Happy 1 year as an Expat!

June 30th marks our official 1 year anniversary of becoming an Expat in Germany!!!!!

I can't even believe that we have been here for one year. It seems like just yesterday, I wondered why one had to pay for shopping carts here (answer: you don't have to pay) & the first item on the list of what to bring for preschool was Hausschuhe. Yet here we are, alive and well!

Baby Bird arriving at the Berlin airport

Signs I have integrated:

• I actually find myself choosing mineral water over still water sometimes (Yikes! Never thought I would say that!)
  
• I ride my bike with a skirt on. (I know but I have stopped worrying about it)
• I don't switch my knife into the other hand when I eat anymore. In fact, this is a much more efficient way to eat and I am not sure I can ever switch again!
• I try to go to the grocery store every Monday morning before all of the sale stuff is gone!
  
• I don't translate the German into English in my head anymore.
  

Signs I have not Integrated

• I still miss Gatorade (sigh)
  
• The "dress code" at my son's preschool is still completely a mystery to me. Do the German parents get together and put a schedule together of how to dress their kid in the same type of clothing? i.e. Sandals, Snow pants, etc...This isn't just about the weather you skeptical folks out there...
  
• I get goosebumps when I see an familiar product in a store i.e. Cheddar Cheese, Oreos (I didn't even really like Oreos before!) etc...(not Obama Fingers though!)
  

Some of my favorite posts from the past year:

• Britzer Garden sign (that I have still not figured out)
• Yellow...with envy?
• 1,000 Kids + Fire and a Reindeer
• The Berlin Fasching Parade (guest post)
  

I also wanted to thank those in the expat community around me for being so supportive & helpful. We have truly been moochers of hospitality this past year and without all of you, I would still be saying "Das ist alles" after giving tips to the servers and wondering where the cocoa powder is (next to the coffee). Your blogs and your comments are all much appreciated!

A few shout-outs:

Snooker in Berlin- What can I say about every golden orb of wisdom that you have given me?

Cliff & Sarah - for teaching me what Schatten means. I can't believe how often it has come up in conversation! :)

Mausi - Your tips have helped me keep my sanity!

Christina at Amiexpat - Your ideas keep me going! Thank you so much for everything and the Scientist wants me to thank you for the yummy recipe translations!

CN Heidelberg- I scoured your website (and still do) for tips, interesting experiences and your witty humor.

Adam - What would we have done without your iphone...in my own city?!?!?!

Ian - we share more than just stolen bicycles and the few moments I talked to you at WeBUM last year stuck out in my mind.

Capn K, Mom, and family - We wouldn't be able to do this without your help and support.

To all of my readers, non-bloggy friends and all others that I am probably forgetting... Danke Schön!

June 2009 - in front of the Reichstag or German Parliament Building

What is better than a Pirate Playground?

I have blogged before about what lovely different playgrounds Berlin has but this one has got to take the cake.



This playground is near the Spree River in Charlottenburg. It has everything a little pirate needs.

Cannons,

Being a pirate can't be all about looting and booty can it? On this ship, you can also relax with a Tischtennis or Ping Pong table.

A look out area so even the littlest pirates can watch out for invaders. (Although my little pirate wouldn't go any higher than what you see in the picture)

A very shaky plank to walk on...(Can you see the basketball court in the background?)

And even swings!

We found Baby Bird's little kita pirate friend here too! She happily pushed Baby Bird and then made him walk the plank...


Watch out for the skeletons? Baby Bird refused to take his sunglasses off.

And when you are done, you can eat at this Piraten restaurant across the street (who had a pirate standing out front until I went to take a picture). They even offer a Sunday buffet breakfast as well as kids parties! (Although I was told the coffee there is Blech! and that was from a German who, generally, should not be trusted about coffee recommendations)

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrr me mateys!

My penance...

I have been neglecting my blog lately. I have about a dozen posts I have started but haven't finished.

I know I told you about my new job last week but I really have been working on getting a actual new job that pays a little better (at least in hard currency). My current job is ending because the project is over.

In the meanwhile, I have been interviewing like crazy and have been privy to a whole new world of German culture previously undiscovered. I will blog about some of these experiences later.

However, in penance for my absence, I have decided to try Hackepeter (or Mett) for you, my loyal readers who are still here.



What is Hackepeter?


Hackepeter is raw meat, usually pork, with spices and onions. Germans eat this for breakfast and/or for lunch. It is also called Mett although I don't know why. Maybe some of you out there know why or where it is called Mett? English link for Hackepeter here.

Note to self: next time, check to make sure picture turned out!

I bought mine at Rogacki figuring, if I had to eat raw meat, I better buy it from the best butcher around!

How did it taste? It tasted kind of stringy and oniony. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be but it still tasted like raw meat.

I have to fess up though. This is not the first time I have tried this. I was at a choir practice all day a month ago and the German choir we were performing with had told us they would feed us at the end of the day. After singing all day with just a short 15 min break, I was ravished. The buffet at the end of the day was centered around a GIANT bowl of Hackepeter.

As a good carnivore, with a little peer pressure prodding from the Germans, I tried it.

I am not sure I would have been brave enough otherwise!

Per CN Heidelberg- I will let everyone know if I end up on this site!

Funny Foto Freitag -Special US guest edition

Funny Foto Freitag is brought to you today by my FIL, Capt K.

Capt. K is no stranger to my blog & has appeared before with his bacon vodka for those of you who remember that post.

Capt K was wondering through his local grocery store in the US somewhere in Midwest when he came upon the ethnic food aisle. Low and behold....

Spotted Dick, although unfortunately named, is evidently some kind of soft cake with dried fruits.

I have to wonder though, when did British food make it into the Ethnic Food section?

As usual, if you have a funny photo, please leave your blog in the comments and I will put your link up!

Other Contributers

1. You are first!
   

My New Job

Train Track Engineer Extraordinaire

Stated responsibilities:

• ensure all train tracks are connected in an efficient manner
  
• must be familiar with collapsible bridges
  
• tunnels must withstand pressure of trains underneath AND above
  
• Up/Downs must be included and used as often as possible. They also must be referred to as Up/Downs.
  
• trains must ALWAYS stay with their assigned tender!
  
• all trains must have easy access to Engine Sheds
  

This takes mad skillz! Here is my junior engineer. (Ok, Ok I admit-he is the BOSS!)

Now you know why I don't have much time for blogging lately!

The dreaded Schimmel...

When my landlords came over to fix our washing machine, they said something every tenant (and especially in Germany here & here) dreads, "Es gibt Schimmel here!" Schimmel is mildew and we have have it in our bathroom.

This picture is next to the shower where there is NO SHOWER CURTAIN. Even though we keep the windows open (Brrrr) & put a towel down, it doesn't seem to stop the mildew from growing.

This is actually in the shower.

I went to DM, Rossman and Schlecker (all stores like Walgreens minus drugs) but I didn't find anything specifically for Schimmel. The Scientist suggested looking at Bauhaus (a German Home Depot) where we found this - worth its weight in gold.


I simply sprayed it on, left it there for an hour

and then wiped it off!

Problem solved!

Now if only someone could tell me what product gets out the white hard water stains...

Funny Foto Freitag

This picture is from a children's book called "Ich will Lokführer werden" or I want to be a Train Driver. This book has all of the normal things you would expect; how trains and tickets work, what the different parts of a train are called, how fun trains are... (Is this a Deutsche Bahn marketing book?)

Until we hit this page....

Yes Baby Bird...the train driver is peeing out of the window. And no, you can't pee out of a train window.

No.

Since Mr. Linky has gone to HTML heaven, please submit your photos in the comments and I will link them above.

Other Contributers:

1. Tessa
2.