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