We are starting to become accustomed to the everyday life here in Leipzig. One big adjustment has been carrying cash with us everywhere we go. We have yet to find a place that will accept a Visa debit/credit card. For example, we were in IKEA on Friday, which is a really cool place, and we went to check out. Well, we noticed that the self-checkout lanes were empty so we just trotted up to one. After ringing up our items, Amy went to pay with her Visa card, thinking that at a big place like IKEA they would accept it. Well, we were wrong, and turns out the self checkouts only take German bank cards and no other form of payment. A little embarrassed, we made our way to another checkout and managed to dig out just enough cash to pay for our purchase. So, if you are planning a trip to Germany, don´t plan on using your credit card to make purchases. Luckily, we will be setting up a German bank account on Tuesday.
Also, grocery stores are a bit different. The cashiers sit in chairs while ringing your groceries, and there is no one to bag your groceries. You also have to bring your own bags with you to the store. However, this was something we tried to do even when we were in the States--much more eco-friendly.
We will probably be grocery shopping every day or every other day. We do not have a freezer, so we will have to shop for our frozen foods that day. Also, since we do not have a car to load up all of our groceries, we can only buy what we can carry. Thankfully, the grocery store is only a couple of blocks from our apartment.
Along with no freezer, we also have no dryer. Dryers use up a great deal of electricity, and from what we have heard, would be a high cost to use. We have a rather large drying rack which during the summer we will keep on our balcony to dry our clothes.
If you have any comments or questions, be sure to post them!
We are anxious for visitors...
Until next time,
Craig and Amy
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
One Week in Germany!
So here we are, at the one week point. We´ve actually done a whole lot so far. There are a few things that stand out among everything else here in Germany.
First off, there´s the level of activity of the people here. It´s awesome! We just ate dinner outside and at least once every two minutes someone ran past. Then there´s the people that ride their bikes, which is almost everyone. The people are so fit!
Another thing that sticks out is how fast the trains go. A week ago we were going 200 kilometers per hour! That´s crazy! And traveling is so easy, the trains go everywhere.
Then, there´s the bureaucracy. Here in Germany there is paperwork for everything. And fees. You have to register, and pay taxes on, tv and radio here. Insanity.
Most of all, it´s how our city doesn´t always feel like a city. A block away from our house is a massive, wooded, and very green park. Also, at night, our block is incredibly quiet. The only sound you can hear is the tram going past on the other side of the building.
Until next time,
Craig and Amy Goodwin
(oh, and leave us comments! We want to hear from you!)
First off, there´s the level of activity of the people here. It´s awesome! We just ate dinner outside and at least once every two minutes someone ran past. Then there´s the people that ride their bikes, which is almost everyone. The people are so fit!
Another thing that sticks out is how fast the trains go. A week ago we were going 200 kilometers per hour! That´s crazy! And traveling is so easy, the trains go everywhere.
Then, there´s the bureaucracy. Here in Germany there is paperwork for everything. And fees. You have to register, and pay taxes on, tv and radio here. Insanity.
Most of all, it´s how our city doesn´t always feel like a city. A block away from our house is a massive, wooded, and very green park. Also, at night, our block is incredibly quiet. The only sound you can hear is the tram going past on the other side of the building.
Until next time,
Craig and Amy Goodwin
(oh, and leave us comments! We want to hear from you!)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Our First Adventure
Today we are off to Nuremburg. For those of you who don´t know the significance of this destination, prepare for a very brief history lesson:
After World War Two, the Allied forces (Great Britain, USA, etc.) rounded up the Nazis who commited war crimes (very bad things). They brought them to Nuremburg. In Nuremburg they faced a military trial to figure out if they were innocent or guilty and what the punishment should be.
Learning part done.
Recent events in our lives:
-We went grocery shopping. This was an experience for a few different reasons. One: Everything was, obviously, in German. We don´t know German. Two: Amy discovered she needed to specify COOKED ham when she ordered it. That could have been bad. Three: We still aren´t too good with our numbers. When we pay, it´s like we´re playing a game on the price is right: How close can you get to the actual price without going over? Usually we win, sometimes the cashier just sits there with her hand out, waiting for more money.
-Amy went to a ballet type performance. Apparently it was very modern--aka, no tu-tu involved.
-Craig is slowly learning some German words, but promptly forgets most of them within two minutes.
-Apparently German mailmen are very trusting. A neighbor was out, so he gave us one of their packages for them to pick up from us later. A note of this was dropped in their mailbox.
After World War Two, the Allied forces (Great Britain, USA, etc.) rounded up the Nazis who commited war crimes (very bad things). They brought them to Nuremburg. In Nuremburg they faced a military trial to figure out if they were innocent or guilty and what the punishment should be.
Learning part done.
Recent events in our lives:
-We went grocery shopping. This was an experience for a few different reasons. One: Everything was, obviously, in German. We don´t know German. Two: Amy discovered she needed to specify COOKED ham when she ordered it. That could have been bad. Three: We still aren´t too good with our numbers. When we pay, it´s like we´re playing a game on the price is right: How close can you get to the actual price without going over? Usually we win, sometimes the cashier just sits there with her hand out, waiting for more money.
-Amy went to a ballet type performance. Apparently it was very modern--aka, no tu-tu involved.
-Craig is slowly learning some German words, but promptly forgets most of them within two minutes.
-Apparently German mailmen are very trusting. A neighbor was out, so he gave us one of their packages for them to pick up from us later. A note of this was dropped in their mailbox.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Hello From Deustchland!
After the craziness that is taking eight large pieces of heavy luggage through multiple forms of public transportation we have made it safe and sound to our new home in Leipzig, Germany. It´s wonderful! For a city the air is so quiet and so clean! Everyone takes their dogs everywhere, even inside stores and the mall--and they´re so well behaved! We can´t wait for our pups Mika and Bella to come over.
The lifestyle here is fantastic. Everyone walks, runs, or rides their bike to where ever they want to go (and, of course, their dogs go along with them). Because of this, the people are so fit! There´s hardly any overweight people at all in Leipzig.
Just down the street is a main entrance to a HUGE park that we´ve barely begun to explore. Apparently, we can follow the trails south all the way to a lake with a beach.
We´re currently trying to learn the language, which is going to be tough, but not quite as tough as we thought it would be. Why? Well, before coming, people told us--"Everyone over there speaks english, so it will be pretty easy to get around, but that will make it a bit hard to learn German, because everyone wants to practice their English." NOT TRUE! We´ve encountered, in the past 3 days, MAYBE four people who spoke our language. This means that, although right now it´s quite difficult, learning the language will happen quicker than we thought. It will have to.
Until next time,
Craig and Amy Goodwin
The lifestyle here is fantastic. Everyone walks, runs, or rides their bike to where ever they want to go (and, of course, their dogs go along with them). Because of this, the people are so fit! There´s hardly any overweight people at all in Leipzig.
Just down the street is a main entrance to a HUGE park that we´ve barely begun to explore. Apparently, we can follow the trails south all the way to a lake with a beach.
We´re currently trying to learn the language, which is going to be tough, but not quite as tough as we thought it would be. Why? Well, before coming, people told us--"Everyone over there speaks english, so it will be pretty easy to get around, but that will make it a bit hard to learn German, because everyone wants to practice their English." NOT TRUE! We´ve encountered, in the past 3 days, MAYBE four people who spoke our language. This means that, although right now it´s quite difficult, learning the language will happen quicker than we thought. It will have to.
Until next time,
Craig and Amy Goodwin
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Preparations
Well.. now we are married and excited for the next big event. We are currently in the stages of packing all of our life "items" into just a couple of suitcases. Thankfully, we have discovered Space Bags which really are space savers :).
Unfortunately, we have made the decision not to bring our precious pups when we first fly to Germany. Dogs are not allowed to fly in cargo if it is hotter than 85 degrees on the runway which is 10-15 degrees hotter than what the actual temperature is. In Nashville next Tuesday the forcasted temperature is 85 degrees which would mean 100 degrees on the runway:(. So, the dogs will stay with their friends at Amy's parent's house and we will ship them over when it gets cooler. If anyone is planning a fall visit to Germany, let us know, we might have a favor to ask of you...
We leave on Tuesday. Expect our next update shorlty thereafter.
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