Tuesday, May 21, 2019

This is Where I Am

First glimpse of Germany from the air.

Hello Everyone

I disappeared when you were waiting to hear what happened next, sorry! The truth is that I've fallen down a rabbit hole and ended up in a fairy tale. It's called Germany. Wow, have I fallen hard for this place. But let's continue where I left off last time.

I caught the plane, arm in a sling and in quite a bit of pain but from there on things became better. First, the flight was half empty and I had two seats to myself and could lie down to sleep. When I arrived in Frankfurt, going through passport control and customs was a breeze. People are so efficient here. I took a fast train from the airport to Karlsruhe, where Siegfried (father in law) met me with his car. From there it was a 25km drive to my home for the next three months.

Karlsbad viewed from Biebelheim
It's impossible to describe the perfection of this little village without pictures. Nestled between corn fields and patches of forest, there's so much green that it feels like a dose of tranquilizer.

Karlsbad village centre.
The church is at the center of the village and the area is a perfect mix of modern and old. I've been so busy snapping pictures that I haven't had time to upload them to Instagram.

For the first few days, I felt completely disorientated. The sun hangs in the wrong part of the sky, cars drive on the wrong side of the road; as soon as I step out the front door I feel lost. Thankfully, Siegfried keeps nipping at my heels like a sheepdog and after a week, I'm happy to say that my internal compass is kicking in.


Over the weekend, I unpacked my art supplies and set up a workspace in the attic. Take a good look, my desk will never be this tidy again!

Tomorrow, my classes at the Volkshochschule start. I will be very busy learning to speak German like a German and finding out about the culture and history of the country.

As a sideline, I'm learning to ride a bike again. The story about not forgetting how is completely untrue. After 35 years out of the saddle, I've already had a few good falls; the bike runs away with me and bucks like a horse when I pull on the brakes. But that's a story for next time.

Wishing you a wonderful week in whatever part of the world you are.

Megan

18 comments:

  1. Hello, Megan - I'm glad that your long trip went smoothly. I agree with you that Germany is a beautiful fairytale land; I'm sure that you'll enjoy all your time spent there. (Except for the bicycle falls, that is!) Your attic workspace looks very efficient, but very cozy at the same time. Enjoy!
    Marjorie

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    1. Thank you, Marjorie! In my studio at home, I have separate workspaces for paint, clay, textiles, and messy jobs such as sanding. I'm spoiled and it's going to be a challenge for me to do everything on one table but you're right, it is cosy under the sloping roof. The only thing I really miss right now is a tarantula or two, and my dogs.

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  2. Es bueno leer que tu viaje fue estupendo y estar en buena compañía de tu suegro,que como vemos vela por ti. Un espacio de trabajo muy acogedor, disfruta de ese vello país . Un saludo:-)

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  3. me alegra saber que estás bien en esa maravillosa tierra,que retomas tus actividades artísticas y que vas integrándote en la vida y costumbres alemanas!!!
    Buena suerte con la bicicleta!
    Besos.

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    1. Thank you! I will tame that bicycle before long. Loving the embroidery in your last post, it is so fine!

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  4. How exciting Megan! I feel like I've been out of the loop and didn't know you had this big adventure on your horizon. Are you taking a class or teaching one. Three months! How wonderful. I like Germany very much too. I only spent a few short days there a couple of years ago but I fell in love except that I could never find fresh milk for my coffee. lol.. You will be a local in no time and dreaming in german no less. :D

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    1. Haha, how right you are, Sam. for the last two nights I dreamed in German, fluently no less. I've been planning this trip for nearly a year, but I kept it to myself until the last minute. Things always tend to happen, as they nearly did!
      I'm so happy to read the occasional post from you lately, though I'm also a bit behind with my blog reading. We'll catch up soon.

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  5. How nice to hear from you, Megan, it's good to read that your arm is better and that you had a safe trip. Living at the eastside of The Netherlands, so you're almost my neighbour now. Enjoy your study and stay in Germany, study well on your bike, so you can bike to The Netherlands too. And no worries about that: we have the same traffic rules and we all understand the German language well ;O!

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    1. Ilona, I'm going to tame the bike so that I can come and visit you. Not this time, but next year when I'm in Germany again. I believe it's easy to put the bike on a train and get off near one's destination. We'll see how it goes. Does your granny's farmhouse have a chamber pot? My mother and I were talking the other day about how people these days use them for flower arrangements. This new generation has no idea what some things were used for!

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  6. Love the fact that within a few days you have a crafting area all set up and ready to go! Viel Glück :) Sxx

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    1. Sandra, I was thinking of you and your craft cabinet when I unpacked my supplies. I could use something like that here. The plan is that I will return regularly in future, so I've brought a stash of supplies that can stay here. I also can't wait to get to an art shop and supplement my stash. And a flea market or two to look for vintage fabric. I brought my favourite doll making book, a pinch of gold beads, and seven scraps of lace, but I have no fabric or other sewing supplies.

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  7. It is so lovely to think of you like Alice in a magic land and especially to hear the happiness in your writing! You are so brave for taking this adventure, and I imagine you'll be leaving your first day of school with many new friends and opportunities! Looking forward to more adventure stories from Germany!

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    1. The Alice effect isn't wearing off yet, Jodi, and I don't feel brave at all; more like I've run away to a magical place. Every day brings more adventures and I keep thinking I'm going to wake up to reality soon.

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  8. It's good to read your post and know that you already feel better. Take care with the bike. By the way, I loved you beautiful bench on F/B. Have wonderful new experiences.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thank you, Drora! I hope that I can share some of the magic of my expericences with you.

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  9. Willkommen in Deutschland! ;O) I'm glad you made it and that your trip was going well. Looks like you're already settled - home is where the craft desk is. *LOL* But you made me smile with your remark you're learning to talk German like a German now. Regarding our uncountable dialects speaking German is difficult, even if we're speaking high German we can't deny our origin, it shows in our slang and the use of words.

    I'm wishing you a great time - but be careful with the bike! Oder sollte ich eher sagen "Pass mit dem Drahtesel auf!"... ;O)

    Liebe Grüße
    Birgit

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    1. Birgit, don't get me started on how DIFFICULT it is to learn German. Every verb seems to be an exception to the rule and there are so many conjugations... After 25 years in South Africa, everyone knows my husband is a German as soon as he starts speaking. I suppose for me it will be the same in Germany. But I would like it if people's ears don't ache when I talk to them ;-) Our German teacher was impressed this week that I knew what a Kaffeeklatch is, that is thanks to you! And now I have a new word for the bike; around here we call it a Fahrad.

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