Anyway, because of this cold I had to cancel my plans to go laser-tagging with the hockey team. I think this is why I'm homesick the most. I'm tried of having to force myself out. By cancelling, it can really break a friendship because there is no time to make one. It's hard to make friends when I'm feeling 100% just because I'm tried from work but now with a cold. It's the worst! I'm not saying the cancelling at home is OK. But the other person and I have already put time and effort into our relationship. We trust each other and know that we will reschedule. In my case now, I haven't had time to invest. It's challenging to invest.
In other news, I'm really enjoying hockey and I'm very happy I am forcing myself out there when I can. The girls are very sweet. The average age for the group is 17-25 years old. Many of them are doing some sort of studies still. If I were German, I would probably still be a student because they go right on to their masters. So again, I face the challenge of everyone being at a different stage in their life than me.
As for stages of life, I'm settling a bit more. I have found the fabulous world of the internet and the many sites that offer FREE furniture. Now I have a nice bedside shelf, a shelf for my living room, and on Friday I am getting a couch and chair! I'm so excited to decorate and start adding stuff to my empty, empty room. It's sad to walk through it. Plus, on Saturday mornings when I wake at six and can't fall back to sleep, all I want to do is walk downstairs and flop on the couch. OK, can't walk downstairs here but would like to be on a couch. Be somewhere different. It will also be nice to have more seating for friends. Not just around the hard kitchen table.
This past weekend I spent a day in Poland - making my European country list hit double digits (if you don't count Vatican City.) A group of six of us went to eat. No other reason. To be honest, in the city we went there wasn't a lot to see and do on Sunday. Poland is very cheap right now. For every 4 Polish currency equaled 1 euro! So dinner-- a Lipton Peach Tea and pierogies cost 6 euro. And the pierogies were so heavenly! The only downfall was the confusion at the train station. We were going to leave at seven but the train was late and we would miss our connection so we had to leave at 8.
I've been rather annoyed lately with the public transportation in Berlin. There has been a lot of late buses or buses never coming. Weird train schedules and rerouting that throws you off course. I struggle a lot with this because if I'm late at home it's usually because I didn't plan enough time. It's my fault. I'm in control. That's the bigger issue - I'm a control freak in some ways. Not that the bus says it will be there and then it's not.
My last few weeks have been great though. For instance, just how I'm thinking of my family and would do anything I can for them while I'm here they do the same for me. My dad is the best! He's always ready to help out and listen. My sister remembers I went on a day trip or I had an appointment and she asks how it went. My grandma, great-grandma and aunt have sent a Christmas package. They didn't want me to have nothing on Christmas morning to open. You know after 23 years of gifts you would think having wrapped presents on my kitchen table wouldn't be hard. I'll be honest at least twice a day I have to talk myself out of opening them. I know I'll feel awful if I open them now and have nothing for next week. I did give in today and open my grandma's card. (I know. From me too!)
My students have even extended the holiday cheer. One brought in a traditional German cookie. And yesterday, one student broke a frame that I got from one of my Goddard kiddos that I brought with me. We had a talk about respecting properties and how I value the gifts they give me. I was so surprised today to find not one, but two students brought me a new frame. How cool are my kiddos? Oh, they are forcing the German lessons now. My students are that is. We have made this agreement that I need to practice German on Tuesday and Thursday at breakfast and lunch. I think it's a good deal. It's also a taste of my own medicine. My students are tough on me just like I am on them when it comes to behavior. I'm not as big on saying things correct. I'll say it in English the correct way and have them repeat maybe once or twice if it's difficult. But they are German and they will definitely correct me and make me re-say it a thousand times until I got it right. Just a difference in cultures. (Americans would find this way to do it a bit much and a little rude.)
I'm truly wishing for a white Christmas. It's all I want. Dreaming of snow--- "snow, where it's snowing all winter through that's where I want to be.... snow, what is Christmas with no snow... no white Christmas with no snow... I would love to stay up with you but I recommend a little shut eye, go to sleep and dream of snow." Hoping you know I miss you and our traditions this Christmas.
xx
No comments:
Post a Comment