Well, we wanted to demonstrate.
It wasn't a really noble cause, like World Peace or anything.
The outgoing Bavarian Minister President had his pet hobby: promoting the Transrapid: a high-speed monorail from the main train station to the airport.
It would cut travel time by 14 minutes (as opposed to the S-bahn). Okay, that's good.
But, the drawbacks: 1) The ride would cost at least twice as much as the S-bahn.
2) Tracks would have to be cut through some towns, forests, and even a nature reserve (specially created after the wetlands where the airport now stands were destroyed)
3) Bavarian taxpayers have to finance over 2 billion!!!!!!!! Euros.
Alternative: Building another S-bahn track ALONGSIDE the existing one for an express S-bahn which doesn't stop along the way! This would only cost about 3 million (only what? 12%? of the cost?) and not disturb anyone!
At the moment, there are two S-bahn lines going to the airport from the main train station. One takes 48 minutes, the other 51 minutes. They each stop 12 to 14 times along the way. Eliminate most of those stops, and they would be pretty close to the time it takes for the Transrapid!!!!! The transrapid would be (in my opinion) definate OVERKILL!!!!!
We didn't make it in time to actually demonstrate. But Andreas was there, as well as about 12,000 others.
Germans like to demonstrate against stuff. But the only other really big demonstration in Munich was against closing beergardens at 9pm. Priorities!
Happy Halloween!
Our American neigbors apparently had a party: there were a lot of shrieking kids...
Only three kids came to our house trick-or-treating. I had some goodies all ready... if I had known it would only be the three, I would have given them more!
Sorry about not writing more often. Michi has discovered "You Tube" and spends his evenings and nights on the laptop.
But Michi insisted on taking this picture. It IS Halloween, after all. Simon was tired, and he had just fallen and cut his lip 10 minutes earlier.
Yes, Simon is walking! But only a few (2 to 6) steps at a time. He then either falls or lets himself go down. He's pretty resilient, though, a tough little kid!
We're looking forward to Opa's visit next weekend!
Excuuuuuse Me!!!!!!!
I spent almost 23 years of my life in the States. Where everyone says "excuse me," as soon as they get within a foot of you, at the latest. It's very different in Germany. People bump into you and then ignore you. Say sorry or excuse me? Almost never!
I don't like it or accept it in any way. I excuse myself all the time. People then look at me funny.
Apparently, you're only allowed to apologize if you've done it on purpose. ("I won't apologize for stepping on your foot because it shouldn't have been there in the first place!")
I went to the supermarket on the way to work tonight. The registers are (really stupidly) behind each other, not next to each other!
Of course, it's downtown Munich, where only the rich and famous shop (no baby food, etc.). So here I am: the cashier rang up my 4 grocery items, accepted the cash, and turned to the next customer.
Well, here in Germany, there is never (and has never been) a bagger. And a cashier would never allow herself to do something like that!!!!!
The problem was: I couldn't get to my already-paid groceries because a HUGE, bald man, with various metal studs in his ears was waiting in line for the next cash register. I said, "Excuse me, please"
He didn't budge. I said, more loudly, "Excuse me!!!" and pushed my backpack past him to get to my groceries.
He then yelled at me, "Hey!!!!! You could have at least said excuse me!!!!!"
I stammered , "Of course I said excuse..."
"NO! YOU DIDN'T!!!!"
By now the whole supermarket had gone quiet around us. I turned to him, forgetting my groceries, and said, "I said excuse me twice, if you didn't hear me..."
"NO! You never said it! Being polite and friendly never hurt anybody," he shouted, getting the attention of every last customer, making everyone look at me hostiley.
Well, you all know me. I burst into tears, packed my stuff in my backpack, left the supermarket, and lit a cigarette.
Is it me? Munich? Or Germany? Strangers seem to want to yell at, or attack me verbally on a weekly basis.
Thank God my sudent tonight was Christine. French, but a lot of time in USA. She had gotten used to French waiters again after she had lived in the States, but says German waiters are horrible!
Anyway. The picture is Simon pointing to Franziska. He had offered her a cookie, but retracted the offer after she looked like she might accept. Also known as Indian-giving...
We took a tour of the castle in Unterschleissheim.
It was called, "Behind the scenes," and boy, was it! We explored the cellars, the servants rooms, and under the roof. Almost everyone went out on the roof, too. (No guard rail, no Alix!), but Michi took the picture of the gardens at right.
Then, it snowed!
The next day, Simon took his first steps in the snow. Well, he's not walking yet, really. But he'll take a step before going down to crawl again.
After I took this picture, he crawled into the strawberry plants (the ones that have small berries from April to October) and ate the rest of the ripe ones. The mittens prevented him from picking, but he knocked the snow off the plants so I could pick them for him!
Class of 1988 Reunion
Michi thought it was funny that my high school reunion (20 years!) is next summer. His last reunion was 15 years, and it was just two years ago!!!
Well, German kids enter school a year later, and it takes 13, not 12, years to graduate. Okay, now I'm dating myself...
Does anyone remember the song, "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony, apple trees and honey bees and snow white turtle doves..."
Well, in the late 70's, this song was used in an ad for Coke. "I'd like to buy the world a Coke..." Everytime I hear that song, I have to think about the ad. And, according to my Dad, I'm dating myself again!!!
Yes, I'm 37. And proud of it!
I got an e-mail from an old friend. He wished me a happy birthday, and asked about presents, cake and surprises on my special day.
I didn't mean to feel sorry for myself, I really didn't. But having to get up early, wake up the baby, get ourselves ready, fight our way through striking public transportation, having to go back home to have Michi drive us...
The only reason Michi was home was because he had had to take the day off to go to the funeral of a good friend. I would have wanted to go to the funeral, too, but I had to work and I didn't want to expose Simon to all that just yet.
Michi was home about 7 minutes before he had to rush off to the Cabin in the mountains (getting it ready for the winter), so I was alone with Simon the rset od the afternoon and evening. Although a few people called, I wasn't up to really talking about how I was doing. I kept having to think about Lona, dying as a grandmother, but still well before her 60th birthday.
I'm still NOT feeling sorry for myself, but at the same time, I do kinda wish my birthday had been a bit..., well,...nicer!
Every year, everyone in Michi's Trachtenverein (Bavarian Club) bake cookies for the Christmas party.
Almost everyone makes the same kind, so I thought I might spice it up a little this year with American-style cookies!
I bought a mini-bake-book last year when we were in Maine, and, being the efficient Mom that I am (or am trying to be), I thought I'd make the dough now during Simon's naptimes and freeze them to bake late November.
One of the main ingredients is peppermint flavoring.
You can't get that here!
Even Traudl looked at me as if I had just grown fangs and a beard when I asked her if she knew where I could buy that.
I finally found it in a pharmacy!!!!! It's peppermint oil, and VERY concentrated, but better than making a REALLY STRONG peppermint tea...! So let's start baking!
(Michi's comment was: "So, we won't have to brush our teeth this Christmas!")
So, what does this have to do with fish sticks? Nothing!
Dinner tonight was a complete misunderstanding. Well, I misunderstood, but..
Traudl said she wanted to make fish sticks (out of the freezer). I asked if I could do anything, and she said she could make potato salad, if she had to. I said no, I'll make potato wedges in the oven. She said, "Fine, I'll fry the fish sticks."
Clear up to now, right? I made the potato wedges, carried Simon, his high-chair and the wedges downstairs.
No fish!
Michi looked at her strangely, and then at me. She stared at me. I meekly asked, "Didn't you say earlier that you would fry the fish sticks?" She said, yes, she had, but as she didn't have any, and knew we had bought some, and I hadn't brought them down to her kitchen, she assumed I would make them.
So, two side dishes and no main dish.
Of course it was my fault for not having asked her if she actually HAD fish sticks. I mean, she could have asked for them. I assumed she had some.
We have a big communication problem in this house. Traudl tells Michi things that she doesn't tell me, but assumes Michi tells me. Michi assumes she's told me, as they have nothing to do with him. I haven't perfected the art of mind-reading.
I think I'll tell Traudl and Michi EVERYTHING, however trivial (so, I took out the trash. We're out of coffee. I'm going to stop by the bank before work, etc), so that nobody can claim not to know what's going on...!
On the right, Onkel Rudi with Simon.
Almost everyone is sick!
Of course. Millions of people come to the Oktoberfest in Munich. Strange bacteria, viruses, etc. They ride the bus, subway, and other public transportation.
It's the same every year. You don't have to actually visit the Oktoberfest to get sick!
I have a contract to work 8 hours a week. That's usually three evenings a week. Fine. Good.
Mark called me yesterday, saying, "I know you'll say no, but I have to ask. Can you do an initial training for new teachers?"
This would entail teaching from 8:00 to 5:00; what would I do with Simon?!
Ummm, no.
Traudl can't take care of Simon all day every day for two weeks. Physically, she isn't up to it! A few hours at a time, maybe even put him to bed. But not all day!!!
So, I said no.
Today, Harry called me. I told him, I'm sorry, but I don't have a babysitter.
He said, "I realize that. But, we're desperate for new teachers and we can't wait 6 weeks until Pam is able to teach again." (she broke her ankle)
So, now we've arranged that HE finds a babysitter near the school, I only teach half-days (mornings), and Berlitz pays for the babysitter!!!!!!
I just hope they find a nice person, and I want to meet them before I entrust Simon to them!
So, Oktoberfest is here again!
We bought Simon some Lederhosen, and an appropriate shirt. I knitted a vest and stockings. Michi wore the hat when he was a kid. So Simon was all set to go!
He was the star! Lots of people asked to take our picture (and many did without asking), and the local TV station paid for us to go on a carousel so they could film us!
On the left (top to bottom): Christa with Simon; then me with Simon (yes, it took me over an hour to do the hair!), and then proud Michi with his son.
The weather was great, and apparently over a million people were there that day. It didn't seem that full where we were, but the lines at the ladies' rooms were long.....
See the link to our flickr photos to see most of the fun!
