Run-in with the Polizei : I went to a Xmas concert in Freudenstadt with Doro and a couple of her friends from school. The concert was great. Vocal and instrumental. I knew almost every single song on the program, so naturally, I sang along in the Wassermann way. Every song was in English except for one and it turns out I knew that one, too so I just sang the English words.
Doro and I after tea with the grandparents
After the concert we discovered that we had parked in a 'no parking' zone. There were these huge arms blocking the exits so we couldn't leave the lot. There was no number to call, so we had to go to the Police station to see if they could let us out. Fortunately, Doro's Dad has a friend that is a policeman and he called the police station and gave them a heads-up before we arrived. The Policeman were amused to say the least, they told us we should learn how to read. They found the key to the arm and sent us on our way.
I tried Grandma's famous knödel and sauerbraten for the first time. Yum! This is what it looks like. Knödel is a sort of bread dumpling. Sauerbraten is meat that is a bit like brisket and is served with sauce.
Xmas Eve
Oma and Opa took the whole family out to lunch last weekend. They do this every year so that everyone will get together and catch-up. I got to meet Birgit's sisters and their families. Doro's cousins are all much older and have families of their own. We had lunch and then returned to the house for cake and coffee, during which one of Doro's cousins and his wife announced that they are expecting their second child in July! Doro's Opa kept talking to me in German and her Oma would subsequently scold him, saying that I didn't understand. But he kept saying the same three things over and over, so by the end of the meal I was on the same page. He would tell me that his son studied music, that is grandson was studying medicine in Vienna and that he was so happy to have met me and that I should send his regards to my family. I assured him I would.
Xmas
After everyone went home, Christian announced that we were all going to watch a movie together as a family since it was our last evening together. He told me we could watch something in English because he only looks at the pictures, anyway. It turns out the movie we chose didn't have English as an option, so we just watched it in German. We all squeezed together on the couch with a line of chairs as footrests along with wine or beer and a sweet of your choice. After the movie Christian made his familiar announcement, "who's going to the bathroom first?" I love that he always says this even though me, Anna and Doro always get ready for bed first. We all head to the bathroom and wash-up simultaneously. We have reached the point of no privacy between us. When we are done and in our jammies, Anna calls down the stairs, 'ok, the bathroom's free. Goodnight!'
The whole family on Xmas
Sunday we woke up early and had breakfast together. Then Doro headed to the stable for the last time and I packed. Both Doro and I were given figs and packs of Vitamin D to be added to our luggage (figs are better in Germany and there is no sun in Poland). Around 12pm we all sat down and had lunch together. It wasn't too long after breakfast, more like a second breakfast, but Birgit was determined to feed us again before we left. Then Anna headed to the stable and the rents, Doro and I piled into the car and headed to Stuttgart. En route to Stuttgart we encountered a huge, bright rainbow. One end happened to be over the road so we actually got to drive through it. It was really cool. At the airport we checked-in and then bought some Polish magazines for the plane and sat and had coffee and macaroons together. Saying good-bye at the gate was difficult. I had such a wonderful time and feel like I acquired an additional family over the last two weeks. They told me that if I have any time over the semester break I should come back and stay with them and if not, I will always be welcome in their home in the future. We went through security and then they waved to us as we headed toward our gate.
Awaiting take-off
Our flight to Berlin was packed, but then we had a connection in Berlin. It's clear how the Germans feel about Poland. Our flight to Kraków was about half-filled. In Kraków, Doro's cousin Michał picked us up and took us into the Rynek for drinks. I had forgotten how beautiful Kraków is, especially at night. The city is even more decorated than when I left. There are strings of lights hanging above the streets and there are huge Xmas trees covered in lights everywhere. "Falling lights" are everywhere so that it looks like it is snowing. We sat at a cafe and watched the New Years preparations and the many tourists mill about. It was a little challenging because I can only speak to him in Polish, but I found that it was much easier than when he took us to Poland. All my conversations with Christian have helped my listening comprehension immensely.
Our empty plane
After a glass of hot wine, Michał took us home and headed back to Katowice. All my roommates are still at home, which was a wonderful relief. However, I came home to mushrooms growing in my bathroom sink (our faucet leaks so badly that 'off' isn't much different from 'on'), a fridge full of moldy food and a bowl of rotting fruit on the counter. Gross.
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