Kindergarten

Eliza attends a Kindergarten here in Germany. It is actually a preschool. She really likes it. It is all in German. It is amazing to me how fast she is picking it up! Here is Eliza with her teacher, Frau Yushiniok.

We chose....

#2!
The town of Garching is adorable. The apartment is bright and sunny, but most importantly is a block from the subway connecting us to the city.

Here are pictures that I took on a very misty morning:

Technical Difficulties

Hey everyone! Sorry to leave youi all in the lurch. We've been sans home internet now since 27 April. We have droids* but typing on a touch screen is not ideal. Also, my internet has been slowed by the provider because everyone uses my phone to skype. To add to the difficulty, our phones don't want to tether* bc the phones are from one provider and our service another. And, I just haven't had time to take it all downtown. So we are alive. And, as soon as I can figure out how to transfer pics from the computer to the phone, I'll catch everone up.

*My Nana reads this blog. Droids are google powered cell phones that get on the internet. Tethering is using your cell phone to connect your computer to the internet.

Easter 2011: The Pictures

House Hunters International: Northern Munich

Here are three of the apartments that we were choosing from. 

Apartment #1: Eching

2 Bedrooms

105 sqm

980 Eur/Mo

Commute: 32 Mins (Bus to a Train) or 49 Mins (Bus), 11 Mins (Car)

This apartment is HUGE. It is a former office space, so the rooms are a bit strange (i.e. there is a spot where you tell there used to be a door). It is located next to an auto repair garage, but supposedly, there is no noise. It is set back from the road and is in a "pastoral" area. There is a door that leads to the garage that can not be opened. The kitchen is small, but brand new and included. The floor is laminate and also brand new. There is a spot for a washer and dryer in the bathroom.

Apartment #2: Garching

2 Bedrooms

76 sqm

808 Eur/Mo

Commute: 10 Minutes (Bus or Train), 8 Minutes (Car)

This apartment is a decent size. It is located in a large building (8 floors). It is on the 3rd floor. There are two elevators. The apartment is sunny and bright. The kitchen is available for sale from the previous tenant. The floors in the bedrooms and living room are laminate, but is tile in the hall and kitchen. There is room for a washer and a dryer in the kitchen. The apartment has two balconies. No good pictures because I found it in the newspaper. This is a generic picture of Garching.

Apartment #3: Ismaning

2 Bedrooms

90 sqm

1039 Eur/Mo (including parking space rent)

Commute: 33 Mins (On 2 Buses) or 46 Mins (Bus to Train), 16 Minutes (Car)

Lovely, large apartment in a quiet area of Ismaning. The apartment has a nice view. It faces south west and has a balcony. It comes with a kitchen. It has space for a washer in the kitchen. The floors are parquet. It has a large front hall including a guest toilet. It is in a large building on floor 5 of 7. Viewing this apartment is interesting as the current owner has 3 kids (including twins), and there is stuff everywhere!

Which do you think we picked?

I Love Spring!

The Germans have a different notion of weeds than I am used to. Here the dandelions are given free reign. They grow in the grass, in the cracks, everywhere. Also, there are daisies and other small flowers in the grass. It is quite idyllic. I like the thought of nature being given a little bit more license to be nature! Yesterday, Eliza and I laid in the flower grass in the sunshine. It was fantastic. She wanted to take a picture; so, here you go.

Exchange

This is an actual chart of what the Euro has done since we've been here.

All that I can say is, "Ouch!" :(

In other news, we have procured an apartment. It has been an incredibly blessed process. Look at these stats:

-# of 3 Rm Apts on the Market in the Target Area: 6

-# of Apts in our Price Range: 3

-# of Apts with Provision*: 5

-Normal # of Applications before Procuring an Apartment: ~20

*A provision is a fee that you pay to a real estate agent because they are handling it. It is normally 2.38 times the rent. Yes, so if your rent is 1000 Euro, you pay 2380 Euro to some guy for nothing.

Here are our apartment stats:

-Right number of rooms

-Well below what we thought we were going to pay

-NO provision!!!

-First application submitted

-Bigger than our current apartment and bigger or same size as other 5 apts.

Amazing!!! I have scoured the listings on many, many websites and papers since October. The listing for our apartment came up just a few days after I arrived here in Germany started looking. I quickly realized that it was a diamond and immediately called and went and looked at it. Since then, everything has gone smoothly. I will post pictures shortly. We'll start the moving process sometime next week.

Explanation Needed

I want to know how we go from this (sunny, high 70's, beautiful):

To this (cold, downpour, depressing, 50's):

.

 Not fair!

P.S. Her pants are Regenhosen. They are like the snowsuits of my youth, but for rain.

A Rare Sighting

Some of you might not recognize that person on the right... Yup, its me. But, if I'm there, then who is taking the pictures? I forced and I repeat, forced, Claron to take a picture of me. My kids are going to think that I was an absentee mother because I am in none of the pictures. So, evidence... I am there.

The Reading Spot

Don't you just want to sit under this tree and read all day?

I know I do. I just love, love, love weeping willows!