Ready, set, go!

 I left my camera cord at home and have failed to go to a shop to look for one like it yet so no pictures yet. Although I could use my phone. Hmm.. Next time!

Orientation has begun and there are about 20 new people who I will be working with at Phorms! I'm pretty excited. The newbies include mostly Canadians, Germans, and Americans with a few outliers from England, Indonesia and Poland. The Steinbach campus is really beautiful and they sure have a lot of work to get done on the new grounds before school starts on the 8th. Today we learned about using Smart Boards, which is the reinvented chalkboard/whiteboard computer. It's pretty cool. Reminds me of KidPix but you get to use your hands to add/subtract from what is on the board. Fun fun advanced technology! As of now I will be a teaching assistant for a Kindergarten class and a 2nd grade class and I also have asked to help out in the Library. Not sure yet about living situation - I will probably stay here at the house through August and maybe find my own place in September.

Going to Eichstätt next weekend to celebrate Johanna and Benjamins birthdays! Yipee!!! Can't wait to see all my lovely Schödel's. Other then that fabulous trip I haven't planned anything else yet. Surprised? I am! Maybe after I get my first paycheck things will change. Hahaha.

I've finished most of my administrative tasks this week. I'm feeling very grateful that I already know the area and can also speak German, as many of the newbies that are native English speakers don't speak German AND don't know the area so they have a lot more new information coming at them than I do. Today I worked out my tax number papers and so the last thing to do is my visa, which will hopefully be all sorted out on Friday morning. Still need to figure out my phone situation (I think ATT is wanting to make me pay lots of money for my data plan even though I won't be using it...) and also getting a bike, although I may borrow one for a couple months from a friend and then use the "au pair" bike once Brittany heads home in October.

Love being back in this house with the family. It's so much fun having the kiddos around. And having Brittany here too.

Finished book two of the Hunger Games and am a third of the way through the last book. I don't want to put it down!!

Two of the Canadians are going to the Harry Potter movie tonight. I think I'm going to be just fine. ;)

Back again...

I'm here! Safe and sound a just a little bit tired. Here is an overview of the last week.

Had an AMAZING going away party that my parents hosted (thank you, I am forever grateful) at Bridgeport Brew Pub. Loved seeing you all before I headed out. Next morning, up super early for my flight to NYC to visit Amy! Bought a kindle - super excited about it! Already finished The Hunger Games and on to the next book. Amy lives in such an amazing area and I had fun going on two different tours. I did a tour of Soho/Little Italy/Chinatown, but it was mostly about the architecture of the area. Then another day I did a tour of downtown aka Battery Park (took the Staten Island Ferry to get a good look at the Statue of Liberty), Ground Zero (I definitely teared up. So sad.), and Wall Street (used to actually be a wall there). I had no idea how HUGE Manhattan is. I forced Amy to bike around Central Park with me. She is half a block from the Park. Lucky girl! We went and saw Harry Potter at midnight with one of her friends who sobbed/whimpered the entire movie which helped me ebb my own tears as I giggled at her. Loved the movie! In front of us was part of the cast of War Horse so Amy and her friend were freaking out. Not really knowledgeable in the Broadway arena I didn't recognize the people, but turns out one was in Gossip Girl so I kind of knew him. :) Another night Amy and I went and saw the Broadway show Anything Goes. It was good! Funny characters. After Amy got everyone's signatures on her Play Bill and took some pictures with a few cast members. Next time I go see a show on Broadway it will be to see Amy.

Took a bus down to Baltimore (only $17!) to stay with the Granny and PopPop. LOVE seeing them . My wonderful Aunt Marcia and Uncle Sheldon came over for dinner the first night. It's always great to catch up with them. It's as if I saw them yesterday. I met up with Katie (my au pair friend from last year!) who is working in Baltimore. It was so great seeing her and reminiscing about some funny happenings in Frankfurt and also to hear what she has been up to since we headed back to the States.  Wednesday morning I accompanied Granny to her friends house where she gets together with some girlfriends and does a water aerobics class. That was fun! I think I've had enough sun though from walking all day long around NYC where it was 90 degrees aka 15 degrees too hot for me.

The airport was quite eventful. Granny and PopPop were kind enough to drive me all the way out to Dulles in traffic. At the airport I had no problem checking in. I had to pay a little extra for my MASSIVE bag that just weighed 65lbs. I head to security. I'm going through security when a few things go... differently than planned. First, they have a new system at Dulles where you have to stand sideways and get scanned by a machine that makes sure you haven't hid anything dangers in your ribs, etc. That was interesting. I pass that test. As I'm chatting up the agent I'm asked "Is this your bag mam." Oh no. Yes that is my carry on bag. "Is this your bag also mam." Oh dear. Yes that is my purse. So nice man goes through my bags and pulls out the Sunflower Seed Butter and Almond Butter from TJ's that my Granny insisted I bring with me. "I'm sorry mam, you can't bring pastes on the plane." So, of course I ask him if he wants to eat them because my Granny will be most upset if these get thrown in the garbage. Nope he can't. So option number 2: go outside of security and scarf down as much as I can before throwing it away. I'm escorted outside of security with all my stuff and start chowing down. Yes, hello people, I am just eating some PB - stop staring. After I've gotten through 4 celery sticks, 3 carrot sticks and probably 1/2 cup of Almond Butter another security officer comes up to me and tells me how I can't bring them on the plane because pastes are the same consistency of bombs or some crazy story like that. I offer him the containers and he says I should just check my carry on bag so I don't have to throw out the containers. Genius - why didn't I think of that before I stuffed myself?! So I go back upstairs. WELL turns out my carry on bag is only allowed to weigh 6kilos and it weighs 13kilos so the lady who checked me in is going to get in trouble for not weighing my carry on in the first place. Oh geez. So I'm feeling guilty for getting her in trouble, full from eating so much so fast, and weary about leaving in the first place. Thankfully, I am not charged for that bag - amazing that I get to check in 2 bags without any charge! Well, except the overage fee. I try to pass it off with my computer but the nice people tell me no, I need to take out my lap top and carry it. Ugh. So heavy. I get back to security - the (very cute) guy checking my passport laughs at me. I put my lap top in a container with my shoes - no bueno. "Sorry mam but that needs to be in a container on its on." Can I do nothing right?!!? I know the drill now with the scanner so I get through that fine. Finally make it to my gate and realize I only have 30 minutes to call the people I promised to call before boarding the plane. AHH! Well, I make it on the plane and am seated in the exit row - YAY for extra leg room! I sleep on and off for that 5 hr flight to Iceland. In Iceland I change over to my next plane with only one funny comment from the Passport checking police. "How long are you going to be here?" 2 years. "Do you have a visa?" Not yet, but I'm in the process of getting it. "Don't forget." OOK. Sleep on the 3 hour flight to Frankfurt where the kiddos and Brittany pick me up. Emily and Oscar made me a sign that says "Welcome Home Cara." Tender! And that is how I feel, like I've come home. Strange how I feel so at home in so many places. Andrea gets home tonight from a trip so I haven't seen her yet and Phillip gets home on Monday. Brittany made yummy soup last night and so we ate and chatted. Kids spent the night at a friends. I crashed at 9PM, but woke up in the middle of the night and tossed and turned for a couple of hours. BOO. Caught up with the cleaning lady, Vale, this morning. She is so darn sweet. Then I went to meet with a HR person who told me all the administrative things I need to get done ASAP. I registered as a citizen, got my visa pictures taken, and turned in my info to get my bank account. Orientation starts on Monday. OH I found out I'm not in at the city campus like I thought but am at the Steinbach campus. So now I need to figure out how I'll be getting around, where I'm going to live if/when I get an apartment. Hm.

I'm so tired. I can't believe I'm back. Just like when I went home, I feel like I never left! So strange.

I love you family and friends and miss your faces. Thank goodness we can still Skype - sign up and e-mail me your name! My phone has skype on it too which is sweeeet.