A note from Germany before I leave...

Germany has this recycling program. It's actually quite brilliant if you think about it. When you buy a drink, they charge you around 20 cents to use the bottle. When you are done with the drink if you return your bottle to the counter, you get that 20 cents back.iF you don't, well then you just threw 20 cents away. It's clever. The only problem I have found: everywhere you go there are people digging through trashcans and/or harassing people holding empty bottles. It reminds me all too much of the dragrats, bar the terrible stench, in Austin. 

One other note... The trashcans here are complicated. There are like 4 bins at one trash area and you have to place your trash in the proper bin (paper in the paper bin, etc...). It makes throwing things away a little more complicated and I find myself hoarding my trash so that I can avoid the issue altogether. 

Well now you know...

Update from the bus

Update from the bus

Well, I'm in Nuremberg. I'm staying with a friend of a friend and it has been such a blessing, seeing as I'm fresh out of money. (okay, not really fresh out... I've been out if money for awhile) anyway, the family. The parents are the only ones who speak English and they have been feeding me like i'm one of their own... There are 3 kids and they all learn English in school, but like most Germans are too shy/scared to use it. I've played with the youngest (Simon,10) quite a bit... we can do things without talking much and body language gets us by when words do not! I will however say... Playing monopoly (a game I am less than fond of) in a language you don't speak with a child who doesn't speak your language is quite a challenge. He could have played me a fool and I'd never have known (nor would i have cared, it being monopoly and all...) As a matter of fact, he did win... Regardless, it was fun and quite the learning experience. We taught each other how to say things like, "your turn" and really high numbers (generally the money I was owing him...) in our own language. And when all else failed... We brought dad in to translate!

On Thursday, I went into town with Eva. I am insanely jealous of her beautiful 45 minute bike ride to work which happens to go through the forest. It was wonderful! She "dropped me off" at the town square where there is an information office around 8:15. The office didn't open until 9, so I sat on a bench reading a book and watching all the people set up the market. I eventually went to the toy museum and did a walking tour of the city. THEN... Rode 45 minutes home. Good thing I'm in pretty good shape!

That night I went with the family to Anna's(oldest) school concert. She goes to a musical highschool here and they were having their end of the year show. (kids here still have 2 weeks of school left...) it was such a blast! They surprisingly sang/performed quite a few songs in English. I had so many thoughts and feelings about the show, I couldn't wait to talk about it. But when we got in the car, the discussion happened in German-- of course. It was strange to not be able to express your appreciation and excitement with anyone. I found myself in that moment very sad I don't speak German.

On that note, I feel like my German is getting better. I can pick up on words, context and body language so sometimes I actually know what is going on. When Eva (mom) translates for me and I already knew what was going on I get so excited!!

Today (Saturday) I went to the nazi rally grounds. It was a very sobering experience. Back up... Bus ride. Some event was going on at the stadium right by the grounds so the bus only hook me halfway to the museum. So I walked. In the rain. And I had no clue where I was going. I had asked the bus driver, but seeing as he didn't speak English, he wasn't much help except to tell me by walking his fingers along the desk my feet were clearly my transportation. There were alot of people walking one direction... So I followed them. I thought if I didn't end up where I wanted to be, at least I'd end up with alot of people! (this was a terrible way of thinking, i know) I kept walking... In the rain. Good thing I was smart and took my rainjacket, eh? (yes... Except, while it keeps all water out, it also keeps all water in-- i.e. My sweat... The inside of my coat was like a sauna!) I eventually saw the congress building hitler built that the tour guide from yesterday pointed out. I still wasn't sure how to get there seeing as there was a large lake between it and me. Regardless, it was a photo op. Eventually I made it. (Did i mention it was raining. Pouring, actually) And like I said, it was very sobering. A stark realization before my eyes of things I had only read about. It stirred up quite a bit of anger and sadness within me. The story is just horrific. When I left and set out on my trek back to the bus station, I saw that I had walked straight through so much of the grounds without knowing it on my way in. Pictures soon....

Note to everyone about audio guides: you have one in your language, I have one in mine. There's a reason for that... So we all understand. But you see... I can't hear mine even though it's pressed against my ear when yours is on loud enough you can hear it from its resting place on your lap. Catch my drift?

After weeks of traveling, trains and hostels it's been nice to be part of a normal family for a few days. Tomorrow I leave for Brussels to meet back up with kels. I'm ready to be rooted somewhere for awhile. Home in 4 days.

Je ne parle pas Francais

Versailles

This post is written with the combined effort of Whitney and Kelsey.

Kelsey and me being super bored while Karri looked at EVERY plant in the Garden of Versailles.

Oh Paris. Let’s be honest, we weren’t that excited to see you. Nearly everyone (expect the French) turn up their noses when P

aris is mentioned. Getting here was quite an adventure, because I (Kelsey) booked our flight into an airport that is actually more than 50 miles away from Paris. Oops. The reservation said Paris, I thought that was good enough. Clearly, I was wrong. We worried all day in Dublin, actually, just Karri worried. We were more interested in the three B’s: beer, boys, and bathroom. We figured if we could say these three words in each country’s language we’d be set.

Well, we were right.

Correction: Je ne parle pas Francais has been a very helpful phrase, especially when you follow it in English with “Will you marry me?” Maybe we will learn how to say it in French tomorrow. Anyway, we went to the train station to buy tickets from Paris to Rome. This has proven much more difficult than one might think (never buy a eurail pass, EVER). Karri decided it would be a good idea for us to learn to say “I don’t speak French”. We walked through the train station repeating “Je ne parle pas Francais” over and over. I (Whitney) pointed out that this is the equivalent of hearing someone in a U.S airport proclaiming “I don’t speak English! I don’t speak English!” Oops. Clearly, we are enjoying ourselves. I’m not sure if it’s Paris, or it’s just ourselves we are enjoying. We can have a good time anywhere. Just add the three b’s.

Back up to the beginning of the vacation. We started with a family friend, Clare, where we were spoiled beyond belief. We all had our own bedrooms with queen beds and down comforters. We woke up every morning to breakfast on the table with endless coffee. We knew when we left for Ireland we would be roughing it. As it turns out it, we were. In fact, each place we’ve stayed has been a step down from the last.

Galway:

We didn’t like it much at first because it was kind of small and too frat house-y, but this turned out to be the reason we loved it. We had our own room, so we didn’t have to worry about sharing space with creepers yet. No one slept much, but we met fun people and had a great time.

On the Coast is Galway

Dublin:

You’d think in a co-ed dorm with 12 beds there would be more than one toilet, or maybe a shower curtain, but no. To think that would be incorrect. Let’s just say we forewent our showers, and stupid people prevented sleeping.

Paris:

By far, the worst of them all. We arrived at 1:30am, only to be directed to read a list of rules before we paid. Is this summer camp? No. Next, we were put in different rooms. Karri and I(Kelsey) got a double room, which wasn’t too bad- but when we saw my (Whitney) prison tower, we knew this would be an unfortunate few days. Pablo told us to go upstairs after we shelled out over 300 euro. We didn’t realize that up meant over 55 spiral stairs. Since we skipped showers in Dublin, they were necessary. The shower wasn’t too bad, if you don’t mind being attacked by angry birds. Oh and don’t mind the water only runs for 30 seconds, and you have to push a button each time and wait for the impending attack. Other than that, it was quite pleasant.

Back to Paris

We met a new friend, Karolyn. She was one of my (Whitney’s) roommates. We were afraid to speak at first because neither of us was certain of the other’s ability to converse in English. Oh man.

We all decided to go to Eiffel Tower and watch it light up. Obviously, this requires a bottle of wine. Unlike the States, you can drink in the streets of Paris. We wandered until we found a store that sold wine (the offie, as they say in Ireland). We chose a bottle and Karolyn tried to pay with British pounds. The man working disliked this very much. We quickly fixed the situation with Euros.

We watched the tower light up, finished our bottle of wine, and watched cute French children playing in a field. There was one in particular (we named him John Luke- with a heavy French accent),that we really considered taking home. In fact, Karolyn tried to ask his friends what his name was, but apparently French children know about stranger danger.

We waited for it to get dark enough (late) to see the tower sparkle (video to come). After we saw the tower sparkle, we packed up and went home. I mean, to the dungeon hostel.

At the Palace of Versailles (details to come)--one of the few pictures of the 3 of us.