Februar in Deutschland

 

Guten Tag!

It's been cloudy, but not rainy, with temps in the 40's Fahrenheit. I am very thankful for the break I've gotten from winter this year. When folks around here complain about the winter weather, I just smile and think, you don't have a clue. 

With German language class every day, my life has fallen into a sort of routine--"slow tourism" at its best. I grocery shop with the locals, I ride the bus with the locals, I take walks like the locals. Without trying, I don't present as "American". I have people come up all the time and start asking a question in Bavarian German, which I don't understand, and I have to reply, Es tut mir Leid, aber ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch. They then will speak standard German, or ask if I speak English, or they smile and move on. 

Another thing I do is go to lots of church services (unlike the locals, unfortunately). It's only an 8 minute or so bus ride, with a short walk on both ends, and often on Sundays, I walk home. Since the parish is in the Russian tradition, we hold the Vigil service on Saturday nights and Hours and Liturgy on Sunday. In addition, we have two Vespers services a week, and also services for all the Feast Days and other major saint's days. I've also been attending a Monday evening class at the monastery, which starts with Vespers, then dinner, then the class. That's just come to an end. I also go to singing lessons on Friday afternoons at the monastery. So, I'm keeping pretty busy. I've also been singing and reading at all the services, so I'm keeping in good practice.  

I will have to find a new routine when I get back to Alaska, since I don't work full-time any more. I don't know what my retirement life in Alaska looks like, yet, since right after school was out last spring, I had the knee surgery and was laid up, then went to Germany. I expect to sub a few days a week at select schools, and join the Mat-Su Birders, and maybe the Friends of the Palmer Library.

I just finished my first month of intensive German, and have improved in my reading and listening comprehension, but the speaking has a way to go, and with 15-16 people in the class, there's not much opportunity. The advertising said "small classes", but I guess one person's idea of small isn't the same as another's.   

I think originally, we were sure we wanted to stay here, but as time passes, I miss my own culture, for better or for worse, and am not sure I would still choose to stay here if the decision were ours. Fortunately, for me, the decision was made by circumstances, so I don't have to agonize over the decision. If we had known how things would turn out, we might not have come at all, but it's been a life-long dream to come and do 'slow tourism' for several months, and that's just exactly what I got to do. That's one major thing to cross off the ole' bucket list!

I know this experience has changed my perspectives on a lot of things, and I've had to stretch myself to go into places alone and ask for what I want in German. 

This coming week isn't as busy as the past few. Who knows, but I might skip class and jump on a train (the cost of which is covered by our monthly transportation subscription) to go somewhere for the day. Pat is recuperating well from the stroke, but still lacks stamina, so I'm doing most things on my own. 

Bis nächste Zeit!