Random Pic(s)

We have been remiss ... yes, we have ... so don't try to stop us ... we're going to post some randomness in the form of pictures. It will keep the content "fresh" without us having to type too much ... and frankly, with me in language school (although almost finished?) typing anything in English is a small challenge :-)

enjoy the randomness

Language blopper...con't

Have you ever been in a situation where you KNEW what the meaning of a word was and you were so sure that you used it the way you thought...well fortunately this is a clean tale and not a biggy, but still a funny...the word is Mensa. Hey, I've been to college, I know what that word means and it does not include my brain power, but I know what it stands for, (according to Wikipedia)

Mensa International is the largest, oldest, and best-known high-IQ society in the world. The organization restricts its membership to people with high testable IQs. Specifically, potential members must score within the top 2% (98^th percentile) of any approved standardized intelligence test.

So I am at language school, trying my best to be cool and understand and I was asked something about Mensa. I'm thinking, yeah, I know that word, And reply, "Oh, no thank you, I really don't think I need to join as I'm not quite up to that at the moment ". And something else about how having children sucks all of the brain cells you used to have right out of your body and mind. So the guy looks a little funny, but than a lot of us are learning language here and he is used to not understanding what everyone says, so he does not say anything else.

Fast Forward, 4 weeks and then 6 weeks from November.... Mensa in German means a refectory! (Hey I went to Sweet Briar where we had/have a refectory) I was being asked if I wanted a student ID for the university cafeteria!! I did not realize this till I went with some of my friends about 4 weeks later to the Mensa. Which had great food, btw. Than it was reaffirmed by V's school....did she want tickets for the Mensa?

So that is your mini vocab lesson for the day....what really is MENSA?

An afternoon at the museum

Back home, one of our favourite things to do on a weekend — or a weekday, for that matter — was the museum. Science museum (SMV), nature museum, history museum, art museum, what-have-you ... we like museums. Yeah, we're funny that way. And Basel has (per capita) the most museums around!

So we took an afternoon and went to the Natural History Museum ... it was great, not crowded at all and the exhibits were a good mixture of static and hands-on. The kids could not help saying “Mom, come here, look at this!” One time I had a simultaneous tug on the sleeve to look at two things in two different directions! It was so much fun that when we closed the place down at 5pm we opted to up our one-time visit to the regional pass that covers about 170 museums in Switzerland, Germany and France! Yeah ... we'll probably visit most of them!! :-D

So here are a few pics of the day ...

Bees! very cool. Will have to return in the summer to see what’s going on with them ...


Why is this man smiling? ‘Cause he’s just found out that this room is a huge ant-farm! (and, as a child, he spent hours watching ants ... just watching ... watching ... we managed to pull him away this day, tho)


... and the next generation of bug-watchers is born ...

... but who is watching us?


and of course everybody’s got one of these ...

(... yours is fast, but mine is slow ...)

but does everybody have one of these?


... in the end, it was all just TOO much ...
so we’re going back to see the other 4 floors (we only got to see one wing in three hours, after-all, and not all of that one ...).

A Couple of Firsts

First snow for 2007 ... we’d like to get more, but this may be it!


The sled-run down a bike path. It's a good long run ...


Adjusting the gloves for improved aerodynamics


... the end of a satisfying day on the slopes.

And a first sleepover at the kinderhaus ...

... Getting ready ...


... getting set ...


... and going up to the Burg Rötteln (not to sleep out, but a nice night hike back after “grillen und stockbrot”)

As you can see from the pic above, the snow is all gone. We may not get more this winter, but last year the big snow hit in March ...

Silvester!

No, not the cat ....

Silvester is what the German's call "New Year's", and it was quite the party!!

If you are a fan of CS Lewis Chronicles of Narnia, you may recall the bit from The Silver Chair (spoiler warning) after the witch is killed. All of the inhabitants of Bism (the gnomes and sprites and what-have-you's) start setting off fireworks all over the Underland city. As it was described in the book, so it was in Rümmingen. Almost every street and street corner was transformed into a launching zone for fireworks of all shapes and sizes. Sparklers, crackers, black-cats (don't know what you call 'em here, but I've always called 'em "black cats"), as well as Cat. 2 and Cat. 3 rockets (yeah, big ones!) ... in short, it was a loud, bright, festive time! Everyone, young and old, was out watching or participating. We had been invited up the street to the home of two wonderful people. They are both multi-lingual, so we were able to speak English and German. His mom was visiting, and as her English was not as strong, we had a great opportunity to work on our German skills. She knew that I had family from Northern Germany, and as she was from Hanover, we had a good conversation about the differences between the North and South ...

The food was wonderful. We had a huǒguō (Chinese for "hot pot") in the center of the table and had shrimp (Krabbe), sliced pork and turkey (Schwein und Puten) as well as veggies (mushrooms, spinach, etc.), glass noodles and rice cakes!


Chinese hot pot in Germany

Yummy! And for dessert, Madge had made her pound cake, which we had with raspberries and cream.


Madge's Pound Cake (festively dressed)

After dinner, there were "table fireworks" (small poppers and crackers) for the kids, and then we went out for the 'roketten' (the ROCKETS!).


Wils gets ready to pop a cracker

We felt so welcomed into the community this first year, and it was so wonderful to be able to celebrate our first new year with new friends!

Frohe Weinachten!

Lo' How a Rose Ere Blooming

Merry Christmas from Germany!

Our Christmas Eve service at FEG-Rebland was very nice, with caroling at the exits after the service, then we hustled off to the Bruckrainhof for a little musical by the Musik-AG (music club) from Stryker-Ann's school. Stryker played the violin and had two duets to sing. It was COLD! but a very nice evening.


Stryker-Ann "warming up" a bit


The family 'fore the tree

Christmas Day came quickly (we adults were up a bit later than usual, wrapping a few last-minute items) ... the presents were all opened and admired (or played with, or being worn, etc.), the stockings are currently being rifled for the last yum-yums, and the Christmas Tree looks so forlorn now ...


Stalking the stockings

It was a wonderful day! We arose at 6 AM (oh joy) but managed to keep the wolves at bay for another 15 minutes while daddy made the coffee and turned the lights on downstairs. Saint Nicolaus had come indeed, and our friends from the States had been likewise VERY generous, filling our hearts with gladness, joy, and blessings for the Season. Now that the day is past, we are into the 12 Days leading up to Epiphany. In this neck of the woods (Southern Germany) we will most likely be visited by the Three Kings on Epiphany and have our door marked with chalk (the marking will be some variation of "C B M 07" for Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior, the traditional names of the Biblical Three Magi, followed by the year of the visit). This custom, which we first encountered last year at the Ferienwohnung, is usually associated with the Catholic areas of Germany, but also occurs in some other spots as well.

May this time of wonder find you all happy, healthy and filled with joy!

The Vosteen family

Genau!

There is a word in Germany that you use when you:

a) understand something very well
b) want something done just so
c) are describing something that is exact

The word is “genau”. (gûh-now)

Here are some examples of “genau” used in conversation ...

Q: Der deutsche Kurs findet in Freiburg statt? A: Genau.
(The German class is in Freiburg? Exactly so.)

S: Ich wünsche diese Tabelle, die genau so gemalt wird.
(I want the table painted exactly this way)

S: Die Wand ist genau 2,5 Meter hoch.
(The wall is exactly 2.5 meters tall.)

And if you ever want to make sure that someone understands you, you ask “alles klar?” (is everything clear?) and the answer (if it is clear) is “genau”.

Ich trage die linke Socke auf dem linken Fuß. Genau.
( I wear the left sock on the left foot. Exactly so.)

and if I ever forget? I have my “genau” socks to help me.



Alles klar? Genau.

We like packages ...

I confess. I like getting packages. It is fun, it is a break from the normal bills and statements (which often require a little bit of translation) and they always have something for everyone. Sure, regular old mail is appreciated (especially) but packages just extend the fun!

This time, an unexpected offering from some friends back in the states revealed ...

Route 11 Chesapeake Crab Chips!


I love these things. I guess I shared ... I don't recall. Let's just say that for a brief moment I flashed back to my introduction to the (future) in-laws. I had grown up on the York River, and knew (thank you Mom and Dad) how to pick crabs. Actually, all seafood was a “known” factor in my life and as you will read this was a good thing. ... I arrived in Urbanna (on the Rappahannock River) for the first time, having not yet met anyone else in Madge’s family. She deposited me on the back porch with a “Paul, here’s my brother and my cousins, ya'll get aquainted ...” I can’t recall the exact words, but I knew I was ‘on my own’ ... and I underwent the “can he pick crabs?” inquisition. Obviously, I passed, but the taste of Old Bay is a perpetual reminder of that day.

so thank you, oh sender of Route 11 goodness! you made my day.

now, with Thanksgiving on the way, I just have to find someplace where I can get some fresh oysters ... hmmmmm

oh ... ps.,
we've added a guestbook feature. actually, it’s more of a guestMap. so locate it at the top of the left nav, find yourself, and drop us a line.

St. Martin's Day

The children and I enjoyed another new cultural experience this week, St. Martinstag (St. Martin's Day). On Monday evening we gathered in the village center to hear the story of St. Martin. It was dark and the children had all of their homemade lanterns (yes, I made Wils' lantern), lit with real candles (the fire department was here-just in case), then a rider on a horse appeared and the story of St. Martin was acted out (see legend below). After the story we were led around the village by “St. Martin” and his horse, with the kindergarten teachers playing their guitars, singing songs about St.Martin. It felt like Christmas caroling as we walked on into the chilly night, although we were not singing carols about baby Jesus. But it was fun nonetheless and of course, they served food afterwards..... wurst, wafflen, heiss kinder-punch, gluwien, usw. (und so weiter - same as 'etcetera'). No pictures, I'm sorry , IT WAS DARK!!!

The legend of St. Martin:
Martin was a knight who lived in the 4th Century. The legend states that one night, he was entering a city when he saw a begger, who looked very cold. Out of pity, the knight drew his sword and clove his cloak in two, giving half to the beggar. That night, Martin had a dream (or vision) where Jesus appeared to him and said " I was the one you gave a piece of your cloak to. you are a good man, Martin, so one day you will become a Bishop."

Martin later became the Bishop of Tours, France (and there was something about some geese being involved in that ... but that would have to be subject of a different 'blog entirely).

Paris in the Fall

Yes, I know. It has been a long time since the last post, and a lot has happened since then. Relatives have come and gone, school has started, work has picked up, the weather has changed (so has the time), we went to Paris, ... huh?

Now before you get your shorts in a wad over “you went to PARIS???!!??” please remember that it is part of Paul’s job to see what is happening in our neck of the woods (the greater Western Europe community), take photos and video, and record what we see - media-wise. Yes, working as a media specialist for an international company does have it’s benes.

So while the kids had a Fall break (Herbstferien - Herbst is ‘Fall’, ferien is ‘vacation’), we took the opportunity to go visit some friends in Paris. Our trip was tres bon, as we passed many lovely old chateaus on the way - below is a quick pic of the Chateau Chateauneuf, north of Beaune. We did not stop by on this trip, but it looks like it would be worth the visit ...



Arriving in Massy, on the outskirts of Paris, we visited with friends, then decided to go into the city for dinner. Our train ride brought us to the Notre Dame station, and upon exiting the Metro we we greeted with the following view ...



Dinner was very French, except that we had dinner around 5:30 or 6:00 ... the locals started coming in around 7 or 8. Wils and I had galettes, his with sausage and mine with sausage, mushrooms, garlic and a whole ton of cheese melted on top. Madge ordered the fish - deLISH! Stryker-Ann and Vaden opted for the cheese fondue, and as you can see, it was tasty and fun! ...



The next day, after a breakfast of croissants and pain au chocolat, we took in the more touristy places of Paris (the ones that everyone has to see) ...







Leaving our gracious hosts to complete a driving test (which is a pretty big deal in Paris) we headed into the city on day three to visit another friend who is studying at the Sorbonne (how cool is that?). She has a wonderful apartment near some lovely shops and markets on the southwest side of Paris. ...







It was great to just get out in the city and see the sights. The Basilica of the Sacré Couer in the northern part of Paris was very impressive. This was one of the churches that was obviously not bombed out during the Second World War ... not that the attempt was not made (according to a display inside, 10 bombs fell in very close proximity, but none hit the target - kinda makes ya think, ya know?) ...



Lunch at a little Italian café was followed by a stroll through an art market where everything from landscapes to caricatures could be had (and of course, a delightful Parisian singing to a hurdy-gurdy) ...





Paris is not a place to be seen in a hurry, and we must make another trip back to take in the museums and gardens, but this was a great introduction to the city.

Of course - we were glad to get back to the cats ...



oh, sorry, these cats ...