What does Thanksgiving mean...togetherness, I think. Preparing together, eating together, talking together, walking together, eating again, talking. What is a home...a place where you know where the dishes are, and where to hang your coat, where you have a favorite place to sit in each room and there's a pattern to things. Where you can relax, ( Read more... )

I'm so excited about the election, I can't sit still...crazy me, always experiencing elections from abroad! Anyway, everyone go VOTE and update me on how things are going stateside...(of course I'll be following lots of news sources, but still)!

I know I already posted once today, but I have a question for the masses...do you think that because we have so many opportunities, it is easier to be unhappy with what we're doing at the moment? Like in Germany, you go down a certain career path and its hard to change from that, but at least you know that's what you're doing, so some of the ( Read more... )

The American store is open 24-7. It sells clothes hangers and nails, carpet and sheets, deoderant and floss, Cheerios and Corn Chex and lots of nice-looking green peppers. The American store has a post office and a bank that are open 24-7. They accept traveler's checks and give you the cash on the spot. They drop off packages to your house. ( Read more... )

So now I think my bike (and I) have been officially broken in. I intended to spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach and reading about fun places to travel to, BUT ( Read more... )

Another beautiful day in sunny Greifswald!! Seeing as I haven't been sending much news your way lately, I thought I should remedy that problem ( Read more... )

So yesterday I went on a Tagesausflug (day trip) to go kayaking and sight-seeing. It was quite an adventure, all around. I got up early, rode my bike to the train station (going anywhere new is still exciting at this point...), and took the train 30 mins away to Anklam. I arrived successfully and then started to navigate myself through town, ( Read more... )

Yesterday I bought a bike...its orange...and has a basket...and despite my body not being used to riding around so much, the freedom is amazing! It only takes me 15 minutes to get from my apt downtown. The city is pretty much flat, too, so the riding isn't that bad, plus there are some really nice paths just for bikes and walkers that go through ( Read more... )

Today I went on a field trip with the 5th grade class downtown to the local library. It's amazing how much the background noise is reduced when there is a whole children's section of movies, books, and computers to occupy them (and how much noise there is otherwise!). The teacher let them stop at a playground on the way back and scrambling all ( Read more... )

On the suggestion of my friend Ben, I decided this might be a good way that all my computer-savvy friends could keep an eye on what was going on with me, in my new home (formerly Eastern Germany). So, welcome! And here goes ( Read more... )