I heart Amsterdam!

Niklas and I had been talking about going to Amsterdam for awhile (I really wanted to go because it's SO close to us!) We were going to go in the fall, but as is life, time just slipped away. I decided for Christmas to book, as a surprise, two nights stay in Amsterdam! It was the perfect opportunity for us seeing as we were both off of school. We really lucked out with everything! The weather could have been better, but we certainly don't have "Ontario" weather, so we were actually lucky. When we got there we immediately hopped on the tram that was a 5 min walk from our hotel and started walking the streets. We didn't stay exactly in the city but we were only about a 15-20 min tram ride away, which looking back now was actually a really good plan. The city is extremely congested and most people get around with bikes so there are literally thousands of people riding bikes around, not ideal for driving. We stayed at the Fashion Hotel, which was nice. Being in Amsterdam is honestly one of those things you just need to experience to appreciate. The faint smell of weed as you walk down the streets, the red lights glowing around every corner, the bridges and canals winding all around... it was certainly a really great experience. Would I go back? Ya for sure! Would be nice to go in warmer weather. I feel like we really only touched the surface of the greatness Amsterdam has to offer!

 

Beautiful night view

 

In the Sex Museum

 

Also Sex Museum....

 

Fast food vending machines

 

Central Station

 

Dam Square (Wax Museum)

 

xo

 

Wax Museum ham time

 

A little Bob Marley

 

Locks on a bridge over a canal

 

Ice Rink we came across in the city

It's about time for an update......(part 2)

Between visiting people, German school, teaching, getting lost (with everything), Niklas and I went for a few hikes. It's funny to me that most people that I meet say, "Why are you in Germany?! Canada is so much more beautiful!". Ok yes, Canada is beautiful, but there's so much beauty to be had in Germany as well! They have great trails for hiking in the woods, and having grown up in Essex-County, I'm used to FLATTER THAN FLAT, and here they actually have hills? It's so nice when hiking! We climbed a look-out tower, saw the wild pigs, got extremely lost (like 3 hours lost), and it was all just so great spending so much time together outside!!

 

I will say this about November and December (well and January for that matter)....time FLIES! I can't believe that it's been over 5 months since I've been here. I'm having a hard time remembering exactly what's been going on in November and December. There was a lot of preparing for Christmas, school, some work, visa stress (which is STILL on-going).... German tradition surrounding Christmas is that on the 6th (I believe) Nicolas comes and leaves treats in your shoes (that you leave out for him one night). We also put our "Wish List" in our shoes too and Nicolas took it. From there on the 24th of December when we're at church, the Christkind comes and leaves the gifts which we open Christmas Eve. So that was what happened. The holidays here were absolutely amazing! I couldn't have asked for a better family (besides my own) to be with. There was an abundance of food and drinking! I was royally spoiled by everyone. It was also so great to receive so many Christmas cards from home! Over the holidays we went to Niklas's parent's work Christmas party. We stayed in a really nice hotel with a nice spa we got to enjoy the next day. We also went to a really nice place for a very traditional German meal (pretzels, beer, stomping on benches...etc.). Such a great time! I also went to a Christmas party at the townhall with my good friend Jasmin and her parents. It was so much fun!!! Christmas Eve consisted of a brunch with some family friends and their little guys. Then I made Christmas morning breakfast (which needs to sit over night and is sooooo good the next day). Niklas and I took his Opa to church and when we got home we were greeted with Raclette which is the same concept as fondue, but with a little grill on the table and also little pans you can cook stuff in (which you melt cheese on top). It's actually really hard to describe so the best I can say is google it! It was a good time for sure! After that we opened gifts - so great! As I said I was definitely spoiled. I'm so fortunate to be with such a loving, warm, amazing family! I can't say enough good things about them. All of the things they've given me since I've been here (not only material) I could never repay with all the money in the world! They take in, essentially a stranger (well not to Niklas obviously) and from day one, treat me as family. It definitely made being away from my own loved ones so much easier through the holidays. I did miss my parents and everyone so much, as I do on a regular basis. Ok Ok back to Christmas....so later that night we went to the bar. Yes, bar. And Christmas Day too!! It's not traditional, persay, but MANY people are there. I guess the one thing that I've really learned about German people is that they LOVE to have a good time. I don't mean as in getting wasted and that, but just being super social. They are always up for going out (rain or shine!). Ohhhhhhhh I'm forgetting one of the BEST things about Germany this time of year! The Christmas Markets!!! From the day they first opened, Niklas told me he would take me to two each week and he was pretty spot on. They are in all the small towns. I would say the one thing I'm very amazed at is how more German aren't fat. The Christmas markets essentially consisted of LOTS of food. LOTS of food being fries, sausage, deep fried other stuff and gluhwein. Hmmm.... gluhwein is a hot Christmas wine which.... I'm not really fond of. I guess it's more of an acquired taste.

 

Santa and his extremely creepy helper with no face who apparently visits the bad kids....terrifying

(Osnabruck Christmas Market)

 

 

 

Above and below, also Osnabruck Christmas Market

 

My advent calendar! Each bag had a little charm in it that I could put on a necklace or bracelet 

 

"Family" Christmas picture visiting an Aunt and Uncle from Niklas

 

Over the holidays there was also New Years Eve, which Niklas decided to have another party at the house and invited some people over. It was really nice to hang out at home and party in the deele (the deele is like a garage, but not). I will say the one MAJOR difference from NYE here and NYE at home are the fireworks. I seriously couldn't believe that literally every person in Germany lights off fireworks and not just at midnight, they start before, but obviously most happen at midnight. It was a really great thing to be able to start 2014 here in Germany!

Niklas and I before midnight xo

The deele!

Sarah, Yannik and I



 

Fireworks on the street



It's about time for an update....(part 1)

I haven't written since OCTOBER! Ya ya.... I owe you one about now. It's just so hard. I feel like every time I think about writing I find an excuse NOT to..... so here it goes (from what I can remember from wayyyy back when...)

The last post I had written I was very much looking forward to some upcoming things like Okotberfest and Niklas's birthday! Oktoberfest was great! So much fun! It was just in the small town I live near but there was still about 2000 people there! It was in a huge tent and we had 'VIP' so ate a really good meal before. There was tons of beer flowing, obviously we were in our finest Oktoberfest get-up as well. Niklas bought me my first dirndl! As soon as I put it on, I knew it was THE ONE (I guess I can now better understand when people try on their wedding dresses and know, it's THE ONE.... I guess). I wish it was a bit of a different colour seeing as it reminds me a bit of Christmas, but I still had to get it! :)

 

When I first bought it (I was pumped to try it on)

 

 

At Oktoberfest with Niklas in his Lederhose

 

Niklas's mom and I



 

Having lots of fun with our big German beers! :)

 

After our Oktoberfest activities were over, I had told Niklas's family I really wanted to do a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving, seeing as that's one of the best holidays in the year!! Well finding a turkey in Germany isn't exactly normal. Soooo they got one from a "Costco-like" store....boy was I surprised when they came home with a 15kg turkey! It was like a small naked child!! As if there wasn't enough pressure to cook this whole meal, now I had to do it with this enormous turkey! Well we decided that the best, and really only way to cook it would be to cut it in half. We saved the other half for Christmas. The thing about Germany is that their ovens aren't even really that big to begin with so having to even think about cooking this whole turkey would have been ridiculous. I was super impressed that I was able to pull the whole meal off without very much help! The menu consisted of turkey (which was amazing), sweet potatoes mashed with bacon and maple syrup (yep, from home!), regular mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, croissants, gravy, cranberries, cheesecake with blueberry/maple syrup reduction.... and I think that was all. I'm literally starving over here thinking about how good it all tasted!! Mmmm.....

 

 

The massive turkey!

 

After Thanksgiving came Niklas's birthday. He debated having a few friends over but after having spoken to one of his friends we decided to try and put together a surprise party for him! Not knowing all of his friends, I enlisted the help of the friends that I did know! Two of them are DJ's and volunteered to do the music. Another friend works for the company that has party equipment so he took care of turning the deele into a club (it was actually insane), his mom bought so much food and turned the deele into such a great space for the party and a few other friends occupied him at work.... well we got his boss to call him into work, but at the time there really was nothing to do except wash the tractor, yes, wash the tractor that would be going out into the field the next day to get dirty again. Luckily his friends were sneaky enough to go there and chat with him to distract him for a bit until some people came over. Let's just say we pulled it off pretty good!! It was so much fun and he really enjoyed the love from everyone! :)

 

The last few months also included two trips to Dortmund to visit my amazing friend Jasmin who is going to Uni in Dortmund. There is a 'Primark' there which I would say is the equivalent to Forever21. So much fun had in Dortmund from learning a new game (Looping Loouie), to taking part in an after bar teeter-tauter escapade (pretty sure it's the biggest teeter-tauter in the world). I also went to Cologne to meet up with my Korean partner in crime Susannah who came from Morocco to visit Germany! I wasn't able to see much of Cologne but we did see the Cathedral there and it was amazing!!! It was also so great to just be able to spend time and catch up with a dear friend I hadn't see in 4 years!! I wish we lived so much closer!! xo

 

 

Jasmin and I in Dortmund xo

 

Susannah and I in Cologne in front of the Dom Cathedral

 



 

Inside the Dom Cathedral, so beautiful!!

Lost in translation...

Learning a new language will obviously lead to some mistakes. Ok MANY mistakes. Take for example when I wanted to ask Nik's dad how he made the delicious chicken we enjoyed for dinner, I ended up asking him what sound a chicken makes. Joy. Everyone got a good laugh - I was insulted and red-faced. I know I really need to just take it as it is and laugh along. It's just frustrating at times - I want to be FLUENT! I want to be able to have meaningful conversations with people here, not just the, "Hi how are you?" that I can have now. Baby steps, baby steps. Rome wasn't built overnight. (<- is="" p="" saying="" that="" the="">
I went to my first European fooßball game! It was.... what I would have expected - crazy fans all pumped up on sausage and beer. I went with Niklas' parents. We went to the University to park and took the tram to the stadium. When we got there we had a sausage and some pommes with a beer. Took our seats. Did the song thing before the game to pump everyone up. The other team had their own section - it was very isolated, as not to start a riot I guess. Nik's mom told me that the other team's fans come in with buses, escorted by police. As soon as the game started the other team lit fireworks and it was on. Well not really. It kind of just ended with the fireworks. But it was still some excitement. There was more excitement when the game started - one of the best players on the team was seriously injured. From what I understand today, he fractured his skull and eye socket - ouch. The team we went to cheer for, Arminia Bielefeld, I'd say, was comparable to the Leafs - if you understand that, you'll understand how good the team was. They lost 3-0. It was a great first experience! Niklas' brother was also there - he was in the crazy fan part. If I am to go again, I'll want to go with him just to have that kind of experience. It looked pretty crazy (and FUN!).

This past week there was a holiday on Thursday which meant no school Thursday and Friday - long weekend! However, I lost a day at work but made up for it by substituting Wednesday night. I also picked up another class Friday afternoons teaching children! Slowly but surely I'm getting busier and busier. Wednesday night we went into Bielefeld to party to a club called 'Elephant'. It was definitely different from any of the clubs I've gone to before. It was much more 'upper class'. Girls wore heels there - not just sneakers (which apparently is totally acceptable here - girls all dressed up wearing chucks - I don't get it!!!!) Anywhooooo.... Germans will be Germans (and I just need to get used to it).

I'm really looking forward to the coming weeks - Oktoberfest, I want to make a traditional Thanksgiving for Nik's family (since they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here), and it's Niklas' birthday at the end of the month! Many fun times ahead! xo

Before the game next to the field with Nik's mom

One of the German food groups - Beer, fries with mayo and sausage (not on a bun, small dinner roll on the side) Nik's mom and dad

 



The fireworks from the other team - their very small section

The crazy fan section for Arminia (Bielefeld's soccer team)

 



 

Again, the other team

 

The soccer game - there were only 18000 people in attendance (the stadium holds something like 25000?) Jaaaa!

 



Ich heiße Mandy...

Hallo! Wie geht's? Ich heiße Mandy.... well my first week of German class is over. It's HARD. I mean HARD! There are soooo many random grammar things in German - like making a word plural. You can't just add an 's' ... no nooo. You need to either add an e, er, make a ü or Ä.... etc. This is going to take some getting used to. Also everything that's a noun is either masculine, feminine or neutral - so you need to remember what is what because it makes everything change - as in French but some of the things in French that are masculine, etc. aren't the same. Why it would  be masculine in one language and not another is beyond me. Obviously just to confuse me. I'm taking German Monday to Friday for 4 hours every morning. The teacher ONLY speaks German so you can imagine how awesome that was on the first day when she was trying to talk to me, ONLY in German, my response, I'm sorry I don't understand what you're saying. There are people from all over in my class - Mexico, Poland, Ukraine, Serbia, Russia - so even if the teacher spoke English, not everyone even understands English! Ohhhh mann.. I actually think it's ok though. A lot of times I just nod in agreement but I'm picking up A LOT which is fabulous! In no time I'll be fluent... *fingers crossed*

I'm also teaching English. I have one class and just picked up another so that's fabulous. All of my documents with my visa and working permit have been submitted so now it's a matter of waiting to see if they'll let me stay... haha... *fingers crossed* I'm so lucky Nik's mom has been a HUGE help - without her I'm not sure what I'd do. She's made so many calls to various offices, printed off so many things, translated so many things, taken me here and there and everywhere to get this all straightened out. I can't thank her enough.

What have I been doing lately? Well seeing as Niklas is almost always working I've spent a great deal of time with his parents. They've taken me to a few different markets in Bielefeld which were really nice to get fresh produce! There are a lot of similarities here as far as that goes but there are some differences too. Everything here is just foreign. I'm getting used to it. Hell I'm even driving all over now (thanks to the GPS button that says 'Home'). I can even go to the grocery store alone now - which took a lot of self convincing haha... I'm not sure if I'm just a super paranoid person but anytime I go out and can't speak the language (I experienced the same feelings in Korea) I panic a little if someone tries to talk to me. I always feel anxious - slowly I'm getting used to saying to people 'English' but luckily many people are able to respond - in English. If not sign language has come in handy - obviously not proper sign language haha... but when I want to order meat from the deli I can just point and use my hand to show how much I want.

At this point I've felt homesick a few times, naturally. I miss my mom (and dad). I miss my friends and everyone. The one night I was sitting outside of Nik's house, looking out into the field and I got super sad because I can't just get in the car and go visit anyone. I'm making friends here. I've actually met a few really awesome people! Like I said before, Nik's family and friends have all been so welcoming and amazing. I really like them! His little brother Lukas is now mein kleiner bruder. It's getting to the point when I'm out alone I'll see people I know, it's very 'small town' where I'm living.

Last week I went and got my dirndl for Oktoberfest! Niklas bought it for me! :) It's red and green... a bit 'Christmasy' but I fell in love with it when I put it on. It's so süß! I can't wait to wear it. We're going in a couple weeks to the small town next to Nik's to celebrate Oktoberfest. We're not going to any of the bigger cities but I guess there will be about 2000-2500 people where we're going, so not small! I can't wait!!

Everyday I feel like there's something I want to write about but it's  hard to just sit down and blog it. Now that school has started I'm doing homework and preparing for teaching. I had gotten into a good groove of walking/jogging in the woods near Nik's but it's getting colder out now and the motivation has dwindled... it's really nice here. I find it funny because so many times when people ask where I'm from and I say Canada they say "Oh it's sooo beautiful there" - I guess they're picturing B.C. or something because if I showed them a picture of Essex County they probably wouldn't be so excited!

I rode with Niklas in the tractor today :) It was nice to spend time with him while he was working. They're hardcore harvesting potatoes right now so he's working non-stop. Literally. A few weekends ago he worked 25hours - straight (is that even legal?). I'm hoping in a month or so it'll slow down so we can do more - we talked about going to Amsterdam, which is only like 3 hours away from where he lives! :D Seeing as I'm in Germany and everything is close I want to definitely hit up some different countries. In time. At this point I have no plan to go home - that will obviously change if my visa doesn't go through, but again *fingers crossed*. I'm so glad and fortunate to be here, learning a new language, meeting new people, seeing a new place, and best of all being with Niklas.

The pictures are a bit random. Below is Niklas and I at Blasheimer Markt

One of the markets that Niklas' parents took me to in Bielefeld. Lots of fresh produce, flowers, etc.

 



Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love dip - we got some pineapple curry, spicy/sweet something delicious and hummus.

Typical German street

 

 

Another market his parents took me to that had all these bottles with different liquors in them you could fill small containers for gifts

 

 

Hannelore (Nik's mom) and I at Blasheimer Markt in the beer tent

 

Hannelore and I at the Wine Markt in Bielefeld

 

Last night I went out with a new friend to a Mexican restaurant in Bunde - another town about 20 minutes from where I'm living. I've been there with Nik's parents as well. It's in an old train station. So cute. If you haven't tried Salitos with Tequila - you need to. After we went to another markt in the streets. It was great! Seeing as it was late the vendors were closed but there were different parties in the streets with music and beer. The little things like that here are so cool. It's so much easier going than in Canada. You can drink in the streets and it's just a ton of fun!







Weinmarkt, Crown building, disco parties and more...

What an eventful week I've had. It seems like a blur right now. Niklas' parents are home from holidays and have been amazing all week - taking me places, helping to sort out all of my documents to stay here, showing me new things, and more! I can't stress how wonderful they are!

On Thursday night we ventured to the biggest fair in the area http://blasheimermarkt.de/ There were tons of rides, tons of 'fair food', a massive beer tent with entertainment, carnival games, fire works - all that you'd expect but more. 'Fair food' in Germany consists of a variety of things - fries (obviously with mayo), sausages, delicious pork on buns, crepes, etc. They had a bunch of little booths set up for drinking beer. It was just a great experience there. I can't even really compare it to anything back home because it was just better (and no I'm not being biased because I'm loving my German experience, it just was better. Period.)

 

 Huge Ferris Wheel

 

 

Overlooking the fair from the Ferris Wheel

 

 

This week I was also invited - with Niklas - to go, what Niklas told me before we left to "build something" with some farmers. I had NO idea what to expect and it was actually super cool. Apparently here (not sure if it's all of Germany or just this area?) the young farmers are responsible for building a 'crown' of sorts to present at Thanksgiving to the church. There were probably a dozen of us there, up in the barn loft, listening to music, drinking beers and assembling this 'crown'. Below I've posted a picture of ours and a picture of what it looks like (since our picture is a little dark). It was so nice to see all these people working together to bring this whole thing together!

Our crown above and a different version below

 



 

Last night was the first time I have actually been to a 'disco'. It was packed and there were tons of rooms with all different kinds of music. It was a good time. Met some new people. Dranks lots of free beer (it was 6 euro all you can drink beer), drank some jager - obviously. It was a good night out!

Today I spent the day with Nik's parents - he was working. They took me into Bielefeld to the Weinmarkt. It was a wine festival that was in the 'old' city. It's so beautiful here. http://www.bielefeld.de/en/attractions/highlightsc/ We drank some nice white wine, ate some delicious treats and people watched. We also did some shopping at one of the malls in the 'new' city area. The picture below is from the Bielefeld website that just shows a little bit of what the wine festival looked like.

 

This week I also got my first piece of mail! Haha...I get excited for mail when I'm in Canada, can you imagine how pumped I was, after only being here two weeks to get 'post'! It was a letter from my school for when I'll be starting class. Only thing I need is 15 Euro for the book. It's free for me to take German classes here (possibly because I'm taking it through the school I'll be teaching at?) Monday to Friday, 830-1230 . Needless to say I was excited for mail, but am even more excited to start class! :) I went to the library here and got a library card - yay! Why you say? Well obviously to take out some children books! Nik's mom came with me and she found one that's perfect - tons of different categories all laid out with pictures and the word next to it. We started going through them but after two pages I was so extremely tongue tied we took a break. Ohhhh Germany! Ich liebe dich! xo