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