The download has begun

German language class has taken over our daily activities. If we are not sleeping or eating, we are studying. It is challenging and exhausting, but we're pushing through and we're learning a lot! Our first language module ends mid-March, and until then, our blog posts may be less frequent. We do have much we still want to share about our experiences here in Europe, however, so keep checking in with us! (Or sign up to be alerted when we post a new blog entry.)

The Gazebo located directly over the center of the Earth

Here is our quaint little town. It is surrounded by hills and other smaller villages. The hill to the north is fun to climb. It is a steep 30-minute walk from our front door. We made this hike this week with colleagues Jim, Thadd, and Laura. On the hill directly south of us is a World War I memorial. Both views are nice. In the second picture you can see the locations of the Gazebo, our apartment, and our future office space, the Barn.

Germany's national past time is not soccer

People have asked us what has been the biggest cultural adjustment for us so far. Each time we're asked, we look at each other and then reply most emphatically, "The recycling!" Now, we know there are parts of the U.S. that put a big priority on recycling and the environment, but it would seem that this particular area of the world takes a peculiar interest in what happens with our garbage. Every time we turn to throw something away, we have to go through a mental process to determine which one or more of the six possible bins it could go in. It takes some extra effort, but in the end, we throw away maybe a tenth of the trash that we used to in the States. And we probably sleep better at night knowing we're helping make the planet "greener."

Click on the above picture to see our interpretation of the system.

Look! Up in the sky!

There are things we encounter in life that we are not meant to understand. We have the privilege of observing them, learning from them, and accepting them. This is not one of those things.

One Sunday morning, we woke up to find men's and women's undergarments hanging neatly over the streets of our quiet little town. This amusing display was baffling to us and seemed at odds with the reputed German reserve.

We have since discovered that these undergarments are decorations heralding the mirth and revelry associated with fasnacht, the German version of Mardi Gras, which is held in February. More on fasnacht later...

Good Design, Bad Design

Being graphic artists, we're always looking around for examples of good design, whether it's a billboard, a book, or a bicycle. When we came across this storefront in a nearby village, we did a double-take. It is not often you see someone actually promoting "bad design." But we had to quickly jump out of our English-speaking expectations. We soon remembered that bad in German, at least in this case, means bath. Sure enough, upon closer observation, this business does in fact design baths and bathrooms, and we guess that, despite what they say about themselves, their designs aren't that bad at all!

The little engine that could

In 1998 when we were living in Belgium, John saw a Smart for the first time. They've occupied a place in his heart ever since. These tiny and unique vehicles are seen all over Europe and now, after 10 years, they are heading to the US. Folks in big cities will love them for their excellent fuel economy and they are very practical: you can park two in one spot. Although they remain one of the least reliable cars on the road, they are relatively safe and roomy for you and one friend. You can even tote something small like a deck of cards or cell phone around in the trunk.

Prepare for Battle

We had a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration with three other American couples, playing games, eating a ton of food (that must be tradition everywhere!), talking, and watching the entire town explode with fireworks. The rule here on New Year’s Eve is that there are no rules with regards to fireworks, and fireworks on New Year’s Eve in Germany are a BIG DEAL. It was actually really fun, and we only feared for our lives a couple of times. There were bottle rockets all over the place; people were lighting them every where you looked. We were mainly in the town square, but they were also launching them in small streets and alley ways... So unless you were indoors, you were pretty much taking your life in your hands and hoping that you would actually see the rest of 2008. The entire town square was so filled with smoke at one point that we thought we’d have to get out the gas masks to breathe. And of course, it was FREEZING outside!! One special treat was that we got to play with sparklers, something neither of us have done for years.