This morning was the first morning I woke the girls up and got them on the bus. The church bells woke me up before my alarm went off. They ring for such a long time that I finally just got up and went upstairs. It is really cold up there so I woke the girls up as quickly as possible. Gloria’s hair in the morning cracks me up. It looks like Albert Einstein's hair. Both girls wake up pretty easily, but Gloria always looks at me and smiles. She makes me smile all the time!
I wasn’t sure what to make them for their lunches, so I waited for them to come down to the kitchen. They really like Nutella and this kind of meat that you eat raw. I don't care for it. I drink hot water with them in the mornings and then tea when Mark and Nancy wake up. They only use tea bags once, so I think I'll run out of the tea I like before the end of January. Mark had to write Gloria a note for school for something, but she almost forgot it! I got the girls out the door and went back to the kitchen to clean up a little bit and found the note. I quick ran outside and called to Helena so she came back and get it. Thank goodness their bus stop is right next to the house.
Nancy didn’t have to work today, so we “read” advertisements and I looked through the newspaper and found the article about the 17 year old in France who took 20 kids and teachers hostage. All he wanted was a gun so he could kill himself. None of the kids were harmed.
While Nancy was on the phone, I went to my room and started looking for tools to help me learn German online. I spent quite a bit of time taking notes, but didn’t have time to really study it before Nancy called me for lunch. We ate our pepper creations from yesterday. I was surprised to find they didn’t have as much flavor as I thought they would. We then went to pick the girls up from school and headed to Berlin for their dentist appointments. They go to the dentist every 3 months, but don’t always get a cleaning. Sometimes it is just a check up. Gloria had to get a filling and for the rest of the day she was clamping her teeth trying to get used to it. I don’t think they made it very even, but she’ll bite it down to a comfortable level. The dentist office itself is very modern, clean, and nice.
We went to the bank and to an outdoor department store to pick up a coat Nancy had ordered for Mark. They had reserved it for her, but when we got there it was the wrong size. There was one other coat ordered that was the right size and Nancy wanted to take that one, but the saleslady said she couldn’t give it to her because it was reserved and the man had come in and tried it on and everything. Nancy wasn’t too happy about that, but if the man didn’t pick it up tonight, then Nancy could have it. We then stopped at McDonalds for dinner and ate in the car. Gloria was saying that they couldn’t leave her with me at home because she couldn’t understand me. J We can both act out what we want; we’re getting good at that, so I think we’ll be fine. She is already getting better at understanding. It is so fun to hear them pronounce words in English. Nancy has said multiple times that she doesn’t like lazy people and people who can’t speak German well, so I’m trying my best to pronounce words correctly. She’s not aiming those comments at me, but I always pick up on them and try to do my best. I don’t think they realize how observant I am or how much German I actually understand. I think that is to my benefit right now. J
After eating, I thought we were heading home, but once again, we made another stop, this one to Mark’s dad’s house. Mark’s parents divorced and have both remarried although both couples are friends. His stepmom is definitely a smoker, but so it just about everyone else in Germany. His dad can’t stand American fast food restaurants, so we sprayed perfume and I chewed gum to help cover the McDonald’s scent. J Their house is full of abstract art that neither I nor Nancy understand. They live on the first floor while Mark’s brother and his two sons live on the second floor. Axel’s wife plays and teaches golf and is gone all the time. Also, her first son has ADD and her second son struggles in school, so Nancy thinks she is ashamed to be seen with them in public. It is so sad. Nancy was joking with one of her nephews that she adopted me. I’m taking that as a good sign that they like me and I am fitting in as much as I can (because I don’t drink, smoke, etc.)
Let me just say that Nancy is not a very good driver. She drives fine, but she gets road rage very easily and can snip at the girls quicker than when she is not driving. You can definitely tell she is used to having things her way because when she doesn't, she complains about it. Something as small as a parking spot not being available will get her tongue moving. She never snips at me though, so that’s nice. I rarely feel like an unwanted guest or in the way.
I started getting a headache so I rested on the way back to the house, took a shower, did devotions and went to bed by 9:30.
Other random information: Mark and Nancy own about half the town. The people joke that it shouldn’t be called Christinendorf, but Weinholz town. Nancy said it is kind of awkward to see tenants in the grocery store, etc. She said if she says more than a hello, they start complaining of little things wrong with the house. They have a lady who works as the middle person for them for all their properties, so if there is something wrong, the tenants call this lady.
It started snowing a little bit tonight. For some reason, I was expecting Germany to get the same amount of snow that Wisconsin usually sees in a winter, but it is much less! I’m kind of glad I’m here with a smaller amount, but at the same time, if it has to be sooo cold, I would want more snow. We can’t even build a snowman! The snow doesn’t stick together.
To date I have learned how to open and close the gate leading to the “garage”, how to boil water and make the girls lunches. I know all the dogs names and how to unlock the doors and I know where most everything is in the kitchen. I know how to say small things in German and how to greet strangers and say goodbye to friends. I am slowly learning the customs.
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