I was born without a bladder. Okay, that is not true, but it seems as though I was born without one. I constantly have to go to the bathroom. Now, as a woman, when I go to the bathroom, I wash my hands and look at myself in the mirror. Does my hair look good? Do I need to reapply makeup or lipstick? Is there anything in my teeth? If I answer "yes" to any of these questions, like most women, my response is to either fix myself right there, or if there is are other women trying to wash their hands, turn to the other side of the bathroom where there is another mirror. Most American Women's bathrooms have a second set of mirrors for this reason. We are constantly making sure that we look alright before leaving the bathroom to continue with our day.
Today, like any other typical day, I used the bathroom, washed my hands, and looked at myself in the mirror. I clearly needed to reapply some lipstick. So, I started to reapply, but saw that another woman was coming to wash her hands. Moving out of the way, I turned around to look in the second set of mirrors. Oh wait, there wasn't a second set of mirrors. How on earth am I supposed to put on my lipstick? It was a bright shade of red that I wanted to put on. You can't just willy-nilly put on this color and expect it to turn out okay. One false stroke of the lipstick, and I would look like The Joker. No, this was a must-need-mirror situation, and I didn't have a mirror. This situation happens often in Germany (and Europe). I/other women in my party are stuck without a second set of mirrors, leaving us blind when putting on makeup, fixing our hair, or checking our teeth. Heaven forbid us walk out of the bathroom with broccoli bits stuck in our teeth!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Mir ist Kalt!
Mir ist Kalt! = I am cold!
Die Decke= blanket
It's been a long day; you're ready for bed. You can't wait to get into your king/queen extra firm plush mattress with 7-million-threaded Egyptian silk cotton sheets, 6 goose feathered pillows, and Eddie Bauer 100% pure down duvet comforter. If you share your bed with someone, it's all good. There is plenty of bed and cover to go around. You both can cocoon yourselves into the covers comfortably, with only a little stealing of them.
That is what Jack and I were used to. In the US, we had a queen bed, 6 pillows, sheets, and a large duvet. Call us spoiled, but I could steal the covers with minimal complaints from my significant other. However, in Germany, things are different. You see, Germans don't really use sheets. Sure, there is a fitted sheet, but no top sheet. Ok, we can deal with that, since we have a down comforter. However, German duvet/blankets/Decke are only as wide/long as the bed. That's right...they fit perfectly to the dimensions of the bed...no extra give. That means, that if either of us turns/sits up/moves in any way, shape, or form, the covers move with them, leaving the other very cold.
We have recently turned off the heat, as the weather is 70s during the day, 50s at night. With enough Decke, this is not a problem. Normally, Jack and I are hot at night (maybe it's body heat?), so it's not an issue. However, I woke up this morning, freezing, with my butt bare save my sleeping shorts, as Jack was cocooned into the covers. Granted, he didn't cocoon to the point of wrapping the Decke around his body several times, but because he turned to the other side, all of the Decke went with him, leaving littl' ol' me without any warmth. Survival of the fittest taught me to steal the covers back, which I did, leaving Jack without covers. After both waking up grumpy from the other stealing the covers, we decided to scooch together in the middle, leading elbow-to-the-nose bonking, kicking, and discomfort. A few of you have asked why I gave the USA a point for larger bed covers. Now you know.
Die Decke= blanket
It's been a long day; you're ready for bed. You can't wait to get into your king/queen extra firm plush mattress with 7-million-threaded Egyptian silk cotton sheets, 6 goose feathered pillows, and Eddie Bauer 100% pure down duvet comforter. If you share your bed with someone, it's all good. There is plenty of bed and cover to go around. You both can cocoon yourselves into the covers comfortably, with only a little stealing of them.
That is what Jack and I were used to. In the US, we had a queen bed, 6 pillows, sheets, and a large duvet. Call us spoiled, but I could steal the covers with minimal complaints from my significant other. However, in Germany, things are different. You see, Germans don't really use sheets. Sure, there is a fitted sheet, but no top sheet. Ok, we can deal with that, since we have a down comforter. However, German duvet/blankets/Decke are only as wide/long as the bed. That's right...they fit perfectly to the dimensions of the bed...no extra give. That means, that if either of us turns/sits up/moves in any way, shape, or form, the covers move with them, leaving the other very cold.
We have recently turned off the heat, as the weather is 70s during the day, 50s at night. With enough Decke, this is not a problem. Normally, Jack and I are hot at night (maybe it's body heat?), so it's not an issue. However, I woke up this morning, freezing, with my butt bare save my sleeping shorts, as Jack was cocooned into the covers. Granted, he didn't cocoon to the point of wrapping the Decke around his body several times, but because he turned to the other side, all of the Decke went with him, leaving littl' ol' me without any warmth. Survival of the fittest taught me to steal the covers back, which I did, leaving Jack without covers. After both waking up grumpy from the other stealing the covers, we decided to scooch together in the middle, leading elbow-to-the-nose bonking, kicking, and discomfort. A few of you have asked why I gave the USA a point for larger bed covers. Now you know.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Climbing to New Heights
For some strange reason, I had it in my head that my parents like to climb to the top of tall things to see a view. No idea why I had this notion, but I did. Before they arrived, I brainstormed some ideas for our travels in both Berlin and Copenhagen, trying to incorporate as many climbing to the tops of buildings that I could.
One fantastic offering that Berlin provides is a chance to climb to the top of the Reichstag (government building) for free. The catch? You have to make a reservation first. The problem with the parentals arriving the week before Easter? There are 2 million more people here this weekend. I am not exaggerating. There was even a headline about it in the papers. Why does everyone travel to Berlin for Easter? No idea...it's practically an atheistic country, but nonetheless, 2 million more people are here than normal, and it is quite noticeable. Therefore, getting reservations to climb to the top of the Reichstag was a no go.
I was denied at every turn for a chance to the top of buildings, which is a problem when, like DC, Berlin does not have many tall buildings to choose from. However, I finally found something...die Siegessäule, or the Victory Column. The Siegessäule is a statue/memorial that commemorates Prussian/German victories over Denmark in the 1870s. It is in the Tiergarten, and gives an unobstructed view of the city. While one must climb some extremely narrow stairs, battling people going both up and down with camera bags, backpacks, and children, the view is pretty amazing. You also get a workout in, as these stairs really make your booty work :) Another plus? Prices are cheap to go up and the lines are not as long as other places.
Our next climbing thing was in Copenhagen at the Round Tower. The Round Tower used to be an observatory for astronomers. It is connected to a church and also has a tiny little museum. What we enjoyed about this climbing adventure was that there really was no climbing involved. The tower has no steps and is instead a circular ramp. Climbing to the top of this building seemed so much easier than in Berlin! The view was once again, amazing, as Copenhagen has a beautiful skyline with red roofs and canals. If I had a camera with more zoom, you'd be able to see the canals better, but the rest of the skyline is picturesque.
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| Crazy narrow stairs |
I was denied at every turn for a chance to the top of buildings, which is a problem when, like DC, Berlin does not have many tall buildings to choose from. However, I finally found something...die Siegessäule, or the Victory Column. The Siegessäule is a statue/memorial that commemorates Prussian/German victories over Denmark in the 1870s. It is in the Tiergarten, and gives an unobstructed view of the city. While one must climb some extremely narrow stairs, battling people going both up and down with camera bags, backpacks, and children, the view is pretty amazing. You also get a workout in, as these stairs really make your booty work :) Another plus? Prices are cheap to go up and the lines are not as long as other places. |
| Cool sky! |
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| Twas windy...couldn't really look at the camera without my hair blowing in my face |
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| Source |
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| Source |
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| I was only up there for about 10 minutes, but look at the change in sky! |
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Mission Complete!
I apologize for the delay in posts. After Laura's visit, a trip to Bremen, lots of tutoring/babysitting, and my parents coming to visit, there has been no time to post!
Mutti and Dad came to visit last week and we toured Berlin and Copenhagen (look for a future post on that soon!). While they were here, we were on a mission, which I am happy to say we completed. What mission were we on? Why, the Roman Family Berlin Bear, of course! Dad had to get a picture with the bear! Without further ado...
Yay!
Mutti and Dad came to visit last week and we toured Berlin and Copenhagen (look for a future post on that soon!). While they were here, we were on a mission, which I am happy to say we completed. What mission were we on? Why, the Roman Family Berlin Bear, of course! Dad had to get a picture with the bear! Without further ado...
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Bremen: Our Feet Hurt
Jack and I spent last weekend in the city of Bremen...about a 4.5 hour bus ride from Berlin. We had the perfect weather...60s and sunny both days that we were there, which was perfect, as Bremen is one of those towns that you experience on foot and out doors. I was very much looking forward to this trip because Bremen is the setting of the Grimm's Fairy Tale "The Musicians of Bremen". We use this story our 2nd graders to help with inferences, characters, and predictions. It's a fabulous fairy tale!
If I had to sum up our 2 days in Bremen in one word, it would be "walking". We did lots, and lots, and lots of walking. After checking handy dandy Google Maps, we found that on Saturday alone, an underestimate of how much we walked was about 13 miles. Phew! Our feet hurt! While walking, my camera was in full force, taking pictures at and from every angle possible. This blog post is going to be the spit-up of just a handful of the pictures that I took. Enjoy!
The Schnoor:
An adorable little cobblestone quarter with shops, restaurants, and homes
Altstadt:
Small but gorgeous area of town
If I had to sum up our 2 days in Bremen in one word, it would be "walking". We did lots, and lots, and lots of walking. After checking handy dandy Google Maps, we found that on Saturday alone, an underestimate of how much we walked was about 13 miles. Phew! Our feet hurt! While walking, my camera was in full force, taking pictures at and from every angle possible. This blog post is going to be the spit-up of just a handful of the pictures that I took. Enjoy!
The Schnoor:
An adorable little cobblestone quarter with shops, restaurants, and homes
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| One of the many statues dedicated to Grimm's fairy tale |
Small but gorgeous area of town
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| This boy refused to move |
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| Famous shopping street (Böttcherstr.) with a candy shop that made the whole street smell of sugar |
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| Jack's "home" for 3 weeks |
Bürgerpark:
Huge park that we walked around
Misc.
Pictures from walking along the Weser, a famous cobblestone shopping street, and the Beck's Brewery
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| River on one side, big houses on the other |
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| Beck's Brewery off in the distance. |
What Movie Are We Watching? #2
These are the direct German translations for famous movies. Guess what they are! Answers are on the Movie Titles tab. Good luck!
- Pure Question of Nerves (Reine Nervensache)
- I Think a Horse Hits Me (Ich glaub' mich tritt ein Pferd)
- Girls Club- Care Bitchy
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Give me a High Five #7: Laura's Visit
Laura came to visit last week, and took Berlin by storm...literally. It basically rained the whole time she was here. No matter, we still had an absolute blast! We saw a good portion of Berlin. In fact, Laura and I did some things in Berlin that I have never done before! This is a major accomplishment, as I usually see and do the same things over and over when we have guests. With that, I bring you a list of 5 new things that I did with Laura that I had not done yet in Berlin.
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| Source: Laura |
1. Friedrichstadt-Palast
Friedrichstadt-Palast is a theater that holds glitzy, over the top, costumey shows. Singing, dancing, flashing lights, and water are all a part of this show. I compared it to Vegas or "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the beast, only take it up a notch with the glitz and glamour. We had front row seats at this performance, which was lovely, as men thrusted their who-haas in front of us. I really enjoyed this show, as it was cheezy and glitzy in all of the right ways.
2. Drinks at the top of the Fernsehturm
The Fernsehturm is the tallest structure in Germany, and also my Meine Lieblingsgebäude. Laura reserved tickets for us to go to the top of the tower, where they have a bar. We celebrated the completion of her thesis with a glass of wine at the top of Germany :)
Speaking of going to the top of things, one early morning, we went to the top of the Reichstag (government building) as well. While the morning was somewhat foggy, it was great to see the city from above. Unfortunately, the cafe where I had hoped to get my morning cup of coffee was not open yet, but that is something to save for when my parents visit in a couple of weeks!
4.Stayed/Tea in Hotel Adlon
Hotel Adlon is the prestigious hotel located in the Platz directly in front of the Brandenburger Tor. Laura stayed there, and kindly invited me to spend the night with her. I couldn't resist. I slept on a wonderfully comfortable bed, wore a terry-cloth bathrobe, and ate at a gourmet all you can eat breakfast. The same afternoon we had afternoon tea and snacks. Yummy!
Friedrichstadt-Palast is a theater that holds glitzy, over the top, costumey shows. Singing, dancing, flashing lights, and water are all a part of this show. I compared it to Vegas or "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the beast, only take it up a notch with the glitz and glamour. We had front row seats at this performance, which was lovely, as men thrusted their who-haas in front of us. I really enjoyed this show, as it was cheezy and glitzy in all of the right ways.
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| Source: Laura |
The Fernsehturm is the tallest structure in Germany, and also my Meine Lieblingsgebäude. Laura reserved tickets for us to go to the top of the tower, where they have a bar. We celebrated the completion of her thesis with a glass of wine at the top of Germany :)
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| Source: Laura |
3. Reichstag
Speaking of going to the top of things, one early morning, we went to the top of the Reichstag (government building) as well. While the morning was somewhat foggy, it was great to see the city from above. Unfortunately, the cafe where I had hoped to get my morning cup of coffee was not open yet, but that is something to save for when my parents visit in a couple of weeks!4.Stayed/Tea in Hotel Adlon
Hotel Adlon is the prestigious hotel located in the Platz directly in front of the Brandenburger Tor. Laura stayed there, and kindly invited me to spend the night with her. I couldn't resist. I slept on a wonderfully comfortable bed, wore a terry-cloth bathrobe, and ate at a gourmet all you can eat breakfast. The same afternoon we had afternoon tea and snacks. Yummy!
5. Went inside the Berliner Dom
The Berliner Dom is a gorgeous church located on the Museum Island in Berlin. It is one of my most photographed buildings, yet I had never been inside...until Laura came. While magnificent from the outside, the inside is only ok, but now I can say that I've been inside!
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