Hello everyone!
Email FINALLY!! I hope this finds you all well. We are doing wonderfully here. We just got our email up and running so now I can give you the update. We have been here nearly a month--hard to believe! The first week was really slow, but then we met a few people and were able to get out and about and it is flying by! We are still in temporary quarters, awaiting the call from the Embassy Housing board that they have found us a house. But truthfully, we are quite happy here! Craig works just a few blocks from home so he is actually home around 6 pm most nights. It's so nice to have him around more--especially at dinner time! Most things are convenient to this location and it's fairly roomy. So all in all we are happy with what we've got.
Things sure are different here--almost like they are behind about 50 years. When you enter this quaint little town down the street one of the first stores you see is a Woolworth's?! There is a small market and bakery on about every corner. The difficult thing about the shopping is that if you want to buy a tube of toothpaste, you can't buy it at the grocery store, you have to go to a pharmacy. If you want to buy a card, you go to the papery, make-up--to a parfumerie and on and on. The most frustrating thing of all is that hardly any places take credit/debit cards! You always have to be prepared with cash (euros)--even at the grocery store! How hard is that! I feel like saying "come on people, get with the times!" So the next time you are dreading that trip to a Super Target and your paying with a debit card--just think of poor me dragging 3 kids to about 15 different places, trying to make sure I don't have to make a 16th stop at the ATM again!
Besides that truly it is a wonderful place. It's very beautiful here. Even being right next to the city there are a number of forests around that one can drive through, ride their bike on bike paths, go for walks through--very lovely. Which brings me to another difference. On Sunday everything but a few restaurants is closed. It's kind of nice because it really promotes family time, not to mention our day of rest. The German tradition is to go for a Sunday walk. It's wonderful to see people out just enjoying each other, in no hurry to get anywhere. It's a big family day.
We are missing our families of course and friends too, but I have to say the people that we've met here so far have been fabulous! Everyone is so helpful, always ready to take you to a grocery store to help the new girl that still doesn't know enough German to get by or to invite you over for a playdate. If I have a question, I already have a handful of women I could call up for an answer, and if they don't know it they will either find out or put me in touch with someone who will. It's a great network of people here. That's how I found Paige's school.
Paige started school just today, at The Berlin British School. I know, doesn't sound very German, huh? Well, the British School is a worldwide school that is home to many different children from many different countries. It is a private school, so she has to wear a uniform which she was completely fine with because she gets to wear a skirt everyday! She will be getting and excellent education there. Every week, besides literacy and numeracy (as they call it) she will be participating in a German language class 3 times a week, then she will have music, art, computer, P.E. and swimming. It is a full day for her attending from 8:30-3:00. The really neat thing is that their swimming class is taught at the Olympic Stadium which is just up the hill from the school (they ride a bus there and back). As I said, today was her first day and she absolutely loved it! We are so thrilled it has worked out so well.
As for the rest of my crew, everyone is adapting well. Craig loves his job and is certainly challenged everyday to better his German as he is working with the German police. Claudia is enjoying all the new friends she is making and is getting anxious for her chance to start school. She is also constantly talking about her upcoming birthday party and what kind of party it will be, who to invite, etc. Brooke continues to be our "little rascal". Everyday she is coming up with something new. She's really into her baby doll right now, always wanting to feed her, change her and take her everywhere. She and baby have their own conversations while strolling around home and getting into the big girl stuff.
I know there are other things that I'm forgetting, but we'll be in touch more now that we are able. Email us when you can to either account (gmail--above, or my hotmail). We are interested in what's going on with you too! We just wanted to give everyone a heads up that we are here, we are happy and we are blessed with a wonderful life and friends and family like you!
All our love,
The Donnachie Crew
Craig, Whitney, Paige, Claudia, Brooke
