Flying home for Christmas

So am sat at home now and it is the day after Boxing Day - just watching Carol Vorderman's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' having watched Eastenders AGAIN and also most of Chicken Run even though I have already seen it lots and still own it on video.

I haven't been well since I got home - am struggling with the flu but I think it is the reaction to flying home again. I wasn't so good on the flight from Amsterdam and got really freaked out but then in the end I was ~(as usual) ok. I loved Amsterdam especially covered in snow. I didn't get the chance to go to any musuems because they were too expensive or couldn't hold the luggage I was carrying. So I spent most of the day in the airport watching the snow come down.

My suitcase came out first on the conveyor belt and I was straight out through passport control. Mum was waiting there and we headed home in the car. It was nice to travel in a car and not a tram or a train for a change. We went straight to Penny Lane to pick up some chips from Lucy. I have never eaten so quickly in my entire life. When I came home I went straight up to my bed and jumped on it....my double bed that isn't broken - also Stella was sitting waiting in my bed and I think she was very happy to see me. It felt so good to come home.

The next few days where spent getting ready for Christmas day. Went to the cathedral to see the Messiah by Handel - the music was amazing but the cathedral was so cold. If we go next time then definately take blankets and hot water bottles. Also went to spend an evening with Mrs Lewis and a curry too - Catie was in work but I saw her on Christmas day. I tried to go to Crumpet Eve celebrations but due to being in the dark ages with no mobile phone I can't get hold of anyone and so after my long walk headed home.

Christmas day was lazy - headed to the Lewis's for morning/afternoon drinks. I was still feeling sick so I couldn't eat anything. I waited for the turkey mum had cooked(first time in years we have had turkey on Christmas day) and ate all the dinner including sprouts. Divine! got some lovely presents and Gareth was here too. Just a nice quiet family christmas.

It is strange but while I was in Bonn I thought so much about coming home and now I am here I keep thinking about being back in Bonn again. I miss my little room with all my things in it and I miss my boys and my gals as well too. Anyways before I get too sentimental I shall head off to make some food.

Der Zug endet hier. Bitte alle Fahrgaeste aussteigen :-)

WHAT A FEW DAYS:-)

It began on Thursday with the arrival of Ms Emily Ford to the country which you know can only mean endless laughter oh and potential falling asleep on trains. Had to go to Anna's to pick up a blow up mattress/bouncy castle which just about fitted into my room but very fun to jump up and down on:-) So off I went to Cologne/Bonn airport to pick up the Emily one with a very scary/road-raged bus driver. SERIOUSLY I know he was on the motorway but that is no excuse to drive like a maniac...felt like I was an extra in the film for SPEED or something.

Anyhoo Emily arrived safely in one piece and we returned to the beautiful Tannenbusch(I don't see where any of the problems in the area are in the slightest!!!). Ended up watching 'Up' as Emilylein was a little sleepy from flying and probably the severe lack of Coffee pushing through her veins. GOT TO LOVE KEVIN!!!!!(Kevin's a girl?)

Friday morning was unfortunately lecture at 10am and I didn't get out of bed until about 9.20! OH WELL! Normally the lecture is quite boring but we got to watch the beginning of SCREAM so it was ok. Met up with Emily and we went to Cafe Blau with the girlies for some essen and trinken but no Heiss Schoko was had unfortunately. Knowing we were going to meet Chloe later on in Cologne for a good old fashioned Liverpool Uni Rendevouz - we had a 'little' afternoon nap, which turned into the rest of the afternoon.

Got ready and headed to Cologne to meet the Chloe one - also met her two mates Julie and Ani(sorry if I spelt it wrong). After looking for somewhere to eat eventually found somewhere(this wasn't before a drunk yelled "HAESSLICH" numerous times and a fight began outside a pub with one hell of a bitch slap). Food was grand and the cocktails delicious. Then on to a Kareoke Bar which contained a massive group of Polish people who were EXTREMELY drunk but very funny. Of course not wanting to miss out on the fun tried to get up and sing but the mean kareoke lady would only let us sing 'It's raining men'. Tired of kareoke it was onto a club on the Hohenzoller ring(think that is how you spell it) - there was LOTS of dancing to be had, fair bit of drinking and plenty of photographs to be taken - am awaiting their arrival on Facebook:-)

Getting home from Cologne proved a little difficult but 2 taxi's and a train ride later we made it back around 4.30am.

Yesterday we got up late and decided to head to Aachen which was beautiful but very very cold. The Christmas market was crowded with people - quite a fair few French/Belgians but then again when you see how close the border is to the city it sort of makes sense. Also had a few Gluehwein at the Hexenhof which was brilliant but claustraphobic. We also went into Der Dom were Charlemagne's remains are supposed to be and probably explains why the cathedral itself was so beautiful. Not as big as Cologne I don't think but the interior made up for the size. I will try to find a few pictures. After getting back from Aachen we were pretty whacked and so couldn't make it to Monja's party unfortunately. I also missed out on Bernie Boy's birthday celebrations too. OH WELL!!!!

Now Emily will be up in the sky with Germanwings and I am back in Tannenbusch about to potentially begin some work/reading

Christmas Time...the girls and Gluhwein

Hey all,

Has been a few weeks since I have written on here and lots has been going on.

On Academicus Tag on Wednesday me, Anna, Ramona and Susie went off to Munster. Of course it takes like 3 hours to get there by train. The in-train entertainment was hilarious; Guess Who is a GREAT game if not sometimes hard. Some of the people were interesting too; Amy WineHouse, Jesus, Elvis, Richard Armitage, Lady Gaga, Keira Knightly and Richard Armitage to name a few - all very funny indeed.

Got to Munster and it was really pretty. As Susie warned me - this really is the Bike capital of Germany where bikes rule the way and they do. I have never seen so many bikes except when I was in Freiburg. We wandered around the many Christmas markets and also met up with Susie's sister to go for some food.

Also discovered I have my own church St Lamberti in Munster...the problem is that anabaptists used to be tortured there in the 15th century and their torture cages now hang off the side of the church(thank you wikipedia)..lovely thing to see! Also visted the Dom which was HUGE but as Ramona pointed out no where near as big as the Anglican Cathedrale in Liddypool.

Of course to commemorate our day out - we decided to buy something. So we came across some minature ducks and each bought one.

Name deciding was tough but eventually; George Michael, Tina Turner, Tom Jones and Elvis were welcomed into the world. All very silly indeed. also there may have been some purchasing of Christmas antlers for next weeks Christmas party:-) SO excited.

I can't believe it is less than 2 weeks until I am going home. Am very excited to be going back home but am not spending enough time there I think. I wish I could stay for a month!!! But unfortunately it is not to be as the Uni will be starting up - need to email some tutors now!

From Bonn - lots of love

Steffi x

Back in the Day...

Sometimes it is always good to go to see older relatives and hear the stories of the 'good old days'. Today I went off to Troisdorf which is sort of midway between Bonn and Cologne to visit my great-uncle and his lady friend Micki(who is ACTUALLY named after Micki Mouse because she was born in the same year!). Had to take a few trains to get there but eventually arrived.

We went for a lovely meal in a restaurant which is attached to the church that Micki and my uncle go to at Christmas time for the service. The food was GORGEOUS and I had some chicken schnitzel which was covered in sauce with onions and peppers. Also I tried my very best to sprechen the Deutsch - which amazingly I did:-) Showed some old pictures of my daddy from when he must of been about 16 or 17 as Onkel Rudi sent me a picture from when I was 18 months old in Denmark so decided to show him some of the photos I have.

We then drove back to Micki's house in Troisdorf where she had cake ready for us to eat - I have never eaten so much! IT IS RIDICULOUS but the cake was gorgeous. Then the conversation turned to many random things and also saying certain sayings in German and English....my uncle taught himself English and can also speak Norwegian fluently!

Then it was time to come home - had the intention of going out but now may just stay in and watch a film or listen to some James Brown! Also discovered a better way of sleeping which is to put the mattress on the floor under the window because the lights from the stairwell shine right in my eyes when I try to sleep....so last night I actually felt like I slept despite going to bed at around 3.30am!

Was at the Christmas market yesterday and it was great - a few Gluhwein too many made me really really sleepy though which was bad but I will definately be having some more very soon.

Coffee and Strike!

Well this week has been an interesting one - lots of Students have gone on strike about the Studienbeitrag(can't spell but basically their version of tuition fees!) and also the conversion into the new system of Batchelor and Magister because it means people can get degrees quicker and not spend 10 years (as my sister has just done) trying to FINALLY get their degree. The tuition fee here is only €500 per Semester which is fairly cheap in comparison to England. Plus also technically I am being paid to study at the University so I really should not be striking with the other students even though I can see why they want to protest in the first place.

Went for coffee/hot chocolate and cake with the girls today. Always a LOVELY and funny time to be had. Isi is having her birthday I THINK on Saturday so got her a little gift - she has so much patience with me and everyone who is learning German she is GRAND! Plus must be said Charlotte's Tunfisch Unfall(insert Beethoven melody here) meant a very fun trip to the perfume department of Kaufhof. Good memory to be had there.

Yesterday's regular meeting with Dave for Doener and conversation or as I am now going to call it Dave und Doener Mittwoch - also resulted in some very philosophical conversation too. Amazing the things people find to talk about.

It is only 4 weeks until I will be back in the UK - in fact around this time EXACTLY in 4 weeks time I will be at home. Am looking forward to it to say the least - am loosing focus of why I am here but going home I think will put me back onto track. Today was a bad day for German language but yesterday was better. Today I tried to write a piece on cliches about the Brits.....is it bad I could only think about 3? Anyways as usual have wittered on for a page and a half and it is utternonsense...any suggestions? Perhaps not.

Still I get to spend the weekend with my great uncle and his lady friend which I am looking forward to. Am hoping my sister is going to come up here if not I am DETERMINED to car share my way to Freiburg(Dave fancy a trip?!)

miss ya'll

Let's start with some song lyrics, "Tomorrow I will change and today won't mean a thing"

I hate the world today
You're so good to me, I know
But I can't change
Tried to tell you
But you look at me like maybe I'm an angel underneath
Innocent and sweet

Yesterday I cried
Must have been relieved to see the softer side
I can understand how you'd be so confused
I don't envy you
I'm a little bit of everything
All rolled into one

I'm a bitch I'm a lover
I'm a child I'm a mother
I'm a sinner I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know, you wouldn't want it any other way

So take me as I am
This may mean, you'll have to be a stronger man
rest assured , when I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change and today won't mean a thing

Just when you think
You got me
Figure out the seasons all ready changing
I think it's cool, you do what you do
And don't try to save me

I'm a bitch,
I'm tease
I'm a goddess on my knees
When you're hurt
When you suffer
I'm your angel undercoverI
've been numb
I'm revived can't say I'm not alive
You know I wouldn't want it ANY other way

It's always great to start with a song and observing LUST photographs of the Rocky Horror Show has made me realise how much I miss partaking with Theatre and having something to go to nearly every night. Of course not that I am complaining about being here - I really like it! We all have up days and we all have down days.

There is something about year abroads or prolonged time in another country that puts things into pespective about what you know what you want from life. For me I want to do well with things and do the best that I can achieve - if that means I become an international superstar along the way then so be it. No but in all reality am wondering whether or even what I can do when I finish University. Naturally I would like to travel a bit more further into Eastern Europe and maybe pick up another language another way but I don't think Fernando Torres is going to let me move in any time soon. Of course getting some nice job and working my way up somewhere would be divine too.

Today I spent the day with Dave and it was almost a piece of England entering into Germany - Toad in the Hole with beer for dinner...it really couldn't get any better except it did with the massive inclusion of football(even if England did loose!). Also the walk along the Rhine was great and meant we could look at the boats which in a geeky way reminds me alot of being back in the 'pool. It is a problem trying to find people who want to speak German with you ( they are here if you look hard enough) but as soon as you mention you are English then people want to speak to you. I am wondering how it is going to be when I have to go off to Stendal? Living in the village *welsh accent* - it is going to be alot of German which I believe will be GREAT but of course there are going to be ALOT of people that I miss in Bonn!!!

University is going alright I wouldn't say badly and I wouldn't say excellently a little bit in der Mitte. The understanding is getting better but the 90 minutes concentration is an extreme struggle. God bless the 1 hour lectures we have at home. I also had to give a presentation on Bestimmte Sprachfunktionen des Sprachmodels Buehner und Jakobson...I could barely understand any of it with all it's academic language and Germanness. But everyone was quite and I started with an apology and when I finished everyone knocked on the table(German version of clapping) and it felt great. It wasn't perfect but I still spoke some appalling German in front of roughly 40 people!!!! Strangely exhilirating....next I will be flying planes...maybe not.

Anyway time to for bed. I may start doing a couple more blogs soonish

Shneffi x

All by myself....

.... no I am anything but all by myself. In fact I couldn't be more surrounded by people.

Just a quick note on the blog as I realised I haven't written on it in an few days. The past week or so Uni is beginning to settle down because I have finally angemeldet(i.e. registered for all the classes I am supposed to) and the work is beginning to start. It's taking me a while to get through my reading but I am hoping that with time that will get better.

Of course the other major problem is trying to find German people who want to speak German because EVERYONE wants to speak English or as soon as they know you are English then they casually slip into English mode - DAMN.

So the past weekend I wasn't up to much. Friday night was beer drinking with the boys oh and watching Anchorman(for the millionth time), Saturday night went to an Irish pub in the Altstadt and drank a fair amount of beer. Sunday night was the day to rest as it should be but also had some reading to try and get through. Then came to Anna's in the Südstadt to chill out with the girls and watch Bridget Jones(thus the meaning of the title) AND Love Actually. Ended up staying here at Anna's and am still here now - luckily have brought my stuff with me so it is just a short walk up to Uni for me!

Anyways...speak soon