Finally moving to my new home

and I'm without Internet access- I'm using the public library to write this entry... and of course... you can't download photos on the public library computers... so, once my home phone/Internet service is up and running- I'll post more of the photos that I have to share.

In the process of moving into my new home

and I'm without Internet access- I'm using the public library to write this entry... and of course... you can't download photos on the public library computers... so, once my home phone/Internet service is up and running- I'll post more of the photos that I have to share.

First Day of School

Teaching the students that is... I'd already been working in my room the past month- my newly formed school in a brand new building-- was sent supplies from a couple of schools that closed in June.

This is the way that my classroom looked:




I opened up over 150 boxes... all full of a variety of supplies... including some items that did not belong in my classroom and it took several all day long days of unpacking items-- which wasn't easy w/ torn tendons in my hand.

SHHHh, don't tell my hand surgeon that I was unpacking boxes full of school supplies- and picking up items from the boxes and then finally to the shelves and cabinets once everything was unpacked.

I told him that I'd very careful with my hand and I will be more in the future... of course, my hand let me know when I over-did it too..

AND.. my movers will bring my household goods to my new house soon... and they'll need to be unpacked too. Oh well... it has to be done.

Eventually, it looked like a classroom. *I'll try to remember to take a photo and post it here.


Today was very busy and went pretty well. However, I'm sure that by Friday-- we'll all be tired... teachers and the students. lol

You're craving: A Big Mac or maybe some fries and a small McDonald's Cheeseburger...

But, you don't live close to a McDonald's, or maybe your car is in the shop... or maybe you don't have a car? Ok, maybe you are too lazy to get in your car and drive to the local McDonald's drive-thru window... what is a person to do?







How could they get McDonald's quickly?


Without making any effort?




How???






Apparently, call... McDonald's for delivery... of course... that would work if you lived in SINGAPORE!!!



Check out all the little pockets on the sides... I think that they might be for the cold drinks?


Photo shot from the TAXI WINDOW as we were on our way from the airport to the hotel. I wonder if the milkshakes would just be chocolate milk by the time they arrived by motorcycle delivery?


Other news:
School (teaching the children part- we've already been working a week- and I've worked longer than that to get my classroom ready) starts on Monday... as in: TOMORROW!!

Yes, I did buy some new underwear, notebooks, pencil sharpener, and pencils. I am READY! Maybe, I should wear my new sneakers too? :D

Ok, I've found a castle... now, where is my Prince Charming?

Granted... he'll need to be a Prince Charming familiar with tools and have a large cash flow for Home Depot purchases!

And, bonus... there is already a 'port-a-potty' on location. Do you see the HEART on the door? That ought to send 'some sort' of a message, shouldn't it? Personally, I think that by the time that you hike to the top of this 'mountain' and since, I did hike up to the top of the mountain- I can understand why someone was so happy to find a 'bathroom' at the top of this mountain... that they had an impulse to paint a heart on the 'outhouse' to show their love and appreciation for modern man's invention of the porta-potty and much less THANKS for the 'plan' to haul it all the way up the mountain!

*click on photos for a larger view....






















Now, that you've made it through the photo album... yes, I did take a lot of photos of my first ON SITE castle experience and trust me... "I DID HAVE MORE PHOTOS" that I could have put here-- but, I didn't want to go into 'over kill'...

The castle is very close to where I live and in some of the photos you might NOTICE a large-ish mountain with what looks like a castle tower on it? If not, go back and look again... I'll wait.... *Good for you... you did find the photo/s that I was referring to... if you'll look closely- you might remember a reference and photo of a castle tower that is visible from my 'soon to be new place to live' (if you don't remember or know what I'm talking about, scroll down a few entries to the photos that I posted about the house that I'm going to rent) See it? You can see that same 'tower' castle from this castle ruins.

I wonder if these two castles were around at the same time? I wonder if they were on friendly terms with each other? I wonder if they visited each other's castles for festivals and the such?

Still busy

Moving to a new place takes so much time and energy to get everything done. I am not good at paperwork in the first place-- Ok, the truth is... I am paperwork 'challenged.' Sometimes it seems that you go backwards and don't get much done in the first place... and trust me on this... when you work for the US GOVERNMENT... you do have paperwork to do! :D


Other news:
I do have a place to live and will move in on September 1. (photos of my new home are in a previous post) My household goods will be delivered on September 5. I will get a loaner bed, sofa, coffee table, dining table and chairs on September 1.

This will also give me a chance to: clean and figure out where I want the furniture to be placed a few days later- after all, it is a 3 story house and it won't be a simple drag things down the hallway or into another room if I get an inspiration to switch things around.

I hope that my new house will qualify for the American washer and dryer... not that there's anything wrong with the German models... but, I prefer the top load, larger sized American machines and ok, the big reason? You can do a load of wash in the typical 30 minutes instead of an hour and a half in the German washer. The American dryer dries much quicker and faster too. The office that loans us the appliances will determine which type I get to use (after they visit my laundry room in the new house), during my stay, and I'll know when they deliver the appliances. I had the European washer and dryers when I lived in Italy a few years ago. I AM ALSO SO EXCITED THAT I WILL HAVE A LAUNDRY ROOM!!


The new kitchen already has built in cabinets, including a refrigerator- I was fortunate in that respect and I also did decide to request an American refrigerator to be placed in the basement- so, that I'll have a larger freezer space. I don't even know if this particular German model has a freezer in it or not? All, I know is that it was a little shorter than I am- so, it is possible that it doesn't have one or if it does-- it will be small in size. AND, I'll be truthful, I'm from the south and I need ice in my drinks- even in the winter. In Europe, you don't get ice in any drinks unless you ask and even then -- they might give you 2 or 3 cubes.

I am in a nice hotel and it's been fun to have meals with my new co-workers who are also staying in the same hotel and other hotels in the area-- however, I have been here for 3 weeks and I am ready to be in my own house and have more than one room to walk around and have my own things around me too. I am looking forward to sitting outside in the last days of fall on my patio. Of course, there is the question if I sent my plastic table chair set to storage or did I send it to Germany? While I know that my plastic table and chairs are perfectly serviceable- There is that part of me that wants something really nice for my patio too- after all- I have a wonderful backyard to gaze upon... and you know the kind of patio sets that I mean... metal chairs with cushions and a glass topped table? Maybe even a fire pit to chase off the early fall cool air??



I have also purchased a cell phone. I bought a cheapie brand... about $28.00. In the foreign countries that I've lived in so far- you can just buy a phone and purchase minutes that you can put in your phone and then buy more minutes when you run out. They also have the fancier cell phones with all sorts of calling plans/etc.



However, right now, this basic type of phone is good for me- since, I've only managed to answer any calls to my cell phone 3 times. Not a good track record for over 12 calls that have been placed to my phone. Of course, it would help if: I could find the phone before it stopped ringing or even had the phone with me in the first place. Let me say it this way, it is very doubtful that you'll ever find me, walking around with one of those phones stuck in my ear all day long... looking like I'm talking to myself.

I realize that I am cell phone challenged. Is there a support group for this? And will someone do my paperwork for me?

Flowers in Germany

All around in this particular area of Germany, (balcony/window flowers like this are also found in northern Italy) you see window boxes or balconies full of flowers. It is going to be hard to decide which type and color of flowers that I'll want for my own house next spring/summer.

Aren't they amazing?

I did IT!

I passed my German Driver's License TEST! Whew! I am now legal to drive the streets of Germany.

I've lived in several different countries now and this was the hardest test that I've ever had to take... So many different signs and rules.


But it is done... I have that little piece of paper in my wallet and the 'real license' will arrive by mail in a few weeks.


NOW, if my car would only get here.... and pass the German inspection for registration and then I'll be able to get the new car tags so that it is legal to drive. Sigh...

My new German neighborhood

Today, a friend and I drove to the village/town that I'll soon move to... in search of the 'town area'... I wanted to see if there was a restaurant or a bakery in the area. German bread is awesome! While driving around we decided to go north to see where a particular road led us.

Within a quarter of a mile- we were suddenly in a farm area of sweeping hillsides. Wheat and corn fields- some ready for harvest, some that had already been harvested, and some of the fields were plowed under ready for their winter's rest.


*Click on the photos for a larger view...












This is my village from a distance.



AND guess what else is there?

Yes, that is a castle.