's not that cold here (comparitively speaking to Chicagoans), but the rain really starts to get to you, so the warmth does the trick. If you aren't a wineo, drink a Lumumba! Which is a hot chocolate with a shot of baileys, rum, or amaretto in it. Also delicious (and generally comes with free spice cookies)!

Anyway. Christmas markets tell me the following things about Germans (which has rekindled my love). They love Christmas so much that they have THREE people instead of just Santa-- You have St. Nick who comes on the 6th of December to leave candy in your shoes, The Christkind who brings your Christmas presents, and the Weihnachtsmann (their version of Santa). Now I'm still not sure what the Weihnachtsmann contributes to the festivities, and I know he doesn't have reindeer...but I still like him. They have also showed me that the holidays are really centered around the same thing...food, drink, and friends/family (my little German-American family). I have never seen happier Germans than the multitude of them wearing hand-knit Santa hats riding the train to the Christmas market.

I have gotten a bit lazy about taking pictures, but my friends here are good about it. So I swear I'll try to get some pictures from them. There have been a bunch posted on facebook for those of you out there with those capabilities.

As for me, I'm headed to the Netherlands to visit a friend with some other friends for the weekend. Should be fun to see a Dutch Christmas market! Then only a few days until I go home for Christmas.

...I hope my teacher didn't forget that I'm leaving the 19th...

Bis bald und frohe Weihnachten!

Sara

I'm a 90 year old.

So I know it's been quite awhile since I updated my blog. Unfortunately I don't have a ton to talk about. Since Halloween I've taken a few weekend trips in the Ruhrgebiet (Bochum, Oberhausen, Gladbeck). I spend most of my time knitting, reading, watching online tv, and napping. Lame I know but we only get about 9 hours of rainy overcast, so at 5pm I'm ready for bed. My friend Merianna actually had a Gospel choir concert in Gladbeck, which was incredible...especially since they sang Kelly Clarkson's "Breakway" as the older German women rocked out. I was quite proud of her though, and she ended up in the newspaper. We took a three day trip/get-together thing for all the Spanish and English teaching assistants in the area. Ended up staying in Duesseldorf, but spent time in Bochum at a mining museum (we had the most incredible Tower of Terroresque tour guide), then headed to Oberhausen for lunch at Centro! (a huge Americanish mall) and visiting the Gasometer, which is essentially a planetarium now where they have this GIANT moon model. Finally in Duisberg we climbed to the top of a steel mill. Yes...at night...in the rain. Then they gave us torches. TORCHES. Did get a chance to see everyone again, and met a new British friend named Kate, who actually knows where Pickering is. This week I made my second attempt at starting an English conversation club/fun club at school. It was also my second failed attempt as no one showed up again. I guess I'll give it one more go, and if no one comes it's just not meant to happen. I did start my free open tutoring hour today, and guess what....TWO KIDS CAME! The sad thing was I really didn't understand their homework assignment (of course)...but I think I helped them nontheless. The good news is Christmas markets have started. I hope to visit Muesnter's on Friday, and if I don't make it there maybe Gladbeck's or Bochum's on Sunday! I'm really excited for Gluehwein and Nutcrackers. I will miss Thanksgiving dreadfully, and polished off a whole pie solo (minus one piece, but Steffy the roommate did not enjoy it). Anyway...There are some pictures up from our assistant get-together on facebook. Hopefully I'll update some more post Christmas-ing my life!

Pumpkin Carving 101

So I taught my German roommate how to carve a pumpkin. Not much to say, but thought I'd include some action shots of our adventure.

Herbstferien...Barcelona and Paris!

So obviously this'll be a long post...read if you'd like. I also posted all of my pictures (the other girls posted their pictures as well) on facebook if you'd rather see those.

By the time we got into Barcelona and found our hostel (which in itself is another story), we decided to start our trip with some tapas and Sangria...in other words Spanish style. The first restaurant we ended up in a was a little fancier than expected, and we each ordered what we thought was a glass of wine and a few tapas. After our waiter uncorked all three of our individual bottles, I was lucky enough to get the other girls to try clams...which started the three day long shellfish lesson. Needless to say we moved onto another tapas bar, and tried some things we could quite figure out. The one thing we definitely knew what it was...fried whole little fish. Naturally I ate what I thought was the edible part of the fish, but through our broken Spanish we asked the waiter if we could eat the fish heads. After he said yes, Emily and I both popped one in. I hate to admit they tasted pretty delicious, but I think I'll pass next time.

The next day we went to a big open air market, and if you felt like cooking different proteins or seafood it's the place for you. If you're slightly unter dem Tisch, you should probably pass for someplace with a little more fresh air. Very cool way to see the type of things that they like to eat. We then did a 2 hour boat tour along the shoreline of Spain. It was beautiful, and they played some sweet jams from the mid-90s. All in all we spent the day on the beach and walked about 16 km.

At lunch I did do something pretty terrible. We were sitting on a deck on the beach having lunch (I was sitting right on the edge). I would say the deck was about 2 feet off the sand...needless to say I leaned back to get a coin out of my pocket and began to teeter...next thing I know I'm laughing before I hit the sand chair and all. Emily and Mary loved it, can't say that I entertained the locals, or the entire collection of people on the boardwalk and the beach.

That night we had an AWESOME seafood Paella. I may or may not have been the only one to eat 90% of it (part of the shellfish education program). Best food ever. EVER.

The next day we went to the Sangrada Familia, which is above. It's a Gaudi cathedral (which has two towers left and the inside to finish). It should be done in about 30 years, and was INCREDIBLE.

Here's Mary and I off a balcony of the Sangrada Familia. We went up the towers for the best view of Barcelona. Later we went to a great dinner where I had steak (with foie gras...yes I know it's inhuman but it was super delicious). We stayed out pretty late, but had to be at the bus to the airport at 4 am. However, the lady at our hostel told us about 15 min. too late. We got their right at 3:45, but the bus left at 3:45 rather than 4. Needless to say it was an expensive taxi.

We arrived in Paris without much sleep, but fortunately got to stay in the beautiful Montmartre neighborhood (if you've seen Amelie/Moulin Rouge it's that area). We visited this church, which I can say but don't have the right letters to spell...and finally took naps before dinner. I had an AMAZING french stinky cheese quiche. The next morning we did a free tour of all the major sites in Paris. We finished at the bottom of Champs de Elysees, which is the big fashion street in Paris. After walking up the street and having crepes we headed off to the graveyard.

This is Amanda and I in front of the Arc de Triumph. (I can't spell today, so deal with it kindly please). Chopin, Jim Morrison, and Oscar Wilde were all buried there, and it was a beautiful cemetary. For dinner we ate in the Latin quarter (lamb chops with a great salad). Following dinner we bought a few bottles of wine and hung out at the Eiffel tower at night, which was beautiful.

We made a Canadian friend the next day, Bret, who accompanied us to the Musee d'Orsay, which has a lot of pre-impressionism and impressionism. We went back to the latin quarter for lunch (decently priced daily menus).

Unfortunately our cancan plans fell through (way too expensive, but someday I will go in the moulin rouge). We met a few of Amanda's friends living in Paris at a Uni bar with vegetables on the ceiling. I'll have to explain that in person... Somehow we found our way back thanks to Mary's navigating.

The last day in Paris-- Emily was dying of a fever in bed, Amanda was visiting her friends, and Mary and I had the best meal of the whole time probably. The weather wasn't super, but we walked around and ate until about 3. Bought our final pastries and headed home.

Overall...an amazing trip, and I could write about 10 pages about it, but seems senseless. Just ask me in person!

Steffy's 26th Birthday!

On Friday morning the 9th, despite being sick, Steffy and I ventured to her hometown of Lathen up North for her birthday weekend. Friday we spent most of the day hanging out with her family. We did go over to her sister's house. They happen to have a dog the size of a small horse (no, I'm not exaggerating). Bootsi is a male St. Bernard, and since they rarely neuter their pets here...he's a big one. Apparently he'll be spending two weeks in our little apartment when her sister is on her honeymoon.

Saturday we set up for her party at the Boat club (Haffen), and had some delicious Torte, which I learned how to make from her mom. Here is a picture of Steffy's friend Nadine and I before heading over for the party. Needless to say it was little cold in the Haffen with no heat and only one heat lamp!

Here's a picture of some of the people there...these are mostly her friends rather than family, who were also there. About 12 in total. We had soup, and a normal German thing about 20000000 bottles (they mix EVERYTHING with EVERYTHING).

Here's a picture of her friend Sun and I tearing up the dance floor. Not literally. When I am in awkward situations I tend to lose my ability to censor my quite dramatic dance moves. Apparently they all think I belong on Broadway.

Sunday we headed back to Warendorf, where I had about four more days until I left for my fall break trip with a few other assistants. All in all a good time. I think I like our birthday tradition of everyone else paying for the birthday kid a little better than the birthday boy or girl having to pay for all their friends and family.

My new friends and Krankheit.

Despite being a little sick I went to Muesnter yesterday to get Steffi a birthday present for this weekend. After I successfully located and purchased the OC season 1 (yes, it what she knows she wants deep down inside)...I went to find a coat. It's cold here, and I decided I should do something about it. So I found a coat. It's to the left, or potentially above (I'm pretty sure you can locate the picture of me in a coat). German coats can all be zipped up so only your eyes can be seen. I decided to demonstrate that for you.

Today I survived the school day with a wicked flu. I almost didn't go in. I couldn't decide. Everyone at school is sick though--teachers and students alike. As soon as I got home Steffi had a little package for me so I would have something to do this afternoon. Needless to say the results of my labor are below (and popping slowly but surely). If you can name what all of my creations are I'll send you something. What I'm going to send depends entirely on who wins (I'll give you a hint on the green one. It had a body, which popped...so only the head and ears are left.)

No passport yet. Tomorrow I'm explaining the way our governement is set up. Woot.

Bis bald and aaachoooo!

Sara

In the words of P.Diddy...

Mo' money, mo' problems. I GOT PAID TODAY!

Another week gone...October already!

So I will have to be honest. The last week has not been crazy exciting by any means. Monday was a pretty normal day. Went to school and did my thing there. Took a nap early afternoon and went with Steffi a little early into Muesnter before dance class. She took me to a grocery store with an "American shelf." Syrup, pancake mix, kraft mac 'n cheese, brownie mixes, peanut butter, poptarts, and loads of other things. I limited myself to taco mix (nothing like real tacos, but beggars can't be choosers), and a brownie mix. Steffi decided to give poptarts a try since they are constantly eaten on Gilmore Girls (her favorite show).

Tuesday I can't really remember anything out of the ordinary. I did stay for the 7th graders because they were learning about sports. I showed them my yearbook and pictures from soccer in high school. My brother Tony doesn't know it, but he was quite the celebrity. The hardest part was trying to explain the powderpuff football game. They were a rowdy class, so I was only left with about the last five minutes to show pictures and talk about sports in our schools. It was also Taco and brownie night for Steffi and I. Yum city.

Wednesday I went to Muesnter again for a meeting with other Spanish and English TAs. I knew two of the girls already, and after our little meeting/tour of Muesnter a few of us went out for some drinks and dinner. Dinner...Auflauf....Something for which Stephanie Meyer and I have an equal affinity. It's really just glorified (but DELICIOUS) cassarole. Google it for about a million and one pictures. Got home pretty late.

Thursday as usual French class. Ran into some rough news though when the German Auslaenderamt (foreign office) let me know I wouldn't have my passport back for at least 3 more weeks (they sent it out for my visa). Needless to say, I will no longer be able to join some fellow ETAs in Spain for fall break, which starts a week from now :(

Friday I had the day off, but didn't do much other than chores and sleeping most of the day. Then Steffi and I went out with some of her friends in Dorf Muesnterland (which is like a little town of clubs, restuarants, and hotels, within a little town). The picture above is from Skala (or scala). The music selection was the best. Imagine grown German men singing along to the Backstreet boys with a techno/house backbeat. Entertaining nontheless. We stayed with Nadine (Steffi's friend), who lives in a farm house in the country. Felt like real Germany. For me I can't believe how I keep getting me in these situations--- I'm with all Germans of all ages sitting in a farmhouse and talking about lord knows what. Life is strange.

Next week is school inspection, which means I'm not allowed to do anything at school. Some government officials come in and randomnly monitor 20 min. segments of classes without warning at any given point for about four days next week. Teachers aren't allowed to have student teachers or TAs do anything during this week. Should be pretty tense to say the least!

Cross your fingers I get my passport back by at least Thursday. Please!

Muenster, Bochum, and back

Friday after school my Betreungslehererin took me to see Muesnter for the afternoon. We drove to her house with her Fahrgemeinschaft and sat in the garden with her husband for a bit. We had a nice fruit/yogurt lunch and then headed into Muesnter. Both she and her husband studied and have lived in/near Muesnter for most of their lives, so I got a lot of the "inside scoop."

There's a church there with giant cages on the sides of it- cages that used to hold the bodies of people, who went against the church. It was actually pretty crazy to see that they used to normally be on display in the middle of the inner city. Muenster and the surrounding area are still very Catholic, and the Bishop owns most/a good chunk of the city.

We had some coffee (well I had Kakao)...and crepes before heading home. Needless to say it was a nice day (the weather was beautiful). Planning on meeting Mary there on Monday to shop around.

On Saturday I met with four other Fremdsprachenassistentinnen in Bochum. One of the girls, Emily, has been placed there, so she met us all at the train station. After we all found each other, we headed to the hostel for the three of us that were staying there for the night. Then we were out and about for a bit. Starting having a few drinks and just chatting around 3-4, and the night continued from there.

We all got a bit sleepy, but otherwise it was a really fun night. Nice to be with some friends and realize that everyone is a little awkward at their schools. It was really fun.

Monday I went to a hip hop dance class with Steffi, my roommate. I have to be honest I was really nervous because it was a mid-level course, already 5 weeks into the choreo, and I've never danced a count of hip hop in my life. Needless to say I'm wicked sore, but had a good time, and will probably be going back next week (after a lot of practice).

Here's a video of the dance school. If you want to see the kind of stuff I'll be doing. It's a lot slower than the current piece though.

As of right now this is my problem. There is this cat that always runs over my feet into the building everytime I open the door. Then it follows me up the stairs and I have to try to sneak in as fast as I can.

I don't know what to do about it, and it bothers me. I'm scared to pick it up for some reason, but I know it belongs to the apartment two stories below me. Advice?

Bis bald,

Sara

Huzzah!

Today there was sun...and rubarb cake....that should sum it up.

Text mash-up

I don't know why it always puts all my text in a big blob. Doesn't make it fun to read. Sorry!

Wowzas...these kids are crazy.

So second day at my school was today... let's recap. Monday I went in afer 1. Stunde to meet my teacher. She's really really nice, and I went with her to her 12th grade class. The students were half scared of me half nervous around me I think, but they were really nice to me. We were learning about the "American Dream." I mean, really? I don't know if I've lived mine out yet... So after they wanted me to profess my love for Obama for about 15 min. I got to observe the rest of the class. Let's see we listened to "American the beautiful" but it was an old blues/folk version. Needless to say the kids did not enjoy it because he sounded like he was in pain. Following that we listened to a political song by Pink, which led me to have to define what "No Child Left Behind Act" entails...that's a bit much. Other than class it was just lots of new names with lots of new information. All is well...it's just occasionally frustrating to have the vocabulary of a 12 year old. I want to stand up sometimes and shout "I'm not dumb, I swear...I just don't know how to say what I want!" It's also trippy for me to switch back and forth out of English and German. My brain tut mir weh. At night I went with my teacher to a get together with 13th graders. Everyone brought food and we just sat around and talked. Unfortunately/Fortunately we talked in German, which made it difficult for me to participate, but nevertheless, I had a good time. Got home around midnight, crashed, and got up at 6 this morning. Today was a lot of student face time. I sat in with 6th nad 7th graders. Questions I was asked today: 1. Do you love Robert Patterson? 2. Have you read Twilight? 3. Will you go with us to the Disco? 4. Favorites of all kinds: Movies, colors, etc. 5. Were you sad when Michael Jackson died? 6. Do you have a husband? 7. Do you have a boyfriend? 8. What is your favorite Michael Jackson song? 9. Do you like techno? 10. Do you like Lady Gaga? 11. What is your favorite Michael Jackson song? 12. Did you vote for Obama?/ Do you love Obama? Needless to say, some I didn't know how to answer. The schools are sooo different though. I mean some things I knew about, but I never really put it all together what that meant. The students stay with the same group of 20 or so for every class, while the teachers move from room to room. (As a future teacher, I would SOOO hate that...you can't set things up in the room ever beforehand). The kids are CRAZY! Well not crazy, the teachers just often think it's their choice to pay attention, so kids can talk through the whole lesson, or sort of dominate it if they want. I know it's just a difference, but I was struggling not whistling at them and telling them to listen up. The discipline is just a lot different. There's not principal or detention threats. Only one teacher used the extra homework threat. I mean it definitely has it's benefits, it's just going to take some getting used to. So far everyone has been really nice though. Any ideas for a club I could start? I'm lacking ideas (I had a good one, but COMPLETELY forgot it today when she asked what my ideas were). Oh and if you want to send me anything (highly encouraged...I love letters), here's my address: Sara Storti Drosselweg 6 48231 Warendorf Germany If you are sending a package (not suggesting you have to...) Let me know so I can expect it, otherwise I may not get it.

Hatred of the German Weather Gods

Today I decided to do a little more adventuring, but when I woke of up of course it was raining. I looked up the weather and it said only in the morning. So around 1 the sun came out, seemed like it'd be a nice day. So off I went...

Here are a few pictures and things...

This first one is my school. Mariengymnasium. Took me about 17ish minutes to walk there with my blister limp, so should be about 15 min. on average.

These two are of the horse riding school, as many of you know I happen to live at the mecca for German horse riders.

We have a lake! Emssee... ( I think) There's parks all around it, and it was actually quite pretty. Lots of birds too. (Not so pretty)

Another picture of "downtown" Warendorf. Whole place is a lot older than I thought. Quite the happening town in the 14-1500s

Now as I mentioned about my town has a thing about horses...so about every store/restaurant has this large plastic horse outside that they paint to match their store. Here are probably my favorites.

1.Lochness horse (in the middle of the lake)

2. Um no clue what the store is, but it's on the side of the building

3. Denture horse (on top of a dentist's office)

And what town wouldn't be complete with a Mister Ed's pub. (Irish pub, I do believe).

Those pictures might be all out of order...so anyway, here I am enjoying myself and being outside rather than in my apartment, and Germany decided I didn't deserve that. So it started pouring. I mean pouring.

Naturally I was about a half hour or so from home. So I started the trek back *Disclaimer absolutely nothing is open on Sunday.* After I finally get back to my apartment, water literally dripping from me and upstairs to change. I go back to the window and guess what. It's sunny with blue skies ahead.

Who knows, but at least I was outside for a whole 2 hours today. It's supposed to rain for the bulk of the week and hover around 60 degrees. So that's not fantastic, but I am making plans for a weekend trip to Bochum on Saturday.

Bis bald,

Sara

Und jetzt--was mach' ich?

So it's been about a week now since I've gotten here. Nothing too exciting, nothing not too exciting so far.

Last week on Monday morning I traveled to Koeln to meet other German Fulbright ETAs for orientation. Right off the bat everyone was really interesting and it was nice to be so social for the first time in a few days. We waited around until the buses came to take us to Haus Altenberg for orientation, which is a cathedral attached to an old monastary. The days were long and full of a lot of information (visas, trains, insurace, responsibilities, etc.), but outside of all that it was pretty fun.

It was beautiful there...only regret is I may or may not have opened the automatic side door to the cathedral during a wedding (oops.) Whatever, I'm getting used to being a dumb Tourist again.

I got to know a good group of girls who are in Nordrhein-Westfalen with me, and we're thinking of things to do to keep ourselves sane and occupied because get this...we only work 12 hours a week. Yep...12 hours a week, and we aren't supposed to work more. Fulbright wants us to have time to take other classes, travel, or other things while we're here. I don't think I've ever had so much free time in my life, and the other girls and I brainstormed new hobbies for ourselves.

I think hopefully this week, I'll start a course at the Volkshochschule (community college) maybe in another language...so italian, spanish, or french. Steffi my roommate takes dance classes and Muenster and has invited me along to see if it's something I would be interested in. Those are a little more expensive though. I'm also planning on taking up knitting, just need to travel down to Bolchum so Emily can show me what it is I need to get started.

Yesterday I took care of a lot of paperwork/formalities...opened a bank account, filed for my visa, and registered myself as a citizen of Warendorf (something Germans do everytime they move).

Today I didn't feel too well when I woke up, so I've been laying low and figuring out some logistics of things. Steffi is going out of town tonight for a party, so I'll be holding down the fort. All in all I think I'll take today easy and tomorrow go out and investigate the rest of my town.

I start work Monday at 8:30...so hopefully that goes well.

Otherwise nothing new, but if anyone has new hobby ideas for me, lemme know.

Bis bald,

Sara

Well...I made it!

So crazy excitement...I'm in Germany, and this will be the first time the "temporary" isn't so "temporary." I arrived in Frankfurt about 11am yesterday, and then had an epic journey to Muenster. Generally, all went well except when I wanted to take catnaps I couldn't because I was scared to miss the train or because the cabin of German servicemen I was sitting in got a little rowdy, but overall, it went very smoothly.

Steffi picked me up from the Muenster trainstation after we searched and stared awkwardly at each other for 20 minutes before realizing who the other was. She showed me around the apartment (which is beautiful...and so clean...it's like a real place), and then we went to the grocery store. I couldn't really eat because it felt like 4 am, but I forced something down and we chatted for awhile then I was off to bed around 9. (See above for apartment pictures).

And at 2am I woke up. Fortunately it's only 8 at home so I had a chance to talk to some of my loves back home before I could make myself fall back asleep (Thanks again to Tim for giving me that website to watch American TV).

Today it rained...all day. I slept in ridiculously late, or so I thought (11), but Steffi slept until about 1, so I didn't feel so bad. Ate, hung around, took a nap, then decided to go out adventuring for a bit.

Here's the toy store, you can't really see it but there are GIANT playmobil people on top. I do love me some playmobil.

These are the doors to St. Laurentis (I think that's how you spell it) Church. Can't really get a good picture of the whole thing on a phone, but it's one of three medival churches downtown.

And here is the "famous" Brauhaus in the city center. Can't say much about it because I haven't been there yet.

That's it for now, On Monday I travel down to Koeln for my orientation until Thursday. And I start working the 14th!

Bis bald,

Sara