Well, I am just plain lazy. No excuse. Sorry.

Hi, all,
First: photos of Thanksgiving/summary. It was fantastic. I am really lucky to have such great people in my life, here. I had visitors from Tübingen (Americans), and I had some of the friends I have made here with me. It was nice to share something so very American with my non-American friends...and to celebrate it with my fellow Americans (I am sounding more patriotic everyday). Enjoy the story of Thanksgiving with photos.
I am thankful for my time here in Germany, for the support from home of my friends and family, and of course for the wonderful people I have in my life in Germany. Life without people to love is not worth it...

Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without some of these staple products...

Appetizers and a lovely arrangement

Americans to the rescue! Cranberry sauce and potato peeling!

Happy Thanksgiving. Here's my winter wonderland...

Sweet Potatoes!

So much chopping!

My favorite. The stuffing!

Our expanded refrigeration system...

I made these not fully cooked cornbread(s) while drinking wine and making Thanksgiving phone calls...

And the pumpkin pie!

My biggest cooking undertaking as of yet: the turkey. Successful. Delicious. Moist.

If only I had known how to cut it...

THAT is what I call a Thanksgiving dinner. Feast.

And the most important and best part of the day: fantastic company.  Rico, Meli, Caro, Lauren, KC, Elly

I will tell you of further adventures tomorrow :)

lump sum (mary)

Well you all are so lucky, that you get to hear about the last several weeks in only a few short paragraphs. And we all know that being concise is not my specialty, but thanks to a few friendly word-counting professors, I have learned and will do my best here. Well, starting...now:

Esslingen

The last few weeks consisted of visits and visiting: Lawrence and my friends, experienced abroad! Halloween was a lot of fun. Chantelle from Lawrence came to visit. We had a lot of fun exploring Esslingen, Ulm and Stuttgart, and we had our share of going out, too. It was nice to see a Lawrentian... but it reminded me how much I miss Lawrence and just being a student in general. I think I am figuring out a plan for next year, and I am pretty sure that teaching is not a part of it (sorry, Fulbright). More on future plans when I have less exciting business to report on over here...

Ulm (lots of fantastic Medieval parts!)

The rest of my break wasn't too exciting. I finished two mediocre books and spent some time outside before the weather turned into what it has now (cold and winter-like). I went out one night with some fellow teachers and went to a birthday at my friend Meli's. It's nice to feel like I really have friends, here...

Then began my travel adventures. The next week I decided to meet up with Ali Gaass and her boyfriend in Amsterdam. They were flying in Friday night (rather late) and on a whim I decided to leave at the crack of dawn on Friday. I found a ride from Stuttgart to Amsterdam for only 26 Euro through mitfahrgelegenheit. If anyone is reading this from Germany and doesn't know about this, begin using it immediately; it is fantastic. I had all of Thursday and Friday to explore the city and meet new people...and I did both! I actually think one of the best things I did was the free tour. I can tell you tons of useless but interesting information about Amsterdam! But it gave me a fantastic overview of the city, and it was a great way to meet other people traveling as well.
I have to jump a bit ahead, here, but only to help explain how much I loved Amsterdam. I went to London the following weekend (see below), but I have to surprise a few people and say that I fell in love with Amsterdam and not with London... So why did I love this city so much? No, it was not the "coffee". Well, actually, it was, and it wasn't. Make sense? I loved the idea behind Amsterdam. Yes I saw things that both disturbed and excited my curiosities, but the fact is that I could see just about anything there. Everyone can come and be exactly who he is, without judgement or question. And furthermore, there is something for everyone in Amsterdam. Though a big city, I still found some of the small town charm, that, as a midwesterner, I truly love. I can't help it. Maybe I am learning that I am just not a big city person. Well, maybe I should say humongous city person; Amsterdam wasn't exactly small. Anyway, I loved it. I also loved travling alone. I think I actually prefer it, to be honest. It was nice to see Ali, though. Another Lawrentian, another reminder that I belong in school. Can I enroll as a professional student somewhere?
For everyone's sake, I will continue forward on this rather short tale of many travels. If you want to hear about the things I saw and the people I met, just ask! I met the most amazing people in Amsterdam including some ladies from Melborne and some gentlemen from Ireland. I love and hate meeting people these days. Making connections is sad and exciting due to the temporary nature or my life...I try my best to enjoy them while they last, but in the back of my mind I know that I am living in some sort of abbreviated time capsule almost separate from the life I know in the States. I think about this a lot.

Then it was back to school for a few days only to fly off to London again on Thursday! This time to see Sharon. Maybe I didn't give London a chance because I was so excited to see my best girl, but I was not charmed. Some cities speak to me, and some do not. I heard nothing, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was fantastic to spend time with Sharon. We saw Harry Potter because we are losers. I thought it was an awful movie, to be perfectly honest (sorry Sharon), but I could see its entertainment value as part of the HP package... Loved seeing a movie in English though.
I saw London almost entirely by night...this was mostly because in Europe night begins at 4pm. I cannot begin to explain how depressing it is to be awake for more hours that are dark than light. This is something I would like Europe to fix, but I am not sure they are willing to concede on this issue.
Anyway, I saw the things that most people would want to see, but I was mostly just glad to be with a friend.

THE GLOBE! <3 Shakespeare

Christmas lights were also up in London, which added to the night views, but really just made me a bit homesick. It began to occur to me that the "official" start to the holiday season is happening, and I will not be home for any of this season. Just thinking about Christmas had me a little bit mopey, to tell you the truth. However, my fellow Good Times coworker will be joining me in Germany from Christmas until New Years! It will be nice to spend the holidays with someone else who will be away from home. We'll get through it, and maybe even enjoy it, together!










































And those are some of the many sights of London. I have more fantastic pictures, which, again, you will have to ask for! Or look on facebook...
Anyway, I enjoyed my time in London, but much to the dismay of many of my close friends and family members, it is not the city for me. Maybe it was a language barrier...I will say that I just couldn't get over it. I was always preoccupied with hearing how someone would say it in British English. Which words they used, how they pronounced the words, what part of London someone came from, whether they weren't from London at all... like I said, I couldn't get over it. But in any case, it was a great experience.
Now I am home. We had our first snow here on Monday. I think that actually got me more homesick than all the Christmas stuff. I don't know what it is about the first snow, maybe a glimmer of that childhood excitement that used to accompany the first snow, but whatever it is, it brings me home every time (no matter where I am).
Today I went shopping for my Thanksgiving feast on Friday. There will be 12 people in my tiny apartment. I can't wait. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn bread,green bean casserole, sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie, lots of wine and punch, and whatever my guests are bringing. I am now realizing how stressful it is to plan and execute Thanksgiving. Please don't let me poison my guests...
Anyway, there will be many photos of this epic meal to follow. KC and Lauren are coming from Tuebingen to help cook a few hours before and then staying for the night.
Then it will be off to Berlin the following weekend. What a life.
I miss home more than ever. It is officially Thursday here, too, so naturally, Happy Thanksgiving.
Holidays are never the same without my family, but I am thinking about everyone while I prepare my own Thanksgiving here in Eislingen.
Wishing I could be here and there all at once, but sending my love anyway.
xoxo
Sara

FAIL!

Sorry everyone!
Last week was crazy due to vacation (and relaxing...yes, just enjoy the irony).
I actually just finished packing. I am taking off for Amsterdam tomorrow. It's sort of a spur of the moment decision, but it's about time for me to go on an adventure! I am using mitfahrfgelegenheit, and hitching a ride for only 26 Euro! What a steal! Only downside is that I have to be up at 5am. Yikes. Then I am staying in a hostel right downtown Thursday night. Ali Gaass, whom I graduated from Lawrence with, and her boyfriend are meeting me on Friday night, and I will stay in a hotel with them Friday and Saturday. Can't wait to see her--and in Amsterdam of all places.
Looks like you will all have to wait in suspense to see how it turns out. Expect photos...
Love to everyone and home...and a speedy recovery, Grandma.
We all know I am loving my life here, but home is home, always will be. Even if I fail to email/write I think about my family and friends everyday.
I feel more and more blessed each day, and my distinct non-belief in fate is beginning to waiver as coincidences continue to line up my stars. Either way, it becomes more and more clear to me each day that this is the best decision I have made for myself...I have my whole life to make money and be responsible.

Now comes the night.
LOVE.

Sara

Halloween Week begins!

Pumpkin to be carved this week. Meli picked it up for me in Tübingen

Hi, everyone!
I'm a little home sick today--I miss my friends and family. Sometimes the best of times are the times I realize it would be nice to share with people I love. So here I am, giving it a try.
These past few days have been great.
Last week I started my "tutoring" with a family that lived in America for the last four years. The parents want Felix and Maya to keep up their American English, which is nearly perfect, by the way. I basically just play with the kids for a few hours and speak English (and get paid well for it). I am learning to play Pokemon...yes, Pokemon... They feed me dinner, and then I go to choir with Silke, their mom, afterwards. The choir is directed by a teacher at my school, and it's for adults. I'm pretty excited, actually!
I also got a flute on Friday. I asked last week if there was any chance the school had an extra, and to my luck, they did! It's not my flute...but it will do. Now I just need to find some music....

I went to Stuttgart for a night with my roommate and went out a little bit. We didn't do much--on account of me still being broke--but it was fun anyway.

Today I baked an apple pie (instead of preparing for the several lessons I need to teach tomorrow). It is gonna be a late night. I'm having dinner tonight at Pierre's house with the Referendarinnen tonight. Apparently his house is really cool, so I'm looking forward to checking it out.
This week is going to be nuts, though. I am teaching Halloween all week (about ten times...two down) and then I am working with the older kids on The Civil Rights Movement. My plate is beyond full. Halloween is fun though. We talk about what they know...history...how Americans celebrate...and then learn some vocab, which I use to play bingo
Anyway, I'm sure there's more to share...there always is...but I am going to go find another way to procrastinate for a while.
But first for some pie-baking instructions via pictures. :)

step one: make the dough (and let it sit at least one night)

two: cut up apples...fresh from our yard!

three/four: roll out dough, mix up pie filling

five: put it in that pan...thanks for the pan, Herr Runte

six: top off with more dough...I weaved it!

seven: bake!

I will let you know how step eight went later (enjoy)...

Liebe Grüße!
Sara

My apologies

Liebe Leute,
I realize that it has been too long since my last post. It was just becoming too frustrating to wait for my crappy internet connection to decide to work for 15 minutes, and then to not work for another two hours...and uploading photos took about a century...but you get the picture. That and I was busy.
All excuses aside, I believe it's time for an update. And what an update this will be! (If only I can remember what I've been doing all month...)
I think I will start from today and work backwards, just for the point of changing it up.

I haven't done very much this week at school due to intense preparations for the upcoming week: the week o' halloween! I asked all the 6th and 7th grade teachers if I could do Halloween one day with their classes, and of course everyone said yes. The question is what to do! I'm trying to get ahold of The Nightmare before Christmas, so I can show the clip with "This is Halloween"...who didn't love that movie in America (don't tell me you...)? And then to top it off, I have previous commitments to one more class of illegal immigration and two double-hours on the topic of slavery-desegregation in America some twelfth years (talk about having a lot on my plate). In any case, I'm beginning preparations this week in order to save myself a touch of sanity for next week. I am still fairly sure I don't want to teach...but I'm really having fun with it. Sometimes I find that things go really well...sometimes mediocre...and sometimes I have no idea what I'm doing, and neither do the students (ha...). I have to admit, though, even though I haven't been paid yet, I am really lucky to be doing this.

My reading group is going swimmingly, too! I was so glad that today, despite a really big test, my students showed up of their own free will to do extra work with me. So...I baked them cookies. I real American treat: Chocolate Chip Cookies. And let me tell you, that without chocolate chips, there was a lot of extra work involved. Chocolate does not like to be chopped. We will leave it at that. I am really enjoying my new found love for cooking/baking/etc. And, as is standard procedure, wine was involved. Obviously.

Tübingen City Center...here is that Freiburg cobblestone charm that I miss...

This past weekend I spent in Tübingen. It was a beautiful city--reminded me a bit of Freiburg. I stayed with KC, another Fulbrighter, but had the opportunity to meet up with Johanna (from Stuttgart my second weekend here) and Feli breifly (same). I had so much fun going out with young people, doing girly things, and speaking English when it was just the Fulbrighters. We also got to know a few very nice people during our outings, and I received the best compliment since I've been here! I stepped outside with a few Germans to catch some air, and the two I did not know were completely shocked when they asked where I was from that my answer was, obviously, America. I actually answered, "Wisconsin", and was received with confusion before clarifying Midwestern America. Sometimes my German is sub-par according to my standards, but once I get into a stride, it's becoming quite natural for me. Anyway, I had a fantastic time. I must admit, though, when I walked into a park from the train station towards my friend's dorm, I was actually more pissed than excited to see swans swimming in a beautiful lake. Swans!?! Come on. I believe the appropriate word here is "envy".

The week before that was filled with lessons on illegal immigration, The Declaration of Independence, and "Pretty Polly" and her B&B. What a job I have! I was also a bit under the weather due to too many outings the weekend before.

The last two weekends were filled with the wonders of the German Drinking Festival known as The Cannstatter Wasen. What can I really say, other than it was everything you imagined Oktoberfest to be. It was loud, full of drunk people, and all in all, a lot of fun. I went first with my Aunt Kris and my counsin Aaren. We began Wasen with a beerbike through lovely Stuttgart. Yes, you heard correctly, a beer bike. Refer to the photo if you need clarification. Beer+Bike. Let me assure you, though, this was no easy task. Drinking and pedaling a large, heavy bike through streets uphill at times can be quite the challenge. We thankfully had some willing to push for re-starts, so to speak.

We enjoyed this festival from about 11am until about 11:30pm--and let me say that I was exhausted the next day. Thank goodness for Sundays. Sunday Funday turned into Sunday recovery day.
Anyway, it was so much fun... that I had to do it again! (and again!)
I returned the next weekend with a bunch of Fulbrighters on Friday night. We had reservations at a table once again, and had a great time. It was nice to speak English and just compare stories and experiences with other Fulbrighters. The drinking with other young people wasn't bad either...

I had a great time...and unfortunately lost track of that time. I missed my train by about 30 seconds...I could see it as it left the station...talk about a heart breaker. Fortunately I didn't have to wait four hours for the next train. Thanks to my other Fulbright connections I was able to stay on someone's floor. Not great, but it's better than the train station floor! Whoops! You live and you learn. Had the subway not been delayed by 15 minutes I would have made it. I actually encountered the nicest Germans though, as my train's departure crept closer and as our subway car sat completely still. These old women made me call my friends immediately to see that I could stay there, or they were going to take me home. Talk about generosity from strangers--and Germans, at that! Eat me, Ayn Rand. Seriously. Anyway, I got on an early train home, went back to bed, and then got up again only to--you guessed it--return to Wasen.

Phili, Meike und Caro the Referendarinnen (and the black sheep we won for English classes...when someone speaks English, he/she has to hold onto the black sheep...)

I went this time with coworkers! Referendarinnen! These are like student teachers--they're done with school and have to do this for 1.5 years before they can become teachers. They're all fantastic, and I've even moved my seat over to their table in the teachers' room. The third time at Wasen, I got an entirely new experience. We went on rides, spent way too much money at the stands on food and games, and had a great time. We later went into one of the drinking tents to have our one beer and ran into another coworker! Of the thousands of people at Wasen, we found Rico. Fantastic. I had a great time and made the last train home without a problem...

I went on that Ferris Wheel...

And on this little number...

Other than that, I've been cooking up a storm and spending my time relaxing. I'm getting the hang of doing nothing sometimes, and enjoy my time with coffee (and sometimes now hot cocoa) and a book. I'm rereading Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress in German--still love it.
I miss everyone at home, and love hearing from everyone. I will update more often now that I have good, reliable internet.
Here's a sampling of the cooking from Zellerstraße 2, Eislingen Deutschland:

Mexican Night in Germany! I cooked fahitas and made salsa for me and the roommate!

vegetable soup with potatoes and soup greens, cold day became much warmer...

Meatballs and sauce a cookin'...we put too many onions in everything. because they are delicious.

Elvira discovered the "grill" function on our stove. Hence the black balls. We still liked them ("Blackbällchen).

Shrimps+vegetables+rice (later) = tasty tasty meal

Because I'm an American.

Tiramisu, anyone? Thanks to Elly!

ONE BECAME TWO. If you know the spice girl song I'm referring to, then you understand that this is when I got my flatmate, and my table of one became a party of two. So happy.

Elly and her lovely Turkish coffee! This is before the sun went away and Fall began to drench us with colors, cold and rain...

Well, thanks for tuning in this week. Sending my thoughts to you all!

Until next time!
xoxo
Sara