"We Could Get Along, But We Never Did Belong"

I feel good today; it appears that a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I'm not entirely sure why. It has nothing to do with anything or anyone in particular, but today seems good. Yesterday evening was much the same. I'm at peace.

Good luck making that last. But, hey, I can have a sublimely silly day every once in a while.

So, I attended the Hannover Staatsoper Saturday night for Puccini's La Boheme. It was, quite simply, lovely. Hannover has a strong cast, and the sets, costumes (for the most part), and the sound were very good. Though the orchestra tended to drown out the singers at times, this could have been only from where I was sitting--which was a really good seat, albeit on the left side. My favorite voices were Marcello's and Colline's, though Rodolfo's tenor was smooth and strong (mostly). Musetta brought some pep to the crew, which was a nice touch to the ensemble's diverse personalities. Mimi, however, was a little underwhelming, but only in acting--her voice, to me, was lovely. My only quip is that she was a bit too stiff in movement, which provided no real umph to her personality. Regardless, I liked this Mimi, and I would certainly see this cast again in another piece. Added bonus: I went to the opera on Halloween!

As it was late upon the return to Celle, I managed to try out the AnrufsSammelTaxi service that is offered when the buses don't run for the usual bus fare (which is so much cheaper than an actual taxi). It was a good experience, particularly since the taxi driver was very polite (most taxi drivers around here are not) and struck up conversation while he was driving me to the flat. This is helpful for future reference, as I expect to use this service a lot during my stay here...because Celle has a ridiculous bus schedule.

It's also helpful because my parents are arriving Friday evening. Hey, did I mention that? They're arriving Friday.

But, my mind is preoccupied with other things right now, such as--gasp!--using my oven for the first time since I've moved here. I roasted pumpkin seeds today, with reasonable success. Still a little tough, but they taste good. So, I call that a success. I didn't burn down the flat, and that is what counts. I have high standards for myself, don't 'cha know.

Let's see how the rest of this week goes.

Herbstferien

To start, I cooked myself a hot meal tonight. Okay, so it was only a can of soup, but my sister recently berated me for not eating enough. So, I thought I'd do a change from the roll, deli meat, and cheese that has consisted of my dinner for about three weeks. (Hey, sometimes I added mustard into the mix.) This might have you wondering why I haven't gained weight, but also keep in mind that I walk roughly four kilometers at least five days a week and consume mainly coffee, tea, and whatever the teacher's lounge contains. (This is a lie. I do eat breakfast and lunch.)

Of course, now I have to clean dishes, and I don't wanna.

So. It's now Fall Break. This means two weeks of...I don't know. A Hannover trip is in the works, so hopefully I'll visit some friends early next week. Perhaps a Bremen day trip, too, since that wouldn't be too expensive. It's just that this break has come so suddenly, and, having only worked three weeks at Klein Hehlen, I'm not ready for one. I still want to work.

I suppose my main fear of this break is that I'll become depressed, as I won't have much to do. This is a valid fear. I have many destinations I'd love to visit, but it's really too late to ask anyone if I can come for a few days and mooch. So, in a somewhat less elegant way than is usual of this blog, I'm going to occupy my time by making a list of desired destinations during my Fulbright tenure.

In no particular order:
Hamburg
Bremen
Weimar
Frankfurt
Dusseldorf
Dresden
Cologne (again) and Aachen
Florence, Italy
Rome, Italy
Brussels, Belgium
Anywhere, England
Amsterdam, The Netherlands*
Paris, France*

*Yes, I know. I'd rather visit the countryside of these countries, but come on, people. ART MUSEUMS. The Louvre... I'd love that.

I'm not going to be able to go to all of these, mainly because of money and not enough time. But, the least I can do is visit the German cities, since train travel is very convenient and, if one burrows enough, affordable. I have friends/family in Florence, Rome, Brussels, and near the London area, so there's always a possibility... If I don't eat or buy anything at all. I only slightly jest.

Kids Continue to Enter My Life

So, an aside:

(plod, plod, plod...knock)

Me: (thinking it's Andrea, slightly annoyed) "Ja?"

(slight hesitation)

Me: (slightly more annoyed) "Ja??"

(enter absurdly adorable five-year-old girl from across the street)

Andrea had invited a couple of the younger mothers, Steffi and Andrea #2, over to the residence for coffee, tea, and cake this morning. I had received a small note under my door inviting me along as well. I'm still too shy to decline, so I consented. I had met Steffi and her younger daughter upon returning from Fun Time in Celle with Abby Saturday evening, so, fortunately, I recognized the girl when she delightfully entered my room today. After showing me her yellow heart ring, she immediately set about examining my room, whose remarks I will translate into English:

Hannah: "Very practical! A bed, kitchen, and armoire in one room. And you even have stairs!"

So, we set about meeting the others, mainly because I was terrified that she was going to fall down my very cement-like stairs. This is a valid fear.

I won't go into the details of the gathering, but I will say that it was pleasant and awkward, though not as awkward as some gatherings I've experienced here. At least these women were patient and understanding. It will take me a long time to actually be comfortable with Germans speaking, what else, German to me, but hey--it's a step. Hooray for steps.

In other news, I probably need to cook myself an actual meal, now that I've had a working stove for about four days.

I've just now realized that I have not yet recapped a rather fun Friday and Saturday (and a not-very-fun Sunday). I need to turn in for work in the morning, so I'll have to reserve that for another post. 'Til next time, duckies.