Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Actually, it has been looking like Christmas here in Germany for a while. Even more so lately with the snow!!

Right around our Thanksgiving time cities all over Germany begin setting up their Christmas markets. Weihnachtsmarkt, they call it. Most major cities have some version of the Weihnachtsmarkt, big or small, and people come and sell all kinds of things for decorating, eating and of course, gifts. I have of course been to the Stuttgart Weihnachtsmarkt but I've also been to the Weihnachtsmarkts in Ludwigsburg, Esslingen and Koln. I'm a bit of an expert now :)



The Stuttgart Weihnachtsmarkt. (the best, by far)


Ice skating.


People in Stuttgart (and most major cities) sell their items from these little wooden "houses". Stuttgart has something special though and that is that all these houses are decorated lavishly. Especially the rooftops.


One rooftop with the Manger.


More lights and decoration.


The live Manger.


This is inside the old castle in Stuttgart. There is a choir in the background singing. Every evening at 6 there is a different choir from the churches in and around Stuttgart. The acoustics are incredible.


Miniature city with trains.





Ludwigsburg. The castle.


And again.


Beautiful.


And the Ludwigsburg Weihnachtsmarkt. Maybe you can see that the houses are not decorated very much, but they do have lots of lights strung up. Different.


And all the yummy things to eat!!. You will find several of these kinds of houses at each Weihnachtsmarkt. They all have mostly the same kinds of Christmas sweets. And don't forget the Gluhwein!!! Delicious!! Gluhwein is hot spiced red wine. Very tasty but be careful if you have to drive later.


Ludwigsburg is a beautiful city will gorgeous OLD buildings. Unfortunately, we went into this church and it was totally modern inside!! I mean, glass walls, steel, and colored lighting. Its a tragedy really.


More of the market.

Unfortunately, here is where I tell you that I don't have photos from the Esslingen market because I forgot my camera. A shame really because that market is a Middle Ages market. Tents instead of houses and the people are all dressed like they are living in the Middle Ages. The music, the crafts, everything was back in time. Very unique. Also the photos from Koln I have to get from David and Simeon still. So that's the end of the Weihnachtsmarkt photos.


Our Weihnachtsbaum.


Its a German Christmas tree....

Well, now I'm leaving all these Christmas things behind. The cold, the snow, the markets.....and I'm going to where its summer. Beaches, sand, sun.......

I wish you all a very merry Christmas!!!
Safe travels to all.

With Flying Colors

I walked out of the final part of my test today and I wanted to cry. Not because it didn't go well, exactly the opposite!!

We have had three days of tests starting Friday and finishing today. The tests was in five parts: text production (writing), listening, reading, grammar and speaking. Today we finished with the speaking part of the testing and as I walked in they told me that I had already done very well on the previous parts of the test and by the end of my 15 minute speaking test they were also very happy with how well I am able to speak German. Yay!! I am so, so happy. I didn't realize it until I walked out of the test but being able to do well on the test means so much more to me than just the passing grade. Lately I have been feeling a bit discouraged with learning the language and wondering why I thought I could do this, but now I have some confirmation of what I have learned and the feeling that can manage it.

I know, because you are all wonderful and supportive, that you will all tell me that you believed in me all along. I believed in me too, but it also feels good to have these positive test results.

Yay me!!

:)

Another First

As they say, there is a first for everything.

Yesterday a new guy joined our class. His name........Kaya. What!!! Granted he spells it wrong and he's a he but, its my name! Okay I'm kidding really.

So the new game in class goes something like this: Teacher calls 'Kaija', my head jerks up and I'm ready to respond, but she's looking to the back of the room, over my head, waiting for his reply. Sigh. C'est la vie.

K.