That's right folks, snow, and lots of it (by Floridian standards anyway!) The Germans tend to agree that this winter has seen unprecedentedly large amounts of the white stuff. We've not had more than about 4 inches on the ground at once, but we've had that amount regularly for practically every week of the winter so far! Pretty until it all turns to dirty snow mud ("Schnee Mansch" in German!)
In addition to walking/slipping/falling through the snow/Schnee Manch/ice, I'm also studying for my German driving test. Because I'm an official German resident and have been for more than a year, I have to get a German license to continue driving for my company. Thankfully, I can take the test in English (technical German is beyond my speech level at this point!) The test, however, seems to have been translated by a German who did well in English class, and not by a native speaker...let's just say that sometimes I look at my study book and tilt my head, wondering what in the world they could have intended to say... :D I hope to be ready to take the test at the end of this week...I'm working very hard to get all the info in my head - you can only miss 2 of 30 questions on the test and the questions that are not FITB have between 3 and 9 possible answers - one of which incorrect causes the entire question to be counted wrong! PRAY! I'll keep you posted on how it goes after I take it.
In addition, I'm in the process of preparing for the open call for Stage Entertainment (the company that produces Sidonie's show.) An open call (for those non-actors out there) is an opportunity to audition for the entire range of shows produced by the company. The auditionees will be considered for open roles in all the shows Stage Entertainment produces, nationwide. I'm excited about it, and am preparing a new song that I've never done before (there's a particular role I'm interested in, so I'm singing a similar song to the one he sings.) I've wanted to sing "I (Who Have Nothing)" from Smokey Joe's Cafe since doing the show seven years ago, so I'm excited to be working on it! My audition is on the 12th in Berlin (we'll be performing near there at that time.) I'll keep you posted on how that goes as well!
In other fun news, we just had a wonderful week with a good friend from FL! Julie May came over and got to spend the entire week with Sidonie! I got to see her a bit last Sunday when she came in, and spent this past weekend with her and Sidonie. We had loads of fun! YAY for American friends visiting!!! We'd welcome more visitors...hint, hint! ;P
OK, now for the random smattering of photos from this past month...
The owner of a small woodwinds shop I found in Köln - very cool shop!
A whole case of handmade wooden flutes of all different types - I wanted to play them so badly, but he was just about to close...:( At least I got pictures!
I thought these Clarinets were beautiful!
Holzblasinstrumente: Woodwind Instruments.
Also while in Köln, I found a beautiful little chapel called Groß St. Martin - literally "Big St. Martin!" They had a brief history translated into English, so here you go!
Groß St. Martin
Groß St. Martin
A pretty and quaint little side street in Köln.
On the side street, I found this really nifty little English Book and Tea store! They had both new and used books in the English language. I could have stayed in there for hours!
But, I need to go see this! This is a window of the Kölner Dom (Köln's Cathedral.) This is the most famous attraction in Köln, and it is HUGE, and quite impressively beautiful!
I think my favorite part was the stained glass casting colors on the walls inside the cathedral. Absolutely gorgeous!
This is the main hall of the Cathedral.
Artsy fartzy picture I took while sitting down to pray. The kneeling benches were made of wood - not the soft padded ones I've seen in Catholic churches in the states!
Look - it's me at the Kölner Dom!
I think my favorite aspect of the exterior were the gargoyles! It reminded me of Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dam! These gargozles were "drooling" icicles!!! SO funny!
Exterior view of the Dom.
More of the same from a different side.
They had the list of services in German and English.
I'll give you one guess as to who the statue on the right represents! ;)
A pretty frozen lake! Woohoo!
More of the lake!
The musical Hairspray plays in Köln!
A couple more parting shots of the Kölner Dom.
Love and Hugs to you all!
5 comments:
GREAT photos and blog as usual! Thank you! We're praying for your driver's test and for your audition! I love you and miss you so much! Thanks for posting the photo of you, because I love seeing you in all these fabulous places!
Actually Dad said, "Very neat pictures, hope when we visit you can show us some things like this in person. Praying about all your stuff ~ audition, drivers test, work, etc. E-hugs till I see ya!"
Oh yes, let us know how the driving test and audition goes! It made me lol when I read about the test booklet and some of the English in there. We've seen some hilarious signs in Brazil that someone tried to translate into English literally and made absolutely NO sense. It's hilarious.
So, I translation.com-ed the comment from your friend 頭髮 here, and got ' "It is impossible this word" in the dictionary clever people do not find.'
Hmm. Perhaps there is a way to limit viewing to people who actually know us...
Anyway, you're great and I love you. See you soon!
So you'll know, I'm hoping to take my driving test tomorrow...I'll keep you posted! Also: my audition is now on the 16th rather than the 12th as I thought previously! Love and Hugs to all of you!
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