Here we are - in beautiful Switzerland. What a beautiful country. Even though we've only spent one day here I already love this country a lot. The people talk funny and they call it German. As a German I can tell you: Whatever it is they speak here, it's definitely NOT German. It is very clean here and the houses look very pretty. It's a bit hilly here in Basel, too, and the Rhine (Rhein) flows through Basel and gives this part of Switzerland a very mild climate...after all, it was only -2 today, the warmest we've had it in a week. When we left Leipzig last night, it was -13 degrees!
So we're staying in Basel until Monday morning, which is right on the northern tip of Switzerland. The amazing thing about Basel apart from all the above things is that it is situated directly at the German and the French border! So when our friend Conny, the twins' mother, drove us around today, we visited both Germany and France and returned to Switzerland after all that! And what's even more amazing is that as soon as you get over the border, every single sign is only written in the national language and the people can only speak their language. When we took a walk in France, everything was in French, a lady was walking her dog and was talking to it in French, little kids were playing in the street and were yelling French things at each other...and 20 minutes walk down the road, the exact same thing took place, but in German!!! And then, back in Switzerland, people talked this inidentifiable language called Swyzer Dytsch (Swiss German). It sounds like Chinese to me.
Switzerland is so amazing. Michael had his very first ice-skating experience today and loved it! He only fell once and wants to spend his time here ice-skating now. There are beautiful castles, big churches and an endless number of museums here, all surrounded by very pretty houses and streets. It will be a very busy 9 days. STAY POSTED!!!
Wednesday 27 January 2010
Monday 25 January 2010
How travelling opens our eyes
It is public knowledge that our eyes get opened when we travel to another country. Not only do we learn about another culture, another language and another way to live, but it also puts into perspective how we live, what our culture has to say, how we do things. We suddenly realise that the way we do things might not be the only way, we might not always be right, we understand that there are many different ways to get to Rome (that's a German saying lamely translated into English and probably doesn't make any sense). It's public knowledge.
What I've realised recently, however, is that the impressions we get in a different country also depend on our age and situation in life. Naturally, 15-year olds are interested in different things than 30-year olds or 55-year olds. They see the world through a different lense and therefore different aspects of the world stand out to them. For our experiences in travelling that means to me that no matter how old we are when we travel somewhere, we will always make new discoveries because each time we see the world through a different lense. What good news, because that means that we have never travelled enough, we have never learned all there is to learn about our country or another. There is always more, the richness is infinite.
I've realised (once again) that the Australian way of life and the German way of life are very, very different. I think Australia offers a lot more opportunities for people to start an amazing career and to establish themselves financially. Germany doesn't give people these possibilities to the extend Australia does, however in Germany the social network is designed to support those who struggle much more than I have experienced in Australia. If you're unemployed in Germany you can still dress nicely and have a nice apartment. Please don't take my amateur thoughts too seriously, who am I to reflect on this topic, and yet I'm very interested in it and like to share my thoughts with you. I think the gap between rich and poor is much wider in Australia, Germany doesn't seem to have stark differences in lifestyles of people as I have experienced in Australia. I think that's very interesting.
I can't wait to see how people live in Switzerland. Tomorrow we'll be there. Michael says the scenery is breath-taking. We'll be spending Tuesday to Sunday in Basel and then take a train to Luzern, stay there for a night and train on to Zurich. I'm especially looking forward to Luzern. It was in the towns around the lake there (Vierwaldstaetter See) that Switzerland gained its independence through the leadership of Wilhelm Tell, their national hero. Here is a map of Switzerland so you can see where we're going.
Switzerland is made up of French-speaking, Italian-speaking and German-speaking people. The German they speak sounds very different to what we speak in Germany and it can be hard to understand them. Michael might get so confusedthere, now that he's just starting to understand what people are saying here! Switzerland doesn't have the Euro so we need to exchange money today. It's the only country in Central Europe apart from the UK that still has their own currency and I have to say, it is quite exciting to change money and get the foreign looking notes.
Our next post might already be about our experiences in Switzerland. Stay posted...
What I've realised recently, however, is that the impressions we get in a different country also depend on our age and situation in life. Naturally, 15-year olds are interested in different things than 30-year olds or 55-year olds. They see the world through a different lense and therefore different aspects of the world stand out to them. For our experiences in travelling that means to me that no matter how old we are when we travel somewhere, we will always make new discoveries because each time we see the world through a different lense. What good news, because that means that we have never travelled enough, we have never learned all there is to learn about our country or another. There is always more, the richness is infinite.
I've realised (once again) that the Australian way of life and the German way of life are very, very different. I think Australia offers a lot more opportunities for people to start an amazing career and to establish themselves financially. Germany doesn't give people these possibilities to the extend Australia does, however in Germany the social network is designed to support those who struggle much more than I have experienced in Australia. If you're unemployed in Germany you can still dress nicely and have a nice apartment. Please don't take my amateur thoughts too seriously, who am I to reflect on this topic, and yet I'm very interested in it and like to share my thoughts with you. I think the gap between rich and poor is much wider in Australia, Germany doesn't seem to have stark differences in lifestyles of people as I have experienced in Australia. I think that's very interesting.
I can't wait to see how people live in Switzerland. Tomorrow we'll be there. Michael says the scenery is breath-taking. We'll be spending Tuesday to Sunday in Basel and then take a train to Luzern, stay there for a night and train on to Zurich. I'm especially looking forward to Luzern. It was in the towns around the lake there (Vierwaldstaetter See) that Switzerland gained its independence through the leadership of Wilhelm Tell, their national hero. Here is a map of Switzerland so you can see where we're going.
Switzerland is made up of French-speaking, Italian-speaking and German-speaking people. The German they speak sounds very different to what we speak in Germany and it can be hard to understand them. Michael might get so confusedthere, now that he's just starting to understand what people are saying here! Switzerland doesn't have the Euro so we need to exchange money today. It's the only country in Central Europe apart from the UK that still has their own currency and I have to say, it is quite exciting to change money and get the foreign looking notes.
Our next post might already be about our experiences in Switzerland. Stay posted...
Thursday 21 January 2010
Papa and Maria go sleighing
Last Saturday when it was still cold, my parents took us to a park near Wittenberg. The hills tempted my dad and me to get on the sleigh and sled down...Michael documented our unexpected adventure with his camera...
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Opera or travelling?
The weather can't make up its mind. The Big Meltdown has turned into an icy slippery dip. For two days we had up to 4 degrees and much of the snow melted and huge puddles of water and mud formed everywhere. Much of the snow thawed partly and sat on top of another layer of icy snow-mash, unable to go anywhere. And since yesterday the weahter has dramatically changed again and it is now -7 degrees. The result is that all the water (which has been snow) is now frozen on top of the snow and created a nightmare for people on foot and car drivers. Not to mention the cyclists! But I think even the most experienced German cyclists leave their 2-wheeled friends at home these days. Last night when I came home after having had dinner with an old school friend in the city, I was slipping and sliding home the 20 minutes from the tram stop to my parents house.
As you can imagine, we are spending much more time inside than outside as a result. That gives us time to plan our up-coming trip to Switzerland (starting next Tuesday). We will go to Basel and celebrate our bridesmaides (the twins for those who remember) 25th birthdays and from there we will go on to Luzern for a while and then spend some time with friends in Zurich. As opposed to Michael, who has already seen most of these places on an earlier Europe trip, I've never been to Switzerland before and very excited about the trip. It is especially nice that we won't have to rush around but will have the convenience of local friends who can be our guides. I was never a friend of quick trips with only hours to visit certain sights. I'd much rather go to one particular spot and spend all my time there, taking it all in and learning a bit about the locals. I wonder if we will be able to understand their funny Swiss German!
This afternoon, Michael and I are planning to watch Michael's second German movie at the cinema here in Taucha, Avatar. Hopefully the cinematography is good enough to fill in where he can't follow the conversation fully.
We've also discovered the wealth of ballets, operas, concerts and musicals Leipzig offers. We could almost go to a different performance every night. Yesterday we bought some tickets to see the 'Magic Flute' (Mozart)!!! Should we be spending all our money on concert and opera tickets? Or on travelling? Or on none of these things?
HOW WONDERFUL TO BE HERE!!!
As you can imagine, we are spending much more time inside than outside as a result. That gives us time to plan our up-coming trip to Switzerland (starting next Tuesday). We will go to Basel and celebrate our bridesmaides (the twins for those who remember) 25th birthdays and from there we will go on to Luzern for a while and then spend some time with friends in Zurich. As opposed to Michael, who has already seen most of these places on an earlier Europe trip, I've never been to Switzerland before and very excited about the trip. It is especially nice that we won't have to rush around but will have the convenience of local friends who can be our guides. I was never a friend of quick trips with only hours to visit certain sights. I'd much rather go to one particular spot and spend all my time there, taking it all in and learning a bit about the locals. I wonder if we will be able to understand their funny Swiss German!
This afternoon, Michael and I are planning to watch Michael's second German movie at the cinema here in Taucha, Avatar. Hopefully the cinematography is good enough to fill in where he can't follow the conversation fully.
We've also discovered the wealth of ballets, operas, concerts and musicals Leipzig offers. We could almost go to a different performance every night. Yesterday we bought some tickets to see the 'Magic Flute' (Mozart)!!! Should we be spending all our money on concert and opera tickets? Or on travelling? Or on none of these things?
HOW WONDERFUL TO BE HERE!!!
Sunday 17 January 2010
The Big Meltdown
It is raining. For the first time in 4 weeks, it's not snow but water in its liquid form that comes down from the sky. I don't know if I like it or not. Our winter wonderland is an endangered species and soon to be extinct! That means no more ice-skating, no more snow ball fights and no more sledding down the hills...for Michael it means no more snow-shovelling and no more photo opportunities of our fairytale like garden.
We've enjoyed the past few days in the snow. Life is good, our days always start with a long and relaxed breakfast, leisurely times of curling up on the couch with a good book and a steaming cup of tea...Michael has started structured German classes on Monday and has made much progress, I think. Every day at 11pm, his private teacher Marina Gramm (yes, his mother-in-law) enters the kitchen ready to attack the next chapter of their text book. She is a much more patient teacher than I could ever be. And Michael has much more patience with her as his teacher than he would ever have with me, so it's a perfect match! The convenience of having a live-in German teacher is obvious: Michael has private lessons on whatever topic currently concerns our family, be it the snow, the movie we will watch in the afternoon, the birthday party we will attend later in the day, the food that's simmering on the stove next to the book-covered table and which we are about to enjoy for lunch, etc!
Our afternoons have been full of activities, too. We became members of the public library in Leipzig and are looking forward to their huge selection of books, DVD's and CD's. My mum frequently manages to get free tickets for rehearsels of operas and ballets at the Leipzig Opera House because she is a member of a literature club in town. I've had much time to indulge myself into the world of books and am spending a lot of time with all kinds of literature. I've rediscovered the joy of crossword puzzles and have become addicted. Michael has introduced me to a type of quiz called Sudoku which I'm sure most of you know a lot about but which has completely gone past me until now. On Friday, I discovered a CD-Rom with lots of Sudoku puzzles in the public library and am working my way through it now.
We've been trying to sort out the nightmare of sorting out Michael's visa application. Nightmare is too strong a word. Not a nice way to pass you time, I can assure you. They've told us nothing but useless information at the German Embassy in Adelaide and I wish they could have done the right things, it would have saved us a lot of trouble now. Well, like Michael keeps saying, we're here now and the situation won't change just because I'm complaining about it. The day we get that visa there will be a BIG post on the blog, you can be sure of that!
Recently we went to the movies with good friends and watched "Albert Schweitzer". We enjoyed it and hope it will come to Australia. Keep looking at the Palace/Nova programme. It is a French film about the theologian, doctor and music expert Albert Schweitzer and his hospice in Gabun (Africa). Even though it makes hardly any mention of Schweitzer's Christian side it is well worth watching even if one does not agree with his theology.
Getting back to the melting snow...with all these masses of snow all around it would not be too strange if our house will be washed away...where will all the water go?! You might find out in the next post!
We've enjoyed the past few days in the snow. Life is good, our days always start with a long and relaxed breakfast, leisurely times of curling up on the couch with a good book and a steaming cup of tea...Michael has started structured German classes on Monday and has made much progress, I think. Every day at 11pm, his private teacher Marina Gramm (yes, his mother-in-law) enters the kitchen ready to attack the next chapter of their text book. She is a much more patient teacher than I could ever be. And Michael has much more patience with her as his teacher than he would ever have with me, so it's a perfect match! The convenience of having a live-in German teacher is obvious: Michael has private lessons on whatever topic currently concerns our family, be it the snow, the movie we will watch in the afternoon, the birthday party we will attend later in the day, the food that's simmering on the stove next to the book-covered table and which we are about to enjoy for lunch, etc!
Our afternoons have been full of activities, too. We became members of the public library in Leipzig and are looking forward to their huge selection of books, DVD's and CD's. My mum frequently manages to get free tickets for rehearsels of operas and ballets at the Leipzig Opera House because she is a member of a literature club in town. I've had much time to indulge myself into the world of books and am spending a lot of time with all kinds of literature. I've rediscovered the joy of crossword puzzles and have become addicted. Michael has introduced me to a type of quiz called Sudoku which I'm sure most of you know a lot about but which has completely gone past me until now. On Friday, I discovered a CD-Rom with lots of Sudoku puzzles in the public library and am working my way through it now.
We've been trying to sort out the nightmare of sorting out Michael's visa application. Nightmare is too strong a word. Not a nice way to pass you time, I can assure you. They've told us nothing but useless information at the German Embassy in Adelaide and I wish they could have done the right things, it would have saved us a lot of trouble now. Well, like Michael keeps saying, we're here now and the situation won't change just because I'm complaining about it. The day we get that visa there will be a BIG post on the blog, you can be sure of that!
Recently we went to the movies with good friends and watched "Albert Schweitzer". We enjoyed it and hope it will come to Australia. Keep looking at the Palace/Nova programme. It is a French film about the theologian, doctor and music expert Albert Schweitzer and his hospice in Gabun (Africa). Even though it makes hardly any mention of Schweitzer's Christian side it is well worth watching even if one does not agree with his theology.
Getting back to the melting snow...with all these masses of snow all around it would not be too strange if our house will be washed away...where will all the water go?! You might find out in the next post!
Monday 11 January 2010
The coolest Wedding Anniversary ever
Yesterday we celebrated Michael's birthday and our wedding anniversary in the freezing cold temperatures here in Germany. God has done an amazing thing by allowing us to be here in Germany while they are experiencing their most snowy winter in many years. The snow ploughs that are meant to clear the roads can't keep up with the work and the news are full of stories about car drivers who got stuck in their cars on the autobahn and have to spend the night in their freezing cars with the Red Cross giving out warm blankets and tea...Last night, Michael and I attended an English church service in Leipzig for a change, and I can tell you, it was quite an adventure to get there...30 cm of snow on the road. We even encountered a young guy on his skies in the middle of the city! He was very smart because skies are the best way to get around these days. Once again, Michael and my mum are carting many trailer-loads full of snow into the back of the garden. Through all the snow shovelling in the past days, many 1.50m high piles of snow have appeared at the edges of the yard and we fear that when it melts (if we ever get warm temperatures again!) the yard will be flooded!
In the midst of all that snow and ice, however, Michael gave me the most amazing anniversary present in the world: We've got a pond on the property, which is frozen but was covered in a thick layer of snow. Michael spent almost 2 hours to shovel all the snow off it and so...I got to ice-skate on it!!! What a joy! Photos will follow.
As you can see, winter is still full of happiness for us. We do feel for the poor people in the north of Germany, though, who are suffering up to 2 metres of snow. All the kids will be happy, though, because they were given the day off school!!!
We're now busily planning some trips around the country and abroad. No rush to be leaving the comfy and warm house here in Taucha, though...our winter wonderland out there is far too nice, and complete with Mama's cooking and my parent's and grandparent's loving company, why would we ever want to travel?! No, of course we are planning to visit other places, too. But be ensured, right at this moment, we are totally contempt here in warm and cosy Leipzig.
Stay posted...!
In the midst of all that snow and ice, however, Michael gave me the most amazing anniversary present in the world: We've got a pond on the property, which is frozen but was covered in a thick layer of snow. Michael spent almost 2 hours to shovel all the snow off it and so...I got to ice-skate on it!!! What a joy! Photos will follow.
As you can see, winter is still full of happiness for us. We do feel for the poor people in the north of Germany, though, who are suffering up to 2 metres of snow. All the kids will be happy, though, because they were given the day off school!!!
We're now busily planning some trips around the country and abroad. No rush to be leaving the comfy and warm house here in Taucha, though...our winter wonderland out there is far too nice, and complete with Mama's cooking and my parent's and grandparent's loving company, why would we ever want to travel?! No, of course we are planning to visit other places, too. But be ensured, right at this moment, we are totally contempt here in warm and cosy Leipzig.
Stay posted...!
Sunday 10 January 2010
Mr Snowman
Dear friends,
it's Michael's birthday today! It's our first Wedding Anniversary today! Michael's first birthday in the snow, that must be very strange for him. Especially because we have SO MUCH snow. Our wedding day last year was a warm summer's day and our first anniversary is a freezing cold winter's day with lots of snow.
Here's a funny story about Michael's snow shovelling: The other day when Michael was shovelling big quantities of snow off the yard he thought he'd help out my dad and shovelled a little path through the snow so my dad could get to the door of his work car the next morning. My dad did get to his car, but only to come back into the house laughing - Michael had shovelled a path to the passenger door because German cars have the stearing weel on the other side!!!
We will keep celebrating our two happy occasions...but I must share this picture of our new friend, Mr Snowman, with you!
it's Michael's birthday today! It's our first Wedding Anniversary today! Michael's first birthday in the snow, that must be very strange for him. Especially because we have SO MUCH snow. Our wedding day last year was a warm summer's day and our first anniversary is a freezing cold winter's day with lots of snow.
Here's a funny story about Michael's snow shovelling: The other day when Michael was shovelling big quantities of snow off the yard he thought he'd help out my dad and shovelled a little path through the snow so my dad could get to the door of his work car the next morning. My dad did get to his car, but only to come back into the house laughing - Michael had shovelled a path to the passenger door because German cars have the stearing weel on the other side!!!
We will keep celebrating our two happy occasions...but I must share this picture of our new friend, Mr Snowman, with you!
Saturday 9 January 2010
New Year's Eve Fireworks Video
Here it is: A video my dad took of the fireworks fun we had in front of our house on New Year's Eve. The bottles in the middle of the road are needed to fire off the rockets. You can see our house in the background and you can even look into our lounge room window and see the decorations, TV and the Christmas Tree in one corner. Oma and Opa, my grandparents, are looking out of their lounge room window upstairs, too!
10 different types of snow...is it going to squash us?!
So here it is: Proof that we have more snow than you can even imagine...and proof that Michael has been busy shovelling our yard and street. The photos show Michael, the hard labourer of the family, our house and yard, our street, our house from the street and the view across the field behind the house. Lucky noone has to shovel the snow off that field! PS: Michael is shovelling snow as I speak!!
Monday 4 January 2010
So much snow
It's been quiet on the blog for a few days. Our many activities leave little room for quiet time at the computer, I can tell you! Who would have thought that our time here would be that busy during the first few weeks! It is a positive, indeed a wonderful kind of busyness though, and we are thankful to the Lord that we are able to be so busy. First of course, there was Christmas and the opportunity to share that special time with family and friends we haven't seen in a long time. New Year's Eve and the previously mentioned fireworks took Michael into fairyland for quite some time (I should know what fairyland looks like as I seem to spend a lot of time each day there!). Now some good friends from Australia, Tegan and Gavin Fry, are here in Leipzig, and we have been taking them around. My parents have spoilt them with German food and drink, we've taken them sleighing down many hills (we have A LOT of snow here at the moment) and to church with us on Sunday. Today we visited the Stasi Museum (thanks Tom for the tip!) and the Mendelssohn House in Leipzig with them and spent much time in various restaurants and cafes...tomorrow we are planning to take the train to Wittenberg together, but that will be mentioned in greater detail in one of the next posts.
Other than that, Michael has found a new hobby: Shovelling snow. He does it very well and my parents and grandparents are highly impressed. Our pastor even tried to hire him to shovel snow around the manse...Michael's snow shovelling skills are in high demand. The snow is still looking spectacular, the mercury is not getting above zero anymore so it will hang around for a while. Very pretty winter wonderland out there! We have now completely adjusted to the cold climate and my grandma has finally stopped to give Michael frantic advice about how much more he should wear when he leaves the house so we must be dressing right now too...
I've been battling a cold for the last few days but with Mama's care I can't go wrong, can I?
Thank you all for being such wonderful followers of the blog!!!
Other than that, Michael has found a new hobby: Shovelling snow. He does it very well and my parents and grandparents are highly impressed. Our pastor even tried to hire him to shovel snow around the manse...Michael's snow shovelling skills are in high demand. The snow is still looking spectacular, the mercury is not getting above zero anymore so it will hang around for a while. Very pretty winter wonderland out there! We have now completely adjusted to the cold climate and my grandma has finally stopped to give Michael frantic advice about how much more he should wear when he leaves the house so we must be dressing right now too...
I've been battling a cold for the last few days but with Mama's care I can't go wrong, can I?
Thank you all for being such wonderful followers of the blog!!!
Friday 1 January 2010
First day of 2010
Dear friends,
it's not quite New Year's morning anymore because we've slept in a fair bit after a party that went until 2am. This is what our first day of 2010 looks like as I glimpse out of the window: white trees and roof tops and snow covered ground. Even now the occasional snow flake falls from the sky - it's winter wonderland again! A few days ago, we already thought winter was done with for a while because it had warmed up to 7 degrees...but now it's back to -2, best conditions for snow.
All fears that Michael would blow up the house with his dozens of rockets were unnecessary. His first time firework experience was great and I think New Years Eve has been his favourite day in Germany yet, all because of the fireworks!!! We went out three times to shoot off portions of our huge collection of fire crackers and rockets, and each time plenty of our neighbours were on the street doing the same. You would think that it would be a bit more quite here as we live at the end of a small no through road. But far from it! We decorated the lounge room where we celebrated with my parents, with dozens of balloons and streamers. Mama and Michael made punch earlier in the day. It was a New Year's party for kings!
New Year's resolutions? To have a good time in Germany and travelling through Europe from time to time. Michael wants the family to speak less English and more German to him from now on so he can learn more. The LORD will unfold His plans on a daily basis and guide us through the year, I'm sure! He will do the same for you, and with these words we would like to wish you all a HAPPY and BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!
it's not quite New Year's morning anymore because we've slept in a fair bit after a party that went until 2am. This is what our first day of 2010 looks like as I glimpse out of the window: white trees and roof tops and snow covered ground. Even now the occasional snow flake falls from the sky - it's winter wonderland again! A few days ago, we already thought winter was done with for a while because it had warmed up to 7 degrees...but now it's back to -2, best conditions for snow.
All fears that Michael would blow up the house with his dozens of rockets were unnecessary. His first time firework experience was great and I think New Years Eve has been his favourite day in Germany yet, all because of the fireworks!!! We went out three times to shoot off portions of our huge collection of fire crackers and rockets, and each time plenty of our neighbours were on the street doing the same. You would think that it would be a bit more quite here as we live at the end of a small no through road. But far from it! We decorated the lounge room where we celebrated with my parents, with dozens of balloons and streamers. Mama and Michael made punch earlier in the day. It was a New Year's party for kings!
New Year's resolutions? To have a good time in Germany and travelling through Europe from time to time. Michael wants the family to speak less English and more German to him from now on so he can learn more. The LORD will unfold His plans on a daily basis and guide us through the year, I'm sure! He will do the same for you, and with these words we would like to wish you all a HAPPY and BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!
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