A German Christmas

Hello from Germany, for all those of you who are still reading my blog, or perhaps, now that you have nothing to do, you are catching up on all of it. Whatever the case is...I assume that you are reading it because you are interested in what I am up to (smile). I want to start this blog out with saying that I have little control over the spelling errors here (shrug), since were in Germany I have no idea how to work the Microsoft word, and even if I did, it would correct it in German and so it would be no use for me. So my appoligies before hand. Also...since the keyboard is all different, I wanted to make it clear that I have no idea where some of the symbols are (like the apostrophe), therefor I can not use them...so sorry for that too.

Now, to start off. Although increadibly stressful, the last week has turned out okay after all. Mom arrived in London on Tuesday the 14th, the same day that Whitney left London (we hung out all together for an hour I think between the two flights). Mom and I had a really nice evening, and then we had to change accomidations for the next night and that was really stressful. Mom brought heavy gifts which would be perfectly fine if we were not going to do little travels with it and stay in hostels and stuff like that...but since that was our plans... (shrug) it ended up being somewhat of a nightmare. The big bag weighed like, 60lbs and we had to carry it up stairs and then down stairs (like 4 flights of stairs!), and...yeah (sigh) it was aweful. So when we got to Dusseldorf, Germany and I was still sick (with a cough), we decided that going to Munich was not a good idea and ended up simply getting on the train to my Tante Maria and Onkel Georges two days early. But it was much better this way.

The night we got here it snowed huge snowflakes and made everything absolutely beautiful. There are not as many lights on the houses here. A few people here and there have decorated a bit with the electric candles in the windows or what have you, but for the most part there isnt a lot of decorating going on. The Christmas trees inside my Aunt and Uncles house does not go up until the day before X-mas, from what I understand. So we will get to help put it up and decorate it (smile), I havent done that for a few years, it will be nice.

Anyway, we have done a little bit of shopping and went to a choir concert at the church and we have had tea and coffee everyday in the afternoon. It is great. Tonight we will go to my other Aunt and Uncles house for a Birthday dinner. Tomorow I have plans of going with a few friends here, Sandra and Melanie, to a disco to dance it up. Hopefully I will be feeling good.

Oh, another thing I wanted to mention. I can now say that I have drank before 12. I was shocked too, but the neighbor came over (MaryAnne) and came into our room, where I was still attempting to fix my hair after my shower, and said to me "Maike, mercter ein snapps? Liquour?", and I was like "now?", and my mother from the kitchen yelled, "yeah, they want to drink it now" I laughed and said, "okay, why not". That was at like, 10:45 or 11ish. Lol.

Anyway (smile), I am having a good time here. A little bored at times, but really keeping myself occupied most of the time. I hope that you are all having a great holiday and have a really blessed Christmas. If you have time to write me a note that would be wonderful, if not thats okay too (grin).

LOVE<><,
maike rinaye

ps: what is up with the Drury e-mail? Does anyone know? I have been trying to get into it for the last few day with no success. Is it my computer or are they working on it? Oh well...figures, right?