And the Year Begins

I have been in Germany for two weeks this upcoming Friday. How strange! I still doesn't seem real. It's kinda like I am waiting for someone to tell me, "Hope you had a nice vacation, but it's time for you to go home now." But that isn't going to happen. I am going to be here a whole YEAR.

My first day here feels like ages ago. I don't recall a lot of it already because I had jet lag and that made the whole day kind of fuzzy. But I will do my best to think really hard and remember it all.

Johannes picked me up from the airport at 10 am (ish) in the family car. I have only been in that car once since that day. Germans have cars of course, but because they have amazing public transportation (ex. trains) and everything you need isn't "super far away" you can just bike or walk. Cars are used only for holidays and places where it would be easier to drive to than take the train.

It was a beautiful drive; I didn't expect Germany to be so green! Of course the leaves are starting to change colors, and soon there won't be any colors at all... but that is besides the point. Another thing that suprised me was how much open space there was. Coming from LA County, the land of squished together suburbs; it's strange to find myself in a very different place (we aren't in Kansas anymore Toto). A place where cities are actually not right next to each other. Weird. But neat.

I didn't just look out the window the whole time! Johannes and I talked the whole way. Or should I say I talked the whole way... he got in a couple thoughts in here and there haha. We covered a wide range of topics, but I won't bore you with a play by play of the conversation. One of the things that we did talk about was speed limits on the Autobahn. I was pretty stoked at how fast we were going (and that I was actually on the Autobahn) and Johannes was like ehh no big deal, I like driving in the States better. What?! Ehh.

The middle part of the day is a blur. But it is kind of coming back to me as I really ponder it. I met Christiane and all her colleagues and her boss at her work (embarrassing! I looked a total mess after being on a plane so long. But they were all so sweet). And then I got to go with Christiane and Johannes to get Martha from school. Martha was having two new friends over so they played all afternoon at the house. I think it was Johannes that went and got Frieda from school around that time. Point being, we all had lunch at the house and I got the tour.

The first I walked into my room I was so stoked. I still get pretty stoked every time I walk in. It is big and white and airy. It's amazing how much light gets in the room. The room was pretty bare, except for the bed, because I was going to go with Christiane the next day to get stuff from Ikea. They wanted me to personalize it. Which I am so thankful I go the opportunity to do. I am quite the interior design nerd. It looks much more homey now, but it's not quite there yet. Just a couple more things to add. All in due time of course.

Then as a family we went on a bike ride (me on a rented bike since I didn't have my own bike at this point). I got to see the castle grounds and the castle in the middle of Karlsruhe. The city is really amazing and I could scarcely take it all in. I was loving it all though. We stopped at an organic food store (think German Trader Joe's) and bought some items we needed. And then we went to a Biergarten by our house and had dinner. I had pasta (not very German, I know, shame on me) and my first legal beer! I love the drinking age here.

I didn't take any photos today so here is a great aerial view of the castle and part of it's grounds that I found on Google. Amazing right?

We got home and I pretty much jumped for joy that it was bedtime. I don't think I have ever been so excited to go to bed before midnight. My head hit the pillow and I was out like a light.