Week One

Okay, so I have now been over here in Germany for ONE whole week. Sorry, I stopped updated daily because I did not really have a lot to say. Most of this week I just stayed home while Jeremy was at work. I did Wednesday walk over to the PX, ACS, and library which I realize are a mile away. So go me.. I walked 2 miles that day. So, I really have not done much to write about or even take pictures of. I will say I miss Fort Stewart and their PX and Commissary. I used to complain about them but here it is smaller then those I think if I walked into Fort Stewart's PX now It would feel so big. Here you dont have much pick for things, they call it the "Schweinfurt Pick" cause they might just carry one of 2 favorites of something. Like my Poweraide that I love they only carry 4 different favors. So I can't be so picky anymore.

Anyways, today Jeremy was off and so was his SGT and his wife took us around town and showed us some stores that will help us get comfortable in our home and really make it a home. They took us to this first store and to me it was just like an IKEA, 3 stories going around with the show rooms and all that. So we found some things there. And then we went across the parking lot to XXXL (yes that is the name of the store, dont ask me if they really try to say it like that) and again it was a totally home furnishing store but this one was higher but man it had some nice stuff. The we went to another store but this was more like an food store. It was cool though to look at the food and try to figure out what it is.

Then tonight we decide to go out and actually try a restaurant since we have yet tried one. I been too chicken to try one. But, tonight I like Jeremy talked me into it but we agree I would try an Italian place... I mean you can't go wrong with pasta. That should be pretty easy to order from. Then we went next door to an Ice Cream shop and had dessert before we made the mile walk back to the house. I walk about 2 miles every day.

Well, here are my facts that I learned today:

* You have to deposit money into this machine on the cart at stores to be able to get a cart when walking around the store... when you return the cart it gives you your EUR back.

* Euros are not written like our money... They don't use decimal like if something is $9.99 in the store it is written has 9,99 Which for the longest confused me cause if I see a cloma I think thousands

*Again they don't bag your stuff they just scan it and push it to a side of the registrar for you to bag.

*Water cost at a restaurant... and you don't get free refills even on the water... it cost us for 2 glasses of water 3 EUROS... which is about $4.50 USD

* Waiters, and Waitress don't expect a tip here you can tip them but it is not like in the US

* Oh in case you are wondering GAS is 1,50EUR a LITER, so before you get excited look to see how many liters make a gallon. That will be the price of gas for you!

* At the food stores you bring your plastic bottles back and can recycle them and they actually give you money back for them

*Shopping is a little harder here cause it is hard to tell what something is when it is written in German so sometimes you are just figuring it out

* German beds are low on the ground and a different size then our beds. Most of their beds are just platform with a thin mattress.

Well, that is all I can think about right now, tomorrow we are going to go to the city of Wurzburg. We are going to take the train and maybe go check our this place that to me is like a castle. So stay turn for that account and pictures!!!

Downtown & The Market

Well, Yesterday (Saturday) was my first full day in Germany. I was hoping today I would begin not to feel so lost and confused. Jeremy has a routine that every Saturday he goes downtown to the markets to get his produce and meats for the month. Also, we needed to find a company that we can set an phone and internet with. So, I decided to go with him downtown and get out of the house. We walked to where the cabs are then took a cab downtown, we were going to take a bus back but the wait was too long so we took a cab back to. We also went to the mall while we was downtown walking around. After downtown and the market we came back home and rest for a little while then Jeremy took me over to Ledward Barracks and showed me where the ACS, library, PXextra, PX and shopette was. It was a lot of walking but I made it.

So here are some of the things I notice today about Germany:

*While they have a BIG sidewalk to walk on there is a line down the middle because one side is for bikes and the other for people

* Euros- I don't know if I will every figure this out

* When you buy something in any store they do not give you bags they just hand the stuff back to you. You see alot of people with baskets and backpack.

* Dogs everywhere - it is nothing to walk in a clothing store and see people with their dogs in there

* Fresh produce market smells wonderful

* Driving in Germany is starting not to look has scary has I thought it would be

*Fresh Bakery smell amazing and the breads looks so wonderful

* It is weird to walk into a German store and see stuff we are use to but it written in German, like Oreos or Ritter Chocolate.

*Keyboards are different! At the internet store the guy needed our email address so he handed me the keyboard and I went to type but could not find the shift key or the "Y" key. The guy saw what I was looking for and showed me the "Y" key is on the bottom row that is when it hit me oh yeah this is a German keyboard!

* I miss AC! Just wanted to say that! But I do love the weather here!

* Oh yeah, I never know what time it is... it stay bright outside till like 9pm and at 6:30am this morning it was bright outside again... I did not believe what time it was...which is why I am up at 7am writing this. lol

Well, I don't have anything else to say right now but keep checking back I will be adding pictures soon!

I hate Airplanes!!!!

Well, I have decide this blog I would write about my adventure here in Germany. So here is the first day!

I hate airplanes and never want to do this again...lol. but I guess one day I will have to head back to the US one day.

So my first flight from Hobby to Dallas/Fort Worth was great! I got to sit by myself and by the window and it only being 45 minute flight just sit back and enjoy the ride. Then in Dallas I decided instead of riding the skylink I would just walk since I had the time. Bad mistake it was a LONG walk. But, hey I made it and check in to make sure that was the right flight. They were going to start boarding in a few minutes so got me a power aide and call some family and then prepared to board the plane. I was nervous but this military family behind that were returning to Germany from an vacation in the US help easy my nerves cause the 4 year old keep talking to me and the 13 year old was telling me what she loves about living in Germany. So that helped.

Well, I got on the plane and my seat was 36G which is an aisle seat. Anyone that knows me well knows that I can't stand sitting next to strangers and the idea of being stuck in the middle would scare the living daylights out of me so I ask when the Army book my ticket. Well I found my seat and a little boy was sitting in it. I kinda looked at the parent sitting 2 seat over and before I said a word she said "Yes, I know that is NOT his seat but he is sitting there, so go find your own seat" First of all I am shocked on how rude this person was I mean without asking or anything. So I get the Steward to come over. She repeats the statement and is shocked too. So he was finally able to find out that the little boy seat was behind that row but in the middle. So the steward ask if I would mind sitting there.

My worst fear was about to happen, stuck sitting between 2 old guys. I was standing there thinking how in the world am I going to be able to squeeze in here they each had their stuff on the floor in front of them and worst how am I going to get out to walk around or go to the rest room? Well the guy on the right stood up and there was some empty seat so he ask and the the steward said he can sit there unless someone else comes on. Well, they said that was everyone so I lucked out and got an aisle seat. That was so nice. Well, because of all that I did not realized after I got settle that it was past time to take off should have been 2:30. The captain came on and said that he was sorry we were supposed to leave 10 minutes ago but they are trying to fix a part. Then at 3 he came back and said that they don't have the part and would have have to go get it across the airport so we will take off at 3:30. Great an whole hour on the plane and yet left. lol.... Anyways still was not fix then but we finally got off the ground at 4:16 .. a whole 2 hours after we were supposed to leave.

During the flight it was okay other then the family in front of me .. the little boy keep jumping and banging the seat back, and him and his sister keep screaming and hitting the call button. The Steward had to come over lots of times and ask them to sit and be quiet. The mother had headphones on and sleeping. But anyways when we got to Germany we spent 30 minutes up in the air circling around waiting on our turn to land. I never thought I would see land again...lol

Anyways, I was nevous and just follow the people to get though custody and baggage claim. Then I had no clue where to go to meet Jeremy cause unlike the US they can't even get into the baggage area. But, lucky he was right out there. So then we went to USO and waited on the bus to give us a ride to the base. Which was nice with internet and free calls but it was the middle of the night in the US.

So on the bus for about the first 30 minutes I was enjoying the ride and the beauty but I was so tired I slept. There was no one in the back of the bus with us so I laid across two seats and slept the rest of the way just waking up once when we went though this town.

So we got to base and got me check in, my ID fix so we can get me on post, get ficancial fix, and went and got my welcoming package. I was so hungry and across the street was Burger King so that is where we ate a late lunch. Yeah my first meal in Germany was Burger King, how lame am I...lol. Anyways after that we came to the house and I slept for HOURS! So that is my story of my journey to this new world...lol