German lessons from a 20 month old...

Arrival Day

The last 24 hours, I have been walking around with an effervescent glow on my face.  I am so happy have some of our family visiting with us in our new German home. Now that they are here, I realize how much I really miss my family and friends. Missing them is the hardest part of living abroad.  I have to commend my niece and her husband---I never thought they would be one of our first guest since it involved traveling over seas with a 20 month old baby-enough said.

I have also realized in the last 24 hours; a 20 month old can tour Germany with a whole different aspect than adults. Xavier has taught me many important things since landing in Germany... my best lesson from him so far-if something puzzles you and you don't seem to have the words for it-just sing, "A...beeee..C, Deeee, E-F-G..."  I think I may start using this when my German translation doesn't seem to be going so good...it would probably go like this.....

Metzgerei-"was wollen Sie. Wie viele Leute essen heute Abend. Ich muss mich beeilen, weil es eine lange Schlange hinter Ihnen ..."

ME- "Ummmm.......A...B..C,..DEFG..."

He taught me a few other lessons today;

• live life one minute at a time and have fun
• every time you see something beautiful- exclaim, “CHEESE” (which meant take a picture)  Why don’t we adults yell-CHEESE when we see something pretty?  
• Never complain about obvious jet lag-just have fun and smile
• when climbing 300 steps thru the wine vineyard,  take numerous breaks or ask for a ride
• don't whine if you aren't served lunch until 3:00 p.m.
• wave and say "Hi" when passing people on the street-it will make them smile
• never look at the clock before taking a hour long nap and don't worry if you aren't comfortable
• stop and have ice cream after touring and enjoy all aspects of our tours

While learning these lessons from a 20 month old, we were able to tour the charming German town, Esslingen.  It is a short drive from our house thru the winding vineyards.  First settled in 777, it suffered very little damage during WWII, and therefore most of the medieval appearance has been preserved.  Because it is located on the Neckar River, walking around the town is breathtaking (especially when walking up the 300 steps to the Esslinger Burg) In the Altstadt (Old Town) you can view many German half-timbered houses, a glockenspiel from 1591, along with various historic buildings.  The Markplatz was dotted with energy and cafes, which is exactly how Xavier decided to end our tour.   

It helps to have a ride

Little breaks always help

Are we at the top yet?

Now that I made it to the top-time for a rest

View from the top

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I must now go pack for our next adventure.  We are heading to the Black Forest for a long weekend.  No telling what I will learn in the Black-Forest from a 20 month ...

Glockenspiel

Some can always find a new friend

Stadtkirche

Fashing

BOO!!!  Did I scare you?  Well that is exactly what most Germans will be doing the next few days…wearing costumes while trying to scare winter away.  This week is a HUGE holiday time in Germany called, “FASHING”.  In many parts of Germay, schools are out for the holiday week beginning tomorrow.  It is easy, as American, to think of this holiday to be a “German Halloween”.  It is not.  There isn’t door-to-door trick or treating for candy nor is it based on the same principles.  There ARE many costumes. 

This holiday started in the 1200’s and has developed over the years with the first written record of the Köln carnival documented from the year 1341. Every since I pulled the notice out of the Karina & Cooper's backpack, which detailed all of the school's celebrations, I have been trying to get my “arms around” this holiday. (and I still don't have it all figured out)  When I found this quote on the Internet, I couldn’t help but laugh, “Fashing is the one time of year when many normally staid Germans (and Austrians and Swiss) loosen up and go a little crazy.”  (FINALLY, a week I will ‘fit in’ since I tend to run on the little ‘crazy’ side of life)  Fashing week coincides with on the date of Ostern (Easter).  I have to say, even though I don’t really understand it all , the funniest part of this holiday was yesterday.  Jason came down in the morning for work in his suit and quickly explained to me why he wasn't wearing a tie,“My Secretary told me not to wear a tie today because this Thursday (the Thursday before Ash Wednesday ) is known as "Weiberfastnacht", or "Women's carnival night".   The tradition dictates that women are allowed to cut off the tie of any man within reach...AND THEY DO".  Here are a few pictures form the celebrations at school.  Of course, our little Cooper insisted on being dressed as “NOTHING”…so here is Karina as “Minnie Mouse”, and Cooper as “Nothing”.  I was proud of my little “Nothing” because to me, he was “something” in sticking to his decision despite everyone else dressing up today.  

Our little Cooper as "Nothing"

Two Minnie Mice..

Tour de German Cupcake Boutique

DANGEROUS.

C decided since he was a boy-he wanted a mikeshake

Today I was running around doing all the errands for the arrival of my niece, her husband and their 18-month-old son's 10 day visit.  During these errands, my stomach was behaving like a whiny child as it continued to growl at me.  At first, it took me off guard because I didn’t recognize this obnoxious noise.  It was later during the day (as my stomach spoke louder) that I realized, my stomach had been spoiled this last week from our “tour d' German restaurants”  Part of the fun of making new friends, it also trying new restaurants (I won’t lie- a BIG part of the fun) .  Meals seem to be a big part of the culture here and can last for hours in large part because the waiters don't rush you out in anticipation of the next guest.  I have enjoyed eating out with all the ‘grown-ups’ this past week, but think I had as much fun with the kids cupcake outing.  It always makes me smile when my (German) friends say, “I check your blog often to see where we should visit on the weekend in Germany…You know more places than we do and I have lived here all my life”.  In their defense, they HAVE lived here all there life and therefore live their life in a different manner.  Just like we did in Alabama.  I used to be amazed at the Germans coming over to work for MB...they would drive and visit places --ALL of the U.S. FOR THE WEEKEND!!!!  I forgot how fun adventures could be for us all.  Speaking of adventures, that is just what my friend and I did this past Monday-we took our kids on a ‘Cupcake adventure’.  As I was telling my friend about the Cupcake Cafe, I said in the typical Southern way, “ We will have to go there sometime..”  I am finding the usual German response is, “ok, how about next Monday?”  It is different here in the fact you don’t get a vague response, “we should get together”…Nope, if you mention getting together, it is PLANNED!! I love it!  

Playing after their "sugar rush

I am so excited because the "Tour de Hoff House" is beginning this week and will last over the next 6 weeks with various visitors from around the world.  As much as I am enjoying Germany, I miss my family and friends and feel like a kid at Christmas now that "Visiting season" begins.  I am sure I will have many new places to post about over the next 6 weeks.  

Germany's "flying Bacteria"

I guess I am destined to learn a lot more about doctor’s visits in Germany than I am the German language!?  Something is wrong with this picture…cause I have more important things to do than visit German doctors(Like trying out new German restaurants).  I must note, the TWO positives in this “adventure” today were: FIRST-My daughter was the first ‘doctor’ to recognize something was wrong with me this morning when she announced, “Momma, today you don’t look so pretty because your eyes are all Red.” (I just couldn’t imagine what she was talking about...Two cups of ‘good German’ coffee down the hatch and my eyes were still red?)  Second-I was able to make my own appointment (since Jason is in China) with the doctor’s assistant (she doesn’t speak English) AND describe my symptoms ALL IN GERMAN!  Not easy when describing Red “ugly” eyes. I am not sure if I understood the diagnosis correctly or not…but I keep laughing when I think about it today; You have Bacteria in your eyes.  It can blow out of the ‘blooming flowers’ into your eyes and cause “Conjunctivitis Eye” a.k.a-Pink eye.  Seriously????  Bacteria can blow out of flowers?  I guess so since my two other people saw my eyes today and said, “I also had that last week from the flowers”.  I am chalking this one up to bad translation.  Bottom line-I have Pink eye.  As usual here in Germany-I am the only Hoff with this Flower flying bacteria. I decided the perfect solution to bring this day back on a positive track…Go buy some flowers to plant on my patio so some more bacteria can blow around our yard and my body will develop an immune system-hee..hee. 

Long road thru farms..

On the way-you can buy fresh millk here!

 So, I decided to head down the dirt road to the Gärtnerei I found a few weeks back.  First let me tell you how I found this new (115 years old) Garden shop.  Many days as I was picking the kids up from school, I would see cars driving down a long dirt road near school.  So a few weeks back I decided to see what was on this dirt road and see if my non-four-wheel-drive could handle this road.  As I was cruising through what seemed like somebody’s farm complete with milk cows, out of nowhere pops this huge garden shop. 

I have to stress-It is typical to find great shops, restaurants and CAFES here in Germany, right smack in the middle of a neighborhood or ‘farm’.  I love these types of “little surprises” and going back today was a way to say “THANK YOU” to those darn 'Bloomin' Flowers for allowing me another trip to the doctor. 

I have my own bloomin flower now

make that two....

Did Germany steal my energy?

Where is all my energy?  Not like I was the Energizer Bunny in Alabama, but I definitely have some bad batteries "in" these past two weeks.  I have a fun afternoon to write and post about from today's "cupcake adventure"....but am too tired.  It was such a crazy day, I actually ate a "German" version of fast food.  This was my first "fast food" here and let me tell you-I wish I had never learned how good it was. Today's special was a "Pizza Fleisch"(no dough in this one) It was cheese, ham, tomatoes, pork all mixed together then baked and sliced.  I think there is a new "Fleisch" everyday. These little fast food meals are purchased at the Metzgerei (butcher), and eaten at a stand up table (I have yet to see anyone eating in their car here!!)  It is now 12:10 CET time and I just have 'finished' for the day.  I guess tomorrow is a new day and a new post.