Nov 28 - Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving friends - I hope this finds you all well and spending time with your families!

Germans apparently aren't very "thankful" folks...so I was a hard worker today. I do want to say how incredibly thankful I am for my family and friends. If it weren't for Tony, I certainly would (1) have not even attempted this experience in Germany, and (2) certainly would have never returned to Germany after my trip home in October. He's been nothing but supportive and kept me sane via Skype, not to mention taken on everything at home alone (except the Cmas shopping, of course, the man does NOT like Christmas shopping). :) I love him more than chocolate and wine (my two vices since I've been here). And to everyone else who have sent me FB messages, emails, cards, care packages, DVDs...I'm thankful for every one of them and each of you!! I love you all.

Okay...now on to the other stuff. I'm sure my Thanksgiving dinner wasn't as exciting as yours will be...and there was no turkey or potatoes involved...but who says that thanksgiving isn't Indian food, garlic naan and red wine? It was super yummy...the only thing missing (besides family) is football...but I've always got my First 48 videos to fall back on!

My funny this week was a random thing at the grocery store. I'm not even going to explain the picture - as it is completely immature...but who in the heck doesn't want more "knusprig"?

This Saturday, a gal pal and are going to Dresden for the night for my first Christmas Market experience. According to my Big Brother, Christmas Markets and the Christmas season is what Germany is all about. All I know, so far, is that they involve mulled wine (called Gluhwein) and crafts - so I'm in! I'm not sure which one we're going to, but we are staying in Dresden city center, so it's whichever one is right there.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, Thanksgiving holiday.

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

http://www.dresden.de/dig/en/veranstaltungen/weihnachtszeit/weihnachtsmaerkte.php

Nov 23 - Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

Today I took a tour to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in an outskirt of Berlin called Oranienburg. We had a fabulous tour guide, named Finn from Belfast, who treated the entire experience with respect. The day was perfect for an experience like this: gray, overcast, and cold...I can't imagine seeing a place like this when there is blue sky and spring smells. The only photo of Flat Tony is by the sign saying where we were going.

This CC was a mens camp, but was not a "death camp". Many people died here...but it wasn't the "purpose" like at Auschwitz. This camp was used to "test" things. The gas chamber, as far as is known, was used five times - testing different gases. Mostly it was used for medical experimentation. They would try to change prisoners eye colors, or skin pigmentation, to see if they could turn people into their idea of the "perfect being".

Most of the buildings at the CC were gone...many reminders of the ugliness of Hitler were destroyed after the war. This Camp actually continued for 5 years after the war, but for those 5 years it was a Soviet Prison camp that held Soviet prisoners...some of which were the same people and I believe he said 13,000 were buried within the Camp.

There are are a few things about what was still standing that will be forever etched in my mind (beyond the obvious places, that everyone thinks of when they think of these places). There were two statues...one depicting a Russian solider saving two healthy men at the CC. Truth be known, the only men left behind when the CC was evacuated on the Death March (because they knew the Russians were coming) were those too sick to walk, so they never would have looked like this. The second statue was the reality of what was actually left in the camp and found by the Red Army. Another building still standing was the kitchen (each prisoner had two bowls of soup per day)...but there were these "happy" paintings in the eating area, that for whatever reason bothered me more than a lot of the rest. Maybe its because you go into something like this expecting one thing - but then you see what someone depicted as a "happy" thing, and it litterally makes you ill.

To end, I'm including one picture of the Israeli flag for a special friend of mine that I thought about all day today - and a quote from a survivor.

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 20 - German Fashion

Hello friends!

It is dreary, gray and cold here in Germany...but as it's that season, I don't think I can really blame the country as a whole, now can I? It isn't very much fun when it's dark going to work, and dark coming home. BUT, I am 31 days from being home for two weeks, and then I don't go longer than 6 weeks again...so this is just over mid-way through the hardest part of this assignment!

As many of you know...as far as fashion in Germany, I have been pretty critical of men in skinny jeans and even more so, men in "jeggings" - yes, I really have seen this! BUT, I have found a fashion I love!! I didn't make flat Tony participate in the picture - since it was going to be a cheesy selfie - but the fact that its "cool" to wear sweaters that cover my rear end, and then I can just throw on leggings and boots...sigh, this is BY FAR the highlight of my week to this point! :)

Also, received 5 more US television CD's today...shew...the catastrophe that would have been my weekend has been officially averted! I was down to my last 8 hours of the First 48, and really didn't want to start watching Desperate Housewives in German again. Thanks mom & dad!!!!!

I hope this finds you all well!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 18 - The Training Debacle

Hello friends!

Today was a rough day folks - I had to give my first training session. In the US we give annual training modules online...in Germany, people take the courses in person every 1.5-2 years. The course was scheduled from 2-5pm...and I was done at 3:10! The sad thing is, that I have been giving training for the last 6 years...and I don't think I have ever talked so fast in my life! By the time I realized the trainees were 3/4 through the slide packet, I couldn't slow down enough to get an extra 2 hours out of it...sigh. Of course, the Director of Defense for all of Germany was in there to watch my debacle! On the good side, he did stop me and tell me that, even though I talked too fast, that the training itself was good. My next training session is Dec 6th, so I guess the positive way to think about this is that there is no place to go but up!

I had my first experience with German horseradish today...I had bought some at the store the other day. OMG...my nose is running, but this stuff is sooooooo good! Unflat Tony will love it! I shouldn't have to worry about any head colds this winter...this stuff will cure it all!

I also booked my trip to Sachsenhausen Concentration camp for this Saturday. I'm sure it will be one of the most heart wrenching things I've ever seen, but how can you live in Germany for 9 months, and not see as much of the history (no matter how dark) as possible?

I hope this finds you all well, and safe from the storms from yesterday! Almost down to 30 days til I see US soil!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 17 - Cmas Season Starts

It's been a nice quiet weekend in Berlin.

On Friday, I got home from work, and had a package and a card on my kitchen table. It was from the lady at the apartment and was a card, $30 worth of dinner coupons, and a bottle of champagne. I was told that's virtually unheard of in Germany. That you're more likely to get a nasty look from someone running into you (because it's your fault that you didn't get out of the way fast enough) - than someone to apologize. Now...it does irritate me a little that they let themselves into my apartment while I'm not home - but it's probably not worth complaining about. After all that I had fun with my pals, some Indian food, wine and Star Wars. Can you beat good food, good company, and one of the best movies of all time?

Yesterday was running errands day (groceries, etc.) since everything is closed on Sunday. I was a little suprised to see the Christmas decorations out already - so Germany isn't as different as the US after all. Unflat Tony isn't much for the commercialism of Christmas, so I had to torment him a little with the ornament photo. :)

Chistmas Markets will be starting here on Thanksgiving weekend. Maybe that will finally get me in the spirit!! Otherwise, I know I will be in the spirit on December 21st when I walk in my front door!

A little shout out to my girl Shel...nursing student of the year...and amost a graduate of the Marian Nursing School!! So proud of you lady - you are setting such a phenominal example for those little ones. Wish I could give you a big hug in person - but I'll be seeing you soon!

Happy Sunday!

Good-bye, from Berlin

Nov 13 - Curry wurst

Hello friends...

Sorry it has been a while, but it's been a typical work/school week, and on top of that, it's cold and I'm kind of in a funk! It doesn't help that I haven't had wifi in my apartment (until today) for the last two days, and I'm pretty sure I will never understand the cultural differences.

My specific example would be this...Wifi stopped working on Monday eve - luckily, I had class yesterday and couldn't Skype with unFlat Tony anyways. BUT the office whatever-she-is had the nerve to tell me that it was my fault, and that I hit the "reset" button. Okay folks, the reset button is on a panel on the bottom of the wall and has a note (IN ENGLISH) that says not to push the button. If it was in German, okay, I can see you thinking that I'm a complete dimwit...but really? I'm here on a work assignment, doing what I'm doing, at the level I'm doing it, for the company I'm doing it for (they have every bit of paperwork on me)...and somehow you think that accusing me of not being able to read is a GOOD idea? Unfortunately, every bit of godliness went out of me when I responded to her, via email (I didn't curse, but there were a lot of capital letters and excalamation points used). Sigh. 2 months down!

Tonight's "adventure" involves some yummy German food that I first tried when Mom and Rylee were here. But now, I've found it packaged in Aldi's!!! I could probably eat in 3 times a week (appologies to my Veggie friends - ha ha) but it is yummy!! It's called Curry-wurst and is basically a big hot dog, with ketchup (which I don't even like) and curry powder on it. I made a couple pieces of garlic bread to go with it. :) Now I realize that this doesn't sound like a 40-year-old-friendly diet but, although I'm not sure if I've "lost" weight, I have a lot more space in the waistband of my slacks since being here! It could have something to do with walking a bazillion steps every day (a nice round number) to go to 3 trains, work, 3 more trains, home, 2 more trains, school, two more trains, home. I don't mind it right now, although it's getting a bit cold, but when it snows I will probably have something new to whine about!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 9 - Treptower Park

Hello all.

Today I went to visit the Soviet Memorial in Treptower Park - it was an amazing place. One thing I have noticed in Germany, is that when they create a park, they spare no expense. I didn't know, until I got home, what the significance to this particular park was, but it was to commemorate the 22,000 Soviet soliders that were killed in the 'battle to take Berlin', in April-May 1945, at the end of WWII. More than 7,000 Red Army soliders, killed in the battle, are buried in this park (in the middle sections), and more are buried in two other parks in Berlin. Hopefully you can tell, from my photos, what a neat place this was. Flat Tony is in two, and then the other two are just meant to show you the main portion of the park - I would highly recommend this as a "must visit" for anyone visiting.

On the bummer side...I didn't get to eat lunch at White Trash Fast Food. It took me about an hour to find it, but turns out that on Saturdays it doesn't open until 6pm. :( So, I enjoyed the area for a while and then I came back to Tempelhof and enjoyed my Schwarma Cheese (my Lebanese chicken wrap) and am in for the night.

I'm not sure what, if any, excitement tomorrow will hold but I wish you all a wonderful Saturday.

Go Irish!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 8 - Excitement of German class

TGIF my friends!

As you know, I started German class on Tuesday night - I go twice a week, for 90 minutes each time. I'm learning a little, but definitely not enough to partake in any sort of conversation with someone who actually speaks German. Unless they only want to know my name - I can handle that! (Ich bin Leslie Farrell)

The most interesting part of Tuesdays and Thursdays is DEFINITELY the train ride home! I get on the train about 9:20-9:25, and everyone appears to be just leaving the bars that they have been at since work let out (I will confirm whether or not my assumption is true after I do this for another 15 weeks!). There was one person that sat in front of me last night, who had their head in their hands the whole way home...long hair covering everything but their hands. I really wish that I was a little sneakier with Flat Tony, because that would have been a picture to let you guys caption! But I wasn't too sure if he was drunk, stoned, or a little left of center...so I didn't want to chance it.

When walking home today, I had a Flat Tony moment that will have to sufice for today - there is a four wheeler parked right outside the apartment complex! Now, I've seen lots of little cars here (because that is all there is room to park), but not a four wheeler...this definitely isn't a "wide open spaces" kind of area! I'm going to have to keep an eye out, because I'm curious who is riding it!

The plan for tomorrow is to sleep in, and then go to Treptower Park. After the park, I'm going to treat myself to lunch at a restaurant near Alexanderplatz (a good mall) called White Trash Fast Food. Not only does the name crack me up, but the owner is from California, and the ad says that they serve American food, flown in from America! I'm counting on it!! :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_War_Memorial_(Treptower_Park)

I hope you all have a wonderful start to your weekend and I will update on Saturdays activities!
Good-night and God-bless,
from Berlin

Nov 6 - Indian Food

Hello friends!!

It has been a few days since my last post, but the work week just isn't very exciting. I did start German school last night...after Day 1, I feel that I will be a complete failure at this language! Not only is it complicated but I can't imagine that, in 3 hours a week for 16 weeks, I will be proficient enough to add ANY value to my role (unless ordering lunch becomes part of my role...I'm really good at pointing at things on a menu!!). My take aways from yesterday are "Guten Morgen" (good morning) and "Guten Tag" (good day)...I guess that is something.

Tonight was my first experience of Indian food in Germany. The first plus was that the server (who brought me my take out order) in the restaurant spoke English!! And then, when I got to my American pals house - the food (and the company) was terrific! Little Alec came out long enough to eat a few french fries and ask me where Rylee was - Leslie doesn't cut it, in his eyes, without Rylee. So, today's flat Tony post is Alec, all Hollywood'd up while watching a movie - with Flat Tony. I do have to say...he was a bit bewildered about why he was holding a stick figure of my husband, but he did it anyways! Ha ha.

Another German class tomorrow night, so I won't be home until after 10 - unless something REALLY exciting happens, I won't be getting online that late. I will check in on Friday, and plan on going to Dresden on Saturday, so I should have some good pictures there!

I hope this finds you all well!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 3 - First Weekend in November

Hello friends!

I want to start out by saying that on Friday (long after my Berlin post time) my little brother and his girlfriend of two years, Kelly, got engaged!! Kelly, we are glad to, officially, have you as part of the family - and wish the two of you a lifetime of happiness! Feel free to book a plane ticket across the pond, and I'll take you out to eat to celebrate. :)

Saturday was a relaxing day for me. I woke up late and then took a walk around the neighborhood, and then went to the equivalent of a Macy's here, Karstadt. Did a little Christmas shopping for Malerie, and then walked to a famous Berlin chocolate shop that a co-worker recommended, called Fassbender & Rausch (google them, and check out their website if you have time). WOW! I was at one of the smaller shops, but now I'm going to have to go to one of the bigger ones where you can watch the huge masterpieces being made. I took a picture of Flat Tony with the Brandenburg gate chocolate...but they make MUCH larger items. Even bought myself a small bag of dark chocolate covered cashews...might be the best chocolate I've ever tasted!

I took a little break after my Saturday description, and went and found the German School that I will be attending as of Tuesday night. Went through a really neat, old train station (pic of Flat Tony) and eventually meandered around enough to find the school. Smoking isn't allowed on the trains - but EASILY, 50% of the people here smoke (in general, not on the train). Well today, young guy gets on the train and sits behind me...WITH A MARIJUANA CIGARETTE hanging out of his mouth! It wasn't lit, but I will have to say, that is the first time I've seen that here! I would have loved a Flat Tony picture of that, but I don't think the kid would have liked that much. Interesting stuff.

I hope you all have a wonderful wrap up to your weekend, and don't forget to change your clocks!

God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 1 - TGIF (a big Fishers weekend)

Hello friends!

I haven't had any exciting Flat Tony moments this week...so I apologize for my lack of posts! I did see the train sleeper again - but didn't want to bore you with duplication!

Mom and Rylee left on Thursday morning, and made it back home through Chicago safe and sound. It's MUCH easier to re-aclimate going east to west, than it is when you come east - I can't wait until I test that theory again (50 days and counting)!! My mom brought me 15-20 CDs of US television shows...so I'm living the high life tonight on a 6 hour stint of "The First 48"! Sigh...so happy to have something to watch.

This weekend will be pretty quiet - it's supposed to be rainy and I don't feel too motivated to do anything. I think I'm going to go figure out how to get to the German school, from the train stop, at some point (since I need to do it in the dark on Tuesday). We will see how much German I can learn in 16 weeks - I will probably learn how to speak a little of it just in time to come back to the States!

I want to give a little shout out to my Fishers Tigers tonight!! First, to the football team (and my favorite coach, Unflat Tony) - who plays in the Sectional Final against Carmel - just love those 'Boys of Fall'!! And then to the Fishers girls soccer team, who will be playing in the State Final game tomorrow against Avon. Brady - give 'em hell...Seth doesn't have to be the only one with a State ring! :) (Proud momma of Brady, I'm sending you big hugs b/c I know you are a nervous wreck)!

Hugs to you all.

Good night and God bless,

from Berlin