A week with my 2 favorites!

A few days before the new year, Matt set off to Boston for a conference combined with a nice visit with his family. Back in the planning stages I mentioned the plans to my mom, and before I knew it she (followed by my sister Lesley!) were all set to come to Berlin....flights booked, bags packed! How could be pass up a girls-only week in Berlin? We didn't let weather forecasts of below freezing temps stop us in any way. We visited museums, traveled on subways, sipped tea in cafes, took a day trip to Potsdam, and had many many laughs along the way. I am so thankful to have these amazingly strong and supportive women in my life. It was so nice to show them our new city that we now call home. We didn't have to wait too long to wonder who our next visitors would be....Lesley and Steve are all set to come out for a European adventure in April! Stay tuned!

We were lucky enough to hit the last day of the famous
Gendamenmarkt Christmas Market - which happened to be New Years Eve!

Les posing with some new friends at the Brandenburg Gate

Mom and I ordering some delicious Kraut's soup in our neighborhood

The snowy streets of the Dutch Quarter in Potsdam

Judy at the Sky Cafe atop the 1145 ft. tall TV tower in Berlin!

View from the TV tower

Nutty Obsession

One of the first things I missed upon moving to Germany was my Trader Joe's chunky lightly salted peanut butter. Most mornings before work in Santa Barbara, I would slather a spoonful of the peanuty-goodness on my bagel or english muffin (which also do not exist here!). Coming here, I was lost without my peanut butter. The dilemma was a big one: What would sustitute for the poor excuse for peanut butter that they have here?? I quickly found my soultion, and soon to be obsession: NUTELLA. Now, I know what you're thinking.....at first glance, the two seem very different. I mean, peanut butter is very salty and peanuty, while Nutella is mostly, well, sweet and chocolately. But it didn't take long to become accustomed to the smooth, hazelnut-ty goodness that comes in every small glass jar of Nutella. After all, there's even a picture on the jar of it smeared all over a piece of bread. Instant breakfast solution. Well, after a few days of indulging, I was quickly finding other creative methods to satisfy my Nutella cravings.... on pretzel sticks, atop bananas, between slices of bread, on crackers, ...the possibilities seemed endless. Just when I thought I had exhausted my ideas for Nutella uses, I added one more way to my list this morning.....crepes! I found a great recipe for vanilla crepes that I must share. Of course, the secret ingredient is Nutella. Add some sliced bananas and you are in for a BIG treat. Guten apetit!

Vanilla Crepes (serves 12)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons melted butter

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, mix together the milk, egg yolks and vanilla. Stir in the flour, sugar, salt and melted butter until well blended.
2. Heat a crepe pan over medium heat until hot. Coat with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the pan and tip to spread the batter to the edges. When bubbles form on the top and the edges are dry, flip over and cook until lightly browned on the other side and edges are golden. Repeat with remaining batter.
3. Fill crepes with your favorite fruit, spread, cream, caramel or even ice cream or cheese to serve.

Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch!

In front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! It has been fun experiencing the holidays in another way this year. When you spend Christmas in Germany, the first thing you notice are the Weihnachtsmarkts (Christmas Markets) that pop up all over the city. I think we went to a different one every weekend this month, until we were Christmas-marketed out....and there were still dozens more to see! We learned which ones were good, and which ones to avoid. At the more traditional markets, craftsmen set up booths (these adorable little log-cabin looking things) and peddle the classic wooden figures that the Germans are known for making. Many people attend these markets for the delicious bratwurst or for a warm mug of Glüwein (a mulled wine full of aromatic spices...mmm). The ambiance at these markets is something to experience, and it really does put you in the Christmas spirit.

At a Christmas Market with some new friends...Admir, Emina, Marion and Jens

The weather here has been cold and dreary, but we are thankful for the cozy and warm cafes in our neighborhood that have helped us survive our first real winter in 5 years. The German word Gemütlichkeit means coziness and comfort, and we have read that many cafes here try to compete to be the most Gemütlichkeit(ish) of them all. The idea is that when you enter, you are able to leave your worries and troubles at the door because you have entered a place that is not only warm and cozy, but also accepting and welcoming. What a great reason to compete, and we have been reaping the benefits. Often after dinner, we will seek out one of these places in our neighborhood and we are always excited to find one more that we never noticed before. It's may not be the warm sunshine of California, but it is a welcomed retreat from the chilly weather here in Berlin!

I've enjoyed one too many of these!

Jong, Matt and Admir at Jong's Christmas dinner

New Years.......While Matt is in Boston visiting his family before going to a conference, I will be ringing in the new year with my favorite ladies...my mom and sister! More pictures to follow, I can assure you!

Giving thanks in Germany

Happy Thanksgiving! We were lucky enough to have not one, but two turkey dinners during this first Thanksgiving in Germany. On the actual day of Thanksgiving we were invited to have dinner at my wonderful new boss' house. There were 20 other people there, all Americans, all from my new school. It was a warm and welcoming group and really helped to ease that missing-family feeling. A few days later, we challenged ourselves by hosting a Thanksgiving dinner of our own (see pics below!). We wanted to thank those that were so very helpful in getting us settled here in this foreign city. And what better a way than to have them over for a Thanksgiving feast?? We had to scramble a bit for all of the foods and ingredients (who knew that corn starch for the gravy would be such a challenge to find??) but in the end it all came together and everyone enjoyed 2nds (and 3rds!). No leftovers at this Thanksgiving dinner! We have much to be thankful for and it was so to be able to share these traditions with some of our new German friends.

Waiting for the turkey to finish cooking....

Jutta and baby Leto...they lived in our apartment before us!

Burnt the turkey..whoops. Still tasted good though!

Ready to eat their first Thanksgiving dinner!

The spread

Settling in

It's been almost two months since we arrived in Berlin. Slowly we are learning how to navigate the city and we are finally starting to feel a little more settled. Last weekend we decided to add some color to our otherwise white wohnzimmer (living room)! We picked a nice earthy orangy-brown to compensate for our lack of pictures and wall hangings. The place is beginning to shape up and is feeling more and more like home. Besides our home decorating ventures, we have been busy with work and play. Matt is enjoying his position at Max Planck and I have recently become employed at the Berlin Metropolitan School! It is an international school right in Mitte, Berlin's historic and exciting center. I am currently a long-term substitute but I have been offered a full-time contract for next year! So thankful for the opportunity to gain international teaching experience as well as some new teacher friends!

Almost finished!

Matt showing off his painting skills

Finished!

Local Market-goers

This morning, after sleeping in until 11am (long week!), we walked about 2 blocks to Boxhagener Platz....a large park with ample sidewalk space for fabulous weekend markets. On Saturdays, many shoppers with their reusable bags in tow arrive for a large open-air food market. All sorts of vendors return weekly with their delicious cheeses, breads, fruits, veggies, eggs, fish, jams, meats, oh and did I mention cheese?? I am in heaven. This morning we stocked up on egges, bread and veggies for the week. Tomorrow the same neighborhood platz hosts a flea market. Last week we scored 2 comfy leather chairs and a sweet dining room table set. I wonder what we'll stumble upon tomorrow?

Mmmm...fresh brot!

We couldn't resist buying some spuds named "Laura"!

A view of our new neighborhood

Home Sweet Home

How fun it is to set up a new home! Sure, the lugging of the heavy furniture and hours of IKEA-building are not necessarily activities of choice, but once it's all said and done, it is just so NICE! We are in love with our new place. It couldn't have worked out better. Initially, the daunting task of setting up viewings and securing a desirable place to live seemed close to impossible. This was actually the first (and only!) place we saw! It is in a lively, hip location in east Berlin with lots of cafes, pubs and shops all within walking distance. The one downside is Matt's commute - one hour each way. He has stocked up on some good novels at a local English bookstore to help pass his daily train ride. Here are some pics from the last few weeks. As of today, we are online here at our new place, so expect some more updates soon! Once we get the place set up a little more, we'll pass along some of those photos as well!

Matt built our new bed with his handy swiss army knife!

Reading up on our new fridge

The view from our new balcony...I think we'll have to wait for spring to really enjoy it!

Halloween at "Hairy Mary's" - an English pub

Matt and Jong on Halloween with our friendly waiter

A biking adventure in Golm/Postdam

This week tested our patience. Our apartment in Berlin was not available for another week, which meant we were in Golm for one...more...week. Don't get me wrong, I know there are MANY worse places in the world to live than Golm. It's just that once people leave here to go home (mostly in Berlin), this place becomes deserted....plain empty. Well, the other day while Matt was working, I felt the need to get out and explore, yet didn't have a train pass at the moment and didn't really feel like making the hour commute into Berlin. So....I borrowed a bike! I rode through Golm (which took all of 3 minutes) and into Potsdam. I reached Sanssouci Park and explored the massive park using the various trails that wind throughout. What a beautiful park! Although the bike was a little rusty and the brakes were on their way out, it felt so nice to be out. The weather is turning cooler (50's this week) and pretty soon it will become more of a challenge to get out enjoy the great outdoors. So....I was thankful for this day of biking and exploring. Here are some pics from my outing:

The Japanese Tea House
at Park Sanssouci

A view of Sanssouci

Riding along the path

Many of the homes in Postdam/Golm resemble this one:

On the way through Golm...with some groceries!

Last but not least...this is the guesthouse where we've
been living for the last 2 1/2 weeks!

KaDeWe: A shopper's haven!

Yesterday I journeyed into Berlin to drop off our signed rental contract (we move in early next week and could not be more excited!) Afterward, since I was by myself and had yet to do some shopping in Berlin, I decided to venture over to KaDeWe, Berlin's largest and most extravagant department store. This enormous store is bursting with everything you could ever need (or think you need!). My favorite is the top "Gourmet Floor", which sits high above the surrounding city buildings, and boasts delectable treats from around the world, including (my downfall!) over 1,300 types of CHEESE! There is even an American section where you can find otherwise difficult items to spot in Germany such as peanut butter, chocolate chips, and Hunt's BBQ sauce. I guess I haven't be away long enough to miss my favorite American staples, but I'm sure we'll be back there in the coming months to satisfy our cravings for some home cookin'.

Well, my true mission at the KaDeWe this time was to locate their craft store that I had read about on the internet. Lesley and I recently decided to start a new blog called Sister Knitters (check it out!), where we pick the same project and knit the item for each other. The first project : Mittens!! I was dying to get my hands on some of Germany's best yarns, and I was not let down. I spotted idee from a distance (who could miss it??):


The store was like a gourmet Michaels/AC Moore. Everything was arranged in neat little rows in cute little packages.....without restraint (and with some money in the bank account--where is our money?!), I could have bought it all! I found the knitting section and was in heaven. I had to touch it all. I found some delicious yarn to knit my first project for my favorite sister :) Visit our new site again to see the finished products (not to be revealed, of course, until they make it across the Atlantic Ocean and in the hands of the other sister!) I will certainly be returning to IDEE, and am also planning on visiting Berlin's smaller yarn shops. This is fun!

I almost needed to be restrained!

A street artist on my way back to the train:

Sunday Brunch...and other people's junk

Today we experienced our first true Berlin brunch. Berliners take Sunday brunch very seriously. Typically a Sunday brunch lasts from 11am to 4pm, and many people do end up staying the entire time. A delicious all-you-can-eat feast costs a measly 8 Euros, and you leave feeling like you've eaten enough goodness to last you until next Sunday. Each restaurant boasts their own individual brunch flair. We happened to attend brunch at an Italian restaurant this morning, so ours was equipped with mouth-watering tiramasu as well as assorted meats, cheeses and fruits. I have recently discovered "apfelschorle", which is a slightly fizzy applejuice, and surprisingly thirst-quenching. Ooh this brunch thing could definitely become a habit!



After eating to our heart's content, we decided burn off some calories by walking to Mauer Park in Prenzlaur Berg. This park is the old site of the Berlin wall ("mauer" means "wall" for those beginner German students!) and each Sunday there is a HUGE flea market here. The market draws many Berliners alike in search of various items - anything from clothing to bike parts to....you name it, you'll probably find it! Mostly it was heaps and heaps of junk.....but one person's junk is another person's treasure, right? We had our eye on some used furniture that we could use in our new apartment, as well as some light fixtures, kitchen supplies, and home decor. We also found another flea market one block away from our new apartment (which we'll be moving to in a week!) so we're excited to get back there once we're in the neighborhood. Here's a video of us at the market checking out the goods....including a wig that Matt wouldn't let me buy :)

First Impressions

Sanssouci = Without Worries

Is it really possible only one week has passed since our arrival? From the moment our plane landed and we stepped foot on the streets of this vibrant city, we've been going....nonstop. With all of the anticipation of this big move abroad, we were willing and ready to jump right in and tackle all looming threats of jetlag, culture shock, etc. And I'd say we've done OK so far!

In the last 7 days, we've learned to navigate the trains (which involved missing a few, of course!) and at the same time realized that our legs were in for a huge shock! Like in most cities, you walk, and walk and walk to get anywhere and everywhere. Well, without a car (and no plans to have one), we've been adjusting to this new and necessesary form of daily exercise.

Over the weekend we were lucky enough to get 2 private insider tours of the city. Jong, an American who works with Matt, walked us around the city for hours and hours on Saturday, showing us all the hotspots in the up-and-coming Berlin neighborhoods. We instantly were attracted to these funky neigborhoods nestled in what used to be East Berlin. Rent here is still relatively inexpenisve, and the area is packed with cafes, pubs, parks and theaters. On Sunday, we attended brunch at the home of another of Matt's colleagues, Paul. He and his family live in West Berlin, a nice area that tends to be a bit more pricy and quiet. So much to take in, but our explorations have been very helpful in helping us narrow down the neighborhoods that are right for us.

Other accomplishments include getting cell phones, opening a bank account, and registering our (temporary) address. All of these steps are necessary for securing a flat, so we are on our way to finding our first home here in Berlin! All in all, we are adjusting well and are enjoying each day. We are super motivated at this point to LEARN German, so we will definitely look into classes in the near future. Until next time....aufwiedersehen!

Walking towards Sansouci in Postdam

Our "welcome" basket

The coffee here is the BEST!

Matt's a little suspicious of what's coming behind him-

Touring Potsdam in the fall = gorgeous!

On the shores of Long Lake......

The fresh scent of pine, the lapping waves along the shore, the crying loons at night......all of the incredible memories came quickly rushing back to me as we drove down the steep hill to our beloved Camp Newfound. The crisp fall breeze filled my lungs as I took in a few deep breaths of the cleansing Maine air. Ahh....there's really no place like home. As I walked down towards the lake, I thought back to when I was 11 years old, locked arm in arm with my camp friends as we walked to the dining hall or to our sailing class. How is it possible for one little camp in the sleepy town of Harrison, ME to hold so many wonderful memories for years to come? My sister, brother and I came to camp here for many summers growing up. It was here that we learned to waterski, canoe, sail, hike, bike.....the list goes on. It was here also where I learned how to overcome obstacles, challenge myself, and be pushed out of my comfort zone.

Lucky me.....last week I got to return to camp with my 2 favorite women - Lesley (my sister) and Judy (my mom) - for the adults' creative arts program. We signed up for a writing class, not really knowing what to expect, but just glad to be in the presence of camp. We were all a little apprehensive at the idea of 4 long days of doing nothing but writing, writing, writing. Thanks to our amazing teacher Heather Vogel Frederick (a very talented published author!) and our fellow writers in the group, the class exceeded all expectations. We were given exercises that inspired and helped us to generate creative ideas for stories, poems and essays that took us to new places as writers. I left feeling uplifted and, well, greatly inspired to keep writing and journaling throughout my life. Thanks to everyone who made this a fabulous week spent at my favorite place on earth!!

The 3 of us standing by the grove:

Long Lake in the distance:

No trip to Maine would be complete without a juicy Maine lobster!!