Time to say Good-bye...

As today is my last day in Germany, I've decided to further procrastinate my packing and write instead.

One way to measure how much you like certain people or a certain place is by the difficulty in saying good-bye. Even though I'm only going to be gone for a couple of weeks, I know that I'm going to miss everyone here tremendously.

At the end of the Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield said he'd rather not build friendships or relationships, as it's too painful to say good-bye. Though this is true to a certain extent, and the pain can be very real, it is worth it (at least with friendships!). The same is certainly true for my family and friends back home as well... when leaving, I'd rather experience sadness due to our close relationships as opposed to apathy due to lack of a relationship. The more love, the more pain... strange the way that works.

On a lighter note, back to, um, unpacking... the fact that I have to pack my suitcase to go home has forced me to finish unpacking from three months ago. :)

Lyric of the day: "Time to say good-bye..." (that's as far as I know the lyrics, as the rest is in either Spanish or Italian... thank you, Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli!)


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Gefangen! (Caught!)

Dieser Eintrag ist besonders für meine Freunde und Bekannte in Deutschland...
(This entry is especially for my friends in Germany...)

Heute habe ich gelernt, dass ein lieber junger Mann diese Website gefunden hat. Ich will natürlich niemanden ausdrücklich nennen... ich sage einfach, dass er ganz sympatisch und nett ist, dass er total schön Klavier spielt, dass er ziemlich gross ist, und, dass ich seine Mutter eigentlich sehr gut verstehen kann, obwohl sie manchmal Schwäbisch spricht.

Ich würde mich gern ein bisschen erklären, denn ich schon was über euch geschrieben habe. Das Ziel dieser Website ist, meiner Freunden, Bekannten und Kollegen in Amerika ein Update von meinem neuen Leben in Deutschland zu geben. Als ich noch in Austin war, habe ich alles überlegt, und mich entschieden, dass so eine Website schöner und einfacher als ein Rundbrief wäre. Natürlich seid ihr alle ein sehr wichtiger Teil meines neuen Lebens... deshalb seid ihr hier drin. Und jetzt könnt ihr alle genau wissen (ich vermute, natürlich, dass ihr Englisch lesen könnt!), was ich über Deutschland denke. Toll, oder?

Also, vielen Dank an euch alle für alles... ich weiss, wenn ich nächste Woche wieder in Texas bin, dass ich euch alle wirklich vermissen werde.

Gemeinde Photos :)

Another wonderful Sunday is almost over... just thought I'd share some photos of my church with you all.




Here's a view of the church from the street...









Here's the back view... the white door behind the car is the main entrance...









This photo was taken from the pulpit... you can see the back where everyone talks and has coffee and cookies after the church service.







And another picture of post-church-service-Quatschen. :)

Christmas Travel Itinerary!

I purchased my tickets this morning! Here's the itinerary... :)
And yes, I'll be flying Beatles Airways again!


Traveling to Austin
Fri 16-Dec-05

Dusseldorf (DUS)
Depart 10:50 am to London (LHR)
Arrive 11:20 am
Terminal 1 298 mi (480 km)
Duration: 1hr 30mn
BA Flight: 937

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

London (LHR)
Depart 3:15 pm
Terminal 4 to Chicago (ORD)
Arrive 5:55 pm
Terminal 5 3950 mi (6357 km)
Duration: 8hr 40mn
BA Flight: 299

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Chicago (ORD)
Depart 9:05 pm
Terminal 3 to Austin (AUS)
Arrive 11:46 pm 973 mi
(1566 km)
Duration: 2hr 41mn
BA Flight: 5045
Operated by: AMERICAN -- AA751

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total distance: 5221 mi (8402 km)
Total duration: 12hr 51mn (19hr 56mn with connections)


Traveling to Dusseldorf
Mon 2-Jan-06

Austin (AUS)
Depart 1:41 pm to Chicago (ORD)
Arrive 4:16 pm
Terminal 3 973 mi (1566 km)
Duration: 2hr 35mn
BA Flight: 5226
Operated by: AMERICAN -- AA1728

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chicago (ORD)
Depart 6:10 pm
Terminal 3 to Manchester (MAN)
Arrive 7:45 am +1 day
Terminal 3 3814 mi (6138 km)
Duration: 7hr 35mn
BA Flight: 5108
Operated by: AMERICAN -- AA54

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tue 3-Jan-06
Manchester (MAN)
Depart 12:50 pm
Terminal 3 to Dusseldorf (DUS)
Arrive 3:20 pm 408 mi (657 km)
Duration: 1hr 30mn
BA Flight: 1686
Operated by: BRITISH AIRWAYS CITIEXPRESS

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Total distance: 5195 mi (8361 km)
Total duration: 11hr 40mn (18hr 39mn with connections)

Extremes and Discrepancies...

If the US is a Land of Extremes, then Germany is a Land of Discrepancies, in the most positive sense, of course. When thinking of the US, I think of extremes: extreme sports, extreme makeovers, addictions, the Prohibition vs. "Alcoholism", obesity vs. anorexia, independence/individuality vs. sheep-like conformity, etc. Though relativism is quickly taking over, the US still tends to have a rather either-or and black-and-white mentality.

The more time I spend in Germany, the more interesting little discrepancies I see. Despite the rich religious history, 90% of the country is spiritually dead. People complain about the US, while simultaneously speaking English and adopting pieces of US culture. Some have bashed the US for it's "terribly violent history"... I'm no history buff, but last time I checked, we weren't the ones who started a World War. Protecting the environment is a huge issue, yet half the population chain-smokes. Then, of course, there's History meets Modernity, with Berlin being the classic example.

Seriously, I love both countries, and feel "at home" in both cultures. They just both have their interesting little quirks.

Stalking Putin in Amsterdam...

If there's one thing I love about Germany, it's the frequent national holidays. Unlike in the US, people (often by law) actually take the day off. Yes, we had another one last Tuesday, so a group from church decided to take a day-trip to Amsterdam!

Guess who happened to be there... no, not Constantine. Vladimir Putin!! Though I didn't see him clearly, I saw a little silhouetto of a man in a limo, and I think it was him. By the time we made it to the central square, where he was placing roses on a memorial statue, he was gone! We'd missed him by three minutes. Three minutes. A little later, when we saw his procession of cars and delegates outside of a fancy schmancy restaurant, we waited, but again to no avail. Ah well. I'm not that disaapointed... Tony Blair (sorry Vladimir!) is still my international political crush.

The main thing we did was take a little boatride through the city canals. It was absolutely beautiful, and fascinating as well. There are about two thousand houseboats in Amsterdam... people simply dock their boats right in the canals. Quite a few of the houseboats even had gates on the docks, numbers and mailboxes.

As we were floating through a smaller canal, I noticed that a window in one of the houseboats was open, and you could see in. There was a lady, sitting in her little houseboat, typing away on a laptop computer! I don't know why I got such a kick out of that... maybe because it was a classic Europe sight... quaint simplicity meets technology/modernity.

Though we had a good time, I don't think I'd go to Amsterdam again. Yes, the canals were lovely, but I really didn't like the city that much. It's the type of place you should visit if you have the chance, as it's so famous... but it's really not that impressive. The ambiance was a little uncomfortable for me as well... though we left in the late afternoon, the city night life was already starting to awaken. Let's just leave it at this: I could easily launch into a feminist rant, but I won't.

Ah, Berlin... still my favourite city in the world!

Glideschirm fliegen (parasailing?)! *contains photos*

As I sit at home on this beautiful Saturday evening feeling rather sick and doing absolutely nothing, I thought I'd post some pictures of one of the more exciting weekends of my life. It's all about finding balance.

These pictures are from our team-building weekend about a month ago, where I went parasailing. You're basicallys strapped into a rucksack and attached to a sail and some ropes... once given the cue to run, you have to run as fast as possible, and some people at the other end of the field reel in the ropes you're attached to... you then go soaring into the air. Once you're at a certain height, you disconnect the ropes and glide through the air.



Here, our flight instructor was giving me instructions and precautions.



You can see the rucksacks we wore during the flight in this picture... man, those things are bulky and awkward to run in! Once you're in the air, though, they serve as pleasant little bucket seats.



You can see the sails in the background here... this was right as we were given the cue to "RUN!!!"



This was the take-off... as you can see, my instructor was directly behind me... you have to have a special license to fly by yourself. Phew.



And, an aerial view!



Then, the post-flight-smile. :)



Last but not least, here's another team photo.

Floating, Falling, Sweet Intoxication...

(For those of you who don't know, the title of this blog is lyrics from Music of the Night... it has nothing to do with my mental state or alcohol intake).

Ah, the Phantom of the Opera. What is it about the music that's so alluring?

Yes, I saw the Phantom yesterday evening at the Colloseum Theater in Essen with a few of my co-workers, and it was absolutely wonderful. It was in German, but I was surprised at how similar it was to what I saw in Austin. The stage-setup, the effects, the positions and movements of the actors were are comparable, which was interesting. I thought there would be more of a creative difference between the American and German versions. Though the visuals and the general feel of the play were similar, the words, interestingly, were often not. Whoever translated the Phantom into German most definitely did not stick close to the original script. I've listened to the English music so often that I could sing along with the majority of the parts... so I noticed, of course, that the German translation differed. Interesting stuff.

There's nothing like hearing the music live... there really isn't. It was absolutely beautiful, and I love watching the conductor (though he has nothing on Peter Bay!). Especially beautiful was the introduction to "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"... they played a slightly different rendition than anything I've heard before. It was solely violins at the beginning... much lighter and freer than other renditions.

The man who played the Phantom was wonderful as well (Borchert?)... his voice and character had much more emotion, darkness and desperation to it than what I recall in the Austin Phantom, as well as Michael Crawford's version in the original cast (I have this CD).

The lady who played Christine did a great job... though I kept thinking how awesome it would have been to see Sarah Brightman in the role. Ah, well.

The guy who played Raoul was rather *ahem* cute. I think Constantine could make a decent Raoul. Or Phantom, though the Phantom role seems a little too dark and heavy for him. We'll save the Phantom role for TayTay. Maybe I could re-write the Phantom... the Phantom of Broadway, NY. Constantine could play Raoul, the hero, of course. Taylor, the bass player in Constantine's band, would make an excellent Phantom (think: manipulation, jealousy, empty threats, omnipresence), and... hmm... Hamboussi, the drummer in Constantine's band, could play Christine. Afterall, he himself admitted that he likes wearing high heels and fur coats. A true drag queen. Perfect. That leaves us with Joao, the guitarist in Con's band. He could play Meg. She doesn't say much, either. Just hangs out in the background, looks cute, and dances around. I can feel it coming together already!

Ok, back to reality. Yesterday evening really was wonderful; I'm so glad to have found some people who have the same musical interests... as we would say in German, "Klasse!" Classic. Great. Swell. You get the idea.

Dreaming of a Texas Christmas (warning: includes savings lecture)

Though a White Christmas might be nice, I'd much rather have a warm, dry Christmas in Austin with my dear family and friends. And as of today, it looks like I'm going to be able to make it home for Christmas, after all!

I spoke with my boss yesterday, and the entire financial situation is looking much better, which is encouraging. Plus, I remembered that I hadn't drained out my US bank account... and lo and behold, I have more than enough to purchase a plane ticket home!

To my sisters and my friends who aren't "financially independent" (or whatever the term might be), let me give you some words of advice: save your money, and when you spend it, spend it wisely. Given my current situation, I am sooo relieved that I've tended to save in the past. If I hadn't, I don't know where I'd be today. Well, I'd most likely still be here... but stuck here. No coming home over Christmas. Not being able to purchase a car. Having to mooch off the company. Having to borrow money.

When you first start out on your own, there are so many expenses, especially larger one-time expenses (car, things for the appartment, insurance, travel, etc.). I've had a buffer zone, in a way, because I've saved so much throughout my life.

And the little things add up. I brought my lifesavings over here in cash (except for what I discovered yesterday in my US bank! MUAH!), and it's almost gone. My lifesavings. That's huge. Goes to show you what you need when you're launched into the real world.

Save, people, save. Be smart. Think about the future. Eternal perspective applies to money as well.

On a lighter note... I've started looking at flights! And it looks like I'm going to be flying Beatles Airways (aka British Airways) again... I love it!

Sailing on the Northsea (Nordsee) *contains photos*

These pictures are a couple of weeks old... but I finally found out where my dear coworkers had hidden them on our harddrive at work. So, here we go:








Our sailing instructor wanted us all to sit on one specific side of the boat, depending on which way the wind was blowing. I'm not exactly sure why... heh, that was, afterall, only my third day in Germany! Excuses, excuses, I know.

Ok, time for a poll... should I dye my hair blonde and chop some more off like my cute coworkers?

Ben Who?

BENQ. Pronounced "Ben queue."

In case you'd like to see my new company's website, here it is:

www.benqmobile.com

I did a little research at work last week, and learned that BENQ stands for "Bringing Enjoyment aNd ('n) Quality." Hmm. Interesting name for a company. They're very focused on merging technology with fun and enjoyment, and there's a strong focus on the customer, and what the customer wants. It'll be interesting to see how things develop in the next several months and years.*

The entire situation with Siemens and BENQ is a pretty hot topic in west Germany at this point, and not just in Kamp-Lintfort, where I work. People don't know what to make of the situation, and, as a general rule, are sad to see Siemens mobile bought out by a Taiwanese company. But BENQ is larger and more influential that I originally thought, and I think they might be able to turn things around. They already offer things such as digital cameras and displays, laptops and computers, digital audio and video things, a limited number of mobile phones and miscellaneous networking and peripheral devices. In the past couple of days, my confidence in the company has increased. We shall see.

I hope the "enjoyment 'n quality", though, doesn't only apply to the customers. It's emportant for the employees as well... ;)


*disclaimer: Everything I'm writing here is information you can either read in the daily newspapers, hear on the radio, see on BENQ's website, or obviously conclude. I'm not sharing any information I've heard in meetings or heard from other employees.


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My first car! *contains photos*

Here are the facts: 1991 Volkswagen Golf, 90,000 km, automatic (MUAH!), power-steering, sun roof, winter tires, automatic locking, light turquoise... yes.

The price negotiation was pretty intense, but I've always kind of liked that. I remember being in East Asia, where none of the prices are fixed... fun stuff. The listed price was 1,200 Euros, and the guy (it helped that he was about my age, I think... ya know... work some of that Texas charm in frigid Deutschland) told me he'd give it to me for 900. I originally had 800 in mind, but once I saw the car, and saw that there were a few damages, I decided to see if I could push it a little lower. Well, I ended up paying 700 Euros for it, which is pretty darn good. A couple from our church went with me, which was great because he knows all about cars, and he said that he was surprised that we got it for so little. :)

The pressure was definitely on... I spoke with my boss this past week and she said that since I'm an official employee now, and no longer in the transition phase, she'll have the company pay for the rental car for about two more weeks and then I'm on my own. Stress! But, once again, it'll all be good.

Here are some pictures... if you can't see them, click on the picture itself.
















As you can see, not only does it match my blog background, but it also matches my favourite retro turquoise pants and the scarf I knit (shout-out to Jennifer for teaching me how to knit!!).

I'm official!!!!!!!

Today, we finally received the necessary signatures from Muenchen, so I was able to sign and receive my actual work contract!! I also have my own lovely BENQ work ID card, which is fabulous, as I, um, lost my guest ID card about two days ago. Not a good situation.

Things have really come together in the past couple of days...

1. I'm an official, legal employee of BENQ.

2. I registered with the Siemens Betriebskrankenkasse today, which means I now have health insurance.

3. Tomorrow, I have an appointment at the bank to relocate my account from Suedlohn-Oeding (where I was two years ago) to Neukirchen-Vluyn.

4. My crate of stuff from the States is going to be delivered tomorrow morning.

5. I bought beaters today, which means I can make whipped cream for coffee. Mmm.

MUAH!

Europoly

Germany is a cash society. And it's not just any kind of cash... it's colorful cash, in different sizes (depending on the value), complete with gold stripes and designs. I was going through my wallet the other day to pay for something, and I had a €50, €20, €10 and €5... it's like a rainbow in my wallet. For some reason, I can't take Euros seriously. It's like monopoly money, or like a guy wearing a tropical t-shirt. It's simply not meant to be taken seriously.

Never in my life have I earned so little (we're talking NO income in the past month or so, as I haven't had my work permit) and spent so much. I'm not a finance major, but even I know that this isn't the best of all possible worlds, though Candide would argue otherwise.

Let's add my current financial system up:

Groovy Europoly Money + No Income + The Move* = CATASTROPHE, as Greek Kramer would say.

*meaning all I have is what I could haul over here in two suitcases and a backpack... and the consequential need to purchase absolutely everything.

It's also unsettling to realize that within another month or so, I'll probably have spent my entire lifesavings. Sure, it wasn't THAT much (Gig em', Aggies), but nonetheless... cashing my entire lifesavings and then spending in within two months or so seems rather disastrous. So goes the Game of Life, hmm?

Ah, well. We're waiting on a signature from a Top Muenchen Dog, and then I'll officially be a Siemens-BENQ employee... muahaha... and then I'll not only get paid, but I'll be reimbursed for some of my travel expenses.

Prost!

You want telephone?? 40 Euros!!

Actually, 40 Euros is on the cheaper end when it comes to telephones.

This weekend, I wanted to pull my hair out. Starting on the 14th, I had telephone connections. I even have a phone. The snazzy little Siemens Gigaset I received as a departure-gift from my Bocholt department. But no... it doesn't work here. I would need two special adapters that cost 30 Euros apiece. So, it's actually cheaper to simply buy a new phone.

We have a little "Fuer uns Shop" ("For us shop") here at Siemens, but they're only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays... which means I have to wait yet another day, gah!! The whole thing is totally killing me. For weeks, I've been looking forward to having my own phone lines and being able to call home... and now that I have them, my phone doesn't work.

Rant, rant, rant.

Internet access is also complicated... I'm supposedly going to have connections in about two weeks... which I'm guessing means a month. Patience is indeed a virtue.

Serenity now!


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Cigarette Smoke, Paint and Chemicals (aka The Move)

These lovely scents will always remind me of my move. The lady who rented before me was a chain smoker, and I can't get the smoke out! I've never cleaned so much in my life... sure, I clean occasionally, but not on this level. We're talking intense cleaning. Between the smoke stench, painting (which was supposed to help with the smell) and cleaning, I'm on a constant spaced-out high.

Saturday night was my first night in the appartment, and one of the first things I did Sunday morning was go tearing to the balcony for fresh air. Hopefully between the cleaning, candle burning, cooking, baking and painting, things will improve. If not... maybe I'll just take up smoking myself.

Other than the stench, things have been going great. Bizarro Mom, her husband, her son (whose demeanour and expressions are so very eerily similar to the Son of Pamfucius) and another guy helped me move the furniture in. A family in the church just moved back to Germany from Spain and bought quite a bit of new furniture, so they gave me two brown leather couches and a sofa chair, a kitchen table and five little chairs, and a bed! Everyone has been so helpful and generous... a couple of other ladies in the church have gone through their kitchens and given me some things they don't use much anymore... so I'm definitely off to a great start.

I have my work permit!!!

Yes! I finally have it, and it's good until October 2008! :)

Which means I have to actually work now. Hmm.

Updates...

Things have started to pick up a little on this side of the world, thus the lack of writing lately... here are some of the major updates:

1. Appartment: Yesterday we finished painting it; Friday the furniture will be moved in; and Saturday, I move in! I'm excited that I'll finally have my own little place.

2. Work permit: I should have it by the end of this week, if all goes well. On Thursday or Friday, I'm going to the Foreignersbureau again to sign papers and get my visa stamped. By next week, I should be an official and legal employee. It's time to move beyond the coffee-drinking days.

3. Work itself: Work is going well; slowly but surely, I'm having more that I can do, which is nice. The past couple of days, though, I've taken half-days so that I can run errands and do renovations and such.

4. Computer: I finally found a plug that works... MUAH! Last night, I was able to turn my own computer on for the first time in over a month... man, it felt good. Can we say addiction? I was suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms. I still don't have internet access, but it should be up and running a little while after I get settled into my new place.

Sorry, no Helmut update this time around.

My own appartment! (well, the keys, at least)

It's official! I signed the contract for my new appartment on Monday and picked up the keys yesterday. It was exciting to see it, and envision it with furniture and people in it. We do have to do some painting and renovation because the previous renter was a smoker... but other than that, it looks fabulous. Bizarro Mom gave me an IKEA catalogue, so I'll probably go this weekend and pick up a few things. They're selling bookshelves for €20. MUAH! My own place!! You guys have to visit me!

Another exciting tidbit: I called the phone company today and ordered phone connections... so... in a week or so, I'll be able to call the US for about 1.6 € cents perminute. Talk about cheap!!

I haven't ordered internet connections yet because I still have no way to even plug my computer into the wall... plus... the telephone cable connections are different here, so I think I might have to go wireless... we'll see. I don't know. What makes it even more difficult is that I don't even know the English terms for everything, and how it all works in the States. So how the heck am I supposed to get things done here?? Ah, well.

One more week...

The other day at the store, I saw a bunch of Ravensburger puzzles... I love those things. I think I might get one for a house-warming gift. Seriously. There was even a cool Da Vinci one, but it was €44 and 5,000 pieces. Yikes. I could get two bookcases for that.

Lyric of the day: "You've gotta run with it... you've gotta take it slow... you've gotta say what you say, don't let anybody stand in your way..." (thanks to Oasis)


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I joined a choir and met a Helmut!

All in one night. Not bad, eh?

Things have been fairly adventuresome these past couple weeks, so when some friends from church asked if I wanted to join the choir, I decided to try it out. I don't sing that well, but I can usually sing in tune, so why the heck not? And let me tell you: it was a total blast!! I never understood how choirs work, so it was quite an interesting experience for me. I always thought that the harmony part was just kind of done by ear - you sing about a third or a fifth note below the main melody... whatever sounds best. But they actually sing the notes off the sheet music... like playing the piano, but with different voices instead of keys. Fascinating.

Man, I should have paid more attention to music theory, though. Naive.

And yes... I met a Helmut... an actual living, breathing, Schwäbisch-speaking Helmut. It was hilarious. Constantine officially has competition. I seriously don't know what's more romantic: my three-seconds of eye-contact with Constantine after the *ahem* concert or gazing into Helmut's eyes and listening to that lovely Bavarian drawl.

I hope no one reading this is taking anything I write seriously.

Lyric of the day: "Alle schöne Dinge dieser Welt wünsche ich mir an dich allein..." ("I wish you all the lovely things in this world...")


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Logistic Update

This isn't too too interesting... but I do have people (hi, Mom!) asking me for updates, so here goes:

1. I signed an appartment lease yesterday!! For a permanent place!! It was a little nerve-wracking... but Bizarro Mom is the renter, and I trust her, so I'm sure it'll all be good. I'm moving in on October 15th. MUAH! My own place. Sturm-frei Bude. :)

2. Work Permit Update: I'm still waiting for the "authorities" to get back with me on this one. About three weeks ago, they told me it would be four to six weeks. So... I should have it in one to three weeks. That's quite a few pots of coffee...

3. Dorm Room Update: Life in the dorm room is good. The lady I'm renting from is absolutely adorable... she's a widow, so I think she's glad to have someone living upstairs. About once or twice a week, when I come home, she'll have left a piece of cake or pudding or something shes baked for me. :)

4. Helmut Update: Sorry, gals, but I still haven't found my Helmut... though I've met a really sweet guy I'd love to introduce to my sisters (he's the son of Bizarro Mom, but too young for me).

5. Work Update: I'm officially, um, drinking coffee (not working, of course) for BenQ now... as of October 1st, the mobile division of Siemens has become BenQ. There are many unanswered questions and concerns... but that's a topic for another day.

Thanks for the prayers and positive thoughts!

The Kölner Dom, the Silver Man, and Lazy Sundays

Yes, I was finally able to visit the Dom in Köln last Sunday, and it was amazing. Very Gothic and overpowering. The architecture and sculpture had a strange mixture of religious and semi-mythological themes. On the one hand, there was a strong Biblical motiv... statues of various Saints, stained-glass windows filled with Bible characters and stories, complete with a bright golden coffin that supposedly contains the bones of the three Wise Men. Hmm. On the other hand, there were quite a few non-religious carvings and such scattered throughout... strange, mythological creatures, for example.

The feel of it all brought me back to Berlin, in a way. One thing I've always loved about Europe is the tangible presence of history. It's so much more than a mere thing of the past. And it stretches back thousands of years as opposed to several hundred, as in the US. The Germans refer to Köln (Cologne, in English) as a "Römmerstadt" - a city heavily influenced by the Romans, who were there, um, a while back. Scattered throughout the city are pieces of Roman history: buildings, wells, stones, carvings and even an ancient bathing area. Even in the parking garage we were in, there was an area blocked off that contained a huge chunk of what used to be a part of a Roman building.

The sporadic creepy architecture wasn't the only thing that caught my eye in Köln... right in front of the Dome, there was a man, completely silver, Charlie Chaplin-esque, standing on a pedestal. From a distance, you'd think he was a statue. He simply stood there, on his pedestal, completely still. A pretty large crowd had gathered around him... I obviously wasn't the only one who had never seen such a sight before. Beside the pedestal, he had a little silver goblet. When someone would put a coin in, he would smile, blow them a kiss, shake their hand, or give a small bow. It was one of the bizarrest things I've ever seen.

Nearby, another man was dressed up as Spiderman (not cute... note to men: please, do not wear tights. EVER.) who was trying to do the same thing. When kiddos would put a coin in his jar, he'd do karate moves. For some strange reason, I could see him doing well in Austin.

I do have one sad observation when it comes to the Dome... we visited on Sunday, so there was a church service there that afternoon. About 15 minutes before the service started, the priests/bishops/bell boys/whatever you call them came in and started shooing everyone out. "Gottesdienst (church service) is starting in 15 minutes... no more tourists... please leave..." We were shuffled out like cattle. As I was leaving the Dome, the sadness of the situation struck me. The church service was about to start, and here the priests were, asking people to leave. Shouldn't they have been inviting people to take a seat, to stay, to participate? But alas. Gorgeous, ornate, historically significant churches... but completely empty. Dead. The priests themselves ask people to leave.

The Dome really was beautiful, though... especially by night. As we were driving home, we crossed the Rhein River, and could see the Dome in the moonlight... I don't know why, or how, but the lighting was somehow different from the other buildings... it was pale, almost ghostly.

Interesting day.

Yet another reason for you (yes, you) to come visit me. :)


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Pictures!

Just thought you all might like to see some pictures of some of my dear colleagues and me. The first two are team pictures... and in the last one, one of my colleagues is attempting to explain something about his motorcycle... I'm sure I would have been just as lost had he been speaking English. :)

If you can't see the picture, try clicking on it...

Constantines latest post on the BB

Several people have sent me his latest post on the BB, and I just have to comment.

Ok. You all know whats coming. Yes, the CAPS issue. He titled the thread 'I Like Caps.' Allow me to respond in the form of a letter to our dear Mr. Maroulis.

Constantine,
I know our break-up was difficult, but you've really got to let go, Hon. Several months ago, I called everything off because of your unpredictable writing style. Sometimes you'd write in all caps. Sometimes in all lower-case. Sometimes a strange mixture of the two. Sometimes you'd write 'you', but other times simply 'u'. Sometimes youd sign your name 'C' or 'CM', sometimes 'Constantine~~', and once you even wrote 'Constantine James Maroulis'.

Honestly, I need more stability than that. Your unpredictability resulted in some major trust and respect issues, and I really felt it was time to move on. I know you're still upset that I basically ended our relationship because of your all-caps writing, but you've got to let it go. You now have your new girl Kristin, as well as thousands of Betties. You've got to stop making references to me, our relationship, our dramatic break-up and your regrets.

My second concern is the name-dropping. Not cool. Especially when it's names like 'Paris Hilton'. Gah. She's the epitome of pop-culture idiocy, and it's girls like her that make it impossible for women to break free from certain stereotypes we face. If you're going to drop names, at least drop decent, respectable ones.

I'm glad (relieved?) that Athan was with you in LA. A smart man he is.

Leno is this Friday, hmm? For the first time in my life, I wish I had satellite television.

Concerning the car... let me suggest you get a black '65 Mustang. That seems like a good match for you. Not convertible, though.

Very sincerely,
Mary

Thoughts and finding purpose...

These past several days have been quite challenging in a mental/intellectual sense.

There is so much that I have to do, so many changes that are occurring, and so many people who have been helpful to me... it's all been very overwhelming. I appreciate the help, of course, but it also makes me question whether it's all worth it. People have been bending over backwards to help me, and I can't help but question... Why did I decide to move here? Why couldn't I have just stayed in the States and kept things simple? Was this a selfish move on my part? Is it ok that I put other people through these hassles? Is this really where I'm supposed to be?

I've also been reading a book that my dear mother gave me called "Captivating"... it's the womens version of "Wild at Heart." This has also brought some issues to the surface and made me re-evaluate certain perspectives I've adapted over the past several years.

So many questions... so little time.

Purpose... that's always the primary question, though, hmm?

Only starting yesterday have things begun to make sense... I've begun to understand, in a more concrete and tangible way, why I'm here. Sure, I'm here because I love the German culture and way of life, moving back here and nailing down the language is on my to-do list, I was ready for a change and a challenge, I want to prove to myself that I can do this... but ultimately, these personal reasons and ideas simply arent enough... there's got to be something more significant.

I feel I've finally hit a fork in the road of life, in spiritual sense and purpose-sense, and I need to make a decision. A decision I've been procrastinating making for the past couple of years: should I move forward or give up? No more of this pathetic mediocrity. I'm sick of it.

It's not often that you get such an opportunity... an opportunity to start completely from scratch, and be whoever you want to be. No one here knows my history, what I've been through, who I am. Other than the stereotypes people have of Americans, I pretty much have a tabula rosa at this point. I can do whatever I want and be whoever I want. Which is both refreshing and (thunder bolts and lightning, very very) frightening.

Honestly, my major fear about moving over here was that I would slip into permanent spiritual apathy, that I would simply give up. Several things have happened in the past several months that have made me question my faith... this, coupled with a spiritually dead country has a lethal potential.

Since yesterday, though, things have started to make sense in my mind. I think I might even be here for a reason. Why am I here, in this tiny town, as opposed to Berlin, where I wanted to be? Maybe because there are people here I can help and encourage. Why was I unable to find an appartment in Moers, the city most people recommended I live in? Maybe because I need to live in Neukirchen-Vluyn instead, closer to the little church I found and closer to work.

I was speaking with Bizarro-Mom, who helped me find a little appartment in Neukirchen-Vluyn (hopefully I'll be moving in on the fifteenth of October), yesterday, and that conversation was a turning point in my mind. Right now, there are several younger people and single people in the church and they don't really have a place to meet and do Bible Studies and such. Some of them meet at the church, but Bizarro was saying how she thinks it'd be great to have a place off-campus where we could meet... namely, my new place. :) When I first saw the appartment, the first thing I noticed was how guest-friendly it is, and how I'd love to have a group of people from church, co-workers, family or friends (yes, any of you are welcome anytime... I'm moving in on the 15th, so anytime after then!) come visit.

I was also thinking that it might be fun to go through the Doulos material with a group of people... I don't think they've done anything like that here. For those of you who don't know, Doulos is a Bible study I did in college that really changed my view of life and how I approach studying the Bible (as well as other books)... it's very practical and applicable. I actually met another girl who's my age (well, a year older) at the church, and I'm thinking that we might be able to team up and lead something. We shall see.

All this to say... things are starting to come together and make sense. Slowly, but surely.

Why, you might ask, have I posted this drawn-out personal post? There are several reasons:

1. If one of my friends posted something like this, I'd be interested and want to read it and know what was going on.

2. I know that many of you are sending prayers and positive thoughts my way (I'm doing likewise!).

3. I want people to know that it's normal (and even ok) to struggle.


Lyric of the day: "You and me... we're in this together... can't you see... one on one forever..." (thanks to Apoptygma Berzerk)


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Adieu, Hotel Dampfmuehle...

Yes, today is the day I say adieu.

Good-bye to my little hotel room...

Farewell to free internet access (this is what I'll miss the most)...

Aufwiedersehen to daily breakfasts...

Adieu to the late-night craziness...

Ciao to nice long showers...

Hello to having my own little temporary place and paying my own rent...


Quote of the day: "You want bread?? Four dallah!" and "Adios muchacho!" - The Soup Nazi


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Appartment Decision!!!

Why are decisions so difficult to make? Especially when I really don't know the ins and outs of cultural idiosyncracies and language, and there are no clear blacks, whites, rights or wrongs.

All that to say... a decision regarding the appartment has been made. I'm moving into a little one-room place this coming Saturday. It's like a dorm room in someone's home. A 350 Euro dorm room that I have to pay for myself... but hey... not only am I buying a dorm room, but I'm buying time and sanity as well. MUAH!

1-hour parking pass in Moers-Mitte: ,50€ . Glass of Kirschenschorle: 3,50€. New jacket at H&M: 59,00€. Monthly rent: 350,00€. Sanity: Priceless. There you have it.

I spoke with Bizarro Mom (the lady at church who reminds me of my own dear mother) today about the contract and the situation, and she thinks it's a good move as well. She and another family in the congregation said I could stay with them... which I appreciate... but I really want to have my own place at this point. Let's practice a little independence here, shall we?

She also said that the area where I'll be in is a really good one... some of the town officials live there. Yes! Official people! She also said that she'd go bike-shopping with me, which would be awesome. Maybe I could even go on MTV-Deutschland... ya know... Pimp My Fahrrad. :)

The only problem with deciding on a temporary appartment is that another appartment decisions looms in the near future. But I won't think about that now... baby steps, people, baby steps...

Quote of the day: "Serenity now! Serenity now!!!" (this was for you, Shelby!!)



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Roller-Coaster Weekend Update

Aww. Weekend Update. Jimmy Fallon really ought to go back to doing live work. None of this pansy movie stuff.

*Ahem*

The past few days have been insane... in good and bad ways... and have been roller-coaster-esque in nature. Heres a list of the high-lights and updates.

1. The Appartment Search: I've decided to go for a little one-room appartment for a temporary period of time. Assuming it's still available. I called the renter today and am waiting go hear back from her.

2. The Work Permit: The earliest I can get it is four weeks minus three days... right now, it's all about *stomps her foot* patiently waiting.

3. The Hotel: It's getting very old very fast. On the one hand, it's nice that I know pretty much everyone who works here and vice versa... but on the other hand, I'm starting to get a little creeped out. There are a few older men (including the hotel owner) who hang out here pretty often, and they can be nice... but they also make me slightly uncomfortable. I don't like them knowing exactly when I leave and return, and where I stay... and I don't like that they jokingly call me cutesy names and stuff. Darn it. Why can't anyone my own age hit on me? Just kidding. :) But seriously. It's time to move on.

4. MTV and the Emotional Breakdown: Unbelievable as it is, I almost had a meltdown while watching MTV the other night... the Austin Real World was on, and I *sniff* teared up a tad. But just a tad. And I didn't actually shed any tears.

5. The Rollercoaster: For the first time since I've been here, I've felt rather upset. Frustrated. Annoyed. Empty. There's so much to take in, so many decisions to be made, so many new people, so many complications (permits, appartments, work stuff, etc.), so much that I simply can't understand language-wise... and it's starting to wear on me. It's an on-and-off type of wearing, though. One minute I'll be completely overwhelemed but the next minute it'll all be fine. We'll see. Once several factors straighten themselves out, I'll be back on the right track.

6. The Church: I visited a little free church this past Sunday, and it went really well. I met a really great family there, and the mom actually reminds me of my own dear mother. She's very warm, welcoming, outgoing, helpful, and you can just tell that wherever she goes, people love her. :) She's been an encouragement and help.

There was a guest speaker there, and he was talking on his work in the mission field. He's a German, with a Brazilian wife, and they work in Italy. It was interesting to hear his story.

The only "problem", if you will, is that there was barely anyone my own age at the church. Many people were quite a bit older; there were a few families; and then there were the high-school-aged youth. So... we'll see.

7. The Smoke: No wonder I craved cigarettes last time I returned to the States... I really think that it's possible to be addicted to the things without smoking a single one. Sure, I haven't smoked yet since I've been here, but my clothes reak; I've inhaled it all night (went out with my dear coworkers tonight); and I can still taste it even as I type. *cough* *cough*

My own personal Greek Boy!

Actually, he's not a boy. And he's not tall. And he has a Greek accent rather than a NY one. And he doesn't sing, stick out his tongue at the camera or fall on his butt on national television (that I know of). But he's my new Greek friend nonetheless.

We met a while ago in the hotel lobby... he needed help with his cell phone. And since the hotel owners know I work for Siemens now... who do they ask for help? Yup. Since I've worked for Siemens for two entire days now, I'm a technical engineering genius when it comes to mobile phones. Including Nokia phones. Heh.

Seeing how different people live and think has always fascinated me... and this guy definitely presents an outlook different than any I've seen before. He owns a little pizza place in the next town over, and I went to see it last night. What a way of life. Buying, selling, no stability, no insurance, mooching off the government when need-be, working crazy hours...

When we were talking, I couldn't stop thinking of Kramer on Seinfeld. He was a slightly mellow Greek Kramer.

"You need an appartment? I know someone who rents them really cheap..."

"You need a washing machine? A friend of mine..."

"You don't have your work permit yet? A good buddy of mine works for the government and he can help..."

"Have you eaten? An Italian friend of mine owns a bistro... let's go get pizza..."

"You need furniture? A friend has a shop..."

It's insanity!


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Visa Update - 16 Sept. 2005

Bureaucracy Schmureaucracy. Without going into complicated details, let's just say that I should get my Arbeitserlaubnis (work permit) in four to six weeks.

To give you a feel for how difficult everything has been, I'd say that the Germany red tape I've had to deal with over the past week is comparable to the mountains of red duct-tape in the International Studies Department at Texas A&M University. And that's pretty darn messy and complicated. But this time, instead of dealing with one German, I'm dealing with all Germans. In German. Away from Mommy and Daddy. But it's all good. And give it five-ish weeks, and it'll work out.

I would like to give a shout-out to several of my new German co-workers who have been incredibly helpful through this entire situation... I couldn't have done this without you... thank you...

Ok, before I turn all emotional and sound like I'm giving a thank-you speech for an Emmy, I'm going to end this.


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New Fav Appartment, incl. kind lady with British hubby

Here are some pictures of my new favourite appartment:

An der Linde Appartment

I visited this place today, and it's officially my new favourite. It's in a quieter area of town, is very comfortable-feeling and has all the necessities. The lady who is renting it was great, as well... we ended up talking for almost an hour, which isn't normal, as my other appartment appointments have taken about 10 minutes.

One thing that really stood out in my mind was her description of the current renter. She described his personality and the way he carried himself, which means that they spent time together and had a decent relationship. She spoke highly of him, as well as of several previous renters, which is also a good sign. Her husband is actually from England, so her English is fabulous as well... which is good and bad... heh, she wanted to speak English the whole time! And I wanted to practice German, of course. Ah well.

The one problem is that it isn't free until November 1 at the earliest, as she's not sure when he will move out. Which means I might have to live in the hotel (or a different appartment temporarily?) for another month. Bleh. I like it here and all... but I'm ready to have my own little place.

Lyric of the Day: I want it all... I want it all... I want it all... and I want it now. :)

(Thank you, Queen.)


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Pimp my Fahrrad

Seriously, folks, German media has been completely infiltrated with American media. It's hilarious. Everytime I turn the television on, I end up laughing hysterically. The highlight of it all was yesterday evening when I was watching German MTV, which is basically American MTV with subtitles and a few German artists (80% of them sing in English) tossed into the mix.

For those of you who don't know, theres a show on American television called Pimp My Ride. Its basically a car make-over show. Instead of taking a home in need of renovation or a woman in need of a facelift, they give a car a new engine, look, sound system, etc. We all know how fond Germans are of their bikes, so on German television there's a new show called Pimp My Farrahd (Farrahd = bike). Honestly, I have no idea how to pimp a bicycle, and I haven't had time to actually sit down and watch the show to find out. But the idea is ingenius.

Cell phones are also huge over here... and there's a myriad of commercials for various cell phone additions such as ringtones and wallpapers. The catchphrase is Pimp My Handy (Handy = cell phone). Just thought I'd share, as I'm rather amused by it all.

:)


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Visa Update - 14 Sept. 2005

I spoke with my coworker this morning, and she said I could use her address for registration. Unfortunately, the Registration Bureau is closed today, so I'm going to have to register first thing tomorrow morning (and be a little late on my first day of work... but there's really no other option).

Everything is definitely coming together...

How I love technology... but not as much as you, you see...

... always and forever. :)

I've finally gotten a mobile phone: a Siemens C65, which is quite an amazing little piece of plastic. And it even has a camera in it, which is absolutely necessary for me, of course, being the international business woman that I am. It's crucial that I have a mobile phone that's on the very forefront, technologically speaking. You see, if I didn't have a camera in my phone, I wouldn't be able to do important business-type things such as, um, take pictures of Constantine off of the computer and use them as wallpaper on my phone.

That aside... I visited my favourite little appartment today, and I think it might work. Here are some pictures if youd like to check it out:

Mittelstrasse Pictures

I still need some questions answered, and I have a couple more places to visit... but after that, it's decision time. And I'm really liking this particular one. We shall see.

Visa Update - 13 Sept. 2005

This morning, I met with two people from HR, and things went well. They have some steps for me to take to move forward, and I think we can make this happen.

The problem is that you can't receive your work visa without an actual appartment or address (the hotel address doesn't work)... but it takes a while to find an appartment, especially given that some don't even open up until Novemeber. And I don't want to rent an appartment if I'm not going to have an income. So. Round and around we go.

The plan right now is that I register in Moers (where I'd eventually like to be) with a coworker... just use her address so that things can move forward. She's out of the office today, but I've been trying to reach her on her mobile, so that I can go and register tomorrow.

Until receiving my work visa, I won't be actually working, of course, as that's illegal. But I'll be visiting everyday from 8ish to 5ish and, um, drinking coffee and getting better acquainted with my dear coworkers. :)


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Sail away, sail away, sail away...

Well, Day 1 was gliding... and Day 2 was sailing. Not too bad of a start, no? Our department managed to get up early, despite staying up late talking, playing games, drinking cocktails, and getting into spats with the hotel manager (the same one who thought I was Austrian).

We went to the Nordsee and spent several hours sailing, learning how to operate the sail boat, and just soaking in the sights. It really was beautiful...

I drove by myself today on the Autobahn for the first time, and hit about 170 km per hour... which is a litte over 100 miles, hehe. Crazy Germans. Here's a picture of the car I'm renting for the next month or so... its a little silver VW polo: http://www.autobischof.ch/images-2004/vw-polo-fun-2004-800x464.jpg.

The first full day...

... really couldn't have been any better!

I met most of my coworkers, and they seem like great people. Our department is surprpsingly young and surprisingly female. I'd say about 80% are female, and about 70% are in their twenties. There's even a group of ladies at Siemens that loves to do beadwork, so I think I'm going to fit in decently well, which is very encouraging. And they're all very willing to help me out and answer any questions, which is nice, because I'm still trying to figure everything out.

We had a fabulous day together... this is crazy, but on my first day in Germany, I went gliding! Glideschirm or Drachenflug is what they call it here, but I'm not exactly sure what the English translation is. It was so peaceful and quiet flying through the air... you could look down and see the countryside, the mountains and the little villages beneath. One of my colleagues compared it to floating through the air in a Garden Chair, which is exactly right.

The Flight (read with a British accent for the full effect)

British Airways!! They were hilarious! Sure, I realized that the Brits speak with accents... but its one of those things you hear about and see on tv, but really just have to experience for yourself. At World Market, the occasional Brit would come in and I'd smile when I heard them speak... but that was nothing compared to this. I even found myself asking for tea and biscuits (yes, they actually handed these out!) in a British accent. Is that comparable to lying? Is that wrong?

And, of course, on the way to the London-Heathrow airport, I listened to Beatles music. Jai guru deva om...

Here's another interesting tidbit: when I was talking with a guy who works at the hotel I'm staying at and he asked me if I was Austrian. Austrian? Embarrassing!! Is my accent that bad? :) At least I don't have that much of an American accent, though, right?

The hotel I'm in is ok... no refridgerator, which is hard to do without for a month... but at least I might be able to shed a few pounds and fit into some old jeans. Or maybe not. German chocolate doesn't need refridgeration...


Lyric of the day: Mein Vater war ein Wandersmann und mir stehts auch im Blut... (my father was a wandering man and it also runs in my blood...)


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Flying the Coop via British Airways

Well, tomorrow's The Day. A day of both ends and beginnings. A day of sadness in saying "good-byes" but excitement at beginning a new scene of life. A day when British Airways helps me fly the coop. A point of no return, though purely in the metaphorical sense.

Here are the updates as of today:

This is the Siemens site in Kamp-Lintfort, which is where I'll be working, starting September 15th (assuming I can get my work visa).
http://www.siemens.de/index.jsp?sdc_p=c61z3s8uo1224920l0

Here's the hotel I'll be staying in for the first month or so, as I appartment-hunt... Atlanta Hotel International Dampfmuehle. In case you can't read the description, this is what it says: "Experience is enjoyment... the Atlanta Hotel International offers you the highest comfort and quality for our trend-setting 'all-in' price." Sounds exciting, no? Or does "trend-setting price" simply mean it's cheap?
http://www.hotel-dampfmuehle.de/Dampf/index.htm

The appartment search begins... this Saturday (that's right, a day after I get there!). My first appointment is to look at the following apartment... I like the coziness of it and the fact that it has a book shelf and a rather large kitchen. What more do you need? (Other than a lower price... it's a little outside of my desired price range, but we shall see).
http://www.mwz-duisburg.de/fotos/22312/
Let me know what you think!


Lyric of the day: "I'm leaving on a jetplane... don't know when I'll be back again..."

Why blog?

As I leave the States, there are so many people whom I absolutely love, and would love to keep in touch with. The problem, though, is that I get tired of writing the same information over and over and I can be a slacker in keeping up with people sometimes. Instead of sending out bulk-e-mails, which can be rather annoying, I've decided to use this blog.

Let's list the benefits:

1. This will be a good place for my family and friends to come and get updates.

2. Many people get updates from my mom and dad, but now you can get them directly from me!

3. This is better than receiving bulk-e-mails.

4. You can leave me comments right here, on this site!

Of course, I'd still love to get personal e-mails... I just know that everyone is busy and sometimes that doesn't happen.

I love you all, and I'm going to miss you!!

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List of Characters

Sure, the characters in my life and on this page aren't as complicated and difficult to keep track of as those in a Tolstoy novel... but they can be confusing for my Dear Readers nonetheless. Thus a list.

Over the course of this page, many characters have emerged... these characters come from various countries, various times in my life, and have a mixture of real and fictitious names.

This list has been alphabetized for (1.) your convenience and (2.) my desire to avoid creating or suggesting any type of character hierarchy.


Aunt Jane: my crazy retired rock star aunt who's now a massage therapist.

Beatrice: a lady at church who's helped me overcome my Biomuell-phobia. She's always very positive and encouraging.

Beck: my Canon co-worker. We work as a team, and together we're invincible. Take THAT, evil corporate world.

Biff: a friend from choir who sings a strange mixture of tenor and bass... and always remains within the right key.

Bizarro Mom: one of the first people I met here in Germany. In many ways, she reminds me of my own mother... just slightly more hyper and outrageous. She's helped and encouraged me tremendously, and for some reason, I've become rather attached to her.

Charlotta Louisa: Bizarro Mom's youngest daughter, who is absolutely adorable and hilarious. She seems to live in a peaceful and happy dream world of sorts.

Christiana: a dear friend (and one of the only people my age in these parts) from church and choir. She comes across as pretty shy and reserved, but she definitely has a wild side.

Constantine: my rockstar/ musician/ theater boi obsession... I heard him in concert and, um, touched his hand last summer. I swear I'm not a groupie (maybe cause we're on different continents now?).

Cruiser: Eleanor's hubby, a guitar-and-bass-guitar-playing-fiend, and one of the church Elders.

Eleanor: another lady at church who's been an incredible help and encouragement. Here are some Eleanor facts: spent some time studying in the States, is a very good painter, always wears green or orange, is an ebay-freak, is good about correcting my German (as well as English), and is quite creative. And she sees everything.

Emita/Emilie: my sister who's currently studying Communication at Texas A&M University (my alma mater!). She's the most sentimental/emotional of the four of us. I can always count on her for a good talk and a postcard. :)

Eve: my smoking buddy and former BenQ colleague. She's a very positive thinker, which is always encouraging.

Fernando: our piano teacher (be it classic, pop or jazz!).

Fränzchen: my co-worker I work closest with... we even have our own song, which we established during the last budget-planing period: "Help" by the Beatles. He also brings me chocolate when he goes on vacation to Switzerland.

Gladys: my friend from Great Britain... we enjoy analyzing and mocking one another's English.

Helmut: an actual person, as opposed to the fictional Helmut everyone in Austin jokes about. We met in choir, and he likes to talk, sing, talk, hang out on the balcony, talk, write music, and talk. Oh, and he talks a lot. In Schwaebisch.

Huckleberry: Mariposa's brother who's good at repairing cars and other things, painting, drawing (especially Jungle Book Characters), making weird/random cakes, and playing the ukelele. He's always so laid-back and relaxed; it's great. Here's his photo blog: dertobidertobi.

Jen: a Texas HCBC colleague who taught me to crochet, and who now shares an office with Shelby!

Karen: the greatest middle school youth group leader of all time!

Katinka: my sister who's working as a Nurse in Washington, DC. I'm super proud of her! She's very calm and has catch phrases such as "it'll all work out." And it does. Here's her myspace: katherine0319.

Kenny: my birth father. He's crazy... a Marine turned business man turned pastor. We're very much alike in everything from our thinking to our struggles to our hand-writing.

Laura: my positive-thinking-upbeat-angelic Alter Ego.

Leo: contrary to popular belief, Leo is not an actual person. He's an online dictionary who's somehow turned into an imaginary love interest. Kind of like Erik Westbrooke.

Little Rascal: Eleanor's pesky son who prances around wreaking havoc and playing the banjo. He's also an incredible drummer.

Liz: my old roomie's younger sister, who's also one of my dearest friends.

Lizzy: Eleanor's CRAZY, chatty, dancing, adorable, hyper, quadri-lingual daughter... who's going to be spending a year in the States. *sniff*

Mamita: my birth mother. If I end up 10% of the woman she is, then I'll be satisfied. If anyone's the Proverbs 31 woman, it's my Mamita.

Mariposa: a friend who recently returned to Germany after spending a year in Mexico (and visiting Texas multiple times!). She's kind of like the "Mom" of the youth group, and she likes Dr. Pepper. But now she's gone again... studying in Southern Germany. *tear*

Marketing Guy: a crazy Canon co-worker who can pretty much turn the drabbest of situations into funny ones. He's one of the easiest and most entertaining people to be around.

Maya: a friend from youth group who's known for talking so extremely fast that it's often difficult to follow, for making funny faces, for taking long walks, and for trying to condition people.

Michael Mustermann: a co-worker I'm not sure whether I should address formally ("Sie") or informally ("du").

Mr. E: a teacher and car-fanatic/genius. He's the one who helped me find Scaramouche, and who's helped me with the driver's license drama.

Mr. P: Bizarro Mom's husband, one of the main church leaders/elders, and one of the calmest and most peaceful of people. Unless he's wrestling with the guys... then it can get violent.

Neal: our local flute-playing progressive rocker.

Sarah: my childhood best friend. I have so many fond and hilarious memories with her...

Scaramouche: my car, whose name was inspired by Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody (because her license plate happens to have the letters 'QN' in it).

Shelby: another Texas colleague from HCBC, to whom I dedicate each and every Seinfeld quote.

Sidekick: Sound Girl's Trusty Accomplice (yup, that'd be me)

Sound Girl: The Keeper of the High School Sound System

Stalker Boy: my ex-stalker

Stephanie: my crazy A&M friend... a group of us used to stalk our German professor and wreak havoc in class. We've also conducted various investigations and such together. Muah. Her myspace page: steponme008.

Sydney: Bizarro Mom's son. This kid never ceases to fascinate me - he's an improv-piano-playing, physics-learning, ever-observing, computer-operating, website-creating, baptismal-building, hobby-eating, English-speaking, question-asking, in-Aachen-living, Engineering-studying genius.

Teddy: another BenQ colleague... he's very warm, laid-back and optimistic. Until it comes to Schalke (the local soccer team) games.

The Commander: a co-worker I'm particularly frightened of, and to whom I give my monthly reports and forecasts.

Tiny: my baby sister who's thinking about studying Spanish and spending time in Spain. She's crazy and does weird things. Her myspace is: barb

Tony Blair: my international political crush.

Volli: a colleague who's been particularly helpful and encouraging. I can always depend on him for a smile and a Roland Kaiser-esque Schnulze song.


This list will be updated as needed. Please let me know if you think I've forgotten someone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why write? What's the point?

This page was originally created to keep everyone at "home" (Austin, Texas - keep it weird!) updated when I moved to Germany. Over time, as the audience has morphed, so has the goal. Through writing, I'd like to bridge the gap, in a way, between two different groups of people, two different cultures, two different ways of thinking. I'd encourage anyone who reads this to take advantage of the situation and contribute any thoughts or ideas!

I tried posting a comment, but it didn't work.

You're not the only one. If you'd like to post a comment, thought or idea and are unable to, please e-mail it to me (or let me know through some other, old-fashioned means of communication) and I'll happily post it for you.

Who is ___________? (insert name)

Please check out the List of Characters page. If they're not listed there, then I'm not doing my job correctly, and you ought to let me know.

Can I get automatic e-mail updates when you post something new?

No... unfortunately, blogger.com doesn't allow that. This page is updated several times a week, so if you check every few days you're bound to find something new.

I sent your blog link to a friend/ cousin/ roommate/ co-worker/ Great-great-uncle-Albert-half-removed in Belize... is that ok?

Of course; that's why I write. Just please don't copy anything, quote anything, use anything, or turn anything into a Saturday Night Live skit without my explicit permission.

Are you in therapy?

No.

Click here to e-mail me.