Playing Catch-Up

Sorry for leaving you all in the lurch! We've only been home six days in the last two weeks, which leaves us but little time to update. Curious as to what we did? Keep reading!

First off, we made our first international trip (well, while we're on our international trip…) to Děčín, in the Czech Republic. By the way, Děčín is pronounced "Dyecheen," for those of you that don't speak Czech, or don't have a wife and friends that speak it! A good friend of ours from Madison is there for a year teaching English and working on an International Policies project. Currently, she's the closest American, and she's definitely the closest Minnesotan (Amanda is from St. Cloud). We took the train across the border, where Amanda met us at the train station. It was a rainy, gloomy day, but we had great company, so the time flew by.

The next day, we got to visit with our friends Jana and Matthias. They've got two small children (one is two years old, and the other is eight months), so we got to experience life with little ones for a short time. They're fun, but noisy!

The day after that, we took a sight-seeing trip to a little district of Dresden called Löbtau to watch a movie called I Served the English King, or something like that (the title was in German). Nadine wanted to practice her Czech, since the movie is set in the Czech Republic before, during, and after World War II. Unfortunately, you never hear Czech being spoken, since the Germans have a penchant for dubbing, rather than subtitling their foreign language imports.

Löbtau was… interesting. Whenever we've discussed that part of Dresden with people, they've either given us a surprised look or knowingly chuckled. The movie theater that we went to is in an old factory, which Nadine thought would be hip and cool. Unfortunately, it was also located in the dingy, poverty-stricken, and politically radical part of Dresden. We've decided not to revisit the district, in part because it was the only time I have ever been that nervous in Europe. There are definitely some scary (and fiercely xenophobic) parts of Dresden, but fortunately, we now know that they're mostly in Löbtau.

After that we were in Narsdorf for a few days, watching the cats sleep under the apple trees. Well, it was a bit cold outside, so they spent most of their time inside, begging for food. Finally, on Monday we went shopping for a new jacket for Nadine. As you may be getting, the weather here took a sudden and unexpected turn for the worse. The weekend before we went to Děčín, we were visiting Nadine's parents for a few days. Since it's a little ways from Dresden, we had to bring a few days' worth of clothes. It was nice and warm (upper sixties, lower seventies), so we brought t-shirts and thin little jackets. That was Friday. Saturday dawned rainy and cold (lower forties), and we were woefully without anything warm for two days. We're still waiting for it to warm up, but the rumor is that it's coming at the end of this week… We'll see.

One of the biggest things that we've noticed here might be the weather. We're so used to the Continental climate that the Midwest enjoys (or suffers through, depending), that having the weather turn so suddenly really leaves us spinning. It's so common for us to have clouds, then rain, then sun, then rain, then sun, then clouds, all in the same day. Plus, there doesn't seem to be any accurate way of predicting anything. It's not like Wisconsin, where we know that if it is raining, it will rain for the next several days. Conversely, if it is sunny, we'll have beautiful weather for a week.

So, anyway, that's where we've been for the last couple of weeks! Busy-busy-busy… Photos are coming, so keep your eyes peeled!

Leipzig and Chemnitz and Dresden, Oh My!

What a whirlwind of activity these last few days have been, as we prepare to start our new lives in Germany! First to Leipzig, where we did a bit of shopping and I picked up some ingredients for one of my world-famous meals; then to Chemnitz the next day to see old friends; finally to Dresden (after I made my mouth-watering Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken… recipe to come in a later post, undoubtedly) to see one of our apartment choices.

This was our first train ride so far, and it was short but sweet. The ride from Narsdorf to Leipzig is short, made all the more so by some super-fast trains. We didn't have very many people on the train with us, although just on the other side of the seat there was a large, angry-looking woman who seemed… peeved that we were taking pictures and not just quietly sitting still. She kept to herself though (fitting, I think), and the ride was uneventful. (Pictures can be found below... I forgot that Nadine included them in her P.S. a few days ago!)

Once we got into Leipzig, we met with our friend Katja, and had coffee while we caught up a bit.

The café was near the Thomaskirche, where a guy named Joe used to play the organ. The nice thing about Leipzig is that it's so welcoming that even some guy named Joe can get his own statue.

"Joe" Bach.


The Thomaskirche in Leipzig.

Okay, I'm not sure how long he was in Leipzig, and he probably wouldn't appreciate me calling him "Joe," but Bach and the cultural history of Leipzig really come through when you're wandering the streets there. The streets are clean, the people are generally friendly, and you've got this feeling of a past that you can't beat. Plus, when you're in Leipzig (and probably other places, I just haven't found them yet), you can pick up Spritzringe. We stopped at a little café for lunch with Nadine's mom (schnitzel baguette sandwich for me; fruit and yogurt for Nadine; and a salad and fruit and yogurt for Nadine's mom), and Nadine and I had Sprtizringe for dessert.

I know that I have previously discussed the merits of Kuchen. Indeed, I stand by Kuchen as one of the best desserts available to man. However, Spritzringe definitely deserve their space in the Pantheon of Sweets. These delectable, puffy pastry rings are covered with a sweet, creamy glaze; at the risk of becoming a blasphemous heretic, I would describe them as donuts' European kin. But, if you will, imagine the fluffiest, softest, moistest donut you've ever had, then top it with a simple glaze that melts when you look at it. Mmm. Yes, I'm drooling.

Mmmm... Spritzring...

After that, it was off to do a bit of shopping, and then home.

The next day, we went to Chemnitz. We did, however, have to ride bicycles up to the train station, since we were running late and it's a short piece from Nadine's parents' house. As you may notice, my memory of that morning is tinged with less-than-joyful thoughts, as I don't describe the short journey with enthusiasm. Apparently, my, ahem… purely coincidental riding of Nadine's mom's bike that coincided with the bike's unfortunate (though only temporary) self-destruction, has led to my being banned from that bike. That's right, I was stuck with her dad's bike.

My nemesis. The one with the seat that angles sharply upward.

After a soothing ride to Chemnitz Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station), we were picked up by our friends David and Susanne. David and Nadine have known each other since they were in elementary school and David is from the same town as Nadine. We spent a quiet afternoon looking at pictures, and Susanne made a baked noodle-ham-cheese dish, which, along with the best cucumber salad I've ever had kept us all full and happy.

David and Susanne.

Then, David and Susanne dropped us off at our other friends' house. Those of you who've known us for at least a year and a half may remember that we went to Germany last year to be at Susi and Marcel's wedding; they live in Chemnitz with their 3-year-old son Noah, and we spent a late afternoon with them before high-tailing it back to Narsdorf on the train.

Finally, the next day we had the delicious Fettuccine Alfredo for lunch, then skipped off to Dresden to see one of the possible apartments. There will be more on that to come in the next few days.

As for now, it's time for me to sign off, since we need to get up early tomorrow and head off to Dresden again… Stay tuned!

Of Idyllic Days and Broken Gearshifts

As I finally admitted to my mom today on the phone, yes, we are definitely on vacation! Our days are filled with hours of sleeping in (we blame it on the jet-lag… right, jet-lag…); late lunch, usually something warm, delicious, and hearty; a bit of sun and afternoon laziness topped off with coffee and Kuchen; then you try desperately to digest before dinner comes around, consisting of slices of black bread and cold cuts or cheese or both; as if that wasn't enough, as the sun dips low over the hills of Narsdorf, it's time for a Radeberger beer, then off to bed. For those of you studying German in preparation for a visit to wonderful Deutschland, Kuchen is the German word for cake. That, however, is usually where the similarity ends; when I say "Kuchen," I don't mean yellow cake with frosting or any such thing. Instead, it is this wonderful layered bar with a sweet, yeasty bottom, fruit or some other type of filling, and then a streusel topping. If you've ever had my peach or blackberry Kuchen, you may be able to extrapolate out the complex, amazing dessert that it is.

Every now and again we do rouse out of our tryptophan-induced slumber and venture out into the world, however. As Nadine just pointed out to me, "Hey, we're way more active than that!" For example: following a filling and delectable meal of meat-filled, braised cabbage leaves (don't knock it- it tastes a lot better than it sounds…) we went for a hike with Nadine's parents. Rochlitzer Berg is the local mountain, which, as any good native of Narsdorf can tell you, is a major and noteworthy hill- er, I mean, mountain.

The way from Narsdorf to Rochlitz Mountain. Note the lush woods on the mountain.

While the exact elevation may be in question (I'm still working on the "meters" to "feet" or "yards" conversion), one thing I can attest to is its beauty. Nearly every visit to Germany over the last nine years has included a visit to Rochlitzer Berg, if only to visit the café at the top (it's accessible by car, thankfully). Having grown up in the woods of Northern Minnesota, it's like a home-away-from-home-away-from-home for me. Some things are very similar to the plants and animals I've known since I was small.

Ferns.

Some, however, are not.

The photo is blurry (which doesn't help), but I have no idea what these flowers are...

Either way, last Sunday we made the first of (hopefully) many trips to that outdoor paradise; we didn't go all the way to the top since we had just eaten, but just being there was enough for me.

Path wending through the woods on Rochlitz Mountain.

An ancient marker on Rochlitz Mountain. Note the sword etched on it.

Now to the point in question: the broken gearshift.

As Nadine pointed out in her post, her mom's bicycle broke yesterday. As she also gleefully pointed out, I was riding it when said breaking occurred. However (and more to my favor), the bike under scrutiny here is about fifteen years old. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Yesterday morning (or rather, yesterday early afternoon) as we were finishing up brunch, Nadine asked if I wanted to go for a bike ride to the town where she went to school as a kid. Admittedly, it took a bit of persuasion for me to agree to the bike ride, since previous attempts at leisurely bike rides through the countryside here have proven… painful. Previous excursions were courtesy Nadine's dad's bike, which has a seat that angles sharply upward in the front. Suffice it to say, there must be an acquired method of sitting to fully enjoy that bike's use, and I never was able to acquire it. My reluctance, however, was eased when Nadine's mom offered the use of her bike, a stalwart steed that had performed admirably since the early nineties.

Shortly thereafter, as we were gliding along the scenic route between Narsdorf and Ossa, I attempted to shift from the Pastor-Fred-Gear (read: super difficult. Pastor Fred normally bikes over thirty miles every day, going up and down mountains included…) down to normal human gears, I noticed that nothing happened. I was surprised at this, as there was zero resistance from the gear shift. It went down to one and up to, well, a higher number, then back again without any resistance. This meant that when we finally coasted into Ossa, I was not only concerned that Nadine's mom's bike was not functioning properly but also concerned that I would then have to bike all the way back with no easy gears. Ossa itself was nice, but the beauty was lost on me, as I worried over the impending ride and confession of destruction.

The hilly, hilly, road to Ossa.

Nadine's school.

I have since learned that the mistake that I made was as follows: on any red-blooded American bike, you shift while you are pedaling; else the chain gets all mucked up and falls off. German bikes are different. When you pedal while you shift on a German bike, the gearshift's cord, which over the years has worn down to but one lowly and slightly rusted wire, snaps. So, with the suddenly non-functioning gearshift, we eventually rolled into the driveway, tired from the ride.

This small misunderstanding regarding the mechanics of European bikes did have a nice outcome, however. Once we got back to Nadine's parents' house, we promptly turned around and headed up the road to the town of Geithain, where the bike-repair shop is.

Narsdorf to Geithain. And then back again. Ugh!

While the bike-repair people performed surgery on the wounded Fahrrad, we got to enjoy a small park with this monument:

This says (loosely): The fallen sons of the city of Geithain in the war for the Fatherland, 1870-1871.

and have Kuchen at a local bakery. We stopped at the bakery because they advertised éclairs. Since the monument was for local soldiers who fought in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), I thought it only appropriate that we liberate the French- er, I mean German baked goods from French tyranny. Unfortunately, some things must not have translated quite accurately when the recipe was repatriated, and the éclairs were definitely not worth the Euro or two that we spent on them. We eventually arrived home, tired from our long day, but happy that the bike had been given a new lease on life.

Another curiosity in the former East Germany: small cobblestones with a "T" on them. During communist times, it meant that there was a telephone there in case of emergency.

So, there you have it. We are (apparently) more active than hibernating animals, and are enjoying our vacation here in beautiful Germany. As Nadine hinted, we visited Leipzig today, so look for a post on our trip there after we get back from another trip (to Chemnitz) tomorrow.

My erstwhile companion of late, Susi Schildkröte, in the Irmscher pond.

-Adam

Nadine’s P.S.

Here's a little taste of our time at my parents' house so far: upon our arrival in Germany, they surprised us with this beautifully crafted cherry torte. It was delicious!

We then spent a couple of days acclimatizing and did not venture further than my parents' very idyllic backyard. We certainly didn't have cats sunbathing underneath apple trees in Madison! I think our own "little" kitty would have a lot of fun chasing after birds and butterflies here. But, the village tomcats also have to defend their territories against neighboring felines and prove themselves to the female sex. The resulting battles can be ferocious! The cat in the picture has a battered ear as a result of summer courting rituals and the other kitty here does not leave the house very often.

After successfully sleeping off jet lag and travel fatigue, we then started exploring places beyond the village confines. I had wanted to go on a bike ride for a while and so yesterday Adam and I started off towards a tiny village called Ossa (2km away), so that I could show Adam where I went to elementary school. I entered school under the old Communist regime, and going to school on Saturdays and commemorating the Communist martyr Ernst Thälmann are inextricably linked to Ossa in my mind. Unfortunately, the monument has been removed and I wasn't quite sure what exact building used to house the school, but the bike ride was fun nonetheless. Until Adam broke my mom's bike, which has been her trusted ride for fifteen years.

Adam inspecting the damage he's done.

My mom uses her bike on a daily basis, so we had to get it fixed right away. Adam had torn the gear shift; as punishment he had to cycle in the hardest gear to the closest town, Geithain (5km away), where we got the gear shift fixed, strolled about, and indulged in some baked goods. However, we wound up riding more than three times the 4km we set out to complete and I can definitely feel the effects in my legs today!

Today we went on our first big trip, to the city of Leipzig (30 min. by train) to do some shopping and to meet with one of my best friends. We had a lovely time and got to ride the train for the first time. Thanks to my parents, we now both own a "BahnCard 50," which allows us to travel within Germany for half the normal price of rail tickets. Essentially one of us gets to ride the train for free and we only spent €8 total on tickets today ($12.00).

Narsdorf train station

The first of probably many views of the inside of German train cars.

Tomorrow it's off to Chemnitz (25 min. by train) to see friends. We're of course taking the train again; got to collect those bonus points from Deutsche Bahn (a kind of Miles & More program for rail travel)!

To sum up

Okay, let's bring everyone up to speed…

For the last couple of weeks (before the trip to Germany) we were hanging out at Fred and Sarah's in Shepherdstown. For those that don't know, Fred was Nadine's boss when we lived out East. He's the pastor of our home church, St. James' Lutheran, and another church that form the Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish. While we lived out East, Nadine and I were unofficially adopted by Fred and Sarah, and they have graciously hosted us numerous times over the last several years.

Rather than give a play-by-play of the two weeks, here is a basic description that fits most days: sleep late, run errands or have coffee somewhere, then it was off to Jason and Jessie's for me and Olympics for Nadine. As most of you know, I am not that big into sports, so the Olympics didn't hold quite the same appeal for me as they did to Nadine, plus it gave her bonding time with Fred and Sarah. We didn't ultimately go to Charlottesville, though we had planned on driving down. Despite the apparent laziness in the above description, we were fairly busy. Our daytime was filled with trips to Borders in Hagerstown, a few side-trips to Charles Town, Ranson, Martinsburg, etc., and just seeing lots of people that we don't usually get to see on a regular basis. We spent so long living out there while we were in college, that Shepherdstown has this homey feeling, complete with lots of friends.

Jason and Jessie (courtesy of Jessie's Myspace).

While at Jason and Jessie's, I got to interact with all sorts of wildlife. In Wisconsin or Minnesota, you hear about things like praying mantises, katydids, and cicadas, but you rarely see them. Over the course of several evenings, I got to play with all of the above. Fauna-wise, West Virginia is a bit different from the Midwest.

Adam and a friend.

I shall name it... Zorak!

Adam's dirty fingers and a cicada.

At the end of our two-week layover, Jason and Jessie and Fred and Sarah threw a farewell/birthday party for us. It was a great gathering, with friends and former professors (turned friends, now that we're graduated), as well as a bunch of delicious food. I think that my favorite items at the party were the sea-salt brownies that Jessie made, and the cilantro-pesto pasta salad with pistachios and raisins that Dr. Henriksson brought. We were so glad that everyone could make it, and those that had prior engagements were missed. Thank you to Jessie, Jason, Fred, and Sarah!

Dr. Jerry Thomas, Nadine, Sarah Soltow, and Dr. Anders Henriksson.

Robb and Jason.

Sarah's Chiminea, which kept us warm all night.

Sarah also makes what she calls a Candlelight Garden. It was beautiful.

Finally, on the morning of the 28^th, we got a lift from Fred to BWI (Baltimore-Washington International Airport). Our flight was not until 11:15 a.m., but we got underway at 6:30, since we weren't sure what traffic would be like or how crowded the airport might be. Fortunately, there weren't a lot of other people on the road and we made pretty good time. We bade Fred farewell at a little after 8:00 and dragged our luggage (2 pieces each, around 40 pounds per bag) up to the counter. There was a nice woman working there who helped us with our bags and got us all set. Despite the fact that some of our bags stayed extra-long in Philadelphia, without the ticket-agent we would likely still be waiting for them to arrive. For some reason, they were only checked through to Frankfurt when she originally ran off the stickers.

Shepherdstown to BWI.

After making our way to the gate, we hung out for the last couple of hours, with Nadine watching DVDs on her new portable player while I played computer games. 11:15 finally rolled around, and we hopped on our flight to Philadelphia. Before dropping us off, Fred joked that he could have driven us up to Philadelphia in less time than it took to fly there. Considering that the entire time we spent in the plane to Philly was about 45 minutes (our total air-time was 16 minutes), and we had almost three hours of waiting before we took off, he probably could have.

BWI to Philadelphia.

Philadelphia was okay. We were really excited when we got there, since the airport advertised free wireless for students. We promptly signed up, only to find out that it was not available in our terminal. Plus, the terminal was ominously quiet. We were expecting a lot more people, since it is such a large place, but maybe they don't use that terminal very often. All in all, we spent several quiet, lonely hours waiting for our next flight.

We hopped on our plane at 4:00 or so, but there was a delay getting off the tarmac, and we didn't take off for nearly an hour. I will admit, though, that U.S. Airways was a fairly nice airline, as far as trans-Atlantic travel is concerned. We had individual screens to watch t.v. and movies on, plenty of space (except for my seat- there was a big piece of machinery or something blocking the underside of the seat in front of me, which meant no leg room), and the food was higher-than-usual-airline-food quality. We each had a tex-mex chicken dish, with rice, corn, black beans, tomatoes, and chicken; a dinner roll with butter; a Caesar salad; and a brownie.

Philadelphia to Frankfurt.

The flight itself wasn't bad either. We must have had favorable winds, because it took less time than predicted. Which, given the loud woman two rows back who was drunkenly harassing the person sitting next to her about where she should go in Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, etc., was a good thing.

We spent most of our time in Frankfurt dozing and listening to music, since by the time we had arrived, we'd been up for almost twenty hours. At 10:10 a.m. (local time), we hopped on a little puddle-jumper and flew the final leg into Leipzig, where Nadine's dad picked us up and drove us home.

Frankfurt to Leipzig.

Leipzig to Narsdorf, Germany. Ahh, home.

And that, my friends, brings us to Narsdorf, Germany, our current location. We've not done much since we arrived, but I have taken a few photos, and will write up a sufficient narrative soon.

Until then!