So... I'm sorry I haven't updated this thing as much as possible. Time has gotten away from me. I leave Germany tomorrow. Time has flown by. Before I know it I'll be in California again and school will have started and I'll have a new job and I'll be living real life. Scary thought.
So, I went to Munich. I think my favorite part about it was the street performers. There are some incredibly talented people on the streets of Munich. I also walked through the Englischer Gartens, which was like a Central Park. It was absolutely gorgeous. Part of the Isar River flowed through it. There was a part of the river that had a very strong current and people were surfing on it. It was so cool! I got a video of it, but since I haven't been able to use my computer so it's hard to put up pictures and videos.
The Marienplatz was gorgeous. There was a big football(soccer) tournament that week against Manchester United so the football players were in the Marienplatz putting on a show for everyone. They did all sorts of tricks to advertise for the game. It was awesome. I seem to have really good timing when I have gone places.
I met some really nice people at the hostel I stayed at. I ended up drinking 5 red bulls over the course of the night and going swimming at midnight in the Isar River. Who says you can't have fun without drinking? Although I think I permanently damaged my heart with all those energy drinks...
We went to Bodensee this past week. We stayed in this HUGE house right next to Lake Konstanz. The lake was gorgeous. I saw a swan while I was there. The first swan I've ever seen in real life. Pretty birdy.
The familywe stayed with was one of Martin's(my boss's husband) best friends from boarding school. Natalie also went to boarding school with his wife, Marita, and Natalie's parents are good friends with Marita's parents. All these noble families know each other somehow.
Marita has 4 kids, the exact same ages as the kids I nanny. It was great. Until more and more kids started showing up. At one point there were 16 children running around. I had a mental breakdown. I could not deal with it. Luckily the pool was above ground, or else I'm pretty sure I would have had a panic attack.
We leave tomorrow morning, and get into CT around mid afternoon. The time change is crazy. Although, it's better on the east coast. Only a 6 hour difference.
I leave CT on August 18th and fly to Salt Lake where I'll spend a few days with Robert and Natalie and visit some friends. Then I drive home from there on Friday night and will be in Folsom Saturday morning. Just in time for school to start the next monday. I've got a busy couple of weeks, but I can't wait to see you all!
Much love and best wishes!
Deanna
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Back 'home'
Well, we drove back from Ulm last night and we're back at Rennertshofen safe and sound. I forgot to write about this in my last post, so I'll say it now.
While in Ulm, Natalie's sister had a mechanical bull for this big party they had the day before we got there. All the kids rode on it, and LOVED it even though they were thrown within ten seconds of climbing on.
The kids asked if I wanted to try. I made myself a promise on the plane over here that I would try something new everyday to make sure I got as many cool experiences as I could. So, I climbed onto the 'bull' and rode it for probably 30 seconds before it threw me off. Granted, Katarina was doing it VERY slowly so I stayed on longer, but I definitely have a new found respect for the rodeo. It was HARD! I had to use every muscle in my body to keep myself on.
And another thing, two days ago we were all by the pool either swimming or resting or whatever. The sun was shining, everyone was happy, not a cloud in the sky... and it started raining. Let me say again, there were NO clouds in the sky. The rain was falling from where? We were all very confused. Right after we left the pool, the clouds tumbled in and it looked almost like night time. It started pouring rain. Thunder, lightening, the whole shebang. I was walking down the stairs, and on the wall across from the stairs were these huge windows looking out over the garden. I was looking through them when suddenly lightening struck RIGHT next to the glass and cracked the window. The thunder was ridiculously loud. It was the craziest thing.
Today was just a relaxing day. I laid out by the pool for an hour or two to try and fix the farmers tan I got in Salzburg. The sun wasn't cooperating though.
As an end note: I hate bugs. I'm itchy EVERYWHERE!
While in Ulm, Natalie's sister had a mechanical bull for this big party they had the day before we got there. All the kids rode on it, and LOVED it even though they were thrown within ten seconds of climbing on.
The kids asked if I wanted to try. I made myself a promise on the plane over here that I would try something new everyday to make sure I got as many cool experiences as I could. So, I climbed onto the 'bull' and rode it for probably 30 seconds before it threw me off. Granted, Katarina was doing it VERY slowly so I stayed on longer, but I definitely have a new found respect for the rodeo. It was HARD! I had to use every muscle in my body to keep myself on.
And another thing, two days ago we were all by the pool either swimming or resting or whatever. The sun was shining, everyone was happy, not a cloud in the sky... and it started raining. Let me say again, there were NO clouds in the sky. The rain was falling from where? We were all very confused. Right after we left the pool, the clouds tumbled in and it looked almost like night time. It started pouring rain. Thunder, lightening, the whole shebang. I was walking down the stairs, and on the wall across from the stairs were these huge windows looking out over the garden. I was looking through them when suddenly lightening struck RIGHT next to the glass and cracked the window. The thunder was ridiculously loud. It was the craziest thing.
Today was just a relaxing day. I laid out by the pool for an hour or two to try and fix the farmers tan I got in Salzburg. The sun wasn't cooperating though.
As an end note: I hate bugs. I'm itchy EVERYWHERE!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Party time in Ulm!
This week we're in a small village outside of Ulm, home to the largest cathedral in the world, the Münster. Natalie's sister lives here with her family in another huge castle. I've decided I'm never going to have this many rooms or levels or ground in my house. I feel like I have to run everywhere.
I am staying in the guest wing of the house. To get there, you have to either go outside and unlock the door or go through a few corridors and through a few doors that are incredibly difficult to open. Since I rarely wear shoes, I go through the corridors, but the scenery is really cool. There are four different rooms each with bookcases surrounding the walls. There are also some shelves with REALLY old parchment and hand written books. It looks like a museum. There are some books with nazi symbols on the outside. The history here is right in front of my face.
Yesterday, Maiju and I went into the city of Ulm. There is a big city holiday going on right now. All the stores were closed and everyone was on the river, watching a parade of people on anything that could float. There was even a team of water polo players swimming down the Donau. There were boats of brass bands and controversial propaganda. Then there were the young people who were trying to do nothing but get the spectators as wet as possible. It was really cool.
after the river parade, Maiju and I climbed to the top of the Münster. With 768 steps up a spiral staircase, we looked over the busy city and tried not to get too scared, being 161 meters or so off the ground. Apparently it was meant to be shorter, but the builders wanted to outdo the Köln cathedral.
Today was a relaxing day. The kids all swam all day and came in for dinner looking like prunes. I miss you all! Can't wait to see you in about a month! Love youuu!
I am staying in the guest wing of the house. To get there, you have to either go outside and unlock the door or go through a few corridors and through a few doors that are incredibly difficult to open. Since I rarely wear shoes, I go through the corridors, but the scenery is really cool. There are four different rooms each with bookcases surrounding the walls. There are also some shelves with REALLY old parchment and hand written books. It looks like a museum. There are some books with nazi symbols on the outside. The history here is right in front of my face.
Yesterday, Maiju and I went into the city of Ulm. There is a big city holiday going on right now. All the stores were closed and everyone was on the river, watching a parade of people on anything that could float. There was even a team of water polo players swimming down the Donau. There were boats of brass bands and controversial propaganda. Then there were the young people who were trying to do nothing but get the spectators as wet as possible. It was really cool.
after the river parade, Maiju and I climbed to the top of the Münster. With 768 steps up a spiral staircase, we looked over the busy city and tried not to get too scared, being 161 meters or so off the ground. Apparently it was meant to be shorter, but the builders wanted to outdo the Köln cathedral.
Today was a relaxing day. The kids all swam all day and came in for dinner looking like prunes. I miss you all! Can't wait to see you in about a month! Love youuu!
Friday, July 17, 2009
I've lost track of the days...
It's almost my third week here. Almost halfway over. It's insane how quickly times passes. I'm already planning my trip home. August 23rd is when I get home, by the way.
So, the train ride home from Salzburg was an absolute disaster. I ended up getting on the wrong train in Ingolstadt and going the complete opposite direction I wanted to go. Then once I finally made it to Neuberg where Natalie was to pick me up, I tried turning my phone on and it didn't turn on. I tried to charge it...and it didn't turn on. I didn't have her number anywhere else, so I took a taxi. The taxi driver didn't know where the estate was at all, and she went a completely different way than I've gone, so I got lost, and we searched all over the countryside for the estate. We finally made it there, obviously.
Yesterday and today have been pretty relaxed. Natalie and her mom went into Munich today so I had all the kids all day. Sophie finally gathered enough courage to stand on the ladder in the big pool. I'm very proud of her.
Tomorrow we head to Frankfurt for the day. Four hours in the car with four children. Joy. Natalie tells me these traveling plans a day in advance, so I haven't even packed yet, not to mention I don't even have a bag because the stupid airline broke mine. On the bright side of that, Natalie is definitely buying me a new one. I've had that duffel since the 8th grade, and I get a free new one, AND I'm getting paid to travel all over Germany. Why am I leaving this job again?
After Frankfurt, we're going to Natalie's sister's castle in Wies Baden. It'll be fun ot hang out with Maiju again. I just don't want to live out of a suitcase anymore.
Well, that's all for now. Bis später!
So, the train ride home from Salzburg was an absolute disaster. I ended up getting on the wrong train in Ingolstadt and going the complete opposite direction I wanted to go. Then once I finally made it to Neuberg where Natalie was to pick me up, I tried turning my phone on and it didn't turn on. I tried to charge it...and it didn't turn on. I didn't have her number anywhere else, so I took a taxi. The taxi driver didn't know where the estate was at all, and she went a completely different way than I've gone, so I got lost, and we searched all over the countryside for the estate. We finally made it there, obviously.
Yesterday and today have been pretty relaxed. Natalie and her mom went into Munich today so I had all the kids all day. Sophie finally gathered enough courage to stand on the ladder in the big pool. I'm very proud of her.
Tomorrow we head to Frankfurt for the day. Four hours in the car with four children. Joy. Natalie tells me these traveling plans a day in advance, so I haven't even packed yet, not to mention I don't even have a bag because the stupid airline broke mine. On the bright side of that, Natalie is definitely buying me a new one. I've had that duffel since the 8th grade, and I get a free new one, AND I'm getting paid to travel all over Germany. Why am I leaving this job again?
After Frankfurt, we're going to Natalie's sister's castle in Wies Baden. It'll be fun ot hang out with Maiju again. I just don't want to live out of a suitcase anymore.
Well, that's all for now. Bis später!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Day 15: Interesting people
I've met so many ridiculously cool people. One night we were all sitting outside in front of the hostel talking when this group of Russians come and sit at the table next to us. They start playing the accordian and tambourine and singing and dancing. They had just come from a Folk music festival they sang at. I sang some jazz and we beat boxed and it was so awesome.
I also met three Danish guys who were probably the coolest guys ever. Christian, Kenneth and Tom. No Torben. Don't ask. It makes me giggle. They were so much fun, and I was sad to see them leave this morning.
I was walking next to the Salzach today listening to my iPod and enjoying the warm weather when this guy says something to me, and I didn't hear him so I stopped and turned off my iPod. I ended up talking to him for about an hour and a half. He spoke soooo fast though, so sometimes I had to just say HEY! Wait a sec I can't understand a word you're saying. We had some good laughs.
So, yesterday I went to the Schloss Miribel Gardens, which was absolutely breathtaking. I didn't bring my camera cord with me, so you'll have to wait to see pictures, but they'll be worth it.
I actually got 200 Euro total stolen from me. I don't know how it happened though. Each time my purse was locked up in my locker. I'm really depressed about it. That's like a weeks work in someone else's pocket. This place is stressing me out because I'm always worrying about money, but at the same time I really am having a good time. The diversity here is so great. Everyone is traveling, so everyone is nice and willing to talk to you because they're in the same boat you're in.
There isn't really all that much left to see here. If I hadn't been robbed, I probably would have gone to Frankfurt today with the Danish boys. Oh well. That's life.
I miss you all! Hope all is well.
I also met three Danish guys who were probably the coolest guys ever. Christian, Kenneth and Tom. No Torben. Don't ask. It makes me giggle. They were so much fun, and I was sad to see them leave this morning.
I was walking next to the Salzach today listening to my iPod and enjoying the warm weather when this guy says something to me, and I didn't hear him so I stopped and turned off my iPod. I ended up talking to him for about an hour and a half. He spoke soooo fast though, so sometimes I had to just say HEY! Wait a sec I can't understand a word you're saying. We had some good laughs.
So, yesterday I went to the Schloss Miribel Gardens, which was absolutely breathtaking. I didn't bring my camera cord with me, so you'll have to wait to see pictures, but they'll be worth it.
I actually got 200 Euro total stolen from me. I don't know how it happened though. Each time my purse was locked up in my locker. I'm really depressed about it. That's like a weeks work in someone else's pocket. This place is stressing me out because I'm always worrying about money, but at the same time I really am having a good time. The diversity here is so great. Everyone is traveling, so everyone is nice and willing to talk to you because they're in the same boat you're in.
There isn't really all that much left to see here. If I hadn't been robbed, I probably would have gone to Frankfurt today with the Danish boys. Oh well. That's life.
I miss you all! Hope all is well.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Day 12: Arrival in Salzburg.
This weekend has been a whirlwind of crazy. Friday we left for Kronwinkl, probably the most amazing castle I've ever seen. I've only stayed at one castle in my life, so I guess that isn't saying a lot. First of all, this place has it's own built in cathedral. It has about 100 guest rooms, no joke.
Natalie's best friend from boarding school and her husband lives in a flat on the third story, while Caspar(the husband's) parents live on the first and second floor. What they need with two floors is anyone's guess. I think all their servants live on the first floor. We went to the Landhuter Hochzeit, which was another Rennaissance festival celebrating the wedding of the Landshut Prince to the Polish? Princess. It was really cool. Natalie took me to this show with the kids with all sorts of Renaissance entertainment. Flag throwers, tumblers, singing, horse races etc. It was really cool. The whole city dressed up for this and it was basically a zoo. They were behind fences and we got to watch them in their natural habitats. For the show, the King, prince, princess and nobility were all sitting across from us eating their dinners, just like it would have been. We basically just hung out around the castle for the weekend.I hopped on a train this morning to Salzburg. Of course I worried the whole time that I was on the wrong train and that I would end up somewhere completely different. Luckily, I got off at the right station. I couldn't figure out the bus station, so I walked all the way to the hostel on the other side of town. It was a nice walk. The land is absolutely gorgeous and the buildings are amazing.
I was very proud of myself for being able to find the hostel all by myself. Now I'm just hanging out because it's Sunday and everything is closed anyway. I love you all! Pictures to come. I hope everything is well.
Natalie's best friend from boarding school and her husband lives in a flat on the third story, while Caspar(the husband's) parents live on the first and second floor. What they need with two floors is anyone's guess. I think all their servants live on the first floor. We went to the Landhuter Hochzeit, which was another Rennaissance festival celebrating the wedding of the Landshut Prince to the Polish? Princess. It was really cool. Natalie took me to this show with the kids with all sorts of Renaissance entertainment. Flag throwers, tumblers, singing, horse races etc. It was really cool. The whole city dressed up for this and it was basically a zoo. They were behind fences and we got to watch them in their natural habitats. For the show, the King, prince, princess and nobility were all sitting across from us eating their dinners, just like it would have been. We basically just hung out around the castle for the weekend.I hopped on a train this morning to Salzburg. Of course I worried the whole time that I was on the wrong train and that I would end up somewhere completely different. Luckily, I got off at the right station. I couldn't figure out the bus station, so I walked all the way to the hostel on the other side of town. It was a nice walk. The land is absolutely gorgeous and the buildings are amazing.
I was very proud of myself for being able to find the hostel all by myself. Now I'm just hanging out because it's Sunday and everything is closed anyway. I love you all! Pictures to come. I hope everything is well.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Day 9: Not much to report
Since the whole party stuff is finished, there hasn't been much excitement. Natalie's friend from boarding school is visiting with her two little girls, Elizabeth and Amelie. Elizabeth turned 4 yesterday and Amelie is two. They are both so sweet, but don't speak english. I've been doing my best to converse with them, but I usually just ask Theresa or Sophie to tell them something when I can't think of the right word.
I'm planning a trip to Salzberg next week from Sunday to Wednesday. I'll make sure to take a lot of pictures, and have adventures for you to laugh at. Things usually go wrong for me.
I managed to break my toe getting out of the bathtub the other day. The tubs here are unnaturally high, and I'm very clumsy. The two don't mix well. I also smashed my pinky finger in a drawer today and it's pretty swollen. I should probably stop hurting myself soon.
The weather has been pretty yucko lately. A lot of overcast days with thunderstroms throughout the day.
I'm finally able to move back into the estate house tomorrow. Morfar's sister is leaving tomorrow morning, so I won't have to walk back and forth between the two houses anymore.
We're going to one of Natalie's friend's castles on Friday. We'll go to another Renaissance Fair while we're there. It's a little village near Eching. It was the town that Natalie and her husband first lived when they got married.
Mormor and I are making cherry marmelade later today. I picked the last of the cherries yesterday. Most of them are rotten. Rotten cherries smell awful. I climbed up in the tree because there are fences are the tree to keep the horses out and with the ladder you can only reach so far. Mormor came along the path and kept telling me not to fall, don't fall, please please please don't fall. She didn't reylize that I was in fact a monkey in another life and have never fallen out of a tree before.
Hope all is well where ever you are reading this. Much love to you all!
I'm planning a trip to Salzberg next week from Sunday to Wednesday. I'll make sure to take a lot of pictures, and have adventures for you to laugh at. Things usually go wrong for me.
I managed to break my toe getting out of the bathtub the other day. The tubs here are unnaturally high, and I'm very clumsy. The two don't mix well. I also smashed my pinky finger in a drawer today and it's pretty swollen. I should probably stop hurting myself soon.
The weather has been pretty yucko lately. A lot of overcast days with thunderstroms throughout the day.
I'm finally able to move back into the estate house tomorrow. Morfar's sister is leaving tomorrow morning, so I won't have to walk back and forth between the two houses anymore.
We're going to one of Natalie's friend's castles on Friday. We'll go to another Renaissance Fair while we're there. It's a little village near Eching. It was the town that Natalie and her husband first lived when they got married.
Mormor and I are making cherry marmelade later today. I picked the last of the cherries yesterday. Most of them are rotten. Rotten cherries smell awful. I climbed up in the tree because there are fences are the tree to keep the horses out and with the ladder you can only reach so far. Mormor came along the path and kept telling me not to fall, don't fall, please please please don't fall. She didn't reylize that I was in fact a monkey in another life and have never fallen out of a tree before.
Hope all is well where ever you are reading this. Much love to you all!
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