Okay- I just got back from Spring break in Rome which was really amazing and fun but I'm going to start with the end of my trip first because it was crazy! As my friends and family have already pointed out, I seem to have the worst luck with traveling because something always happens: shoe bombers, lost luggage,  hoof and mouth disease, detained in Heathrow, and this time a volcanic eruption.

My work called me on Friday asking if I thought I'd be affected by the eruption but I hadn't even heard anything had happened- when on vacation you can feel very out of touch with the world.  I'm really addicted to my iPhone and it is so hard to not use it while I'm out of the country.  Anyway, I figured it would all be cleared up by Sunday but Laura and I found an internet cafe to check on flights. Flights all over Europe were cancelled and I knew I'd have to figure something else out.  It was hard to decide if I should just wait it out to get on another flight or go ahead and find another way home.  I decided to go to a smaller train station out of Rome, but I couldn't get anything either after standing in line for over an hour.  Finally on Sunday, I was able to get online and get a ticket to Salzburg, Austria and my awesome friends Kat and Pam said they would drive down from Germany to come get me (they had been in Rome at the same time but had a car so they could drive home but there was no room for me).




I was so glad that I found a train ticket online- staying an extra week in Rome may sound exciting but when you are stressed out and out of money, the fun is gone.

Frohe Ostern! Happy Easter!

Germany is regarded the birthplace of modern day Easter icons such as Easter bunny and Easter tree. German kids were told of an "Easter bunny" (Osterhase) that hid eggs and chocolates for children to find on Easter Sunday. German immigrants to America brought the tradition with them and spread it to a wider public.  The tradition of egg tree is also popular in Germany.  The Easter tree is embellished beautifully with hollowed eggs, which are dyed and hung with colorful ribbon, throughout the spring. Towns also decorate fountains with eggs as well.  (I never realized how many traditions we follow are from German origins!)

Another thing that is kind of cool- Catholic churches do not ring their bells from Green Thursday until Easter. It has become a tradition for children to walk through town with Good Friday Rattles, wooden noise-makers of various kinds, which are supposed to replace the ringing of the bells, calling Christians to worship. 

I went to the Nuremberg Ostermarkt (Easter Market) on Saturday.  It was just so great to be out in the warm weather. I love this beautiful sky! The market was nice and really, really crowded

Well I'm feeling pretty adjusted into life in Germany now.  My house is pretty set up, I've found a great church, I'm enjoying work and actually love living here!  It's funny how moving can change up those everyday things that you are used to.  Here are some of my new normals:

1.  Driving behind at least 10-15 tractors or tanks on a daily basis
2.  Walking outside to the stench of manure - ah the joys of living in the country-Germans love that stuff
3.  Being completely thrilled to see the sunshine as it hasn't happened very often since Oct.
4.  Waking up to church bells ringing (I love the small town churches!)
5.  Seeing soldiers, soldiers, soldiers everywhere I go- I love seeing a guy in uniform until I realize they were born in the 90's
6.  Hopping on a train to travel
7.  Trying to get all my shopping done before six pm on a weekday or just on Sat. (German stores never seem to be open) or doing most of my shopping online because I can never find what I'm looking for in stores
8.  Quizzical looks when I try to speak German or try to understand what people are saying to me in German- I'm getting better than I was before I came (I didn't know anything, so something is better than nothing, right )
9. Hanging out with people (and teaching kids) who have really traveled the world and love being in other cultures- I feel like I've finally found "my people"- people who get my wanderlust! I said I was going to Rome for spring break and almost everyone at school has given me suggestions for what to see- I've borrowed at least 10 different travel books from people!
10.  Proudly recognizing the hundreds of military acronyms that are used daily
11.  Meeting people that I'd like to get to know more just to find out they are moving in a few months-It's been really hard to make friends who will get really deep with you- military moves all the time and I think some people just keep it at the acquaintance level.  Moving often is just a fact of life around here.
12. Hearing gunshots or tank blasts on a daily basis.  At work every time the tanks blast, my smartboard shakes and I have to reset it.  I used to jump every time I heard it but now it's just background noise.
13. Working in a military community with lots of soldiers downrange.  Even though I grew up in a military family, war has never been as close to me as it is now.  We have huge battalions going away and you can really feel a difference on post when all those soldiers are gone.  It has such an effect on the kids I'm teaching too.  I love the military and I'm very proud to be working and serving along side these soldiers and families who are sacrificing so much for our freedom.

The Muscat and Gewurztraminer were my favorites- I came home with quite a few bottles!

I keep hoping spring is going to get here and stay for good! This has been the longest winter- snow from October to March is just too much! I don't even think the cold or snow is what bothers me- it's just the constant gray, overcast sky.  But today was beautiful and sunny and as I was walking around my neighborhood, I saw crocuses popping out of the ground and heard birds chirping. I just really hope it will stay warm! 






Another thing I noticed was that Germans seem to go all out for Easter.  Germans take a birch tree branch and set it up to look like a tree inside or take a tree in their yard to decorate. 


They then hang the eggs on them as they would hang decorations on a Christmas tree. It's kind of funny to see at the yards decorated since they don't even decorate outside for Christmas.




A few towns around here even have Easter markets but I haven't had time to go to one yet.  They have lots of beautifully decorated eggs!