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Published: January 22nd 2007
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Hello Friends from around the world!! I apologize for going under the radar lately, internet is very sloooww here in my town and makes updates difficult. More blogs and photos are coming though , so no need to fret! The next several blogs are about my vacation for the Christmas hoolidays: Germany, Paris, the Alps, around France, and soon I will include my Birthday in London!! Right now, I am back in my town teaching english to the french kids. Today we learned the most important lesson (in my opinion!) in order to survive in the USA..."How to order in an American Restaurant". Lots of fun simulating a US restaurant. The kids learned key phrases and vocabulary for reading the menu, ordering, and paying the bill. One girl actually told me "Madame? I have a spider on mine soup!!" The students really enjoyed reversing the roles and acting as the waiters. Soon, I will take some photos of the schools and the students and the teachers, look for it!
Before departing for vacation I had a great time with the students, discussing Christmas traditions in
Ich Liebe Dich!!
I am so german... the US, espcially Florida. Did you know they dont even use stockings here? 😞 My little students listened to American Christmas classics like Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and we made Christmas cards in English.
Continuing on in my problemaic relationship with public transit I nearly missed my flight to Germany. Reason being my bus to the train ws late and my train to paris was late and then I took a late bus to the airport. And whaddyanow, the frenchies decided it was a good idea to strike! Yep, all the airport security workers took a leave of absence that day. So, with 2 minutes to spare I made it to my gate....but my plane was delayed for 1 hour and a half. At least I didn't miss it!! Once I arrived in Hamburg, a couple of hours late I could not help but join the unhappy passengers in the collective grumbles of 'Blast I knew it! I should have flown with the Germans, those guys are always efficient'.
Chrstian picked me up from the airport and we had a cheerful reunion since it had been more than a year since the last time I saw
him! after settling into his sweet flat we walked around downtown Hamburg and visited the chrsitmas markets and drank gluewhein,which is really yummy hot spiced wine! The markets are so awesome! If you don't get into the holiday spirit after visiting a German Christkindlesmarkt then there is a severe problem with your health. Christizn soaked up the lively atmosphere as we sipped our hot wine the bavarian music group, hot wine, the smell of sausage and suarkraut and the many booths of handmade ornaments and gifts.
The next day it was off to Husum for the holidays with Chrsitans family. First; it was the ride on the Audobon, I held on for dear life and made sure I was buckeled (dont worry momma) Before arriving at the Petersen residence we stopped by for a visit at the Husum aquariam. Husum is a little seaside town in the very north of Germany on the North Sea and has a very quaint downtown with pubs and shops right on the harbor. I learned that "Moin Moin" is the Northern German way to greet one another, and I really took a liking to saying this phrase to passersby...
Christmas in Germany
was highlighted by the emmense food consumtion (i.e saurkraut, cheese, potatoes, chocolate etc.) Christian, his mom and sister were truly top notch hosts to this continetnally displaced American girl. We ate, drank, napped, watched movies ,decorated Rupert the tannenbaum and took long walks. What would christmas be without the ol' classic b &w movies like "Its a Wonderful Life" dubbed in german? We celebrated the holiday on Christmas eve, which is something I am not used to, but really enjoyed! After a big meal and opening presents Christiand and I went to midnight christmas service at one of the oldest churches in the North of Germany. I dont tell any lies so I have to admit that I nodded off a few times because I lost concentration while trying to listen and pretend to understand. But, I did perk back up and sing many a christmas carol in german!
After a few days in Husum my German host Christian took me back (via audobon, yikes) to Hamburg. Hamburg is a very cool, hip and sophisticated (and clean, parisians could learn a thing or two from les allemandes) city. Some highlights from Hamburg include the boat ride around the harbor
(Hamburg is Europe's second largest harbor city) and rendez-vous-ing with my NZ buddies at Christian's flat. Helma(my NZ neighbor from Holland), her very cool boyfriend Mark and Rachel (my fellow travelblog buddy) all came to Hamburg for a visit! We went out to a super cool sushi restaurant that oddly reminded me of an Austin Power's movie, fit with private booths for 'snuggling sushi'?
The NZ reunion was incredible and we felt as if we had never left eachother in the Southern hemisphere as we talked about jumping out of planes over Lake Taupo and cable car rides in Wellington. In fact, it made us all certain we have to go back to New Zealand, and soon!!
After a week or so in the land of sausage and saurkraut I packed my bags yet again and traveled to Paris to commence the New Year's Eve celebrations. (this time Rachel and Christian traveled with me!)
Tchüss everyone,
Shelly
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Christian
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It has been a pleasure
Hi Shelly, It was good having you here for xmas and I am glad that you liked it. Well, I still have some remarks about the blog entry. Firstly, we had Gluehwein and Feuerzangenbowle. It is called Christkindlmarkt or Weihnachtsmarkt. Furthermore - and that is really important to us Germans - it the the Autobahn and we had no Sauerkraut for dinner... Never! Only the "funny" bavarians have it... Ok, I just had some for dinner too.. But there was no Sauerkraut for Xmas dinner! ;-) And last but not least the Husum Aquarium is called Multimar Wattforum and is in Toenning ;-) Despite all this it was an awesome time with you! Miss you heaps and hope to welcome you soon again! Your NZ bro Christian