27 November 2008 - Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I wish that I was in the US to celebrate with all of you. Here in Germany it is not a holiday so not only did I have to work today, I have to work on Friday also.

I am sorry to all that logged in and wanted to read about my day on Wednesday. I went to an afterwork party at the John Deere Forum and left my computer at work so that I did not have to take it with me. So I will start my update today with yesterday’s information.

Wednesday 26 November 2008

I woke up with a scratchy throat and a slight case of laryngitis. I know that for many people, me not being able to talk would be a blessing. However, it is difficult enough for me to get my point across without croaking out the words. Anyway, I used my mom’s favorite remedy, warm salt water gargle, and headed off to work.

Wednesday was another overcast day in Mannheim. We have not had any rain/snow since last weekend, but it was looking like we could any minute. The temperatures here are about like they would be in the Quad Cities but I notice it since I am spending much more time outside walking to the tram and then to the office (about ¾ mile each way). Maybe when it is really cold, windy or raining I will drive but I will decide on that later. I really am enjoying the convenience of the public transportation here. The only thing that I don’t enjoy is the smoking. I have been surprised that the number of smokers here in Germany seems to have decreased except on the tram platform. For those of you in smoke free Illinois and Iowa, Germany is also smoke free in almost every public place including restaurants and airports. This is not going to be good news for Mike and Kelly.

At lunch Sylvia asked if I was going to the afterwork party that was being held at the Forum (the German counterpart to the Pavilion). I had forgotten about it even though everyday at lunch there are huge screens in the cafeteria that remind us about the date, time and cost and the posters are all over the factory grounds. I thought I would give it a try so I spent the 3€ (Euro) for the ticket. More later on the party.

After lunch, I called into the department meeting in Moline. This was the first time that I was available to call into one the regularly scheduled meetings. It was great to hear everyone’s voice especially Kylie from Australia and Travis from Tennessee. It was almost like being there and will help me keep connected in the future.

I did find out that in the next several weeks, some of my fellow coworkers from Moline will be here. If you are planning a trip over, be careful who you let know that you are coming because whenever I find that someone is coming, I request something from home that I forgot or just decided that I can not live without it like I thought I could. Duane already has a phone that he is bringing with him. That will be a big help. I will then have a Moline number that people can call. THANKS AMY for getting everything that I need and giving it to him to bring. Then Roger is coming the next week. I will have to get my list together for him? I also think that seeing people from home here will help and I can’t wait to see them.

After work I walked over to the forum with Sylvia and Ulrich. The party started at 5:00 but we did not leave to walk over until 5:20. Sylvia said that we did not want to be the first to arrive. I guess things are the same all over. When we did get there, they had moved the farm equipment that is normally in there outside and setup tables, DJ, drink and food stations. Of course after finding the coat racks, that were conveniently hidden in a back hallway, we headed to the bar. There were several drink selections available including beer, pop, wine and mixed drinks. They even had a drink called ‘Moline’ that was a tequila sunrise. I decided on a beer and paid 2.50€ and found my group. Several people from the AD department went. Sylvia also invited several ‘external’ friends that were all very nice. I know that I heard their names several times but as you all know I don’t remember them. I could guess but I am usually only close.

I did not have my camera and really missed out on some good pictures. Things that I have not seen before like the condiment dispenser and people that I met would have all been subjects for photos. I hope that they have another party like this in a few months. This one was very nice, but all of the conversations were in German. I know that the people I was with tried to include me in the conversations, but it is difficult when so many are speaking at once to keep it in English. Since I am starting German classes on Tuesday I hope in a couple of months, I will be at least able to follow along. I did enjoy myself and learned a few new German words. I did not eat there but they had a couple different wursts and other sandwiches. They also had a dish that looked like a pizza with a crust that was as thin as crackers. Sylvia said that it is a French dish. The funniest thing was to see how they were dispensing the ketchup and mustard. They were each in a large container that was hung from a bar over the table and looked like large cow udders. When you wanted some, you squeezed the end of it. I was thinking that I had never milked a cow and could probably not get anything out.

I did not stay really late. I left about 8:30 and went back to my apartment. I walked in, thought about not having a computer and realized that I would not be able to update my blog. Oh well, I would just watch some TV. CNN was broadcasting the news about the attacks in Mumbai, India. Enough for the day. Time for bed.


Thursday 27 November 2008

Today I woke up and instantly was homesick. Thanksgiving Day for me has always been a day for family and friends and no one here understands the significance of that. I do want to wish everyone a safe and happy day.

I had to go to work so I got up and decided that I would wear a new pair of slacks to work that I got just before I left the states. I washed the slacks before I packed them so that I would be able to wear them as soon as my air shipment arrived. I put them on and was going to put my keys in the pocket before walking out the door and realized that the pockets were still sewn shut. What a problem. I can’t go a whole day with no pockets and this pair must have been sewed by someone in a bad mood. Usually you can just pull on the string and it will come out since it is there just to make the pants hang nice before you buy them. This one seems to have been sewed over many times. That seamstress does not want it to come undone prematurely. I think that I will have to get my craft knife out to open the pockets. I hope that I don't cut the fabric, but since I don't have a seam ripper here I will just have to take my chances. So I had to stop and change. Life can never be easy.

When I did get to work, I had an email from my brother Don. He was concerned about the attacks. How close is Germany to Italy? I assured him that I was very far from the attacks and that Mannheim is a very safe city. I feel safe enough to walk all over town. I guess that he is just concerned. What can you do, he is my brother!

He was also telling me that his family will be at his house for a traditional dinner. I can see them all in my mind, especially Emmah. I hope they will send me some pictures.

Not much special at work today except that today I could read the menu somewhat. One of the items on the Speiseplan was Streifen von der Kalbsleber in Apfel -Zwiebelsauce. I learned last Friday from Detlev that leben is LIVER. If I did not learn anything else, I knew that I would have to remember that. So when I saw the word kalbsleber I decided that I would have to pass on it. It is calf’s liver. In any language, I am not going to enjoy it and I would eat almost anything else that they were serving. As I hear German words, especially one like leben, I try to remember it so that I won't order something in a restaurant that I can't eat. I will also have to scan the cafeteria menus each week. Perhaps I will have to babelfish (translate) the menu in case something is not spelled out in a way that I can recognize it. The Germans do tend to combine several words into one!

This afternoon, I started thinking about all of you back in the states. You would be getting up, starting to cook dinner or travel to family and friends houses. For about the millionth time I thought I must be crazy to have done this. I really feel like a stranger in a strange land. No one is thinking about being with family and friends. The papers are not full of ads for 'Black Friday' and I will not be out shopping at 5:00 in the morning with my friends.

Well, one of the other things that I am missing is football. Right now, the Titans are whipping the Lions. I am following it on NFL.com so I get play by play updates. It really is not the same as sitting in front of the TV with a plate of turkey and potatoes, but it will have to do.

I talked to Mom this afternoon. She is getting settled in down at Texas Trails. She was trying to find her mixer so that she could prepare her dish for the park potluck luncheon. I want to say hello to all of the people there. Sid and Lois, Dave and Marlene, Uncle Bob and Aunt Sylvia, Paul and Elsie and everyone else that I have met when I have been there.

I also spoke with Michael. I actually woke him up. I did call before noon Central time, but I thought that he would be up and possibly on his way to Craig and Jeanine's(sp) house. He and Kelly will be spending the day in Orland Park and then back to Wisconsin tomorrow morning for him to go to work. Like me, he does not have Thanksgiving Friday off.

Both calls were hard and they both know that I miss them more than I can say. Just as I miss all of you.

Have a nice day today and be thankful for all that you have. Friends, family, health and freedom.