2 Fabulous Things!

Ok first cool thing (well I think it is cool): I went to the bank today by myself, opened a bank account by myself, and spoke only German by myself! ahh I am an adult. (I haven't even opened a bank account in the States alone..)

Second cool thing: Tomorrow afternoon I am leaving for my first trip.

• Location: Hamburg
• Partners: Emily (another au pair who is working near Oldenburg)
• Plans: well to see Hamburg and visit with my cousin Alex! yeah for the German railway system and for cheap state tickets!!

pictures to come!

Benther Berg

Here are a few photos of my new favorite park to bike, walk, and run in, Benther Berg. It is about 3 km from my house. It is gorgeous and is surrounded by farms (corn, horses, cows...). It has a lot of hills and even a wig-wam thing, Katharina!

Something you would never see in the States

Here is something you would never see in the States:

This is Matti's school project he brought home today, he is four years old.
haha...enjoy!

It's Official

Finally, after several calls and a couple visits to the visa-giving office, I am officially a year resident and au pair in Hannover Germany!

Eating With Amy

Breakfast (7:30 am)

• half an english muffin with nutella
• rye bread with cream cheese or butter and brie
  
• Tea
  

Snacks (10 am - 2 pm)

• fruit...bananas, necterines, apples, pears, etc

Lunch (2 pm)

• something hot...this is our big meal of the day
• chicken or pork usually with noodles or rice and veggies

Snacks (btwn 3 and 6 pm)

• fruit
• Ice Cream
  

Dinner (7 pm)

• Wasa cracker with brie (my new favorite!)
• rye bread or bakery bread with gouda
  
• yogurt
  

My Newest Adventure

Last night, Wednesday, I went out with one of the Kirchberg's former au pairs, Karlie (she was two before me) and her boyfriend Doug. They showed me around town to parts of the city I haven't seen. But what I really took away from the evening was everything that Karlie said. She was a wonderful resource and told me about how she tried to explore everywhere when she was an au pair...so I followed her example.

I took out my trusty map after lunch, got my bike, and headed off. I ended up riding for about an hour and a half. I made a few wrong turns and it took me an hour to get where I wanted and a half hour to get home. But the road and paths were beautiful. I went in the opposite direction of the city center toward a huge park with lots of trails called Benther Berg. Surrounding the wooded trail were farms and horses and a couple bulls (well actually they looked like miniature wooly mammoths...). I didn't feel like I was in the city at all.

Well you should come and visit because I am living in a beautiful and interesting place.

My most proud moment

Ok, perhaps I am being a little dramatic....but on Monday I finished reading the first Harry Potter...in German! I was talking to my cousin Anna and told her it may even beat out graduating from college. Ok, that's all for now bis bald!

My First Night Out on the Town...

yes, it was a Tuesday night, but don't worry I didn't stay out too late...

While Petra and Indra were in the city last night, they ran into two au pairs they knew, Gillian and Hannah. Petra called me to see if I wanted to meet up with them, they were going bowling. Well, of course I wanted to go (before last night I had met one person my age and she lives an hour and a half away :( )

Since they were meeting at the hauptbahnhof in 20 min, we decided I would just meet them at the bowling alley. It was a bit of an adventure for me, I had only gone into the city by bus once and had never ridden the tram before, but it all worked out and I met them at "Tom's Bowling".

We had a wonderful time, I met four other au pairs and them eight or so german guys and a couple german girls. One girl and I in particular got along really well. She was an au pair a few years ago in Paris. But it was nice to talk to her because she talked to me in German.

But once the night was over it was time to head home. We all took the tram to the Hauptbahnhof and then went our seperate ways. I had to walk through the whole bahnhof and then once i took the night tram back to Ahlem (my part of the city) I had quite a walk home, but it was nice and it is pretty safe here. We exchanged a few numbers and I am looking forward to more nights out!

Photos from Bremen

The Bremertown Stadtmusikanten.
Everyone who visits this statue touches the hooves of the donkey, then they will return to Bremen.

Finally a picture of the kids...Elea, Indra, and Matti.

Here is Indra sitting on a pig statue, in the middle of the city center.

The pigs and the "herder" are symbolic of the times when the pigs would walk through the city each day to go from the pastures to the farms.

Bremen

We got to Bremen on Tuesday night and have been here for a few days now. It has been wunderschön. The three kids and I have been staying at Petra's parents' house while she and Christian are in Oslo. The kids are very sweet. We are finally getting comfortable with each other and have a lot of fun together.

Petra's parents took the four of us to the city and I got to see all of the famous sites including the Bremertown Stadtmusikanten (pictures to come....I don't have my cord with me). And yesterday I went to the city and the Art museum alone. I saw a special exhibit of black and white fotos of Andreas Feiningen. They were good, he took mostly photos of New York City.

Today the 6 of us went to a small children's theme park, it was nothing like what we have in the states, there were so many rides that you start yourself. I like the freedom it gave the kids. It also had animals. My favorite part was the Märchenwald, where there were different fairy tales told - - how cool!

I really like Bremen but I am definately looking forward to getting to know Hannover better as well. Especially meeting people my own age. Petra and Christian have shown me so many places that the au pairs frequent (bars and clubs etc) that I am very much looking forward to seeing!

I hope all is well with you!
Bis später!

Another full day

Today Petra (the mother), Indra (10 years old), and I went into the city by bus. It is quite simple so I am not so worried about having many problems with that. Tomorrow Petra, Indra, and I will go to the city by bike while Matti (4 years old) is at Kindergarten. It is only about 6 km, so not far. I am looking forward to that as well.

I watched the children for the first time alone today while Petra and Christian went to a meeting. We had a lot of fun. They love playing board games, reading books, and playing outside.

Tomorrow evening we will be leaving for Bremen and staying with Petra's parents until Sunday night while Christian and Petra are in Oslo. It will be interesting getting to know a new city (however I still don't know Hannover very well....that will come with time).

Hope all is well...especially those at the beach!

Ich bin hier!

So far so great! After a few delays because of the Lufthansa strike, I finally made it to Hannover, Deutschland last night.

Today has also been very productive...it went as the following:
- woke up and ate breakfast
- rode my bike with the family to the market and then to the library
- drove with Christian (the father) to the grocery...yes I drove and it was successful
- ate lunch with the fam
- unpacked...that felt good (it will also probably be the most organized my room will ever be this year haha)

I have added some pictures of my room.

My name was posted on my bedroom door.






























Each of the three kids (Indra, Elea, und Matti) gave me a yellow rose at the airport. so süß...