Hallo from Germany! This past week has been such a blur, and I'm just now getting a chance to sit down and tell you about it. As I type, I'm sitting on my newly put together bed, drinking some orangen saft (orange juice), listening to the washing machine make scary noises, and hoping that I pushed the correct button sequence.
Since arriving in Kandern, I have done so many things! God has given me such a sense of peace that this is exactly where I am supposed to be, and I have truly loved every minute of my time here so far. Every day I have to tell myself, "I actually LIVE here!"
I think the biggest thing I've been doing is re-learning normal things that I took for granted back home in the States. When you're living in a different place, there are always challenges that come along with that. What I underestimated, however, is the fact that virtually everything is different here! Pillows are square, when you buy sheets you only get a fitted one, windows don't have screens, you have to bring your own bag to the grocery store unless you want to purchase one, everything is measured in meters, the laundry machines are in our bathroom, etc.
Here's a list of some of my favorite things so far:
- The church bells in our town ring all the time, and on Sunday mornings they ring on and off in the morning for a good ten-fifteen minutes at a time.
- The chocolate is fantastic. Everyone says that European chocolate is better, and it's true! It's also everywhere. There's an entire aisle devoted to it in the grocery store, while the cereal aisle (very large in the US) is about an eighth of the size.
- The small towns: Of course Kandern is small, but it's one of the larger towns in our general area. Many of my friends live in smaller towns around here, and I love driving through them to get places.
- The fact that you can easily drive through 3 countries in one day.
- Walking around Basel, Switzerland in the pouring rain, drinking very expensive Starbucks and taking pictures in front of the Rhine.
- My adorable school campus and classroom with large windows and beautiful views of Wollbach and the hills. I may just look outside all day instead of teach.
- Euros: they're beautiful and way more fun to pay with.
- The TREES! I absolutely love the fact that I live in a forest-it's way better than the beach.
- Spending time with wonderful friends and new acquaintances.
- Learning the words for things in German and actually remembering them and using them in conversation!
I have some pictures to show you! I haven't taken too many of my town, school, and home yet because I've been visually taking things in. I'll get better, I promise. :)
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| My Classroom! I will show you new pictures once it's ready for my students. |
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| The view of my town and surrounding towns from the highest peak in the area (Hochblauen). You can see both France and Switzerland, and it's simply indescribable. |
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| The view of part of Kandern, looking down the hill from near my apartment. |
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| The view from my bedroom window! If the large tree on the left wasn't there, you'd be able to see the sheep. :) |
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| The closest Starbucks is in Basel. It was pouring rain and we were so thankful for the warm cup to hold, even if it did cost about $8. |
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| These are the instructions on my washing machine...wish me luck! |
Thank you so much for your prayers. God is so good, and I am so blessed to be here! Until next time, tschuss! This is what you say instead of Auf Wiedersehen, which is very formal. It sounds like choo-ss and I love saying it. It's such a happy, friendly word. :)
