Es Schneit In Deutschland

Es Schneit In Deutschland
How about that for German......it actually means - It's snowing in Deutschland....and if you put the emphasis on the right sy-lla-ble and get that good gruff gurgle in the back of your throat you'll sound like a local.   But I have to say the Germans are taking the snow quite well....and quite frankly enjoying it.

 

  

This is the most snow they've seen in 15 years. Locals are convinced the Schmidts brought it with them. The snow is the whitest snow I've ever seen...and being a midwest gal I've seen a lot over the years!  The clouds move in over the Taunus hills and it's like they just open right up and the snow comes out. The temperatures are fairly mild so the snow tends to melt, and we don't get a lot of that 'dirty, gray' leftover .  I love that part.....

 

The Taunus hills in the background

Check out this crazy tree.......

The Germans don't seem to be too hyperchondriacal when it comes to their weather.  They don't seem to care much about doplar. They get the 'surprise' 15 cm accumulation (aka 6 inches)....I'm sure the snow was predicted, but it seems as people just roll with it. It doesn't paralyze them.  The cobblestone strasses and wegs (streets and alleys - I'm almost fluent - just kiddin) get plowed. Folks (no matter what the age) are out with their shovels....and brooms.  Walking into town I captured the day with some pictures. I still think LL Bean would have a blast here.  Rain slickers one day and down-filled jackets the next!

 

 Kronberg on a Saturday snow day......

 

This is a two way thru-way.....that's why my 'junior' with snow tires suits me just fine.  I've really developed a love affair with 'junior' - I may just have to bring it back to the states.  It's about the size of the Volkswagon in the picture.  Every time I get behind the wheel it's like a game of frogger.....dodging pedestrians. 

 
 

  

 The honeymoon is over as we have officially been here 5 weeks.......this week it all set in...the snow, days of gray, the language barrier......"Guten Tag, ja, ja, ja, and wo die Toilette ist" just isn't cutting it anymore. Not to mention, with a name like Schmidt I get a raised eyebrow every now and again when I open my mouth.  I'm just thankful my first name isn't Helga.  Maybe I should switch to my maiden name....but what do ya know, that's German too! Even though it wasn't my best week....I did find a cure for my blues.....just hop on a 'luge' and let your hair blow in the wind!  It does wonders for the disposition (a nice Riesling helps, too) 

  

 

 

 

A day in the 'Hood'

The new 'hood'!

Quaint little villages just as you picture it outside of Frankfurt.  I never realized it, but Frankfurt which is only 15 kilometers away is an amazing International gem of a city. A melting pot of customs and cultures.  Our 'hood' and quite frankly my 'weg' (alley) is quite international.  Mainly Germans, but quite a few from other countries.  We are luckly to have lovely German neighbors that have been showing us the way.  I've quickly learned that there's a 'way' and there's a 'German way'.  If it snows even a dusting....you shovel your walk and driveway...you shovel the sidewalk in front of the house, then you sweep - hard to believe....but you sweep (with a regular old broom) the snow....then you salt!  Germans are so dilligent that they have this done before the sun even rises.  Our driveway is narrow, steep and cobblestone.....let's just say it's been interesting and slippery.  The language barrier is not too bad - and I'm taking my german lessons......it is a hard language...and the kids are leaving me in the dust.  I find Germans to be very gracious people....as long as you try a little German, they do their best to flip to English.  I've met a few people in town that will help me with German...if I return the favor with English......that's the way to do it.  Most Germans won't extend an invitation to their home......and my relocation specialist's head spun around when I asked if there were any holiday house tours, or garden tours in the spring.  That would be a very simple...NO!  I am bound and determined before I leave the country, to see the inside of one of these beautiful German homes in town. We'll see if it happens.

One of our lovely streets

 

 Would love to see one of these......

Can a family of '5' really be quiet?

We have yet to determine the answer to this question.  German schools let out at 12:30....can you believe it? Luckily the International Schools have hours similar to those in the states.  Home at lunch everyday.....and with things always closed on Sundays - there have got to be some 'German Super Moms' out there and there's a whole lotta stroganoff and wurst going on! Everyday from 1-3 is quiet time.....peaceful and quiet.  Kids have a warm meal and do their homework.  All day Sunday is quiet time....no lawn mowing....yelling....no kids coming down the 'weg' on their scooters saying 'yee haw' - (can't imagine who that might be).  We're adjusting nicely and haven't had the Polizei at the door and we're a month in..........

Berlingers or bust!

 

 

 What's wrong with this picture.....there were 6

 Berlingers are great way to make a good impression in the hood.....a cross between a good old crispy creme and a dunkin jelly donut.  Most Germans have Kaffee und Kuchen in the afternoon.  Berlinger and coffee - not bad! There are so many lovely bakeries in town...and in the afternoon you sit and have your treat....you just have to speed walk home.....if you know what I mean! (major calories) I'm adjusting to this custom quite well!

 Junior - Junior

 

It ain't no blinger.....but I've fallen in love with Jr.  No SUV's to be found in this country.  I'm a long ways from getting my German license.. a written test is to come in the months to follow, but quite frankly, I think I should have earned my license just by navigating down the street and into my garage each day.  Just have to lay off the berlingers so I can actually get out of my car once I'm in the garage.

 

 

True confession -  there have been times I've just simply closed my eyes and hoped for the best as I pull into the garage.  Requirements for Junior - Junior were simple: automatic and great nav!  Mission accomplished!  I do have a bit of a complex though...as everyone time you pull in or out there's bound to be someone watching in the hood.

 

  

 

Everywhere you look it's the land of 'Schmidt'

 

Can you believe it?  We have our own bus.....well not exactly but everywhere you look - SCHMIDTLAND.  Not as fun as Disneyland, but darn close.  Now that we've been here officially one month Frau Schmidt has made her mark in Deutschland.  As we took a road trip last weekend, we were amazed and just had to stop at a Schmidt market.  When I introduce myself to people they immediately think I'm fluent in German....well think again...I've got a long ways to go with my German. We're well beyond the 'vacation' mindset and we are settling in.   Over the last week I realized that I'm not in the good old US of A and I thought I'd share a few incidents worth a chuckle.

When you think of ATM's you think simple......push in your pin and grab your cash.  It's not quite that easy in Germany.  It should be - but it wasn't for Frau Schmidt.

BANKING IN DEUTSCHLAND!

In Germany you pay for everything with geld (money).  I had a handyman coming to do a couple of things around the house so my first solo trip to the ATM was my imminent.  Tim had taken me once before but I have to be honest....I think I was still in that 'overwhelmed' stage and everything he told me in the ATM tutor session went in one ear and out the other.  Sorry, honey!  I walked into the village and headed straight for Deutsche Bank.  As I walk into the lobby there stood 4 very large, intimidating looking machines in front of me.  I glance around and see that only one isn't being used.  I walk confidently to the machine and much to my surprise....it's in German.  I once again look around and see these efficient Germans walking in....getting their cash and merrily going on their way.  I dig into my purse to find my IPHONE and click on my translate app.  If I ever meet the person that developed that app...I'll hug him for sure!  Several minutes have passed....my handyman is probably at the door....and I'm still stuggling to figure out where to insert my card.  So much for the translate app....I'd have to dig for my glasses......I'd have to type in every word......I'm just going to go for it..what's the worst that can happen????  Well, my heart begins to flutter as I slide the card in and it disappears.....now what?  Wilkomen to Deutsche Bank....I could read that part.....but nothing else looked familiar and I knew I was in for it.......until this very nice German man on the ATM next to me asked if I needed a little help. Me......help......what was he thinking....was it a dead giveaway that I had been at the machine for 10 minutes.....I had perspiration on my brow.....and was now a shade of gray?  Long story short....he showed me how to change it to English.......I grabbed my euro and was on my way!  Not so easy.....and that's what I'm learning in my first month in Germany....nothing is quite as easy.....and everything takes time.....lots and lots of time!  I headed back to the house and met Hans and Helga.  What lovely German people.  Guten Tag Frau Schmidt they say with a smile on their face.  Helga is a wonderful seamstress and made some curtains for my windows....most handymen arrive in trucks with ladders strapped to the top.....not this handyman.  Hans pulls up in his Volkswagon and they proceed to unload from the trunk a ladder and a toolbox.  It was like having Inspector Gadget here.....the ladder folded up to the something you could almost put into your pocket....and the toolbox had so many levels to it......it held more than Tim's good old 40 lb. Sears special......even their measuring tapes look like origami......I love German engineering.  The curtians were hung, I paid proudly with my Euro....and off they went! Here are some pictures of our German home....and the curtains.

 

 

 GERMAN LAUNDRY!

Well...I think now that I've been here awhile I've mastered my laundry machine.  When we moved in there they were....my brand spankin new washer and dryer in the basement.  They certainly will get a lot of use with a family of 5!  With all the paperwork (that was in German) there was a sheet that my relocation specialist had prepared for me.  'The Art Of German Washing' - I've always dreamed of being an artist.....so why not a laundry artist.....so as I begin reading I see that the machines are quite a bit smaller than those front loading high efficiency washers I was used to.....but how bad can it be?  Well the art of laundry is really the art of planning your day around the laundry.  It takes 2 1/2 hours to complete one cycle.....wow!  Plus there are so many buttons in German I basically just close my eyes and hit one....and so far Tim hasn't had to go to work with pink underwear from colors bleeding together....the dryer is also quite a machine....You have to empty the lint drawer as normal...but you also have to pull out a tray that has collected water during the drying cycle.....and you can't forget to empty it!  I do have to say....my clothes are pretty darn clean and smell wonderful....and I have a wonderful drying rack that is filled to the brim because nothing ever gets dry in the dryer......off to change my load as we speak!

 

Now I know why the Germans rule the luge....

Ok...it's snowing and it sounds like they haven't gotten this much snow in the Frankfurt area for awhile - it's really not much...especially from a midwest snow-lovin gal like me, but cobblestones and snow now that's a mix for disaster. 
We are very fortunate to live a block from a beautiful park....it has lovely walking trails, ponds, you name it....it also has a great hill for 'sleighing' - that's what they call it here.  Now we brought along our Costco specials - the sleds that resemble boogie boards.....and quite honestly they rock...but the Germans have once-again blown me away with their engineering.  I've attached a picture for all to see!  So we head to the park......plastic sleds in tow.....and since we've seen all these crazy looking 'old time' wooden sleds we thought we'd try one out and picked one up for 40 euro.  We certainly got a little attention with the plastic sleds....a lot of, "was das ist".  We did a couple of warm up runs with the oldie but goodies...and then thought it was time to break out the wooden gem!
I'm fairly certain Noah will officially make the 'rodel' - luge team in the winter olympics - when I say this thing picks up speed...that is a major understatement.....this thing flies!  Notice (from the picture above)....no breaks.....no steering mechanism.......no way to stop but put your feet down to slow down!  We learned that a little late....but no trips to the krankenhaus.  So we officially broke in the wooden sled....3 rosy-cheeked kinder, fully dressed for the elements flying down the hill.....

A couple of our family favorites.....

Some favorites.....pretzels and pastries! 

Me, Myself and I

Today as I write this....I am alone - the house is quiet!  I haven't been alone since I arrived in Germany.  It is a bit odd.....although I am enjoying it.  The kids started at their International School yesterday.  Caleb is in Primary - which is equivalent to U.S. kindergarten.  Noah started at the elementary campus and Hannah is at the Upper School.  I sat back yesterday and just thought to myself what a kid from WI would have done with such an opportunity when I was growing up.  I don't know if I would have handled as well as my kids did.  School is a melting pot - if Hannah doesn't fall madly in love with a European boy - just kidding!  All the kids seemed pleasant, approachable and very much 'normal'. International schools are very transient as students come and go often.  They are used to new kids, as they all have been 'new' at one time or another.  The question I got the most yesterday was, "is this your first international school?" It is mesmerizing to think that some of these students have attended other schools around the world.  WOW!  The school is made up of 20% Americans - and being that it is English-speaking is wonderful.  The kids will all take German - they will also choose another language as well.  I guarantee they will be speaking it much quicker than me.  It was funny as we spoke to all the counselors for the different ages.  They all said the same thing......"the kids will be fine, the husband will be fine, what about mum?"  Mum will be o.k.  As many expats have told me there are so many people in the same boat - that you have instant acquaintances as we are all in it together.  I think yesterday what struck me the most was the number of people that have been here for 18 months and only have a certain amount of time left.  They have travelled and explored....and were quite informative as to where to go, what to do, how to get there......I am going to make myself a cup of tea, and pinch myself as I look at the window at the cobblestone weg, (alley) I call home. 

A glimpse into a couple of weeks in Germany!

Over the last week I've come up with a bit of a survival guide.....here is just a little glimpse of what an American Expat thinks about as they begin their life in a little village in Germany.
What does it take to live in Germany?
 
Great outerwear! 
L.L. Bean would love it here.  This picture is taken outside of our house and as you can see the sky is a bit gray and we have a little snow.  Germans never check the weather....and it doesn't matter if it's raining, sleeting or snowing - Germans are out and about.  Parkas, mittens, hats, boots......it doesn't have to be fashionable - just sensible.  Kids are walking everywhere - umbrella in hand if needed - but most of the time just trudging down the cobblestone streets with rosy cheeks.  We have seen a glimmer of sun in the time we've been here - but it gets dark early and it's dark in the mornings....something I'm getting used to.

Going on HOLIDAY!
We have had many a day to walk these cobblestone streets into town - and we've learned when Germans go on holiday....they really GO ON HOLIDAY!  Things were closed for days!  When the stores did open on the Monday following Christmas - IKEA was like the day after Christmas in the states! The picture below is a little  glimpse into one of our shopping trips to IKEA...yikes! They don't except credit cards - so bring your euro!  And remember assembly is required! 

If you don't have enough of milk - and they don't have gallons in this country - it's more like a liter.....you're doomed!  On Sundays most everything is closed all the time.  The only thing open are some restaurants and florists.  Why florists?  If you are invited to someone's home for kuchen and cafe in the afternoon you can stop and pick up some flowers along the way.  I love it!

Always have a euro in your pocket!
To get a cart at the local market you need a euro.  That way you return the cart to the same spot inside the store and get your euro back.  No random carts in the parking lots.  To go the toiletten (bathroom) in most places you need a euro.  That has not been easy for me....I'm the girl that hit the ATM regularly to withdraw $10.00.  Germans also buy what they need and use cash!  Credit cards are rarely accepted...so much for American Express!

Honesty and dilligence...and never be tardy!
There is nothing wrong with this....and I admire rule followers....here are a couple of examples.  If you're standing at a crosswalk (and believe me they are narrow roads to cross), and you don't see a car coming for miles.......JUST WAIT FOR IT!  The green walk sign that is!  You must never, ever cross when the little man is still red.  I've been here 3 weeks and never seen anyone walk on red!  WOW!  Now, how about this for honesty?  We had Dave, Heather and the kids here for Christmas (which was absolutely fantastic by the way) and we decided to take the Banhof (train) to Frankfurt to hear the bells on Christmas Eve.  No Problem....we can figure it out.  We walk as a group of 9 to the train station right here in the village.  We make sure we know exactly when the train leaves as the trains are NEVER late!  We attempt to read the signs......after many tries, we simply ask a nice German woman how the heck to get to Frankfurt.  Big language barrier.....but as you can see from the pictures below we made it!  As we were riding the train no one was checking our tickets... maybe when we get to the terminal in Frankfurt we'll have to go through a turnstile or something....NOPE!  It's the honor system.....you may or may not get your ticket checked along the way...you never know when you will so you always buy one, but wow that's a crazy system! The chimes on Christmas Eve were amazing.  People lined the cobblestone platz, drank gluhwein (hot wine) and had fun.  At one point, Heather and I were standing there with the kids.  An older German couple came up and started chatting with us.  She had a bag of cookies....now the first thing you think of as an American is the wicked witch and the apple in Snow White......and our mantra "never take food from strangers" - well that went right out the window as Heather and I, along with the kids bit into her delicious homemade cookies!  Now when would you do that in the states?  Well, the good news is we've all lived to tell about it.....and they were absolutely delicious....and that's what this couple has done for years. 

Mine is bigger than yours!

Gotta love this picture of brotherly love.....the bigger the beer...the better it is  Dave, Heather and the kids appeared 2 days after we arrived in Germany.  We knew they were coming...but the kids didn't!  It is a moment we'll never forget.  Even though we were amongst chaos and unpacking....it was so much fun for the kids.  After many trips to the local market, assembly of furniture, electrical wiring projects....and a trip to an American Sports Bar to watch the NFL......PROST! 

 

Is Kronberg ready for the Schmidt's?

I'm not sure Germany is ready for our clan, but we do have a street named after us - it can't be all bad.  After our driver loaded all of our bags into the mini van....we were immediately struck by German engineering at its best.  One of the seats just 'morphed' before our eyes into one of the most modern- looking boosters for Caleb....now I could have used one of those in the states!  We were off for the 14 Kilometer (gotta love the metric system) to Kronberg and our new home.  Our sea crate had arrived about 8 that morning and we got through customs in Frankfurt about 2:00pm that same day....so our boxes were there....but we weren't!  I received a beautiful necklace from a dear friend before I left Connecticut and inscribed on the back is "it will be ok" - that's my new mantra.  It was snowing a bit as we cruised down the audobon at a mere 160 KPH!  Wow...there are no left lane laggers in this country - move it or lose it!  As our alley approached I could see the truck......blocking the alley nonetheless....but we had arrived!  We unloaded our luggage and left it outside as the kids raced to the front door.  Greeting us were Hans and Helga ( you can't make this stuff up) - and they greeted us with smiles!  We walked in to boxes....but amongst all the chaos was a lovely Christmas tree decorated and glowing in the family room.  My eyes just filled with tears....I wasn't able to pull off the Christmas decorating as usual in Connecticut, but looking at my new surroundings with Tim and the kids at my side....."it will be ok".  When I turned around there were three German men in uniform....now what movers do you know arrive in uniform....they didn't speak much english, but were able to read the labels on the boxes and make their best guess as to where it was to go......and it was all good!

About 4:00pm that day....jet-lagged, overwhelmed and a bit relieved we were experiencing our 'new normal' - there weren't many words, there was just a lot of running up and down the 4 levels.....unpacking boxes with touches of home - it is something I won't forget.  We spent the first night at the hotel down the alley and slept like babies. 

I woke up about 4am German time.....walked down the alley and opened the door to our quiet new house on Freseniusweg.  It was so silent.....and dark - there are very large blinds that come down over the outside of the windows that we close each night - they are somewhat similar to storm shutters.  I opened them one by one, took a deep breath and started unpacking.  What an adventure it will be.....

"Your World Is As Big As You Make It"

Georgia Douglas Johnson once said, "Your world is as big as you make it."  I love that quote and have it sitting in my kitchen window in Germany.   Since we have officially been here for 12 days.....I wanted to update you on our progress to this point.  The blizzard of 2009 hit the airwaves on Saturday, December 19th. (The day we were to leave)  It sounded like this could be it.....we could be snowed in for weeks...let's hope we have enough provisions....with those warnings we knew there was no way of departing out of JFK as we had planned.  I was ready.  The tearful good-byes had taken place.....and the Schmidts were ready to take off for Germany.  But as we've heard before..the best laid plans oft go astray.  We got a bonus day in Connecticut to spend with friends.  We left for the airport about 5:00pm on Sunday, December 20th...with a one-way ticket to Frankfurt and 5 spankin new passports and colorful passport covers ( I just had to) in hand.  The Newtown tree in the center of town started to fade in the distance and for just a moment the whole clan was silent.  Our driver put on Alvin and the Chipmunks for the ride to the airport...and you know we weren't in the best state of mind as we all cried through the whole movie.  Now today if I were to hear those squeaky voices of Alvin, Simon or Theodore I may still cry! 
Once we arrived at the airport - with two vans full of luggage in tow....the picture says it all - you can see Tim in the background letting everyone know that they must be responsible for their own 3 or 4 bags (yea, right).

We made it through the ticket line and I had my notebook in hand describing each bag in detail so we could remember them as we arrive jet-lagged and overwhelmed in Frankfurt.  We figured we would get all different colored luggage to make it really easy (ha ha)!  The board said Singapore Air flight to Frankfurt on time......hooray!  We would take off at 9pm....I would kick back with a little glass of (or two) of wine and all would be good.....think again!  We also knew that since we had to take off a day late....our sea crate from Connecticut full of our home goods was arriving before we could get there.....it will all work out -remember that quote I mentioned earlier.  We had some time after we tagged all the luggage to hook up the good old slingbox......(I'll talk about that later) for a little Green Bay action........

After the crushing defeat by the Steelers...it was time to go through security.  How hard can that be?  3 kids, 5 passports, 7 carry-ons, a violin, 5 one-way tickets...no biggie!  It was a bit eerie at security....there were no lines....something must be up! We are told that flights are running about 4 hours late and the bags are so back logged from the 'blizzard of 09' that we knew we were in for a long night!  So....a picture says a thousand words......

And yes......that is the airport terminal floor where Caleb is sound asleep.....but we all remain in good spirits.



.....even the cute German girl sitting with us.......oh well.....we made it to Frankfurt safe and sound....each and every bag checked off on the list!  We were off with a van full of luggage to our new house!  Phew!

So, they call me an expat?

I've been called a lot of things over the last 40 years of my life, but an expat is new to my vocabulary.  I've heard the term many times...but quite honestly don't have a clue to it's actual definition.  So here goes: an expat, short for expatriate is someone who lives outside of their home country.  So - I am an American Expat in Deutschland - aka - Germany.  As you know, Tim's job has brought us abroad.  I am looking at it as an amazing adventure...with three kids in tow!  I do have to admit - I did hear "what an amazing opportunity" a few too many times...but what do you say?  My new normal will be "Deutschland" normal....and I'm up to the challenge.  Heck, with a name like Schmidt what better place to be.  
I have been preparing for this move for about 3 months.  I have moved (as a family) 9 times prior to this international assignment....so how hard can this be?  Well..think again Frau Schmidt....it has been a roller coaster, and I think I'm actually to the end of this first ride......just picturing those friendly men in ears at Disney World when I got off Space Mountain the first time....I made it!  
So...I won't bore you with all the preparation details....my friends and family have been there with me....all the details....all the purging....all the planning!  
Now - before you read on.....I promise to not make this one of those boring...let me tell you everything about myself types of blogs...but I have had several requests to write a little something.....so I'm running with it!  I am keeping a journal that I write in each day....but along with that I plan on keeping this little blogsite going with some of the interesting 'goings on' that are happening along this journey.  So pour yourself a cup of coffee...or maybe a stiff drink (since I tend to be a little long-winded) and enjoy!  
Before I begin...just a big, huge thank you to my faithful friends and family who have helped me get this far on this abenteuer (adventure).