Found my legs. I know you won’t believe it, but they actually were under me the whole doggone time. (Did you get the tone of that last statement? Unfortunately, sarcasm is usually completely lost via Internet. It also fails miserably in translation, as I’ve discovered by the deadpan look I tend to get from Bavarians as I attempt to be funny. (Hmmm, I get that look from Americans too, come to think of it.)) I’m now adding my legs to the list of things I’m thankful for because for the past few days these babies have carried me all over the creation while I rediscover my sense of adventure.
Monday started out a ein bisschen (a little) rough. I got up early to do some Yoga. Rather noble, I thought. Perhaps if I could just start the week off on the right foot, it might go more smoothly. So I actually got myself out of bed without hitting snooze 17 times (pretty major feat in itself). Minor problem, apparently it was not early enough. After yoga, shower, and rummaging through closet to find favorite sweater, I found myself with only 10 minutes left to make it to the train. That would normally be fine, but seeing as how it’s a 15 min journey, I was up a creek without a paddle. So I took off in a dead sprint…complete with my purse, backpack, heeled boots, and to top it off—a togo cup of coffee. Pretty positive my scarf was waving behind me like Snoopy’s when he fights the Red Baron. But, you know what, my legs got me there, with just about 20 seconds to spare. (Hey--that rhymed.)
Tuesday my legs carried me all around the city as I shopped for some Christmas gifts (one for you, two for me…) and explored the Christmas markets. Regensburg is truly beautiful this time of year. Twinkly white lights, candles in the windows, O’ Tannenbaums in any nook and cranny. Everywhere you look, it’s as if St. Nick has puked all over everything (but I mean it in a good way.) I spent most of the day reacquainting myself with all the places I fell in love with when we first moved here. The stone bridge, my favorite café, the cathedral. Actually, I think I took myself on my own death march! Later that night, our friend Laura came in to meet me so we could partake in the Christmas market. It was wonderful. In fact, it was so wonderful, that I brought Tim again last night (he’s feeling much better.) Picture a German town square filled with little wooden booths that sell everything from ornaments and wooden figurines to ½ meter long sausages and Gluhwine. (Gluhwine: a hot spiced wine that is the traditional German cold weather drink.) Honestly, I never really liked before until I had it in this perfect place. It was exactly what I needed to get into the Christmas spirit.
Today, ye ole legs took me to Yoga class. Yep, still can’t understand a thing. Perhaps Sanskrit doesn’t translate.
As for tomorrow, now Dad don't freak out, I'm skipping my German class. (It's really ok, Dad. I did my homework and told my teacher.) Iris, the German tutor from Caterpillar, is taking me to Munich for the day. I thought this might be a relaxing way to end the week. Um, no. Dead wrong on that one. When I spoke to her earlier, she happened to mention that she was glad I'm in good shape because we're in for a marathon of shopping. Oh Goodness. (Hopefully Tim won’t read this until I’m safely on my way, credit card in hand.) May my legs be strong enough for this event! I’ll get by…somehow (again with the sarcasm.)
By the way, Happy St. Nikolaus Day! Here he brings children nuts and chocolate or an orange. Think he’ll bring me a foot rub instead?
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Stand up and Look Around
It’s Sunday afternoon and Tim and I are snuggled up on the couch. (Yes, we love the new couch, even though it’s white and I’m sure I have about 2 more weeks of it to remain so before I trip over my own two feet, flailing both arms in the air, and spill red wine all over it. Guess that’s why they make throw pillows. Until then, it’s the most comfortable thing I’ve ever purchased.) Tim is fighting off some sort of cold/flu bug that’s limited him to the couch most of the weekend. I did drag him out yesterday (before I knew how bad he felt) in the cold and the rain to get a Christmas tree. Bad wife. Then we woke up last night at 2 am to listen to the Mizzou game, which they lost. So, unfortunately, this has not been the greatest week.
You know, sometimes, the language barrier just slaps you across the face. I’ve been working my little tail off in class all week trying to absorb as much of this language as humanly possible. Even though I jumped from Level One to Level Three, I really thought I was doing quite well. Then on Friday, for some reason, the bottom dropped out. All of a sudden my brain stopped working and my internal German translator stepped out for a much-needed vacation. Consequently, I had a series of conversations where everything was a struggle. With my classmates, with my coffee boy, with this woman from Immigration who may deport me for not knowing the ridiculously tedious process of recycling here. During one conversation, pretty sure I found myself thinking about the ballerina ostriches from Fantasia. They really do have knobby knees.
There is a lot of push and pull emotionally as you assimilate (or try to assimilate) into a new culture. (At least there is for me, Tim for some reason adjusts without too much problem, which makes me a little batty.) There are moments when the adventure is so exciting and you can hardly wait to tackle the day. So much to see and do and experience. Then there are the days when you are simply not up for the battle. My mantra for these more challenging days comes from this mountain climbing guide I had when I was 16. My family (minus Tom) had gone to Yellowstone and David and I had decided to take climbing lessons in the Grand Tetons. I just had never experienced fear like this before. Had no idea I was scared of heights until I found myself hanging off the face of a mountain dangling by a rope. I remember crying at one point, in sheer terror as I was scaling the most difficult pass we did that day. I got to a place where I could just barely see my teacher and said, “Andre…I can’t do it. I can’t go any farther.” Then very simply and quietly, he said, “Stand up Heather. Stand up Heather and look around. The way will appear.”
So today, resting my legs on my very comfortable couch. Tomorrow, the goal? Just standing up. I know my legs are under me here somewhere.
You know, sometimes, the language barrier just slaps you across the face. I’ve been working my little tail off in class all week trying to absorb as much of this language as humanly possible. Even though I jumped from Level One to Level Three, I really thought I was doing quite well. Then on Friday, for some reason, the bottom dropped out. All of a sudden my brain stopped working and my internal German translator stepped out for a much-needed vacation. Consequently, I had a series of conversations where everything was a struggle. With my classmates, with my coffee boy, with this woman from Immigration who may deport me for not knowing the ridiculously tedious process of recycling here. During one conversation, pretty sure I found myself thinking about the ballerina ostriches from Fantasia. They really do have knobby knees.
There is a lot of push and pull emotionally as you assimilate (or try to assimilate) into a new culture. (At least there is for me, Tim for some reason adjusts without too much problem, which makes me a little batty.) There are moments when the adventure is so exciting and you can hardly wait to tackle the day. So much to see and do and experience. Then there are the days when you are simply not up for the battle. My mantra for these more challenging days comes from this mountain climbing guide I had when I was 16. My family (minus Tom) had gone to Yellowstone and David and I had decided to take climbing lessons in the Grand Tetons. I just had never experienced fear like this before. Had no idea I was scared of heights until I found myself hanging off the face of a mountain dangling by a rope. I remember crying at one point, in sheer terror as I was scaling the most difficult pass we did that day. I got to a place where I could just barely see my teacher and said, “Andre…I can’t do it. I can’t go any farther.” Then very simply and quietly, he said, “Stand up Heather. Stand up Heather and look around. The way will appear.”
So today, resting my legs on my very comfortable couch. Tomorrow, the goal? Just standing up. I know my legs are under me here somewhere.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
