Packing up H-berg

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Holy buckets. I can't believe we are cleaning up the apartment, and getting things ready for our final inspection already! Our time here is winding down, and it's quite sad. I am done teaching preschool, I have a week of observations and hanging out left. One of the little girls during circle time raised her hand, and when I called on her, she didn't really have anything to say. She stammered for a little while and finally said, "umm, I think I love you."
Heart wrenching.
But the last few weekends have not gone with out some fun. I went to the Netherlands with Carol, Ed, Bev, Chozy and Jezmay. We went to Volkenberg to see a Christmas market that is in these caves under a fortification. Sounded pretty cool, so Bev made all the arrangements and we took off after school on Friday. I rode with Carol and Ed, and they have a navigation system (George) and they plugged in Volkenberg, and off we went. We lost Chozy behind a big truck so we went on by ourselves. It was supposed to take about 5 hours we thought to get there, and with only about 100 km left, Bev calls, and we figure out that we are not going the right way. Turns out there are two Volkenbergs in The Netherlands! What? We were going to the wrong one, and had to turn around and drive back a few hours! Oh man. We ended up being in the car for 8 hours before we found the city, and then drove around the city for about 45 min. before we found the hotel! I was pretty tired by the time we got there, but it was pretty funny. Oh, the journeys to be had with Carol, Ed, and George!!
But, it was well worth it. The caves were pretty neat, with lots of neat vendors. It was my first Christmas Market, complete with Chirstmas beer, and Gluwein, the good hot spiced wine they sell at all markets. I got some shopping done, and had a good time hanging out. We stopped at another market in Germany on our way home, which only took us 3 hours!
This past weekend, we went to see Beauty and the Beast at the theater on post, Nate was in it, and it was wonderful! Then downtown to O'Riley's for a last hurrah there. I went with the girls to the Heidelberg Christmas Market, and it is really cool. All the squares on the Hauptstrasse are filled with booths, a merry-go-round, and lots of great festival food. Again, more christmas presents were bought. Other than that, just some quality time hanging out with the girls, and Nate before we all part ways! Sad!
The school put on a Gluwein party in Eppelheim, and they had really cheap gluwein and brats. Lots of good food, and it was really nice. Plus I went to the PHES staff Christmas Party. It was really fancy, and they had goose, and dumplings and lots of other good German food. I stuffed myself and got a white elephant present. Good times. Carol and Ed took care of me yet again.
I found out a little more information about my internship. Very little more. Just that I am placed in Baumholder, Germany. It's about an hour and a half away from H-berg, closer to the Luxemburg/France border. Which is cool, that means I will be closer to the Lux. family to visit more! Also that is the biggest site, and I think they place somehting like 12 interns there. I will be leaving the states again sometime the middle/end of January for 17 weeks. I'm excited and nervous about it.
Man, I am pretty much finished with University work forever! That is also a weird feeling. My time here has just flown by. I can't believe I have to leave all of these wonderful people (roommates, students, teachers, friends) that I have met. They have all influanced me, and helped me to become a better teacher. I will never forget this wonderful experience, and I feel so lucky that I will be close enough to come back and visit next semester!

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Photos

Christmas Market
In one of the squares at the Heidelberg Christmas Market

Ed, George, and Carol
driving, and driving, and diving

bratwurst and brochen!
at this Gluwein teacher party, they had really good cheap German brats!

beers and karoake
our night out at O'Reiley's

Netherlands
In the caves in the Netherlands. Carol and Ed, Bev, Janice, and Chozy and Jezmay

Aacken
At the outside Christmas Market. Pretty, but lots of people

Jezzy
the cutest baby. we chilled

TWS
AO had to crunch her TWS work in, and aparently wine helped...

cards
Jo, hanging out. playing some cards. you know.

market
Erin, Megan, and Jo at the H-berg Christmas Market. It was raining, and thats a giant santa.

Comments

[MOM]

Packing
I know you have mixed feelings about coming home, But I personally can't wait. 10 more days!! Love ya, MOM