Peace Pieces

2012-01-18T22:55:00.000-08:00

So, here I am, a Thursday morning. Yesterday I bought Sebastian's birthday present... He wont't read this before tomorrow so you get to know already: The latest Amy Winehouse CD (I also got a little thing about MJ post-pardom... Weird) and then a bunch of old "anscester artists" like Billi Holiday, a mix of Aretha, Ella, etc, Dinah Washington, Louis Armstrong... I can't remember. But the point is educational. And I am super pumped to be extending the CD collection in general.

And I went to the University. They said lots of stuff, which was good and have formulated my edumacation plan a little more solidly.

A: Starting in April, I will be studying Voice, doing self-directed German grammar in the side, and an Econ correspondence course with UVic (still waiting on the confirmation... But if it's not with UVic, I will do my on EuroZone study. It is too good a time to pass up!). I need to talk to by boss but working a couple of shifts on the side should keep my financially stable.

B: Starting in April I will continue with private voice lessons (perhaps try again for the BA?) and register for a B2 German language course. I will also do that Econ correspondence EU thing and cut my working hours.

Regardless, I will register here as an "Auslandstudentin" at the University for two terms starting in October, taking courses that hopefully should push my Econ degree forward.

Yes, it's a wild plan... But it is astoundingly feasible. And this is a wild life.

Surfacing

2012-01-11T12:06:00.000-08:00

Here I am again! Still thinking of you lovely people who care to read this... Someone said something to me about disappearing and surfacing. How true. I never intended to disappear to Germany... I just have trouble multi-tasking. Sebastian has sometimes pushed me across a street because I somehow couldn't walk and think at the same time. So, yet another apology for my lame communication skills.

But life is good and fairly insane. And SO MUCH SINGING! Widmung from Schumann: A mixture of firy passion and steady, constant pushing through something thick and wet... Batti Batti: Italian drama and wiley seducing... Zerfließe: Pure aching, haunting, flowing effortless... Oh man.

And now I must to bed because tomorrow starts early again for Frau Brown. Phew!

Peace is always a decision, but sometimes it is hard to remember!

Take care,
Janet

Happy New Year!

2012-01-08T00:15:00.000-08:00

Dear freinds and family,
Happy New Year! I hope that this letter finds you well and looking forward to the coming months. I am sitting in a train between Bayreuth and Freiburg, Germany. We are just sliding through Bamburg and I still have about six and a half hours of travel time ahead of me. But I don't mind. I still have a "touristy" side that finds trains (as well as pretzles, old buldings, driving 180km/hr etc.) pretty exciting.
At the end of December I wrote a B1 German Languange exam (!!). One of the tasks was to write about modern correspondance media such as Facebook. I wrote that I am a friend of the letter. This is rather ironic because I very rarely write or receive letters. But I have always loved the annual Christmas card/letter tradition and this year, which has been very full and likely hard to follow for an observer, seems like a good one to try my hand at an annual update.
Since May I have made Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, home. Home. What a strange, important, and illusive word. In the past year and half (since this is my first Christmas letter, I feel I am allowed to do that--stretch back to 2010 if I need to, right?) I have called many places home: Victoria, Cowichan Bay, L'Arche Trosly (France), Bayreuth, and of course Freiburg.
But perhaps before I endeavour a chronological recap, I will simply try to descibe my present. Sebastian and I live in a lovely third floor apartment looking over a church and Freiburg's Old Cemetary on the one side, and Schloßberg on the other (there are pictures on my blog). We are about a five-minute walk from th pedestrian-only downtown, with its beautiful old Cathedral, daily farmers market and winding cobbly streets.
Since October I have been working in a small bakery/cafe in a gas station (a bit like the classier, German version of Tim's). I get up just past 5 am, drink a coffee and try to make myself look presentable, bike about 10 minutes, and then, between 6am and 1pm, I am known to most as "Frau Brown" (The "Whitney" was apparantly a little bit too complicated and in one of the cash-registers, I am actually signed in as "Frau Braun," which I find highly entertaining). I love it. I do not plan to make a career of it, but working in a little shop is pretty sweet. For one thing, I have the chance to engage in some serious People Watching. Because we are in a gas station, we get all sorts of wacky people coming through, from the Italian construction workers who argue over who is allowed to pay for everybody's espressos, to the (often pretty cute) bicycle repair guys, to the old regulars with an extroadinary German dialect, to the English truck drivers, to the Turkish schoolgirls, to the French tourists, to the rude businessmen, to the maildeliverers... I am reminded every day that there thousands of ways to live; that no life path is worthier than another and that we are always called to build peace and community, wherever we find ourselves.
When I came to Germany, I decided that I would make this year my chance to do things I had often intended to do but never did. One of those things is to take music more seriously. I had been toying with the idea of auditioning for a classical voice BA at the Freiburg Hochschule für Musik (where Sebastian is studying to be a music teacher) since I got here and started taking lessons again. In October, I decided to go for it, figuring that whether I am successful or not, the challenge of preparing my voice and musical theory (and piano skills!) for the audition would be a fun and worthwhile experience.
Now with less than seven weeks to go, I am singing more than I ever have in my entire life. It is amazing to (slowly) be able to sing not only "nicely," but with artistic precision and detail. Preparing an aria reminds me of writing a well crafted essay where each phrase deserves care and thought; polishing. That care and thought requires a well-trained voice in order to be accurately expressed. For you music nerds (or happy Youtubers), I am singing Bach's "Zerfließe Mein Herze", "Batti Batti" from Mozart's Don Giovanni, "Widmung" by Schumann, and two selections from Bernstein's Song Circle I Hate Music. It is a challenging but incredibly beautiful program. Thankfully, this audition has really become a team effort. Sebastian, his mother Uta, as well as my teachers Frau Bittner and Frau Müller have spent hours with me working through pieces, doing hearing or theory tests, piano lessons... The support I have going into this is incredible and I am so, so, so thankful for it.
Home. You have probably heard that "Home is where the heart is." I find this piece of cliche wisdom rather useful because it explains why I have spent the last year feeling rather stretched all over the place. This time last year, I was in Victoria beginning my fourth semester of an Economics degree, often visiting my family in Cowichan Bay, singing in a couple choirs and running every day beside the wide Pacific Ocean. Now I live with my (wonderful, talented, ridiculously attractive) boyfriend, work in a coffee shop, sing for hours alone, speak a foreign language, and bicycle everywhere. Freiburg is my "Home", Cowichan Bay is my "Home", and every day my heart gets a little more accustumed to this wild and unimaginable expansion of its capacity.
Outside, the blustering snow has turned to rain and the train has picked up a few more passengers. I am struck that over the course of one train ride, I have seen so many different landscapes... And yet, the same train track connects them seamlessly. It reminds me of the bike trip that Sebastian and I did this summer. We biked for a week along the Donau River, starting at the source and ending at Regensbourg about 600km or so away. We followed the water, sometimes a trickle of a stream, sometimes a wide, wide river, through endless corn fields, austere cliffs, old villages, monestaries, forests, and big cities. I find myself looking back at the past year, and the past few years even, and wonder, through all these landscapes of life, what has been my river, what has guided me or carried me on this crazy ride? Not long ago I would have said Peace, the desire to cultivate God's Peace in the world. And I do believe that we are all called to be instruments of God's Peace, no matter what life landscape we find ourselves in. But what ties these landscapes together more fundamentally (and I do not mean only in my life--I would venture that such is true for all of us) is Love. That sounds very idealistic and silly (and yes, I am the one who bought a one-way ticket to a foreign country in order to continue a fairy-tale romance, so I would understand if you don't trust my youthful "wisdom"), but Love is a powerful and constant motivator, whether I have always been aware of it or not. And, to venture one more abstract and idealistic conclusion, it is this constant Love that empowers us to be peace makers...
And with that last little bit of philosophising, I think I will draw this, my first "New Year's" letter, too a close. May God's Love and Peace be with you in the coming year and may you see many fantastic and wonderful landscapes (perhaps Freiburg?).
Peace, Love, all good things,
Janet

2011-08-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

OK, really so much to catch up on! And we are leaving on Sunday for an eight-day bike trip along the Donau River (check it out!) and then five weeks of HOLIDAY!!!! So I won't be posting much in that time. But here are so many pics that you won't want to hear from me for a while anyway!

Another Pretzel Projekt--MIGROS!

Pretzles: 7/10

Eating delish polenta with my favourite Gluten/Lactose/Egg intolerant...

BAckpacking? No, laundry.

Soooo much laundry! It's super expensive so we always put it off--and then have mountains to do. Not actually more effective.

FREIBURG!!!

... from the top of the Schlossberg...

Mmmm.... Authentic Freiburg Wurst...

Pretzel Prjekt: 7.5/10

And then Martin, Seb's bro came to visit with friends. He and Sophie continued on to France and then Spain in a super awesome road trip...

Kase Kuchen--gotta happen...

Chillen on top of Schlossberg...

My work!!!

Pretzel Projekt: 5.5/10

Headin' to a Switzerland for a Cheese farm adventure with Felix and Charlotte--unreal fun...

Obvs fresh every morning... and the cheese made on site...

So many games!

And so much fun! I don't have time now to write more, but enjoy the pics--they speak for themselves : )

Peace and all good things,

2011-08-09T01:16:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm..... So much to catch up on! The last few weeks have been a wonderful whirlwind of visitors, holiday adventuring, and working. It has been great but has left me little time to update. In any case, I have billions of photos...

2011-07-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

Again, so long since my last post--I know I say this every time but I will try to be more frequent (and then each is less daunting to do). Furthermore, I really want to go for a run today but I promised myself (and you, I guess, whoever you are) that I would update.

So, here are some new pics...

This is me holding some lovely Market carrots. I am so pleased--we are buying all our veggies from the Market (regional produce!) and any cookies etc. are home-made with Fair Trade certified chocolate. Fun fact: It is very hard to find Fair Trade chocolate here. There is usually only one brand (GEPA) It feels so good to be consuming the way that I want to be, "voting" with my consumer power for local and just economic exchange.

Also, these carrots were just perfect "couple" carrots, all wound together. I know, sickening... But I can't help it : )

Have I already said that I just love pretzels ("bretzels")? Well I do. And now I decided that I shall do a Pretzel Project and then I just HAVE to try all different ones.

And so, exhibit A:

No, I didn't eat THIS one (it is wooden). But you would think that a bakery with a giant pretzel out front would have amazing pretzels inside too, right? Well not exactly. It was OK (and I just always love their salty white-bread-ness), but I would give it a 6, I think. A little too crunchy and not a thick or soft enough back part.

This is the bakery where it came from...

And stay posted! I intend to be very thorough in this study : )

Now a little Econ nerdiness... Of course, Germany is about the coolest place to be right now if you are an aspiring economist (which I still consider myself to be). It would be cooler if I could read all the German articles describing Greece, Portugal, Italy, and all the negotiations that are going on. Germany is right in the thick of it, being the strongest economy in the EU.

So I liked that there was a little visible public opinion even in the calm and senior- /little family- friendly Stadtpark: "0 Cent f Griechenland + Portugal."

And finally, I spent the last hour or so trying to create a MySpace page for artists (finally with some success). You see, I have a little idea that it would be cool some day to play a few gigs here and there. And I know that I am not super, but you never know who might find it good listening. And besides, this seems to be my year for doing all those things you kind of think you would like to some day maybe...

And so

http://www.myspace.com/571652251

If you are interested...

Also, if you are interested, I have spent the last couple of days writing/recording (with my Mac so it's not SUPER, but whatevs... I guess it sounds kind of old-school and grindy) a new tune. It's also on there, just for fun and since I guess that no huge record label or big festival's gonna be looking at it any time soon since I had trouble finding it again without signing in. Haha. I am so terrible with technology.

OK, now off to go for a run in the weather that cannot decide if it is sunny or rainy...

Peace and all good things,

Janet

2011-07-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello, hello! I have just cleaned the apartment (again!It always gets so grubby/messy etc etc and this is Seb's crazy week so I just want it to be super un-stressful!) and now it looks beautiful. Again.

Hmmm... What's new. Well, a lot actually--I have been doing so much research about what the most logical way to do this education/life/Germany/LOVE thing is. And I think I have come up with a solution. But hold your horses, I need to get a few more questions answered and then I will tell you of my game plan.

In the mean-time, let's try just dwelling in the present: I am here in Freiburg! Yoohooo! It is so hot everyday and I am NOT a heat person. Also, a tip: do not start training for a marathon in the summer unless you intend to be permanently partially dead in all other activities. Yesterday I ran 26km (!!) finishing around 10:30 am and I had head-ache/tummy-ache/weird dead feeling ALL DAY. In short, I think that I may have to post-pone my athletic ambitions. And anyway, we are going on holiday in August/September so my (very serious) training would have been interrupted anyway.

Wooooh! I got distracted! What I meant to tell you about was yesterday evening. As I was feeling dead and as Sebastian had been studying all day, we decided to go into the cemetery across the street (haha! I actually did not realize how ironic that was until I started writing this). The church choir could be heard from our window and the cooler evening air was so delightful. The cemetery is closed every evening so (being daring and adventurous) we climbed over the stone wall and lay down in the middle on the grass. So peaceful, so wonderful.

And I thought (as I have before... but always forget) is that no matter what you do, you have a choice between peace and fear. Even when you have no idea how you are going to complete your degree or fund your adventuring or see your family (who you miss desperately), you have the choice to trust and find Peace. After all, the most we can do is live day-to-day.

I write this but I know I am not a good example. Nevertheless, writing helps me remember and maybe will help you too. God is always there making that Peace choice easier. Over and over again throughout the Gospels, we are reminded that we may trust in God: "Do not be afraid," "Peace be with you". It is not a blind trust that allows us to be peaceful. Together with that "Peace be with you," Jesus showed the wounds in his hands and feet. It is clear: we can be aware of all that might make us afraid, all that is painful, unknown, threatening, and still have "Peace be with" us.

And so, I keep endeavoring to trust and choose Peace.

Love and all good things!

Janet

2011-07-06T02:39:00.000-07:00

I will post a new post (more updated) after this: this is a retroactive, last Friday post. I decided that I would have my own language school, with silly touristy-ness and a "fun fun fun" schedule.

And I also documented it so you could come along!

It really is fun! No joke!

Of course, we must work a little. Just so you know, I came to Germany with almost zero Deutsche. And then I did a four week course and did A1 and a bit of A2. In Europe, there is a language evaluation system that goes A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. To study here, one must pass a TestDAF or DSH test. I spoke to language advisor and he said that normally one does B1, B2, C1 and then the test.

These books are from the library (I have a library card!!! Yooohoooo!)

And then a little break for sing-sing-singin'! I am taking voice lessons with the prof that Sebastian also has. Furthermore, she has connected me with a friend who needs a baby-sitter for an extremely cute, very blond and blue-eyed 7 1/2 month old. I will go to her place this Friday and see how it goes...

But the point is, now a little singing.

And then (undocumented) I brought lunch to the Hochschule and ate with Sebastian (yummy Greek salad and home-baked bread, and then Milchreiz for dessert).

After this, I went on a Stadttour led by my tourist guide book! Fun fun fun!

Here's a bad picture of the old trade/commerce/merchant building (I think). You can't see here, but it has a beautifully tiled roof. Also, the sky looks super cool!

Haha. This seemed like a silly picture, but on the other hand, you may be interested to know that this is what all the streets in the downtown look like.

There is a Wine-Festival going on! Actually, it's over now and we never made it (!) but I think that there is another one later, a smaller one with more local wines...

Translation: Better drinking, better living.

These next two are for Monica...

The main road used to be a salt route and thus, on the back of Schwabbentour (which is the entrance to the old town), there is a cool painting of a salt merchant.

This is Schwabbentour from the inside...

This is the oldest Gasthaus/Pub/Restaurant in Freiburg. There are documents that mention it as early as 1387... We haven't eaten there, but hey, perhaps if Sebastian reads this, he might think it a romantic idea... Haha. Just kidding. I am sure we eat just as well at home. Did I mention my beet salad with a balsamic reduction (thanks Jenny!), roasted sunflower seeds and feta cheese on a bed of lightly dressed greens? What a win!

I forget what this building is but the important thing is that during the second world war, Freiburg was pretty damaged. However, great care was taken to restore buildings to exactly how they were before the war. For example, this building was actually totally rebuilt in the 1950's (or so) but you would never think so to look at it.

This is Augustiner Platz. In the evening, you cannot walk through that central area because everyone is just chillin'. It's super cool. This afternoon, there was a guitarist and a clarinetist playing klezmer-ish music. I decided to break from the tour, find a pretzel (totes my fav) and hang out a little enjoying the scene...

While searching for said pretzel, I found a second-hand store! But it was nothing like those in Canada. I was pretty disappointed. However, if I want a Little House on the Prairie-esque cotten frock or a leather jacket, I know where to go!

Aha! Finally success. However, and I know I will be supremely criticized for admitting this: I love the pretzels from True Grain the best!

Also, note the "Mineralwasser," a staple beverage here. It is soda water and I have recently learned that if you get "Medium," it tastes like soda water that has been sitting out for half a day. Mmmm...

And then I headed back to the crib and we had dinner, and then went out to the Stadtpark with a bottle of wine... It feels like a bit of a magical place. Perhaps I will do a blog just about it another time.

2011-06-28T05:16:00.000-07:00

So, because of my camera not having batteries, I have a big back-lash of photos. In any case, my last couple posts were so text-heavy that perhaps it is not a bad idea to have some pics...

Below is from a couple weeks ago: Look at that gorgeous loaf of bread!! Yeah, my best so far. This day was rockin'. We stayed in PJs, I made that gorgeous loaf of bread. Around 1pm or so we decided to watch Star Wars Episode 1 (en francais--super hilarious). Then we got a little hungry so we paused the film and made up some delish pasta with spinache/zucchini tomato sauce. There was a little cheese lacking so we went with the only cheese in the fridge: gorgonzola. UNREAL GOOD! Highly recommend it. The cheese gets all melty and excellent... Oh man.

And then we watched more Star Wars.

And then I went for a good long run, came back super tired (which, strangely, is a great feeling). And then we had that delish loaf with cheese, salad etc.

And then we watched Star Wars Episode 2 en francais. An all-round win of a day off.

This, my friends, is a beautiful gluten-free lactose-free Linsen Torte made for our very own Felix's birthday. I think I mentioned it before: Sebastian's birthday specialty! Although the gluten/lactose free thing was a twist. But it was generally well received...

... at this party for this birthday boy depicted below. And I am simply delighted, clearly.

And another cake: this was not intentional.

Everyone had been telling us we must go try Stefan's Käse Kuchen from the Münster Markt. Finally, with Theresa (a friend of Sebastian's that I actually met last year in France!), bought some and I ate an entire third (thought I would never want to see it again, but in fact, I am going to have a little more just now--so good! Although David, you still make the best, obvs).

And this is the Cathedral that looks over the market... I felt like such a tourist taking this photo. But iam a resident! For realz!

...the "Markt"...

And now begins an epic tale of fire, bananas, and ice cream. Oh yes.

It begins with rum, carefully poured out...

And here is the fearless hero preparing himself for this feat of bravery (in fact, this was a "before" picture, just in case something dire happened).

AND THEN FIRE! Oh man. That was super cool.

And successful, the hero looks over his handiwork.

Aha. It kind of looks disgusting. But it was sooooooo delicious! Bananas, rum (but not for long), walnuts, sugar, margarine...

... and ice cream... with everything.

And finally, a new discovery: eggs on pizza. I cannot take credit, it was Sebastian's genius and I was even doubtful at first. But in fact, it was fantastic.

And that's all for now! See you next time on (what seems to have become) Janet's home-cooked food review.

Peace and all good things.

2011-06-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

Oh man. I have started this post at least three times and then interrupted myself because I think Sebastian's about to arrive home from practicing. Each time it is just the folks downstairs opening and closing doors.

So much has happened since my last post! I have a certificate that says A2 on it from my language course (yoohoo!) and Sebastian and I sang in a super cool concert yesterday. It was a series of really challenging (as in also challenging listening) pieces set within Stravinsky's Mass (did he have more than one? I don't know...). The first was a choir piece but it was entirely sounds that one would not have likely interpreted as singing, although the choir was reading from a score. The effect was a jungle-like atmosphere where the sounds of animals or water would crescendo and decrescendo as dramatically as any classical choir composition. The second was an organ piece of a similar nature in that it absolutely stretched the bounds of what one would consider music. I particularly enjoyed watching the face of a perplexed and then disgruntled woman in the audience. There was then a percussion piece, again along the same lines, and then the Poulenc I had described earlier which, by comparison, was like a melodic folk song. I love reading far too much into these sorts of things, but indulge me. The Stravinsky Mass is itself challenging--it is an old and sacred text, but his chords are far from certain or comfortable. It did not challenge the text for me, but rather demanded that it get a new attention. By setting within this Mass pieces that very much challenged the definition of musical performance, there was an opportunity to ask one's self who is God? What is God's Creation? It is not confined to Amen cadences (IV to I) or to traditional interpretations. It is far more encompassing and wild. I feel like I may not be able to go much further without wild hand gestures, stopping and starting, half finished sentences and, finally, the wish that you too had been there to experience the music. In any case, here is what is important: God is far more than we could ever imagine... limitless and all inclusive...

And I love it when art, music in this case, challenges and opens the and imagination. So good.

Today, Sebastian and I made Semmelknödel. These are delicious bread dumplings made from rock solid, stale buns, eggs, parsley and milk. Normally they should be served with a meaty dish or some sort, but we didn't have any such thing so instead, I sauteed zucchini in a white wine, onion and garlic sauce. Pretty good, if I may say so myself.

Here below are the Semmelknödel simmering away with the onions frying up for the sauce.

And here is an authentic Bavarian displaying his excitement: a veritable stamp of approval.

And should you be ridiculously jealous, here is the recipe we used! Super delish.

And now he's home. Hurrah! Tomorrow I will buy batteries for my camera and then I can take more pictures... And then tell you more of the kick-ass stuff that goes on here : )

In the mean-time, Peace and all good things.

2011-06-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

OK, just a quick one before I go to bed. Today I had a two-hour rehearsal with a choir at Sebastian's school. There is a concert this week-end and they have been generous enough to include me, which a great because I love, love, love singing. We are doing a Stravinsky mass and also excerpts from Poulenc's Figure Humaine. Here's a link to a YouTube playlist of the BBC choir doing some, if you are interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A04BzES-xRY&playnext=1&list=PLF6B0C06D87E1019F

Sometimes the language thing is a little frustrating because often the words a conductor uses to ask for a certain sound are very carefully selected--language is so complex and subtle. Of course, I am pretty pumped when I can pick up which bar we are going from. Nevertheless, there is something universal and wonderful about music.

It makes me think of Pentecost which was interesting this year for me as language is such a theme. But in fact, I loved being able to recognize the gospel, despite not understanding every word. "Peace be with you. As the Father sends me, so I send you." No matter what language, God is always calling us to share in and be instruments of Peace.

Also today Asami shared her beautiful home-made rice-balls with me in class. I think next time I make bread, I will bring her some too. What a good day--shared food, shared music...

In any case, I am off to bed. Shall I post one more picture? I think so.

This is me after I tried running the Freiburg Half-Marathon route. I did it (21km) in about 2hr45min. And since then, I have decided I want to try training for a full marathon. So, I have been following a training program for about three weeks now and yesterday I did 20km in 2hr18min! Yoohooo!

And with that, I wish you Peace and everything good. Guten Nacht!

2011-06-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

I am sooo bad at this. Apparently I deleted my first set of photos. So let me try again.

Also, we had some visitors! Two students from Finland were staying with us. One was auditioning at the Hochschule and her brother came with her. Not only that, the day of her audition was also her birthday! Sebastian made a beautiful cake, a “Linsen Torte” for the occasion. It is a torte with a ground nut crust and a jam filling: most delicious.

One evening was spent playing Kuh Handel. You probably don’t know the game. It consists of auctionning animals and building up a farm. That sounds simple and perhaps uninteresting but it gets rather intense and Sebastian and I are terribly competitative. In any case, the birthday girl won! Which was rather fitting.

The next we played Monoply didn't finish because they had to leave super early this morning. They were really really sweet and it was super fun to have guests.

OK, back to photos.

Below, a favourite and happy snack. Our Finnish visitor said he had never tasted the like.

We ride our bikes everywhere. Mine is so awesome: a present from Sebastian's dad.

This is my first pic from Germany. We moved pretty much all our stuff in a smart car and it was packed to the gills!

And our keys with matching L'Arche key-chains : )

Here's a picture from a little way up the mountain. You can see Münster in the background! I heard today that the whole city was quite bombed but the pilot with the instruction to bomb the cathedral simply couldn't because it was too beautiful.

Typical breakfast: Muslix, apple, yoghurt, cinnamon, coffee, and sunshine.

A little side-ways but so sassy.

... bike-trip supplies: local carrots and chocolate...

And that's all for now. Guten Nacht!!

2011-06-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

So my last post I had no idea what I was doing with the photos. That's way they were so random. But this time I have tried to be a little better organized and I will explain a little for each. I received some feedback that I should put up more photos of the apartment. So I have... Way way way too many, but you asked for it : )

This morning, Sebastian and I met some of the people from my German class at Munster Platz. The class is so cool because we are all from completely different places. Below is a picture of us all with our teacher. We are from Japan, China, Portugal, Chile, Belgium, and Canada.

Later we walked around the town a little and kept seeing little kids playing with boats in the wee canals that line the streets. I wanted to get a picture but I didn't want to come across as a creepy tourist taking photos of children. Luckily, we found a boat ourselves so I only had to look like a lame tourist taking a cute picture of my boyfriend. He is very obliging. Also notice the spinach purchased fresh from the market. Home-made feta/garlic/spinach pizza has become somewhat of a staple. Mmmm.....

And now begin the endless apartment photos. I wasn't kidding. I started in the most important room: the kitchen where we certainly spend the majority of our waking hours. You can see our lovely basil plant as well as roses that our Finnish guests gave us.

Again, the kitchen... Note the bottom shelf: homemade rolls and the all-important coffee-cone!

...more kitchen. I told you it was important!

The shower is small but utterly functional.

I always forget to turn on the water heater (which is on the left below). But sometimes a cold shower is oddly refreshing. No problem-o!

Now begin the notice how may sky-lights we have! That is a great feature of a third floor apartment. So much light!

The living-room is a little sparse. The cord hanging in the corner is awaiting a TV that is still in Bayreuth... Sehr wichtig für mein Deutsch!

This is the view from the living room skylight. That is Schloßberg in the background.

And our excellent green pull-out couch... Come and visit!

Bathroom. Sebastian decided I should be in some of these apartment pictures. So here I am.

Another skylight, this time the bathroom one.

And our bedroom! With the humungous bed that we bought from a Turkish used furniture store--well the frame that is. The salesman looked like he was out of the Godfather, but the frame is beautiful And not expensive and came with a side table! Joohoo!

Another skylight!

We haven't a clothes wardrobe so I cleverly covered us each a set of Ikea shelves.

This is the view out the front of our bedroom. This side faces west. The kitchen side faces east.

Stadtstraße!

I love, love, love having beautiful music in the house. And I love, love, love this musician!

This is the half-floor landing area...

This is our white board where we write all sorts of things. Right now, it has on it a message from our Finnish guests that they left just before they departed.

The "front" door.

The view as soon as you walk in...

And me!

2011-06-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I did not just disappear into the land of pretzels. I simply landed there without internet access and as a result I have dolefully neglected this correspondence. And as I result, I have far, far too much to tell. In short, I wish you all could just come and see this all with me. We have space! Today we have two Finnish students staying with us-- one is auditioning at the Music School where Sebastian studies.

Rather than trying to catch you up with everything (which seems a very daunting task, I'm not going to lie), I will try to set the story such that you can follow in the future.

Freiburg is beautiful. And we live in the most enviable part: Herdern, home to classy seniors and a few lucky students who rent rooms from them. We are on the third floor in a spacious two-bedroom apartment. There is lots of light and the only thing I could think of to complain about was the light teal carpet that covers practically everything. That is to say, it is very nearly perfect.

Across the street is a protestant church with an excellent organist and an accomplished choir that I can hear practicing on Monday nights. Beside the church is a beautiful old cemetery with benches and enormous trees. In "Innenstadt" Herdern, there is an organic grocery store, a good meat shop, bakery, very expensive grocery store, bike shop... All beautifully cute.

And down the street is the Stadtgarten which is always full of people and seems to be bursting with roses. Yesterday Sebastian and I went and watched baby ducks paddle around in the wee pond. From the Stadtgarten one can take a bridge that connects with the path (or network thereof) on the Schlossberg, the big hill/mountain (what is the definition anyway??) that overlooks the city.

To get to Sebastian's school you must go a little while along the Dreisam River. In fact the path goes along quite far and I have taken to running it nearly every day in some capacity.

The Schwabentor which is the old brick arch that marks the opening of the city and the mostly car-free zone. Here the Munster Cathedral reigns, visible from nearly everywhere is the city. It is beautiful, but the city is so keen to preserve it that they have covered is with wire and other protective ugliness.

In the square there is a daily market full of vegetables, cheeses, meats... Everything you could think of. Unfortunately there has been quite a veggie scare going on here so we haven't indulged as mush as we might have in the fresh and easily local produce.

Also neat is Augustiner Platz. We have gone a couple of times in the evening when it is beautiful out and the square in full of people hanging out and enjoying the atmosphere. Some have guitars or other instruments, some have beer or wine... Everyone clearly feels welcome perhaps because with such a group there is a comfortable anonymity.

Of course I could go on and on and on. I was often told that we had chosen to live in the most beautiful city on Germany. I don't considered myself educated enough to make that call. But it is marvelous and I am so please that we are bit by bit coming to know it as a home.

And may I again extend my invitation: please, please come visit. Good things are most certainly better shared!

The Adventure Begins

2011-05-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

I am in Germany. It still hasn't completely settled in despite the clear time change, the pretzles on a long train ride and, of course, being with Sebastian and his family. But here I am.