Half and Half

With March beginning, we are just about at the midpoint of our stay in Germany. Many things are changing at this time. First, we have completed our graduate school applications and are eagerly awaiting responses to see where we will be for the next two years or so, and where we will be moving our scattered belongings, currently located from the Northwest to Southwest corners and out to the middle of the country, with no less than 400 miles between the closest storage point and school option.

We have also wrapped up our first of two three-month job contracts. Having spent November through February in residences, we are beginning our new experiences at structured workshops. This has several differences, many of which are benefits. During the winter we had exactly 2 shifts that we shared. We occasionally worked on the same day, but opposite shifts. Often, we worked on days that the other had off, which included Bryce working on weekends. This made plans with new friends difficult, and also placed us on separate circadian feelings (as in one being wide awake and energetic when the other was tired and calm). It did, however, allow time to complete a total of 12 graduate school applications, complete our taxes, read, practice harmonica, begin learning/polishing our German language, etc. Having half-time jobs in a small town during the cold and dark days of “the worst winter we have had here in 30 years,” provided ample time.

As the season begins to change, our shifting job means that we will have a shift with only day hours (8:30-3:30), we will have consistent work days (Mon, Wed, Thur) and, most importantly, we will have matching schedules. This will allow us to walk or bike to work together as well as share three-day weekends. These weekends will allow for short travels, as well as plans for longer ones when we take time off.

We are looking forward to using this accrued time, (15 days for half time/half year positions! America could learn a thing or two.) This will include three different periods of visitors. Any others interested? We are planning our jaunt around Europe for June.

In summary, the first three months included getting settled, grad school planning, starting/remastering German, meeting people and enjoying “getting/living away.” I would proclaim our trip a complete success if the next three include getting a hold of the language/polishing it to satisfaction, solidifying our new friendships, and traveling.

Separating these two phases, we began our travel by taking a week off between our two work contracts. We trained to three cities in Germany, Einbeck, Kassel and Duesseldorf. Because a blog about an entire week runs the risk of getting quite wordy, Bryce decided to recap our adventures with a list of some of the happenings. I do want to say, however, that being in Duesseldorf reminded me of the joys of living in a city where there are many places to go – and walkably so – and all in the midst of large crowds, and many languages and cultures. We saw large buildings, shady areas, and beautiful architecture and parks. I also observed friends who have been around each other for two years or so. They are comfortable and enjoy hanging out without a plan. They expect to do something for the weekend and be with each other. Basically it made me miss all of you…except Bjorn - not there yet.

And now for Bryce’s recap of our previous week:

Einbeck:
Toured the Einbecker Brauerei.
Drank good beer - Bock beer originates from here!
Admired the many timber-framed houses and imagined my life there as a flower shop owner on a cobbled street.
Appreciated the bike tube dispenser on the side of a building (like the cigarette dispensers often found here).
Went to a sweet town museum, which included a big permanent bike exhibit.
Walked along the old town fortifications.
Concluded that Einbeck is a perfect small German town well worth the visit.

Kassel:
Yanked on the doors of the Brothers Grimm museum, hoping the renovation signs were a lie.
Made fun of ourselves for choosing a city based on one museum and not checking to see if it would be open when we were in town.
Visited the exhibit from the Brothers Grimm museum at the train station, but it didn’t include any of their linguistic work.
Ate hummus (not available in German grocery stores) both nights at a super cheap and delicious Lebanese falafel restaurant.
Took a really really long walk to Wilhelmshoehe, the royal gardens of Elector Wilhelm. It was worth it.
Walked around a castle in the gardens.
Imagined how pretty the gardens are in the summer, as we looked at massive stretches of ice and frozen waterfalls.
Concluded that aside from Wilhelmshoehe, it’s pretty ugly for a European city. There are many cities with awesome parks plus more to offer.

Duesseldorf:
Stayed with Kathryn, a childhood friend who lives there. Awesome to see her.
Caught up with her after 7 years apart/met her.
Met her French boyfriend, and two of their good friends from Spain.
Talked about how very international our group was, all of us foreigners hanging out in Germany.
Ate Raclette.
Drank ginger hot chocolate and chili hot chocolate.
Walked a lot and saw the first shoots of spring popping from the ground as we passed through Volksgarten and Hofgarten.
Drank Altbier in the Altstadt.
Went to the top of the radio tour to get a good view.
Walked in various areas, like the Koenigsallee, which is famous for its fashion.
Saw a woman in a fur coat complete with paws dangling down her back and heads on her shoulders.
Stared at woman in fur coat.
Watched others stare at woman in fur coat.
Saw the Rhine River rise ridiculously high and wondered why it was rushing so violently.
Took the train home, and did arrive home after being rerouted and standing still for long chunks of time on the tracks.
Got home and turned on the TV to see that we were experiencing the eye of the hurricane.
Understood the Rhine.
Concluded that good times with good people make a great city all the greater.