Salzburg

A couple weekends after Lydia's leaving Aladin, Tiffany, and I decided we wanted to take a day trip. I heard that Salzburg was a great place to do a day trip to. Tiffany and I stayed over at Aladin's house so it was easier for us to all go together in the morning.  We had a very nice dinner prepared by  Aladin and watched a movie the night before we left. In the morning we all woke up and headed for the train station. When we finally got on the train it was packed with people. We ended up sitting next to this crabby old German woman who wouldn't even move over and let tiffany have enough seat. We got so lucky because about half way through the ride a group of people got off at a stop and we got to change seats. It was much needed. Then this deaf and blind woman was going around selling these ceramic turtles. They were very cute. Aladin bought one from her so we decided that the day would be dedicated to her and that every picture we took we would have Squirtle Jr. in them. We tried our best. 

When we got to Salzburg it was a very beautiful day. It was sunny and the weather was very nice. We walked around the entire day just seeing the sights and enjoying the company. It really is a beautiful place. Mozart came from Salzburg so there are a lot of memorials for him everywhere. The Castle on top of the hill is spectacular and the river that runs through the city is majestic. It was a wonderful day and we even had time to take a little nap in the park haha. For this the pictures do all the talking:

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

I have been really bad about updating my blog. It is almost the end of September and I am just now writing about my life in August. OPPS! So basically I am going to catch up hopefully before Oktoberfest starts so I can get back on track.

The latest blog is dedicated to my dear friend Lydia. She was my closest friend here in Munich. It was never a dull moment when she was around and we had so much fun together all the time. Our favorite thing to do was go to the club together and make fun of the Germans. ;) It was very sad to see her go on August 4th but we had a lot of fun before she left.

Her host family had a nice little BBQ for her and it was a blast. We all sat around and talked, drank wine, and then proceeded to jump on the trampoline after feeling a bit tipsy. It was so much fun. I'm sure her host parents thought we were a bunch of crazy people (which I guess isn't to far off). Tiffany and I made her a nice little going away photo album which was very cute. We also bought her an American flag shirt and made her wear it on her way home. hahaha

Lydia looking very German in her American flag shirt

Squirtle and Lydia

The gang minus squirtle and sarah

Alexa

Lauren

Aladin and Lydia....awwww!!!

Best friends forever!

Two of my favorite girls

The night before Lydia flew home we all went out to the the club together for one more night in the city. Lydia and I have been trying to get into this club called 089 but every time we tried they wouldn't let us in. We always ended up at the stupid Max and Mortiz which played the worst music EVER! So it was our mission to finally get into that club on her last night. We got super lucky because we had no problem getting in. That night was probably one of the best nights Lydia and I ever had. We were having so much fun dancing and making complete fools out of ourselves. At the end of the night (around 6am) we went to Mcdonalds to have a bite to eat and then afterwards Lydia and I decided it was a great idea to run through the huge fountain in Karlsplatz. We got so soaked but OMG was it hilarious. It was the perfect way to end the night. I miss her so much already and I can't wait to see her when I get home to Cali.

The next morning we had to be up at 9am to get Lydia back to her host families house and drive to the airport. So on basically no sleep we took her to the airport and sent her on her way. It was so cute cause we all cried when we were saying goodbye.

 I am very happy that she lives in California so I get to see her again when I go home. I miss you Lydia and can't wait to have some more awesome times together.

USA WORLD AND MY WORLD IN MUNICH

Tiffany and I were hanging out one day and we were talking about all the things we missed about the states. I had heard from another Au Pair about a store here in Munich that sales food from the states. I looked it up on my phone and found a place called "USA WORLD". We didn't have anything else to do that day so we decided we would go and check it out. Before we left we meet with Lydia so we could all go together. When we meet up with Lydia we had to wait (of course it's Lydia but we love her anyway) so she could eat her salad. Not only was it torture to have to wait for her but it was also torture because the salad she was eating was the most disgusting salad in the world. She put lettuce, apricots, walnuts, goat cheese (gross), and the kicker M&M's. Who the hell eats chocolate in salad....I'll tell you who....LYDIA!!! When we finally ended the long journey to "USA WORLD" it was closed for a special event hahaha. It was located in a very strange place in the middle of two big apartment buildings. The store itself was tiny but by looking in the windows it did contain some interesting products. Lots of different kinds of soda and other weird items. We were a bit disappointed that it was closed so we decided to go to the American Heritage store. When we reached the American Heritage store it was of course also....................CLOSED! It was really annoying and we were a bit frustrated. We then went to a grocery store and bought food to make tacos. We went to Aladin's house ate tacos and watched a movie. Although the stores were closed we had a blast just hanging out and laughing. 

Things with my work are going really great. I am really happy with my new family. I really feel like I am apart of the family and it makes me so happy. I love the children they are the cutest things ever. The other day I took them to the park and Jurian and I made a cool little house out of sand and sticks. It was very impressive. In between building the house Amélie let me bury her in the sand. She is so photogenic and I love it. I tried really hard to take pictures of Jurian but he wouldn't let me. I did take a picture of the awesome house we build though. :)

There are many days I miss my family and I want to go home but I am so happy I came here. I have had so much fun already. I have made some fantastic friends here and I am looking forward to what the next 7 months have to offer me. :) 

Happy Birthday America

I have been slacking on doing my blogs lately. I really need to do more of them because it's August and I am just now writing about the 4th of July hahaha. Time goes by so fast when your having fun and this last month has been a blast. :) So for the 4th of July Lydia, Tiffany (Squirtle), Lia and I went to Hard Rock Cafe here in Munich because it's the only place here to get real American food. They have ice, free refills, and RANCH DRESSING there. Can't find that anywhere else in Munich. It was delicious and worth the wait to get a table.

This is Lydia being a dork like always lol

My girls

Lia and me

My delicious burger, it even came with a little American flag!

Squirtle (Tiffany)

After dinner Tiffany and Lia had to go home so Lydia and I meet up with Alexa, James, and Aladin. We went to this big 4th of July party at some dorm apartment complex.  We were all a bit excited to meet more Americans but the funny part was none of these people were American. They were all dressed up with American pride and they were from random European countries. It cracked me up. It was pretty cool because they had this little bar set up and all Americans got to have a free shot. 

Alexa, James, Lydia, and Me 

After our free shots we went to the top of the dorm and sat on the outside terrace. It was a really nice night and you could see the whole city from the top. We could also see the Allianz Arena from the top as well. It was really cool because they light it up red, white, and blue. I tried to take pictures from the top but they didn't do it any justice. It was a really great night and I had a blast. 

We got tongue tattoos 

This is Aladin and Lydia...I love them

The gang! (minus Tiffany)

Everything is sound

This week has been a pretty hard week for me. Living and working at the same place is not easy especially with Germans. I do love my new family and they are so great. However,  It gets kinda hard when you never hear anything good. It's typically German to not say any positive things but only negative. I would just like a thank you once in a while is all. I babysat the children much more than I normally do this week and had no time but to watch them, clean and go to German class. I have been really missing home lately and missing my Mom and Sara. I don't miss Redding just my friends and family. I am excited however that my mom might be able to come visit me. She will be coming in February if it all works out. I will show her around Munich for a couple days then we will go to Rome for 5 days. WHOO HOO!!!

 It was nice to have Friday finally come around to get some time away. On friday I went to Ikea with Trixi and it was really fun. I love Ikea! I helped her pick out some things for her room and then after her and I went and bought stuff for dinner. I always have so much fun with her. :) Then we watched The Notebook and ate cookies....or shall I say Trixi ate cookies...lol she had like 8 soft baked cookies.

Then on Saturday I went with some good friends to the lake here in Munich. It was so beautiful and reminded me a lot of Whiskey Town. It's so green and the water is a bit cold but once you're in it's really nice. Alexa and Lydia made it our mission to make a pyramid in the water. In the end it didn't work out and I'm sure the people on the shore where thinking we were a bunch of crazy Americans. :) I got really sunburnt but it was well worth it.  Here are some pictures....

Sunday I got to catch up on some sleep and I had a BBQ dinner with my host family. It was a great weekend and I know this week is going to be much better. :)