So as it turns out Spunky can't come with me because her rabies vaccination won't be valid in time. It becomes valid the day AFTER I leave. Go figure. Oh well, Suki had a rabies shot in January, so she is still considered valid and will be coming with me. It shall be interesting because she's a wailer when you put her in her cage. I think she'll be the annoying screaming "baby" on the plane that deep down everybody feels bad for, but by hour 6 are honestly picturing smothering with a pillow. Oh well, I'll just bring my ear plugs so I don't have to listen to it. I'm horrible!
I started reading the book Eat Pray Love today. I had to put it down to make sure I have enough left for the plan ride. I'm debating whether or not I want to go see the movie before I leave even though I won't be done with the book. I'm sure it will come out in Germany, but.... ok I'll just be honest... it looks like such a great movie that I'm not sure I want to wait for it to come out in Germany. Julia Roberts is my favorite actress. I just lover her laugh!
18 days and counting!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Packing Begins
I've packed my life away for a year in one suitcase before, but for some reason, this time it seems more complicated. I guess it's because I'm more high maintenance than I was the last two times I went over there for a year. What I mean by that is... Now I have to bring things like lotion, shampoo, conditioner, peppermint oil, Neti Pot, nasal spray etc. with me because of the stupid smell problem I have now. I suppose having to bring teaching materials and the kitties makes it more complicated too. Packing in the vacuum seal bags definitely makes it easier though. Oh well! It will all work out.
Got the kitties calming drops and wipes today. Hopefully they work! We got them water bottle things too. Like the ones you put in rodent cages. Now I just have to find little plastic food dishes/bowls.
I have laundry coming out my ears. I think I've done like 9 loads and have 2 more to do.
I found a bunch of cheap teaching materials at Target. (Thanks Susan for the heads up.) I found a bunch of flashcards... US States, Presidents, Animals, Homonyms, and Rhyming. I had to throw out a few of the rhyming cards though because they tried telling me that the word "spot" rhymes with bought, ought, and sought and that the word "doll" rhymes with wall, ball, call, tall. I can see how maybe if you're from a different part of the country and pronounced vowels differently how you could rhyme "doll" with those words, but how they think "spot" rhymes with bought, thought, etc. is beyond me. I also found a book on Native Americans and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I am bringing some measuring cups and rulers with me as well, so students can compare the metric systems to ours. That and all my recipes are in our system and I'm too lazy to do the math and convert them all the time.
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| Suki thinks she's going packed in the suitcase. |
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Poop on the Vet
So, my vet has to be the biggest moron ever.
You have to have certain accreditation to sign papers for animals going abroad. I specifically chose the vet we go to 6 months ago because they said they had the proper accreditation.
So, in order to fly to the European Union you have to get a rabies vaccine, a health certificate, and a Pet certificate in German. I get all this stuff filled out and make an appointment to get is signed by the USDA. I go down to the USDA's office yesterday to get everything signed and sit there for 45 min. wondering what the heck is taking so long for them to simply sign a piece of paper. Come to find out the vet who signed my papers does not have the proper accreditation. She apparently thought she did. How you can think you have creditation that you don't have is a mystery to me. That would be like me saying: "I thought I was licensed to teach Social Studies just because I am already certified to teach German". Would somebody please explain to me how a vet doesn't know what he or she is or isn't certified for?
So, now I get to refill out all the paperwork, take it back to the vet, have the other vet at the place we take out cats sign the papers and then go back down and sit at the USDA again.
I've just about had it with this vet. First they put the wrong mircrochips, now this! I'm starting to think they got their licenses out of a Cracker Jack box.
When we get back to the States I will most def. be finding a new vet.
Grrrr!
You have to have certain accreditation to sign papers for animals going abroad. I specifically chose the vet we go to 6 months ago because they said they had the proper accreditation.
So, in order to fly to the European Union you have to get a rabies vaccine, a health certificate, and a Pet certificate in German. I get all this stuff filled out and make an appointment to get is signed by the USDA. I go down to the USDA's office yesterday to get everything signed and sit there for 45 min. wondering what the heck is taking so long for them to simply sign a piece of paper. Come to find out the vet who signed my papers does not have the proper accreditation. She apparently thought she did. How you can think you have creditation that you don't have is a mystery to me. That would be like me saying: "I thought I was licensed to teach Social Studies just because I am already certified to teach German". Would somebody please explain to me how a vet doesn't know what he or she is or isn't certified for?
So, now I get to refill out all the paperwork, take it back to the vet, have the other vet at the place we take out cats sign the papers and then go back down and sit at the USDA again.
I've just about had it with this vet. First they put the wrong mircrochips, now this! I'm starting to think they got their licenses out of a Cracker Jack box.
When we get back to the States I will most def. be finding a new vet.
Grrrr!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
And we're off...
Spunky and I are off to Germany August 24th!
Tony will be leaving with the other girls September 22nd!
It should be interesting flying with the kids.
Tony will be leaving with the other girls September 22nd!
It should be interesting flying with the kids.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
AALEN
SO.... I forgot to mention that I FINALLY know where I'm going to be teaching next year. (I've actually know for a few weeks... I just forgot to post it on here). We'll be in Aalen. It's about 45 min. away from Stuttgart.
Here's the city's website in English, if you're interested. http://www.aalen.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=46660&_bereich=46658
I'll be at the Schubart Gymnasium in Aalen. It's a bilingual school. That means that students start learning English at a very early age and by 9th grade students are learning core subjects in English.
It's a smart idea, I think.
Here's the school's website, if you're curious. www.sg.aa.bw.schule.de/
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| Downtown Aalen |
I'll be at the Schubart Gymnasium in Aalen. It's a bilingual school. That means that students start learning English at a very early age and by 9th grade students are learning core subjects in English.
It's a smart idea, I think.
Here's the school's website, if you're curious. www.sg.aa.bw.schule.de/
Wohnung (Apartment)
As of yesterday Tony and I officially have a place to live in Germany. It is a Wohnung (apartment) of a local teacher who will be going on Sabbatical for the exact time we'll be over there. Funny how God works his "magic" sometimes. The place is fully furnished AND we're allowed to have die Katzen (the cats) there too! Because God knows we CANNOT live without our Kinder (children).
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| das Wohnzimmer |
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| das Schlafzimmer |
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| das Esszimmer |
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| der Balkon |
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| das Badezimmer |
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| die Küche |
Saturday, May 1, 2010
State
Well, I found out that I will be teaching in the state of Baden-Württemberg, which is where I had requested to be. I don't know the exact city yet, but should know early in June. I'm hoping to be placed in or near Stuttgart.
Getting the tonsils yanked on June 4th. What a lovely way to spend our first anniversary. FINALLY they figured out what the problem is.... or at least part of the problem.
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