No Worries All Safe and Sound Over Here

 

Hi Everyone!

I didn't want anyone to worry (should this make the news back in the states).  We

have just been advised to maintain a low profile (duh.  Guess I will not be able

to wear my American Flag jogging suit for awhile).  Anyways, we have just been

sternly cautioned and are not allowed to attend Oktoberfest (the most likely target)--

good thing I went last week!!  Check out my pics on facebook!

 

And seriously, I live in a sparsely populated section of Germany where everything

closes by 6pm and on Sundays...totally fine :)

 

<3 Megan

 

Here's a copy of the email we got from post:

 

The US Embassy in Germany has issued a Travel Alert.

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens that Al Qaeda has threatened it
will conduct terrorist attacks in Germany immediately prior to and following
the federal elections on September 27.  This Travel Alert expires on
November 11, 2009.

Al Qaeda recently released a video specifically warning Germany of attacks.
German authorities are taking the threat seriously and have taken measures
to enhance the level of security throughout the country.

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to maintain good security
practices at all times, and to maintain a heightened situational awareness
and a low profile.  Americans are advised to monitor news reports and
consider the level of security present when visiting public places or
choosing hotels, restaurants, and entertainment and recreation venues.

We encourage U.S. citizens to read the Department of State's current
Worldwide Caution.  It provides additional information on potential threats
to U.S. citizens overseas, along with advice on how to reduce your
vulnerability to such threats.  Additional general information on residing
and traveling abroad, including the latest Country Specific Information for
Germany, may be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.

Contact information for the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and U.S. Consulates in
Frankfurt, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Leipzig may be found on the U.S.
Diplomatic Mission to Germany's website.  All U.S. citizens traveling to or
living in Germany are urged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the
State Department's travel registration website.

Travelers may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by
calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or outside the United
States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
Megan M. Gallagher

Oktoberfest Weekend!

Hello Everyone!

Sorry for the delay (between work and moving I haven't had time to update you in awhile).

 

This past Saturday I found myself (and over 500,000 of my closest German friends) in Munchen

for the opening of the 2009 Oktoberfest.  We hopped on the train at 5:45am (with beers in hand

and ready to go) and arrived in Munchen at 9:30 that morning.  I have never seen so many people,

and so many beers at one time.  The rule of the fest is that you have to be sitting down to be served.

As luck would have it, my many years of musical chairs as a child was actually training that proved

of the utmost importance for this event and I was somehow able to find a seat and enjoy a beer.

The day was fabulous!  (pics to come on facebook soon as possible).

 

Sunday was then followed by a day at the Franken Therme.  The natural saltwater baths were heavenly

after a long day shoulder to shoulder and mug to mug with all those people.  The pools varied in salt

content.  3% (ocean-like) 12% (easy to nap floating peacefully on top of the water) and 26% (It is like the

feeling of balancing on a ball in a pool.  The slightest loss of concentration and you were on your back or

stomach trying to regain some sort of control in the water.  The day wouldn't be European without a trip to

the sauna and embracing the nudity of yourself and everyone else.  There is nothing quite like the feeling

of not knowing the language or the protocol for the sauna and being naked.  Most awkward moment so far?

Definitely.  But by the end of the trip I'm sure I will have many more oddities to account for.  But--the sauna.

Sooo great (once you figured it out).  There were different smells in the saunas (strawberry, cola, tutti frutti..and

so on).  In one sauna you exfoliate with honey and salt and then spend time in the honey scented room sweating

it off.  In between events there are showers and soaps and shampoos.  There was also a snow chamber that you

go into for a little bit after you left the room--brrrr!  And then there was an ice water dip to top off your time in the

steam room.  It was a blast (we will probably be heading back there a few times before we head home).

 

All in all, last weekend is my favorite so far!  But there is still more to come :)
Megan M. Gallagher

Pictures on Facebook

Hi Everyone,

Should you be interested I have finally been able to post an album on facebook of what I have been up to.

There is also a new video up in my video section from the Winefest :)  It gives a pretty good representation

of the whole night :)

More to come soon!

I have an Address!!!

I finally have an address on post :)

Which means that it is the same as sending something within the US (postage and so forth).

Should anyone feel the need to write a letter or send a box to Germany I would be happy to

provide you with that service.

You can catch me at:

Megan Gallagher

in care of Marjorie Cleveland

CMR 454 Box 2555

APO AE 09250

Prague..My Last Tour

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of recent update--things here have been a little crazy lately.

As you know, last weekend I went to Prague (determined to give the city a second

chance).  After 7 hours on a train we finally arrived in Prague.  I trekked around the 

square, ate at Bohemia Bagel (my fav little sandwich place ever).  That night we

decided to participate in a cultural experience unique to Prague--the locals call it--

I believe a "bar crawl".  I'm not totally sure what that translates to, as it is, of course

in Czech.  

On our way to destination five, the city got me again.  This time not as a taxi driver,

but as a cobble stone road.  Next thing I know, I am down and seeing stars (different

from those I had seen earlier from the absinth).  My ankle zigged as I zagged.  I then

crawled home from the crawl and rested and iced my ankle (which is grapefruit esque).

I was totally out of commission Sunday and hobbled my way from train to train on Monday.

Currently I have a noticeable limp on my way to work each day (but getting better all the

time!!).  

Fool me once Prague shame on you.  Fool me twice...

So Much Already in the First Three Days

Well it has been awhile since I last posted on the blog.  There is quite a bit to catch everyone up on.

Those kids have been wearing me out (but each day it gets a little easier...and when I'm not "new"

they test their limits much less--can't wait for that).  I work with one to two year olds from 8 to 5

most days and they are a handful.  One is jumping from a table while another is pulling someone's

hair while the third needs a diaper change.  I have 7 full-time kids and then we get a couple for a few

hours or so.  I work with Ms Carmen and Ms Sede and between the three of us things somehow

manage to get done. 

I have a bit of a commute to and from work each day.  I have to catch the 6:54am train and then walk to

post (and then I catch the 5:55p home).  There is quite a bit of hiking to get there (which is charming now,

that it's fall and the weather is nice...but once winter hits it is really going to be a bummer).  Along the way,

we have a pear tree and a plum tree (so that makes a nice breakfast or evening snack). 

Monday I came home completely beat, Tuesday it was a little better (I could eat a bowl of cereal without

falling asleep in it) and today I'm physically fine, but emotionally drained.

Today four of my seven full-time kids have a parent being deployed for a full year.  Watching those goodbyes

today was absolutely heartbreaking.  Everyone was crying and trying to get "one more hug" before Mom or

Dad left.  A couple of the parents held it together while they were in class, but as soon as they were outside

you could hear them crying from the window.  Today was just a day of hard goodbyes and some really upset

toddlers (who don't know how to communicate their emotions other than crying, acting out, and major temper

tantrums).  So everyone was feeling the stress of deployment (and I have a feeling we will be for some time).

Some of the coping methods for our age groups is to have an unwashed t-shirt of mommy or daddy's because

the smell of the parent is comforting.  We also have a lot of pictures of the deployed parents hanging up at toddler

level around our classroom (and near the area they have their naps).  Some parents recorded a CD of them reading

a favorite book or singing a favorite song for the child.  So we have an action plan to help our kids cope with their

parent being gone in ways that they can understand.

Well more to come from me (this weekend is a 3 day weekend...so I'll let you know what comes up_

Megan M. Gallagher