So you think you can... Germany?

The last time I wrote, I was in Paris waiting on my train to Munich. Here's a recap of everything since then (with pictures)!

The train ride from Paris to Munich was about six hours. When I got to Munich, Irene, her brother David and her sister Sophie, and David's girlfriend Tati all greeted me, which was a surprise as I was only expecting Irene! 

How sweet is this?
What a wonderful way to be welcomed after a zillion hours of traveling.

I was sooo glad to see everyone, and oddly (maybe not THAT oddly) I had plenty to talk about! I had a lot of energy (even after traveling), which was kind of weird. They were amazing; David took my giant bag and Sophie took my backpack, and I just got to enjoy being with everyone. We went back to Irene's apartment in Munich, which I had never seen before. I LOVE it! It's such a nice apartment in a lovely neighborhood of the city. Here's my room for the next few days!

Notice the Nutella welcome present on the pillow! :)

So Irene and I stayed up talking until forever, of course, because that's what we do. Wednesday morning I slept in, and we woke up and walked to the bakery around the corner to pick up some bread for breakfast. I LOVE German breakfast and it was so nice to have it again!

Bäckerei

Be jealous.
(German breakfast: bread, butter, cheese, meat, jam,
basically anything you could want!)

After this, I surprised my cousin Kara with a little Skype action (holler)! Then Irene and I took a little walk around Munich. Here are some highlights!

pretty tree-lined street

old cemetery of northern Munich

the oldest Pinakothek (art museum) - You can see where it was

partially destroyed during World War II and reconstructed.

decorations for the upcoming Oktoberfest - 

even in an Apotheke (pharmacy)

typical street in Munich

There are Dirndl (traditional Bavarian dress for women)

and Lederhosen (typical Bavarian outfit for men) 

in so many stores in preparation for Oktoberfest!

(Note: These are more modern interpretations of the Dirndl.)

Schön! (Pretty!)

Look what I found!

In the evening, Irene's friend from high school, Sonja, invited us for dinner in Erding outside of Munich. Sonja and I actually met when I came to Germany in 2004 and got to spend time together, and she is so sweet! I was so excited when she invited us to come over.

First we walked around the town, which was so pretty!

It's an older city and it has some of its old ramparts still standing.

(I love fortified cities!)

We also went to the Erdinger brewery, 

which has one of the most famous 

Weißbier (wheat beers) in Germany.*

We then went to Sonja's beautiful apartment and cooked dinner - pumpkin soup and apple strudel!

Irene and Sonja in action 

(They did most of the work, but I promise I helped!) :)

apple strudel (in progress)

Shortly after this, Sonja asked me to roll it up,

to which I promptly replied "Oh, like a burrito!"

(You can take the girl out of Texas...)

the girls and our beautiful dinner

me and Sonja right before we ate the fantastic pumpkin soup

apple strudel - finished product

Delicious. Guten Appetit!

Sonja was a wonderful hostess and I felt so welcome and had a great time. She also did something VERY generous and lent me something very special that I will show you soon. You'll have to read my next posts to see pictures! (CLIFFHANGER!)

Today (Thursday), we woke up and took a train to the Chiemsee (a lake), which is about an hour train ride southeast of Munich. It is absolutely beautiful there and we had a gorgeous day (around 60° and sunny). It was perfect. 

Chiemsee and the Alps

We took a modern train to the city, and then an older train to the lake, and then a boat ride to an island which has the Schloss Herrenchiemsee, a castle built by Ludwig II to be a replica of Versailles in France.

If you are familiar with Versailles, I'm sure you see the resemblance!

Irene and me in front of one of the fountains

(which is actually very different from the style of Versailles,

but we liked it and thought it was very dramatic)

We also visited museums about Ludwig II and Germany's constitution. All-in-all it was the perfect day to go as it was just beautiful. Afterward, we headed to Irene's parents' house in the Seefeld, the town they live in outside of Munich. I hadn't been in eight years, but I still remember it! Her father cooked dinner and we had spinach spätzle with ham, and Sophie (her sister) made an apple-walnut-cream dessert. Both were delicious and I wish I'd remembered to take a picture! It was fantastic to sit around her table with her family and talk and feel very welcome and have a great time. We talk in English a lot, but sometimes they have conversations in German and I love to listen and try to follow/pick out the words I know. 

Because I forgot to take a picture of our food,

here is a picture of the view from their kitchen! :)

I'm (obviously) having a wonderful time in Germany. More stories and pictures soon!

*One-Time Disclaimer: I intend for this blog to be the most accurate depiction of the places I go to and the cultures I experience. Therefore, I will occasionally write about/include photos of some drinks in order to give a complete picture. I know that I may have readers (especially young readers) who may not fully understand the context, so I just want to remind everyone that I am well over the drinking age, and that anyone who chooses to drink should do so legally and responsibly. :)

Ta-da!

Before I begin this story, let me reveal the end. (Spoiler alert.) I'm in Paris!

Now let's go to the beginning. You know those days when you're supposed to wake up at 5:30 am and, you know, move to a foreign country? But instead you're laying in bed at 5:45 and you, you know, get a voicemail from your airline that your flight's been cancelled?

I DO.

That's one way to wake up to a heart attack, btdubbs. Anyway, all's well that ends well because American Airlines actually meant to say they'd scheduled me for a better flight. (They really should start those messages off with something like "Girl do NOT worry because this has a happy ending!" so you don't have a coronary.) I left way later (so I got to go back to sleep) and got to Paris an hour earlier, cutting down my travel time.

But that leaves me with the whole "eight hour gap of time in Paris with 70 lbs of luggage" situation. Soooo I hung out for a while at a café in Charles de Gaulle (airport), bought my 12-25 card (discount card for people ages 12-25 that saves you money on France's train system), and got some métro tickets. I then took the RER into Paris (this is where it gets tricky).

All roads may lead to Rome, but apparently all trains go to Paris.

Luckily I only had only one métro line change to get to my train station. Thank God because it turns out the métro with luggage that's almost as big as you is, well, a difficult thing to manage. All was going fairly well (some escalators and one stairway down - loud, but doable) until I encountered (dun dun dunnnnnn) a GIANT staircase that I needed to go UP. I'm pretty tough so I set about to do it (though honestly I may have thrown my back out), but a nice French couple helped me and we had a lovely conversation in which they mistook me for a French person and then we talked about why I'm here. They are pretty much my favorite people of the day so far.

So now I'm just hanging out at the train station. I went outside and sat and people watched for a while... it's lovely outside, perfect with a cardigan. 

Here's you a little picture of my not-so-fascinating corner of Paris.

A girl can only do so much with luggage weighing her down.

It's kind of torturous, actually, to have Paris outside your window and time for a walk but not the ability to do so. Oh well! Guess I'll just have to come back soon. :) For now I'll just sit in this café, drink my chocolat chaud and talk to NO ONE on Facebook because it's 6:00 am in Texas. 

Luckily this pigeon is here to hang out. Yes. Inside the café in the station. 

I hope you know I look like a crazy person for taking a picture of this guy.

It's all for you, people. It's all for you.

I'll be off to Munich in a few hours! Get excited - I AM! :)

... And she's off!

Well, tomorrow's the big day! I'll leave my house early in the morning to fly Dallas-Birmingham-Miami-Paris. (Yes I know that's a lot of legs, but I got my ticket for $100 thanks to airline miles, so I'll take it!) When I arrive in Paris Tuesday morning, I'll spend a few hours in the airport and maybe the city before taking the Métro to Gare de l'Est and boarding a train for Munich, where I'll arrive Tuesday evening. Sooo basically, I'll be traveling for about 31 hours, depending on when Irene and I get home. (Y'all, figuring that out took a LOT of effort on my part. That's a lot of math + time zone trickery. You know I don't do math.) I'm going to be EXHAUSTED. But sometimes that's the price you pay to have the fun. Unlike life, in this particular situation, it's definitely all about the destination, not the journey. Sorry, Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I didn't actually start packing until Friday, but I now have everything I'll take in one (big) suitcase, a backpack, and my purse.

packing for multiple seasons in one suitcase = difficult.
Shout out to my Aunt Lisa for letting me borrow this giant luggage!

Oh! Also? I did get that Mexico-France apostille situation sorted out, and I've been pretty much off DDP for two weeks now, just in case y'all were wondering.

Despite running around like a crazy person the past week or so, I have gotten to spend a little quality time with some of those I love. I've said it before, but I am truly blessed. However, I hate to say it, but I didn't get to see everyone that I love and wanted to see before I left, and for that I'm sad and sorry! It's so hard with everyone's busy schedules. But thank God it's 2012 and not 1826 and we can still keep in contact easily. If I didn't get to see you this past week, let's make dates for June! :)

Something interesting that I've noticed is that, the past few weeks as I've spent time with people and said my goodbyes, I haven't been very sad. I was wondering: Am I heartless? But it's not that. It's that I know that it's only eight months and I already have my return ticket; it's not permanent or even indefinite. In addition, the people I am lucky enough to have in my life are solid, and I am 100% confident that my friendships and relationships will remain intact. In this very moment I am not sad; I'm just taking this opportunity to be incredibly grateful. (Side note: I know it'll hit me and I'll be sad/miss everyone rull bad at various points during my stay in France, so get ready for that.)

While I haven't been running high on emotion (e.g., sadness or excitement), I have had time for a few thoughts (between running around crossing things off the to-do list). And this pensiveness has led me to the following conclusion: It's a strange sensation when change happens suddenly and distinctly and you know that you are on the eve of an experience that will change you. Life changes all the time, but it usually happens gradually. It fascinates me to think that tomorrow I am embarking on a journey that will change and grow me in some way from who I am right now. I can't wait to see what happens.

I feel it an appropriate time to share with you a quote from a Mumford & Sons song, "The Cave." (I'm a little obsessed with Mumford & Sons, and listened to their first CD pretty much every.single.day. on my way to work at 6 am this past school year.) I love their lyrics in general; singing them extremely loudly in my car helped me through this past year. I identify with this set in particular:

"So make your siren's call

and sing all you want

I will not hear what you have to say.

'Cause I need freedom now

and I need to know how

to live my life as it's meant to be."

So I'm off, mes chers. Ignoring society's siren call of stability, financial security, my comfort zone, and familiarity. I'm gonna go figure out some things about myself and the world, see new places, make new friends, get my feet wet in the Mediterranean for the first time ever, read some books, teach some English, have some adventures, and live my life as it's meant to be.

"And now, Harry, let us step out into the night
and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure."
-Professor Albus Dumbledore

See you in eight months, Texas.

Big love, y'all.

♥

25 sittin' on $25 mil

... does not describe my situation. More like 25 sittin' on $25. Or $24.86.

Okay, so it's not really that bad. (Not even close, ne freak out pas.) As I looked ahead to my trip, I set a goal in January of saving X amount of dollars. This amount was, admittedly, a very high goal that would set me free to basically live and travel as I please for my eight months without a worry in the world. Due to a series of unfortunate events (read: being a grown up), I actually ended up saving half of X. Which is still quite doable as far as getting set up, I just may not be able to grant myself a "golden ticket" when it comes to traveling wherever I want. But that's fine! I will still have adventures aplenty, I assure you.

I did reduce my debt* by 27% between December 2011 and August 2012, despite encountering large health- and auto-related** bills. And I was still able to save some (.5X, if you recall)! I worked hard this year/summer and feel as if I've done my best, and I'm proud of that.

Anyway, I've got my mind on my money and my money on my mind because I spent yesterday at my banks placing travel notifications on my accounts, looking into foreign wire transfer charges, making sure all my beneficiary information is in order, and generally being a grown up. Seriously, if you wanna feel old/responsible, spend a day getting your money stuff in order. (The good news is that I can rest assured that if anything were to ever happen to me, my parents would be blessed with my GIANT FORTUNE. Ha. Right.)

I am incredibly blessed to have a very supportive family and while we're by no means rich by American standards, I have no fear because I know that (even if it means borrowing), I will never be stranded in Europe without money. So no one worry!

The moral of the story that I think it will be an exciting part of this adventure to see how far my money will actually take me, and to see what kind of trickery I have to get up to in order to live on my little salary. It's kind of like my own little financial experiment. Stay tuned!

*Which now solely consists of student loans - the "good" debt. Yeah, right, like that's comforting. (Hey, better than credit card debt! LIFE LESSON, YOUNG ONES: Avoid credit card debt like the plague.)

**Like, replacing a transmission, a timing belt, some tires, rotors... so on and so forth. It's been nuts. Thrice this year my car has literally stopped going with me inside of it. Thrice. I kid you not. Once on a night when it was sleeting, once in a McDonald's drive-thru (I'm not proud), and once on a somewhat major road (377 in Keller, DFW people). Never a dull moment!

FAQ, pre-France style

As my departure date approacheth, I continue to get many of the same questions regarding the whole France business. I also am beginning to collect a few new ones. I decided to make a list of these Frequently Asked Questions (and Frequently Stated Statements, in some cases) and to answer them/explain the cultural reason(s) behind the answers, if applicable. This post is both productive AND culturally informative (for those of you who aren't very familiar with la belle France).

DISCLAIMER: If you have asked me one of these questions, and I give a silly/sarcastic response here, please don't be offended. I assure you each of these has been asked more than once. Also, it's just more fun/a little therapeutic if I answer them this way.

1)  Q: Where are you going to live?
     A: I'm not sure yet. I'll stay on campus at my school for at least the first while, and then I don't know. Will I stay there permanently? Will I move in with roommates? Will I live with a family? Will I find my own place (very difficult and therefore unlikely)? I don't know, and that's OKAY. Most Americans I talk to gasp/look at me as if I just said "I'm considering living on a park bench or under a bridge with some pigeons" when I say I'm not really sure yet. But I'm not worried. I am usually a pretty high-strung person, but there's something about France that calms me and draws out of my adopted French mindset of "C'est la vie!" It'll all get figured out, no worries, y'all.

2) Q: Well, aren't they* flying you over there and arranging your housing?
    A: No. I'm not exactly being flown over to be the CEO of France. Nor is this Texas Tech Freshman Orientation Fall 2005; come move into some dorms and your advisor will help you figure out which classes to take! Nor is France an all-inclusive resort, mes amis. There are approximately 1200 teaching assistants who come to France each year in this program. I am not a unique snowflake in this situation, and France does not have a responsibility to cater to my every need. They are giving me a job for a year and granting me temporary citizenship and all benefits therein. They are already allowing me a privilege. Let's not be demanding here, people.

3) Q: Well, you'll be making a lot of money, won't you?
    A: No. I will work 12 hours/week, and I will be paid accordingly.

4) Q: If you're not making a lot of money, why are you going?
    A: Seriously?! You've got to be kidding me. Question is, why WOULDN'T I drop everything for a year to live in France?! If you ask/think this question, you're missing the point.

5) Q: Are you taking your car?
    A: No. I've never looked into the cost of transatlantic auto shipping, but I can almost guarantee that it would cost more than my 12-year-old car is worth. Also, in most parts of France, you don't NEED a car. They have this neat thing called public transportation, both within and between cities. (Come on America, get on board! (Literally!)) It's pretty legit.

6) S(tatement): Be very, very careful Katy. You know what can happen. Be safe. Moving to France by yourself is so dangerous! (All said with very serious, grave faces as if I'm headed for war-torn Sudan or a Mexican border town.)
    R(esponse): First of all, I understand that these statements are born of love and concern. Second of all, of course I will always take caution and be aware of my situation. I am 25, I have traveled before, and I'm actually a pretty smart cookie. Third of all, if you are not already aware, let me let you in on a little secret: France is a MUCH safer country than the United States. You are infinitely safer in Paris than you are in Dallas, Texas. I mean, I've lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana before, and I guarantee you that any given day in Baton Rouge was more dangerous than the collective danger I will face in France during the whole eight months. (And yet, I survived Baton Rouge perfectly unscathed, unless you count emotional distress resulting from Hurricane Gustav.) Violent crime rates are MUCH lower in France than they are here, and guns are not allowed. Granted, there's a lot of pick-pocketing, but that's not that big of a deal. You're inconvenienced, but life goes on. There is always room for freak accidents (e.g., All the dogs in France get rabies and one bites me!, A bus loses control and knocks me off my bike!,** A toilet seat from a space shuttle falls on me from the sky!***), but in all likelihood, the worst things that could happen to me will likely be a) My wallet gets stolen, b) My luggage gets lost, or c) I lose my iPod.****

7) S: Ohhhh, you're SO going to meet someone/marry a Frenchman and live there forever!
    R: First of all, that is not anywhere near the point. Second of all, I'll never say never, but I will say highly unlikely. I love France and the French and their quirks, but as of my experiences thus far, I haven't been attracted to any French guys. (If you're French please don't be offended!) That's not to say it's impossible, because everyone is an individual. But in general (and for better or for worse), I'm kind of accustomed to American guys, Southern ones in particular. (Side note: Honestly, I'm probably not the kind of girl most French guys would like, anyway. I'm kind of loud. Sometimes, I snort when I laugh. I talk too much. I don't think France is gonna be all up on this anyway; it goes both ways.) Third of all, if you know me, you know I'm slow to jump into anything. So in conclusion, let's all chill with every woman I meet projecting her secret dreams of a French romance on me, and just let me go to France for me and me alone. I would much rather come out of this experience with a deeper understanding of the world and of myself than a relationship.

8) S: Well, this could turn into a more permanent job, right? You can just extend it 'til next year or it could turn into a permanent position?

    R: No. You can re-apply to the program once, but you don't get priority. If I re-applied to the same program it'd have to be in the same region and I wouldn't find out until as late as September-ish if I got back in. That's a little too much uncertainty for me, people. IF I did it again, it'd be in a few years in a different region. And no, it can't turn into a permanent position. If I wanted a permanent position in France, I'd have to actively seek it out. I'm not ruling anything out (I have a take-life-as-it-comes policy, this applies to statement 7, above, as well), but as of right now, the plan is to return to Fort Worth in May and seek a high school French position. And unpack all of my books. And get my own apartment again. :)

*I suppose the "they" people are referring to when they ask this question is the government of France?

**In theory, I will hopefully buy a bike in France and then ride without immediate injury! Biking is not something I usually do, fyi.

***À la Dead Like Me.

****This WILL happen, and it will be no fault of France's. It will be because I am a mess regardless of which continent I inhabit. Also, jeez a LOO there are a lot of footnotes on this post. Sorry.

One week to go!

To commemorate my "d minus one week" mark (!), here are some fun pictures for you!

My best friends Amy and Shannon are pretty much amazing,
and gave me a little lakehouse sleepover shindig complete with Bon Voyage décor and fondue! 

It was a great time spent with some of my closest friends,

and it reminded me how truly blessed I am.

J'adore ça! Also, I so regret not taking a picture of the

whole fondue setup. It was beautiful (and delicious!) and

perfect for a French-themed going-away party.

This beautiful journal is a gift from Spanish Aaron.

It's to serve as a reminder to take in and reflect upon my experiences.

(Let's hope I write in it! I'm not always great about that.)

Thanks to Half Price Books, I'm currently reading this memoir 

by Harriet Welty Rochefort, a woman from Iowa who married a Frenchman 

and has lived in Paris for 20 years. It's got some interesting perspectives

on cultural differences, and it's turning out to be a super quick read!

Some baby dog is suspicious.
And apparently wants to join me.

I'll miss this, I'll miss this not...

So as I go about my regular ol' life lately... I find myself evaluating aspects of my daily experience in terms of whether or not I think I will miss them during my upcoming departure from the Estados Unidos. I've decided to make a list. This is that list.

Things I fully expect to NOT miss while away:

1) Traffic: Excuse me, Tarrant County. What, what, what are you doing?! I have spent a LOT of time driving this summer and this past school year, which is bad enough without the HORRIBLE CONSTRUCTION that is going on literally everywhere. Highways 820, 183, 121, 114, 35W, even 26? GET. IT. TOGETHER. Who on earth is in charge of making these kinds of decisions? Allowing that many highways to be under construction at the same time is irresponsible and borderline insane. Occasionally it takes me an hour to travel 15 miles, which is obviously unacceptable. I just... I just can't. Someone please FIX THIS by the time I get back.

2) Walmart:* I lose a chunk of my soul every time I walk in the door. I think someday I may make a real effort to never go again, but as of yet I have not been able to achieve that. I mean, a trip to Walmart is enough to make you lose your faith in humanity. For instance, recently while I was attempting to reach a self-checkout kiosk, a Walmart employee first said something unintelligible to me and then stood in my way, staring at me in a manner both confused and confusing. Upon my kind request, she would not repeat her mumbled demand, but just... stood there. Staring. What are you even supposed to do about that?

Here are some photos taken by me in real Walmart stores
 for your enjoyment/discomfort:

Spray paint is legally supposed to be locked up.
Obviously Walmart in Duncanville, Texas
thinks that law was meant to be broken.

This particular fashion item confuses me.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, there are rarely more than two lines open.

This product is just creepily packaged.

To be fair, I feel like this would be $1.98 well-spent.

3) The ten pounds I will (hopefully? somehow? please?) lose by not eating fast food, drinking soda, or indulging in huge American portions: Okay this one is just kind of wishful thinking, probably, because in reality I will probably find an extra ten pounds by way of pain au chocolat.

4) Election 2012: I'm sorry. I just can't take it anymore. Someone call me when it's all over.

5) Pitbull (Dale!)

6) Jersey Shore and all associated acts

7) Trucks with ridiculous tires

8) All-consuming work weeks (was that just me?)

Things I will definitely miss:

1) Mexican food (aka TexMex): I know France and Europe has wonderful food to offer, and I assure you I will enjoy my fair share. But you can bet your bottom USD that some form of TexMex will be my first meal upon my return. (To be fair, I will also miss Texas burgers and barbecue, but not as much as TexMex.)

2) Being able to get almost anything at almost anytime

3) Target: Unlike Walmart, Target is the source of all that is good and right and beautiful in the world.

Thanks KH for this hilarious picture,
who passed it along from the blog crappypictures.com,
written/illustrated by Amber Dusick. (Check it out!)

4) Turning on the TV/radio and being able to understand every word

5) The chance that you might just see a man riding a horse in the middle of your regular life

... like on your walk at the neighborhood park

#hayhorsehayyyyy

6) Texas sunsets: I know the sun sets everywhere. But not everywhere does it set like this:

Buffalo Springs (outside Lubbock) 2007

Fort Worth 2010

Fort Worth 2012

7) Peanut butter: Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE peanut butter. Europeans, however? Not so big on peanut butter, so you can't find it very many places. I especially adore chocolate and peanut butter together... someone please mail me some Reese's holiday shapes once they come out?

8) DFW sports: I admittedly do not watch every game, but I still feel comforted and at home knowing that there's almost always a Cowboys, Rangers, or Mavs** game to watch. And also, let's face it, we've had an exciting past couple years! I hope that we have some great seasons this year... but I'll be sad to miss the excitement.

9) Two words: Magnolia. Mae.

I mean, for real. Look at that Nolie face.

10) Big girl paychecks

11) All of the family and friends that I love here in Texas (and other places across the States, namely Louisiana): This is obvious. More than anything else I will miss seeing/hearing the voices of/being able to call or even text pretty much everyone I love anytime I want (despite the fact that, unfortunately, my schedule often prohibits me from doing so). I am blessed beyond measure with the sheer number of both quality family members and amazing friends that I have and (at least somewhat) regularly talk to/see. I mean really, I have some world-class loves of my life who continue to love me despite seeing me in all different stages of life (and through all different flavors of Katyness, for better or worse). I have always been independent, but I know full well that at various points in time I will ache to be near these people. And then errrrbody in the club's gettin' Skyped! :)

I know this list isn't complete, but that's all I've got for now. Sooo what do y'all think? What things would you miss/not miss if you were (or are) leaving home for a while?

*I do realize that at some point(s) during this year, I will want to purchase something at 11 pm and it will not be an option. In that moment, I will wish for a Walmart. I understand this.

**Okay, or Stars. Whatever. Let's pretend I understand/watch hockey.