the plane, hotel, and other things...

After goodbye came the plane. I really don’t want to talk about the plane but i will. For a second. The plane caught on fire over the ocean. There was fire, smoke, shaking, nose down dropping, and screaming. There was me telling my children that “we are all going to see Jesus. And that’s okay. We will all be together.” Never in my life did i think the day would come when i had to tell my children they were about to die. But it happened. My worst fear came true. And i survived. We all did. We have some scarring in our hearts and minds, but nothing time won’t heal. I learned something really important about myself in those 45 minutes. I learned that even in my worst moment my children still come first. I remained calm, and reassuring-for them. So for that-i am thankful. For survival i am thankful. God must have some plans for this family. Can’t wait to see what they are.

Speaking of grateful, i am SO Grateful to be typing on my very own computer right this second! It was almost burned in a fire- and it wasn’t! God saved us again! Also, it just got hooked up last night. Still no internet, I’m writing this in Word and then i will transfer it when i have the electric drug. (Internet)
I have been here since September 29th. We lived in a hotel until October 29th when most of our stuff was shipped to our new home on post. It is now November 12th and i just got my computer and desk set up. The rest of the house is almost complete.
Hotel living: I would tell you it was terrible but it wasn’t. i would tell you we were all cramped up- but i enjoyed it. i would say that the lack of oven was difficult- but we made do. The gas station sells lots of frozen weight watcher and healthy choice meals, and that’s what i ate- mostly. And the kids ate hot pockets, sandwiches and hotdogs a lot. We even bought charcoal and grilled a few times behind the hotel where a little grill was set up. I fell in love with the people that lived there. Mostly families like us in transition. Some were on that roller coaster plane ride with us, which automatically made us a family. There were no strangers on that plane. Some were TDY military families there alone. Some just worked there. I grew attached to them all. Going to the gym together, kids doing homework together in the conference rooms, hot cocoa by the gallon, and freezing benches where we sat and waited for our kids to be too cold for the park. (it never happened) I have to say it was hard to leave the Kelley Hotel.

I have kept a few notes about different German things on my iphone- which i love by the way. I will post them here and explain a little bit about each one.

~The radio stations here play American music, but it’s all from the 80’s. Think Duran Duran, and Paula Abdul. They still speak in German but the music is mostly American 80’s! In the malls and restaurants, you will hear Madonna in her glory days, singing about her virginity, or lack thereof.

~On post there are no American pennies in circulation. So say your purchase is $4.83. You give them $4.85 and you get no change. Give them $4.80 and they look at you like you can’t count. So u must go over, never under. :/

~Dogs are EVERYWHERE. From grocery stores to train stations. There is no place in Germany that your dog is not welcomed at. And i don’t know what they put in the dog water over here, but their dogs are VERY well behaved. No leashes. No worries. They stay with their owners. Period. I wont bring my dog in public. Surely i will stick out like a sore thumb. My dogs are like German dogs only on crack.

~speaking of kids, Germans only have 1 maybe 2 kids. I’m not sure why cause they get paid big bucks to have children. They are under populated. Moms or Dads will be paid to stay at home with said children until they are in university. (if they are chosen to go. They have to pass a test in the third grade that will determine their lifes work) Still they only have 1 child mostly. This one child can have and do anything they want. Even in public. Americans are considered strict with their children. The great part about this is, even if my kids are not having their best day, i don’t have to worry, cause NOONE cares!

~the German people are VERY family centered, and focused. They go to work from 9-5 and then they go home. period. They never work on Sundays, and they rarely eat meals out with their families. They like to have family meals at home. If and when they do, it’s a very slow casual affair amongst friends. When eating out here, expect to STAY in the restaurant for a minimum of 2 hours. Sometimes more. That’s been a huge adjustment for our family. Especially with young kids- which u rarely see out anyway. We are really starting to enjoy this tradition though.

The German people are kind, and stern, and rule followers. They do everything by the book- except the whole horn honking thing. maybe when i start driving more i wont get so many honks- its illegal in Germany to honk! Because im not driving well, im not following the rules, which makes for a very unhappy German.

They love it when i speak the language. Some of them speak English, not nearly as many as i thought would. But that’s okay. I’m picking up their language as fast as i can. They are VERY helpful, and LOVE to help. I have a new appreciation for foreigners in my land. I now know how hard it is. And i will never EVER complain about the whole press 1 for English thing. cause when they don’t have the press 2 for English button here- and they don’t. I’m just screwed. There is no talking to whoever it is you wanted to talk too. It’s very isolating. Thank God the Germans are as kind as they are. Always willing to help, always willing to find someone who can if they can’t. The people here are the very best part. My favorite part. Even the sour-faced older people who just look mad. Think scrooge before the ghosts. I find them ADORABLE! And i wanna kiss their scruffy little sour faces! I love them all! Ed has spoken of staying here forever. It feels like what America (or what we think America was like) in the 50’s. We wouldn’t of course, we are far too in love with our own country for that, but it will at least show you how we feel about this place so far.



PS.i have no pictures on this computer, cause i just got it!! hooray! i wrote this last week, along with the next one--all about the food! :)
i promise to post pictures in the future! u can always go and see them on my FB page too. if ur my friend. :)