Week 15 & 16

First of all, I had a great time at Thanksgiving with Stephen and Meghan and her mother. Stephen had to help serve the Thanksgiving dinner on post and he wore his dress uniform. Doesn't he look handsome? It was great to be with family at that holiday time. I enjoyed the train ride there and back also, even though I had to go through all the small villages.

Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas to all of you (if the comments are any indication, that would be all two of you!) The Christmas markets are in full swing here, and I have been able to go to several. Last blog I mentioned a possible trip to Poland- well, we did do that! The Sunday after Thanksgiving, my friends Marianne and Beth and I jumped in my car and drove about 4 hours north to Dresden. Dresden is in the former East Germany, and it is striking the difference still between the two parts of Germany. We spent the night in a hostel in downtown Dresden and were able to go to the Striegelmarkt there, the oldest Christmas market in Germany, having been started in the 1400s. The picture left is of the largest Christmas pyramid in Germany, I believe. The hot spiced wine, or Gluhwein, is great and is served in unique cups which you can buy and keep ( I am now collecting them!) since each Christmas market has their own designed cup.
The next day we drove to Poland, to the town of Bolestawiec, which will be a familiar name to any Polish pottery lovers out there! We visited around 6 or 7 different pottery shops, which is apparently only a fraction of what is there. I finally found a pattern I liked, but it was difficult to find as it is a unique pattern. I really like it though. The road trip was so much fun, even though Beth fell asleep for part of the trip back!

My German ladies have decorated the library really beautifully in a blue and white color scheme. We had a tree decorating party on the 6th of December, which is St. Nikolaus day. The kids had a great time making ornaments and hanging them on the tree. I have been busy putting together a library newsletter and brochure, and of course, ordering books and DVDs. This past week has been rough, as there were only two of us working the library all week. We had rotation troops from all over the world- France, Romania, Holland, Afghanistan, Russia, and many more. There were even soldiers from the French Foreign Legion! Normally there are four of us working, which allows me to be in my office doing my administraive stuff, but one of my ladies was on leave, and one had to call in sick all week, so that made it tough. Then on Friday and Saturday I had to work alone all day. The good news is that I will get a day off during the week next week, so I think I will be able to go to the Nuremberg Christmas market during the day when it is not so busy. Last night (Saturday the 15th) I went to the Christmas market in Hexenagger which is a smallish village about an hour from here. It has a great Medieval style market, with outside booths and handmade ornaments, candles, and great food! (See picture below.) There are cool little huts that families and friends can rent, I guess, and sit down together and stay warm and visit. It has been really cold, and last night was no exception. I think it was about 24 degrees. Brrrrr! I wore my Cuddle Duds and was really thankful for them! We had homemade Lebkuchen, the ubiquitous German cookie at Christmas time. And of course, gluhwein. Duh.

Ben comes on Saturday! Yeaaaa! Drew is flying over on Friday to visit Stephen but I will get to see him too, perhaps this weekend.

Whew! This is a busy time. I am still learning to speak German ( or Ich lerne gern Deutsch sprechen). January should calm down and give Ben and me a chance to settle in a bit. There will be some adjusting to do, and I am looking forward to it! Ben closed on the house last week (thank you Jesus!) and is now homeless, living on the generosity of our friends Libby and Greg Hale. But soon he will be here! Can you tell how excited I am?

If I don't get a chance to write again before Dec. 25, Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year! Emmanuel has come! Rejoice!!

Nan

PS: I just returned from a very sweet Christmas service at the chapel on post. It was hosted by all of the Protestant congregations on post. The music was beautiful, with hand bells and all. We had a very moving candle lighting, with the original flame having been brought from Wurzburg by the Boy Scouts. This flame was apparently brought to Wurzburg from Jerusalem itself!

Weeks 11 & 12

Winter has arrived here in Bavaria. We have had several snowfalls in the past 2 weeks, with snow almost continuously on the ground. The temperature hovers right around 35 F most days, with night time temps dipping into the 20s. It does remind me of living in Montana and North Dakota, except more snow. The holidays are almost upon us, although of course, Thanksgiving is not a big deal except on post. Germans don't have to wait until after Thanksgiving to begin to decorate for Christmas, so you see them all over the malls already. The first weekend in December kicks off the Christkindlmarkts, or Christmas markets. These outdoor markets are famous throughout Germany, with one of the most famous just north of here in Nuremberg. But almost all of the small and medium villages also have at least one weekend of Christmas Market scheduled. Last weekend we had the Holiday Bazaar on post, and I got to try the local gluhwein, or hot spiced wine. Normally it is made from red wine, but the one I tried was a sweet white wine. Delicious! The stores are filled with great German cookies and candies, Lebkuchen being the most common. I am so excited to experience the wonderful Christmas season here in Bavaria especially. But the best part of Christmas this year is the present I am getting on Dec. 22- Ben arrives to stay! I miss him so much; living alone is no fun. I do have Kitty here with me, but she is just not the same. The furniture that we have left (after Ben has sold most of our furniture) will be picked up next week to be either stored or shipped over here . I so appreciate all of the hard, hard work he has had to do. I honestly probably have no idea just how hard it has been for him. God has blessed me so much with my excellent husband!!

For Thanksgiving, I do plan to take the train to Heidelberg on Thursday to spend Thanksgiving with Stephen and Megh and Megh's mom. A first class train ride is very relaxing, as long as the train worker's strike doesn't interfere.

Work is going well, mostly. Of course, I am still learning a lot every day, but I THINK I am getting the hang of it. Nothing too exciting- lots of new books and schtuff. I love it.

Yesterday, a friend and I hopped on the train in Parsberg and rode for 20 minutes south to Regensberg Hauptbahnhof, the city main train station. There they have a mall called Arcaden, with lots of great stores to shop in right in the train station. So cool to ride the train, shop, and ride it back. It was snowing outside and cold, but it didn't matter, no stress, just ride the train and chat. I am making plans to perhaps travel to Poland to the Polish pottery place in a few weeks to get some great colorful Polish pottery.

So much to do, so little time!

Write me! Post a comment! Is anyone out there????

Weeks 9 & 10

A lot has happened since my last post. On Oct. 13, 2007, my mother died unexpectedly. It was very much a surprise. On top of that, my dad has been diagnosed with severe dementia and is now in an assisted living facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. The week after my mom's death, I had to go to a training workshop in Schwetzingen, near Heidelberg, which is where Stephen and Megh live. I got to spend an evening or two with them there. On Oct. 19, I flew back to the States to bury my mom and help my brother take care of my dad and their house. Stephen flew back also, and Cait and Drew were there too. Jacob is getting ready to move to Asheville and couldn't come. We missed having him there, but I was able to visit with him briefly on my way through Atlanta. The private family graveside service was held in Knoxville on Oct. 24, with close family and friends present. It was poignant and sweet, especially at the end when we all placed a gladiolus blossom on her casket and each said a private goodbye. The hardest part of that week was putting my dad in an assisted living facility. It is a very nice place, small and personal, but Dad can't have his car anymore, and he took that very hard. He is mostly lucid, but has periods of delusion and denial. Please be praying for him and for my brother, who is carrying the majority of the burden of taking care of Dad and Mom's estate and finances. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us these past two weeks, and thanks to those who sent flowers, cards, etc. ( A special thank you to my cousin Lisa Skinner and her husband Steve, who generously gave Ben and me a place to stay and fed us very well. Ask me about Evil Jungle Prince sometime!) The lovely autumn tree photo was taken by Caitlin Barker Foreman.

Fall is officially here in Germany, with beautiful golden & green colors and crisp temperatures. Good news: Kitty flew back to Germany with me! She did very well on the flight over and is settling in quickly. It is nice to have company.

Only 7 more weeks until Ben comes over!

I can't wait to get back to work tomorrow, if I can stay awake. I know I have a lot to catch up on at work, so I thought I would do this blog before that all starts.

Here is a recent photo of my mom and dad with Drew.

I love you, Mom.

Nan

Weeks 7&8

I am really missing my family these last two weeks. Caitlin sent me a link to view her wedding photos online, so I sat and viewed and cried. This is of course the hardest part of this whole 'adventure'- missing friends and family so much. Ben and I talk every week, and we email several times a week. Ben has been so wonderful to send me cards every week too. It feels like back in college when we were separated for a year. He sent me cards and letters then too. I like it, but I am not quite as good as he is at remembering to send cards. Good intentions and all that...

God is so good! The house is sold, and for a good price too. The buyer is also interested in our dining room set, washer and dryer, and freezer. More than we could ever ask or think, right, God? Ben is working like a madman to get everything ready to be packed up later this month. He will be staying with friends (looks like it will be Libby and Greg Hale-thanks, y'all) after the house is closed. I have to get a move on to get the cat over here, as that is one more complication he doesn't need. He should be able to be here the week before Christmas- yea! Praise God. I miss Ben every day.

Stephen and Meghan are here visiting me this weekend, with their two sweet doggies, Lola and Bella. We enjoyed a trip to Nuremburg yesterday (Saturday) and had a good walk today up to my local castle ruin. Here are some pictures of Nuremburg- it has several beautiful Kirchen (churches), almost cathedrals. There is also a schloss (castle) on the hill there. The fountain pictured is, ironically, called the Fountain of the Seven Virtues. Scandalous! (But funny too.) We met a precious older lady named Ingrid when we ate an early dinner at a bratwurst restaurant. She did not have much English, and of us three, only Megh had enough German to even begin to understand her, but apparently she grew up in Nuremburg; she was telling us about her experiences during WWII when Nuremberg was bombed heavily. She and her 5 month old daughter had to stay in a bomb shelter for 3 days. Amazing to be able to talk to someone who lived through that historic event.

Oh, and the picture of the house in the cliff is from a village called Kallmunz, near where I live. It is called the House With No Roof, and it is below a bluff upon which is a cool castle too.

My job is going a little smoother. I am learning. It is so different from teaching, but that is ok. It is a good different. I do miss teaching sometimes, though.


Hey, please, comment on my blogs, email me, something. I need to hear from home! (Thanks to all who have emailed or written me. I really appreciate it- more than you can know.)

Remember, God is good.


Nan

Weeks 5 & 6

This has been a really busy week, and next week is shaping up to be even busier! I am learning all about managing employees- it's not easy! But I am getting to do some fun stuff too, like spending money. I am in the middle of ordering books- what a drag...NOT! It's almost hard to find enough books to buy. I have ordered over a hundred new Young Adult books to beef up our YA section. I have been able to recommend books to patrons this week, which they have enjoyed. That's a good feeling. I really love introducing folks to new authors, genres, etc.

Today I had to give a library tour to a group of Senior Spouses- the wives of the senior officers and enlisted on the post. There were about 9 or 10- not huge, but still intimidating. But I think I did ok. I made them laugh a couple of times, so that is good.

Every day on my way to work, I am so thankful to be able to live in this beautiful place! These rolling, verdant hills, crowned with dark green forests. The soil fertile and black. Then as you follow the curve of the road, a quaint little German village comes into view. Hohenfels is in northern Bavaria, which is mostly Catholic state of Germany. One of the routes I can take while walking around Lupburg has the stations of the cross along the sides of the road. Small chapels are common, as are crucifixes. The cemeteries are so lovely, with each grave a miniature garden, lovingly tended. Right in the middle of a small village one will come unexpectedly upon a small barn with pigs or horses, or a yard full of chickens.

Oh, I am very excited to report that on Sunday, I am going to the Czech Republic to Karlovy Vary, or Karlsbad as it is known in German. It is a spa town, although I doubt I will partake. Shopping is supposed to be good there, and it is apparently a lovely city. I will get to use my new GPS for the first time. It is only about a 2 hour drive, so it will be a day trip.

WELL, it is now Tuesday morning, and I have a little time before I leave for work, so I decided to finish up this blog. My friend Linda and I did go to Karlovy Vary, and it was spectacular! It is a gem of a town, built on the sides of a gorge, so it is a bit like San Francisco with its hills. It is known for its colonnades, where the hot spring water is found. A unique cup is sold there, supposedly a perfect shape for enjoying and drinking the water. I bought a cup, but did not drink. No inhaling, either. We ate lunch at the Grand Hotel Pupp, where a pivotal scene from the last James Bond movie was shot. Cool.

It was a great trip, and Mary, my GPS, did very well. (I call her Mary Poppins because she has a crisp British accent and she tells me what to do.) Crossing the Czech border was a non-event, as they did not even check our passports!

This week a librarian from Wiesbaden has come down to help me get this job figured out. She is very nice and has helped me a lot already. I currently have laryngitis, so I am whispering alot. It's funny, because not only do my patrons whisper back to me, they seem to expect it since we are in a library! I guess I have a rotten cold. I hope it gets better soon- it's hard not to be able to talk!

Must run. I have to be at work at nine am. That's quite a change from last year, when I had to be at school by 7:15!

I miss you all and wish someone would come visit! I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but this is such a great place. I want to share it with all of you!

God bless you all, as He is daily blessing me. Pray that we sell the house! Ben is working hard to get it into shape.

I will blog more in the next few weeks, same bat time, same bat channel.

Weeks 3 & 4

Guten Tag all, from Hohenfels, Germany! I have officially been welcomed here. Last Friday night, I was "hailed" at a Hail & Farewell Boat cruise. The picture is of two of my local national workers, Vi (in front) and Marina. They have been so great and supportive and have patiently helped me to begin to learn my way around the library.

I finally have DSL at home, so I can add to my posts. I am posting some photos of my apartment. Isn't the pretty blue fireplace great? I can't wait to use it this winter. Notice the rolldown shutters on the windows. That makes it easy to lock the house down and keep out the light as well. All of the windows have them.

I am adjusting to my job ok. It is an adjustment to be managing adult workers. Also, I have to take bunches of classes- I drove an hour north to Grafenwoer to attend some management classes. I have to go back again tomorrow, but the drive is quite lovely through the lush green German countryside. I go through several quaint little villages too. I bought a GPS today for the car; lots of people have them here, and I think it will be very helpful.

I may go to Heidelberg this weekend, if Stephen and Megh are not busy. I can't wait to see them. Otherwise, I may just go gallivanting around. There are usually fests or small festivals in villages on the weekends. I plan to take the train down to Munich some time soon too. I want to visit my Ulla- if she remembers me! (She is the German lady I stayed with two years ago when I worked at the International Youth Library. )

I hope to have some visitors soon- who will be the first??

Miss you all

Nan

Week Two

Well, I have officially started work this week, and it is interesting. I don't like not knowing what to do and how to do it, but hopefully my learning curve will be short. It is different to be free to go wherever, whenever, without having to have someone cover my class! I met the colonel, the garrison commander, today. He is very nice and is quite willing to come to the library and read to the kids any time. I plan to take him up on that soon...
My apartment is so cute, and not so small as you might think. I have only two bedrooms, but a large living room and kitchen, and one and a half baths. I even have a great German-style fireplace in my kitchen! I will put up more pix when I figure out how to do it on my computer at work. I don't have DSL at home yet, and it may not be possible to get it at all in the small village where I live.
The folks we have met through the Chapel on post are super nice. They have welcomed us and included us already in events at the chapel. Thursday nights are Bible study night, which is great. Two of the wives, Carol and Marianne, came to my place yesterday and took me out to lunch. I am feeling less lonely today, except I still miss Ben terribly. I don't have a phone number yet either, so that makes me a bit more isolated.
On Sunday night a very nice couple from the Chapel invited Ben and me to Regensburg, which is south of us about 30 minutes. We climbed to the top of a church tower and saw the whole city laid out before us. It was beautiful! I saw a tower nearby where Charlemagne had rested on a visit to the city hundreds of years ago. The history here boggles the mind. Then we walked across the oldest original bridge in Germany, spanning the Danube (which is called the Donau here.) Our delicious dinner was eaten at a biergarten and enjoyed by all. Ben had to get at least one more excellent German meal in before he left!
I have been walking in the evenings, all around the village and out in the country too. The people are friendly, mostly, and the views are magnificent. I walk for about an hour each night. So far, I haven't gained any weight, nor have I lost any. Hopefully I will be able to get on enough of a schedule to lose again soon.
Thanks for all of your comments! Please also take the survey if it is still available.

Tschuss!

Nan

Week One

Wow! This past week has been wild! There is so much to do and learn and plan for, my poor little head is spinning! For those of you who are not sure what I am talking about, a little background is in order:

Last May, I applied for a librarian job at Hohenfels Training Center, Germany, (thanks, Meg!)really never dreaming I would even be in contention for it. Then in early June, I got the phone call from Germany: We would like to offer you this job.

Shock.

Excitement.

Anxiety.

What should I do? Is this the opportunity I was looking for? I have had my Masters in Library Science for 2 years and I have felt ready for a change for a while also. Here was a chance to do the library thing- and in Germany, no less! If you know me at all, you know how much I love to visit Germany, in addition to which my oldest son Stephen and his wife Meghan live there too. But was I ready to take the plunge?

Ben and I talked about it and prayed about it. I came to believe that this was what God had been preparing for me. So....I accepted the job. Report for duty: August 1.

No problem. Just the end of school to deal with, packing up my classroom (thanks, Randy!), and planning and bringing to fruition my lovely daughter Caitlin's wedding in early July. No stress, really.

After a beautiful wedding and reception, I began to pack. Ben and I had already decided to sell our large house, so we just speeded up those plans a bit. On July 30, we flew to Munich, Germany. Ben wanted to come with me to help me settle in, and I am so grateful that he did. He will come back to sell the house and finish out this semester, then hopefully join me in December or January 2008. After we arrived in Munich last Tuesday, we rented a car and drove about an hour north to Hohenfels, Germany. It is between Regensburg and Nuremburg. What a lovely place! It is very rural, with dark forests and green, rolling hills and fields. But it is in the boonies, man. In the middle of nowhere. But somewhere is not too far away. Regensburg is about 30 minutes and there are many quaint German villages around as well.

In the past week, I have: met the wonderful German women with whom I will be working, found a place to stay, moved to a much better place (Hotel Zum Hirschen) in Parsberg, started and finished the process of a new id card, looked at an apartment in the village of Lupburg, loved it, signed for it, went out to dinner every night at a different German restaurant, went to Ikea, went crazy there (what a fantastic place! Good thing they don't take credit cards!), found a car, bought the car, studied for my USAREUR driver's license, took the test and passed it, bought two phones at the Thrift Shop, toured the post and began to find my way around, ate some more great German food, discovered weinschorlesuss, dealt with personnel issues, tried to get my military email address, got my military post office box, visited the fitness center, went on a volksmarch and down into a cool cave, attended church on Sunday and met two really great Christian families.... and much more. Throughout all of this, Ben has been my rock.

It is still a bit of a dream, doesn't feel real, but other times it is all too real. Having to deny an annual leave request for an employee wasn't fun, yet it went well.

God has been so faithful! He has provided a great place to live, work, and several new friends to share it with.

Tomorrow, we go to get my new car. I will tell you more about it then and will add a picture of it.
Thanks for reading- please comment if you like.

Tschuss!