Saturday, May 27, 2006

Smoking.... ???


I miss the ability to go into a restaurant, mall or even walking down the street and being able to breath air that is not polluted with Zigarette (cigarette) smoke. Everywhere you go here many people are smoking. It isn't just outside it is inside. I can barely remember when you could smoke in the mall, but here it is excepted anywhere. There is even a smoking area in McDonald's. In the airports there are areas usually by the toilets that people just stand around smoking out in the open. There are vending machines everywhere on the street (you can pay with debit card!) and for sale at every checkout in the supermarkets.

I know how in the States everyone thinks it has gone a little over board but I think not. Yes, I know it has been outlawed in different bars and even outside areas but at least there is a choice for the most part. Here there is no choice. You have to just suck it up , literally. I mean Skylar had no idea what a Zigarette was until she saw someone here smoking. She said "Mommy, what is that lady doing?".

Have you ever seen a person smoking a Zigarette while riding a bicycle? I see it almost every day! I got to take a picture of that!

Friday, May 26, 2006

Starbucks



My first Starbucks abroad. It was great. I have not had one since I was home in February. I miss having one of these every so often. It was definitely something I miss and a little bit of comfort for me.

This was in Nurnberg May 21st. Then believe it or not I had another Starbucks treat just yesterday in Munich. I will be having many before I leave during this upcoming visit home.

Monday, May 22, 2006

Selena's New Do (Cut in Germany!)


This entry is not really something that I miss but rather something good to share with everyone.

So I finally got up the nerve to get my hair cut here. Luckily our Freundin (friend) Yanti was nice enough to take the time to go with me. Well she did more than that she made the appointment for me as well.

I took some photos borrowed from the internet to show the stylist. I asked for her opinion and she thought this one was the best. It is a good length for right now, a sort of transitional length. When we go back for our trip I will get it cut shorter. Of course by none other than Bridgett herself.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Food.... M'm! M'm! Good!


I miss a lot of different foods. My family and I are vegetarian for those that do not know us. So you can image in the land of meat we have not to many choices of places to eat.

I miss the convenience of back home as well. We are not really big on fast food but a little Taco Bell or Pizza Hut is nice. There are many restaurants here but usually very sit down and expensive. There is a Mc Donald's in the City. We actually never went to McDonald's back home but we go maybe four times a month as a treat and something familiar.

I enjoyed veggie burger and all the variety of vegetarian products available at the Super Market. That is not so here there are able five items in the cooler section that are vegetarian and we only like three. However there is what you call here Bio Stores. They are like Health Food Stores most of the items are organic.

We have found that there our comfort foods. For me and Skylar those are Grits, Mac and Cheese and Gummy Snacks. For Jason his are Peanut Butter and Popsicles. We have been fortunate in that we savor any of these items when we get them and I have a good friend here that her Cousin lives on the Military Base nearby. I will be stocking up on this trip home.

We have had to adjust and find new things for the family to enjoy. Is has not been as difficult as something are to get used to. We do have sit down dinners more often and that is nice. And Skylar eats more vegetables and more Chocolate.

So if you are visiting see what we need and if you are moving here bring some of your favorites until you can find new ones.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Family

I miss my family and friends. I have had a hard time adjusting to being away. I have been here off and on since the end of September 2005. I went to the States in December to have our son. I was so unhappy that my family could not be a part of this.
I believe if things in my life back home were not so good than it would be much easier being here. But my life was good and the people in it were great. I had routines and that was good for me. I miss not having my family and friends to call on.
Yes, I know it would be easier if I knew the language some but I do not yet. I have not had time. I want to learn more and I will try. I will survive and I can make from day to day now as it is.
I do hope that my daughter can learn the language and have the experience of a life time. I to know we will be able to visit places we may have never seen before. See I do have some positive views on my situation.
This is a very tough situation sometimes. Be very sure if you decide to do this.
You don’t know what you got till it is gone.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

T.V. - I sure do miss it.


I miss my favorite T. V programs. I loved to watch 24, Gilmore Girls and Nip Tuck. I actually miss the children shows that Skylar watched. Channels like Toon Disney and Nick Jr. were the only things I knew during the day. We do not get any of those here.

Everything on is in German which of course makes sense. However we do get Europe CNN and Europe MTV. Unfortunately we can not get a satellite or different cable channels in the building we live in. Of course, just my luck, we would have moved somewhere there is restrictions on that.

I sure do miss my DVR from Dish Network. I could record and watch programs and erase what I did not want anymore. Gosh what a life.

Thank goodness for DVD series. I am at least able to get programs Series on DVD and engross myself in that. It is kind of like a quick fix though. After I finish I want more and more. I would be happy watching any junk T. V most of the time.

So to everyone enjoy T.V and veg out couch potatoes of the world.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

People


I guess maybe it is true about Southern Charm. I sure do miss the politeness I have come accustom to from back home. People here do not say Entschuldigen Sie (excuse me) if they bump or run straight into you. I miss people saying excuse me and usually smiling.

I really miss when I am walking down the side walk with the kids in their stroller and people actually moving out of the way. I do not expect people to go out of their way or jump out of the way. The people here do not budge they just keep walking like I am in the wrong and I need to move.

And people will just stand in the middle of the walk path and look at you and not even move. And it is the parents who pass on the same behavior to their children because the kids are just as rude.

So another thing when we go to McDonald's we have to go up four stairs so Jason will carry the stroller up and down the stairs. There have been times when I am alone and no one helps, they just walk on by. They also do this to others as well. I helped a lady one day with her stroller and men just walking on by. I hold the door for people who are behind me or try to help people out when I can. People just do not have that helping mentality here.

I suppose not everywhere can be the same but people sure could be polite anywhere in the world. Courtesy should be universal.

Buggies, Prams and Strollers

So this is not something that falls under the category of things I miss. This is just something I do not understand.




The buggies here are so large !



The wheels are huge and inflatable like wheels for a small bike !

They travel in packs like animals.


I thought that my double stroller was huge but it is nothing compared to these single convertible strollers.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Ice?


Well we made it to the Zoo it was fun. A really nice Zoo.

Well my new topic today is ice. For those of you in the States this is no topic of discussion but for me here it is. Here is why. So ice as in most European Countries is sparse. I enjoy cold, icy drinks. We enjoy going to the McDonald's in the City Zentrum so we can have ice and as much of it as we want. There are free drink refills as well, how exciting for us. We go there sometimes just to have a soda with ice. We drink and refill about three times and take a full drink togo.

We got a freezer now in our Keller(basement) so we can have ice at home but it is quiet a deal to get it. We have to take a container down and fill it up than bring it upstairs. Oh yeah did I fail to mention that our Kühlschrank (refrigerator) is as small as Dorm size in the States and has of course no freezer.

I was talking with a friend of ours (Yanti) and she had a wonderful quote that her Dad said when he was visiting her here, "This country is under refrigerated!". My gosh there has never been a truer statement. You ask for ice in your drink and get two maybe three ice cubes. So enough of that.

When I go home to visit watch out I will be eating and drinking some cold drinks. Enjoy

Monday, May 01, 2006

Morning Breakfast

So this morning we are all missing America. Jason started singing “American the Beautiful” than I finished it for him. Skylar started making up her own songs about America. We spoke of foods we miss, places we like to eat and America in general. Today is a “Bank Holiday” so Jason is home but everything is closed. We will try to go to the Zoo. Enjoy and we miss you all.