Germany

Since arriving eight weeks ago, I have been asked many times how have I found driving on the right (wrong) side of the road? Most of the time I reply “Not to badly, haven’t killed anyone yet!”. Don’t worry, in case you’re alarmed I haven’t killed anyone, but I have had my first official (and hopefully only) car crash in Germany, in fact my only car crash ever - where I have been at fault anyway. It wasn’t even because of being on the wrong side of the road, it could’ve happened anywhere. Let me explain – I was driving towards an intersection and I stopped at the traffic lights, in the far left lane, and indicated to turn left. I was the front vehicle in the queue of traffic, and when the lights changed to green, I drove slowly into the middle of the intersection, and waited for a bus going straight (northwards up the road I was waiting at) to pass, before completing the manoeuvre. The bus driver then gestured (rather rudely and aggressively I might add) that there was not sufficient room for him to pass easily (of which there was plenty). So, I put the car into reverse, and moved the car backwards. When doing so, I accidentally bumped the front bumper of the car directly behind me. Of course it had to be a brand new, flash convertible. Don’t ask me what kind – it was Blue okay! Actually I think someone said it may have been a Rover.

When the bus passed, I carried on down street until it was safe to pullover. There, I got out of the vehicle and apologised profusely to the woman driving the car. Thankfully she wasn’t really angry and spoke English. There was not sufficient enough force from the impact, to leave any visible scratches, dents or damage to either car, much to my relief. Details were exchanged regardless, and because of the apparent lack of damage – no police were called and neither of us had a camera readily available. The boys didn’t have a clue I’d crashed at all, and were wondering what all the fuss was about! The moment I got home I told Frank and thought that was that. But oh no! A few days later we got a letter from the Insurance Company saying that she’d filed a claim. For what I have no idea, as the phone number she gave me isn’t correct. So now I’ve written out a statement, and I am waiting to hear what’s going to happen.

Here is me standing in an old Castle Mote in Eltville, filled in now with roses. I just thought it might break up the monotony of all the text!

Now as you will remember, I said three things had happened. Yup, just a few short days later I got a speeding ticket! I wasn’t going too fast, I think 45km in a 30km zone. But as it was a speed camera, I will have to wait until the mail arrives to find out how much that will be. The streets here aren't as heavily speedsign posted like they are back home. If that wasn’t the final straw that broke the camels back then the next saga was. When Lisa was here we tried to find one of the big monuments, on top of a hill overlooking Wiesbaden. We were surrounded by a large forest, we had our maps out and after going around in circles (we were having a bit of a problem trying to match the roads on the map, to the roads in front of us as there were no signs anywhere, and after passing some very angry looking women) we stopped and asked some men working on the side of the road for directions. We basically had to speak ‘Germish’ (the pathetic little I know of German, mixed with basic English in which a lot of people seem to understand) and after only a few seconds it became very clear we most certainly were not allowed to be there. The paths (which look exactly like roads) are strictly for cyclists and pedestrians. The ‘paths’ were clearly displayed as roads on the map, there were no road signs at all that we saw indicating we weren’t supposed to be there. But the men said if we didn’t leave immediately they were going to have to fine us, and if we had come across their boss he would have done it regardless of our situation. So they opened a gate for us and shooed us out, with some very strong ‘tut, tutting’ directed our way. We learnt a lot about Germans that day, you are no allowed to make mistakes! In the end we found the monument, which is accessible only by foot and it wasn’t even that great.

I put this shocking last week down to several things. The heat at the moment is terrific, most days it’s around 34/35oC and the humidity is unbearable. You can’t think, sleep or move it’s so bad. Nicole says it’s never like this ever in Germany. The thunder storms, and lightning shows are almost worth it - almost. But I am not sure how much more I can handle. So the heat, mixed with feeling awful (I blame dehydration and lacking Iron) and concentrating so hard on keeping to the right side of the road, has severely compromised my concentration on everything else. Oh and Bus drivers are bullies, who need to be taken down a peg or two!

Well that’s all for the moment. Expect another instalment in the next day or two, going over Lisa’s stay, the boys and of course making new friends.

Well after my sad pathetic ‘poor me’ rant from last week, lets just say I have found the light! Last week was not good, I was sick, Max was sick and we were both housebound, so let’s just put my entry last week down to ‘Cabin Fever’. This week however you could almost say I have a spring in my step. It all started getting a bit brighter when I got my act together and hopped in the car and speed off to Frankfurt for the day. Now bare with me, I’m just going to blow my own trumpet for a little bit, although I may end up occasionally in a few sticky situations (get your mind out of the gutter!!!) I actually have a pretty good sense of direction. Somehow I have miraculous found numerous places, with no navigator, map and with only vague directions not to mention also driving on the wrong side of the road – and I’ve only been here a few weeks. As I’ve never been there (to Frankfurt that is), I had no idea how to get there, and my navi refuses to work for me so I just headed east, and miraculously I made it to the centre. Found a parking building and started walking around. Frankfurt is often described as the Manhattan of Europe, and although I didn’t see all that much I was pleasantly surprised. As the World cup was drawing to an end there was still a festival/party atmosphere in the streets.

Ok what was I talking about? Ahh yes Frankfurt, well right when I was about to accost a poor couple who were walking beside me and talking in English, and begging them to talk to me “Please just talk to me, say anything I don’t care” (I didn’t do that, just in case you were confused, just being hypothetical) I found the movie theatre with the Original English versions. Can you be in love with a building at first sight? I went to see the ‘Lake House’, new Sandra Bullock-Keanu Reeves chick flick. Pure escapism, just what the doctor ordered. I think I should just point out at this point, that Germans don’t just put subtitles on top of English movies/television. Oh no, they dub over everything!! They have one person who does all of Tom Hanks movies, and another who does Julia Roberts etc, consequently who ever does Julia Roberts is also likely to do Monica on Friends – you get the gist. So you can imagine just how heartbreaking it is for me to watch them destroy House and Lost, way too painful to sit through.

After feeling positively rejuvenated I then decided to hop into the car and played the game ‘Left, Right’ usually played with other people (only a minor detail). For those of you clueless, when ever you come up to an intersection, just pick the most interesting looking road, and take it. Or if you’re lucky enough to have a passenger*, flip a coin. (*Sorry just a bit of sarcasm). I ended up in a small country town, up on a hill in a middle of a whole lot of vines. Not sure if I was allowed to be there but no one came running at me in shorts, braces, socks and sandals! So I sat on this hill, looking at the village, and church bells started to ring, I could see all the little people as small as ants on their weekly Saturday bike rides (which is big here, bike riding that is), and I began to think – this is why I am here.

The next day was even better, after a glorious sleep in (oh I’ve got curtains now by the way.) I got back into the car, played another game of ‘Left, right’ and ended up in Rüdesheim. Rüdesheim is a very touristy little town right on the Rhine River, and is surrounded by hills which are covered in lots of vines, which is mostly Riesling I think.

I then met up with some of René’s friends in Mainz, for another tour of the City. Torben and Yvonne, are lovely. Both born and bread Germans, and they both speak excellent English. Torben’s even been to Gisborne, and I am also told he even has an NZ flag in his kitchen (a remnant of his Tour of NZ, when going to visit René). They are the answer to my prays! One of Torben’s friends, had a friend that is learning to be a tour guide, and used us as test dummies. So I happily went along (Lisa’s wise words of wisdom, to never say no to an opportunity, ringing in my ears) he basically took us on a loop around the City showing the various churches and statues.

Now it wouldn’t have been everyone’s cup of tea, but as some of them were 1000 years old I was a little impressed. They’ve survived bombings and floods, and attacks from various other elements. Having a wee bit of prior knowledge about the old Catholic religion and so fourth, actually came in rather useful, just don’t tell my mother! But of course the best part of the tour was being around fellow twenty-something’s. When they decided to go for drinks afterwards I was in heaven. Torben has a bit of free time up his sleeve at the moment, so we’re going to go explore some of the surrounding area together in the next few weeks, and Yvonne is going to Paris for a couple of months and has already invited me to go and stay with her! We’re also going to the Open-air movies they have here, down on the Rhine. Can you see my glow, from here?

To top it off I have found an English-speaking group who meet twice a month, and I am going to a BBQ this Saturday to meet the crew and see if I am interested in joining. I’ve also found a small job, talking English to a Turkish couple for an hour each weekend, which is paid!! I also have a brand spanking new Gym membership. Things you could say are looking up!

Look after your selves, and I miss you all heaps
Niki

P.s. for those of you who don’t actually know me, and for whatever reason have actually made it to the end of this odd blog – please rest assured I am not a fanatic of the English language, or desperately needy for friends, I am simply a small duck in a rather large pond, and clinging to whatever is familiar as I find my way

Well the anticipated first few niggling thoughts of homesickness are beginning to creep in. The honeymoon is all but nearly over. The reality that I am in a foreign country, of which I don’t speak the language and have actually no friends, is kind of daunting. I am not saying I’m overly depressed, or even regretting my decision, just lonely I guess. I have been trying to think of ways to get out there and make friends, short of walking up to randoms in the street :o) I didn’t really think it would be too bad a problem as I have always made friends so easily before. But the thing I hadn’t really thought too much about is that before I’ve always been in a situation where friends were always more readily available. If I ever started somewhere new, there were others in the same boat nearby. High school, University and starting a new job all mean you’re usually surrounded by people if not your own age, then you’ll at least share something in common. But when you move to a new country, and you know no body, and your work means you’re surrounded by children, and the parents of those children are usually 10 to 20 years older than you are - it can be a little isolating.

Kj's song from 'Dirty Dancing' - "I've had the time of my life", has plagued me for the last month. When I was entering Narita Airport in Tokyo, it started playing on my MP3 player and it was so cliché. I was in this massive Airport, one of the biggest in the world, utter madness - people everywhere, all in a hurry and looking like they know where they are going and me little old Niki from New Zealand, standing with my backpack and as I step into the giant check-in hall, I look up to the flight board and that song starts to play. I just had a huge grin on my face, and if anyone had seen me, they would have put me in the crazy bin right there!!!

Then last Monday night I met up with a friend of Ro's and we went to an Irish Pub, with Karoke. Of course what is one of the last songs to be sung before I had to leave - but you guessed it "I've had the time of my life", as I had had a few I don't mind saying I got a little teary eyed! Not enough for anyone to really notice mind you! Sadly Ro’s friend, René is already back in NZ, he was only here for a months visit.

This week has been very low key, I've been sick since Saturday and so has Max (the older boy) so he's been off school. We've both been pretty much housebound, and to make it worse it’s the middle of summer here - equivalent to January in NZ.

I have managed to do a little bit of shopping here, of course you've got to keep in the back of your mind that I'm not shopping in NZ dollars and so everything is really twice the price of what you think it is. But the shoes are quite cheap, and the only embarrassing situation I've had so far is when trying to go bra shopping. Not my most favoured task anyway, but when you can't speak the same language your not quite sure what the woman you just asked a question is actually screaming across the store and then you have no idea why everyone stops and looks at you oddly. Not pleasant!! I'll stick to Internet shopping methinks, or pestering people into doing it for me in NZ :o)

I’m looking forward to Sunday afternoon, where I’m meeting up with some locals (a few of René’s friends) and they're going to show me a bit more of the area. And as you can imagine I'm getting super excited about Lisa arriving, only a little over a week to go!!!

Sorry not very exciting stuff to report back on at the moment. I have booked my summer vacation in August to go to Italy for 10 days. The flights were unimaginably cheap. €4 to be precise, yup that’s return from Frankfurt to Rome. Of course taxes and handling fees makes it up to €40 but who’s complaining! The family is going to Austria for summer, not your normal summer holiday destination, but they want to go to a nice lake, and be away from the crowds, which looks as if that’s exactly where I’m heading!! Yay. I have yet to go on a weekend trip yet. Trying to organize a weekend to meet up with Hauke, but we seem to both have clashing schedules.

A short video from the Germany vs. Sweden Match in Mainz.

This week has been my first full week of looking after the boys. Last week was a bit mucked up as Crystal left in the middle and then there was a national holiday for two days. The boys have been pretty good, they’re still a little unsettled with my presence. They are not misbehaving too badly, they’re just trying to test me and see how much I’ll put up with. Just one day at a time. I think it has really helped Nannying before as I knew that it was unlikely the kids would like me straight away, especially since I speak funny, have different rules and they had their previous Au Pair for two years.

I personally am feeling much more settled, for the first week there it was all a bit much. I have now moved into my room, unpacked everything, and put a few personal touches up and around. Now heres something to make those of you who really know me smile, I am the world’s worst sleeper – right? Well moving half way across the planet hasn’t changed that. No siree!! Well for one thing Germans like their beds hard, flat hard rocks to be more precise. Good for the back, or so I’m told. To combat this they have the world’s softest pillows. So soft that they just flatten into non-existent piles. They’re also a weird size, big and square, or long and narrow rectangles. Oh and did I mention that there are no curtains? And don’t forget that the sun goes down at 11pm and up by 5am! All of this has amounted to me being severally sleep deprived, and taking on a more zombieish persona. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining – really I’m not. It’s just meant I have never been as clumsy in my life as I have been this past week. However luckily I have only broken one Austrian Crystal glass, made in a small village at a family owned shop so far.

It looks like I have made friends with the German Housecleaner, who I’ll remind you speaks absolutely no English. She dragged me from the computer yesterday (literally started pulling me by my shirt) took me outside and started pointing at the car. So I got my keys and she directed me out into the country. (I must point out I was getting a little nervous at this point) then we stopped abruptly and got out. She had taken me to her garden, she’d often mentioned it but I thought she meant it was at her house. It is very common for people living in the city to own a small plot of land out in the country that they look after, and usually have a small building, often not bigger than a single room that they have a gas stove in and maybe a small bed. It was pretty nice, and by the sounds of things I’m expected to go there again tomorrow at 2pm.

On Tuesday, René (one of Ro’s old bosses from Russell) picked me up and gave me a tour of his home town. It is the home town of Johannes Gutenberg who those of you who did HIST120 back in first year will remember is the guy that invented the Printing Press. The city is directly opposite my city across the river Rhine. Which I’ve since connected the dots, means I’m in the Rhineland – which I’d studied in 6th Form when doing the ‘Origins of World War II’ with Mr. Shaffer. Who said History was a waste of time? Anyway it was fantastic to have a connection back to NZ if even only briefly. We saw some pretty impressive buildings, which these pictures can’t really do justice, and had a relaxing lunch of Pizza and Coke overlooking the Rhine.

We have had a group of Americans staying this week, here for the World cup. I have watched a few games, but haven’t got caught up in the hype as much as the rest of the country has. Apparently the amount of German flags being waved around at present is unprecedented. The Americans were most impressed with the behaviour of the Australian contingent, who although their team had lost their match, they carried on singing, dancing and generally partying in the streets regardless. They particularly liked the chanting competitions with the Poms. But if I never hear ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi’ ever again I’ll be a very happy wee lass.

Till next time, take care.
Don’t forget if you send personal emails I will definitely email you back.
Niki

Well I am exhausted to say the least. I think I am used to the time zones now, its just sensory overload 24/7. Trying to learn a new language, how to drive on the wrong side of the road, learning the layout of the town and routes to schools and activities, meeting new people all seem too much at the moment. But once things become familiar I will be fine.

I am still keeping tabs on NZ as I still check the Gizzy and NZ Herald almost daily. I have to organise to meet Hauke in the next few days, so looking forward to that. I went to the 'Aliens' office today to register - what a bloody joke. I thought the Germans were supposed to be efficient!! I wonder if I still need to tell the NZ Embassy that I am here? Who knows!! The staff do not speak English and role their eyes at you when you say you don’t speak any German – but then they start talking in German anyway, only faster and louder. You have to wait in very long queues. Then back to another building, get one thing ticked and told to go back, then back agin to be told ‘Okay see you in two weeks’ - infuriating to say the least. Especially when all the paper work was done back in NZ months ago.

Went out to a Greek restaurant on Sunday night, in the city across the river from Wiesbaden to meet Crystals friends. (She met them all at the Gym.) A very wide mix of people. All lovely people and pretty much all of them spoke English. They have taken me under their wings already and have said they will take me to a Wine festival held a few hours away, where they have a boat and will go out into the middle of the Rhine river, where it is surrounded by Castles and watch a mega fireworks show. So I am really looking forward to that as you can imagine. Everyone else has to watch it from the river banks, but I'll get to be right in the centre. It was really difficult for Crystal to see me with her friends as we were making a whole lot of plans. She was awfully upset to be leaving. But she knows she is ready for a change. She left this morning and so I have moved into her room.

These old German houses know a thing or two about storage. I will never run out of room I don’t think. My bedroom is on the third floor on the left, hidden behind the branches. The boys found it really hard and I think it'll be a matter of weeks and not days before they settle. The housecleaner here doesn’t speak a word of English and swears all of the time. Apparently she’s says 'Lick my arsehole' most often. But she’s fanaticly in love with the family.

Weird German things:

People will say ‘No’ and leave it at that when you ask them if they want to do anything. They’re not being rude, just don’t understand any need to justify why they can’t or don’t want to. So for example – we would say ‘No sorry, I have no money and I have to work in the morning – but thank you for asking’ is instead ‘No’.

Road directions are confusing. Whatever you think it is, it probably isn’t. It will always be the exact opposite of what it looks like.

You must give way to the right even on Main roads. Thought it would be the opposite to home, but no.

You have to put tokens into the trolleys to get them to work. If you do not have the stores token, then a Euro coin will do. You get this back when you return the trolley correctly. Good way to cut back on staff!!

Their recycling is fanatical. A bin for everything!! Plastic bottles get taken to the supermarket and money is reimbursed. If you sell batteries you have to accept old ones.

It is light until 11pm at the moment.

Church bells seem to ring nonstop from about 7am Sunday morning.

Well back to the grindstone, and up another flight of stairs! There’s four storeys by the way, not three. The Cellar is indeed an entirely different floor and is gigantic. I’ve counted up to 6 toilets so far, I’ll probably find another hiding in a cupboard!!