My last experience using the Frankfurt airport was terrible. I had no idea how long the lines would be and how many security and passport checks were required. Remembering this, I took an early train from Freiburg to get to Frankfurt airport at 8:10--over 2.5 hours before my flight left. (!)
I was ready for all the inconveniences I had in October, but there were none. It was an easy walk through one security point and to my gate. No passports. Nothing extra. It was like flying within the US. Actually, better. I’m currently lounging in a Leisure Zone with a free copy of the International Edition of the NY Times. Errol explained the difference: I was flying to Glasgow in October and Rome today. Although the UK is still in the EU, they’re out of the Schengen. Italy is within the Schengen. The Schengen is an area in the EU where passport checks and other types of border control have been abolished. I feel like UK residents should have experienced the delight of travel within the Schengen before the Brexit vote. On the Schlossberg spielplatz, doing normal Lord children things on a crazy weather day.
It was very dark and windy for hours. It felt like a storm was going to come any second, but it never did. Apparently, other parts of Europe got it. Tonight in class we practiced giving and asking for directions in German. Afterward, I asked our teacher how to say “on your left.” In America, this is what cyclists call to pedestrians as they approach from behind.
She answered, “aus dem Weg!” This translates, “Out of the way!” I will stick with ringing the bike bell. I listen to WNYC everyday. Besides getting the news in English, I enjoy hearing the weather and what trains aren’t running on schedule.
One of today’s stories was New Jersey getting a new governor. New Jersey state news feels so familiar but also foreign. When people ask, “Where in America are you from?”, I hesitate. I’m fairly certain they’re wanting to know where we moved to Freiburg from, but I don’t give them that answer. I usually respond, “I grew up in Nebraska, but my kids are from New Jersey.” I don’t want to misrepresent myself as a Jersey girl. I do know how to pump my own gas. Nebraska and New Jersey are such different places, but, now, on governor #3, I feel at home in both. At German class tonight we were instructed to tell our partner about the landmarks in our hometown. My partner is from Moscow. She talked about the Kremlin and Red Square.
She went first. Good thing I could follow-up with the magnificent Kearney County Courthouse. Yesterday Thom and Vinnie spent the night at their school for Lesenacht--Reading Night. They were so excited to pack their duffle bags with books, magazines, and flashlights. They slept in sleeping bags on the floor of the kindergarten classroom and ate pancakes for breakfast. Thom reported they read a lot, had supper, went on a balloon scavenger hunt, but they didn’t go to bed until midnight!
This afternoon I realized that I hadn’t heard from Vinnie in awhile. I asked Neddy what she was doing. He said, “She’s sleeping.” First self-initiated nap of her childhood. Mothers of young children are often told to cherish these moments because they’re over sooner than we think, and we’ll forget many of them.
I’m writing this down today so I won’t forget. This afternoon, in the shower, I peeled two bananas. This afternoon I was standing in front of my open gym locker peeling off my layers, and a woman approached me. She was talking, laughed a little, and handed me a hanger.
I have no idea what she said. I smiled, hung the hanger in my locker, and she walked away. I can’t figure out what she could have said that would not have made this interaction strange. |
Anne Thomsen lordWritings on our year abroad. Archives
September 2018
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