Picture time!!! Just Germany

<-- The Queens have 'Kicked Off' the King!

This is just Germany here - RothenBurg and the Renny fest.

"Where in the World is 'Ausfarht' Germany" - Mom

Guten Morgen!!!
It is now 8:04 in Salzburg, Austria. I am with mom and she is complaining about the weather. Personally it is nice. Yes, it is rainy and a tad cloudy, but what can you do except to sit back and enjoy the smell of the rain. So far it had been an eventful trip, starting with the very first day.


12th - I brought a friend home from Schmally with me (Christy). She was supposed to visit her family in Switzerland, but she was never truly able to get a hold of them. So, I invited her to stay with me (I needed someone to help me cook and American Dinner - a thank to Pauling and her family for making Heiny and I a 'Belgian Dinner'). Okay, so I get a text late on the 11th stating that mom will be 3!!! hours late in getting to Brussels airport. So Christy and I slept in and hauled butt to get to the train station. Before I tell you what I did, please note that I checked and re-checked the train times, numbers, and what direction they were heading in. As you maybe thinking - YES, we got on the wrong train. Well more specifically, the right train going the wrong direction. You may now laugh..go on ahead...I did when I stopped being pissed at myself. So mom was 3 hours later for her flights and I added about being two hours because of my train mix-up. So, Mom was supposed to be in Belgium with the chocolate and flowers (that I would have given her in hand) at 8am, but what actually happened is me overlooking her (when trying to find her) around 1:30-ish?? Yeah, that is how the Euro trip started. "On a Great footing!!"

That night/evening, Christy and I put together our American Dinner (Mashed Potatoes, Pan seared & marinaded Chicken, and Veggy Salad) with dessert of No-Bake-Chocolate-Cookies - YUMM!!! Filling up all five of us (Mom, Christy, and Pauline's Mom and Sister and myself) we joked about each of our families and what each of our countries are like. It was the smaller version for the UN's Round table meetings - well minus a few countries.


13th- Was a LONG day. We got up, packed the VW POLO (our rental over here) and drove Christy to Frankfurt am Main Flugenhafen. It is about a 2.5hr car ride away in the rain on the Autobahn. (Yes, I have officially driven on the Autobahn and have gone FAST!!). Mom was asleep for the fast driving. Once getting to the airport and sending her off was an ORDEAL!! to say the least. I drove around the airport 3x before getting the right location and it just so happens that Christy was 7kg over max. Either she would have to pay for another ticket/suitcase or redistribute the weight (and get rid of items). So we all pulled her luggage off to the side and attacked the suitcase with ravenous hunger. We reworked the distribution and threw away items. I ended up receiving contact solution and a case - something I really needed! This tedious procedure took about 30 long-hard minutes. Now it was Coffee Break time for the two Schmerber Gals. So we hit the Starbucks!! And got coffee and snacks. Arguing with mom about not sitting inside to drink the coffee and eat, instead getting on the road; allowed us NOT to be ticketed by the airport cops. *They were just finishing ticketing the care BEHIND us!! Close call number one!

After breathing heavily trying to relax after the close call, we pull off somewhere to eat our sandwiches, lemon cake and leftovers from last night. Once done, I pull out the GPS and type in Ziggy's and Annie's Address. Come to find out we are only about a 30min drive from there, but I was missing a crucial part to my plan of visiting them. I knew they (Annie and her daughter Susan) lived in Haibach, Germany, I just did not know the exact addresses. So...yeah, I got lost and called them to get the addresses. Getting un-lost was interesting, but finally we made it there before Susan had to go to work.


13th-15th (morning) - Staying with Annie was fun and fattening - as usual. But the stories and getting to know a part of your family that is distantly related was the BEST experience ever. During our stay, we tried to help the family pack up Annie's mother's things (She has been gone for 9years). Since Susan's family is moving into the same house as Annie - safety reasons - everyone was in the middle of packing, moving, putting the house up for sale, and finishing up Ziggy's accounts. Which Annie is finding out are All Over the Place! But overall, even with the craziness, we both had a great time with them.


15th-17th - Rothenburg, Germany (city visit), Vilseck to visit friend I meet in Volos, Renny Festival, and driving to Salzburg.
Rothenburg is a beautiful city, it is known for its shopping (especially Christmas Shopping) and the overall atmosphere of 'Old Germany.' Needless to say, Mom had fun. I enjoyed the views from the city walls. First though I would like to point out to travels - NEVER take the Scenic Route on a GPS!!! It is a living hell! I had to get off of the back routes and 'toured' a small town just to be 'Scenic.' I was NOT happy about this, but it gave Mom a good view of the German country side and time for us just to talk.
After staying in Rothenburg till about 4pm (time which I was supposed to be in Vilseck - Oops), we start heading to meet my friends. In about 1.75hours we were making our way through tiny BFE towns in Germany to make sure we were on the right road to follow the military traffic to the base. Going through check-in and fun stuff like that, Mom and I make it to Christine's house.
We decided to relax for a bit then head out to visit a slice of America - yes fast food. Mainly Taco Bell! Eyes bugging out of my head, I walk into the food court at the Commissary. Still Mom and (I am sure) Christine will point and laugh at my face. I am pretty sure Christine had to shovel my jaw off of the floor. To just say I was overwhelmed on sensory overload is not the half of it. I just stood inside the place debating on what to eat. Finally deciding on T-Bell, I had the hardest time trying to figure out what to order. Finally choosing a Mexican pizza meal with a bean burrito with a drink, I moved onto pick up my hot sauce. And what do you know..there are TWO more kinds of hot sauce....I took a handful of each. :) Finding this seriously hilarious, Christine take me into the food market (the next day) and proceeds to show me 'American Food' - I swear I have not heard of some of these foods before. Seriously American....what has happened in the who knows how many months I have been gone????
Saturday was a fun day and a long day too. Christine's family and Mom and I met up with Shylee's buddy who is going to camp with her - "We like totally need to get clothes for camp..Like Seriously" - (blonde baby cheerleader in training). So making our way down shopping lane, we dash in and out of different stores, everyone getting at least one new item for their closets.

Well after the 'Women Workout,' we (as in 6 adults and 2 baby tweens) grab lunch - German style. Beer and Schnitzel (or a seriously loaded salad). To say I was yet again busting with food, is an understatement. Listening to stories from Christine's friends about how their marriage and life stories, we decided that it is time to start heading back to base so we can leave for the Renny fair.
- It wouldn't be a Schmerber Vaca without something going wrong - this time it was the banking and getting lost (or rather a back polo getting in my way and NOT seeing Christine exit the Autobahn). But finally we make it to the hotel out in BFE...it was debatable when we first got to the town, if it would not a scene out of a murder mystery blockbuster. But in the light of day the town was nice and the hotel was wonderful. Good selection Christine!

The Renny Festival was AMAZING!! I loved it! So many different things to talk about, poke fun at, and just wish you could do! And it does not help that you had nice (fit) looking guys without shirts on...any good choice Christine (2 for 2)! Drinking a liter beer walking around the place, taking weird pictures we just the afternoon the doctor had in order.
After saying our bittersweet goodbyes, Mom and I head off to Austria. Getting here was fun and seeing the Alps switch between the Austria and German border was fun.


Yesterday and Today: Yesterday, we took the Fraulein Maria's bike tour - WONDERFUL!!! If you ever get the chance to do it, please do! It is a 7mile bike and it takes anywhere between 2.5 - 3hrs. And definitely do the morning bike - less people, better tour! After doing that we attempted and failed to find bike bells for my little cousins. Scrambling to get to the Eagle's Nest in time for the last bus up the 'rest' of the mountain...umm....we missed it by 10 minutes..damn! Instead we ate lunch half way up the mountain.
After leisurely driving back to Salzburg Mom worked on her blog and I watched 'Sound of Music' now knowing where everything is and saying "We were there earlier today!!"

Today, is yet undecided. I still would like to go to the Eagle's Nest even though it is slightly raining with a bit of cloud cover, but how many times can you see a slice of history! Well now I am going to go and get some food in this system before I turn into a ...dare I say...'Female Dog???' :)
Anyways, the next post will just be pictures for you all to flip through. Until then, stay safe and travel, travel, travel!

Lights! Camera! ACTION!

Times of Change!

That is right! Tomorrow I leave to Germany for my two week German class. I am seriously scared that I will not measure up to the other students with my German. Because I have been surrounded by French and English lately, I do not use my German. Therefore I may have lost a bit of it. OUCH!

Anyways, let me tell you about May - I studied my life away for my test all month. There you go...all said!

June has been eventful. Eleah broke her foot in the beginning of the month doing something stupid, but quite funny. The tree climber broken her foot climbing - insert irony! The first week I lounged around the apartment, the sun, basically I did anything that did not cost much. I went to the beach - which is located on the North Sea! It was COLD, but sunny! I naturally got burnt because I feel asleep in the sun twice - and now I am finally peeling! I went to Brussels again with Zsuzssanne and Heiny after their going away party! It was a very interesting night and next day, especially listening to Hungarian all day - it's very hard! The link at the top corresponds to this moment. It was raining really bad all day and Heiny and I were tired and a bit cranky..so we burst out into this song!! Oh yeah, who is still a little kid - ME!!! Anyways, at the big monument in Brussels, we saw a Chevy Car Show and a Harley Davidson show. It was quite nice to see American Cars! So far this week has been non-stop with events and seeing both Zsuzssy and Heiny off - which was very hard. You do not understand how much you start to miss your new friends until you see them go and you do not know whether you will ever see them again. Needless to say, it really stinks and I am planning a trip to Budapest in the next 5-7 years if possible (I would love to go sooner, but not probable). Tuesday, Eleah and Katie leave for the States. Not being able to see Eleah go will be even harder. I have grown very close to this girl. She and I are two peas in a pod. And again, this means I just have to make a trip to see her in TN - at least she is closer than Budapest! Besides that I am excited to see my other friends in Schmally (Corry and Marissa). Then come July 12th, I get to see my MOM!!! Get excited folks! My mom is coming here for a couple of weeks with me and we will see parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy!!

SO folks, I still have to finish getting packed - I wish I had space saver bags with me!! Oo well, such is life. Until the next post, be safe and Travel, Travel, TRAVEL!!!

The Unforgettable Spring Break of '11

Where OO where to begin - Its a big world!

(please listen to the song and read!!)

-Frankfurt Hahn Airport

The long journey just to start one long interesting adventure. Getting from my newly adopted

German Grandparents to Hahn airforce base was long, one ICE (Inter-City-Express) to Mainz then an hour long bus ride to the airport. Only to arrive 2 hours earlier than my friends from Schmalkalden. So, what is a girl to do in a small airport, besides checking - in for her flight...EAT!! I got to enjoy a good German meal - what it was, I do not remember anymore (but it was amazing)!

Okay, so finally I see my Friends (Cory and Marrissa) in the waiting lounge. Waiting in a overly

hot room with tons of people and a snotty attendant who is very strict about the one carry-on

bag rule. Let us just say that my stuffed backpack had to be put into the 'test carry-on box.' And it was harder then hell to get back out. Naturally, I threw up my hands in triumphant when I got it out. OO yeah, I am that type of person! The two army guys we meet laughed their butts off and so did my friends. You just have to enjoy making a spectacle of yourself. Remember - 'Just go with the flow, and make it roll.'

Okay, interesting fact about this airport: We have to walk on the tarmac to get to the plane to

load ourselves in there. So picture to lines of people pushing and shoving to get onto the plane as fast as they can. Yes, that is Ryanair for you. So, where the three of us got to sit - was eventful. We not only had a drinks, but a show too! The little Asian wife sitting across from us passed out on the plane and required medical help. So during out hour flight, we were sitting front row to a medical emergency. Yes, I know this sound shallow to say, but it was very fun to watch the language barrier between the flight attendants, doctors, nurses, and the husband. Needless to say it was a very multinational flight. Anyways, it was a unforgettable first Ryanair flight!

-Venice

In our room, we had a Canadian for a bunk mate. Who we found out in the morning was VERY FUNNY!!Getting to Venice was again an interesting journey. After frantically finding the right bus

to get us to Venice from the Ryanair airport was 'fun.' We had to

take an hour bus ride and we got off at the wrong stop. So it is about 23:00 and we are lost on the island of Venice trying to find

out hostel on the Mestre. Oh, the Mestre is NOT on the island! So after wandering around for a bit, we figure we have to take the LAST train back to the mainland. After getting to mainland, trying to find the hostel was an adventure. Asking a train conductor who did not speak English for directions and walking down a skechy alley, only to find out that our hostel has a curfew and cranky people staying there. So this crew was not able to go out and see the night life because we had a curfew. Needless to say, we felt like it was high school all over again. The next day/EARLY morning Heiny arrives from Budapest. Apparently she was not able to sleep on the train because each new country they went through, it would stop and do a customs check. So that made for an interesting day.

So what do four college students do in Venice for a day???

EXPLORATION!! I had a blast seeing

the sights!! I saw a Celtic wedding!! I saw an Australian man propose to his girlfriend on a gondola! The four of us, sat out on a random dock and enjoyed the only day with sun (during our entire trip!!). The day was filled with lazy walking around, gelato on the pier and drinking wine and eating pizza. Looking back I can recognize different movie locations now. What more can one ask for?

Horsing around attempting to find where the train station was our motto for the day.

-35hr Ferry

So getting up early to make our ferries to Patras (the port we have to get off of to get to Athens - 35hr ride!). This was interesting! It took Heiny and I an hour to check - in and pick up our tickets.

Corry and Marrissa booked to late to get on our ferry. After making the trek out to port, Heiny and I decided just to stay there - BIG MISTAKE!! We should have gone back to the main section of the island to see more of it. But that is water under the bridge now.

Ok so this ferry ride was...informative!

Since, Heiny and I booked cheap (deck seats), we did not have a room to stay in. And thinking it would be warm - since we are more south than Belgium, I was thinking it was possible to stay on the deck

to watch the stars at night - WRONG!! It was SOOO cold! In the

beginning we were on the deck where we meet some American Exchange students to Prague. Apparently they thought the same thing. Oops! So, we reserved our seats to watch Venice disappear as we sail out! During

the ride we all experienced very bad body odor from Germans and eat a lot, because what else are you to do?? I read my book I bought at Hahn. yep, there is not much to do on a ferry that you do not have to pay for.

-Patras, Greece

So after Heiny and I made port at 5am, we met up with Cory and Marissa who had an adventure of their own in Patras, we all took the next available bus to Athens.

-Athens, Greece

Once in Athens - it is not what you think it is! We attempt to make

our way to our hostel. Inside the bus station, wondering around like lost puppies, Cory makes a friend in the bathroom. Side note - the bathroom is a whole in the ground!!! Okay, so this friend is a Judge!!! Not only a judge, but a very open judge! We heard about his adventures in the States, including visiting a Texas whorehouse! Oh yes, we are definitely not in the States any longer! After his regaling us with stories of his youth and travels to the States, he highly recommends us to take a cab to our hostel, which is on the dividing line of Athens drug trade. This tid bit of information was not on the hostel booking website. Oh and our landlord looked like he was strung out! Yes, Welcome to Athens at 8am!!

Okay, after checking out our rundown room, we put together a plan for the day. We decided to buy a ticket for the Hop-on-Hop-off Athens tour. Using this as our own person taxi, we toured the city for a few days. I got to enjoy a local beer on the top of a mount adjacent to Athena's Temple! During our time there, we also got to experience a Communist rally, burning of ephagies, vandalism, and other things! To say we experienced

first hand the effects of the crumbling economy is an understatement! We saw all the sights and reminisced in the history of this place, but it is not what one would think of Athens to be. The historical places have been vandalized and neglected by the people who do not care anymore. Expect for a few, the history we have learned and the appreciation is just not existent in Athens. It is sad to see such a rich history go to waste.

-Volos

Getting to Volos was another lesson that was hard to swallow. We took the train as I had planned, except I had planned on taking the last train there, so we would be in Volos early in the morning. This way we would enjoy the sun rising in Volos at the port then hop on our flight back to Hahn (Heiny and I should have paid to fly back directly to Brussels, but we wanted to meet up with some friends on that flight - but no go). Anyways, we took the earlier train, thus getting us there that night. We did not have a hostel nor did we want to pay for one. Thinking that the airport would be open, we would just stay there. At this point I was no longer allowed to give advise - I got out voted. So the majority wanted to take a cab to the airport - a 50Euro ride and an hour outside of the city - awesome - only to find out it was closed.

So being young and stupid, we decided to sleep outside of the airport and wait till it opened. You may now insert you head shake, because I always do. It was SOO cold that night! I had 8 layers of clothes on and 2 pairs of pants on and my feet almost got frostbite! Oo yeah, it is an experience I will NEVER forget. This night we forged bonds of friendship that will never be forgotten! SO being college students, we made fun of our situation. Having a wild boar being killed by wild dogs all night, freezing, and just the overall hilarity of the situation sink in - what would you do??? I laughed so hard! So each of us had bet about what time the airport would open up, it turns out this place is strictly a Ryanair airport, so the only TWO flights our were ours! Ooo yeah, we are out in the middle of BFE! I know you are wondering about what time it opened up, it was 10am! So we were out in the cold for about 12hours! At least, we were not the only stupid ones, there was another group too. And of course Cory was the protector boy who acted like an animal marking his territory! Which was nice, but extremely annoying, but boys will be boys!

Later in the morning, we met some other American traveling, a couple of them are now some good friends of ours! In fact, I am blessed to be able to visit them before I leave in August.

By now, we are all in Hahn, and Heiny and I have missed our train. Since our tickets were on sale, we could not refund them. So buying more tickets - this was the time I decided I cannot found a entire year in Europe - we finally got home after SEVEN hours in training!

-3 Day Pull for Advance Operations Research

Getting home to a huge headache and a dirty/nasty apartment was wonderful! I had to finish a major project in 3days. This project was over a subject matter that I am not familiar with - SciLab computational analysis of a production schedule. I know that is a mouth full, but I understand the theories, just not how to put theories into a computer language and making a program to fit my theories. Needless to say, I was depressed. So I recruited one of my friends (not my partner because he was still on vaca) to help explain all of this to me. Spending many sleepless nights with a Spaniard who loves to repeat every little thing, will get on one's nerves. Even though I am grateful for his help, I got really sick of being yelled at, "Bekah, BEKAH, why Bekah, why BEKAH!!" Since I have some love loss for the Spanish here, this was not what I wanted to hear 3days in a row at 4 in the morning.

So after finishing what I had - which was not complete by any means - my partner and I turned in our project and are STILL hoping of the best.

As for my German project, it was bad. After being mentally tired and stressed for 3days/nights straight, I could not fully concentrate on this project. And let us leave it at that.

-2 Projects = One massive headache-

After that Hell Week was over with, I just slept. I still can not remember what I did after I finished all of that. Maybe started studying for my tests, but I do not remember.

Oo well it is life. Anyways folks that was my Easter/Spring break. A lot happened and I learned a lot more. I am grateful for all of the experiences because it has shaped me in how I view the world and world events. I now truly understand the frustration of the people in Athens about their failing economy. In addition I am grateful to learn more about my family history and see life of an aging German couple and see how extraordinary things in life stem from the simplicity of life and being content with what God gave you. I would like to thank Ziggy and Annie for letting me stay at their house and treating me as their long lost granddaughter, it meant the world to me and I will never forget it. Thank You!

And for now folks, I will be signing off for a bit and will continue to update you later!

Until then, stay safe in this world!

I has been a long long time in the coming.

Upon reviewing the last blog...wow that was a long time ago...I figured out where I should start....Spring Break with some spice of Schmalkalden (aka: Schmally).

Ooo good lordy, planning spring break...wow. It was an experience that will teach patience to anyone.

First let us start with the fact that plan always seem to change, mold, and evolve the more aspects you add to the problem. And being the only one who is creating a two week vaca under quite a lot of stipulations, it can drive you mad. Now that we have that established, we can start.

The first plan was to go to Rhodes, Greece for at least 5days. But that fell through when one of my traveling companions could not get there from Budapest, Hungary. So we altered plans. Finally deciding upon both of us going our separate ways in the beginning then meeting up in Venice, Italy then proceed to a 35hr ferry trip to Athens, Gr - Athens for 3nights and Volos, Gr for 1night to complete our vaca. My beginning started in Brugge, Belgium with a friend. After about 24hr there, we meet up in Amsterdam with Heiny (the traveling partner going to Budapest) and a couple of my other friends. After these two cities, I headed out to a small town in Germany to visit some family. After a couple of glorious days getting to know family and acquiring my new 'German Grandparents' I headed out for my arduous journey to Frankfurt Hahn airport to meet my new friends from Schmally that I meet 3 weeks earlier when I was looking at FH Schmalkalden University for the fall semester and summer internship. Making fast friends and gaining more traveling buddies, they readily agreed to come with Heiny and I on our unforgettable adventure.

****Next post is strictly Vaca alone - with pics***

Just a Walk in the Park

Hey Gang,

I just could not wait to tell you all about the wonderful day filled with SUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

After sleeping in till....nevermind the time...and eating Oranges trying to get better, we feel this hot, glorious heat on our faces....SUN!!!! And not just sun...but NO clouds in the sky! I cannot describe how happy I was!

Dressed in our prescribe seasons (Eleah is Spring and I am summer), we walk out the door to enjoy a leisurely walk around Liege. And to our surprise...we found GREEN! A nice little park tucked behind some buildings on the island I call Manhattan. Enjoying our walk, we see cute couples enjoying the sun, older couples just happy to hold one another hands watching the world go by. It was so nice the see people relaxing, soaking up the sun. And just being. It was so refreshing just to enjoy humanity without seeing the under belly of it. As I turn to Eleah, I begin to describe this place as a Drifters song, "Under the Boardwalk."

As we keep walking, talking about memories that somehow involve being around water. Then I remember another song that would just make us smile, "Build Me up Buttercup."

So after walking to...I have no idea, we come across the mall. Yes, they are everywhere. Grabbing some ice cream, we start on our way back. In total, I believe we walked somewhere between 2-3miles without realizing it. It was soo wonderful. After getting back home, I got to witness a St. Tore parade that stretched on for 20minutes (they were escorted by police), oo yeh it is that type of city. Anyways, here are some pictures from the day.

Long time no Post

Hey Gang,

Sorry I have not blogged in a while, I was waiting till I got back from Berlin to share. Then the week got away from me and well here I am sitting in my kitchen cleaning dishes, making lunch then off again to the races. So while I wait for the concoction I will be making...I am here to share my past week-ish experiences.

So after I got back from Paris, it was only a matter of time till I had to be at HEC at midnight to catch the bus to Berlin (8hours on a cramped bus with about 80 people...who are drunk). It was an "interesting" bus ride. Needless to say I needed a pillow, blanket, and earplugs! Havinf Katie D. drunkingly talk to you at 4 in the morning...well...it is not good for her or me..let us leave it at that. So, finally arriving at Charlottenburg Castle at 10-10:30 am....breathe a sigh of relief that no heads rolled :). We went for the tour of the castle.

The castle is very nice, but I love Versaille A LOT better..sorry. After touring the grounds and sneaking pictures, we head out for the next destination. Okay, here I must give you some background about ESN (because they suck at planning trips).

--We were told that, "You MUST stick to the time schedule...we planned this carefully!" Ok, I do not doubt that they worked hard on this, but they pushed back the "time schedule" more times than I can count. I was on time and running with the predetermined schedule just fine, but the ESN team leaders were so lost they could not tell if they were in Berlin or Timbuktu. Ok for a person who has always had her father drill in how to get around and spot things from a distance or just plain (common sense about directions)...it would drive that person fruit...right?!?! Yeh, that was Berlin for me! I was so frustrated with the leaders, that I told my followers around and played tour guide. Granted we made Alexanderplatz our new home, but whatever. We were warm and always knew where we were. I cannot say that much for the ESN leaders. Sorry, this situation was stuck in my craw for a long time.--

So Friday was Charlottenburg, Reichstag, Brandenburg Tor, Berlin Dom, Fernsehturm Berlin, and a nice coffee shop that has Baileys in it. By the end of the day, Heiny, Paolo, Zsussy and myself hop on the free metro and go to the hostel. Getting there 30 minutes ahead of the group, we scout out interesting places around our hostel. After settling into the hostel, a lot of the people go out to a 1950's- 60's bar (I stayed in with a migraine).

The next day was the DDR museum and something else. My group just stayed by our mothership - the Mall and Alexanderplatz metro station. After getting annoyed with something katie said, we took off. That night we dressed up and went out to Quepasa...that's right TexMex in Berlin!!!! Let us just say it was a tequila night for all of us. We all needed to unwind from our day and week, so we did. I was perpetually just happy all night, Paolo, Zsussy and Heiny got bad. At the discotech we told...insert any number above 10...tequila shots. Let us just say, by the end of the night there was no more money on us (mainly Heiny). It was a good night with very great memories! Ones that each member of our group will never live down...and only us understand the inside jokes from that night....Pappa Paolo, Momma Heiny, Auntie Zsussy and Auntie Bekah!

Sunday was another very LONG day: Checkpoint Charle, Boat ride to see the city, insert 5 hours of free time to blow and a LONG bus ride back to Liege...getting in at 5-5:30 Monday morning. Ooo yeah, one long day.

Monday I slept like the living dead...really!

Tuesday, my group and I were going to go to Carnavil in Blinche or Maasterick, but that fell through. So we went to the mothership (mall) by me to shop. And found out I killed my SIM card. Count on SIM cards - #3!!! I paid for the first and got the rest for free...thank you Lord! Do not ask me how I killed a SIM card, but yes it is possible to do. The rest of Tuesday was a lazy day since we had no school due to Carnival on Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday - Friday = School :(

Saturday, the group went to Maasterick for the day to have some fun and get cheap groceries.

Now today...I am going to Pauline's (a friends) concert..need to catch the ride in about 1.5 hours. Then the wonderful world of doing my Taxes and FASFA...I swear the US Government can find you anywhere....sneaky little suckers :(

News: I will be transferring to Schmalkalden University for the fall and will probably get FREE housing because of a scholarship!!!! OOO yeh, another reason to leave Liege!!! Count me in Germany...I am coming!!!!

The Welcoming Committee from Berlin!