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