So really, I love this place! The culture is different for sure. When I first got here I wondered if the men all suffered from some mild form of Asperger’s because of their gruff, grumpy, anti social, anal retentiveness. Everything here is regulated somehow. Certainly not the land of the free (for example, when paying German taxes, they make you announce your religion and automatically mandate that you tithe). On the plus side of that, I have never seen a run-down German church. But it is like that with everything. So many rules. Once I got the hang of the seemingly endless stream of German laws, I really started to enjoy the end result. It is hard to believe that this country was war-torn more than once in the last century. The houses here are beautiful and I see no real poverty. My neighbor went to school in Berlin and he says that there are considerable issues with that part of Germany, but that it’s looking up. Speaking of my neighbors, I have been very lucky as far as they are concerned. They are so friendly and have a daughter Lea’s age. They both know English well enough that the language barrier is not a real problem. I am hoping that we can be good friends.
We have house plants galore now. I am particularly fond of the ficcus trees and my window ledge herb garden (so far mint, mushroom rosemary, and the all time favorite: basil). The only thing is that when we leave we will not be able to bring them. Which is sad.
I have been busting my butt trying to get the house in order. Our dining room set finally arrives tomorrow! Just in time for us to learn that our television will never work on German cable and that we must retire our 10 year old model for an HDTV. To say I am bummed out by this would be an understatement, but we are getting tax returns and so we are covered.
I have been obsessing over Lea having something like a play house. I researched them but they all seemed way too expensive for what they were. Honestly, 400 bucks for a few pounds of gaudy plastic?! Miles hated the look of them as well. Then like a sign from God, we were at the German hardware store Praktikar yesterday and we found wooden play houses with floors inside for 150 Euro. Through VAT forms (sales tax here is 20 percent and it’s included in the price. American soldiers can purchase forms which take off that tax. Yay America), and the sale that is going on today, we are getting it for 40% off. I suspect that there will be much assembly required, though. I will post pictures when we put it together.
There is more that is new with Lea and life in general, but I am an ADD kid and I don’t want to type anymore.
that's really interesting about the tithing and taxes. it didn't occur to me that some countries would do that. have you found a church that you like yet?
ReplyDeletei am really looking forward to the playhouse pics as we have been debating on getting a playhouse/jungle gym for Logan. we have the same exact opinion of the price for the plastic ones.
I was right in saying that there is much assembly required. It came in boards. . . and not a single pre-drilled hole! The project turned into Miles' baby. He is staining it and is even putting a little terracotta roof on it. Let cuteness abound. . .
ReplyDeleteI have not found a church that I like, but Miles likes the Baptist one here. I spend the hour in the back fuming and thinking of ways that that the pastor should have written the sermon differently. I think the place is ugly and I am not talking about the building. It's the worst and Miles is somehow entralled with it-- even though I cannot speak to him for HOURS after going. It's turning into a real problem. Bad things keep happening to us, too and I think that we need to get back into a good place with our faith. I am praying for guidance. I am trying to like the church but I can't!!Ugh.