Easter Weekend

And what a weekend it was!! Busy days, and it was a four-day weekend for most of the guys, so it's been crowded. People came over Thursday night after getting off work, and the house was pretty much full from then on, to the point that we used every single available bed, which has never happened before.

Friday was hole-digging day. Brad had decided that Sunday was going to have baptisms for some of the soldiers, and it was going to be a field baptism. That means, we went out and dug a hole in his back yard big enough to dunk people in. During the digging process (and by we I mean Mac and Will, with myself as supervisor, photographer, and coffee-fetcher. When I offered to be on digging detail, I was told that I could go play with my little sandcastle set. Brad has his picture here digging, but he only turned up the tip of a shovel-full for the sake of a photograph), it snowed, and hailed, and sleeted, and the sun shone. O spring weather in Germany, how strange thou art. In German there's a saying, "April, April, er weiss nicht was er will," (April, April, he doesn't know what he wants) and it's sooo true. The weather is crazy!! Anyways, as they started, the guys were like, "It's been raining so much the ground is nice and wet, this should be no problem, as long as there aren't really many rocks." A few shovel-fulls later, they discovered the boulders. We were out there for 4 hours before it was finished. I got sick. :(

Saturday was Easter-preparation day, but included a hike to the castle. Much of the day was spent cleaning and cooking and getting ready for the next day's invasion. I made a potato salad, the recipe of which I must remember to brink home with me. Mmmm-mmmm. Yummy! One of the hams was cooked, and a bunch of other stuff prepared. We did take a nice hike up to Brad's castle, and I got to sing. Gordon even sang with me, which always makes things more fun. There were snowball fights on the way, and another once we actually got to the castle. Jonathan and I ran and locked ourselves (literally) into the castle to get away from the onslaught. Mac had to use his 'key' and free us again. That night we watched Ben-Hur, and I managed to stay awake for the whole movie!

Sunday morning, snow had fallen, but I was determined to still where my little Easter dress, and I did. People looked at me like I was crazy, but that's okay. I was determined. The service was good, and when we came home there was a mild frenzy of getting ready, and then sort of a calm before the storm spent playing Left Right Center and the piano. There were over 50 people for our Easter meal. Tables and chairs upstairs and down, tons of food (about 40 lbs of ham and a turkey and tons of potatoes and deviled eggs and so much more), people on couches and oustide and everywhere. After lunch, we sang some songs and then went outside for our field baptism. We'd filled the hole up with hot water from the downstairs shower so that the poor soldiers wouldn't freeze to death, and the sun had come out and melted the remains of the snow. Five soldiers were baptized, and wrapped warmly in towels as soon as they got out. Next came an Easter Egg Hunt for the little kids (of which there were many!) and I got to be Chief Easter Egg Hider (woo-hoo!). Once that was over people started trickling home, and when they'd left, there were still almost 20 people staying here. Having 50+ people over makes a house a mess, so we set to work doing a basic cleaning before watching our movie and then saying our goodnights.

Today was re-clean-up day, with a thorough scrubbing of the house from top to bottom, helpful since there were still 12 of us. All the beds full, plus people sleeping on couches! Incredible. After clean-up and some down time, some of us took another hike to the castle. Then came dinner, and the soldiers were back off to post. Most of them have four-day weekends coming up again, and I'm looking forward to seeing them all again soon. The house seems so empty once they're gone, especially after such a full weekend as this one was!

Sorry for the long read, folks, it was a long, fun, and busy weekend! And I'll be home in 2 weeks!!!

La Ligne Maginot

or, The Maginot Line: a rather brilliant military installation designed by the French to prevent Germany from invading during World War II. It was basically a line of fortifications stretching from northern France all the way south to Nice along the German border, able to defend against any German onslaught. Unfortunately, Hitler decided to invade Belgium and enter France from the other side, rendering the whole ineffective, since the guns couldn't turn around the other way. Oops.

That's where we went yesterday. We went to Ouverage Simserhof, the fourth largest 'block' of the Maginot Line. Friday night we were sitting around discussing our options for Saturday's activity when Gordon suggested France, and a trip to the Maginot Line. Sounds interesting, only an hour and a half away - okay, let's go! So we did - and it was fascinating. I had never heard of it before, so it was a lot of fun to sit in between Brad and Gordon on the way there and learn all about it. We watched a movie about it in English, then took a tour on a train, with audio and video in alternating English and German. After that was over, we took a walking tour throughout the entire block with our German guide. (I got to be the translator - and I don't think I did too badly!) It was really very cool - much cooler than I thought it would be.

After the three hour tour, we drove another 10 kilometers to another block, one that hadn't been turned into a museum, where we could climb up top and see the raise-able (I know there's a better word in English, but it escapes me at the moment) gun towers. It was a lot of fun, and we had a full van. Poor Happy actually had to stay behind because there weren't enough seats. Debbie and Nellie were away on the PWOC retreat, so I was the only girl, which was pretty fun. :)

The rest of the week has been great, too. Wednesday night we had a record number of soldiers at the house, and Friday night was very large, as well. Mac had a four day weekend so he was here helping me clean and cook on Friday after Debbie left. Saturday was our French adventure and movie night, Sunday was church and a nice big lunch, followed by an afternoon of Catchphrase and other games. I played more chess this weekend than I have in the last 10 months, which was fun, even though I lost most of the games. And today, I laughed more with Mac and Nellie than I have laughed in a very, very long time, to the point where breathing was painful (or impossible) and smiling hurt. It was great.

And now I can say I've been to France!

Week One

Well, my goodness, I can hardly believe the first week is already over. Time flies when you're having fun! And what a week it has been. Have I mentioned I love this place?

So, Tuesday morning I went with Debbie to the PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) Bible Study on post. It had been snowing a little bit when we woke up, and by the time we got to the chapel, there was enough snow sticking to the ground that we could leave footprints. I was excited! Well, 3 hours later, it still hadn't stopped snowing. We got almost 8 inches of snow!! It was so beautiful! We did get stuck on post for a while until the roads got cleared and we could go back to the House, and it was just so cool to see everything covered in so much snow. I finally got my big snow for living in Germany! Wheee!!! Of course, I had to go make a snowman, down on Brad and Debbie's volleyball court, and they even gave me a carrot for his nose. :)
Wednesday night is always a dinner & discussion night, and there were quite a few single soldiers there. We filled the entire upstairs living room. It was fun to meet a lot more of the soldiers, and to see some familiar faces again.

Thursday was a good day, Brad left to go pick up the speaker for the PMOC (Protestant Men of the Chapel) conference that was this weekend, so Debbie and I had a nice, laid-back day, concluded with popcorn and movies.

Friday is Bible Study day, so we clean and cook during the day, and people come over for dinner. It was a smaller group, since most of the guys were at the PMOC retreat. One of the soldiers led a Bible study, and then everyone went home except our weekend group.

This weekend, the group was Debbie, me, Nellie, and Mac. Now, Nellie and Mac are regulars, to the point that they have rooms named after them. The 2-bed bunk room (where I'm living) is "Nellie's Room," and the bedroom is "Mac's Room." (and the other bunkroom is "Rob's Room.") What a great group - we had a blast. Saturday was spent shopping, all over in Idar-Oberstein and on post in Baumholder. Saturday night was movies and ice cream sundaes!

Sunday morning we had chapel, and then it was back to the House for grilled cheese sandwiches - and yummy tomatoe sandwiches! Lazy afternoon playing dice and catching up on e-mail and stuff, and watching Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, which is very good. We also all got new nicknames this weekend. In Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, they have an accountant, and they call him Mutant. (you have to see the movie!) Anyways, it's hilarious, and at the end I said I needed someone to call Mutant - and Mac volunteered, so he's officially Mutant. Nellie is Trolli, or gummyworm, because she managed to win an electric blue Trolli hat at the German store. Then they decided I was Princess, or Buttercup, after we watched the Princess Bride - which of course makes Rob the Dread Pirate Roberts. It's random, but a lot of fun. We went back to post in the evening so Debbie could go to Bible study, and we three ate at Taco Bell (!!) and then picked Rob up at his barracks, since he was back from PMOC, and we went to the bowling alley on post. Just really a great week!

Train Travel

"Tomorrow's going to be quite the day" hahahahaha silly me. How innocently and happily I said that!

Well, all in all, my luggage probably weighs at least 180 lbs, if not as high as 200. (something I intend to work on while I'm here - what can I get rid of??) And I got to take it all the way across Germany on the trains. Well, the first train was fine, Peter helped me get it all on the train, there were no steps, and there was lots of open space for it to stand out of the way. When I got to Osnabrück, a nice lady from my first train said she had extra time, and helped me get my bags. I had to go from platform 13 to platform 2 in 5 minutes, but a very nice Schaffner (I'm not sure of the English word) opened up the service elevator for us, and we made it in plenty of time. YAY! So, Osnabrück to Mainz was my long train ride. A nice gentleman helped me get my bags up the stairs of the train and into a luggage rack. Getting off the train was an adventure, I had no one to help me, and they kind of collapsed down the stairs, but fortunately everyone was standing far enough back that no one was injured. (how embarassing!) I cannot count the times I had to tell my story to people wondering why on earth I had sooo much luggage. Well, here in Mainz I ran into some difficulties. I went to Platform 3a where my train was supposed to be, but the train I'd been on was too late. So, it said the next train to Idar came on platform 1b. Back upstairs. Nope, that train's not coming, go to 4a. Back downstairs. (fortunately, there were elevators!!) No train. Wait! 4b! AHHH there's the train, RUN FOR IT! So, I managed somehow to run with my bags, and caught the train. Managed to get my luggage on it (no stairs!!) and into a seat. Whooo. Well, then the train decided it wasn't going to go to Idar like the schedule said, it stopped in Kirn - one stop too early. So, I get off at Kirn, and it says next train to Idar-Oberstein, Platform 1. I'm on Platform 3, and there are tracks between me and my destination - and no elevators. It was a desperate moment. Somehow, I managed to get all my bags downstairs, across the tracks, and back upstairs. The handle broke off of one suitcase. But I made it.

Now, if you know me, you know I'm not exactly strong...and I tend to be kind of a wimp. This was a herculean effort for me - and I did it!! And then I saw the train - and it had steps. My arms were already shaking from their efforts, and thank the Lord some young man managed (barely - I told you they were heavy!) to get my bags on the train. He helped me get them off, and as he unloaded the second bag, there were Brad and Rob and Will, helping me, taking my burdens, and filling me with such an unbelievable sense of relief. It was over!! I made it - and I didn't have to carry those darn bags any more!! I collapsed into the back of Brad's van and was so happy to finally be there.

We came back to the Festaburg, my wonderful boyfriend carried my bags up the stairs for me, and I had 5 minutes to recoup before we rushed off to a Bible study on Post. Very fun - great people. And good food! Then it was back here, unpack a bit, and sweet, sweet sleep.


The moral of the story is: train is only my favorite way to travel if I have one suitcase or less. I NEVER, ever want to do that again.

Last Day #2

Today was very quiet.

I managed somehow to get everything into my bags, though I'm scared to think of how much they might weigh. I gave my gifts, and they were all enjoyed. I got a big (heavy) book of Germany in pictures, it's absolutely beautiful. Sadly, I did not get to go for a last walk or drive today, because the wind is threatening to blow the country over into Holland and the rain comes at your face perpendicularly. A good day for contemplation. It's still hard to believe this is it - it's over. It's incredible. I enjoyed my last chance to tickle Flori, listen to Benni, and tell Tina her bedtime stories (they're always stories of my life). Tomorrow I'll wake up for an early breakfast, shove my pjs and today's clothes and my toothpaste into my bags (somehow), say goodbye, and be off. 6 1/2 hours later, I'll get off a train, my boyfriend will hug me, and Brad and Debbie will take me home.

Tomorrow's going to be quite the day.

Packing cont'd

So, I finished. Except for my pjs, what I'm wearing now, and shampoo and toothpaste, I'm packed. And boy does that train ride tomorrow look scary. Heavy suitcases - and 5 minutes to get from platform 13 to 2. Wheeeeee. I'm considering sending one of the suitcases on it's own (they do delivery for like $15.90) but I don't know if it's worth it. Brad's advice is to smile at some nice German who doesn't have any luggage and ask for help - and how I pray it works!! And I hope some strapping gentleman sits near me, cause there's no way under heaven that I can lift those into an overhead luggage rack on my won. Goodness me, but they're cumbersome. But I'm done!! Weird. Weeeeeeeeird.

Packing

How I loathe it. And here I am, fitting my life back into two suitcases, a carry-on, and a backpack. AAAHHHH!!!! Stressful. I didn't just start all of it today, don't worry, but today is the day I actually have to make them relatively even so that I can actually carry them, and make sure everything fits without breaking, all that fun stuff. And it stresses me ouuuuuuuuuut. I need my expert-packing mommy, who more or less packed it all for me when I came here. I need her expertise! Or anyone's! CAUSE I HATE PACKING!

Which is why I'm sitting here blogging instead of working on it. I'm about to go back to work, but I needed a break. Blaaaaaaaahhhhh sorry for taking it out on y'all. The pile is daunting.