Carnival

This is our first season of Carnival. Cologne is the New Orleans of Europe..... Times 10!  We all dressed up to celebrate and are heading to our first parade tomorrow. Full report to follow....

Trooper

One day when Cole grows up, I hope he realizes what his brother went through and supported. Brad has sat through hundreds of hours of soccer practices, games, and tournaments. Cole, your brother loves you, is often bored out of his mind, and has enjoyed several creepes while cheering you on. It's a family affair.

School decisions

The schooling system here is so different. I haven't figured out if I like it or not. Time will tell, but I'm also glad we aren't here for the long haul report!

Typically a child works hard through elementary school up to year 4 (4th grade) and their future is determined from that point on. There's three paths you can be sent down: gymnasium, hapschule, or realschule. Gymnasium is for University bound kids. Hapschule is more for trade type workers and I don't even know what is taught at Realschule.

My unbelievable bright tiny newborn was recommended for gymnasium!! Yea!! Even his tutor, Frau Martini, told us she has never seen such a scholar!

Everything is very formal with paperwork, approvals, letters. We are to research and pick out which school to apply to....... I didn't put this much thought into my own education! The stress of applying and interviews for 5th grade is insane to me. We basically had 3 choices. APG, HBV, and GBG.

There's pros to each, and amazingly he would know people at each school already. We picked APG as our first choice. This is the second closest school and where Aiden goes. It's fully in German and I haven't figured out how I'm going to communicate with the teachers. It's been quite the change for me to go from extreme involvement to being clueless about what is happening in their schools.

We went and dropped off our paperwork at the school. We walked past "kids" larger than Keith. Some were smoking in the quad. They seemed huge compared to my tiny newborn. I'm actually praying for a major growth spurt this summer. Gulp.

When we arrived in Germany, we actually had to fight to get Cole placed in 4th grade. They wanted to hold him back a year to prep him for Gymnasium. We pushed and told them no-way! Gulp. Kinda wish we could back pedal a bit. I'm sending my kid to high school next year. I feel robbed. He was just in the young baby wing at Fowler Elementary school. I'm bypassing the rest of elementary, skipping middle school and heading straight to high school. I'm so proud of him but for me..... This sucks. I miss my baby. I'm so grateful for jumping in to the PTA at Fowler and being a room mom when I had the chance. Seize the moment before you blink and your firstborn is a high schooler.

International living

There are times I catch myself and have to laugh at what our life might look like to others. A few months ago, I had preconceived ideas about living in Germany but I didn't imagine several things.....

You haven't lived internationally till you've had children spend the night who don't speak English and your kids still communicate just fine.

You haven't lived internationally till you are invited to a friends house and realize they all are speaking English just to accommodate me.

You haven't lived internationally till you've had children spend the night who know more languages than you. Have you been intimidated by a 7 year old intelligence?

You haven't lived internationally till Cole's friends are Batawan, Bahrain, Bilgazoo, Arial, Pasquel, Zallah, Valentine, and Jordan.... Just to name a few.

You haven't lived internationally till you have to take a camera phone to translate every thing you buy at the grocery store.

You haven't lived internationally till you hear the announcement on the train and immediately look around to watch people's body language to figure out what's going on.

You haven't lived internationally till you learn German from Google maps. The voice speaks Texas twang..... Strassa.

You haven't lived internationally till workmen show up and leave you house and you have no idea what just happened.

You haven't lived internationally till you properly know your exits on a roundabout, start to like the red to yellow to green light system here, or drive $100k cars on the autobahn.

You haven't lived internationally till the German police tell you next year we speak in German.

You haven't lived internationally till you understand the need for several different kinds of boots with tight skinny jeans.

You haven't lived internationally till you like riding your bike to do errands because it's quicker than taking the car.

I could go on and on..... To be continued....

Dear Cole,

I love you. You drive me batty sometimes. You can fire me up faster than anyone else and I fall for it every time. Together we will form you into a capable, honest, man of integrity. First I must have a drink. ;-)

Just don't ever forget how much I love you.

Choices

We have have personal preferences. People are like snowflakes and no two are alike. Both boys amaze me in their similarities and differences. This week they both needed a haircut. Cole opted for the standard trim. He looks handsome. Brad wanted something different. He had a vision in his head and asked that I carry it out. He wanted it very short on the sides but a long rat tail in the back. Brad couldn't be persuaded or deterred. He kept insisting his desires. So I gave him what he wanted. Let it be said.....

His taste isn't my taste. I love his creative vision and determination to express himself the way he chooses. I'm envious of his self confidence to go against the norm, and I will fiercely protect him from others who try to squash, steal, or break him from doing things his way. And, it's just hair.

He father might not share in his choices either, but we'll always support you!

Change of latitude, change of attitude

I started to blog about our rough transition to Germany, but it was so bad it sounded like a depressing story. Even I was sick of reading what was essentially a complaint list. On one hand, I wanted it documented (in case my husband gets the hairbrained idea of coming back) and on the other, I'd just as well forget the nightmare.

It's been six months since our arrival. I had no idea a beating could last that long. I think I'm coming out of my depression and realize I need a change in attitude. I miss so much of home it's not even funny. However, I'm here and I need to set the tone for the boys. Keith would also appreciate an end to the constant "stupid idea" bashing. After all, this wasn't ENTIRELY his fault.

In my attempt to adapt, I'm forcing myself out more. It's so difficult to put yourself out there and make friends, but it has to be done. I'm forcing my kids to do it so I might as well walk the walk.

There's many things that are growing on me. I often wonder if it would ever catch on in the States. I do love the ease of riding the train, the yellow light before it turns green, the way they dispense medication, the veterinary care, how dog friendly the entire country is, the trained dogs still amaze me.

Pizza Boy delivery drivers will never earn a good spot, but it sure is easy being close when I don't feel like cooking.

We've had tea and cake with our German neighbors, and I've met a few German women who are amazing and funny.

I'm coming to terms that I might have to learn the language. My mental block is huge, my brain is small.

February will be a month of change. I'm here, let's try to embrace it. Gulp. Here we go........