t is always a pleasure to enjoy our nearest park - Nerotal - just blocks from home, but this week we've had an extra treat - summer art (kunstsommer) in the park. While neither of us are the biggest fans of modern art, it's always nice to have something else to appreciate in town.

Over the past few days, we've taken a few photos of the exhibits:

Thought for sure these were signs to keep pesky dogs like Bailey away from the art, but in fact they were the art themselves. The one on the right says something about charges for growing plants are removed, and the left one basically says to leave the park as you found it (I think).
These were two of our favorites (Bailey liked them too). Hope the yellow benches stick around after the exhibit is over.
Bailey's not so sure about the framed mounds of dirt. I'm not so sure about the "wolf in sheep's clothing," fur-covered tree. At least it all did what art is supposed to do - promote thinking and conversation.


On a side note - Germany and USA won their last matches this week and will proceed onto the next round. Go teams!

*Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische

USA v. England and . . . .      Germany v. Australia

ring on the fußball! The excitement around the World Cup has been contagious - I've definitely become a fan! Aside from the amazing skills of the players, just being out with new friends and rooms full of strangers coming together for this worldwide sport has been amazing. Every bar, every cafe, everywhere has wheeled out big screens for watching the games. The Germany games are also being shown on the big screen at the Brita Stadium in town, which we plan to visit at least once.

The contrast between the games we watched, and specifically their fans, was surprising to me. The crowd for the USA game was much rowdier, but I suppose a lot of that had to do with the venue: we watched at a military sports bar, packed with probably all the US citizens and military in town. In contrast, the Germans can watch their own games just about any place, so just by sheer numbers, it was less intense. I also didn't notice a lot of Americans in our country's colors or wearing anything denoting national pride for our game. I think we were the only ones (I was sporting my red, white and blue I ♥ NY tee). The Germans on the other hand, show up, for the most part, with German flag tattoos, waving German flags and wearing black, gold and red flower leis. Saying they're a very prideful country would be an understatement.

I must say the Germans also keep the spirit going long after the game. After the Germany win on Sunday, the whole town was full of cheering people. Cars would honk and it's riders would hang out the window waving the German flag. The vuvuzelas (the long, annoying horns you hear throughout the game) were blaring well into the early morning hours. Perhaps after many wins, I will tire of the craziness, but for now it's nice to see an entire country come together in support of the same thing.

(when the national pride extends to food, count me in!)

While the World Cup spirit has infiltrated the town, unfortunately so has crummy early summer weather. Our SF term of "June gloom" doesn't even do it justice, especially when the gloom is accompanied by oppressive heat, rain, crazy lightening and some of the loudest thunder I've ever heard in my life. I'm counting down the days until June 21 and if it's not summer weather by the first official day, I'm boycotting.

I'm super excited about the rest of the week - starting German class, more new-friend get-togethers, more fußball, more fresh banana and melon ice cream, and I'm hoping, some sunshine! More soon ...


*Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische

Rathausplatz

inally feeling like we are making some progress where we live! This week we not only signed up for our German classes (twice a week starting in two weeks; sadly only qualified for beginners level) but I finally found a way to meet more people: meetup groups online. I'm not sure what I was waiting for on either front, but I feel like a great weight has finally lifted. Yes, we will one day be able to effectively communicate fluently in German. And yes, we will have friends other than all the ones we left behind in California. 

These two advances kind of came together this Friday after our placement test and subsequent enrollment at the Inlingua offices. As we walked home, we came upon a wonderful festival filling the entire main street just a few blocks down from our apartment. Stumbling across something wonderful going on is something we've come to discover is not all that unusual and one of the things we absolutely love about living here. After seeing all the wonderful food and drink options, we swore to return the following day to enjoy all this fest had to offer. 

In a very serendipitous turn of events, I went home to find my first Wiesbaden meetup event invite: the following evening at the Wilhelmstrassen Fest. It ended up that we saw very little of the fest, but the people we met were nothing short of amazing: people who were raised in multiple countries; people here for more than a decade or only a few months; people from as far away as Australia and people who were back in their homeland of Germany after many years away. We were involved in engaging conversations with the group until the fest was literally shutting down at 1am. We even met two different people who had worked for companies based out of the town we left in the Bay Area. Sometimes it really does feel like it's a small world after all. 

One of my oldest and dearest friends recently had to reminded me how strong of a person I am. I often feel uncourageous in our new life - be it staying in rather than being brave and exploring on my own, or not asking the questions I'd like know the answer to because the words in German fail me - and I'm the first to kick myself for saying or doing something wrong. I know we've got a long way to go before we're really, truly settled in the way we'd like, but I feel like this week was a step in the direction of a very happy life here in Germany.

*Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische

 can't believe it's almost June already! Time sure does fly - especially when things get busy. Between my husband's insane work schedule in April (working for 24 hours straight & other ridiculousness) and being in California for most of May, I've been neglectful. I must admit it's good to be settled back at home - with a husband who swears work will resume during regular hours of the day and a new computer that will let me get so much more done.

Spending almost three weeks visiting what used to be home was eye-opening. All the things we had known we disliked were only magnified, making us realize how much we appreciate what we have here in Germany. As for the things we love - namely family, friends and food - it was especially difficult to know we will not get to enjoy this again for some time. While the divide between us and these things grows with time, distance and cultural differences, I hope we get the opportunity to catch up on trips back as if no time has passed at all (Mexican food, that includes you!). 

All the running around we did meant we didn't take nearly as many pictures as I would have liked, but I'm more grateful for the time than of any photos. What we did capture was great friends and great places we will remember until we can visit again next year.

Mother's Day brunch at Lisa's Tea Treasures. Love how mom matches the decor.

Posing like tourists in front of SF cable car (sure miss that city's shopping!)

Go Giants! (my hair does not miss that salty, bay wind - '80s hair, anyone?!)

Enjoying best gourmet ice cream in the city at Humphry Slocombe

Lunch with the Benetton girls (note the multiculturalness) overlooking the bay

First stop in Napa - wine tasting at the beautiful Carneros

Enjoying a drink at the Bigfoot Lodge

Afternoon at Capitola beach ...

... catching up with an old friend I haven't seen in nearly a decade (and her adorable daughter)

While it's tough to miss all these things, we know how lucky we are to live in Europe and have all the opportunities here for travel and life experience. With summer being busy season for my husband, it looks like our next trip won't be till the fall; we're hoping Spain and Oktoberfest in September (happy birthday to me!). I'm hoping I can persuade him to take at least one long weekend before then and head to Prague or Amsterdam during the nice summer weather. Plus, there's still so much to see here in Germany - I can't wait!

                                     

*Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische

pring is here - sun is shining, trees are blooming! We had a lovely long weekend for the Easter holiday, staying in mostly to relax, but headed out on Monday to enjoy the increasingly nice weather and Russ' last day off before returning to work. We decided to explore the path along the river and discovered there was a small stretch of beach that meant Bailey could indulge in her love of swimming.

Bailey fetching the biggest stick ever (she's ambitious)

Success!

Bailey realized there were boats in that water & swim time was over

Springtime along the Rhine

Enjoying the flowers - and the view of the river below

After spending time along the river, we decided to drive a bit and enjoy our countryside. The weather proved absolutely perfect for photographing the sights.

Beautiful church

Driving through a small town

The Riesling Road

Vinyards as far as the eye can see

If any of this is looking like somewhere you want to visit, I have just finished setting up our guest room - so we're ready to start booking a stay for our friends and family! We're definitely looking forward to hosting some of you in this new country of ours; we think you'll like it as much as we do. First come, first serve ...

BEFORE

Wall artwork courtesy of the previous tenants

AFTER

If our cozy, finished guest room doesn't compel you to visit, perhaps our living room paint job will. What a difference some paint makes!

BEFORE

AFTER

Things are slowly but surely becoming more of a home, and we're feeling more settled because of it (now if only our German felt as second nature ..). And as much as we're enjoying our new home here, we can't wait to come back and visit everyone in California next month. We hope to see all our friends and family - and indulge in all our favorite CA food we have been missing! Less than a month to go ...

*Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische