Vermiculture Shock

One thing that I loved about Bonn was the city-run composting program. We simply sorted our biodegradable items, called "biomüll," into a small garbage can and then put into the building's green trash bin. It didn't take long for me to realize how much less garbage we produce when we were compositing.

Upon return to the states I knew I didn't want to go back to my old ways. Throwing away all of those vegetable peelings, egg shells, and coffee grinds really seemed like a waste. That's why I decided to set up a worm box.

The project was easy. All it took was a large plastic bin, a pound of worms, and some newspaper. I drilled holes into the top, sides, and bottom of the bin to allow air in and excess liquid out. I placed the bin on one-inch blocks, allowing for circulation around the bottom of the container.

I had read that I should be able to find the worms at either a garden center or bait and tackle shop. However, my local garden center doesn't carry worms and I have no idea were a bait shop is. Instead, I ordered a pound of the "composter's blend" from Blue Ridge Vermiculture, which was made up of half red worms and half European night crawlers.

The company sent an e-mail when my worms were shipped, so I knew to keep an eye out for them. The worms arrived in a USPS flat rate box labeled "LIVE WORMS DO NOT FREEZE." (I wonder what my postman thinks of me now.)

To create bedding for the worms, I shredded some newspaper, moistened it, and placed it in the container. To that I added the compostable material that I had collected the previous week. Now, I just have to sit back and wait for my worms to turn what we would have thrown away into rich, dark soil that I can use for my plants.

B-Ball: The Game's the Same, What About the Crowd

On Sunday night Kevin and I took the baby to a college basketball game. The University of Maryland's team was in town playing NC State. Since Kevin's favorite team is the Maryland Terrapins, he was super excited to get tickets to the game thanks to one of his friend's parents, who are season ticket holders. (When Kevin asked his friend what he could do to thank them, he was told, "Just don't cheer for the Terrapins too loudly.")
While I Germany we attended a number of sporting events, including one basketball game. Even though the game itself was the same, the European events had a very different feel to their American counterparts. Here are some of the major differences:

• German fans loves drums. Every game we attended included a marinade of thumps and bangs from drums of all types. In North Carolina, there was the college band, but the horns were the instruments that played a dominant roll in their sound.
• In Germany, everyone -- no matter his or her age -- drank beer. Here, because it was a college game, no beer was served. (I have to admit that I'll miss the guys with the backpack kegs walking through the crowds.)
• What drinks there were to consume at the American arena were served in disposable cups. In Germany you paid a deposit on a reusable plastic cup.
• The condiments here are dispensed in individual-size packages. In Germany, there was the condiment utter.
  
• During half time in Germany, the halls were filled with smokers. Even though North Carolina is one of the most lenient states when it comes to smoking bans, no one was lighting up in the arena.

Blogging Blank

The baby is sleeping upstairs* and I finally have a few minutes to update this blog. The problem is: I can't think of anything to write about.

At this time last year, each day brought something new to share. Trips, festivals, customs, and strange foods were any everyday occurrence.

Today, on the other hand, I'm house bound (but happy). And while everyday still presents itself with a new set of experiences, they aren't really exciting to anyone other than me. Each day is broken into three-hour cycles of eating, activities, and naps.

I wouldn't change a thing about my life right now. (Well, maybe I would move my family closer and figure out how to avoid the overtired meltdowns.) But I also have to accept that everyday may not provide blog-able material.


* The baby was asleep when I stared to write this post. Now I"m typing with one hand.

It's American and I Like It

Living in Germany was a wonderful experience. I got to see and do so many things that I never would have been able to experience had I not lived there. But there are things about the country that I just never fully understood, like the no closets thing.

Today's post is dedicated to some of the little (or not so little) American things that I have been enjoying since I moved back to the states:

• Storage. I love having closets and cabinets and shelves built in to every room. It certainly made unpacking and setting up the house so much easier.
• A kitchen. German apartments don't come with kitchens -- the renters bring in their own. Since we knew we weren't going to live oversees forever, we has our landlord put in a small kitchen for us. It included the smallest sink ever. (My brother-in-law claims he couldn't brush his teeth in it, much less was the dishes.) Now I'm back to having all of my big ol' American appliances, and I love them.
• The clothes dryer. Even though we were one of the few people we know who owned a dryer, it still sucked. Instead of being vented to the outside, as most American dryers are, the one we had in Germany drew the moister out of the clothing and deposited the water into a drawer in the machine, which needed to be emptied before each load. The biggest complaint I had about this process was that it took forever. Now, I can't express the pleasure I get when -- 36 minutes after going in -- my clothes are dry.
• Big parking spots. I never really liked to drive in Germany. One of the chief reasons was the microscopic parking spots. Going into a garage in Germany made my heart race. Not only did I worry about getting into the tight spots, I also worried about getting out of the car without hitting another car.
• Stop signs. Sure there are stop signs in Germany, but not that many. Instead, you have to learn that the car on the right always has the right-of-way. This was counterintuitive to me when the car on the right was pulling out of a small road and on a bigger one. (The German's claim this keeps people from going too fast in residential areas.) To me, however, it is much clearer to put a stop sign up. That way, there is no question about who has the right of way.
  

Night and Day

Before the baby was born, I anticipated many long sleepless nights when the little guy just wouldn't settle down. So far, I'm happy to report that our nighttime routines have not lived up to this image. In fact, to some extent, I find that the nights are almost easier then the days.

At night there are three things that I need to do: check his diaper (I quickly learned to do this first thing when he wakes up), nurse him, and get us both back to sleep as soon as possible. To accomplish these tasks I've found that it is best to keep the rooms dim. I have a three-way light in his room, which I turn to the lowest level. Then I nurse him in my room in the complete dark, then it's directly back into the cradle. This has worked so far. He sleeps three or four hours at a time. We're even able to get through a few nursings without Kevin even stirring in his sleep.

Days, on the other hand have been a greater struggle. In between nursings, changings, and naps he's actually awake sometimes. It's during these times that I wonder, "What should I do with this kid?" So far, I've discovered that he likes to be sung to and listen to music. Green Day is his favorite; he doesn't like Stevie Wonder. Just like his Dad, he likes to be on the go. He loves riding in the car, his stroller, and his Ergo baby carrier. He also really likes the vacuum cleaner. I may now have the cleanest floors in the neighborhood.

Inauguration Bawl

As someone who wrote a number of posts waxing on about my support of his candidacy, it may be surprising that I had nothing to say about Obama's inauguration last week. Here's another shocker: I didn't even watch the ceremony until almost a week later when I discovered that it was available on-demand. So, what was I doing instead?

Last Tuesday morning, right on schedule, I had the baby. He's perfect, and the whole family is doing well.
For the next few weeks blogging may be erratic. I'm a first time Mom and just learning how to do this. Thankfully my Mom has been here for the week helping me through the first few days.

No Doubt About Slum Dog Millionaire

One of the things that I missed most about living in Germany was the lack of movies. Sure, there was a theater in Bad Godesburg that played movies in English, but the times were never convenient. They usually started between 4:30 and 5:30 PM. Way too early for Kevin to get there after work, and I felt guilty going by myself.

Now that we are back in Raleigh, I love having movie theaters everywhere. It's especially great that we came back to the states when all of the year's best films are in the theaters. I've got a list a mile long of things that I want to see, and only a week of so before the baby comes to see them.

Yesterday evening Kevin wanted to hunker down by the fire to watch football. I had a better way to spend the evening . . . by going to the movies. The only decision I had to make was which film to see. Even when I left the house I was still undecided. Fortunately, the movie theater (or my mistake) made my decision easy. Doubt started earlier then I thought. Slum Dog Millionaire was starting in ten minutes. Perfect.

I really like the movie too. Though I knew a little bit of the plot, I was still surprised by the story. It was both unbelievably painful to see the poverty, and still beautiful to watch. I also found the characters to be interesting and developed and complex. Overall, I'd stay it was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

Floor du Jour

When we came back to Raleigh, both Kevin and I had projects that we wanted to get done around the house. I really wanted to have shelves and cabinets built in to the space on either side of our fireplace. Kevin really wanted to replace the carpeting in the living room with hardwood. In the spirit of compromise, we decided to do both.

It seems like we are trying to get a lot accomplished in a short time, but it really didn't make sense for us to wait for either project. Since we haven't fully unpacked, it was easier to move everything out of the living room now. Also, we really wanted to get it done before the baby arrived. This way we don't have workers, dust, or noise in our house for the first few weeks.

Today we got the floors installed. They look absolutely wonderful! I could have lived with the carpeting for a while longer, but I'm glad Kevin convinced me to get the floors done. It makes the whole house look bigger and more open.

Here's a before picture:

And after:

Now, if we can just get the shelves painted before the baby . . . the painter is scheduled to come two days after my due date.

Building and Upholstered Headboard

I received a bunch of positive feedback about the headboard that I described in the "Nesting With a Vengeance" post from earlier this week. Here are the photos and step-by-step instructions.
I have to thank my mother for suggesting the hallow-core door. It was lighter to work with and less expensive than plywood.

Also, since the wall that the bed is placed against isn't very wide, we didn't have much room for end tables. Everything that I saw that was small enough for the space didn't seem stable or substantial enough to work. Instead I purchased two cube shelves from Target for one side of the bed, and two five-inch shelves for the other side. Now we each have a place for a lamp, a book, and our glasses.

Materials
1 32-inch wide hallow-core door
1 to 2 yards of fabric
4 yards of batting with the highest loft available
Staple gun and staples
Picture hangers

Step One
Measure the width of your bed and have to door cut to size. A standard queen-sized bed is 60 inches wide. We had the door cut at Lowe's so we didn't even have to bother with sawdust at the house.

Step Two
The upholstery fabric that I purchased was 58 inches wide. Since I wanted to use a stripe that came on the bolt vertically, I needed to purchase two yards of fabric for the project. If the fabric that you select is wider, or if the patter is horizontal on the roll you may be able to get away with less then two yards.
Kevin's mom, who is much more adept at working a sewing machine, matched up the stripes on the fabric and stitched them together. (My Mom and sisters can whip up all sorts of things, but the sewing gene skipped me.) The extra fabric is being used to make pillows.

Step Three
Cover the front of the door with batting and staple to the edge of the back of the door. Cut off the excess batting. Place a second layer of batting on the front of the door and staple the top and the bottom to the back edge. (I only put one layer of batting on the sides of the door to keep it from looking too puffy.)
Step Four
Cover the front of the door with your fabric. Place a few staples on each side to be sure that the pattern is straight. Then pull the fabric tight and staple to the back of the door on all four sides.

Step Five
Drill picture hook into the back of the door a few inches from the end on either side. Hang the headboard on the wall as you would hang any large picture.

Birthing Center Visit

Last night Kevin and I toured the Birthing Center at Rex Hospital. We both were pleasantly surprised by what we saw.

When we found out that we would move back to the states before the delivery I had mixed feelings. Though I was super excited about the fact that everyone in the hospital would speak English, I was nervous about being admitted to an American hospital.

Knock on wood; I've been very healthy throughout my life. With the exceptions of a few trips to the emergency room, I've never been admitted to the hospital. That said, I don't have a lot of experience with hospitals. Compounding my fears was the fact that I saw Michael Moore's Sicko just before leaving the states.

Like many people I was under the impression that European medical care was better than what we receive in the States. After living abroad, I now know that that assumption is a bit overstated. Sure, there are lots of people in this country who do not have adequate health insurance. Therefore they are denied access to adequate care. And in Europe, people don't have to worry about health insurance because it is provided even if their job doesn't cover them. But, as a couple with job-provided health insurance Kevin and I do not fall into that category.

The thing that makes me most excited about having the baby at Rex is that I will have a private room with my own bathroom for both the delivery and the post-natal stay. A friend in German had a baby in November. She told me that after the baby was born she had to share a room with another woman, who had tons of visitors. I'm glad I wont have to deal with that.

German vs. American Baby Doctors

Over the summer a friend of mine suggested that I should blog about the difference between having a baby in the U.S. versus having a baby in Germany. Though I thought it would be interesting to read, I found that I couldn't write about this topic. Quite simply, at that point I only knew the German system.

Now, however, I've gone to a few appointments at my American doctor's office. I can't really say that one is better than the other, but I can say that my prenatal appointments certainly are different. In general I have found that the American doctor's office is much more "medical" looking. It's a big practice with five doctors, nurses, receptionists, and billing people. In Germany I had one doctor in a converted town house. Two nurses, who did everything from answering the phones to taking blood, assisted her.

Here are a few other observations that I wanted to share.

• At my first prenatal appointment in the U.S. I had to sit with the billing department to discuss the cost that I am responsible to pay. In Germany, I paid $10 a quarter to cover administrative fees. Everything else -- including prescriptions -- was covered by my insurance. *
• Each appointment in Germany took forever. Since I hit the sixth month mark, the visit started with monitoring the baby's heart rate and my contractions. To do this, I had to lie down for twenty minutes with the fetal monitors. In the U.S. they check the baby's heart rate, but with a hand-held device that measures the heart rate for a few seconds. Whatever number shows up then is the number they record in my chart.
• At both offices, each visit starts with giving a urine sample. In Germany, the nurse would write my name on a regular plastic drinking cup, which was then placed in the open on a tray outside the bathroom with the other patient’s samples. At my first visit in the U.S., I got a list of instructions about how to provide a "clean sample." The medical-looking cups come with lids and the samples are then placed in a metal box that is accessible to the nurses from outside of the restroom.
• In Germany you don't get a gown. In the U.S. you do.
• In Germany the doctor that provides your prenatal care does not deliver the baby. She's not even associated with a hospital. I had to select the hospital on my own. In the U.S. one of the five doctors in the practice that I've selected will be on call to deliver the baby.
• Six weeks before your due date in Germany you start seeing a midwife, who may be the person to deliver your baby. The midwife will give you a list of foods and teas that you should start consuming to help you through your labor.
• In Germany you are also entitled to additional alternative treatments to help you feel more comfortable during the last few weeks, such as acupuncture and massage.
  

* Note: Even though I had government insurance in Germany, I have to note that our monthly costs were more than what Kevin and I had to pay in the U.S., where our insurance was covered by our jobs.

Happy New Year, Happy New Blog

It seems like forever since I've blogged. While it has been only a few weeks in "actual time," so much has changed in my life. In the spirit of change, I've also made some changes to the blog. As you can see, I have a new blog name, description, and sidebars. Expect more changes in the weeks to come. (But don’t worry: The URL will stay exactly the same.)

Here's what's been going on in our southern lives.

We are slowly settling in as much as we can without actually being able to live in our house. Every time I move, I am surprised by the amount of stuff I need to buy. Even though I had everything I needed in Germany, I still need new/different stuff here in the states. From light bulbs, to silverware trays, to restocking the pantry, I have been doing my part to keep the economy going.

Of course, that includes purchasing two cars in one night. Walking back into the dealership the next day to pick up the second vehicle, I totally felt like a superstar. It was crazy. Salesmen, managers, and service people waved to me, gave me their congratulations, and wished me the best.

I am frantically getting ready to have the baby. If I'm lucky I'll meet all of the doctors in the practice that I've selected. Also, Kevin and I took a crash-course on birthing, had two baby showers, and will visit the hospital this week.

During the holidays we traveled north. Last year we spend Christmas alone in Europe, so this year it was especially nice to visit with lots of family and friends. I especially have to thank my husband who did a lot of driving (not always in the best conditions) getting me everywhere that I wanted to go.

Our tenant moved out, so we were able to have the stuff from storage delivered to the house. Kevin is working hard to get the house ready. His Dad and he spent days touching up the walls, cleaning the trim, and repainting the bedrooms. We purchased a crib for the baby, cleaned up some furniture that was given to us, and are looking forward to getting our container delivered.

The ship was due to dock in Norfolk, Virginia yesterday. Depending on how long it takes to clear customs, we should have everything by the beginning of next week. This is great news to me, since I really would like the furniture to be delivered before the baby.

Change Is in the Air

So, what happens when an expat moves back? Well, for one thing, her blog has to change. I can't write about life in Germany, but I can share some of the reverse culture shock that I'm experiencing. (I can't tell you how many people have called me "honey" this week. Now, that's something that never happened in Bonn.)

Also, since I still eat, live, and travel I can continue to write about that . . .even if a road trip to New York does not sound as glamorous as spending the weekend on an island in Greece. And, in not too long I can write about adjusting to live with a baby.

Making all of these changes in content pop, I'm working on some changes to the blog itself. Look forward to design updates, sidebars, and featured content. There may even be a surprise or two.

I'm heading north tomorrow and I won't be blogging again until after the holidays. I wish you a very happy and safe one.

Fröhliche Weihnachten!

Movin' Out

Moving just plain isn't fun. Even though we didn't have to pack ourselves (the moving company came and did it all), my last week in Germany still consisted of a lot of work. Taking everything off the walls, cleaning out the pantry, selling the rest of our 220 volt appliances, organizing what would get packed in the shipping container and would we would need for the next six to eight weeks took most of our time.

Then, once the movers started their work, the house was in total chaos. Thank goodness there were only two days of that. The worst part about the German movers was the dueling cell phones playing really bad head-banger music -- in German! Even though my husband works in the cell phone biz, I really can't support the use of mobile phones as stereo systems. (Though, in his industry's defense, I have heard some very good speaker systems that hook up to mobile phones.) By the end of their first day of packing I was tired, weary, and ready for this project to be over.

The second day went much better. After everything was wrapped up safe and sound -- and I mean everything, even the sofa was boxed -- the movers started loading the container. Here is where German efficiency really came through. Instead of carrying all of our boxes down three flights of stairs and into the truck, the movers used a portable contraption that looked like a cross between an elevator and a crane. This cran-o-vator was raised to our balcony. The movers loaded it with boxes at the top and lowered them down to the shipping container on the street.*

With everything loaded on to the container safely, it was time to say goodbye to our Bonn apartment. It was a good apartment and served us well. I certainly will miss it. But, also, I was ready to go home.

* I have a video to post of this machine, but have to first figure out how to get it off my cell phone. (The charger for my camera was mistakenly packed.)

What a Week

Months ago my Mom and sister planned to come to visit over Thanksgiving weekend. My Mom wanted to see my pregnant and help set up the nursery. My sister too thought the trip would be all about getting ready for the baby. When I found out I was going to be moving back to the states, however, their trip changed into something entirely different.

Instead of helping to get ready for the baby, we spent the week traveling around and trying to see as much as possible. That meant, a trip to the castle in Bruhl, two days in Amsterdam, the cathedral in Cologne, a Thanksgiving feast with lots of German friends, a pilgrimage to the town where my grandmother was born, a concert by one the biggest Carnival bands, and the Christmas market in Cologne, Bonn, Bad Godesburg, and Seigburg.

After dropping them off at the airport on Sunday morning, I returned to my house and took a nap. I will write proper posts about all that we did and saw in the coming days, but now I have to start packing the house for our trip back to the states. I can't believe the movers come that day after tomorrow.

No Time to Blog Today

I have a busy day planned. I am working at IFOAM (for my second to last time), then going to the airport with Kevin the drop off friends. Tonight we have tickets to the the Cologne Sharks, the city's ice hockey team. Since the game is in Cologne, there is no real reason to come all the way back to Bonn after seeing our friends off. Instead we're going to get dinner in Cologne and then head to the game.

Christmas Markets to Open This Weekend

I love Christmas. But I'm also don't really want to see the red and green rolled out until Thanksgiving's leftovers are wrapped in their Tupperware containers. That is I usually don't want to see Christmas before Thanksgiving. This year I'm supper excited for the early bit of holiday cheer.

I have a good reason for changing my Christmas tune. My mom, sister, and niece will be arriving on Sunday and I am excited that they'll be able to see the German Christmas Markets.
Last year I couldn't get enough of the Christmas markets. The food, the gluwine, the trinkets: It was all so cozy and holiday-esque. Last year I loved arriving at a market around dusk, warming up with a mug of spiced wine, then wandering around in the crisp air while doing my Christmas shopping. It was far, far, better then visiting the mall.

Not every market will open this weekend. Some will wait until the traditional opening day, which is the first Sunday of Advent. However, according to Google the Bonn and Cologne markets will open on the 21st of November. This year I am adding the Seigberg Market to my must-visit list. Promising mead and minstrels, the town hosts a traditional Medieval Market. This one wont open until November 29, but that will be a perfect way to end their trip.

A Multicultural Experience

One of the things that I have enjoyed most about my time in Germany is that I have gotten to know people from all over the world. This was an unexpected surprise for me, since before coming I assumed that Germany was not a very diverse country. Through Kevin's job, my language classes, and volunteering we have met people from Africa, all over Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

And of course, because I love to eat, having a group of friends from all corners of the earth means that dinner invitations are a delicious way to try authentic international cuisines. Last night we were invited to a birthday dinner for an Indian friend from South Africa.

The menu included two types of curry: one with chicken and peas and one with lamb and potatoes. Tanya starts with her own, homemade curry paste, which includes spices mixed by her mother and specially delivered to Germany. Both were spicy, but not overwhelming. (Though they did tell us that they tamed the dishes a bit for our more-sensitive pallets.) Accompanying the curries were basmati rice and three chutneys. The lime and mango chutney added a lot of flavor as well as some more heat.

For dessert we had bread pudding with coconut and apricot jam. The sweet creamy pudding was a perfect counter balance for the spicy entrees.

The whole meal left me wishing I could pack up my international friends and bring them with me back to Raleigh.

The Count Down Begins

I hate moving. The process is such a pain in the neck. It feels like Kevin and I just got our German lives sorted out. Now we're trying to figure out how to cancel our utilities, making appointments with the realtor who is trying to get our apartment rented by January so we don't have to pay an extra month's rent, and finishing up projects at work before we take off.

At the same time we are making time to get together with friends, prepare for visitors, and plan a Thanksgiving/going away dinner fest.

In the mist of all of this, we are also working to get our life back in Raleigh organized. I already have doctor's appointments scheduled so I don't have to miss a singe visit. I've also make a date to visit the hospital where I plan to deliver and finally have found a birthing class. We've started researching what kind of cars we should buy. Our tenant has been informed and now that we have a confirmed move-out date we can make arrangements to have our things moved out of storage.

It's funny to think that a few weeks ago I was looking forward to holing up in our apartment for a few months with the new baby. Now, I am looking forward to the same few months, but everything else about the picture will be totally different.

Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland

I've postponed writing this post for a week or so. I didn't want to say anything until it I was 100 percent sure. Now, the tickets are books, contracts are broken, and Kevin and I will be saying "tschüs" to Germany sooner then expected.

There have been rumored changes at Kevin's company for months now. That's why, when a good opportunity back in the states presented itself, we felt like we had no choice but to accept. It was our first act as responsible parents. I'm having a great time living in Germany, traveling to other countries, and tasting as much local food as possible. But when making this decision I need to balance these desires with what would be the best decision for my family. As it turns out, having an income and health insuranceis more important then ever now.

We leave on December 6 and I will certainly be blogging until then. My Mom and sister will be visiting for the last week of the month, so I still have a bit of traveling planned. We also have a lot of get-togethers planned in the coming days. So, there will be plenty to write about.

Also, I expect that I will keep up the blog for a while upon returning back to the states. Even though I haven't been gone for as long as most of the other ex-pats that I've come to know over the last year I do anticipate some culture shocks upon my return. Also, I will keep writing on The Apron Caper, regularly. I still have to eat.

In the meantime, I'd like to say thank you to all of you who have read my blog over the last year. Knowing that someone, somewhere was logging on to read about my travels and experiences has kept me blogging.