Saturday was my 6 Month anniversary in Germany! I can't believe that I have been here for 6 months!! It also means I am halfway through my time here, which sounds insane!! Well to commemorate the occasion, I made a video of the past 6 months, including pictures and videos! Check it out!! and be sure to check back soon for updates and AuPair info!!
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Reading the Bible on a daily basis has always been a struggle for me. I am a night owl, and typically the "read first thing in the morning" routine just doesn't work for me. I'd rather sleep. But then the challenge was that at night more fun things are happening and I end up falling into bed at the last minute, leaving no time for reading the Bible; or at least no time I wanted to spend that way. To be honest, I never really got it until late into my college career. You see, growing up in a christian home meant that we went to church every Sunday. For most of my life, I didn't know how to read the Bible. This was to key to it all, learning to read the Bible not just as if it was a book of stories, but rather digging deeper into what the text is saying and trying to figure out how to apply it to my life. I believe that the Bible is God's Word, and that he uses the Bible to speak to his people. He knew that as humans, it would be hard to hear his voice in this crazy loud world we live in. He needed to speak to use through the words on the page. The cool thing is that the Bible is both instructional, but also comforting and reveals who God is. Learning to read the Bible the right way can open these pathways to understanding ourselves and God better. I think for most of my life I had the mindset that going to church was better than reading the Bible, because the pastor could explain and break things out of the Bible that I simply couldn't. What was the use of reading, when I could go to church and listen and have it all explained to me. Although this is partially true, we need to have an individual relationship with God and that comes through quiet times and Bible reading just with God. Late in my college years, I finally learned how to read the Bible. I learned how to look at the text and beyond, to ask questions and to make observations about what you're reading or thinking as you read. First, not only is it more interesting, but I think God reveals so much to us when we do this. He speaks to us through His word and we draw closer to Him. When I moved to Germany I began an ambitious Bible reading plan, that I have failed at many times, but I keep trying. I started reading 10 different sections of the Bible, all throughout the New and Old testament. This appealed to me because I wanted to read the whole Bible, but I didn't want to read starting at Genesis and ending with Revelations. I've tried to do that before and it just gets boring. I love this plan because you read one chapter a day, from the 10 different books and it adds variety. I'll be honest, probably more days than not, I haven't read, but I just keep getting back on the horse and trying again. But reading beyond the text and asking questions makes it more fun and interesting. I don't have a specific formula for this, but I just try to be mindful of things as I am reading. Here is a look at my journal as I was reading today: So I guess that the answer to 'Why I read the Bible' is that it brings me closer to God, to understanding Him and his ways, and to deeper understanding of myself and humanity. It is also a daily reminder that I am saved by grace through faith and no matter what I do, I am forgiven and free. I still struggle with reading daily, but I am more interested in reading it than I ever have been.
In a effort to try and keep up with my once a week posts, and in an act of obedience to God, I have finally decided to pen my thought about a specific topic that I have struggled with for so many years. I few months ago, a girl from my small group last year, wrote about something that she has struggled with for years and I just couldn't stop thinking, "Wow, that is so brave. She has so much courage." But I also read the comments that people left her, and I realized that I trust the people that will read this and I hope that it will bring encouragement, just like her story. I have also felt the tugging of the Lord to share my heart on the topic, so here we go. I can remember the first time I got eyeliner and mascara. It must have been sometime in the summer before sixth grade because I started wearing it almost everyday to school. I was 11. I just remember feeling beautiful. At that time I has struggling with feeling overweight and I really didn't like myself and I had problems with my body image. To me, makeup equaled beauty. I remember everything about the moment that everything changed; the moment that Satan would use to remind me that I wasn't beautiful without makeup. Since I was 11, I have been haunted by 4 words that my teacher uttered to me one morning as I arrived at school and handed her my homework. "You look different, today." I immediately returned to my seat, wracking my brain as to why I looked different. Then, like a train, it hit me. I had woke up in a frenzy that morning, got dressed, ate something and rushed out the door, forgetting something that I had worn everyday since the start of 6th grade; my eyeliner and mascara. That single moment, those 4 words, changed my life forever. Satan twisted those words in my mind. Now, as a rational adult, I can see that she didn't mean it the way that I understood it. she just mean "You look different", which I did. But my heart heard "You don't look beautiful without make-up. You look weird. You need make-up to look and feel beautiful." On that day everything changed. I vowed to myself to not let anyone, except my immediate family to see me without make-up. Over the years, this vow has evolved some and become a crippling pattern. It also evolved from just eyeliner and mascara to eyeliner, mascara, foundation and blush. The only acceptable exception to this rule, was if I were alone with only other girls or women, then the rule didn't have to be applied. For instance, if I were sleeping over at a friends house, I would take off my makeup before bed, or if I were going to a church retreat, but only ever in the presence of women. I can't tell you how many times people would say, "Are you really putting on make-up? We're on a retreat?!" Or "It's just my family." To me that didn't matter, I could only feel beautiful and complete with make-up. I can't say how many times I would sneak off to the bathroom or put it on, knowing that I was going into water that day and apply waterproof mascara, hoping it would stay on. Or simply think, well even if its running down my face, at least its on my face. This has been my life since I have been 11. Almost everyone in my life has only ever seen me with make-up. Very few people see me without it. As my relationship with the Lord has grown and changed over the years, one thing that He speaks to me at times and we talk about beauty. Although I don't always really enjoy what we talk about, in my Sophomore year at EMU, I was challenged in a class to make something. I don't remember the assignment, but what I created was a piece of art that is still special to me. I used the verse from Song of Solomon. It says "You are altogether beautiful, my darling. There is no flaw in you." I was struggling with God. He was asking me to talk about my beauty perceptions, and I was struggling to believe those words, His Words. A few years ago, I was attending a summer leadership program with my church and the Lord brought this up again. I felt Him asking me to take a step of faith. He asked me to not wear makeup for one day of our retreat. I trusted all of the men in the group, but for some reason I felt the need to share my story and explain why I was doing it. I also needed them to treat me no differently, and to make no comments about my appearance that day. A few friends told me that I didn't have to do that, but I was so terrified that I would be even more wounded if someone did that I had to share. There just never seemed like a right time that weekend and I never said anything. Every retreat since then, I thought about saying something and doing it, but I was never as close to everyone in the group as I was to everyone there, so I never did it. In the last year, Jesus has been bringing freedom. It's funny how moving in with a family that is not your own, or moving across the World brings freedom in your life that you never thought possible. I don't know if it the thought that I may never see these people again, or that I feel comfortable and like part of the family, or that everyone speaks German, so even if they said I look weird, I wouldn't even know. I don't know. Maybe it is the Lord just being gracious, but I've found a small amount of freedom. I still have a long way to go, but actually quite often now, I don't wear make-up. I get up and don't worry about looking great, since I'll mostly be at home all day. A few weeks ago, I completely forgot that I didn't have makeup on, and even went into town without it. Later, when I realized I was surprised not to feel crippling fear, but laughter. I laughed that I had forgotten and then went on with my day. To my surprise, no one said a thing to me. Our World is so saturated with beauty and what it looks like to be beautiful. But the fact is, I'm never going to look like a model or actress. I think one thing that has helped my body perception is to stop reading magazines. They constantly put this image in our heads of what we're supposed to look like. Who cares what were supposed to look like?! Let's look like ourselves, the way God created us to look. Don't get me wrong, I don't think its bad to wear makeup or to wear stylish clothes, but let's not let those things determine who we are and what we look like. We are God's Children, created in His image. This should be our definition of beauty. "I am a child of God, and I want to look like Christ." No make-up, just me, A child of God.
I can't believe that its been almost a whole month since I have written a blog post. Over the past few months there are a few things in my experience that have come up that I'd wish I would have known that could have made my time here a little easier, so here are a few tips for future Au Pairs!
Live in the Country you want to travel in most: For me, I didn't really have a choice. In a sense Germany chose me because I met the family in the states and moved here, but if you have the choice, choose a place that you'd be really excited to explore. In my time here, I have found that it is cheaper to travel in the country that you live, than to go outside of the country. There are a few places that were at the top of my list to get to, and its more expensive and time consuming than I thought to get to some of those places. Although I like Germany, my mind was set on seeing Europe, and unless you've got unlimited funds, I would say pick the place you want to travel in most, because you're not going to get to every major city in Europe. I was disappointed when I found this out, but in the end I guess I'll just have to plan to come back! ;) Money: I have a few things to say about money. To be honest, I hate money. Its an evil necessity that we have created and as a student or someone just our of college, life can be stressful and most of that stems from money. First, you're money goes fast. In Germany, most Au Pairs are paid 260 EUR for the month. You can also make more for taking a language course, but overall, thats about what you make. and it can GO FAST!! It is really hard to save enough to travel outside of Germany with just that money. In preparation for coming to Germany, I worked hard before I came, and saved a lot of money to bring with me. That was the only way that I could afford to go to Italy, to go to Paris and Salzburg when my parents come next month, and some other smaller trips. I also had this notion of cheap airfare that could take me everywhere. Although this can be true, you also have to remember that you have to pay for accommodations and food in every city, plus the cost of the things you do an see. A weekend trip could cost 200 EUR easily, depending where you go. (50-100=flight, 60-90= hostel, 50 =museums/tours/etc). The best tip I have found is to travel in a group of 4-5 people, take the slow trains and travel around the country you live in. I have been to several cities nearby in one day and it has only cost 50 EUR or less. You just have to satisfy your need to travel with these small, short trips. In the end, you get to say that you've seen a lot of the country you lived in and can give people a clearer picture of your host country. And in the future, you get to have more places to visit in Europe. Another thing that I've learned that also has to do with money is about where you live. One thing that I have struggled with is the cost of taking the subway when I want to go downtown. Unfortunately, its not a short walk for me to get downtown, so I need to take the subway train. Each time I go downtown and come back it costs about 5 EUR. This can add up quickly if you are making a few trips each week to hangout with friends, go to church or go shopping. Negotiate in your contract for help with the cost of a monthly bus/subway pass. I wish I had known to ask for this! In Stuttgart the pass costs between 60-80 EUR for just a few zones, which means that I would need to pay that with the 260 EUR I make each month. I wish I would have asked for them to help me cover this cost. Even if they paid 30 EUR it helps. The you can travel anytime you want, and when you take a language course, you can get there without worry. If you live further away from the city than I do, your pass could cost more. Ask your host family to look into it for you and ask if they will help you pay for it. I hope you find these tips helpful. IF you're an Au Pair and have more tips, please leave them below. If you have other questions as you're considering being an Au Pair, leave them below! Check back soon for a look at the Christmas Markets, Weilnachtsmarkt, I have visited! Day 5: Wednesday morning I woke up early, checked out of my hostel and headed for the bus station. Instead of taking the train to Florence and Venice, I found that I could take the MegaBus and it was much cheeper, and it took about the same amount of time. I paid about 15 Euros for both of my tickets to Florence and to Venice! It was really easy and made for a nice trip. My train left first thing in the morning and I arrived in Florence around 1pm. I headed for my hostel and then straight onto the Galleria dell' Academia. I did not expect that the gallery would be so small, but the sight of the David was the second thing on the trip that took my breath away. Again, I used Rick Steve's free audio guide for my tour of the gallery and really enjoyed his commentary and information on the David and the other works found there. I gained so much appreciation for Michelangelo in that short time in the gallery. It was simply astonishing. After leaving the gallery, I headed to the city center to have a look at the Duomo! The gallery took a lot less time than I had originally planned, so I decided to pay for the pass to enter the Cathedral, bell tower, the baptistry and the dome. Unfortunately, I entered the cathedral again at the time of a mass, so I wasn't able to see the inside of the Dome from the ground floor. However, there were views from my climb to the top of the dome. Also, as I climbed the bell tower, the bells began chiming for the hour. It was a really loud, but cool experience. The view was really beautiful. I returned to my hostel for a free dinner, which ended up being Korean food. (Apparently the Hostel I stayed in, Ostello Archi Rossi, is very famous in Korea, so many Koreans stay there.) As I considered my plans for the next day, one of the things I wasn't quite sure about was if I should visit Pisa. You can get a train directly from Florence to Pisa and it only about an hour ride. After a lot of consideration, I decided that I did really want to go to Pisa. I am really happy that I chose to go, because there wasn't much else that I really wanted to see in Florence and I knew that I would be upset if I didn't get to Pisa when I had the chance. So the next morning I got up early and headed to the train station to go to Pisa. I arrived in Pisa a little after 9am. As I was getting off the train there was a group of women sitting in front of me, speaking English and I noticed one of them had a sweat shirt that said "Detroit Michigan." So naturally I started talking to them and found out they were teachers. We ended up riding to the Cathedral and Leaning Tower together on the bus, but I lost them in the crowd eventually. However, it was nice to know that people from home were in the same place I was. Although I am glad I got to go, the Cathedral and Leaning Tower were not super impressive. The tower is actually quite small, and I didn't get to see much of the Cathedral because it was being renovated. There are also museums that you can go into and other things to see, but they were more expensive than I wanted to pay. I also chose not to go up the tower, because it costs like 17 euros, but also, the view from the top isn't that grand. I was simply happy seeing it in person. I headed straight back to the translation and I left Pisa before 12p. I arrived back in Florence and headed for Piazza Signoria. There is a replica statue of The David as well as other world of art and fountains. They were really beautiful. Many of the statues are replicas, with the originals in museums. If you can't afford to see the real statues, like the David, you can see it here for free, which could be a good alternative. Next, I was off to Venice. I took the evening/night bus, which was fine, until I got to Venice and felt completely lost. I had hard time finding the boat to take to my Hostel. I had to stop and ask several times for directions. Finally I found the boat docks and the Vaporetto (the public boat transports). I was really stressed and nervous about getting to my hostel, since it was so late, that I didn't stop to think about buying tickets. Let me just start by saying, its very expensive. One ride costs 7.50!! Fortunately they offer day passes and those can be really worth it. for two days, they cost 30! This seems like a lot, but if you use it twice each day, you will have paid 7.50 per ride. If you use it more than that, you're getting a better deal. I highly suggest that you buy a pass. It was critical for me, also because my Hostel was not on the main island. I had to take the vaporetto at least twice to day to get to the city and back to my hostel. Anyway, thankfully I made it to my hostel and was able to settle in before my first day in Venice. I woke up the next morning and headed to the city. My first stop was The Bridge of Sighs, and Piazza San Marco. Again, I plugged in my Rick Steve's Audio guide for the prefect explanation of the Piazza and the Cathedral. I highly suggest paying the few euros to go upstairs in the Cathedral for a great view of the Piazza and some historical artifacts. Next, it was time to get lost in the alleyways of Venice. Honestly, its an island, you can just keep walking and eventually you an just turn around. The more I walked, the more I loved this unique city. I headed to the Rialto bridge and had lunch. Then I decided that I wanted to go back and tour Doge's Palace. I decided not to get the audio guide, and just read the signs, but I think I would have learned more with the audio guide. The painting were stunning and it was really unique. When you take the tour, you also tour the jail and walk through the Bridge of Sighs, just like a prisoner. Then, I paid to take the elevator to the clock tower, for an awesome view of Venice! It was really worth it, especially near sunset. On my last full day in Venice, I decided to head to the Island of Burano. This is when my daily pass on the vaperetto became really handy. It takes about an hour to get to the Island, but it was really beautiful. The houses are all painted bright colors, and the island is famous for its lace. I toured the lace factory there, which was interesting. Then, I headed back to the Grand Canal, and took the vaperetto all the way down the Grand Canal, while listening to the history of the city with my Rick Steve's audio guide! It was really neat. To end my day, I headed across the lagoon to another island for another great view of Venice from the top of San Giorgio Maggiore Church! On my last morning in Venice, I had planned to use the ticket pass I bought to enter Doge's Palace on another included museum. Unfortunately, I woke up with a terrible stomach ache that I couldn't shake, and ended un going straight to the train station to sit and wait for my train. The train home was really horrendous, as my stomach ache didn't subside all day, and I was stuck sitting in an uncomfortable seat, unable to do much about it. I finally arrived back in Stuttgart, simply thankful to be home.
Overall, my trip was really good and I am so thankful for all that I got to see and do. If there is one thing that I learned, its that I didn't know enough about Italian history to really appreciate everything. My hope now is that I can learn about what I saw and really appreciate it. Please feel free to leave comments or questions about my trip! I will be writing again soon about the Christmas Markets here in Germany, so check back! Wow, it has been so long since I have written a blog post, so before I begin about my trip to Italy, I will update you on life too. In the weeks leading up to my trip to Italy, I was feeling really down. Nothing that exciting was happening and I was just lonely. I feel stuck in this house. Some things require me to be here during the day, but I just have all this free time. Just before I went to Italy, I went to the craft store in town and found a project/Christmas gift that I could work on for the next few weeks. That was great, because I had something to do while at home. It was also fun because its a gift, so it gave me the motivation to actually work on it. And since returning from Italy, I have found some new projects that take up my time, so for the time being, I have things to do, things that I enjoy so I am feeling happier and more content. Now, let me tell you about Italy. Overall, my trip was great, and I am so thankful I got to go and see all that I did. But it wasn't without its challenges and learning experiences. My trip started Friday night, as I went to spend the night at the house of some friends from my church. They live closer to the airport, so I could sleep in a little later than if I stayed at my house. I woke up around 5:30am on Saturday to head to the airport. I made it and found out that my bag was too heavy for inside the plane and that I would need to pay for it to be checked. (Lesson learned: weigh your bags before getting to the airport.) I should have known to check before I left, but I figured that I was only taking a carryon size bag, so it couldn't be that heavy. So I checked my bag and headed for the departure gate. Here is where the worry all began. I started thinking about my passport and I honestly didn't have any idea about how my new visa affected the 90 days tourist visa for traveling in Europe. I started to get a little panicked that they might not let me into Italy. I made it to Vienna, to a familiar airport (we stopped there on our way to Bosnia this summer) and found a huge lay down couch to try and take a nap on. My flight boarded and I was on my way to Rome. I was a nervous wreck because I really didn't know what I would do if I didn't get into Italy. Lesson number two of the trip, once you're inside the EU (European Union) meaning that you're flying or traveling between these countries without leaving, they don't check your passport in each country. I got my bag and just walked into Italy. I needed to find a place to buy my train ticket to Rome on the Leonardo Express (the train that runs from the airport directly to the main station in Rome). I waited in line to buy my ticket at a machine only to find out the machine only took cards. I was sent to another place to buy my ticket, and ended up paying a fee of 1 Euro. When I made it to the train platform, I found that I could have saved that Euro and bought my ticket with cash just before getting on the train. Lesson 3. I got on the train and found a seat and I was off to Rome. After finding my hostel and getting settled, I decided to head for the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. I grabbed a map from the reception and headed on my way. I decided to walk to see some of the city and explore a bit. It ended up being a LONG walk. Rome is huge. It doesn't look big on a map, but its huge. To my disappointment, both the Spanish steps and the Trevi Fountain were closed for restoration. Was still able to see them through a fence, but I couldn't throw a penny in the fountain or take a rest on the steps. I walked back to my hostel, which probably took an hour, and got ready for bed and all that the next day would hold. Day 2: The next morning another wave of nervousness filled my stomach. I was nervous about getting around the city and about something bad happening. It wasn't rational, and I knew that if that happened, I would figure it out, but I could shake this feeling of nerves. I took the subway for the first time to head to the Colosseum and Roman Forum! I got off the subway and came out of the station and looked up. The Colosseum was there and massive. I knew it was big, but it literally took my breath away. I couldn't believe that I was seeing it with my own eyes. i walked across the street and hopped in line, waiting for the entrance to open. (I went on the first Sunday of the month, so the Colosseum and the Roman Forum were free to enter. I got to the Colosseum before the gates opened at 8:15a (gates open at 8:30a) and was inside by 9:00a. The line was simply for security. The same ticket gets you into both the Colosseum and the Forum.) Inside the Colosseum, I used my Rick Steve's AudioGuide for a free tour of the place. It was perfect and took about an hour to see the whole thing. It was amazing to see it all in person. Before I left I decided to sit down and give my feet a rest before heading to the Forum. At this point I dropped my camera and it broke. So for the remainder of my trip, I was forced to use my iPhone for pictures. Thankfully my iPhone isn't terrible, its just not as great as my camera. I headed over to the Roman Forum and again used a free audio guide to rome (see what I did there) the Forum. It was such a unique experience to bee in the Forum. That place has been around for so long and so many famous people have walked in the same places that I did. You can tell that it has been around for a long time, because the modern city is literally built up around it. From the Forum, I headed to Capitoline Hill and then onto the Pantheon. Lesson 4. I don't know that much about Italian history. The longer I was in Italy, the more this became apparent. I didn't have much background info about the Forum or the Pantheon and why they are important or what they were originally for. I learned a lot while I was there, but there is still so much more I can learn! I am hoping to do some studying about the places that I got to see so I can really appreciate them! Headed back to my hostel and took some time to rest, which resulted in another evening of feeling insecure and nervous. I am convinced now that some of it was spiritual attack. I was so worried that I couldn't even finish a meal at a restaurant because I felt so sick. It was all a mind game. I had no legitimate reason to be afraid, and yet I was. I went back to my room and watch some youtube videos, simply to get my mid off of it, and to also feel normal. Day 3: Today I was determined to not let my fear ruin my trip. I washed my mind in scripture, prayed and asked for other people to pray for me too. I set out to find the Piazza del Popolo, or the Plaza of the People and then the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's. The Piazza was huge with an Egyptian Obelisk in the center and two fountains on the ends. Next, came the Vatican. I headed straight for the Museums, and since I had already purchased my ticket, I headed straight inside. (ALWAYS, buy your ticket ahead of time for the Vatican Museums. I saw people waiting in a line and I heard someone say it could take people at the back of the line over 2 hours to get inside. Once inside and with my audio guide, I spent about 4.5 hours inside. The very last thing that you will see is the Sistine Chapel, but its so worth it. I actually really enjoyed the Ancient Egypt exhibit, the hall of busts and some of the large statues. It was incredible to see some of those things in person! After four and a half hours in the Museums, I was so ready to be done looking at art and statues. I headed over to St. Peter's Square and the Basilica! After a few minutes of contemplation, I got in the long line to wait to go into St. Peter's. To my joy, a four year old girl and her parents were in line behind me and I had the best conversation I've ever had with a four year old. To my surprise the line moved quickly and it only took about 20 minutes to get inside. Unfortunately I got into the line for the tour up to the dome, which I hand;t planned on doing, but I am glad I did do. So I saw the dome up close before the rest of the church. I also saw the square from the top. It was a beautiful view from up there! Then I headed back down and toured the church. Unfortunately there was 5:00p mad happening as I toured, so I didn't get a good look at the alter or the front of the church, but i could see most of it. It was also kinda dark, since the sun was setting, which was a bummer. I would suggest that if you're coming at this time of year, to get there before late afternoon so you can really see everything! None the less, the sheer size of the Basilica was astounding. I've never felt so small... My final day in Rome I went to the Catacombs, the Jewish Ghetto, and Piazza Navona. The Catacombs were really interesting, but you are not allowed to take pictures there. Once I was at the Jewish Ghetto, I found myself once again at a loss for understanding Italian and Roman history. I really enjoyed Piazza Navona. It was filled with people and artists. Some people were drawing portraits for money, others were painting or just selling their paintings. It was beautiful. Overall, I really liked all of the things I got to see in Rome. It was a really neat experience and I am so glad I got to see it all. Unfortunately I found out while I was in Florence, that the Trevi Fountain was opened the night before I left. I didn't go back there since I was sure it was closed. I was sad, but I guess I'll just have to go back to Rome to sit on the Spanish Steps and throw a penny in the Trevi Fountain.
Check back soon for my next posts about my visit to Florence and Venice! So I have been struggling with feeling alone and somewhat homesick, so I decided to do some research and find a grocery store with American products. I have been here for almost 3 months and so far I am doing well, but some days I just want a Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich or a quesadilla. Those are two things I ate a lot in America and I miss so much. Luckily for both you and I, through another blog, I found a store with American products. Now, I didn't want to go crazy and buy everything, but tortillas and Peanut butter were at the top of my list to buy today. Here's all the details for the rest of you American's looking for a taste of home. Galeria Kaufhof is your new best friend. Its located on Königstr very close to Hauptbahnhof (main train station). Its directly across from McDonald's and looks like a department store. The funny thing is, that it actually is a department store. More on that later. Head straight in and go down the escalator to the bottom floor. You will be surrounded buy kitchen stuff, bath stuff, office supplies etc. Keep heading towards the back of the store, away from the escalator and you will find the market, or heaven. ;) Since peanut butter and tortillas were first on my list, I set out in search of them. Thankfully for me, they were next to each other, towards the back of the market, near the frozen foods or fish. (There was an aisle of asian food items as well, if you are looking for those things.) As you can see, they have an array of Tex Mex/Mexican food and cake mixes and hot chocolate. Word of advice, the guacamole in the jars is gross. You're better off making your own or buying a more fresh kind. I actually saw some in a cooler in the store that looked pretty good. They actually had corn tortillas (called Mexican tortillas) and flour tortillas. There were also a variety of Salsas, cheese sauces, fajita, and taco seasonings, refried beans, chillies and tortilla chips. There were also taco (hard), enchilada and burrito kits and hot sauces. Peanut butter was found with the baking stuff. They also had marshmallow fluff, baking powder, hot chocolate, maple syrup, and a variety of cake mixes. They also had other baking items like crisco. (I didn't end up buying the Peanut Butter from here, because it was like 5 Euros. I found another kind with the jams and jellies, and it came in a small size, so I opted for that.) As I continued to walk around the store, I found more and more familiar items. I found Tabasco sauce, as well as Heinz ketchup, BBQ sauces and Miracle Whip. I almost cried when I came to this aisle. Everything was a bit more expensive than I was willing to pay, but it looked so yummy! (I'll post the prices at the end of the blog) Poptarts, Kellog's Cereals, Clif bars, and Nature Vally Granola bars. In the pasta section, I found Barilla pasta and pasta sauce. They also had Uncle Ben's Rice there too! I also found Oreos, Jelly Belly jelly beans, and Werther's Candies. Overall, I was super excited to have found all that I did. I also saw Twinnings and Celestial Seasonings tea, ramen noodles, Campbell's Tomato Soup, white bread, and a variety of items with the title "American ...". For example, there was a salad dressing called American Dressing. I would really like to know what that is. I also saw some American white bread and hamburger buns. Here's a breakdown of the prices that I saw. Most things were reasonably priced, and I think that I could shop there again. Tortilla's (8)- 2,99 Crisco- 4,99 (small jar) Peanut Butter- 1,99 Clif Bar- 2,49 each Nature Vally Granola Bars (5 pack)- 2,99 Heniz Ketchup- 1,79-2,49 Miracle Whip- 3,29 (large jar) Ramen noodle- ,50 (one packet) Guacamole -2,99 (found in the coolers, not with mexican food) Twinnings/Celestial Seasons Tea - 4,99 per box Kellogg's Cereal- 3,39 Poptarts- 6,29 (8 pastries) Barilla Pasta Sauce-2,69-3,30 Barilla Pasta- 1,69-2,49 Uncle Ben's Rice- 2,99-3,79 Uncle Ben's Express Rice 1,49-3,29 Oreos- 2,49 Overall, I don't think that some of the prices are too bad for the products. I think probably the most outrageous ones are the poptarts and clif bars. In the end, this is what I bought. I am happy with it. It will help me get through the next few weeks/months here. You don't know what you miss until its gone. If you're not just looking for American food, the store also has lots of clothing, makeup and other items from the US. Its your typical department store with women's, men's and children's clothing, accessories, and housewares. Think Macy's, or Nordstrom. They had Clinique, Lancome, Estee Lauter, Chanel, Dior and even Burt's bees. Some of these can also be found at other stores around town too.
Well I hope the post has been helpful. If I find anymore places with American Food, I'll let you know! Loneliness. How quickly you've swept in...
Gray skies, you make it so easy to be lazy... As I am sinking back into a more normal routine and figuring out how to spend my time here, I am feeling lonely. I am in my house all day, mostly alone. The kids are gone from 8 in the morning until 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and I am here alone. Although, part of me really enjoys this, I also really hate it! I don't have enough to do here and I am wishing I could use the time to really do things I enjoy, like scrapbooking or sewing. Unfortunately, I can't do either, since they require money that I don't have to spend on supplies. I am limited in the things that I can do, so most days I just watch movies or tv shows on Netflix. Reading is also an option, but I find it makes me tired and I even get bored reading for long amounts of time. I know, I shouldn't complain. I'm living in Europe for free and getting paid to help take care of kids and a house. Sounds awesome, right? Well it is, but its not like I can really go anywhere everyday, or take trips every weekend. People don't understand that I'm really not making that much money. It costs about 5 euros to take the train to and from downtown, and if I want to save money for trips, I can't exactly go places everyday. So, I am stuck inside, alone most days. I would say I have about 5-6 hours of free time during the day that I try to fill everyday. And that doesn't even include the 3-4 hours I have in the evening. Unfortunately, I live away from the city, and there aren't many places to hangout or go in my town. Life just feels very slow and boring, which I am not used to. I was a college student for 6 years, always rushing from one thing to the next. There was always class, work, homework, friends or church activities to fill my time. Now, I have so much free time, I don't know what to do with myself. For an introvert, this might sound like heaven. But for an introvert, I can tell you, it sucks and I'm lonely. I believe that one of the reasons God brought me here, and is keeping me here is to take a break and relax after 6 years of craziness, but right now, it's hard. Adjusting to this new life is hard. Slowing down is hard... After 75 days, 10 and a half weeks, and a four week intensive German course, I FINALLY HAVE MY VISA!! I am so happy to know that everything is final and I am staying for the year. I feel like a new person. I feel like I can finally relax and just enjoy my time here instead of stressing about my Visa. And, making it even sweeter by celebrating today with Starbucks and buying some flowers. Sounds strange, right?! Well my whole life, my mom and Grandmothers always had flowers around. The houses were always teeming with flowers outside and inside. To me, it's comforting. Just one more thing to make my space feel more like my room. And to top off the celebrating, in just a few weeks, I'm heading to Italy! This is a dream come true and I am so excited to be in places that hold so much history. Bon voyage!
Check back soon for info about my experience in Italy! Thanks for your prayers and support. They mean so much to me. Here's a look at the past week.
Sunday, I began feeling anxious about my exam that I would take on Thursday. The only way I would be staying in Germany is if I passed this exam. I had begun studying a few days before, but I was nervous still. I went to church that evening, hoping for a chance to take my mind off things and worship. Worship started and I was pleased that it was one I knew well. I closed my eyes and began singing. The song was one that we sang often at my church in Michigan, so I was feeling very at home. I was even imagining standing in that sanctuary that I’ve stood is so many times, singing this very song. In that moment, I thought “This feels like home.” Before my human brain could think something else, I heard from the Lord, “This is home for a while. You will pass your test.” I know it was Him, because the response came too quickly. There is no way my brain would process something that fast. After those words were uttered in my ears, I began crying and a weight was lifted off my chest. I felt like I could breathe. The rest of the week was totally different. I had this confidence I hadn’t had with German before. I was confident that I would pass, because the Lord spoke to me. Thursday arrived, and to my surprise, I was calm and dependant on the Lord. Numerous times over the last few weeks, I have prayed and uttered the words, “Lord, if this isn’t what you have for me, that’s ok, I’ll go home. I don’t want to, but I will if You tell me to.” I was still saying those things, in an effort to try and handle all the emotions that could result as the outcome of the test was revealed. Thursday on my way to school I plugged in my headphones, needed the presence of the Holy Spirit on my mind. I listened to “You Make Me Brave” by Bethel Music, and “I am Not Alone” by Kari Jobe. If you need two songs to give you confidence, I’d choose those. I was confident in the Lord’s words to me and in my preparation for the exam. After the exam was another story. I was a mess. The speaking section of the exam didn’t go as well as I’d hoped and I was really worried I wouldn’t pass. The listening sections had also been more difficult than I had expected, and I was just unsure of the outcome. My classmates and I went to lunch to celebrate the end of the class. It was fun and I enjoyed being with them. All afternoon and evening, I was plagued by doubt and fear. I believed that the Lord had spoke to me, but I just didn’t believe that I had passed. I kept thinking, “what if I didn’t pass? Does that mean God didn’t speak to me?” And yet even as I would think those things, I believed that he had spoken to me. But I was worried what I would say to Him, if somehow I didn’t pass. My human mind just couldn’t commit to the idea that I had passed. I didn’t sleep well either, knowing I would find out the results the next morning. Friday morning, I got up and the wait began. At points, I felt like I was going to throw up. FINALLY, class began and she gave us our grades. And just as The Lord promised, I passed. When she said my grade, I exclaimed “I’m staying in Germany, ya’ll!!” Some of the people around me that knew passing would mean I got to stay, gave me high fives or big smiles from across the room. I guess the thing I learned this week, is even when the Lord speaks, and I honestly believe He has spoken to me, my human flesh will always fail and doubt His words. I honestly believe that He spoke to me, to give me the confidence I needed going into the test. I also think He hoped it would help calm me down after, and maybe it did some, I’ll never know. I’m just thankful the Lord chose to speak, and that I was able to hear His voice. Please continue to pray for me. On Monday I will head to the Visa office with my certificate of completion in the course, with the hopes that I will finally get my Visa. Honestly, if they decline me again, I don’t know if I will get the Visa. Pray that the woman would be gracious and that I can speak to her what little German I know to impress her. Below are links to the songs I shared above. “You Make Me Brave” by Bethel Music “I am Not Alone” by Kari Jobe |
AuthorMy name is Lindsey. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Early Childhood Education in 2015 and moved to Germany as an Au Pair for a year! I love my Savior and my relationship with Him is most important. I also love traveling. I have been to the UK and Ireland, South Korea, China, Bosnia, Montenegro, and now Germany, Italy, Austria and France. I started this blog to chronicle my life as an Au Pair in Germany and my European Travels. My hope is that future Au Pairs would find my blog helpful and informative as they decide if they would like to be an Au Pair. Lindsey's Instagram:
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