Happy Birthday Zaza!

My baby turned two this weekend; and what a long, joyful journey. He has grown so much from the tiny 1-1/2 pound boy at birth. I thank God constantly for giving us such a healthy boy because it could have easily gone the other way. Many babies born at 25 weeks have physical and developmental problems, but not our Zaza. Looking at him you would never know that he was born early. People always say he’s big for his age.

This year for Zaza’s birthday, we spent the day with his German grandparents. Oma made four cakes and took care of all the food and decorations, leaving nothing for me to do but prepare my vegetarian meal. Hubby’s brothers were there along with Zaza’s 8-year-old cousin Tobias. Zaza had a good time playing and also got a lot of gifts. It was a nice day.

Back In Deutschland

It’s been exactly three years since we moved from Germany to Toronto, and now we are back; but this time it’s Berlin - the capital of Germany. What a vibrant city! I already like it much more than I did Toronto. With approximately six million people, over 35 per cent are foreign born. There are people living Berlin from all over the world, making it the perfect city for a multi-racial family like mine.

What I like most about Berlin is that unlike other cities in Germany, the people are laid back, friendly, open-minded, creative and individualistic. I can leave my home wearing a pink hat and polka dot pants and people will see it as art. Every form of the arts is explored in this city- sometimes to the extreme. Art exhibits, theater, opera and other performances can be enjoyed at a very low cost. This is because the government subsidises the arts; therefore, giving everyone access to quality entertainment.

Germany will be very different for me this time around. First of all, I’m towing toddler, which requires me to engage with community on a deeper level. I’ll need to push myself more to speak the language, and meet other parents with small children. Just last week, I felt adventurous and took my son Zaza to a German speaking toddler play group. The teacher didn’t speak any English, so I was forced to use German. I got along quite well with my limited German, but Zaza did great! I think that he understood more than I did.

Also this time around in Germany, I’ll have a job, something I haven’t had in almost four years. I’m really excited about working again. Now don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and raising my son. I just miss the intellectual stimulation gained from interacting with adults. For me, doing a task that takes my mind away from home duties will do a lot for me psychologically. Hopefully, I can now put what I’ve learned in college to good use.

But for the next two months, I have my plate full with finding permanent housing, and securing a spot for Zaza in a bi-lingual day care-something hard to come by in Berlin. I’ll keep you posted.

Wir ziehen nach Canada um!

The ink has dried on the contract and it’s official; we’re moving to Canada. Matze will begin a new assignment near Toronto next month, and I am so excited. Not only am I excited for Matze’s professional progression, but I’m also excited because I LOVE Toronto.

From the time I made my first visit to Toronto at age 16, and with the many visits that later followed, I was constantly impressed with the diversity and tolerance of the city. Where else can you find virtually all of the world's culture groups and hear more than 100 languages and dialects spoken in one city?

Tagged, Again

Thanks Schokolade Mädchen. It’s always nice to reflect on one’s wacky behavior.

Top 3 Guilty Pleasures:

1. Choclait Chips - I’ve eaten an entire box in one sitting. They're scrumptious chocolate-covered strips of cookies. Just writing about them makes my mouth water; I think I'll buy a box today! It's a pity that they're only available in Europe.

2. Music Videos- A great way to keep up with the latest fashion trends; and dance moves.

3. Watching TV (muted), while listening to the radio and surfing the web- simultaneously. This is absolutely forbidden when Matze is home.

The BEST Seafood Restaurant in the Florida Keys

The Fish House was recommended by Jordan, my masseur at the Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As he gave me a fabulous deep-tissue massage, he recommended this delicious restaurant in Key Largo. The atmosphere was laid back, the employees were friendly and the food was amazing!. All the seafood is caught fresh by local fisherman and prepared the same day. The food was so good that Matze and I went back the next day. The employees recognized us immediately and greeted us with a warm “welcome back.”

Salzburg - "Salt City"

A couple months ago, Matze and I went to Salzburg, Austria, home of Mozart, and where the “The Sound of Music” was filmed. The country of Austria is also the heimatland (home country) of Arnold “The Terminator” Schwarzenegger, Governor of California.

There is so much to do and see in Salzburg, and lots of history to discover. The people are friendly; there is shopping aplenty, and a wide variety of food to choose from. “I’ll be back!”

A Night with Roy Hargrove

Grammy award winner Roy Hargrove and his quartet performed in Ingolstadt Thursday night, and I have to admit that this was the best jazz concert I’ve seen here since my move. The drummer was especially entertaining. His gestures were animated and so fluid that it looked like he felt the rhythm through his entire body right down to the tips of his toes.

During the first intermission I had a chance to talk with Mr. Hargrove. He thought I was a singer and was certain that we had met before – I wish! Hargrove commented about the interesting crowd and was curious why I, the only brown face in the crowd, was in Germany.

Our conversation ended with the dimming of lights, signaling that it was time for Hargrove and his band to perform their final set. I only wish I had more time to pick this 37 year-old’s brain.

Hey Bro, He looks a little like you!

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged by my good friend Schokolademadchen, who has been living in Munich for a year now. I have to say that it was difficult narrowing down my answers to some of the questions.

Name 5 things you love in your new country.

1. European Architecture



2. Germany’s central location and close proximity to other countries



3. The Autobahn. Fast, limit -free driving.



4. Efficiency and order- Sometimes this can be a disadvantage when taken to the extreme.



5. Weissen Bier.
   

Name 4 things that you miss from your native country.

1. Late-night shopping. Grocery store, shopping centers, pharmacies and restaurants are all open late and on Sundays.



2. Really good live entertainment. The standards for live music are higher in the States.



3. Diversity. I really miss seeing people of different shades from every corner of the earth.



4. American restaurants. I’m not of fan of German cuisine
   

Name 3 things that annoy you a bit (or much) in your new country.

1. Impoliteness or just plain rude. This irritates me the most. I’ve been set on, stepped on, pushed aside and cut in front of while standing in line. And not a mumble of the word “entschuldigung” or “excuse me.”



2. Staring. Sometimes I think I’m a celebrity.



3. Grocery Shopping. The inability to find the ingredients needed to cook my favorite dishes.
   

Name 2 things that surprise you (or surprised you in the beginning) in your new country.

1. Safety. In Ingolstadt there is very little crime. Women walk alone at night and only hunters are allowed to own a firearms.



2. Bikers; and so many of them. They have their own lane on the sidewalk, and you better look both ways before crossing the biker lane or else you’ll get run over.
   

Name 1 thing that you would miss terribly in your new country, if you had to leave it.

1. The German Bäckerei and the aroma of fresh baked bread in the mornings.

Happy New Year to All of You

Bombs were bursting in the air at midnight in Munich to bring in the new year. Smoke filled the air, and the remains of fireworks and broken Champaign bottles littered the streets. It resembled a war zone.

Weihnachtsmarkt- A German Tradition

During the four weeks proceeding Christmas, many of the cities in Germany are lit up and full of people visiting the Weihnachtsmarkt. The Weihnachtsmarkt is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas. The first Christmas market was held in Dresden in 1434. Nuremberg is one of the most famous markets today and draws each year about two million people.

Over the weekend, another couple joined us for a trip to the Nuremberg Weihnachtsmarkt. We knew that we were approaching the Weihnachtsmarkt when the aroma of toasted almonds captured our senses. The market combined food, drinks, vendors, bands and choirs, all in the open-air of the city center. Glühwein, a hot wine, is a very popular drink at the market and helps to keep you warm. Hot chocolate is also available. But my personal favorite was the chocolate- covered strawberries. I’m still dreaming about them a day later.

Going in with a set budget, I was able to secure some beautiful Christmas ornaments for our tree and a few very unique candle holders. We had a wonderful afternoon eating, shopping, laughing and shivering with our good friends and their puppy Denzel Washington.

Our First Christmas Tree

This year my husband and I will spend our first Christmas together. Even while dating, Christmases were always spent on different continents. He with his family in Germany and me with my family in the States.

Well, last week, while visiting my in-laws, we cut down a fresh Christmas tree from their back yard. My mother in-law also gave me some beautiful hand-made ornaments to hang on our tree.

Later that week, Matze and I bought more ornaments and lights and spent an entire evening decorating the tree and listening to jazzy Christmas songs.

We Had Church!

Thursday evening the Jackson Singers, a traveling gospel ensemble, came to Ingolstadt. And what a glorious time it was.

The Jackson Singers began by singing old spiritual hymns, hymns that I hadn’t heard since childhood. Later, they moved into some hand-clapping, foot-stomping praises. The Germans in the crowd, who are usually difficult to get out of their seats, were standing, clapping and shouting hallelujah! The village of Ingolstadt was truly blessed that evening.

A One Night Trip to Brazil

Brazil is a place I’ve always wanted to visit. Beautiful people, beaches, warm weather and Samba! Well,for two hours, we experienced Brazil without having leaving Germany.

Born to Samba is a live Brazilian show performing at a local theater. I thought the show was fantastic. The dancing was so infectious that I felt like jumping on stage and shuffling my feet along with the performers.

We heard great Brazilian music, experienced Carnival and watched amazing martial arts; the acrobatics were incredible. This show was just enough to satisfy my need for the Caribbean- for now.

A Son of a Legend Performes in Germany

In the small village of Neuburg, just outside Ingolstadt, sits is a charming little jazz club called Birdland. It’s named after the famous Birdland in New York.

Ravi Coltrane, the son of the legendary jazz saxophonist, John Coltrane, performed on Friday at Birdland. After Ravi completed his first set, Matze asked if I wanted to meet him; he thought that Ravi would be delighted to talk to a fellow American of color.

Matze was right! Ravi was so open and pleasant to talk to. He was even interested in knowing why I was in Germany. The only disappointment - the battery in my camera was dead.

Prague: Better than in the Movies

Over the weekend, Matze and I took a mini-vacation to Prague, and it was much more than I expected. Thanks to Germany’s centralized location within Europe, driving to Prague took only three hours.

We were invited by a friend who is a native of the Czech Republic and grew up in a small village outside of Prague. Having her and her husband there to show us the treasures and take us to places known only by the locals was priceless.

Above, the Orloj- a mechanical, astronomical clock, whose dial dates back to 1410

German Beer Drinking At Its Finest- Oktoberfest

Last week marked the end of Oktoberfest. First originating in October, 1810, this 16 day festival is held each year in Munich and runs from late September to early October.

Oktoberfest is one of the most famous events in the city and the largest in the world. Over six million people attend each year and beer plays a central role in the fair.

In addition to beer, visitors consume large quantities of food such as sausages, chicken, bread and sauerkraut. Many dress in traditional German attire, men sporting Lederhosen and in women Dirndls.

As a new inhabitant of Germany, this was one festival I had to witness first-hand. Although I’m not a beer drinker, I’ve always been curious as to what the big fuss was all about.

At the location of the festival, there were many tents filled with thousands of people. Our tent contained 16,000 people. There was a big band that played traditional German music and songs from the 80's, while the masses sang along. Sporadically, a large group of people would shout “prost”, as they collided enormous glasses of beer, and then slammed them down on the table, slightly spilling its contents – this is German-style.

Later that evening, I had noticed several people who had over indulged, staggering through the crowds or sitting outside the restrooms in a drunken stupor (not my idea of fun).

Anywy, for me, Oktoberfest was fun to experience once. Being in the mist of large crowds and drunken people brings no value to me whatsoever. However, I can say that this was one more adventure I can cross off my “100 Places to Visit before I Die” list.

A Gut-Ripping Honeymoon Gift

My husband Matze’s favorite sport, next to football (soccer in the US), is car racing. He thinks that he’s the Mario Andretti of the Autobahn. So, as a honeymoon gift, he was please to present me with an eight-hour training session, on a race track, driving the new Audi R8 sports car.

Matze has attended seven of these types of driving experiences; this was my first. Aside from driving 200km/hr on the Autobahn, I had never taken a sports car around hairpin turns, while breaking at just the right time, with the right force, in order to avoid gliding the car.

For the first half of the day, the race track was split in three sections so that the drivers could become familiar with the track. During this time, I was very proud of my performance. Matze was in the passenger seat directing me along the way.

The second half of the day, the entire track was open for driving. For me, this was when nervous tension set in. How was I going to keep up these guys? I didn’t want to drive like a sissy-soft girl. And being the competitive person that I am, the pressure was on.

I set as a passenger with Matze for a few rounds to build up my confidence. Soon I found it necessary to step out of the car in order to settle my stomach (he was a fast and fearless driver). Then, it was my turn. “My lady,” said the trainer, gesturing for me to enter the car. I began to pray as I snuggled into my helmet and fastened my seat belt.

The drive was tremendously exhilarating! I totally understand why Matze loves it so much. The speed was so electrifying that it made my skin tingle (my stomach too).

Later, the trainer said that my gliding put two new tire marks on the track (that wasn’t supposed to happen) However, I received a certificate that acknowledged my successful completion of the driving experience, and a round of applause from all the men in the room for being the only woman in the driving experience.

While driving home that evening, I found it very difficult to maintain a normal speed on the Autobahn because I was anxious to practice what I had learned earlier on the race track.

What’s New? Everything - Including A Root Canal

Well, a new chapter in my life has begun. A new husband (married now for five weeks), new country, and the official launch of a new business. In addition to all things new, I had to find a new doctor. I needed a dentist, to be precise. And having lived in Germany for a little over four weeks, anxiety began to set in.

My problem? Ich spreche nur ein bisshen auf Dueutsch! (I speak only a little German). So, as you can understand, it was extremely important for me to find a dentist that was fluent in English and could communicate in a personable manner. To my delight, my husband Matze suggested a great dentist; a dentist he had visited for the first time just several weeks earlier.

During my appointment, Matze put my racing nerves at ease. “I’ll go in with you,” he said. “If the dentist doesn’t speak English well enough, I’ll stay in the room and translate everything for you.” Well, that’s all I needed to hear.

Astonishingly, my root canal went perfectly. It was absolutely painless, and I didn’t need the translation assistance of my husband either.

Next search, OB/GYN. Oh God help me!