Mother's Day in Wolfenbuettel was a notable change from Hyde Park as the main event was Buspulling. The event was held in the Main Square where the market is set up on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Yesterday, the stalls included beer and soft drinks, various sausage vendors, poffertjes, crepes and one Italian coffee stand. There was a big stage and a loud speaker announcing the event. Some of the shops were open and all of the cafes and Italian eis shops.
Simon and Peter enjoyed the ice cream on their first go-round with me. Then, after they went to a free concert of baroque bassoon music with Michael, they got to have a turn on the trampolines set up with bungee harnesses. I was too cheap to let them do it (or rather, I made them choose between gelato and jumping.) Michael is nicer than I am and they had been well-behaved boys at the concert.
To get a sense of it, here is a video of the previous year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hTD3Szqppg
with the trampolines in back.
Photos will be added as soon as I get them off the camera.
09 May 2011
15 April 2011
10 days here
The first week and a bit has gone quite well all tolled. Simon and Peter have both found friends at school. The school, Harztorwall Grundschule, is pleasant and the staff have been kind to both the children and me. It is an "all day" school which means that instead of being finished at 12:30 some of the children stay until 3:30 and do various special classes. The boys are doing Basketball, Arts and Crafts, Light Athletics, Gymnastics and Chess. On Fridays, everyone is done at 1:00pm.
Here is Peter's class:
Here is Peter's class:
and here is Simon's class:
Both Friday afternoons, we have gone to free swim in the indoor town swimming pool. It gets a bit crazy with big kids, but it still fun and there is a GREAT water slide which neither child is supposed to be on, but no one has said anything, yet. As of May, the indoor pool will close and the outdoor pools will open. I hope that the weather is warm enough to make that a good option.
Wolfenbuttel is very small and the center is completely walkable. Right out our window is the Zeughaus/Armory which faces the Schloss/Castle. To do the laundry, I go to the basement of Lessing's house. There is a lot of water around the city. Streams, rivers, canals and even a bit of a place called "Little Venice." I was told that the Dutch channeled the swampy parts to make the city possible. There are parks and paths around much of the town. Annoushka and I have been taking long walks after dropping the boys to school.
We now all have library cards and can take out as many books as we want from the City Library. The boys and I think it is great. Michael has another library that is more relevant to him.
The fathers of two of Peter's friends at school own the local music shop. We went in to ask after choirs and cello lesson and one of them asks Michael, "Are you Peter's father?" Perhaps a cello and teacher may happen, we will see.
A salesman in the bookshop told Michael that to be here in Wolfenbuttel for nine months will be boring. We will see if he is correct, but I think for the children and me it may be fine.
07 April 2011
Finally Internet! The journey
We have arrived!
The trip was very long, but OK in retrospect. The first flight from Chicago to Copenhagen was not too full, so we each got two seats by the windows. The boys watched movies and played DS games. Peter slept for the last two hours of the flight, but Simon and I didn't sleep. When we arrived in Copenhagen, we went out of through customs to walk Annoushka, the extremely well-behaved dog who didn't make a peep the whole time (and crossed her legs.)Our four hour lay-over was boring. We were to tired to really do anything more than wait.
The second flight was only 40 minutes in the air. It looked like most of the other passengers to Hannover were business men.Simon fell fast asleep even before we took off. Peter and I chatted. They handed out sealed cups of water. When we had to get off the plane, Simon was sleep walking with a frustration tolerance level of zero. So, with a backpack, bag and dog-carrier in hand, I followed Peter and Simon to get our baggage. Thankfully, the big bags all had wheels, so Peter could push one along and I could pull two.
I was so glad to see the sign "ALLEN" in the van driver's hand. He kindly helped manage the bags and we all got clicked in for the hour ride to Wolfenbuttel. Both boys fell asleep It was a nice ride with pretty landscape and at the end was Michael's friend, L, with euro to pay the shuttle and arms willing to carry up some bags.
That was our trip. Before we left Chicago, B. mentioned that her mother thought it was cruel not to drug children on long flights. I can see how it might have been easier for them if a little benadryl had let them sleep on the long leg. Not because they weren't well behaved, but so that they didn't crash on the short hops.
The trip was very long, but OK in retrospect. The first flight from Chicago to Copenhagen was not too full, so we each got two seats by the windows. The boys watched movies and played DS games. Peter slept for the last two hours of the flight, but Simon and I didn't sleep. When we arrived in Copenhagen, we went out of through customs to walk Annoushka, the extremely well-behaved dog who didn't make a peep the whole time (and crossed her legs.)Our four hour lay-over was boring. We were to tired to really do anything more than wait.
The second flight was only 40 minutes in the air. It looked like most of the other passengers to Hannover were business men.Simon fell fast asleep even before we took off. Peter and I chatted. They handed out sealed cups of water. When we had to get off the plane, Simon was sleep walking with a frustration tolerance level of zero. So, with a backpack, bag and dog-carrier in hand, I followed Peter and Simon to get our baggage. Thankfully, the big bags all had wheels, so Peter could push one along and I could pull two.
I was so glad to see the sign "ALLEN" in the van driver's hand. He kindly helped manage the bags and we all got clicked in for the hour ride to Wolfenbuttel. Both boys fell asleep It was a nice ride with pretty landscape and at the end was Michael's friend, L, with euro to pay the shuttle and arms willing to carry up some bags.
That was our trip. Before we left Chicago, B. mentioned that her mother thought it was cruel not to drug children on long flights. I can see how it might have been easier for them if a little benadryl had let them sleep on the long leg. Not because they weren't well behaved, but so that they didn't crash on the short hops.
30 March 2011
6, 5 and counting
Yesterday seemed like a week. Luckily, Simon got to go with a friend to play Magic cards. Peter and I drove back to the USDA with the correct forms for exporting the dog, paid $36 and got all the necessary stamps.and signatures.
Through out the day there was much back and forth about a potential buyer for the first floor unit of our building. The link is the listing, if you are curious. Anyway, the short version is that if did not go forward.
For the late afternoon until they went swimming, another kind friend watch out for both Simon and Peter. During that bit of time, I moved things, packed things, changed wash and cleaned the basement.
This morning, Simon and I met with the best counselor around to get some helpful ideas for making the transition to German school.
Through out the day there was much back and forth about a potential buyer for the first floor unit of our building. The link is the listing, if you are curious. Anyway, the short version is that if did not go forward.
For the late afternoon until they went swimming, another kind friend watch out for both Simon and Peter. During that bit of time, I moved things, packed things, changed wash and cleaned the basement.
This morning, Simon and I met with the best counselor around to get some helpful ideas for making the transition to German school.
29 March 2011
A week.... a some bureaucracy
If you are going to bring a dog to Germany, you need to go with 3 forms (Bilingual EU health form, octoplicate health form and rabies vaccine certificate) to the USDA in the hidden building on Devon Avenue in Des Plaines. Don't forget to phone ahead for an appointment.
I failed to do all of those things, so I am driving back tomorrow - for my appointment.
Wish me luck.
Otherwise, some progress was made.
I failed to do all of those things, so I am driving back tomorrow - for my appointment.
Wish me luck.
Otherwise, some progress was made.
28 March 2011
A week and a day....
We have just a week and a day until Simon, Peter, Annoushka and I leave for Germany. Michael will follow a few days later.
This morning, Simon sang for the penultimate time with St. Paul and the Redeemer's Choristers and Peter helped the Sexton set up the refreshments. By the time we return, Peter will be old enough to join the Choristers, so his days of helping downstairs will be over.
After church, we came home and got all of Arie the Abyssinian's worldly goods together and took him to his new (temporary) lodgings. He seemed to make a pretty good start with two more small boys even if mine proved to be no good example.
"It isn't OK to throw the cat, is it?"
"No, of course not."
"Well, Simon said...."
From there, the boys and I went to a Pirate Birthday celebration that exceeded all birthday expectations. We will all miss our Hyde Park friends.
The rest of the day has been "Asterix" movies in German, packing a laundry.
This morning, Simon sang for the penultimate time with St. Paul and the Redeemer's Choristers and Peter helped the Sexton set up the refreshments. By the time we return, Peter will be old enough to join the Choristers, so his days of helping downstairs will be over.
After church, we came home and got all of Arie the Abyssinian's worldly goods together and took him to his new (temporary) lodgings. He seemed to make a pretty good start with two more small boys even if mine proved to be no good example.
"It isn't OK to throw the cat, is it?"
"No, of course not."
"Well, Simon said...."
From there, the boys and I went to a Pirate Birthday celebration that exceeded all birthday expectations. We will all miss our Hyde Park friends.
The rest of the day has been "Asterix" movies in German, packing a laundry.
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