Going out too much?

Haven't updated in a while, nothing really THAT exciting to update about. Last weekend, just took it easy and didn't really do anything. Went out with some new Air Force friends we made last friday night, and that was an adventure. Now that we got to know them a bit better, there are two that I deem are the coolest and I feel the safest/most comfortable with. So we went out with them again this past friday night.

Started out at a bar, I tried a double bacardi and coke w/ lime, which was actually QUITE yummy. Then I had my first taste of jager... which I don't think was that bad... I also had a bit of my friend's Strawberry Mofo - all in a not very long period of time. I believe I was buzzed that night. Interesting feeling. I also had my FIRST DONER which was SOOO delicious, and something called Currywurst? That was also delicious... I think the pictures are on Julley's camera. Anyway, so we ended up going to another bar for a bit, then decided we wanted to dance, and ended up at a club. The club we went to is located in Kaiserslautern, aka K-town. There are multiple rooms with different styles of music playing in each room. When you enter the club, they take a picture of you and give you a card - your drink card. Which means anytime you order a drink, you just give them your card and they charge it on that, when you leave at the end of the night, you pay for your card which has the cover (8 euro) and the drinks that you bought. If you lose your card.... I just heard that's a bad thing to do. Anyway, so we got home at like 5am Saturday.... >.<>

By the time I went to bed, it was close to 6am... and somehow I woke up at 8:30!! Of course I went back to sleep and didn't actually get up until about 12/1-ish. Went to the BX, which is this HUGE store that's like a combination of different stores into one... not sure how to describe it, but it's kinda like a higher class Walmart. Anyway, we don't have privileges to shop there b/c we're not military, BUT we have air force friends now, who was kind enough to take us! =D Afterwards, we went to watch a movie... I saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for $4!!! Pretty cool.

Got home, and the aquatics girls wanted to go out. They wanted to come with us the night before, but they work Saturdays so they couldn't, so they wanted to go out tonight, and our air force guys said they'd take them out... so Julley and I ended up going out again... This time we just went to one bar in Landstuhl, and stayed there the entire time. It was fun, I didn't drink at all cuz I figure I already drank the night before. This time though, instead of getting home at 5... we left the bar around 5 O.o We went to one of the guy's house who lived off base and crashed there... 4 girls... 4 guys... interesting night... er... morning. I couldn't sleep, so I ended up doing random things until about 9 or 10am I fell asleep in the kitchen... haha yea... quite an experience!

Anyway, by the time I got back home it was noon and another day was gone. Luckily I was so exhausted I fell asleep early and was able to get back into the swing of things for work on Monday. 

Work has been getting better in the sense that the kids know me and are comfortable around me. I love watching them because they are in that stage where development just SPURTS and one day a child isn't walking, and the next day the child is able to take a couple steps to get to you. One day a child isn't using words, and after the weekend, the child comes in and says "Hi". It's an amazing and rewarding experience.

This weekend is the last weekend of Oktoberfest, AND my eurorail pass finally came, so I we will be going to Munich, to see the city as well as experience Oktoberfest. How exciting! I promise to have more pictures! Now that my pass is here, I'll just be going going going and it should be a lot more exciting.

There has been two diagnosed cases of Strep Throat in my classroom =/ I have yet to get sick, and I hope I never do... I don't think I've ever had strep before... so let's hope it stays that way.

Can't believe it's my birthday next week... PLEASE write me! Or send me pictures! I'll put it on my wall and I'll totally write back!

Camp Adventure

ATTN: Shirley Yang

86 SVS/SVY Unit 3270

Box 535

APO/AE 09094

~SHY

First Week in GERMANY

Alright, here's the lowdown. I changed a kid's diaper for the first time on friday... and gosh they poop so much! O.o really makes a person rethink the whole maternity deal

Military culture is so interesting. Things seem to move at warp speed and everyone seems to get married and start families really early, which makes sense in their circumstance. 

Friday night, some of us went to an Irish bar right off base in Ramstein. They serve everything here in really BIG cups... like .5 Liter cups... more like mugs. anyway, I tried something called a "Strongbow" and that was really yummy. It's a dry ale, and is only available in Europe. =(

Saturday was the wine festival. Think State fair but more open drinking and different kinds of food booths. I imagined it to be more like you go around the booths and taste a bit of different kinds, but when I was there... SURPRISE! Not quite what I imagined. So we got there and went to a booth. You order a wine that they have and you pay a 2 euro glass deposit and when you return your glass, you get the 2 euro back, otherwise you can keep the glass. Well they give you the wine in a HUGE .5 Liter Glass. And apparently the alcohol in Europe overall is a lot stronger than the US. O.o The size of the glass of wine... CRAZY

Didn't go on any of the rides or anything, just tried a bunch of foods. Had my first BRATWURST which was delicious, and also HUGE. Also had some chocolate covered strawberries which was soo yummy, the chocolate AND the strawberries! =D very happy

Sunday, we woke up early to go hiking through the Black Forest. We went with the Outdoor Recreation center on base so we didn't have to worry about planning or catching the train, so that was nice. It was less of a hike and more of a stroll through the forest, but it was still very beautiful. There was a waterfall, and lots of green.

After the walk, we got some black forest cake, which I'm glad I didn't get. I tried a little, and I didn't like it... perhaps cuz there was alcohol in the cake. Someone else got a chocolate cake that I tried, and there was a layer in the cake that tasted like pure alcohol. It was pretty strong... We also went to a cuckoo clock place because that area is supposedly known for the clocks, and I almost got something, but as usual, I talked myself out of it. On the way back to the base, we took a detour and stopped by a castle. My first castle in Europe! I have a feeling I will get to see as many castles throughout Europe as I saw temples/shrines throughout Japan! =D 

First actual week of work where I am in ratio with the kids, and monday was a rough day.... after the kids stay home with their parents all weekend, they're a bit harder to handle on mondays, but I'll get used to it, just like how I'm getting used to changing diapers and putting babies to sleep.

GERMANY!

I am now in Germany! And here is my quick update on the past couple days!

Arrived in Germany on Monday, and what was only supposed to be a 1.5-2 hour drive to base ended up being a 4 hour drive because of many road closures due to construction, unclear detours and just making wrong turns. =/ I was pretty exhausted when we finally got on base. Our apartment is amazing, we have 5 people living in a 4 bedroom 2 bathroom fully furnished apartment. As much as I wanted my own room, Julley and I are the two people sharing the master bedroom >.<>

Tuesday, we spent the day trying to get a working visa... but that didn't work out too well, got our badge that'll allow us to get on base, and the person driving us around was nice enough to show us around base and let us know where everything is... not that I remember cuz the base is SO big!

Wednesday was our first day of observation at work. I started observing the class that's 6mos.-12mos. I LOVED that class, the infants were so mellow and it was just a lot of fun. Then we met with the trainer person, and she told me I'd be working in a classroom with 12mo.-24mo. old kids... and I went to observe that classroom and it was just pure CHAOS. Apparently the center has also been terribly short staffed recently, and the room I'm supposedly working in doesn't have a room lead... which is supposed to be the main teacher/caregiver of a specific classroom. No wonder that class is chaotic.

My work schedule has me working M-F from 6am-3pm! That means I have to be ready to leave by 545am.. EVERY... SINGLE... WEEKDAY... O.o Last night I was gone before it even hit 10pm. On the plus side, at least I have my afternoons free

I probably shouldn't compare this trip to Japan, not only because they are two completely different countries, but also because what I'm doing here is completely different from what I did in Japan. But naturally I do compare the two, and after having the amazing time that I had in Japan I have high expectations for Germany. I realize by having these expectations and comparisons, I may not get as much out of this trip as I can, however, as of right now, Germany is nowhere in comparison to Japan, and is not meeting such expectations. Hopefully I'll learn a thing or two and have just as an amazing time here.

This weekend we have a winefest planned, clubbing at a nearby town (apparently it's something that needs to be experienced), and potentially hiking through the Black Forest. Not sure why it's called that, but I guess I'll find out if it happens!

MY MAILING ADDRESS!!! Please mail me! I'll write back I PROMISE! =D

NAME

86 SVS/SVY Unit 3270

Box 535

APO AE 09094

Waking up so early is exhausting...