What to say...

So what to say now...

As a lot of you who read this may know that I am now alone in Germany.  My emotions are going pretty crazy at this point.  Right now?  I'm feeling extremely lonely.  My apartment is now very, very empty.  Not only because half of the things that were once here are gone, but also because another person that was once here is gone.

One second I think I'm crazy for being here, and how on earth will I be able to get through this with the language, and the next second I'm confident that everything will be fine.  I do think that everything will be fine, but right now I am just trying to get past the fact that the apartment echos from the lack of wall decor and I am sleeping on a futon.  Not to mention the fact that an entire room is 100% empty, and I don't plan on opening that door anytime soon.

I am about to be really busy starting this  week with work, school, and my German course all happening at once. Eeek!  It's good though,  I need to be busy now, and I need to get a little push on my speaking skills.

But for now, I don't really know what to do with myself.  I though about a bottle of wine and The Notebook, but then I thought that I would just be playing with fire.  Another idea?  I think I'm going to head on down to the American restaurant in town and have a dinner that feels like home with a good 'ole Bud Light.

Beautiful Cake

Apple and Spice Cake

I am dying to show you all this! This made me very happy when I saw how easy it was!

Baking therapy?? I think so...

Grünkohl

So I have to be honest and say that I was a complete waste of space yesterday.  The company Grünkohl party completely put me in a coma.  After today at work, that seemed to be the general consensus as well.  All in all, it was a ton of fun.


This Green Cabbage "hiking" seems to be really popular in Northern Germany.  I've seen a few groups partaking in this seasonal tradition.  I thought about how it work in the U.S., but then came to the realization that it wouldn't because you can't drink in public in the U.S.  So then I guess that slashes half the fun out the whole thing.  


I bet your wondering what on earth is Green Cabbage, A.K.A. Grünkohl ...


Warning: Don't judge a book by it's cover...  It's actually really good!

So here was a basic (and censored) run down of the night:

It started out at a meeting point where about 50 or more people came to begin the hike.  The hike consisted of walking through the city while stopping every so often to take shots and/or drink and try whatever it was everyone else had brought along with them.  How far did we walk?  About 10 kilometer.  Yea, it was far.  My feet were killing me by the time the hike was over, and even still the night was hardly half way done.  So then we came upon check point number 2 where we met with everyone who didn't want to hike.  Then after a few more drinks we continued to the restaurant.  You can imagine at this point after 3 or 4 hours we were all little bit (okay some waaay more than others) loaded.  I had to keep reminding myself that this was a marathon, not a sprint... and was somewhat successful in that.

Then came the eating, which was delicious.  And then, the second round of partying.  Those of you who know me know that I'm a dancing fool.  I like to dance... and then get a few drinks in me... I like to dance even more.  Well, in Germany, it's no different.  So everyone danced and drank and had a great time.  It really was a lot of fun... more fun than I have had in a while.  

You must be thinking... where are the pictures??? I unfortunately did not take a single picture.  I know! It's so unlike me!  I was having too much fun... let's just leave it at that.  Next year... I promise...

Grünkohl

Tomorrow is the company party.  It consists of hiking (while drinking) for 3 hours ending at a restaurant while eating Grünkohl (green cabbage-- it's seasonal, and delicious) and then drinking and dancing and a whole lot of fun.


I could not be more excited.  I will give a post party update... don't you worry...

Fitness Test

Today at work, there was a fitness test from an insurance company... uh oh...

Though it was optional, all of the Apprentices had to go and get checked out.  Thankfully, 20 minutes and 4 tests later.  I was determined to be more than healthy!

My results included 96% of good balance, only 2 kilograms difference in my weight distribution, 0.0% of carbon dioxide in my lungs, and 0% of stress in my life.

What a second...
Not an ounce of stress???? Is that possible?  I am an American living in Germany, training as an apprentice, working full time, while not speaking much of the language?  And I have no stress?  Is there something wrong with me?  When I think about this, I feel like there should be some level of stress in my life.  If I read back on some of these posts that I've made, I think I might just get stressed reading and re-living the memory.  They seemed pretty surprise at my results and all I could do was laugh.  The man conducting the test said, "Well, no one can make you angry."  I mean, yea, I guess so...

Answer me this, is it actually possible to not be stressed wherever you are and whatever you are doing in life?

Deutschkurs

Now I am taking a German course.  You may have read previously, that I was told my German isn't coming along so fast, and it would be a good idea for me to take a course.  They were right, it is in my best interest to do this... so of course I am.

Last night I had the "meeting" to sign up for the course and find out which one would best suit me.  Okay, sounds pretty easy.  All I had to do was chat with a woman who would assess the situation and find out which class I could be placed in.  Wrong.  After two "tests" she was still on the fence in placing me in the class.  The school only has a beginner and advanced class.  The beginner class in only in the Fall.  Hunh?  In my opinion, I'm not a beginner and that wouldn't benefit me so well.  At least I hope that's true.  If I'm still a beginner German speaker at this point after 6 months in Germany, then I have failed.

After taking the two tests (which I thought I didn't well on) she needed a bit more convincing, because apparently I got too many wrong... really?  I mean I'm here aren't I?  I thought admittance is the first step.  If I can get through school that is for native German speakers, and get good grades on my tests, then I'm pretty sure I can get through this class, and also be good at it.  If I need to work harder, then I work harder... Big deal, let me in the class... I'll be the best, I promise.

After a little bit of sweet talking by Daniel (because those whole conversation was in German) she gave me the golden ticket!!! Wooo! Starting February 2nd, I am enrolled!  Get ready Germany, I will be fluent soon...

Marzipan Figures

So today at work, we (meaning the Konditor Azubis (apprentices)) were taught how to make Marzipan Figurines.  This is something that will  be on our final test and the end of 3 years.  So definitely something that is necessary for me to practice....

take a look!

Now I know these aren't finished.. i.e. they don't have color and extra details, but right now it's the main form that's important.

Swan

 Bunny

 Elephant

Mouse

What on earth is that thing?

What is this??

The thing about Germany is that the produce section in the grocery store is CRAZY.  This is a pitaya.  It was delicious! To eat, you cut it in half and then scoop out the insides.  I, of course, was extremely skeptic about this because it looks kind of like a devil fruit.  But, it was nice and sweet and fruity... the exact opposite of how I though it would taste.

What's interesting about shopping here is that there are all kinds of different fruits and veggies that could never be found easily in the U.S.  Did you know there are TWO kinds of celery?  I didn't.  Did you know that sweet potatoes can be white?  Did you also know that there are white asparagus?  And that they are huge?  It's nuts, and half the time I go shopping I have no idea what I'm looking at because if the name in German isn't similar to the one in English, then I don't know what it is.  For example, garlic is Knobloch in German.  Thankfully I clearly can spot a head of garlic and have no doubt that that is what it is.  On the other hand, carrots are Karroten and there are a bunch of other similar names in the veggie world.  

Coming Home

It's official!!!

I will be coming home (Delaware) on April 2nd through the 16th!!!

Let's celebrate!

Freezing rain? Okay, it's cupcake time!

What to do... what to do...

With the freezing rain outside, and it being so cold, I really don't want to have anything to do with stepping out my front door.

My solution??

That is correct... cupcakes!  There's nothing like fresh cupcakes right out of the oven.  It's been a while since I've had the chance to make cupcakes... I feel as though I may have neglected them a bit since being in Germany.  There isn't a cupcake craze here like there is in America right now.

I thought the snowflakes were appropriate since the snow will just not let up here.  Anyway, these are vanilla cupcakes with a chocolate surprise inside, topped with Marzipan.  What's Marzipan??? Most of you who read this are from America, and Marzipan hasn't really caught on yet.  I'm not sure why, because it is soooo delicious.  I won't describe the flavor for you because it is extremely unique.  But, I do suggest you go out and try to find it somewhere because it's amazing.  It is a little bit expensive in the U.S., but it is definitely worth the extra money.  It looks and acts a lot like fondant, except it actually taste good, whereas fondant is purely sugar and doesn't taste that great by itself.

Oil or Fat?

My Dad: So what kind of oil do you guys use at the bakery to fry the doughnuts in?

Me: Uhh, what oil?  We use straight up fat.

My Dad: Oh man, I bet those taste good..

Why is it that fat makes everything taste so much better??  It is really gross to see the production of things made in fat, but the end result is just toooooo good to resist.  There is just no sense in trying to make "healthy" baked goods.  If you are going for the pastry, go the whole nine yards.  Don't whimp out and go halfway, because you will only be left disappointed.

I suggest you go out now and treat yourself.  My only rules?  Don't go for the "healthy" choice, make sure it's fresh baked (not package wrapped at the grocery store), and enjoy it 100%.

That's all for now...

Happy New Year!!!

Photo Credit

Photo Credit

Welcome to 2011!!!! Just one more year until the world ends.  Just joking, I think.  Those Mayans really know their stuff...

2010 brought me loads of good things, and if 2011 is anything like 2011, then it should be fantastic.

Let's re-cap 2010....

I graduated from Arizona State University!!!!

I turned 22

I traveled to 7 different countries.  (The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Germany, and the U.K.)

I officially moved to Germany

I got a job as an apprentice at a German bakery

All great things... I wish I could name them all, but I can't.  One thing that's not on the list in 2010, is I am still not fluent in the language we know as... German.  However, that will for sure be on my 2011 list... and I will succeed.

How was the excessive Berliner making????

Photo Credit

By the way... this pictures utterly terrifies me now.

Oh good Lord it was rough.  I started at 6:30pm and worked until 8:30am.  What?! There was massive amount of doughnut making.  The entire time consisted on Berliner making.  I don't know the final/ exact count, but there was about 60,000 made and about 20,000 Viktoria made.  What are Viktoria?

Photo Credit

We call them French Crullers, but here, they are known as Viktoria.

I was lucky enough to get a job where I didn't only have to fill and glaze the Berliners the whole day.  Most of my day consisted of me making the Viktoria dough, the glaze, and chocolate glaze for the top of the Berliners.

So you may be wondering, what is the New Years obsession with Berliners??? I honestly have no idea.  All I know is that it's tradition to have them on New Years.  You will find a plate of these at just about every New Years party in Germany.  Since Engelbrecht supplies the community in about a 30 kilometer radius of baked goods, we had to make enough to feed them all.  Another tradition which grosses me out with these Berliners is that usually one is filled with mustard.  So watch out! if you ever find yourself at a German New Years party.  You may be the one who gets the mustard filled doughnut...

More German New Years traditions?

Well of course there are!!! Fireworks are to German New Years as they are to America's Fourth of July.  The difference?  Fireworks are legal here, and sold by the bundle!  Just about everyone spends their January salary on as many fireworks as possible and creates their own show.  All day long on the 31st, I could hear fireworks in the street.  At the stroke of midnight, the ONLY thing people were doing was setting off fireworks (while drinking champagne of course).  It was interesting to say the least...

Happy New Year and Frohes Neues Jahr!!!!