Catlin's Adventures Around the World

Malta day 5

2008-04-06T17:27:00.001+02:00

3 hrs sleep
nasty shower
breakfast
taxi
airport/18euro bag

Gozo/Malta day 4

2008-04-06T17:21:00.003+02:00

to be written about:
breakfast and leaving the hotel
ramla bay
waiting for the bus/getting a ride from a local
bus ride to ferry
Sliema
Thai massage
shopping and "dinner"
clubbing

Gozo day 3

2008-04-03T19:44:00.004+02:00

I don't have the time to write about today, but I will do it soon or when I get home.
Points to be covered:
Waking up to terrible weather
breakfast
sleeping
Scuba DIVING!
A wonderful warm bath!
internet cafe
....

Malta/Gozo day 2 part 2

2008-04-03T19:40:00.004+02:00

points to be covered:
drive to guesthouse
arrival in the guesthouse
walk out to the point
dive school booking
looooong walk
exhaustion
internet cafe
beautiful sunset
best desert ever
cold bath/shower

Malta/Gozo day 2

2008-04-03T19:10:00.005+02:00

We woke up at 8am in our pitch black room, I had shut and locked the shutters before going to bed. Looking outside it looked like it might be a nice day. The included breakfast was local bread with jam and butter and black tea. After packing and breakfast, we made our way to the number 45 bus and waited in the rain for the driver to come back and open the doors. After about 15 or 20 mins we set off on your hour journey to the Malta/Gozo ferry terminal. The bus driver was crazy! He drove, like most Maltese drivers, at top speeds through tiny streets. He also smoked, even though there were no smoking signs posted all over the bus, and talked/SMSed on his cell phone with whole trip. But we got there safely and there were some nice views along the way.
At the ferry terminal we bought our ticket but still had 25 mins until the next ferry departed. There was a cafe next to the terminal and since we had eaten a small breakfast we decided to go grab a snack. The typical Maltese snack is called a pastizzi, which is a flaky pastry thing with ricotta cheese or mushy peas in the middle. We decided to try one each. The waitress tried to convince me to try the mushy peas on, but it sounded a little to weird. It ended up being interesting, not quite good, but not bad either. Something that was worth trying, but not really worth trying again. After that experience we headed over to the huge ferry and found a spot in the cafeteria, which was at the front, near a window. We would have gone up to the sun deck, but it was not very warm and quite windy up there. It was a 25 min trip to Gozo, passing by Comino. We got a glimpse of the famous Blue Lagoon and it looked really nice. This was our first glimpse at the real Maltese water, it was beautiful! At spots it was so turquoise blue that is seemed like we were in a swimming pool. Absolutely amazing. And, it wasn't even sunny out!
When I had called to make the reservations for staying in Xlendi on Gozo the woman said that I should call her when we knew what ferry we were taking and she would come and pick us up. The town we are staying in is like 30 mins from the port where we arrive with the ferry. I totally forgot to call her until we were on the ferry, but luckily I had my cell phone with me and it worked, if expensively, in Malta. So I called her and she told us to wait for her by the police station....it was a 1 euro phone call.
Once we got to the terminal we were attacked by taxi drivers all trying to get us to have them take us somewhere. We said no and asked where we could find the police station, they must have thought that we kind of weird. It was just around the corner and fairly nondescript, but we found it easily. We stood there for like 1 min and a lady across the street drove up and waved at us. It was a good spot for her to tell us to wait since probably most tourists would not wait in front of the police station right in front of the terry terminal.

This will also have to be continued, since I am out of time again

Malta day 1 continued

2008-04-03T19:05:00.001+02:00

I have written the rest of today in my journal and will post it once I am back home. I will also add pictures to the posts to make them a bit more lively.

Malta day 1

2008-04-01T20:44:00.013+02:00

Everything so far has gone fairly well. We, Reilly and I, caught a train from Kiel to Bremen on monday night and then got a taxi to the airport. As we arrived at the airport at 12:45 am, the driver told us that the airport was closed, but we could ring a door bell and someone would let us in....close call! As it turned out, that person was actually waiting for us out side, so it made it much easier. From 1am to 4 am we "slept" in the airport with a few other people. They had nice long benches that we could lay down on, but they wern't that comfortable and the lights were on the whole time. But, somehow, I managed to sleep about 1.5 hrs.
At 4am the ryanair terminal opened. We went to check in and my bag was 7kg over weight! Shit! It cost 10 euro per extra kg or 18 euro for another bag. Reilly was carrying on his suitcase with his back pack in it and so we decided to check his bag. So, we transfered stuff into his bag and back pack and then went back to check in. We ended up going back to the same guy and both bags were under weight. Then we went to the secutiry check point. Reilly had, in the process of changing stuff in bags taken my heavy toiletries bag and put it in his backpack, unknown to me. So we screen our stuff and of course they don't like my big shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, and sunscreen bottles. Shit again! So tried to check it, but I couldn't get my bag and my other option was to check my tiny toiletries bag....for 18 euro....no thanks, which I would have to had paid right then. At this point I realized that we had never paid for checking Reilly's bag! Cool!
TO be continued.....my time is out

The boy

2008-03-16T16:17:00.003+01:00

A little more than 3 months ago I met a young man. I would have never have thought that now I would be falling in love with him. His name is Max and he is 25. He is in the German Navy, which is funny, because I would have never thought I would be compatible with a Navy boy...but you never know what life throws at you I guess. He doesn't smoke and doesn't drink that much, just like me :-). He is wonderful and we get along amazingly well. We often find ourselves thinking the same things and have a very similar way of looking at life. When I am with him I am completely my self, I am home. Its a great feeling.
Getting together was completely unexpected for both of us. We met at a friends housewarming party and ended up talking for a long time, until he had to leave. For the next 2 weeks we talked on the internet, but purely as friends....both of us were not looking for a relationship and were happy just to make a new friend. Then we decided to make lunch at his house...burritos, yum! He picked me up on Saturday afternoon, we went shopping and then to his house. We made and ate lunch and then talked the whole afternoon. Then we drove to Laboe, a nearby beach, went for a walk on the in the dark :-), we had wanted to go earlier, but we had talked so long that the day just flew by. It was super cold and windy on the beach, so we had just a short walk and then went back to his house for some nice hot tea. I had planned on staying only for the afternoon, but the we got to talking again and didn't stop until 4am! Since it was so late and he had an extra toothbrush, we decided that I would just spend the night. n Germany, when someone has a double or bigger bed, they always have 2 blankets, so it worked out perfect....I had my blanket and he had his....so there was no awkward sleeping under one blanket. There had been a point during our talk that he sad something that made me look at him in a completely different way, but I thought he was not at all interested, so I was still thinking friends. Anyway, we talked in bed for a while and then fell asleep. In the morning when we woke up he brought me tea in bed...how sweet! We didn't really have a plan for the day, but I was more than happy to spend it with him...I was have a nice time :-). Since we had no plan we sat on his couch the whole day trying to think of what to do. As the day went on we started getting closer and closer together. We were laying head to foot and so by the early evening we were cuddling with each other's feet! :-) Soon before he had to take me back home (he has to work during the week in different towns in Germany and so it only in Kiel on the weekends), we were both getting ready to leave and not wanting to. We hugged for the first time for a long time in the hallway. Then we hugged again in his room and he kissed me! It was great and I love the fact that we both were totally not expecting that to happen...we were just going to eat lunch together :-). It was nice to be close with him, but I was not sure if that was something that I really wanted. My brain was kind of going crazy. On one side I was super happy and excited to possibly have something with this wonderful guy, but on the other hand he was only in Kiel on the weekends, he had just broken up with his ex-girlfriend and if we were to get together in Jan 2009 he would be going to see for 4-6 months. So I had a bit of thinking to do. But it was nice, we talked about it. We had and could talk about everything which was another great thing. So he went back to work in a town about an hour away and said that he would try to come back once during the week, which also made me happy. He also had to think a lot, because his ex was not happy about the break-up and so he needed to be clear that it what he wanted before he could start something with me. We talk and talked and he came to visit during the week and we talked some more. He decided that what he wanted was to be with me and I decided that it was ok that he was gone during the week, because I had lots of work and stuff to do, and that if he was clear and honest with me it was ok that he had just broken up with his ex, and that if we were still together in a year then I would deal with him being gone then. In the second week of December had to go to Hamburg for a training. I got back on Friday night and he picked me up from the train station...with flowers! From then on everyday gets better and better.
Since we got together we have spent every night that he is in Kiel together except one. I met his parents on Christmas day #2 and we spent New Years together. When he comes home for the weekend he picks me and we spend the whole weekend together. Its wonderful. Its sounds like a lot, or really fast, or strange, but its perfect and it just seems to work and I would not think to have it another way. We just work so well together and love being around each other, its fantastic. We usually visit his parents at least once on the weekend and often go for a walk on the beach.
We spent a weekend in Hannover where I had a training for the week. It was such a wonderful romantic weekend....I can't think of a new word that I haven't used yet a bunch of times. It was perfect and amazing and wonderful and...yeah, great! Rose on the hotel bed, hotel room, candle light, going out for dinners... :-)
We are planning on going sailing for a week with 2 friends at the end of June and he might come and visit me for a day or two when I teach in Ireland for a month. We also want to travel to Italy sometime and I want to bring him home to the US, but we're not sure when those things will happen. We both have very busy schedules in the next year.
So, to sum up the boy, he is fantastic, amazing, wonderful, perfect and I plan on being with him for a long time.

KITTENS!!!

2007-10-10T01:50:00.000+02:00

On Friday Jess and I got two kittens! We both have been wanting an animal for the past two years and so we decide to get kittens. We were originally going to only get one, but the we decided that with two we would each have one if when we decide not to live together anymore and now they will have someone to play with when we are not here. So, we found a lady that takes in cats and kitten when they are not wanted and took two of them to our happy home.

My new house and flatmate

2007-10-10T01:26:00.000+02:00

My new living situation is awesome! I love my little apartment and my new flatmate, Jess, is great! She is my best friend here in Germany right now. We do everything together; bike riding, visiting friends, partying, shopping, apple picking from random apple trees along the bike trails, etc.
My room is 17 square meters which works out great. Most of my furniture we given to my by Jess' family or by my new family which we sooo super nice of them. I've only had to buy my closet/wardrobe thing and I have ordered a bed which will be here in about a week (right now I am sleeping on a mattress on the floor). One of the not so great things is that we have no dryer and so went ever we wash clothes we have to hang dry them :-( Oh well, its better for the environment :-)
I've been doing lots of cooking and experimenting which has been really fun. Jess hates cooking but loves experimenting. So, together we come up with some pretty random things. Its great fun! I also bought a juicer on Sunday and have been making wonderful fruit and veggie juices, YUM!
And....there are two new additions to our household....KITTENS!!

The Old Family - Bordesholm

2007-10-09T23:29:00.000+02:00

The trip back to Germany was long, but went smoothly. When I arrived in Hamburg I took a bus to Neumunster and the family that I stayed with this last year picked me up there. Emma had fallen asleep in the car by the time they got there, but Paul-Luis was very excited to see me. The whole way back home (about 20 mins) he was talking (mostly in English!) and showing me things. It was adorable. Finally when Emma woke up, so was also very excited; she held my hand the whole way back and couldn't stop smiling and looking at me. Sooo cute!! When we got back to Bordesholm (they took me there first so I could get my stuff and the kids had to go to bed) I got two HUGE hugs from the kids at the same time. They clung to me and I could see and feel how much they had missed me. I was so nice to see them again! We had some tea and cakes and then Torsten and I took all my stuff to Kiel.
The next time I saw them was for my birthday, which was a few days later. I went over there for a BBQ and hung out with them for a bit. Then I met their new Au-Pair Kelly. Little did I know, she would bring so much drama about 3 weeks later that would almost cost me my friendship with the family.
About a week laster or so I went back to Bordesholm and went to Emma's ballet class. It was the cutest thing ever. And, I was special. The mommies wern't allowed to stay in the room and watch past the first time and this was the second time. So, since I was the old Au-Pair and don't get to see Emma very often, I got to watch. Also, Emma was not really that excited about going but because I was going with and was going to watch, she was very excited. After watching the adorable little pink girls running around doing 4 yr old ballet, I got to see it all again as we went home as well as another time for all the people that were not there. Now she loves ballet.
One weekend later I went to Bordesholm and got the kids and brought them to Kiel on the train, which they thought was really cool! We bought a soccer ball and then ate some lunch at my house. After lunch we did some drawing (one from each kids is hanging up on my closet/wardrobe) and then went and play soccer outside. We also played a game where I blew bubbles and the kids chased after and popped them. They could have played it the whole day, but after about 30 mins of blowing air through a tiny circle, I was about ready to pass out.
Since then I have seen the kids a few times, but I haven't had a chance to really have another play session. Next week I have a week off and so I will hopefully get to go play with them soon.

I will write more about Kelly later.

School

2007-10-09T23:01:00.000+02:00

As most of you know I am wanting to study here in Germany. I am hoping to start my studies in October 2008. It is turning out to be a bit more complicated that I expected.

What I need to study is:
*High School Diploma
*One of the following:
1- SAT score of 1300+
2 - SAT score of 1100+ and one year of University
*German Certificate from Goethe Institute

I have the High School Diploma. I have #2 from the SAT options, but I failed 2 classes at University and so it MIGHT not be enough. I went with Wolfgang and talked to the International Center (another thing they helped me out with) and they basically said that I need to come back at the end of October and they will be able to tell me if I have enough credits from Uni to make it work. Right now my main focus is on learning German because I will be taking my German test in February 2008 to have my German Certificate. Once I have my German Certificate I will be able to take the German course at the University in Kiel and then, after I finish the 2 levels of German (which I could do in 1 semester if I am really fast) I get finally get to study as a real student.

So, if everything goes well this is what will happen:
*End of October I will find out from the lady at the International Center that I have enough credits from my time at the University of British Columbia to be able to study here.
*February I will take my German test and pass with a "good" or "very good", which is what the University requires.
*March I will start my German classes at the University in Kiel, CAU. I will do really well and be able to finish both levels in one semester (the lady said that people do do it).
*October I will start studying English and Biology to be a teacher.

So thats the plan. I think it can be done :-) I believe in me...I can do it!!

Wish me luck!

Work

2007-10-09T20:27:00.000+02:00

Since I came back to Germany I have been working for a new family part-time. I ride my bike to their house, 15 minutes away, every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning at 7:15. I begin the day by eating breakfast with the kids, Maja (pronounced Maya, 1 yr-old) and Jannes (4 in November), at 7:30 when the mom, Claudia, goes to work. Wolfgang, dad, stays for about 15 mins and talks with us before also going to work. Then after breakfast we go upstairs and change diapers, get dressed and brush teeth. Once the kids are all ready we play inside for a bit and then if it is nice weather we go to the "Spinne" (spider) or to Oma and Opa Ottendorf. The Spinne is a huge web of cables in the shape of the Eifel Tower that kids can play on. Oma and Opa (Grandma and Grandpa) Ottendorf are Claudia's parent that live in the little town next to where they live. It takes about 25 mins to walk there. We go to Ottedorf to play with the kids in the Kindergarten that Jannes will be going to soon or to play at Oma and Opa's. If the weather is not nice we stay inside and listen to kids music, draw or paint, play silly games, or find something interesting to do. On Thursdays we got to Maja's play group at 11AM and Jannes goes to Oma and Opa again. If we end up staying at home and Claudia comes after 12, I cook them something easy for lunch. I never have to do the crazy house work that I did before, but I guess thats because I'm not an Au-Pair. I also get paid 7 euro per hour! Normally I am finished by 1PM.
Both kids are adorable. And they both really really like me. The other day Maja started to cry when I left her, it was really cute. And often Jannes tells his mom to go back to work when she comes home because he doesn't want me to leave. They are really fun to be with, but lots of work at the same time. A 1 year-old is very different than a 3 yr-old, the youngest I had last time. And Jannes is in the "why?" phase. He ALWAYS has to have an answer. And, since he doesn't know English I have to explain everything in German. It works most of the time, but it is really hard work. Especially since some of the questions I don't even know a good way to answer in English. And when I say "I don't know" he says "why don't you know" or "I want to know why!". But, we get along well and I guess in the long run its helping my German. :-)
Claudia and Wolfgang are amazing as well. The have helped and are helping me out SOO much here. The have applied for my visa for me, given me stuff for my room, driven me places so that I can by something that I would have needed a car for, are helping me find another job (what I'm doing for them is not enough), and so much more. They are really sweet and so caring. And they tell me constantly how happy they are to have me taking care of their children. I am really lucky to have found them.

2007-10-09T20:21:00.000+02:00

So this took me forever to actually start writing. I created this blog thing when I first got to Germany, 6 weeks ago!, but have only just now gotten around to writing the first post. I think instead of writing everything here I will create posts for each of the areas of my life, they each are quite involved. But for now, in a nutshell, life is great, as usual. :)
I would love to hear from you, all you have to do is post a comment! This things is new and exciting :-) hehe, I'm a dork.
Take care,
Cat