A Special Post for all My Ladies at Braunschweig (and any Others that Would Like to Look as Well)!!!

As requested I have posted pictures of 'Bluff' also known as Paul.
Welcome to The 'Bluff' Hall of Fame

Did we mention that he is Russian???
And that he has an IDENTICAL twin brother?!?!?!

Enjoy...

hehehehe

Just Because....

I heard this song on the radio today....
I have not heard if for the longest time.

I remembered why I loved it so much. I think it is its simplicity and the way it just puts a smile on my face. Enjoy!!!

Click Here and Watch the Video

P.S. I bought my workbook, today. Glad to report there were no Harry Potter books or deathly sales representatives at the bookstore.

Gaby Jones and the Deathly Saleslady

I went to a bookstore today because I needed to buy a workbook for my German class. As I was walking down the stairs of the massive shop I noticed on the first floor an immensse pile of (Yes, you guessed it) the latest and final episode in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Apparently, Germany, or this store in particular, did not have the consumer whores that England and the U.S. shared. There were no midnight parties, nobody dressed in costume. I think they realized one important thing the the British and the American fans have neglected; Harry Potter is FICTION!**
Anyways, I made my way through the isles and 'found myself' infront of the pile of books. Seeing that I refuse to pay 20Euros=35USD for a book, I skimmed through the last pages of that massive brick and satisfied my curiosity. And just like I predicted Harry.........
Nah, I won't spoil it for the rest of it for you out there. I don't want any hate e-mails, comments, or death threats.
As I layed, the book down I could feel this shadow hovering over me as if it was about to completely engulf me. It was a sales clerk... more like a druged out version of Minnie Mouse at 5 in the morning. She looked at me with deathly eyes and softly but coldly said, "You have to pay for the book before you read it." Excuse me....what is this??? Wal-Mart??? If they did not want the customers to read the books, or the end of books as is in my case, then wrap them in some freaking plastic wrap. I asked nicely to excuse myself out of the bookstore and without my workbook. Tomorrow, I have to go hunt for another bookstore. I swear, I feel like I am in the only one with this type of luck. Only these rare and weird things happen to me....
*sigh*
at least it gives me something to post on my blogger

=)


**Disclosure: I am not trying to insult any Harry Potter fans out there. This is just my form of the written word.

Shoe Schlampe

So, there are definately some days when I am completely in love with the idea that I am actually living in good ol' Germany; but other days, like today, I ask myself, "What the heck am I doing half way across the world???" Not to disrespect the German people or country, but some of them really have a big stick shoved up their ass (and not in a good way!!!). I apologize for the harsh criticism, but I am just venting. (This is the main reason why I have this blogger....if you don't like it then go on to the next web site.)
Back to the recap....
I have been a little bit homesick for the past couple of days, mostly because I miss the day to day interaction with my friends. I miss staying up late at nights talking about the dumbest stuff and then changing to a more deeper subject. I miss going to get some coffee or Panera's with some of my very good (few) friends. I miss having someone that I can just talk to or someone that I can watch 'Heroes' with. Basically, I miss all the people that have had such an importance in my life. It has been a quite difficult transition, alot more difficult than what I expected. You might ask yourself, "But Gaby, isn't your boyfriend there?" Of course he is, but no matter how much closer I am to him now, the remaining fact is that I am still three hours away. I get to see him whenever I can on the weekends (that's when I forget all this). But in the meantime from Monday through Friday I have no one to fall back to.

*sigh*
I guess one is never content.

I woke this morning to go to German course. I was wearing these really cute shoes that I had recently purchased, but I was trying to break them in....BAD IDEA! On my way to the tube station I tripped and rolled my ankle because the sidewalk was wet and their where wet leaves all over the ground. Wet leaves+Unsafe Surfaces+ New uncomfortable shoes= Gaby falling
Of course, like always I rolled my right ankle. (I think that makes it now 32 times!!!) I sucked up the pain and caught my train, stood for two stops, and switched trains where I have to ride the tube for about 20 minutes in order to get to my school. Well, I couldn't handle the pain anymore, so I took off my right shoe and placed my foot on the seat infront of me....once again, BAD IDEA! Once arrived at my stop I put my shoe once again, and then this old hag (pardon the expression) started yelling at me. She screamed that I was a disrespectful 'Schlampe' (Whore/Bitch) for putting my feet on the seat and that I should know better. OH, but get this.... then she said I do not know any better because I am a "verdammte Einwanderer" (a.k.a. a damn immigrant) Oh no, she didn't!!!! I did not know how to react. My mouth remained motionless as I tried to process the information that I just heard. But without any reaction I got off the train and went to my school. It was only until I was walking in the train station what had just happened. I felt a tear rolling down my face. And suddenly I had an epiphany; I realized no matter how hard I try or what I do I will never be fully accepted here. This saddens me.
However, I know that I shouldn't let one person distort my perception of this country. I know better than that. I have made many great friends here and have created some wonderful memories. It is just hard doing this on my own...

...but I will learn...
I hope...

Inga's and Spolier's Wedding, July 6, 2007

Where are the Bride and Groom?


Waiting for the Newly Weds with Champagne on hand.


My Date ...
...isn't he dreamy???
(Keep your hands off girls (and Markus), he is taken!)

The Boys outside City Hall.

The Fraternity's Representatives

Kodak Moment

The Newly Weds kiss.


Taking it all in.

A Boy.

A Girl.

First Dance as a married couple.

I like this picture alot.
(Can you say Facebook Profile Picture???)

A large hat and the happy couple.

We are too cool for school....

No, we are not...
I think dorky is more like it.

Black & White

Bouquet Throw

Waiting for the bouquet. I did not catch it, though.
I keep holding the opinion that it was a bad throw.

Cake!!!


Smile

Posing for the camera.

O.K., now it's too much....

Roses

They're Back!!!

Lifehouse is back again with a new single titled 'First Time'.
Yay, for Jason Wade.....Oh, how we missed him so!!!



Click Here to Watch the Video

'First Time'
-Lifehouse

We're both looking for something
We've been afraid to find
It's easier to be broken
It's easier to hide

Looking at you, holding my breath
For once in my life I'm scared to death
I'm taking a chance letting you inside

I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as a scar under my skin
Like being in love, she said, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Whenever I'm alone with you tonight
Like being in love with you for the first time

The world that I see inside you
Waiting to come to life
Waking me up to dreaming
Reality in your eyes

Looking at you, holding my breath
For once in my life I'm scared to death
I'm taking a chance letting you inside

I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as a scar under my skin
Like being in love, she said, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Whenever I'm alone with you tonight
Like being in love with you for the first time

We're crashing
Into the unknown
We're lost in this
But it feels like home

I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as a scar under my skin
Like being in love, she said, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Whenever I'm alone with you tonight
Like being in love with you for the first time

Halle und Radio

After being here for about 3 weeks, I finally went out to explore Frankfurt's nightlife this past Saturday evening. I first went to a bar called 'Die Halle' with my neighbor Josef. It was a bar for 'bikers' so I am told. We went to watch his friend and his band play. They were quite good but their choice of rock wasn't my cup of tea (Sean, I think you would of liked it). We stayed there till about 12:30pm and proceeded to go back to our apartments and pre-game before going out again. Drinks are über expensive here in Frankfurt. After we were sufficiently intoxicated we left upon our bicycles towards the club 'Radio'. Let me just tell you that me riding a bicycle to begin with is already very funny, but me riding one when I am in a state of pure inebriation is hilarious! The thing that I love about bars/clubs here in Europe is that they are open really late, unlike the wussy clubs in the States that close at 2am. I was dancing at 'Radio' till five in the morning!!! Ah, I love it!!!
But I have to admit that the best part of my night was when I was told, "You are too hot to be an Au Pair. If you were my Au Pair, I would be so thankful to my parents everyday!!!" Hahahaha
Krass! Geil!
The night ended with me watching the sunrise and falling asleep at 7:05. Ah, what a way to start off the year abroad. =)

Ummm, Excuse Me?!??!?!

So, why the hell did I not know that the SMASHING PUMPKINS were finally on tour??!?!?!?!?
They played last week, June 6, at Berlin!!!!!!!
*sigh*
I am sooo annoyed with myself.
Maybe I can go to the one in Brussels.
Anyone wanna come with?

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/tour



Today is the greatest
Day I've ever known
Can't live for tomorrow
Tomorrow is just too far gone

My Life Across the Pond

My first Schlatplatte.... basically a dead pig on my plate.
Oh, goodness!

Papparazzi Shot

Felix

Linus

Catalina

My home

My Tube Stop...
Westend
Looks something like out of 'Encounters of the Third Kind'

Future place of work
European Central Bank

Downtown Frankfurt

Fulfilling the German generalization of drinking beer....
all the time.

It was Linus' 5th Birthday on Monday, so I decided to make him
a pinata out of Papier Mache...
Check it out


Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

End Result

Now have your fun with it and hit it till the candy comes out.

Life so Far...

Well, I am 100% moved into my own flat and will start taking reservations for people who would like to come visit, need a place to sleep for a night, pit-stop... you know, the usual. I am slowly making the apartment my own, but since I did not bring alot I have to buy it here. Maybe I will improv and put some mud on the walls or something of the sorts. =)
Yesterday was such a great day. I went to the city center which is about a 15-minute walk from my place. I bought a Handy (or cell phone) and then went urban exploring for awhile. I came upon this Spanish Festival werer there was a band playing live Cumbias, Salsas, and Sambas. It was a lot of fun, but I think it was even funner watching all the people 'dance'. I, myself, wanted to bust a move, but I was a little self-conscious. Thinking about it now, I am angry with my self for not doing it. I mean come on, nobody knows me, nobody cares. What is this social boundary that keeps me in place??? I resolve to do something out of the ordinary each day (well, let's start with baby steps first)...each week in order to break myself out of this habit. So I listened to band, but not alone...oh, no. Since it was a Spanish Festival, people were making fresh Paella. I had to buy a plate and a glass of Sangria to go along with it. It was so delicious. I am still savoring it. I should again and see if they are still there. I want another plate!
Most of my evenings I have spent them reading outside in the garden. I share a garden with a Mansion, so you could imagine how gorgeous it is. It is fairly big; it has a pond and a couple of Willow Trees which are my favorite. So far, I have only met one of my neighbors. His name is Josef. He is 29 years old and is studying Computer Science at the University of Frankfurt. He does photography as a hobby and on Wednesday night over some beers and Red Bull with Vodka, he showed me his work and showed him some the stuff that I am currently working on. But I can't even compare my stuff to his; I just started and he has been doing this for about 10 years. Well, at least he said he would help me to improve. That's if I understood him correctly. I have been trying really hard to get back into the habit of speaking German and to improve my skills. So, I have requested from him to only speak German to me. I must say that I am quite impressed with how much I understand. But I get a little bit nervous when people put me on the spot and asked me to translate exactly what they have just said. It's scary. My brain right now is on overload. I am constantly speaking 3 languages at once. With the children I speak German and English, with Bernardo and Isabel I speak Spanish. I am always changing from one to another and it can be quite exhausting and challenging, but it is helping improve all of my languages.

Sleep Deprivation

I have not yet gotten used to the time change. However, I think this might take awhile to adapt to because I was already suffering from lack of sleep way before I left the States. I am going to have to sleep somewhere around 2 days to get accostumed to the time chage. hahaha
Anyways, I am still here in the Mertes-von Köppen household. I will be moving into my small flat this Friday and early Saturday morning. It's quite cute and it is in a nice area of the city. Did I mention that it is located on Lindenstraße??? It's quite funny because that was the exact same name of the street I lived on in Oldenburg. But I guess almost every German town, city, etc has a Lindenstraße. This makes me happy because it makes me feel a little bit more at home.
Yesterday, I picked up Catalina from her daycare and walked all the way home. We passed through this beautiful botanical garden filled with water fountains and gorgeous landscapes. It was about a 25 minute walk; it was a little bit more than what I am used to, but I did not mind it all. From the garden, we passed through the older building of Frankfurt's University and down Gruneburgweg which was so full of trees that it was quite literally green. I love the city structure of European cities because they are so easy to get around in on foot, public transport, etc. This is something I missed quite alot in the States, however, last week's trip to Manhattan proved me otherwise. (I will soon post photos of that as well.) Yet, with all the beauty and wonderful things that I have been doing here, I am still a little bit homesick. I am missing my boys and my family as well. I wish I could have spent more time together, but oh well. Like they say in Spanish, "El 'HUBIERA' no existe." *sigh*
But I am looking forward to this weekend....
=)

A New Family

So, here I am reporting from the land which I have come to love, my third home (First, Mexico, then the States and now this one) Deutschland!!!
I arrived yesterday around 11 am (5am NY time) and was received by the wonderful Mertes-Köppen Family. Everyone greeted as if we were life-long friends. I was so happy to receive such a lovely welcome, but in the back of my mind there was you. The two boys, Felix and Linus, quickly took my hand and started chit-chatting non-stop. They quickly proceeded to ask me if I wanted 'Pommes' (french fries) with ketchup and mayo. As tempted as that sounded I had to decline because my flight fed me so many times that I felt that I had gained about ten pounds in a matter of a 6 hours. hehehehe
Felix is the oldest of the 3 children. He is 7 years old and being the oldest he relates very well to me. He was the first of the children to open up to me and make me feel at home. He is very smart and independent. Linus, the second oldest, 4 years old, is a riot. He is very funny and very creative. However, at times a bit moody, but only when he is hungry or very tired. It's typical for any child of his age. He already asked me if I could prepare him his favorite dish.....TORTILLAS!!! Both of the boys are fair skin (but not pale), have beautiful blue-green eyes, and dark blonde hair. Catalina, the youngest of the trio, is 10 months old. She is so adorable and has a very unique beauty. She has one blue eye and one green. I have only met one person like that in my life before; an uncle of mine. Catalina is a very fast learner, and adapts very well to things. She is also very observant of her surroundings.
As for the parents, what can I say? They are marvelous. Isabel is an economist who works at the ECB, where I will intern starting August, and Bernardo is a doctor. They are both young parents and love to travel and discover new cultures and foods (just like me). Bernardo is half Mexican and half German. His childhood years were spent in Mexico City. So, he is very fluent in Spanish, as well as Isabel who studied Spanish in the University. When the children are not around we rather communicate in Spanish rather than German. They have both been very hospitable and welcoming.

A Change

So, I graduated last Sunday and this Sunday, I am moving to
GERMANY!!!

This is a new chapter in my life. Let's see where it takes me this time around.

Deutschland, Part III

Oh my God, No Freaking Way?!?!??!

I am GRADUATING!!!!


Passed all my classes with flying colors....

4-A's and 1-B

I have never ever been so relieved
*sigh*


Woot!!!