Sunday on the Elbe

It was such a pretty day today: sunny and around 55. Zoe and I went down to the Elbe. We walked for almost two hours.

Here are some of the castles across the river.

From where I live, we can walk to the next street over and then straight down that street to the Elbe plain. Then Zoe and I walk along the river to the Blue Wonder bridge and take a tram back. I'm not sure exactly how far the walk is, but this is about halfway, and you can just see the bridge in the distance in this picture.

Last, but not least, I took some pictures of Zoe too.

A split second decision

Do I run or not?

That is the question I asked myself today as I walk out of the store and see the tram that I need to take go by. Since today is Saturday and there are only 4 trams an hour and because this is a big stop so there will (I hope) be several people loading and unloading, I decide to run. I cross two streets without looking to see if I have the green light and weave my way through old people all while carrying a big canvas bag full of groceries. Thank goodness there is a man pushing a stroller running in front of me going for the same tram. He goes to the next to last door because he needs room for the stroller, and that gives me just enough time to make it to the last door and jump in a second before the tram pulls away. Running for the tram is something I do more often that I would like. I've made a dash for it in the snow, in the rain, and across busy intersections. It can be fun if I make it, but if I don't, cursing is usually involved.

30 in a little more than 30 days

My 30th birthday is about a month away. I'm not really all that freaked out by it, but it does surprise me every now and then to think that very soon, I will be in my 30s. I've been thinking about how to celebrate my birthday, and nothing really sounds all that fun or exciting.

Then I started to think about ways that I could be a better Christian, friend, and woman as I enter another decade of life. So I think for the next month, I will be praying specifically about ways that God wants me to change or grow. I may be soliciting advice from my friends so don't be surprised if you get an email.

Loneliness

Sometimes it's just really lonely to live in another country. I like it here a lot, and I feel that this is where God wants me, but all my closest friends live about 5,000 miles away (I looked up the distance). I haven't really made any friends here that I feel like hanging out with no matter what. Plus, no one here makes me laugh so hard that I forget where I am or that I'm literally going to die because I'm laughing so hard that I can't breathe.

I know that God hasn't dropped me here in Dresden and forgotten about me, but sometimes it feels like that. Maybe I'm just in a funk, but this has been a hard weekend.

By the way, I'm going to try to get my driver's license tomorrow, so I can go 120 mph on the Autobahn. Maybe that would make me feel better.

Food in Germany

So I'm feeling much better now. I went to bed at 8 on Tuesday night and caught up on my sleep.

I just wanted to post about how much I love the food here in Germany. I don't necessarily love German food, but I like the quality of the food here. For example, I stop at a bakery occasionally and buy a salami sandwich to take to work. It is a thing of beauty: delicious salami, cheese, savoury cream cheese spread, and veggies like cucumbers and peppers. The bread is especially tasty. Today it was pumpkin seed. Delicious and cheap at 1 euro 70.

It's so easy to buy produce too. I walk by at least three fruit and veggie stands on the way to work. I just stop and buy bananas or grapes. I love it because I can buy just one or two and stop again the next day.

Another great thing is the Soup bar. There is a soup restaurant near the school. They sell really good, cheap soups. Today I had Tuscan vegetable soup for only 2 euros. Plus they give you really excellent bread.

I eat out a lot here, but I feel like I am eating healthy meals. I rarely eat fast food. I feel better too. When I go home, I always want to eat BBQ, catfish, hamburgers, etc. It makes me really sick though. When I leave Germany, I'm going to miss the food.

Dave Matthews in Berlin

Monday night-no, Tuesday morning- around 12:50 AM, I realized that I am not really that young anymore. I went to see Dave Matthews in Berlin on Monday night with Joe from work. Since neither of us has a car and we would miss the last train back to Dresden, he arranged for a German friend of his to go with us and drive. We paid for his ticket, which was less than train fare and a night in a hostel.

So far, so good. We arrived a little late to the show and Dave had already started playing, but it was a really great concert. I heard all my favorites, and he played for almost 3 hours. It got out around 10:45. As we were leaving, I thought, "Hey, we'll get home before 1. Even though I have an 8:00 class, that's not terrible." Then, up walks this German girl and she hugs/attacks our driving buddy. They hugged for about 5 minutes then walk over and he says, "Why don't we go eat?" Eat? Eat? At 11:00 at night, in Berlin? Two hours from home? And I have to get up at 6:00? Joe uncomfortably says yes. I say nothing.

Apparently, the driver had hooked up with this girl a few weeks ago and had made plans to meet her after the show. Which is all well and fine for him. He's at university and can sleep until noon. Joe and I cannot. In fact, Tuesdays are our longest days. What makes it even more distasteful is that she used to be with his best friend. He actually used the phrase "keep it in the family" and made a comment about her hands since she's a massage therapist. Gross!!

We went to this Turkish place (think German Waffle House, but with Arabic techno) in Neukolln, which is like the Ensley of Berlin and sat there until after midnight watching them eat. I don't talk to them at all. That is when I realized that I am almost 30. I do not want to be here and I don't want to hang out and do things like a kid anymore. I want to have an adult, in bed by 10, hang out with decent people kind of life.

We got in after 2. I'm still ticked off at the rudeness. It almost ruined the concert experience. I will not be going to anymore German concerts though. I don't like standing the entire time. (There are no seats.) Even worse, my lungs still feel burned from all the cigarette smoke. If I go to another concert here, it will be outside.

A nice Sunday

Today was such a nice day. The high was around 55, and it was sunny. My friend, Kathrin, came by, and we went for a walk along the Elbe. It was gorgeous. Zoe came with us. She had such a good time meeting all the other dogs and smelling everything along the way. Because the day was so nice, there were a lot of people outside. We walked down to the Blaue Wunder bridge and ate lunch outside at Schillergarten. Schillergarten is a Biergarten overlooking the Elbe. Zoe just hung out at our table. She only barked twice-once at a bird and then once because she wanted my chicken. This was her first time to go out to dinner with me. I'm not sure if she's ready yet for an inside restaurant, but I was pretty pleased with her. When we came back, she fell asleep and is still asleep over four hours later. I'm pretty tired too.

My problems with money

I really struggle with the money issue. I tithe, but I don't really give God control of my finances regarding my purchases. Being here in Germany has made me realize just how much I'm influenced by the consumerism of American culture. Apart from my church, I miss shopping maybe more than friends and family. And that is seriously messed up. I'm constantly thinking of what I need to buy next that will make me happy. Right now, it's a black pair of Primo Chill slides from Merrell (the two pairs I already own in different shades of brown aren't enough), and a portable DVD player. I almost seem to become obsessed with these things that I think I need.

I guess it's not so much that I have a problem with money, but that I have a problem being satisfied. I expect things to satisfy me. But they don't; there is always something else that I need to get. I am especially convicted by this attitude when I think about people who live in Less Economically Developed Countries (to use the U.N. term). Is this the way a believer should think and act? I was very convicted by my consumerism.

So until my birthday on April 21, I will not be buying anything that is not related to food or the maintenance of my household (i.e. dog food, toilet paper). I may try to push it longer. By the grace of God, I pray that my attitudes about stuff will change.

Yay! I join the blogosphere.

I've now been in Germany over seven months, and I meant to start a blog when I first got here. Obviously, I have been procrastinating.

What made me start now? I'm home sick from work. Here's an interesting thing about Germany- if you are sick, the doctor gives you an excuse to miss work! I have a paper saying that I don't have to go to work until next Wednesday. It seems to me that people don't go to work sick like they do in the U.S.

Another great thing about the German medical system is that I paid less than 20 euros for the doctor's visit and the medicine. If I go back to the doctor before the end of March, I'll only pay for the medicine. The copay for the doctor is 10 euros every quarter. Isn't that great? Of course, I pay about 44% of my salary in taxes so there are drawbacks.

Anyway, I shall be writing about my experiences living and working in Germany. I hope you enjoy the blog