Clint and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hopefully I will update soon and let you all know what we have been up to for the past month and let you know how we celebrated Christmas. We love you!!
The weekend that the Vienna Studies students were with us we went to Wittenberg. I had never been there so it was very interesting. I learned a lot about Martin Luther here. In the picture above you can see the Church where Luther posted the 95 theses and there is also a museum called Lutherhaus (Luther house). It was once a monastery and where Luther lived. We were able to see the first copy of the Bible in German that he translated and one of the earliest copies of "A Mighty Fortress" which was also written by Luther. Around the church's tower you can read the words "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" which means "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."
I know it's not good to brag but.... :) I have a really cute niece named Ashlyn and she is 20 months old today! I love you Ashlyn!
At the end of October we had a group come from the Vienna Studies Program with students from Oklahoma Christian University, Cascade College, and Rochester College. They came to help pack clothing for the Bulgaria clothing drive. Every year we send a van load of clothing to the church in Sofia, Bulgaria so that the people will have warmth for the winter. The students helped pack over 2 tons of clothes and only in one day! They were all very hard workers and we were very appreciative of their help. Since they finished early we were able to take them around Chemnitz at the end of the day on Friday and Saturday we took a trip to Wittenberg. In the picture are the two girls that stayed with us- Amanda and Leana.
One Saturday in October we went hiking with our friends Sophia, Nadine and Patrick. We went to a village called Poberschau in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). It is a beautiful area and it was the perfect weekend to go when all the leaves were beautiful colors and the weather was really nice. We ended up hiking for 4 hours and were finally back to our cars by the time it was dark. We had a great time and were all a bit tired afterwards but it was well worth it. I have some really amazing pictures that you should check out by clicking on this picture.
The first week of October I went to Austria for a ladies' retreat. This is the third year I have been here and every year I love it more and more. Not only is it always wonderful to meet so many other Christian women from around Germany, Austria and Switzerland but Filzmoos is a very beautiful place! We usually have free time in the afternoons to hike, relax, or have coffee and cake. I was able to do all three. This picture shows me hiking with Bri, Alex and Anita. Kristi was taking the picture. Of course later we stopped to have coffee and cake as well! During the week I started to get sick and fortunately they have a spa at the hotel we were staying at and I was able to take a bath that is specifically for colds. They put eucalyptus and peppermint oils in the bath and you are supposed to breath it in. It was so nice and relaxing. These Europeans know how to get 'er done! :)
Also at the end of September we took a Saturday to go with Grady and Allison Maass to Weimar. In particular we wanted to see Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Clint and I had never been to one and it was something we should see while we were in Germany. It definitely was sobering and emotional to see but I think it is something that I needed to experience. Here is a picture of us all in front of a bell tower near the camp site. This was built as a memorial to the camp.
Larry just celebrated a birthday at the end of September and we had coffee and cake to celebrate. Here is a picture of Clint and Snickers at the party. In the background you can see Larry and Pam playing ping pong. :) You can also see that it wasn't too long ago when it was warm weather. Alas, the winds have changed. :(
Ever since Clint and I took our trip to Scotland we have had a new appreciation for "tea time". We also like to enjoy our tea time by getting our Polish pottery out. After we got married we were able to buy a matching set of dishes in Poland. We have really enjoyed getting them out and enjoying meals, coffee and tea with our friends.
Actually, here in Germany "coffee time" is a big thing and I have also come to enjoy that as well. Before I moved here I didn't even like coffee but I must say that German coffee is superior to American coffee. But whether you like coffee or not the fellowship is the best thing about "coffee time". You sit around with friends and discuss the things about your week or what is on your heart and mind. This is a tradition that I hope to hold on to for a very long time!
This morning we woke up in Chemnitz to the first snow of the season! I don't think I am really ready for that season, but I guess I will have to deal with it. As you can tell, it wasn't a lot of snow but it has stuck around on the roofs until at least noon which is pretty impressive since the sun is shining. Well I hope you are all having a wonderful day! Hopefully soon I will do another update on the last month or two's activities. There has been a lot going on here.
My niece Claire turned 1 yesterday! Happy Birthday Claire! I can't believe she has already experienced one year. My other niece, Ashlyn is now 19 months old and that is also amazing to me. It makes me happy to see pictures of them as they grow and go through new phases in their lives, but it also makes me really sad that I am not there to share those moments with them. I am so proud to be their aunt but so torn to be so far away. I talked to my niece Ashlyn on the phone a couple of weeks ago and I heard her say "hi". It was so plain and clear and I almost cried. Aren't babies so wonderful!? Sigh... just pray for me because I think my heart is breaking.
Do you love to share your political views with the locals you meet while traveling? Do you think that people in other countries should do everything the American way? Does your voice tend to get as loud as the print on your Hawaiian shirt? If so, then you might be an “ugly American.”
The concept of the ugly American has existed ever since an increasing number of ordinary, middle-class travelers began exploring the world over a half-century ago. Now, an organization called Business for Diplomatic Action, concerned by an apparent rise in what it calls “negative stereotypes about our collective personality,” is hoping to clean up the image of Americans abroad. The group has published a set of guidelines for travelers, the World Citizens Guide, that suggests proper ways of behaving when visiting countries outside of the U.S.
Among its tips:
- Be humble. In many countries, boasting is considered very rude. … Assume resentment as a default and play down your wealth, power and status.
- Refrain from lecturing. Nobody likes a know-it-all, and nobody likes a whole nation of them.
- Be quiet. A loud voice is often perceived as a bragging voice. Casual profanity is almost always considered unacceptable.
- Dress for respect. Jeans, T-shirts and sneakers work for many of us much of the time, but there are people in other countries who believe such casualness is a sign of disrespect to them and their beliefs.
These might seem like obvious ways to behave when you’re traveling abroad, and you may not appreciate the guide’s somewhat patronizing tone. But it appears we could use the advice. In studies conducted in more than 100 countries by DDB Worldwide after 9/11, respondents perceived Americans as loud, arrogant and disrespectful of local cultures. And in a new survey of seven Asian countries, the results of which were published this week in a Japanese newspaper, the image of the U.S. was reported to have declined across the board in the past decade, particularly in countries with large Muslim populations.
Posts
All Comments
