KFC of the USA

I know that I have already hailed the great McDonalds, but the other night we made a new discovery. Kentucky Fried Chicken. We found it because it sits directly beside the Ikea we frequent and so on our last outing looking for lights we stopped for dinner. We would never stop at a KFC in the USA simply because Popeyes and Canes  is soooo much better. However, with out any other chicken options we were more than happy to have some "southern" fried chicken.
  I can only describe it in one word beautiful. We ordered a bucket of chicken with coleslaw and fries chili -cheese fries for 30 euros. The food was not so great. The chicken was not good the fries were not good! So why would I describe it as beautiful, because within its walls was a ICE machine and ...... free refills. If only you could have seen the joy on my face.
   With that being said there is nothing perfect in this world and to my disappointment they only served Pepsi products, but I will take what I can get and I was happy with my ice filled overflowing Pepsi light.

Catching the Tram

I did it, but........
        I found the public transportation system to be quite daunting since I have very little experience with the use of such things. In fact, the only time I have ever really utilized it has been on my visits to see Amanda in Chicago (and when you're in Chicago with Amanda she does all the thinking for you!)
I  just follow her lead, get on the train she tells me to get on, and ta-da that was it. Here not only have I never used the train but I can barely understand the broken English instructions.
   So I started off walking from our hotel to the Klemensplatz station to buy a ticket. I asked the young woman working if she spoke English and of course she said a little (that's the usual answer.) This girl however was telling the truth she only spoke a little. It was enough to get the temporary ticket I needed for 13 euros.  One single day group ticket later and I was on my way. I walked back to the hotel and had them drive me to our new home. There was simply to much left in the hotel for me to carry alone on the tram. So I got a lift and I was at our house with no way to pick up the kids except... the tram.  The tram I had never ridden with a ticket I was not quite sure how to use (still not completely sure.)
    I walked to the station an hour early just in case I did something wrong I would still have some time to undo my mistake.  I waited for the first train just to watch and when everyone boarded I sat and waited for the next train. The second train pulled up and I got on board scanned my ticket and hopped off 4 stops latter. After about a 15 minute walk from the station I was at the kids school 40 minutes early in 20 degree weather.  The trip had been a little too easy, now I had to freeze outside while I waited for the bell to ring.

     Now it was the kids turn to try the tram for the first time. I had spent a little extra time out side the school talking with new friends, so after walking to the train stop it was getting close to 4:30 and the train was full. We all had to stand and hold on while the train sped away. The kids seemed unimpressed by the entire situation and I think it may have been because the train was so full. Eli said it smelled horrible. When we arrived at our stop I took them into a grocery store right by the platform for a treat. We were wondering the aisles when Michael popped up around a corner. He had gotten home at 4:30 and was worried that the first train ride had been a failure. He drove to the house, then to the school, and because he knows me so well tried the grocery store (he said because he knew I didn't have coffee for the morning), and there we were. The rest of the way home was in the warm van. Michael saved us an extra 15 minutes of trudging through the snow. When we arrived the kids went straight back out in the snow to ride in some of the moving boxes down a snowy hill with friends.

We just don't know how to be cold !

     When we arrived it was around 43 degrees... not so bad. I thought "no problem"   We walked out in our thin fleece lined coats and went on our way... then it got colder and colder and wetter.
 I knew I was in trouble when a little boy ran up to Eli at school and said "my mom saw you walking today and she wants to know if you need a coat" and Oliver's teacher kept telling me "you know we go out and play EVERYDAY no matter the weather."....Ugh.... great now I look like the worst mother ever because we just don't know how to be cold!  Now it is down right bone chilling (to us) so today we went to Komphoff to buy the kids new jackets, warm jackets not the windbreakers of south east Texas, but down filled water proof snow jackets.
    We got the new gear just in time for the  dropping temperature then it started to snow and kept snowing. Now the kids apparently need; water proof trousers (Stella's words), snow boots, and new gloves (they have all lost at least one pair.) Trying to stay warm in cold weather requires a whole lot more effort than trying to stay cool in hot weather! The days of no socks and flip flips are gone. They have been replaced by multiple layers, boots, and multiple trips to the store for a new this or that. 
    Our side walk is covered in snow but Michael will not pay the 13 euros for a snow shovel. He insist they will be cheaper after the snow has melted.

Five Stories of Heaven.... If that's your thing

     We happen to be in the market for tons of new electronics due to yet another of a Americas quirky ways ie  miles, temperature, time,.... jeez.  I love anything that's different but to adjust to the majority of the worlds ways is hard. Now we are looking for a new washer, dryer, coffee maker, hairdryer, TV.. etc. The list goes on and on and this lead us to the Best Buy of Germany... Saturn. Saturn is like Best Buy but on steroids. It has 5 floors of electronics heaven, if that's your idea of heaven! It's not mine, but the majority of my family is pretty excited to see an entire floor dedicated to gaming.
   There was one noticeable difference between the two stores other than just the size. Saturn had almost an entire floor dedicated to coffee makers. Coffee makers of all shapes, sizes, and colors. There was even a 3,500 euro specialty brewer covered in your choice of sparkly crystals. Clearly the love of a cup a Joe is something this culture takes very seriously. That is saying a lot coming from a country of 4.00 specialty coffees around every corner.
   The amount of coffee makers was simply overwhelming and I opted to think things over for a bit before committing to such an important purchase. All and all we walked out with one hairdryer, two cordless phones, and one transformer(for the 3DS) for a total of 92, Euros.

Five Stories of Heaven

Silly Little Things

Of course I miss my family and friends terribly but here are some of the silly little things I also miss:

- My car
- Ice
- Extra Ice
- American Diet coke
- Refills
- Sun light
- Warm days in the winter
- Softer water
- Debit Cards vs. cash only                           
- Giant Trash Cans
- Restaurants that serve you fast, bring you the check fast, and bring it back fast
- Flip Flops
- H.E.B
- TV TV TV
- The English Language
- Roads laid out on a grid
- Easily found, free public restrooms
- Mexican food
- BBQ
- Giant free parking lots
                                      I think I will continually update this list as time goes by...

FIrst Trip to Eis Cafe

Tonight after visiting the altstadt (old town) we took a detour to the Eis Café  which is a ice cream parlor with a few more choices.

      Oliver had a clown tower made of lemon, raspberry, and vanilla ice cream with cream and a cone hat. Stella had a vanilla bumble bee with cone wings and chocolate stripes. Elijah had a bowl of spaghetti ice cream with strawberry sauce. Michael also got a large fruity bowl of some sort. It was a big hit and Oliver has asked to go back everyday since we went. Total cost 22 Euros.

Three Brits and One American

Every day from 8:40 to half past nine the school opens the cafeteria and serves specialty coffees to any parents that wish to stay and talk. Today I had to stay anyway to get my security badge, so I decided to check it out.
    Much like high school (which never really ends) the tables were separated into little groups. The only difference being that these were not the artists, jocks, and cheerleaders. These groups were separated into regions. So I sat down my bag and stood in the coffee line trying to decide where it was that I belonged. Clearly not in the Asian group as I can not speak Japanese, not with the French women whom not only spoke French but were also very tall. I had finally decided on a group that looked about right and then they broke out of English and into a flurry of German. Then there were three ladies that looked very friendly and I thought I could understand. I got my coffee and asked if I may join them. They all looked up and kindly answered in a..... British accent, "of course."
   At first I felt as if I had broken the rules by sitting outside my designated region, but the women were all very friendly. They had all lived here many years and told me how the weather was much better than in England.
     It is the united nations sitting in one cafeteria, each table representing their country. Next time perhaps I should look for my table.... Texas.
(kidding.... that was for Christy)