What do you think, Mom?

This part of the post-Rome blog is being written by Mom. WOW, what a trip it’s been! First of all, keeping up with a 22-year-old…..dart here, dart there, climb there, walk 14 hours a day….my knees will never recover. I whined a bit, but got over it since I got no sympathy from you-know-who.  Wine helped a lot! Incredible Rome was the perfect place to begin our trip. This has been the trip of a lifetime for me and I’ll never forget the wonderful time Sara Beth and I have spent together. After our four fun-filled days in Rome, we flew to Zurich. This was a very special part of the trip for me since both of my parents are Swiss natives and grew up in a town named Winterthur, about 30 miles from Zurich before emigrating to the USA when they were in their 20s. This was a place I had not visited since I was a teenager. The morning after we arrived, we met my cousin Eric (who I had not seen for 40 years) in Zurich and he spent the whole day showing us around.

The great thing about touring a town with a ‘local’ and not with a tour guide is that you get to know the city in a different way. Eric took us to this wonderful little fondue restaurant the locals eat at tucked away in a hard-to-find side street and we had the most perfect meal. Nothing says ‘I’m in Switzerland’ better than eating fondue! Later that evening, we met up with Eric’s wife Denise at the Bahnhof (central train station). We had a great time wandering and eating our way through the KristKindl Market (Christmas market) in the station.  Eric went home to watch an important soccer match, which as you know is as important as football is in Texas! Denise then took us up to a lounge bar on the top of a highrise and we got a wonderful nighttime view of the sparkling city below.

Some more about Winterthur….. We only had the morning to take the train over there from Zurich before leaving for Germany so we did not get to spend much time there. However, I found the street that my mother grew up on and at least got to get a sense of their early lives. I had been there before but only when I was a child/teenager and didn’t really appreciate the town for its importance in their lives.

After leaving Winterthur, we took the train from Zurich to Munich (four hours) and passed through Austria as well. This was a lot of fun because we really got to see the countryside. We had bought lunch and pastries from a local shop before boarding and bought some delicious coffee on the train. What a fun meal!

In between Zurich and leaving for Munich, we spent a night in Interlaken and took the train to the Top of Europe –  the Jungfraujoch mountain. Sara-Beth is going to write all about that; all I can say is WOW! It’s really pretty indescribable.

When in Rome

Mamma came to visit this week! We met at the airport in Rome, Italy and had a full packed 4 days of Italian fun!

And these are our top recommendations. So, when you're in Rome...

- The first stop on your list should be to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Go on a tour through the Colosseum. It's really incredible everything that this place has been through; from gladiators to fires.

- Make sure to climb the 551 steps to the top of the Cupola of the St. Peter's Bascilla in the Vatican City. You can enjoy the view of the entire city. (This is especially effective if you want to kill your mother - her words, not mine - the elevator had broken and how was I supposed to know those stairs were so harsh?) And if you're in the Vatican City, you have to visit the Vatican Museum and stand in awe of the world's most beautiful art filled building and chapel (I mean the Sistine Chapel. It felt like a maze getting there. Every corner I turned I looked up at the ceiling. I was only slightly disappointed not to see Michelangelo's Creation of Adam around each corner since everywhere you look in that place is gorgeous!) The Sistine Chapel is breathtaking and everything it is cracked up to be.

- Eat at least 2 pizzas a day.

- Drink wine with every meal.

- Don't skip dessert.

- Gelatto is good to eat while you walk.

- Get a table outside for the best people watching.

- Be aware of frisky friendly waiters. Don't accept any marriage proposals.



- Make a wish at the amazing and giant Trevi Fountain.

- Find your way to the Pantheon. It is tucked away inside the city but it is quite a sight to see. The architecture they somehow mastered back then (in the top dome of the temple) is something we could never recreate with our modern technology even. It is not even finished though. They left a big hole in the roof... on purpose though, so that when they worshipped their gods way back when, they could look down on them.

- Bring an umbrella.

- For the history arhceology people, you can see the remains of buildings from ancient Roman time at the Roman Forum.

- If you buy a book, make sure it's in English.

- Don't give up if you get lost in a museum. After climbing several flights of stairs that seem to go in circles, underground and into other buildings, don't give up! You might just come across the Michelangelo and Da'Vinci room of original works you were looking for.

Mom and I had a great time. I might have gained 15 pounds but Rome is the place to do it :)



The Luck of the Irish

I got to spend this week with some wonderful friends from home, Jessica and Brittany! Jessica was my roommate at TAMU last year and they are both fellow TriDelts. We really had such a good time! When Thanksgiving came around, I started getting a little homesick since this was my first Thanksgiving away from home. But I know what I am thankful for now :) Jessica and Brittany really brought my spirits up and inspired some more encouragement just when I needed it.

GPS Jess!

We spent the weekend in Dublin, Ireland! Boy, is this sure a fun city! We definitley got the Irish pub experience :) One of my highlights was visiting the Guinness factory! Even though Germany is well known for their beer and I've lived here for 5 months now, Guinness is my new favorite beer (even more than a Shiner).

Enjoying our Guinness.

Having dinner at a pub.

We enjoyed a night at this pub and met some fun characters!

This is a famous pub in Dublin and the area is named Temple Bar. All of the pubs were so cozy inside, all with some great live music and all decorated so sweet for Christmas :) So I didn't know this, but the Irish actually have their own language, Gaelic. I thought it was Enlgish (which it technically is, no one speaks Gaelic on the streets) but everyone learns this in schools and there are still a small percent that speak it as a main language in their home.

 We saw everything we wanted to in the city...

At the city castle.

At the world famous Trinity Univeristy where we also were able to see the Book of Kells.

An evening stroll through the streets.

In the city gardens. We got lucky with the weather.

At St. Patrick's Cathedral. A fun fact we learned on our city tour was why the Irish symbol is the 3 leaf clover. St. Patrick had a vision from God to convert Ireland to a Christian country (I cannot remember what century). So he went to the King to convert him first (I also cannot remember which King) and knew that the whole country would follow the King's decision. He explained the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, using a 3 leaf clover. Ireland is well known for having deep historical religious roots (and Vikings). So, St. Patrick's Day is actually a celebration for this man. I guess its purpose nowadays has strayed a little from the history. They never told us what the Luck of the Irish actually was though... Nor did we see a Leprechaun carrying a pot of gold.

We all had so much fun in Dublin but we decided that you need at least 3 days (we had 2). You need 2 days in the city and 1 day for a trip out to the country. We were so sad not to get to see the world famous beautiful landscape in Ireland. But now we have our excuse to go back!

We spent the rest of the week in Munich. They got to meet a few of my friends here and we enjoyed Gluhwein altogether at the Christmasmarkts and sightseeing around town.

I literally just said good bye to them at the train station and I'm excited to say hello to my mom tomorrow in Italy! Thanks Jess and Britt for being such awesome friends! I'm so glad you came and I got to share my life here with you :) 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed time home with your family :) I really hope you did, because, Thanksgiving and the Holidays are just not the same when you're not at home (no matter how crazy you think your family is and no matter how cool of a place you're in). I never valued the purpose of Thanksgiving so much - just taking a break from the normal hussle and bussle and spending time bonding with your family. Thanksgiving is more than just good food and football (tough loss Aggies, of a game and a great tradition).

I definitley was sad to miss Thanksgiving in Texas. But, I was so excited to get to celebrate Thanksgiving here at the Vuksanovic house! We had a great time! It was so special for me :) In case you didn't know, cooking and baking is COMPLETELY different here. So, it was quite a challenge to find and translate ingrediants. We made a bread stuffing, sweet potatoeos, green bean cassarole, a turkey of course, gravy, and pumpkin pie (from a real pumpkin!). Nevena and I somehow seemed to managed quite well, I think, and we had a wonderful meal together with a few of my friends.

Irina, Laura, and Anna joined us tonight :)

Our Bavarian Thanksgiving

We made pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin. Never done that before! It tasted really good too!

And tomorrow, I'll be in Ireland!

What does an AuPair do all day?

This is one of the frequently asked questions I get from everyone at home. So, let's start with some general helpful tips I've learned...

1) Always wear your tree climbing pants.
2) Bring water. Not only to drink but also to wash off mud.
3) Socks can double as a quick mop up.
4) Sleeves can also double for face wipes.
5) Be creative. Use vivid bed time story voices.
6) Expect to have the responsibility of holding the collection of rocks, sticks, leaves, or bugs where ever you go.
7) When I wake up in the morning and I am sore, it is either from playing Peter Pan and having the role of being the pixie dust so they can fly, or it's because I am a walking jungle gym. (it's my secret to keeping my arms tone)
8) Bring your game face because they bring their please puppy face.

But this is the play by play of my week...

Every school day morning we wake up and have breakfast at 6:15. Then the bus comes for the boys and they are off to school at 7. So on somedays I go back to bed for a bit (you would too, am I right?). On Monday and Thursday from 9-12 am I have my language course. It's going ok. But I'm mainly learning from the family. I have to be extremely attentive though!

On Monday, Tuesday, and Friday afternoons I watch the boys and try to sneak in some English lessons. But even just while we are playing around the house, the boys English improves. They come home from school at 1:30 and we eat lunch together. I managed to remember a few Graces from camp and teach them to the boys haha. The Superman Grace is favorite for these kids, too. My cooking knowledge has probably double since I got here... So have my karate moves. After lunch the boys do their homework and then we play for a while. I am always up for building forts, hide-and-go-seek, and Kapla blocks. And then later in the afternoon the boys have their gymnastics or piano and guitar lessons to go to. On Wednesdays I clean and go to the grocery store and the boys stay longer in school. So days get busy and go by fast.

And what do I do in my free time? Different nights I go into the city and meet up with friends most of the time. When I'm here at the house, mostly I read and keep up with friendly emails (there is so much to keep up with in Texas). I've been going to an international church on Sunday's and a small group bible study on Wednesday nights that I'm enjoying. Monday we have a movie night at a friends house. And then there are the traveling weekends :) these are my favorite! I haven't gotten to travel much this month but in two weeks I'll be in Ireland with Jessica and Brittany! I can't wait!

So, get the picture? My work is a lot of playing, but my playing is a lot of work.

Proverbs 2:1-12

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding,
If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity;
Guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;
For wisdom will come into your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
Discretion will watch over you,
Understanding will guard you,
Delivering you from the way of evil.

Falling into Winter

Autumn has fallen on Germany. It is beautiful. Truly. The trees and sidewalks have all been painted with new colors. Autumn is quickly becoming my new favorite season. Texas must skip this season in favor of the 100 degree weather which is not a fair trade in my opinion. Or maybe it's because Texas' favorite color is brown and not yellow or orange. It's only a few weeks it looks this lovely before the trees go bald and the snow comes. So for now I am very much enjoying my Autumn walks in the park.

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween as well! Halloween, the whole trick or treating thing is not really that big of a deal here. They don't even sell candy corn (I was shocked and I don't even really like candy corn). I saw a few costumes but nothing like in the States where we will wear our costumes to school that day and go trick or treating through senior year of high school to at least a few houses just for some free candy. I was sad to not see any cute little kids in their creative costumes. There are no spooky Jack-o-Lanterns or haunted house decorations or smell-my-feet rhymes. However, Tuesday was a working holiday so all of the business and shops were closed for All Saints Day. Odd, hm? And, this week is the fall break from school so school are off all week. Trick or Treating in the States would take on a whole new meaning if everyone had holiday from work and school the day after.