Christmas in Germany

We've been living in Germany for 4 months now and, as the holiday season approaches, I've taken some time to reflect on how we're doing in our adjustment. Christmas is a beautiful time in Germany. The Christmas markets, Weihnachtmarkts, are charming and a lot of fun to visit. We've been to ones in Frankfurt, Michelstadt, Rothenburg, Seiffen and Mannheim and enjoyed each one for the differences and similarities. The markets are filled with booths of traditional Christmas decorations, traditional German food and drink, clothing, candles, jewelry, toys and other gifts.

The girls seem to be adjusting well and have some nice friends. They all did well on the first round of finals at the end of Term I. DDs 2&3 were recently in the school play, which was a big success and a lot of fun. They've all been involved in donating food & other items for delivery to local needy families through the school. All-in-all, I think they're doing well, although very excited to be going back to the US for Christmas.

DD#1 recently got her PSAT scores back and they were excellent. We're planning a college visit trip to the New York city area in January, and then she begins the long journey of 2007, with SATs and ACTs, 3-4 SAT II subject tests, AP tests, ICGSE and A- and C-level British University tests, choosing schools, writing essays and finally, applying to colleges. She seems pretty excited about it all, which is good, but I'm more than a little nervous to be sending her back to the US for college while we're still living in Germany.

For me, I'm trying to get more involved in the American Women's club, although I haven't really found a connection yet. I had a great time on a recent shopping trip to Poland and met a woman I really enjoyed. I also email another board member who I really like, although we haven't gotten to know each other well yet. Basically, I've met some very nice people, but there's no one person whom I can see and sit with at club events, someone to meet up on our own and go shopping or to lunch. I'm living in Germany, but still haven't made a life for myself here yet. Fortunately, though, I think dh and the children have, at least a little.

On a lighter note, we send a Christmas letter to our friends & family every year and this year, I created a list, in the style of David Letterman, of the top 10 ways you know you’re an American living in Frankfurt. So, here's my list:

10. Your bed pillows are square and there’s no box spring or top sheet on the bed.
9. When your laundry is finished, you empty both the link trap and the water reservoir from the dryer.
8. At the grocery store, you load your groceries into bags you brought from home, or just lose into the cart, push the cart (which has 4 wheels that rotate independently) down the escalator and through the mall to your car, and then push the cart back to the store to get the one Euro coin you had to insert to release this cart from the rest.
7. When waiting at a railroad crossing for the train (or trains) to pass, you shut off the ignition of your car – or else some helpful German will come and remind you to do it.
6. If you haven’t purchased something by 2 p.m. on Saturday, the chances are slim that the store will still be open. And if you need anything on a Sunday, tough luck, unless you’re willing to drive to the Frankfurt airport grocery store.
5. When eating at a restaurant, you must ask the waiter to bring your bill or you’ll be there all night. When they bring it, have the money ready, as they’ll wait at the table for you to pay. And the bill will be written something like 56,25 Euro – because when it comes to numbers, decimal points and commas are reversed.
4. Puten is turkey (well, hen turkey, anyway) and is available in so many more forms than in the States. Puten steaks, puten schnitzel, puten goulash, etc. – and it’s all delicious!
3. Instead of the 5 gallons of milk we bought weekly at Sam’s club in the States, we carry home 2 cases of milk in 1 -liter boxes, half of which is heat-treated and doesn’t need refrigeration.
2. Germans are nice people, always willing to help in any way they can, but don’t expect them to smile or speak to you in passing on the street.
1. You eat delicious pretzels, pretzel rolls, pretzel croissants, pretzel baguettes, and pretzel sticks nearly every day, and there are still hundreds of types of incredible German breads yet to try!

There are many things that are difficult about living here, but there are many wonderful things as well. We have trips planned to Belgium/Holland, Austria, Munich, and Italy, and that's just in the next 6 months. We're meeting interesting and exciting people who have lived all over the world and learning things we never would have experienced in the US. Our kids are getting an education that we couldn't afford to give them, or even find, if we still lived in Illinois. We like our home, we like Frankfurt, and the girls (usually) like their school. It's all good...but we're really looking forward to going back to the US to see family & friends for the holidays. Here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas & a happy & prosperous 2007!