It might be a little while before another post....

Hey hey! Just wanted everyone to know that it might be another week before I post again b/c I won't have any internet (or phone service) at my apartment until after Nov. 4th. After that....it's all good :) I finally moved into my apartment and am working on getting furniture and other things...man, it's nice to have a place to call home! Alrighty...gotta get back to work :)

Orlando

Orlando was....sunny :) 2 weeks is a really long time to hard-core study special events...BUT, I learned a TON, met some really great people, and have some good ideas to take back to Bamberg. Sooo....here's some of the pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29860485@N03/sets/72157607969742863/show/. Hope y'all enjoy!

Beautiful Florida Sunshine

Ahhh...I love soaking up the sunshine :) I've been in Florida for a week and must admit I actually miss Germany a little bit. I'm still super excited to get back and really move in and live in my apartment. Although, it has been nice to meet new people and enjoy all the amenities here in the states (the shopping, dining, and leisure activities). Man, it's great traveling!

Munich

Here's some pics from Munich: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29860485@N03/sets/72157607435077854/show/. We had a TON of fun people watching and touring the city. AND....I signed the lease on my apartment today :) Yay!! I finally get to move in!! Now...I just need to hurry back from the states, so I can actually live in it :)

Fabulous Berlin...

I took my first real trip this weekend and went to visit an old undergrad friend in Berlin. It's definitely a bigger city and has a different feel from southern Germany (reminded me more of Houston...only Houston doesn't have NEARLY as much history as Berlin). Sooo...here's the pics (the link below will take you to a slideshow):

http://flickr.com/photos/29860485@N03/sets/72157606923691240/show/

There were definitely a few fun moments, such as my first time riding a train (and peeing on a train for that matter...harder than it seems), when we got rejected by the train ticket machine (yep...obviously it didn't like our money...or maybe it was just us), and then the various reactions we received when we asked "Spreichense English?" (one guy asked if we spoke Italian, French, or German...and then proceeded to speak perfect English when we said no to all the above). It was definitely one for the books. Next quest...Oktoberfest next weekend :)

I found an apartment!!

Yippee!! I finally found an apartment!! It's on the outskirts of Bamberg, so it's nice and quiet. It's right by a church, so I'll get to hear the bells going off when I'm home (which is usually a pretty sound to the ears). It's pretty big (by european standards...over 100 square meters), has a huge bathroom, a nice-size balcony, and two bedrooms (yes, I'll have plenty of room for anyone who wants to visit). The kitchen and living room are one big area, so it makes it's really open and has a nice feel to it. I'm super excited about moving in (granted, I won't actually get to live in it until I'm back from my TDY in the states) :) I'm meeting with the landlord next Thursday to go over the contract, so hopefully I can take some pics and let everyone know what it looks like empty. THEN, once I'm back from the states I get to go house shopping!! Yippee!! I've already decided that my first big purchase for the apartment will be a couch :) Something that I can come home, kick off my shoes, and lounge on with a good book. Plus, I'm hoping that once I get all the necessities out of the way I can buy a little table and chairs for the balcony. A small place to sit outside and drink hot tea or cocoa. Ahhh...I'm so ready for this :)

4th week....

This past week was BUSY. I've been looking for an apartment, so I went to look at 4 different places this week, which took a bit of time, but I found a place that I REALLY like. Now, I just have to submit some paperwork (there were a lot of people looking at the place, so they'll have their pick for who they want to occupy it) and wait to hear back from them. It's a REALLY nice place near downtown (right near the Bamberg Symphony Concert Hall) and it's a nice spacious 2-bedroom. So....I'm keeping my fingers crossed and HOPE that I get it. If not, then it's back to the drawing board. On another note, Juergen gets back to work tomorrow, so I won't be doing anymore online classes (wahoo!!). I'm not sure what all I'll be doing, but I'm trying to get as much facetime training with him in the next 3 weeks, because after that I'm going stateside for 3 weeks. I'll be in Orlando, FL from Sept. 27-Oct. 11 and then in Baltimore, MD from Oct. 11-Oct. 18. Ah yes....and I'm going to Berlin this weekend to visit a friend, plus we're going down to Munich the weekend after for the opening weekend of Oktoberfest :) Yay!! I'm finally going to get to travel!!