Where's Summer?

Chicago is melting from the heat, yet in Hamburg I briefly considered grabbing gloves on the way out today -- with my umbrella of course. We didn't make it out of the 50s today :( But on a positive note, we've stayed dry so far. At least Mom and Grandma get to experience typisch Hamburg. We did have great weather while we were in Southern Germany last week -- 80s and sunny. Tomorrow we head to Bremen which shows a slightly more positive forecast than Hamburg and by the time we head to Berlin on Friday, we should be experiencing slightly more normal summer weather. We hope.

The trip is going very well so far. Grandma is only marginally complaining about how much I'm making her walk and Mom showed restraint at the Fischmarkt by not purchasing a mega-huge bag of chocolate or fruit that we could have never eaten -- even though they were a steal at only €10.

We have a lot planned for our last week together and I'm already getting sad that we've past the halfway mark. Even though they think they are a giant pain in my neck (they  aren't!), my tiny apartment and post-work schedule are going to seem a lot more empty come next week.

Can't wait to recap for you all!

Mundt Mädels

We're at it again! Friday marks the third time my mom and grandma are flying to Europe to visit me in my third European city. And my mom made two additional trips! I am thrilled, in disbelief, and experiencing a smidge of nervous excitement now that Friday is so close.

Mom and Grandma have logged quite a lot of miles to experience my unique experiences abroad. It started with their trip to Innsbruck, Austria in November 2003 when I was studying abroad. Just a few months later in Spring 2004, my mom, dad, sister, and brother traveled to Germany/Austria with the high school band and orchestra (my mom, sister, and I went three years prior). We were able to meet up in Innsbruck, Vienna, and München.

Then we zipped forward to Christmas and New Year's 2006/07 when I was teaching English in Vienna, Austria and my sister was studying in München, Germany. We spent Christmas in München and NYE in Wien. And then in April 2007, my mom, grandma, and aunt came to visit my sister and me. Again, we split our time between München and Wien.

And now we're here in June 2012, and mom and grandma are all packed to spend 18 days with me in Hamburg and all around Germany. I feel so blessed. Not only have I been able to spend so much time in Germany and Austria, but I've also been able to share it with so many people I love. I've had quite a few people make trips out, and while it is stressful, it's also just plain wonderful.

And to reflect even further, exactly 14 years ago I was in Ireland with my grandma on my first European trip. She unintentionally started a wonderful (and expensive!) tradition of taking each grandchild on a trip after 8th grade graduation. And she also got me hooked on international travel.

I went to Ireland, my sister went to London, Paris, and Amsterdam, and my brother went to Switzerland. After a couple of knee surgeries, Grandma decided to take the remaining grandchildren in batches of two. Two went to Italy and the last two went to Germany in 2010. Grandma said that was her last trip to Germany, but, clearly, she surprised us all when she decided to accompany my mom to Hamburg.

If our past trips are any indication of what this trip holds, it's going to be a good one :)

Napping is important. Nap circa Nov. 2003.

Making the best of unusual circumstances in Bratislava circa Jan. 2007.

My mom, me, aunt, sister, and grandma know the importance of taking a beer break in 2007.

Especially Grandma.

It's ok to visit someplace more than once because sometimes it's about the people you're with and not the sight you're seeing.

I like soccer. And, yes, I'm over 18.

The theme of the weekend was soccer. Naturally. The opening game, Poland vs. Greece, started at 18:00 with the second game of Group A starting at 20:45. This will pretty much be the schedule over the next 12 days until group play is finished. Work. Watch soccer. Repeat.

I also have to mention how strange it was to go grocery shopping during the opening game. There was literally no line at the store when I usually wait in line 10 minutes on a Friday night. Dedication.

Just a little Euro Crisis humor.

But, just in case you have something else you need to do, it's hard to be anywhere without getting a status update on the game. Every restaurant has TVs set up both inside and outside. Yes, even the fancy ones. And the Ubahn and S-bahn signs even flash the score of the current or most recently finished games. Plus, I witnessed so much sportsmanship. I saw a Polish fan, bedecked in jersey and red and white flag sitting on the Ubahn. People kept coming up to him and wishing him luck and asking what he thought about the team. And then there's the Italian and Portuguese restaurants, supporting not only their country but also Germany.

Black, red, and yellow flags are hanging from buildings and cars. Trinkets can be found at almost every store. And, of course, there are the fans. I saw so many variations of German jerseys, scarves, and crazy hats. And face paint. Can't forget that. I even picked up my own face paint that was being passed out. It's a little doo-dad that easily paints the German flag on your cheek with one swipe. I still have the Austrian flag face paint from Euro Cup 2008. I also picked up some temporary tattoos with the purchase of a shirt. I wanted something that would show my German support but was also understated. I'm very happy with my purchase.

Germany played Portugal in the second game on Saturday night. It was not the greatest game, but Germany won 1-0. Plus, I got to watch the game with friends, so it was a great experience over all. I even introduced the cream cheese/fluff fruit dip to non-Americans. I can't believe they sell Fluff here. And, virtually over night, it became strawberry season. I bought 500g for 1,27 EUR. Insane. Much cheaper than apples at the moment.

Are you kidding me moment of the weekend? I was buying Sekt and snacks at the grocery store for the game. Let me translate the conversation.

Cashier: Are you 18?
Me: Yes...
Cashier: The total is 8,57.

1. I'm so much older than 18.
2. She didn't even check to make sure.
3. At least it wasn't beer or wine because you only need to be 16.

When my mom reads this, she will surely tell me it's time to not have a high school girl's haircut. And I promise I was wearing makeup :)

Sunday was an impromptu visit to the cemetary -- the largest non-military cemetery in the world. I really wished I had worn my pedometer. I walked so much, I almost didn't think I'd make it back. All of the walking resulted in needing a nap before waking up to watch Italy v. Spain.

Germany's Next Topmodel 2012

 

My Thursdays are going to be a lot more free now that Germany's Next Topmodel (GNTM) has come to an end. I was an America's Next Top Model (ANTM) fan for a few years in the middle of it's run (I know it's on but not really at the top of its game), but something about the German version really drew me in. I had watched a few seasons when I was in Austria, but this season I made a solid commitment. I think I missed two or three episodes along the way, but it was nice to have a show to follow.


The show was on from 8:15 to 10:30 every week. There was way more footage than the one hour American show. Perhaps because they didn't have as much editing, they were able to make the girls seem more real and more genuine. And I enjoyed picking up German phrases from the younger generation.

Also, the show isn't all about Heidi Klum like ANTM is all about Tyra. Heidi wasn't even in some episodes because of other engagements or traveling. And it's hard not to like Heidi. She just seems like so much fun. I never watched Project Runway, but I do prefer German Heidi as opposed to American English Heidi.

The live Finale aired last night, with more commercials than ever before. The top four were picked off one by one, but there were no major surprises. The girls made big entrances coming in from up above with bunches of balloons. They also completed a live photo shoot while harnessed in the air above the packed arena in Köln. The Top 18 returned to walk in ridiculous outfits while Maroon 5 sang. And Justin Bieber made thousands of young German girls cry off pounds of mascara that they shouldn't have been wearing in the first place.

I was also pretty stoked to watch the show with a group of girlfriends. Watching with friends...and chocolate and strawberries and wine...was much more fun than watching alone.

It came down to Luise (pronounced Luisa) and Sarah-Anessa (Sarah is a short a like you'd say sorry, sorra?). These two have been the favorite for a while now. Luise is 17 and all legs. She's gorgeous and finally knows it. She dealt with shyness most of the season, so I knew if she overcame that just a little bit, she'd be the winner.

Sarah-Anessa, aside from have a lovely name, started the show as a blonde "Barbie-like" model until her makeover turned into a dark-haired beauty. She has killer eyes and the biggest smile ever.



Luise was announced the winner just minutes before 11pm when the show officially came to an end. There was so much hugging and confetti, she didn't even give an interview. Suddenly, the feed switched over to a live version of the show "Red" which is a kind of celebrity show that often delves further into the models featured on the show. The host starts the show by saying that unfortunately they can't talk to the winner because she is a minor and children aren't allowed on the stage past 11. I had completely forgotten about this rule. Yes, it makes sense, but it was also so silly. Especially since it's ok to show the girls changing on camera. Luckily they were able to talk to the second and third place models.

And now some visuals. It's a tough choice, but if I could wear any of the outfits from the show, I would choose the Victoria's Secret based balloon train. How fun!?