Travel slow, see more..

I am getting more settled here as my schedule is becoming constant and my sleep schedule is finally in place. I am now able to go to bed before 2 or 3 a.m. which the first month here I never could! I am really happy that I am traveling the way that I am. I feel like I am getting the most authentic and full experience and understanding of Germany, and the European culture. I am not here for a few weeks or even a term in school with other students, but I am living the day to day life with a German family and I am thrown into this world for exactly what it is. It is really one of the coolest things I've ever experienced and so far I'd say this is one of, if not the best, chapter in my life thus far. 

So, last weekend I met up with a friend Christopher in Bruhl a city not far from Bonn on the fast train. Christopher is a son of the our long-term family friends, the Ingenhutts. He was born just the month before me and so we have literally known each other since the diaper days. It had been a little over 10 years since we last saw each other so it was really cool to meet as adults, catch up, and explore the Augustusburg Palace together! The palace was absolutely amazing, and there were so many intricate details in every inch of each room it almost hurts the eyeballs--but in a good way. Again, I am just amazed with the work and dedication people put, and have put, into the architecture here. It's something I'm not used to and so I am still shocked every time I experience this. This Baroque palace was built in the 18th century by the archbishop of Cologne, Clemens August of Bavaria. It took 61 years to finish. This palace was actually just a summer home for him, all 8 floors by what Christopher and I calculated, and occasionally he would stay there on his way to his other residences. Apparently the life of an archbishop was the one to live during the 1700's. 

 Old man would not move his head.....

 At a side view up the grand stair case. Unfortunately we couldn't take photos, I tried but was caught as soon as we went up the stairs. Above this is an amazing painted dome that I wanted so badly to capture.

The room for the dinner parties.

 Further down we came to this huge pond. All I needed was a paddle boat and a book.

 

Christopher and I after a long day of touring, talking, walking, and eating a fantastic meal on the palace grounds.

I haven't been able to travel around or do as much as far as my own activities the past couple weeks due to the Sprachschule (language school). I have it every morning of the week and then watch the kids as soon as I am home until evening. Luckily this course is only 4 weeks so I will again have some free time to go out more and enjoy the last month of the summer! Nonetheless, I am very happy to be taking the class and learning more of the language. I am lucky to live with a family who pays and provides that for me. 

The other evening while the kids were watching their show, I decided to paint my nails since they have been naked for a month or two. For the record, Carmen is not into cosmetics so nail polish is foreign in this household. Justus caught me painting my nails and immediately said "Ich auch!" (Me too). I told him it was only for ladies, trying to persuade him otherwise because I didn't know how  Carmen and Martin would like it, but he insisted. I agreed to paint one thumb, and his face brightened so much. So, he ended up with a full manicure and pedicure. And, of course, little miss Lotte too. No body wants to be left out! 

 Nail party!!

Blowing his fresh painted coat :)

Because I am relying on public transportation while I'm here, I generally have about 20 minutes after class before my train comes. I decided to walk around and explore more streets this week instead of sitting at the station reading my book. Here are a couple snap shots of the inner city in Bonn. 

 Part of a Blumen Haus. I am in love with all of them.

Treat by the fountain...vanille croissant and erd berres. Translated as "Earth berries" aka, strawberries.

On Friday night we went to a graduation and birthday party of Carmen and Martin's old neighbors. Their daughter Nicole, who works at Kunst Rasen, graduated this month and her mother was celebrating a belated birthday. It was such a fun party. Lots of good food and most importantly, good drinks. I have really grown to love wheat beer so I had more of that than anything else. Every body that I've met here has been so kind and open that it just makes my time here that much happier and enjoyable. Of course this is a generalization, but it's not an exaggerated one when I say that the people here live a simpler life, but at the same time it's much richer than what is the "norm" back home. People are very much themselves and it's not about the outward appearance you make of yourself or your life. Everyone I've met has been so honest and so real that I finally feel like I am in a place where I can be that way too without being labeled as rude. I have found a place for me.

On Saturday night Dieter Thomas Kuhn came to Kunst Rasen. He and his band dress head to toe in the classic 1970's gear including bangs shaped into waves, sequined suits and collared shirts, and unbuttoned shirts revealing tons of chest hair. This was a big event and each concert goer dressed appropriately to the era and many wore full costumes. This was hands down the weirdest, but one of the most fun, concerts/ experiences of my life. The band played what would be considered classic German folk music, which was actually really dorky in my opinion. The crowd was so energetic that it didn't matter. Everyone was passing big buckets of beer over head and singing loudly and proudly, as well as dancing. It was so so fun! 

Carmens' sister-in-law and her daughters.

 Channeling my inner flower child.

 

  

 After the concert there was a "Silent Disco" inside the tented area at Kunst. This is the first time I've ever experienced this, let alone heard of it. Basically, each goer gets a pair of headphones that has two channel options which are connected to two live DJ's so you can choose which channel you want. The thing that struck me was when I first walked into the tent; it looked like a club scene, colorful lights, people dancing all over, and a stage with DJs...except there was no music. haha! It is so funny to observe this when you don't have the head phones on. One woman was even making her own music on a bucket drum and she could seriously play! Carmen loved it so much that we stayed until the music stopped at 2 am. Lucky for me I got to sleep in until 11 on Sunday morning and I didn't even miss breakfast :)

 Sunday breakfast on the terrace. This was before the meat and cheese board came onto the table as well.

 After breakfast I packed an apple along with my new book and some water and headed to a small beach on the Rhine. I spent hours laying on hot golden sand, reading in a silent breeze, and soaking in the sun. I don't know the last time I've been this relaxed- mind, body and soul. My view of these two castles were actually very close and much bigger than in the picture. My iphone zooms out on my subject and isn't true to size. Underneath the castles and all along the hill sides are vineyards. A beautiful view in every way. 

 Not a bad view to have for a couple hours with a great new book ;) I will definitely be coming back here on my Sunday's from here on out. It was a small and silent slice of heaven.

I love this life.

One month down...

So much has happened in these four weeks. The time has passed so fast that it's hard to believe I left home one month ago. But in these past four weeks I have experienced so much and have memories I will take with me until the day I die. This time in my life is so special and there are no words I could ever say that would suffice for my amount of thankfulness to be doing this. I just want to cling on to every day I have here because each one is precious. 

The amazing and talented french singer and performer, ZAZ, came to Kunst!Rasen on July 3rd. I had been able to listen to her music for a few weeks before she came and I have truly become a fan! She was so fun to see in person and she puts on a good show. I appreciate musicians who stick to the art of their music and don't need all the extras.. (costumes, choreography, etc.) Her music is all that was needed. Martin's nephew and niece were here to visit and to see ZAZ as well. Katrin, the niece, is around my age and we both clicked immediately after meeting. She is such a cool person, her brother too, and we had great conversations all the days she was here. At the concert she continued to refill our glasses with "Aperol" a popular Italian drink and we danced the entire time- opening act until the last song. It was raining on and off throughout the whole concert but it didn't stop us!! A little rain never stopped a dance. 

 Katrin and I <3

 One umbrella, two umbrella, three umbrella, four...

Then on the fourth, I met with a group of friends for a festive gathering at the beer garden on campus. This is my first fourth of July out of the States since living in Germany, and that I remember, so gathering together and drinking drinks felt very appropriate. It's pretty amazing to know that the U.S.A celebrated it's 237th birthday while many of the streets I walk and buildings I go into are older than that. The word history has deep roots in Europe.

 A doner and gelato. If I haven't said it before, I am thoroughly enjoying myself here.

 

Good company, conversation, and most important--good beer! 

 So, I eat these whenever I get the chance. Because 1) where can you find fresh bread like this in the states? and 2) it's just too good.

 

 The exact reason I bought so many maxi dresses and skirts before the trip. I ate three pretzels one day...whoops! I have to try them all!

Over the weekend I made the voyage to Cologne which isn't far from Bonn. Cologne has over 1 million inhabitants and is one of the cooler cities I've ever been to. The streets are narrow and packed with shops, food, and every kind of person you could ever think up. It felt like going to a carnival city with a new street performer around each corner, and only a few stopping to notice. Besides the entertainment in the streets, I got to view and tour the Cologne Cathedral. (My camera could not capture the true immensity of size or the ornate details of every square inch of this building so I highly suggest looking up pictures online because mine do not do justice.) With that said, this was one of the most beautiful and breathtaking sights I've ever seen. I stood there, glossy eyed like a deer in the head lights, just looking straight up and trying to fathom it for was it was. I've never seen anything like it. When I came upon it, the steps and blocks surrounding it were packed with hundreds students, tour guide and groups, and people. It was hard to weave my way to the entrance. Once I stepped inside, however, I was amazed at the silence that hit me contrasting to the hustle and bustle and noise from outside. I was first greeted with rows and rows of tea light candles flickering under the rosy-golden glow of endless stain glass windows. It took me about 1 hour and maybe more to walk through the entire thing because I was amazed with every detail I saw. It is truly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. This cathedral was first documented in the 4th century, in year 313. Again, I must mention how young of a land that I come from and how cool it is to be surrounded by things that have lived on this earth longer than I could ever imagine. How many things these cathedral figurines and stain glass characters must have witnessed. For instance, in WWII, Cologne was destoyed by bombing--every building and road demolished and miraculously, the target of the bombs, the Cathedral, was the only thing left not destroyed and still standing.

 I have never felt so small that in and outside of this cathedral. I made a complete album of all the best photos on my facebook because there are too many pictures to list on here. 

As I mentioned before, Cologne is already a huge city but I happened to go there on a weekend where thousands more gathered for Christopher Street Day. This is a couple day long celebration and parade for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, etc. It was so much fun to walk into this!! I wanted to get pictures of the costumes that people wore but I didn't feel like standing out as the meek American tourist in this crowd. Everyone was fabulous though. I ended up meeting some cool people who invited me to have a beer with them. I also met a nice older woman who offered to buy me a beer. We had a bit of a language barrier and I wasn't sure of everything she was telling me. In these cases, I normally just nod my head and smile to save me the embarrassment and complication of translation. A couple words I did understand however near the end of our conversation, were "sex" and "here tomorrow, we meet at 2, ok??" Without my knowledge, I found myself a date for the next day! I felt pretty flattered to find one that quick. She was really nice when I told her I wasn't gay and walked me to the train station anyway and we hugged and departed. I hope she found someone really fun there for the next day she seemed like such a fun person.

 

 This week I have started school taking a Deutsch class in downtown Bonn. Our teacher, or Frau, is Hilda Huppers, an older woman who is so happy, spunky and cute. She is very patient with all the students and laughs at herself. It's a smaller class with only 15 students and they come from all over the globe; Spain, Tunisia, Brazil, Ghana, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Poland, Czech Republic, France, and the USA. We're all beginners so it makes for an interesting 3 hours each morning--German is NOT an easy language and the people who speak it natively will tell you so. The grammar and gender roles just make me want to puke. There is one guy from the US who is from Sacramento, California and so the first day we got together at the break and had a nice conversation, in English, and both have the West Coast as a common bond. 

 My school is tucked behind the building on the right. Out the school windows are the tops of the Bonn Cathedral's peaks and tree tops. Even school is better here.

Throwing up the "W" for the West Coast love. haha.

 Random snap shots of good times with these kiddos during the week. Never one dull moment.

And, alas! My new best friend- wheat beer. This is a daily, or couple times a day, thing and as always, I am pretty okay with it. 

Ahh, this is the good life. Love, from the top floor on Auf der Ley, Germany.

Where do I begin...

It feels like there's an imaginary thumb on the fast forward button in this life here. Every day comes and goes so fast.. but at the same time they are longer than ever because there is so much done in between the time I open my eyes and when I finally close them again. I've only been gone 2 1/2 week but my life in Oregon seems like a lifetime ago. Life and time is a weird thing. 

This week was much more following of the set schedule, so I spent a lot of my time with the kiddos. Lotte and I get to spend more time together since Justus is in school. I really have a place in my heart for this girl. She is definitely one of a kind and is not your "average" little girl. She is crazy independent; in her thoughts and voice and in her actions. She is never afraid to go head first into anything, without a single hesitance, and doesn't care about a possible messy outcome.  It's never a dull moment. She is so much fun and the tender moments I do get with her are priceless to me :) 

Princess Lottie. I'm slowly bringing in a somewhat "girly" influence on her..

 A sweet moment with Justus and Lotte with her stuffed animals. Tucking her in :)

Deliriously tired and so damn cute. 

On Friday night I went out with the group of friends I've made here. I cannot stress enough how happy I am that I met them. I mesh into their group of friends so well it feels like we've been friends for a long time. Friday it was just Ni No, Julia and Lara and we went out dancing at a University event at the "N8Lounge", so the Night Club. It was mostly 80's music and as fun as it was to try to dance to that music, you can only side step, snap, and shimmy the shoulders for so long. So we went next door to a more happenin' club that played current music. It was a much better scene for me and I danced my ass off! One thing that I was seriously impressed with and appreciated was the fact that no one was grinding on each other like the clubs back home. I have to say, it was really refreshing to go out and dance how I want without some stranger coming up behind me and putting themselves on me as if they can just do as they please. It is so much more fun to be able to dance and jump around without a strangers hands getting in the way of me being free!! It was about 3 am when we headed home and the rain had started to pour. We walked to Central station completely drenched because who brings umbrellas to a night club?! But there is a silver lining.. we were so hot and sweaty from dancing that for the first half it was actually a bit refreshing. We stayed in Ni No's flat. He is such a sweet and good host. He provided me with dry clothes, a bed, toothbrush, and he even went so far as to cook breakfast/ bring me and Lara coffee in bed in the morning! We all sat and talked history and politics over breakfast and then watched one of the worst movie series ever made: Twilight. But, neither Lara or I had seen the last movie and we both read the books so we put the bad acting aside and were happy to be lazy that morning. 

 From left to right: Lara, Ni No, Me, and Julia. These are some special people and I am so glad I happened to ask them of all people on campus if they spoke English.

Bonn at night <3 <3 

On Monday I toured a museum in Bonn called "Haus de Geschichte" I was told that before I make plans to travel anywhere outside of Bonn that I needed to go here first. In a nutshell, it is a literal walk through German history. Luckily I had an English audio set to tell me about the different areas that I was in and it was so so neat. It starts with WWII to present. It's a very long exhibit and takes about 4 hours to do total but it's so interesting that I wish it had started before WWII. I was able to see so many authentic pieces and parts of history right before me and I learned so much about this country I am now living in. (Which is why it was so important to do before traveling abroad.) And it's so true, I feel like I have a much deeper knowledge and understanding of this country. History is the explanation of the present. And with that..

These files are just part of the missing children cases/name cards during WWII. This was just a part of names alphabetically through M-L totaling about 30,000 names. They had actual black and white TV footage from this time when every night they would air live footage of kids faces and name their age, their name, and where their current location was. It was pretty incredible and sad to see all of these innocent faces looking confused into the camera and knowing that they had no home or parents to go to once they were off the air. Let alone to think of all the parents not knowing where their children are... 

Pieces of the Berlin Wall when it was first erected over night, shocking the Berliners when they woke the next morning. While the wall was built out of logical desperation, it caused so much chaos, heartbreak, and hardships for civilians and families. It separated people permanently and without notice.

More snaps through the exhibits.

 Much further through the exhibits, I came to the era I would have much enjoyed to have lived in! I was confused when I could hear Led Zeppelin's "What a Whole Lotta Love" while reading about other dark history..the two didn't go together too well. Not to sound naive or ignorant, but I thought the Peace & Love/hippie/flower child era of the 60's and 70's was only in American history so this part actually surprised me.

Remains of the Berlin wall after it was taken down. I was able to see all of the live footage of this night on a big screen in front of these pieces of the wall and all I can say is...goosebumps. It was amazing and it was an amazing memorial of the celebration and reunion for this country. 

After touring the museum, I was meeting my family at the Beer Garden in Kunst Rasen for a smaller concert. I never get there as soon as I originally guess..but how could I?! Everything around me catches my eyes and distracts me from my destination. Below is some of the street art on my walk.  

 From this I can see the Hitler salute and the Iron fist but I don't know the meaning behind the feet. One is barefoot, the other in a boot. Any feedback?? 

And before I came here I thought that wrought iron was beautiful...this country makes me realize how simple my idea of beauty was. I wish I could capture every detail that goes into this world's landscape.

 My walk to the concert :p

 I took the wrong turn (what's new?) to the concert venue so I ended up walking from the completely wrong end of the park. But again, I had no cares in my knowledge of this because I was surrounded by willow trees, couples in canoes, white swans, and the river. I feel like I am a part in a picture book.

Yesterday I had to go into town to get photos taken for my working permit. I ended up getting drawn in by those huge red H&M letters and the red "SALE" banners hanging outside the store...It was warm and sunny the whole day when I left so I dressed in light clothing. By the time I left, this is what I was greeted with for my walk home. 

And this is when I thank my lucky stars for training me in this kind of rain for 16 years now...thank you Oregon :) The Rheinland is actually jokingly known as "the northern most city of Italy" because it normally has beautiful and clear weather. This has been an especially hard and ugly year for them. Lucky me! 

Which now brings us to today..Carmen and I had to go into Bonn to get my working permit paperwork finished. But as anything goes regarding paperwork and working with the State, nothing goes as smoothly as planned. We ended up going back and forth between three rooms and were always missing something or coming up short of some detail. For example, my Au Pair contract was in English not German so it took about 10 minutes to decide if this was okay or not. Carmen handled herself well however, better than I would have if I understood what they were saying, and we found a loophole for the day: the fax machine! Haha! 

 After a long and tiring day, this was much much needed. Behind my head to the left is an amazing castle I hope to tour very soon!

What a girl wants, what a girl needs... 

And yes, I fell asleep in this chair reclined and full of beer and pretzels. Not ashamed.