The Recap of all Recaps

So keeping up with a blog is kinda hard… BUT seeing as I am entering the home stretch of my year in Germany, I thought it was about time to update you all on what has been happening across the pond. Considering I've missed out on the past few months I am going to do this in bullet-point style.

READY, SET, GO:

1. CHRISTMAS

• Spent it with my German relatives in Bavaria
• We opened all of our presents on Christmas Eve (Heilige Abend) per German tradition and sang Christmas songs
• Had most of their extended relatives over on Christmas Day for an unbelievable 5 course meal and finished the day by taking a walk around the gorgeous Bavarian countryside  

My German Fam & I (plus Vroni's pup, Alma)

PS----> Christmastime in Germany is the BEST because almost every town has a Christmas Market which is comprised of dozens of tiny shops and food/GLÜHWEIN (hot mulled wine) stands.  It's the perfect thing to get you into the Christmas Spirit! 

                                      

A day at the Christmas Market in Landshut! 

2. NEW YEARS EVE (or as they say in Germany… Silvester) 

• My little sissy and parents came into town on the 27th and I ended up taking my sister to Regensburg with me to celebrate NYE with our German relatives there who are still in college
• After a delectable "Raclette" dinner -- we hit the streets of Regensburg which literally felt like entering a war zone
• It is German tradition to set off fireworks on NYE -- but it's not like the 4th where usually one person is in charge of setting them off, it's a total free for all. Although scary at times, it was a blast!
• We ended the night at a hip/euro club right by the cathedral in Regensburg.

Raclette Dinner 

Some of the fireworks by the Cathedral 

Sissy & I clubbing it up 

3. WELLNESS/SALZBURG

• While my fam was still in town we indulged in one of the best things Germany has to offer: Wellness Hotels
• We spent the weekend in our robes, getting massages, jumping in and out of the pools/jacuzzis/saunas, eating delicious (and organic) meals as well as ending the evenings in the bar sipping on beautiful cocktails (TAKE ME BACK) 
• We spent a day touring the picturesque city of Salzburg 
• Best part: running into a street artist I had seen 2 years earlier and finally purchasing one of his paintings that had been haunting me ever since (it is so, so beautiful!) 

Getting into the Wellness Spirit 

One of the many delicious meals 

Prost! 

The street artist and I! 

4. BACK TO SCHOOL

• Although the new semester hadn't started at my school yet, there was definitely a fresh new atmosphere in the office 
• Almost everyone came up to me in the teachers' lounge and shook my hand wishing me a happy new year (German tradition) 

5. PARIS FOR MY BIRTHDAY

• Hands down one of the best weekends of the year! 
• Spent the weekend with one of my good friends who is also teaching in Germany -- we saw it all, ate it all, loved it all…. I'm ready to go back (!)
• Highlight of the trip: eating at the same restaurant as HILLARY SWANK. As soon as we walked into the cafe we heard someone speaking in English and were a bit perturbed because we wanted to eat at an authentic Parisian restaurant but then we turned around to see who it was and were immediately star-struck. I think it was the mix of surprise and shock. Before we could decide what to do (ask for autograph/take picture/say hi!) we got sat upstairs and far away from her… ah! Next time ;) 

Afternoon coffee/cake at Angelina's (A MUST)

Arc de Triomphe

Peace Paris

Ps---> in case you too would like to dine with HS, the name of the restaurant is "Cafe Constant" and it's right around the corner from the Eiffel Tower. 

6.  THE 39 STEPS

• Yes, the rumors are true… I was in a play! 
• Back in October, I joined a student theatre company which is sponsored by the local university here in town and produces English/American plays -- I was fortunate enough to audition and get cast in their production of "The 39 Steps" as Annabella Schmidt, The Sheriff, and Mr. McQuarrie
• It was so, SO much fun acting with a whole bunch of Germans and I got a kick out of being the ONLY native English speaker and being cast as the only character who had to speak with a German accent… LOL
• The play ran for 6 performances and a group of friends came into town to see it from all over Germany- definitely something I will cherish for many years to come!

Zee Program

***SPOILER ALERT***

The Cast

7. THE FULBRIGHT WINTER BALL

• Delicious meal, wonderful company, and great to be back in Freiburg for the weekend! 

Fellow ETAs 

8. BERLIN

• 10 days being in Berlin = now I have the flu and have never been more exhausted in my entire life 
• Spent the first half of the trip with a group of Americans from Kansas (insert joke about them not being in Kansas anymore) who were visiting my German school as well as German students and a few teachers -- it was wonderful to be surrounded by Americans again! So friendly and heartwarming! 
• After they left, I had a day to explore Berlin by myself which was a first for me-- being in a big city by MYSELF. Apart from getting the pity look from the bartender at dinner when I told him I needed a table for just 1, I LOVED it! Was able to see and experience so many things on my own time schedule, I definitely recommend it. 
• My friends came into town for the weekend and we experienced the "Berlin Night Life" -- WOW. One weekend is enough for that, it was pure insanity. 
• Highlight of the trip: KaDeWe. For my friends who were with me, I could not go a sentence without mentioning this magical place. Take Harrods and put it in downtown Berlin with a bit more glitz. It stands for "Kaufhaus des Westens" which translates to "Department Store of the West" and is famous for having imports from all over the world. I recommend going to the food market (6th floor) and after wandering around for at least an hour (look, don't buy, unless you want to spend 10Euro on a bag of Reese's minis) and taking in all of the spices and delicacies, sitting down for some coffee and cake. Worth every overpriced Euro Cent.

East Side Gallery (Berlin Wall)

KaDeWe! (aka heaven)

Coffee & Cappuccino Break

Close up of the "Harley" cake - Marzipan & Raspberry goodness! 

9. BERLIN CONFERENCE 2k14

• A week with Fulbrighters from all over the world (German ones included who are getting ready to head off to the States) sharing their experiences and establishing connections
• It. Was. Beautiful. Seriously, such a wonderful week with wonderful people, I am homesick for all of them already! 
• It made me so proud not only to be a Fulbright Scholar, but also to be representing Germany and America
• At times, we felt like we were at the "Fulbright Olympics" because we had an opening ceremony with Scholars from all over the world performing musical acts -- at the end they were given gorgeous bouquets of flowers -- kind of like a medal ceremony, right??

Brandenburg Gate

WHEW. Alright, I know I missed some stories in there but for the most part, I think that covers the highlights of the past few months. Hopefully I will get better at keeping up with this especially because I am moving this weekend into a new apartment with (fingers crossed) better wifi! STAY TUNED! 

xoxo