Just a hey

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT, I LOVE READING THEM, AND KNOWING WHO IS CHECKING IN HELPS ME KEEP CONNECTED WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT I MISS SO MUCH.

Well today I thought I would just write a letter to all. I am coming up on my first full month in Germany and so far I am happy here. Yesterday I got my Usarer license so I am now legal to drive anywhere. I had to go to a class and learn the German signs and driving laws. It is ALOT different to drive over here. First of all there are no yellow lines so I always feel like I turn onto one way streets. (yes I drove by myself to base and home yesterday) The second hard one to get use to is that if the intersection is unmarked it is always right before left. That is even if you are going straight if there is someone coming from the right turning in front of you they have the right of way. Bikes and animal drawn carriages and scooters also have the right of way. They have these priority road signs that super cede anyone or any law and that is a bit scary when someone coming around a corner just keeps right on going in front of you instead of yielding. All of the signs are different and certain colors mean something different too. Blue is must do red is caution and so on. I am also getting use to the language slowly. I don't speak it well but I always try first then just point if I can't get it. The hardest day I had so far was when Cody cut his shin open on an escalator and we felt he needed stitches. Of coarse the post clinic was closed so we had to go to the Klinicum (hospital) and NO ONE spoke English not even the info desk lady. Thank god Greg was with me and he speaks a little and understands alot because I was about in tears before we even found the emergency room. Then we had a LONG wait for them to find an English speaking doctor. I was scared and frustrated by the time we left feeling kinda helpless and upset that I couldn't even get medical help for my son. I am going to find a little pocket dictionary to carry from now on. at least 95% of the time when I ask if they speak English they say no. Greg says it is that they don't want to try but I guess I cant blame them this is their country after all, so I am trying to learn more and more. I love where we live and love walking to the bakeri and shopping for all the fresh foods. Their meat over here taste alot different because they don't use preservatives. My sister Sarah and Dave and Jen would love the wines and beers. They are yummy but not to great for the waistline. I am shopping now for a bike I can ride just about anywhere and am excited to do that alot. I will also get a new car next year. They have the coolest looking cars. Everything looks like it was squashed flat and short. I love this Subaru 4X4 that is boxy and tall but looks like it was in a car crusher. I want one, the cars over here are cheaper and I don't have to pay sales tax so that is the way to go for us.
The weather here is cooling down now it is 60s during the day and 40s at night. I love this "sweatshirt weather" so much and love being outside. Please feel free to ask any questions if ya have any and keep checking back. The kids are in school now so I have alot more time to myself and am enjoying learning more about my new home. Friday I am going shopping for furniture with a girl I met thru Greg. Soon I am going to Chech Republic with some girls for their outlets and European decor and clothes. They have this coach outlet (stacey) where this girl got one for 18 euro (about 21 dollars) and they have an Asian market where you walk thru and haggle prices for stuff. Make up your shopping lists ladies!!!! LOL
That's all for now
Choos!
Jenny
ps we are buying a TOM TOM so I can get unlost. We borrowed the neighbors and I loved it.