The Festivities of Oktober

I went with the family to the Oktoberfest enterance parade. It was so cool! Oktoberfest is an internationally famous festivial that goes on here in Munich. And it is all about beer. The entire festival is about beer. You would think it would be this trashy, gross festival to go to (kind of like Chilifest) but it only sort of is. It is a giant carnival that lasts for three weeks and ends in the first week of  Oktober (so it's confusing that it is actually in September). There are 18 different giant tents (and one wine tent) from the different Breweries in Bavaria, and a few from other areas of Germany. So in the next 3 weeks, there are suppose to be some where around 9 million beer loving visitors in Munich.

But the parade was really great! All of the Breweries made a grand enterance with their dozens of barrels of beer decorated on horse drawn wagons. They came with marching bands and beautiful flowers. And everyone was of course dressed in the proper traditional Bavarian attire; for women, the dress is called a Dirndl, and men wear Lederhosen. So every other person in town this month is wearing these outfits and heading to the Wiesn.

These are the traditional cookies called Lebkuchen. They are so pretty and everyone wears them for a necklace, but they don't taste very good.

This is my friend Vicky. She is from Australia. And we are wearing our Dirndls. These aren't really the traditional ones but everyone's Dirndl is different! We met up after the parade to enjoy a beer together in the chaos of the crowd. My first Oktoberfest experience was a blast.

Deutschkurs

Just last week I finished my intensive German language course in the city. I took it for 4 weeks so I have a grasp of understanding and speaking German now. You could even say I can speak Deunglisch now :)

Every morning I hopped on the SBahn and changed to an UBahn at the city center.

Then I just had to walk a couple of blocks to my class. It was just a little was away from the Universtiy and Mariernplatz (City Center).

And these are the friends I made from class. We kept each other good company after class when we would play around in the city. We almost always went to the Englisch Gartens to play soccer, sit by the river, go to a beer garden (always our first choice), or get ice cream together. They are from all over the world (Venezula, Brazil, California, Switzerland, and Italy). I loved to talk about the culture comparisons. We were an odd bunch though haha

I'm so glad I was able to do this. Zeljko says that one day I will be thinking in German... Haha that will be the day! But for now everything I hear and say I still translate in my head. And my grammar is terrible! But I'm trying!  I'm really enjoying learning it. It is so nice to be able to have a little more communication with the boys. And their English is improving a lot too! I have been so impressed with how hard they are trying to talk with me and understand English. My classes aren't over though. I am switching to another class that is two days a week and meets here in Germering. So I am excited to start that up next week!

Schultuete fuer den Ersten Schultag

Schultuete is an exciting Deutsch tradition. The first day of school is a big deal here! Just like everywhere in the world, but especially here because the children who are starting their very first day of school all look forward to their specail gift. The Schultuete is a giant paper cone full of goodies: sweeties, chocolate, books, pens, pencils, stickers, paint, etc. all kinds of treats! I would compare it to a Christmas stocking almost; with lots of little gifts. And it is almost as big as the children! All the kids are so proud to walk around with their huge backpacks and colorful Schultuete. Most of the time they decorate it themselves in the Kindergarten. So here is Luka on his very first day of school with his Schultuete!

The school system is completely different here which I have found so interesting. First off, maternity leave can be up to 3 years for Moms. At 3 years old, most kids start Kindergarten. Kindergarten lasts for 3 years. At 6 years old, kids start their primary school; like elementary school in the USA. But then after 4th grade, kids go into Senior School which is comparable to our High School. There are 3 levels of Senior School that kids can be placed in, and it all depends on the student's grades and performance from primary school. Talk about pressure. The Senior School is made up of Gymnasium, Realschule, or Hauptschule. Which ever school the students go to pretty much determines if they will go to University when they are 18 years old or if they will go to a technical or some sort of vocational training school (yes, this is determined after 4th grade). Education has a different look over here.

But anywhere you are, kids have a unique vigor and enthusiasm for learning which is another part of their charm.

The Boys are Back!

Cue junkyard dancing! We were so happy that the boys came back this weekend! It was very quiet around here without them. And they already are starting their new year of school tomorrow. We celebrated their return with a day trip to the Bavarian Alps. This is the far north tip of the Apls but the far south of Deutschland. We hung aroud by the lakes and found a little suprise...

Yes, we went to a Wikingmarkt (viking market) in the Bavarian Alps. And it was awesome.

The Search Is On...

... to find an Aggie! With these gorgeous, shiny gold rings, I figure I am bound to spot one somewhere! I found a UT hat walking around and jumped at the chance to speak with a fellow Texan. But I look forward to the day I can greet someone with a Big, Bright, Thumbs-up Howdy!

... for the cutest bakery in town. I have some potentials to be a favorite but nothing official, yet.

... to perfect a classic German recipe of a to be determined treat - sweet or salty? Undecided. I would love to make a scrapbook cookbook when I return and have a European section of my favorite foods from over here. I will share some recipes on here when I deem them just right.

... to find the best place to people watch! This could be on the S-Bahn train. But then there are also the phanny pack tourist all over Marienplatz. And of course there are the naked old people laying out in the very public Englisch Garten of the city center; I do not understand them.

... to have a favorite Fußball player. I'm sad to be missing the American football season so I have to make up for it with the popular Fußball here. And I will of course keep rooting for our Dallas Mavs man, Dirk, while he is playing here!

... for opportunity. I pray God will open my eyes to show me everything and all opportunities He has for me here. I pray this for you as well.