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Living overseas

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Original poster

** German Chat ** Alle sind willkommen. ** Frühling läßt sein blaues Band ...

768 replies

MmeLindt · 10/03/2009 13:11

...
Wieder flattern durch die Lüfte
Süße, wohlbekannte Düfte
Streifen ahnungsvoll das Land
Veilchen träumen schon,
Wollen balde kommen
Horch, von fern ein leiser Harfenton!
Frühling, ja du bist's!
Dich hab ich vernommen!

*

Für Deutsche und nicht-Deutsche, Goethe-fans und Gottschalk-fans, für Herzschmerz, Heimweh und Heimatgefühle.

Alle sind willkommen.

OP posts:
admylin · 20/03/2009 20:17

Thanks finknottle, saw your mail.

It was so sunny here today but quite cold. I'm wondering the other way round - what to take with me to UK. It's usually alot colder back home than over here but I still haven't got through all the small print on the e-tickets about how much baggage I am allowed.

Wonder how the village international abend is going! Still no news from Ernest either. Looks like my h has found a friend atlast, a colleague introduced them and he also has 2 dc at Gymnasium somewhere in Hannover. He's out for a drink with him now and I am gespannt as to what he tells him about his dc's schooling, he's also from the same country as h so they have that in common too.

Had a long talk with home today and they are totally behind me if I decide it's best to relocate back home without h. I think we'll be having some good long talks next week about things and i've lined my niece up to find some nice lads for ds to play with and go out to the cinema with maybe. It will do him the world of good to behave like a normal ten-going on 11 year old.

Original poster
MmeLindt · 20/03/2009 20:37

Good on you, Admylin, for having a good chat with your folks back home.

I was wondering how the village evening is doing. I have to really force myself to go to some things sometimes, but it is worth it in the end.

OP posts:
ZZZen · 20/03/2009 20:43

Hi there canella, you sound very happy.

I don't know how to post photos though, I'm one of those thickos who switches the pc on and off and screams for help if anything else needs doing. I am planning on dd taking over the computer role in our house.

Should do your dh some good having a friend to go out with now and again admylin. Do you two ever go off for a night out together or have you just lost the habit over time?

How's your little girl now ML?

admylin · 20/03/2009 20:43

I'm terrible at going to things like that here. Used to enjoy it in UK.

Recently there was a Stammtisch for ds's class, would have been OK if only 2 or 3 parents went but atleast 18 had registered and I couldn't bring myself to go because I never fully understand the jokes and I can't be myself somehow. As you know there's no point trying to be funny as our humour often does not translate anyway!

ZZZen · 20/03/2009 20:48

I get all bah humbuggy about it and mutter to myself that I will just hate it being at the International Women's Club Halloween brunch or whatever it is and actually if I ever go to anything like that (not often), I come home all sparkly and buzzy and full of beans.

I think we mums tend to feel we have enough socialising via the dc and all their friends, school, activities that we don't have the energy for more but actually it does do you a lot of good to have a bit of time off.

admylin · 20/03/2009 20:52

I'm OK if I know it's going to be all in English, I feel as if I can join in but I never go to German things because I always come away thinking well that was a waste of time. Trouble with the Gymnasium group is that tehy all seem to try to übertreff each other with better jokes or witty remarks and then everyone laughs and at first I join in and smile and nod too at regular intervals but after a while you just feel doof!

ZZZen · 20/03/2009 20:52

wouldn't have expected all that joking around tbh

admylin · 20/03/2009 20:54

No ZZZen we don't go out together, well last time we did when he flew over to meet us in summer 2007 in UK and it was hard work because we don't have much to talk about, but he enjoyed it I think.

He's hyper active and can't sit still for long so it's not relaxing. He can't go out and stroll along somewhere, it has to be at top speed.

ZZZen · 20/03/2009 20:54

dh is travelling an awful lot still. Just spent a week in Canada and flies out to Brazil tomorrow (wish that was me -30 degrees he reckons) from there to Buenos Aires and then to Santiago di Chile.

ZZZen · 20/03/2009 20:55

sounds like you need a dance out dancing then

ZZZen · 20/03/2009 20:57

no really I speaka de english

admylin · 20/03/2009 20:58

Know what you mean about the joking! I was quite surprised the first parents meeting here too - the Klassenlehrer was like a stand up comedian - it does look as if Hannover is a friendly area of Germany. Certainly better than Schwabenland, there is no way I would go back there and I've also ruled Bayern out. Shame I don't feel settled as it really isn't that bad in Hannover.

ZZZen · 20/03/2009 21:10

ooh a funny Klassenlehrer. Quite like that

CoffeeCrazedMama · 20/03/2009 21:14

Sorry, me again just popping back to say thanks for the helpful replies, esp. that weather site, Mme Lindt, sehr nützlich. Right, now to convince dd that tiny skirts and t-shirts not sufficient...

And yes, CoffeeCrazed indeed - I'm sure it is my central European heritage that means cofee is what gets me going in the morning and keeps me vertical. Couldn't live without.

ZZZen · 20/03/2009 21:18

don't apologise, pop in on the thread when you find time. How old is your dd?

CoffeeCrazedMama · 20/03/2009 21:25

Thanks, ZZen. She's 14. They are only going for 5 days. Her only fear is that her host mother will serve up Currywurst! Can't convince her that this is highly unlikely (and would be like me giving kebabs to guests).

She's so lucky - didn't get these opportunities at my school!

ZZZen · 20/03/2009 21:29

no way they'll serve her Currywurst at least not down in Bayern. Mind you I quite like the odd Currywurst und Pommes. It'll be white sausage down there. Bet she'll get tons of yummy food served up. I like German food.

Original poster
MmeLindt · 20/03/2009 22:56

No, they will not serve her currywurst. More likely to be Braten and Klöse. Tell her that if she gets offered Klöse that it is just potato and tastes lovely. Or Schnitzel.

I think currywurst is more of a Ruhrpott/northern Germany thing. Do you know the song?

Is TQO still wowing the village with songs and poetry?

OP posts:
ZZZen · 21/03/2009 14:55

I'm sure she did a great job and is out buying dark sunglasses today to hide from her fans. I remember when she was telling us how shy she was last time and then next thing we heard she'd gone off to see the mayor so he'd see to it she got a kiga place. Nah, I have her down as feisty alright.

Wonder what she did in the end? Have to go molest ask her about it on the other thread.

How's your dd now? Is she feeling better?

canella · 21/03/2009 22:01

could just go some klose!! will need to work out how to make it - can you buy packets that you add to mash potato??
been to the kreuzberg today - just still so excite by the beautiful weather and there was still deep snow at the top of the kreuzberg!! kids did really well climbing to the top from the car park but on the way down it go a bit slippy slidy and i was really unprepared and had the totally wrong shoes on!! dc3 (only 2.6) was crying loads and i could have cried myself!! def deserved the wurst we had at the bottom!!!
not a big beer fan but wish i'd had one now - not had any since we moved here!!
no sure whether to go to the KG thing at the church tom - we're not religious but since everyone else round here is catholic i think lots of things take place in the church - just thought it might help us to fit in but dh is working tom morn so i'd have to go again!! not sure i can face that just yet!!

do you think i'm being miserable at not getting to celebrate mothers day tom? when is the german one? i think us overseas mum's should get 2!!

Original poster
MmeLindt · 21/03/2009 23:09

Going to church is a good way of making friends, particularly in small towns.

Talking of Bratwurst, you must go to Fladungen, to the Hochrhön for a Bratwurst. The most delicious wurst is to be had there, at the Schwarzer Moor car park.

The butcher down in Fladungen is well worth a visit. They do the most delicious Fleischsalat.

You can buy Klosmix in the supermarket, even Aldi do it.

OP posts:
ZZZen · 22/03/2009 09:49

Hi girls. Yes, canella go and check out the church. They will print a weekly bulletin which should be lying out inside but if it is a really small community they might not do that; they should have something up though, saying when what takes place. Bound to have a toddler group and various things like that.

I didn't know people make their own KLose tbh. I'd just get the Fertigprodukt in a package. All you do is boil them up in water or leave them to simmer. Can't remember exactly. Dd won't eat them. I quite like them though, nice for mopping up gravy/sauce with.

ZZZen · 22/03/2009 09:53

I only like the Kartoffelklose though, not the Semmelklose so much

admylin · 22/03/2009 12:57

Yes canella, that is the best way to be accepted into a catholic village life. If you can, even if you don't usually go to church, it would be a good idea to turn up for Sunday church a couple of times. You'll be amazed how many people speak to you afterwards in the week if they recognise you.

admylin · 22/03/2009 12:59

Agree by the way, we should get 2 mother's days. Today I asked for a cup of tea and my dc started fighting, you make it dd, no you make it ds I made it last time so I said well one of you does everything today and the other is in charge of German mother's day! So dd is in charge today and ds is fed up because he doesn't want to do the German one!