It's Been Awhile...

Oh where oh where do I begin? First, I have not abandoned you my dear blog friends! I have just been so busy with my new life in Germany, though it's been 15 weeks since I arrived here (nearly 4 months!) it all still feels a bit surreal to me. Part of me almost thinks that very soon I will be flying back as I always do each year. Only this year I will *not* be flying back and it seems very odd to me all of a sudden as this time of the year is when we're usually making our arrangements to fly back to Boston. I'm so happy that I'll be staying for the first time in my life! Yay!

(taken downtown yesterday)

So let's catch up. I've been all over the place in my head, in my heart, in my work, in my home... it all just feels somehow upside down right now. Not in a bad way, just in a very unscheduled way. As mentioned, I can't quite get it in my head that I'm staying so like every year before I seem to be trying to squeeze in every activity I can as I usually do before flying back. My daily routine is quite out of balance... but this week I've vowed that I will work on getting things back to normal. In many ways, I'm still in vacation mode though I'm not on vacation, this is *my life* now.

(also taken downtown yesterday)

In between visiting friends and family, I've been finding lots of little events to go to. I also find myself appreciating the moments I have to do that which in the states I took for granted. Like when an English movie comes to town it is all very exciting. For instance today we attended a morning matinee of Woody Allen's new film, "Whatever Works" at the hochhaus in Hannover, this old theater at the top of a really nice building downtown with a dome on top. I know the building is also home to our newspaper but that's all I know. I guess I should research this, as I'm certain the architecture is some famous German style as it's a very old and interesting structure. On Wednesday, I'll go see "New Moon" because it also opens here in English for two shows only - both sold out! I am really excited to see it because I read the Twilight series last year and really enjoyed the second book the best I think, which is what this movie is based on. I can't wait to compare it to the book and pick it apart in my head afterwards. After the Woody Allen flick today (which my husband dressed up for, he ALWAYS dresses very classy on Sundays with a vest and tie or something) we went for brunch and on to a wonderful arts and crafts show at the kunstlerhaus. The things I saw there were just lovely and the building itself was gorgeous. I enjoyed meeting some new artists and designers and also listening to the live jazz band. Everything here is at a much more relaxed pace and feels more festive to me than when I did the same things back in Boston. I don't see this as German thing as much as a European mindset because, other than London, all of the cities I've visited on this continent so far have a much slower pace than my native New England. And I love it because I feel far less anxiety attending events here and when I arrive home after I feel very refreshed and inspired. If you are an American from a fast paced part of the states now living in Germany you must know what I mean.

(random lights that I love)

So! The city is becoming very decorative this week as the winter markets or Christmas markets, begin on November 25 and last until December 23. The above photo shows a street in a district called Linden -- several trees there have all of these white lights with rose-colored globes -- aren't they beautiful? I photographed this especially for you last night on my way home from a small street festival where some indie shops all stayed open late and many had music and free homemade treats to enjoy. I can't wait for the markets to begin because there are so many lovely things to see, eat, smell and thousands of people are all over the streets (especially downtown) so it feels very festive and fun. And hot spiced wine is sold everywhere - my favorite! The market starts a few blocks from my house on the Lister Meile and continues several blocks and then pauses and then picks up again downtown outside of the train station and goes into the old part of the city, so I'd say it covers about a mile total space. The market in the historical part of the city is unique in that parts of it have a medieval market for several weeks and a Danish market, so there are some very lovely things to eat and drink and shop for. I wish I could take all of you with me -- there is NOTHING like this experience in the states and for most Americans, this would be a really fun thing to participate in. These markets run all over the city, there are even a few in other districts here besides the List where I live and downtown... and they start in the morning before lunch and run until 9pm and on the weekends I think even later downtown. I love the Danish market where they have the best salmon and sweet rolls... I'll have to take a few photos for you to see!

(poster that I adore advertising a winter market in nearby wolfsburg)

In addition to the markets in Hannover, there are many all over the country. In Wolsfburg, which is nearby and home to VW headquarters, they are having a special Scottish-themed market called "Winter Highlands" this year that I plan to visit. Above is a poster advertising it near my house. We have these round advertising posts all over the city where people paste up their posters advertising events like concerts and markets. Don't you love the illustrative style of this poster? This alone makes me want to attend it! How are you doing? What is new? I have a lot of work to finish this month and I plan to take this Wednesday off because I still take American holidays because most of my blog readers are in the states AND because I'm American so why not!? :) So it makes me happy to know that this week I will be off on Wednesday. What does your week look like? If you live in Germany does your town have markets about to begin too? What are you looking forward to eating/drinking or buying the most? If you are in the states, what about you - what's new? I feel so out of the touch with American life, politics, culture, all of it. I barely have time to keep up with all I'm learning here so I've let things slide when it comes to reading American news. What's big on everyone's mind there at the moment? (images: holly becker for haus maus)