You Could Ski Cross-Country On That Thing!

ZDF, the second public TV channel in Germany, built itself a new studio for its news team. The first time I saw it, the desk seemed so big, I thought it might just be virtual, like Pixar had programmed something to add it into the shots. But no, after some Internet research, I found out that this is real. That is some desk. Knowing that it cost thirty million Euro to build and remembering that we pay those lovely GEZ fees every month to pay for public radio and television here (about 18 Euro a month per person or married couple) kind of made me want to drive over there and carve off my share of it ;)

"But That Sounds Like A Beautiful Woman's Name!"

...that is how a former ESL student of a friend of mine's reacted to hearing that "Durchfall" is called "diarrhea" in English. How could such a wonderful word describe such a horrible thing?

And why the hell was this guy trying to talk about his bout of diarrhea in front of complete strangers, in the first place?

I thought long and hard about posting this one, but let me tell you, these people are leaving me NO CHOICE.

When our flight landed in Frankfurt after an eleven-hour flight, we were greeted by my in-laws at the airport. My first question was, "How are you?", to which my mother-in-law answered, "I'm fine but Joachim has stomach problems. He had diarrhea all night long." My father-in-law continued with a huge smile, "That's right! I drank too much last night and now I have been on the toilet all day! As soon as I get off, I need to go right back!"

Oh, ok. Thanks for sharing.

I'm always told that Americans don't really CARE how you are when they ask you. In my case, that's not true, I am just not all that interested in hearing the details of what kind of stomach problems you are having and its symptoms.

Unfortunately, whatever my father-in-law had apparently wasn't from too much beer, since it hung around for another three full days. I know that exactly since the patient gave us complete updates at least three times a day, usually at mealtimes. (I know.) And then he passed it onto my husband, meaning not only does my husband keep me very well informed about all of it (unfortunately), but whenever we get together with his parents, they interrogate him about what he has eaten, how often he's been to the john since they saw him last, with or without stomach cramps, if he is drinking enough, etc. After the interrogation, it turns into analysis, then they begin with the advice. Again, all of this is taking place at mealtimes.

A few days ago, I mentioned the fact that the cream of mushroom soup wasn't tasting great because of the conversation, and all three of them looked at me like I was speaking Swahili.

(By the by, I wish I was exaggerating, I swear I am not! My most overused phrase of the week is, "I really don't want to know!")

After ten days, Christoph is feeling slightly better (although he did inform our waitress of his stomach issues when she offered him brandy tonight), so I hoping this too shall pass. I haven't gotten sick. And if I do, I won't tell a soul. ;)

Overheard in Germany

"It's impossible to get sick when the sun is shining you know. Rainy weather makes you sick. That and drafts, of course."
-My father-in-law

(Laurie: He didn't mention kidneys. I am sure it was an oversight.)

A brisk walk never hurt anyone.

You know that myth about how living in warm weather areas thins out your blood, leaving you unable to deal with the cold? Well, I believe it now.
But in a country where the sun doesn't shine as much as it should, a sunny day means you take a walk, even if it is 20 degrees. I admit that it was lovely, but I was freezing my behind off.
Rebecca doesn't seem to have that thinned-out blood.
She was supposed to be posing for a photo, and off she went, running across this snow-covered field.

This morning, we are going to tour the house we rented sight unseen. Cross your fingers for us that it is as nice as we hope. The landlord is being kind enough to give us the keys now although we aren't moving in until our stuff gets here sometime in February. If life here in BFE doesn't get a little more exciting, I might be camping out there ;)

Enough already!

I gave German radio another try this morning, and they hit me with some more Lionel Richie. It is like Groundhog Day here. Arrrrgh!

Currently on the German version of QVC...

...they are selling canned meat products which looks like cat food.
Yummy.

It took all of two days...

...for someone in this country to inform me that I do not speak English. No, sir. I speak "American", which he was then helpful enough to define as a "slang of real English".

Wow, all that time I wasted learning English, when I obviously just needed to learn that silly American. Good to know.