Life goes on as normal
Work, home, friends, family. The routine of everyday life.
In Germany the 1st of May is Labour Day "Tag der Arbeit" which traditionally sees plenty of demonstrations and protests happening. In Nürnberg there was something happening in the main market square in the town centre, and there is the usual motorbike gathering/ride into town. I steered clear of all these things and went with Mum's cousin to the hut in the woods again.
At the hut we had a very relaxing day - sweeping the grass for leaves and twigs, clearing debris from the ponds, and eating a lovely meal out in the sunshine. Afternoon siesta is "pflicht" (mandatory) so I sat in the sun, in the sheep paddock, trying to read and understand the German tax system. I was given a booklet about taxes with my 'tax card' and it didn't make much sense to be honest. Apparently there is a church tax, and of course income tax.
Today I found a tick attached to my chest, so went to my Mum's cousin to see about getting it off. She did so very nicely, so now I have to keep an eye on the spot where it was and hope there's no infection. My uncle had meningicoccal from a tick many years ago - it can be very dangerous!
I also went to the Volkshochschule (like a TAFE school I think) to enquire about learning German. I need to do a test online to see what course level I should do and then just enrol. I'm looking forward to doing that.
Otherwise this afternoon I'm going with some cousins (not the one I'm living with) to my Aunt's place in Hainsfahrt, then return tomorrow.
At this stage I think I will wait until Monday to start looking for work, although I am getting a bit bored so it will be much better I think when I am studying and working. Hopefully will make new friends too, cos it is a bit lonely often (and of course I'm missing all my family and friends back home in Oz).
Today I went and registered at the local Citizen Registration Office (Einwohneramt) which took about an hour. Didn't help though that I didn't have my original Birth Certificate, and they were getting confused with my birthplace.
I also asked about doing a German course, but that will have to wait til Wednesday because the person I need to speak with she's not in til then.
On Sunday I went with Mum's cousin to their little patch of land in the forest. It's really nice with a couple of dams with fish in them, some sheep and a hut. I went to feed the big fish (I think they are trout) in the top dam, and as I was throwing the food in the water, all the sheep came running up to me. I thought they were going to push me into the water, but they were just hoping I'd have some food for them. After feeding fish, we both spent the morning planting some flowers and potatoes in the vegie patch. In the sunshine that was quite warm work, and so we had a lovely well deserved lunch which was delicious. This was followed by a 3 hour long afternoon siesta.
That night, I didn't feel the greatest with a bit of a headache and dizziness, which I'd actually had since arriving. I think it's slowly getting better though. Anyway, I decided to make some vegetable soup for dinner which was really nice. I ate it while watching Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) which was easy to follow for me.
Tomorrow I will be going again to the forest to help my Mum's cousin again - it's a public holiday (Labour Day) anyway so nothing is open.
I couldn't remember what I put in the last post, so I've repeated some I'm sure...
Well, I’ve arrived safe and well in Germany, after a loooonnnngg flight. I asked for an exit row seat, but the last one (apparently) was given away to the tall guy in front of me. I got my minimum requirement of an aisle seat….in the second last row of the whole plane. From Melbourne to Singapore I watched 3 movies (Happy Feet, Pursuit of Happyness, Flushed Away - this one I watched in German). Got some awesome Cadbury Hot Chocolate on the way…yum!
The leg from Singapore to London wasn’t quite so comfortable. I had the little British girl behind me kicking my seat every now and then, a big bloke sitting next to me (from Melb it was some skinny, young Swedish dude), and screaming kids always being brought to the back of the plane to be ‘soothed’. So I couldn’t really sit straight, couldn’t sleep proper, but I did watch another 3 movies (Employee of the Month, Man of the Year, Jindabyne).
So by the time it came to the London to München (Munich) flight, I ended up sleeping the whole way just about. This was a British Airways flight and the food was terrible - some bacon and tomato sauce thing in a crap ‘bread’ roll. Qantas food was so much better.
Then there was a train ride to Nürnberg - man the trains are smooth, fast and quiet! And of course they are spot on time. My cousin, Hans, picked me up, we went shopping and then to his place which is my home for the next few months.
In the early evening I went for a walk to visit my Mum’s cousin and quickly say hello. We went for a walk to collect her car from the mechanic so by the time I got home (about 8pm) I was soooo tired. I ended up falling asleep in front of the TV but went to bed soon after.
I had a long flight to Germany over the last two days and now I'm sooo tired (which is making typing on the German keyboard a little difficult). I had an alright run from Melbourne to Sydney, watching 3 movies - Happy Feet, Pursuit of Happyness, and Flushed Away (watched that one in German).
Then from Singapore to London the fun began - screaming babies and kids, girl behind me kept kicking my seat back, and I had some bloke sitting next to me who decided the whole armrest was his! Although I watched another 3 movies on that leg Employee of the Month, Man of the Year, and Jindabyne.
Food on Qantas was pretty alright, but the bacon and tomato sauce on sh!t bread from British Airways was foul.
I hope everyone is doing well, and I will go get some shut eye I think.
Again, it's been a while since I've left some news here, but now there is some...albeit bad news :-(
Dad had a motorbike accident recently, so I've created a separate blog to keep people up to date.
www.twowheelrosella.blogspot.com
Check it out for progress.
