Anna Burnett: Hello hello!

Well, good gracious, where to start? It has been an interesting few weeks here, moving in, receiving dogs, getting the lay of the land, Z starting work, and me trying to figure out day-to-day life. So many things. Despite all this, I can confidently say that we are where we are supposed to be. Our new place is lovely and living in a smaller village suits us well.

Here are some observations so far:

-Speaking German is hard. Most days I feel like a troll, pointing and grunting. Other days, I feel like I am in a perpetual game of charades. Language training soon to come...

-Energy efficiency is a religion here...

-Driving is an entirely new experience: the roads are tiny and narrow, people seem to park wherever they like, on the sidewalk or the side of the road. If you are driving and a large truck is coming, you better pull over, or you will die...

-Castles are not over-rated...

-The Autobahn is, well, a lot of fun. I am sure that me driving at 170 km/ hr is something my parents don't want to hear about, but that's how it's done here...

-Rental furniture is, well, rental furniture....

-Shopping.....hmmmmmm. We have had a few misunderstandings in this department. Don't buy the "toothpaste" that is actually denture cream...

-Cold! It is cold here, and thank goodness our air shipment arrived on Friday with out winter hats and coats...

-Going anywhere without an umbrella is a bad idea...

- Hearing church bells on your evening walk is my new favorite...

-Make sure you have cash on you, most places don't accept cards...

-Bidet or not to Bidet, that is the question...

- Make friends with your neighbors, they will lend you English DVDs when you are desperate for something to do at night...

-Having a washer and dryer with ten million options all in German, randomly pushing buttons hoping you are doing it right...

-Feel like a contender in the Hunger Games while visiting Ikea...

-CANNOT wait to receive our furniture, sleeping in our bed never sounded so amazing...

-Our dishwasher cycle takes years, and then it has to air dry...

-Dogs get jet lag, and it is wonderful...

-Recycling is insane here, don't think I will ever get it quite right...

-Beautiful flowers and green grass everywhere...

- Nettles = Bad...

First day of work.... tired, but still handsome