Trick-or-Treat!

Today was a hodgepodge. We began the day in Geilenkirchen so I could complete the shopping for my sister's birthday gift. On this, our fourth day of driving, we navigated toward the city's center; this was easy enough. Parking was more of a challenge. My husband listened to Blanche the GPS narrator, and went through a roundabout, taking the second exit. Instead of veering sharply, he continued in a much smoother fashion and that was ironic because it took us directly to the bus stop. An elderly woman was patiently waiting and she glared at us reproachfully because we dismissed all of the traffic signs that forbade us from driving into the bus lane. We hurriedly drove through the restricted area and parked in a hotel parking lot.

It's very difficult to be the passenger in your own car. It's especially difficult when you're in a new country with different traffic laws and roads. I've developed some type of car sickness due to the stress of riding in my own car and listening to the driver (my husband) say things like, "The sun is so different here. It's blocking my view." 

We spent an hour in Geilenkirchen and then headed off to the base to take care of some more administrative tasks. We obtained a gas ration card for my car and then went to the post office to mail my sister's birthday gift. A sign on the door read that the office will be closed November 1st for All Saints' Day. I didn't immediately feel that this holiday closing would impact me since today is October 31st. I tried the door handle and it appeared to be locked. A man walking out of another door said, "Oh I'm sorry ma'am. The post office is already closed. It closed at noon today in observance of tomorrow's holiday." What could I say except, "Oh! Okay! Thanks. I'll come back Wednesday."

We decided to go to the readiness center to inquire about delivery for some appliances to our new home. Everyone there was in a celebratory mood due to the Tuesday holiday, and they were very helpful and eager to answer our questions. We received advice about furniture, bicycles (our other goal for today), and online sources to aid in our continuing transition.

Afterward, we went to the base's version of a department store. It's a limited selection but I only needed one item so we thought it would be a good option. My husband is an avid runner and I've decided that I need running pants in order to try to hone my athletic skills. With so much countryside, I figure Germany is the best place to get into the fitness habit. 

I wanted to try on the pants since they're the first legitimate pair of running pants I've ever owned. I brought them to the dressing room area where there were three stalls. Logically, I tried the first one. There was some resistance but that was only because I was pushing the door in instead of pulling it out. With a little force, the door finally opened and a nice Italian man was inside, in the middle of buckling his belt. My face immediately reddened and I apologized profusely. He smiled and said, "Hello!" I was embarrassed; he was not.

After the dressing room incident, we decided to eat some lunch off base since everything was closed for All Saints' Day (early). We ended up back in Geilenkirchen and went to a nice cafe where I ordered a caprese salad and my husband selected a baguette with tuna. The ubiquitousness of tuna is worth mentioning. It's available here on many sandwiches and even pizzas. 

We placed our orders and then I needed to use the bathroom facilities. Luckily they were situated across from our table. I walked over to the door and noticed that a sign said something about .50 euro. A small fee is required for use of many of the bathrooms here so I just assumed that I needed to insert a coin. I went back to our table to get one and my husband said, "I just went and I didn't need any money. We're paying customers." Since I was fresh off the dressing room incident, I didn't want to commit another social faux pas. I got a coin and went back inside to the sink area. Then I attempted to insert a coin into the next closed door. I couldn't find a slot but I kept thinking the coin would eventually slip through whatever crease I was prodding. As I was silently cursing under my breath, I heard the unmistakable turn of the toilet paper wheel and realized someone was already using the bathroom.

Red-faced once again, I walked out of the bathroom and scurried to the table where I informed my husband of my new misjudgment. He was amused. The lady in the restroom came out eventually and I was able to finally use the facilities without incident. I returned to my seat to find my husband snacking on my caprese salad. He thought it was an appetizer

After our eventful lunch, we went to the recommended bicycle shop. I don't know how to convey the importance of having a bicycle here. We have regularly walked four miles one way in order to drink one beer. During these walks we are passed by many bikers who are arriving to their destinations in half the time it takes us. We're ready to join this fast-paced crowd.

We don't necessarily want to spend 500 euro on one bike, so our first option is a used-bicycle shop. We followed the GPS to another tiny village and successfully parallel-parked on the street. The shop looked as if it might be closed but we were undeterred and continued to the back entrance. We were greeted with yet another sign on a door that read something about September 30th and something about October 31st. These are the times when knowing the German language is imperative. Since the shop appeared fully-stocked we just assumed they closed early today, won't be open tomorrow, and so we'll go back on Wednesday.

I looked up one other address for a bike shop and it was in the Netherlands so we thought we'd take a little drive there and see what this place had to offer. After 20 minutes of riding in the car, and starting and stopping to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to claim their right-of-ways, we parked at the location and immediately saw it was indeed a bike shop-- a motorcycle shop. The language barrier announces itself again.

We went back in the direction toward home and stopped at the Rewe, a grocery chain here. That was a successful trip except for my mistake of buying jasmine rice when I thought I was getting orzo. We thought we would make it home in time for a run but Daylight Saving Time occurred yesterday (one week later in the US) so the sun was already down at 5:30. I made the jasmine rice for dinner. Instead of creamy shrimp orzo, tonight's dish turned into a renegade gumbo.

We're expecting most businesses to be closed tomorrow due to the holiday. This will give me a chance to study for my driving test on Wednesday so I'm not complaining.

It's almost 9pm here and the doorbell just rang downstairs. My husband answered and I heard a chorus of voices, and then the door was shut abruptly. I went down to investigate and asked, "Who was at the door?" 

"Trick-or-treaters!" he replied.

"Oh no! We don't have any candy! Were they dressed up?"

"Yes. One was a cat. I opened the door and they said, 'Gloocky-Glongh'." 

Gloocky-Glongh is my husband's interpretation of what must mean trick-or-treat in German.

I quickly fashioned some makeshift bags of gummy bears and chocolate, just in case we have some other Gloogky-Glong-ers. We're attempting to fit in when we can.

Happy Halloween!

Bed Quest

I know you're expecting to hear about the purchase of our amazing bed and I'm sorry to disappoint you. We began our day at a used furniture store in Heinsburg. Many of the items are procured during estate sales and that quickly becomes apparent. We saw a beautiful china cabinet that might be perfect for our dining room, except for the obvious 'EO' signature etchings in the glass.

From there we moved on to a more traditional store, also in Heinsburg. This was a huge warehouse almost identical to something like a Haverty's. The showroom was impressive and even included a fine china section. We were immediately able to ascertain that the items in this venue are out of our budget. The clerks seemed to be amused by us. I usually feel accosted by salespeople in furniture stores but we had the upper-hand this time. I think the clerks knew we wouldn't understand their sales pitch so they didn't even bother.

For months we have been planning to buy our new king-sized bed from IKEA. We deliberately waited until we arrived to Germany because we thought the quality would be better, and since it's a European brand, less expensive. We were wrong on both assumptions. The quality is the same (not bad- not the best) and IKEA is actually more expensive here.

IKEA is 40 minutes away in Dusseldorf. This journey required us to take the Autobahn. We thought we would just jump in and get our feet wet even though this is only our second day driving. We were immediately confronted with the insanity of this highway system. Within one minute of merging, a Mercedes whooshed by us. It was going at least 130mph. I was uneasy the entire time. We were clocking about 75mph most of the time and other cars were passing us as if we were standing still. Blanche, our GPS announcer, was telling us when to exit but also providing additional information that wasn't needed.
"Take the next exit, exit 47a to 13b to 48c to Geisghisdgndkfglunmph." Inevitably 13b and Geisghisdgndkfglunmph turned out to be the only important indicators and we spent valuable time looking for 47a and 48c.

We arrived at IKEA and discovered that it looked like any IKEA in America so we were instantly comforted and excited. We weren't intimidated by all of the Swedish names because that's the way things in IKEA are always named and described. I'm not sure why, but I was definitely shocked to find that any translations of Swedish were done in German.

Imagine walking into a furniture store, searching for a bed. It's helpful to know if a mattress is soft, medium, or hard. Fortunately for you, that description is available. We had to use Google Translate to determine the German words for soft, medium, and hard.

We decided on a bed and mattress and our next plan of action was to find a clerk who speaks English. I planned on asking a nice-looking young woman who seemed eager and knowledgeable. She was busy. I was left with Helga. Helga effectively ignored me for a few minutes. We finally made eye contact and she gruffly barked, "Hallo."
"Hallo," I replied nervously. "Sprechen sie englisch?"
"NEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!" This means no. Definitively.

I assumed she would immediately direct me to a colleague who is fluent in English. Instead she proceeded to enter into a staring contest. I lost and sheepishly asked, "Anyone? Speak-a English?"
She gestured behind her and dismissed us.

The only thing behind her was a wall so we assumed she wanted us to go to the front desk, or to leave the store entirely. We decided to just go home and decide firmly which items we want and go back to IKEA on a Wednesday afternoon when it won't be so crowded and hopefully Helga will be using her day off.

We drove back home, stopping in Geilenkirchen along the way so I could choose one more birthday gift for my sister. To our dismay, all of the shops were closed. It was only 5pm. Apparently everything shuts down at 3pm on Saturdays and aren't open at all on Sundays.

Defeated, we drove home and thought we might try to go to the local Oktoberfest celebration in Gillrath. I took another look at the flyer that was left on our doorstep last week.

Unfortunately we did not go. I couldn't determine the correct address.

I think our only safe goal is to drink some German beer by the end of the day. This was accomplished by some Erdinger we had at home-- very good. And I think beer might also be the logical aim for tomorrow since everything else will be closed.

Adventures in Driving

We were at the base very early this morning to get the tags for Greta. This process took about 30 minutes and right after that we headed off to another base in the Netherlands to finally drive her off the lot she's been sitting on for weeks. The paperwork there didn't take long and before we knew it we were doing the walk-around to assess any damage that might have occurred during her voyage across the ocean. Luckily she looked perfect! It was such a relief to see the car after a month-and-a-half wondering and worrying whether everything would be okay and on time.

Though the car is German, it wasn't actually manufactured in Germany so that means we didn't get true European license plates. Here, they are required for the front and back of the car. My husband was a little upset about this because he doesn't necessarily want us to always stand out as American, but I'm glad. Hopefully this will warn other drivers of my possible ignorance about traffic rules. If I don't take my turn when I have right-of-way, maybe they'll see the plates and think, "Oh well, she's American! That's why she doesn't know!" And then they'll wave merrily and toot their horn as we all continue safely on our ways. We'll see.

We thought we would feel exhilarated because we're free and on our own. I think we've experienced some of that sentiment today, but being on our own also means no one else is there to translate what traffic signs mean. We, like everyone else we've met here, are relying solely on our GPS to take us everywhere. For some reason the woman on our GPS sounds like Blanche from The Golden Girls. It's sort of comforting to hear her southern drawl, and also funny to listen to her pronounce words like Waldfeucht and Puth.

Today was the first time we were able to control the radio and that was interesting. Radio announcers seem to switch back and forth from English to German to Dutch. A string of songs will be in English and then without rhyme or reason, the next few songs will be German. There is also a chance of stumbling upon a French song because the Canadians have a dedicated station. We finally settled on The Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" before it was succeeded by a Euro-techno-pop tune that transported us back to reality.

By now it was lunchtime and we were both getting hungry. We decided it was the perfect time to eat at a European McDonald's. It seems like everyone we know has done this within their first month of being here. The menu was mostly standard McDonald's fare with a few regional selections. I ordered McNuggets and he tried the Chicken Satay Sandwich (tasty). I was amused that the wording on the packaging was Dutch, aside from "I'm Lovin' It."

After lunch we stopped by a Volkswagen dealership in Gangelt. The front license plate for my car had to be drilled on since there were no pre-existing holes. We parked at the dealership and then attempted to go inside, of course going to a locked door first. We walked over to another door and a man emerged from the parking lot and said something in German. When we asked if he spoke English he said, "A little" and then continued to speak German. We decided he meant for us to follow him inside.

We showed him the license plate and told him we needed a holder and some screws for it. He stared at us blankly and my husband took over.
He hoisted the plate into the air and said, "Sir, we please need holder" as he drew an air-rectangle around the plate. The man eventually nodded and brought us a holder.
My husband then said, "Oh, danke! Danke. But we need screws." Again, the man's face turned to stone. After trying to say the word 'screws' using a few different inflections, my husband finally made a twisting motion with his hands and said, "Zoom! Zoooooooom!"
The kind man immediately said, "Ah!" and said whatever the German word for screws is. He then produced some and brought out another man to put the plate on my car.

Back on the road, we headed over to our new home. We were intending on going just to put our name on the mail slot to ensure postal delivery but the landlord's family happened to be there working so we were able to go inside again and take mental measurements of the rooms. Seeing the house again affirmed our decision to live there and we can't wait until the 11th to finally be settled.

After the pit-stop at our new house in Tuddern, we drove 3 minutes to Sittard in the Netherlands. We navigated toward the town center and followed signs for parking. As soon as we parked, we heard someone yelling something that sounded like, "Parkiiiiiiieeeeeennng." We looked up and saw an elderly man leaning over his balcony, gesturing at the car. We realized he was telling us no parking was allowed. Other cars were parked there so we concluded it must be for residents only. We moved the car and continued on, eventually coming to a parking garage.

We aren't anywhere close to being proficient in the German language yet, and this was our first day actually driving ourselves, so maybe it wasn't the best idea to drive to another country and confront a different language. There isn't a nice way to say this so I just will: Dutch doesn't make sense. I just don't get it. I feel like a toddler who only knows how to point, try to sound out letters, and scream in frustration. I don't know how safe it is for us to be driving around having conversations such as:
"Do you know what that sign says?"
"No. I mean, it's red and has a red line through something. Is that a picture of a person on a bike?"
"I think it's a motorcycle. So I think that means we can drive here too...... right?"
"I don't know. What does that mean in German?"
"I haven't ever seen a sign like this in Germany."
"Oh. Well. I don't know. Just keep going I guess. And then stop if it seems like someone gets mad."

The parking garage was different than any I've ever seen in America. At first we thought it was closed. We drove slowly down the ramp and stopped in front of what appeared to be a wall. We pressed a button for a ticket and the wall opened up into the garage. We were pretty impressed with ourselves for figuring this much out, and we left Greta parked safe and sound.

Sittard was amazing! I'm looking forward to going there for the market, especially when the weather is nicer. We walked around for a while and went into several shops. One of the advantages of the Netherlands is that even though their own language is confusing, a lot of people do speak English. Many of the stores here are easy to figure out because, let's face it, a pharmacy looks like a pharmacy and a shoe store looks like a shoe store.

The best shop we saw was called America Today. It seemed to be a store dedicated to whatever is currently hip in the states. We were curious about how we're projected to dress so we went inside to look around. The entire place is modeled after an Abercrombie and Fitch. There are lots of hoodies for the guys and plaid skirts for the girls. We were quite amused that this is how they think most Americans are dressing. Also entertaining was that we were the only potential customers in the store. We left without stocking up on our rugby apparel.

We had dinner at a great little cantina near the square. The mojitos were refreshing and the food was inventive and delicious. All of the shops were closed by the time we finished eating so we called it a night and headed back to the parking garage.

We began the descent down the stairs and immediately noticed that the entrance was closed. A mild panic immediately began to set in. We hurriedly walked back to the entrance we drove through and it was still heavily fortified. My husband began power-walking toward a little station resembling a phone booth that looked like it might say 'Parking.' This entrance was also closed. We began wondering what we were going to do. Should we call one of our friends for help? How could we explain that we'd only had the car for a few hours and now it was locked in a parking garage in the Netherlands? Should we attempt to ask a stranger walking by for advice? Should we just go back to the cantina and have more mojitos?

Finally my husband realized that there were instructions in German, Dutch, AND English. Our breathing returned to normal and we read that we were to insert our parking ticket into a little machine. This caused elevator doors to whisk open. We took the elevator down a floor and ended up in a brightly-lit corridor. After opening the door, we walked through and made sure Greta was still waiting. Thankfully she was there, probably wondering why we ever bothered to send for her if we were just going to lock her in a parking garage all night.

Our night drive back through the Netherlands was stressful. Bicyclists always have the right-of-way there and they definitely take it. They'll dart out into the street like a fleck in the corner of your eye. Before you know it you're right on the tail of a Dutchman pedaling away at the speed of 2 miles per hour. Pedestrians also don't seem to notice or care about cars barreling toward them. The street lamps have bulbs the color of caution lights. When I saw them ahead, I said, "Wait! Caution lights!" Then nothing happened and we both realized they were just lighting our path. Confusing.

Tomorrow we'll be going to some furniture stores to see about getting a bed for our new house. I think we'll be staying in Germany so at least we won't have to try to understand Dutch. So far I've been getting by with smiling and nodding. We'll see how well that goes over while trying to select a bed.

Gute nacht!

My Car is Here!

My car has arrived, finally! The absolute latest date it could be delivered to us was the 28th (tomorrow), and we were getting worried Greta wasn't going to make it and we'd be car-less for another weekend. Late this afternoon we were informed that she has made the 4-hour trek from Bremerhaven to Schinnen. We're going to the base very early tomorrow to take care of everything that needs to be done in order to actually claim the car as our own.

Tomorrow we're lucky enough to have a ride to the base. For the past two days we've been getting there on foot, 2.5 miles one way. It's a pleasant walk alongside verdant pastures and ancient farmhouses. The weather has been cool and windy which is nice when you're working up a sweat. We're beginning to be able to greet passersby with confidence. All it really takes is a simple nod and a cheerful, "Hallo!" Another important benefit of all this walking is that instead of gaining weight, we have actually dropped some. Keep the bread and beer coming!

Today I helped my friend at a Halloween carnival for kids of military members. It was fun seeing all of the children dressed in their costumes and playing games. I enjoyed having a reason to get up and going, other than walking to the base and spending all day there going from office to office. It made me feel normal. I can't wait until all of this in-processing is finished, both of our cars are here, all of our things are here, and we are in our own house. It's so close!

Some of our guesthouse neighbors invited us over for dinner this evening. It has been really easy meeting people here, especially the ones who are also new. I like hearing all of the advice from those who have been here a while but it's also comforting to sit across from some newcomers and know that they're feeling the same way we are.

This weekend we're planning on pricing some bikes and going to furniture stores. It's the first time we've been truly independent, and with our own transportation, since two weeks before we left Georgia.

I was planning on taking my driving test tomorrow but since Greta is here I've received a last-minute reprieve! Now I'm planning on taking the exam next Wednesday. I really am terrified of failing. It would be humiliating to tell my husband I didn't pass. I hope I'm worrying needlessly, otherwise that bike is going to come in really handy.

Walking

We're still waiting on my car to arrive. The latest possible date is the 28th and I'm convinced it's going to take that long just because it can. We're continuing to rely on friends to take us everywhere.

Yesterday (Sunday) we slept in and then decided to take a walk to a nearby village called Gangelt. It seemed like everyone was outside taking advantage of what might have been the last temperate Sunday afternoon for a while. People of all ages and fitness levels were biking, walking, and riding horses. I've never been in a place quite like this. Everyone goes outside when the weather is nice.

Eight miles later we ended up in a bustling square. There were two small restaurants, a small pond, and a playground. We directed our attention to cheering and yelling, and it was coming from a soccer field on the outskirts of the square. This was one of the ubiquitous soccer clubs They were playing a lively, competitive game, decked out in elaborate uniforms. I wonder what their day jobs are.

We continued toward downtown Gangelt and ambled around the downtown area for a few minutes. Something to note about all of these places is that everything, aside from some restaurants and cafes, is closed on Sundays. In larger towns, such as Heinsburg and Aachen, people walk around and window-shop. It's still a reason to be outside on a Sunday.

We headed back to the square and took a seat at the cafe to grab a beer before our long trek back to Gillrath. I will forever hold this location dear to my heart. It is here that I had the wonderful, refreshing, delicious Bananen-Weizen. It's just a regular Hefeweizen mixed with a small amount of banana puree but I believe it's the nectar we were meant to drink. It is now my mission to find this concoction wherever we are, especially if we have a long walk ahead of us. Potassium is important.

Our return home was also pleasant. The sun was going down so it was already colder and much more windy. But people were still enjoying the remnants of the day. It's easy to walk several miles when the road ahead of you is so peaceful.

The road ahead.

This evening we had dinner with our friends at a Greek place called El Greco. I guess I didn't really imagine Greek and Chinese food in Germany but I'm glad it's here. Ouza was brought to us right away and the food was great. 

Think good thoughts for us and hopefully tomorrow Greta will return to the motherland so we can drive her around and reclaim our independence!

Trying to Blend In

Yesterday was filled with more adventures in Aachen and Cologne. We met a great couple during some of our briefings and they invited us to hop a ride with them. We're already getting better with the train stations! We bought an all-day ticket for four people instead of purchasing individually. We saved about 80 euro by doing this. I guess you just learn these things one day at a time.

We arrived in Aachen at 11am and bought tickets for an English-speaking tour of the Aachen Cathedral. The tour began at 2pm so that gave us time to have a light snack at an outdoor cafe, and we were also able to visit the cathedral treasury. It was amazing! At one point I was standing in front of a glass case with three reliquaries. They contained the belt of Mary, and the belt and flagellation rope of Christ. My thought was, "This can't be real." It's mind-blowing to know you're standing in a place that was constructed around 792. And of course, the relics are real.

The tour of the cathedral was also great. Our tour guide spoke perfect English. I am endlessly impressed by all of these people who can fluidly switch from German to English. We learned a lot and were able to stand directly in front of the remains of Charlemagne.

After the cathedral tour we stopped for some glasses of wine. We were hungry again and since our train tickets were for anywhere all day, we decided to go to Cologne for dinner. It's so convenient to hop on a nice train and relax for 40 minutes on the way to another awesome city. 

By now the sun was down and it was windy and freezing in Cologne! We stood in awe of the Dom once again and then made our way to a restaurant. We were walking on a narrow side street when suddenly a man darted out of a hidden door into our path and exclaimed to my husband, "You have iPhone? You will take a photo!" He put his arm around my husband's shoulders and steered him toward a darkened pub. None of us were sure what was happening. Was he going to steal our iPhones? As you might imagine, we have been briefed about the possible dangers of trusting strangers. 

Throwing caution to the wind, my husband barely hesitated and strode confidently into the bar while we stood in the doorway. Then, instead of staying with the two women, the other male in our group followed him in so he wouldn't be alone. At this point, we're thinking we might as well head to dinner and retrieve our husbands from the dungeon later.

The man gestured for my husband to situate himself behind the bar and then he handed him an iPhone. After that he rushed back to his friends and they all struck a pose. Apparently he was asking if we knew how to use an iPhone so one of us could take a photo of their group. Silly us. 

We ended up at another beer hall, this one much smaller than the one we chose last weekend. The room was full of long tables that were all apparently reserved. We thought we found one that was available and as soon as we sat, a waiter rushed over and bellowed, "You want to eat? This is RESERVED! Upstairs you go!" 

We dutifully trotted upstairs and came to a woman dressed as what appeared to be a bar wench. She was sitting at a table guarding two large oak doors. She beckoned us to move inside and we were confronted with a tiny room. As soon as the door shut behind us, all of the noise stopped as if we sucked it out with our presence. All eyes were on us. Mouths were agape, forks suspended halfway. We began fidgeting and I think we all wanted to turn around, flee downstairs, and find a McDonald's. 

The waiter who yelled at us suddenly appeared and told us to sit down in the middle of one of the tables. As we approached, I distinctly heard a man say, "Ugh, Americans."

I sat down beside a man who immediately grabbed his belongings and pulled them to himself. I guess he thought I was going to steal something. The restaurant was still silent as we sat and took off our coats. We tried to only maintain eye contact with each other. A waitress arrived and we ordered our drinks. The people on both sides of us smirked. Eventually people began talking again but we were gaped at boldly during our entire meal. No one smiled.

This was the first time I've experienced hostility since being here. We are living in a very small village right now and everyone has been so nice. Cologne is a huge center of tourism so I assumed people would be tolerant. I wonder what their perception is of Americans. We were polite and ate everything we ordered, even if we weren't sure exactly what it was. It was very uncomfortable sitting among these people who obviously have strong preconceptions of us. And how do they immediately know we're American? 

I will be happy to learn German so I can hear what they're saying about us. Then I will respond, in German, "When you visit America, I hope you don't receive this treatment." It was strange.

After dinner we boarded the train back to Geilenkirchen. Ultimately the day was great. I think we must have just happened upon a local restaurant nestled among the tourist streets. It was certainly a little discouraging. Whatever they must think about us, I hope by the end of our time here we will have changed some of their minds.

Walking and Talking (trying)

Today we finished all of our business at the base before lunch, so we had the rest of the day to relax. We took a 6-mile walk on the bicycle paths around this village. It was such a nice day and it seems like everyone was outside walking, biking, or just talking to neighbors. There is a strong sense of community here. We live a couple miles away from what appears to be a genuine soccer club. From what I can tell, on Sundays these grown men play soccer and then retire to some sort of clubhouse where they finish drinking the weekend. It's great. I think America should do this more often (including the women, of course).

As we were walking we saw something in the sky that looked too small to be a plane and too large to be a bird. It was noiseless and I was beginning to think it was a European UFO when it suddenly and silently sailed above us and dipped into a field beyond some trees just ahead. It turned out to be a glider and we're assuming it was taking off from some kind of aviation training field nestled behind a yak farm. Just another Friday afternoon in Gillrath, I guess!

We worked up an appetite and decided to walk to the local Italian restaurant, Il Genio's. I brought along my German-English conversation pocket-guide because I hoped it would make me fluent while ordering. The waitress approached our table and greeted us. That went over well. Then she asked a question, which I assumed to be, "What would you like to drink?"
Hurriedly I replied, "Alt!"

Immediately she appeared baffled and repeated it questioningly, "....Alt?"

Then I became uncertain, worrying that I just ordered a drink that didn't exist. I uneasily replied, "Alt........?"

She hurried away and when she returned she slapped an alt down in front of me and gave my husband a traditional Bitburger. We were confused but thirsty, so it didn't really matter.

Unfortunately, I think I made the waitress nervous. She obviously didn't speak English and I'm clearly still bumbling my way through German but I didn't mean to terrify her. She avoided us like the plague for the rest of the dinner. She wouldn't even come back to take our table to take our order. I saw one of the Italian brothers gesture angrily toward us because he knew we were ready to order. She grimaced and shook her head slightly. He sighed and, in perfect English, asked, "What would you like?"

I was too deflated to try the native tongue again so I just pointed at the item number. We ordered another beer, this time a hefe weizen. I thought maybe that would make more sense than an alt. When we asked if we could have one he shrugged and said, "Why not?" The terrified waitress delivered the beers. She tiptoed over to our table and then heaved the beers down as if they were on fire. All throughout dinner I kept seeing people order drinks and none of them looked like the beers we were having. I guess there's some secret brew code we're missing.

The food was great. It's authentic and amazing. We were sat on the patio (enclosed and with heat lamps this time of year) and everyone was smoking around us. The smoke doesn't necessarily bother me but it was definitely different than eating at an American-Italian restaurant. I haven't seen a smoking section in years.

Families, groups of friends, and people on dates were dining around us. It's funny how the white noise of laughter and conversation sounds the same no matter where you are. I guess the language of food and fun is universal.

Tomorrow we'll be spending the day in Aachen. Hopefully my new camera will be here soon. Everything here is worthy of a photo and I want you to see it all!