My first weekend out and about

Hi Everyone!

My first weekend has been a blast.  I finally have Internet access here in my German House! 

First things first: My house.  I am living in the Pastorius House in Bad Windsheim Germany.

Built in 1668 (putting it older than our country...which is an odd concept to wrap your mind around),

we live on the third floor in a giant room with bunk beds (there's 7 of us up here...a little sorority house

in Germany :)).  I landed a bottom bunk (away from the windows and the early rising sun).  However,

no matter where you sleep the church bells will jar you out of bed each morning (either with guilt or

with overpowering tenor).  Word is that the local church is a protestant one (Lutheran?  We'll see).

 

My roommates:  Amelia, Danielle, Becca, Laine, Jamie (who I've taken to calling Jim), and Katie.

Amelia and Danielle are Californians and already finding it a little chilly for their tastes.  Laine and Becca

are Minnesotans (so they are still decked out in summer wear).  Katie is an Ohio native and Jim is from

Montana.  All have been really fun to live with so far and we have different working areas so we will have some

time apart.

 

My age group?  12m to 2 yrs (my main assignment) and the little, little guys: 6wks to 12 months.  I already had

one day of observations and they are hilarious.  We read a couple of stories and bandaged up a couple of wounds from

the top heavy tots.  All in all a good day (but when they have naptime I am so jealous!  I need a nap time as well).

 

My first weekend in Germany's theme: VOLKSFESTS

My home town had a small Volksfest (people fest...so similar to a county fair) our first night here.  We got to check out

the locals and the local brew.  We learned cheers: Prost!  Which we were then able to use on our trip to the Nurenburg

Volksfest (Nuremberg in US English).  We went to the fest, rode a huge farris wheel and then meandered around the city.

We also stumbled upon a giant open field with a WWI memorial that Hitler used to give a rally speech to his Nazi officers.

We were up there, looking out from the spot where Hitler stood, and trying to imagine the sheer number of officers that

would be standing out in that field but 60 years earlier.  Many Eerie moments like this to come as I make my way around

Germany I'm sure.

 

I also ordered my Eurorail pass (great discount online at STA travel).  So I am officially going to: France, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary

sometime in the next few months (I have friends living in all but Paris...so I'm excited to see them and have my own private tour

guides).  More to come as I figure that out.  Oktoberfest is coming up in 2 weeks :)  Can't wait.  We also will be heading up to a

giant winefest in the town next to ours (I am smackdab in the middle of wine country...LOVE it).  Franconian whites and reds...so far, so good.

 

Well, sorry for the length (I hate not having it broken up into easier to digest pieces) but it has been awhile since I have been

at a computer. 

 

Ciao!
Megan M. Gallagher