July 17, 2015

Big News!

July 17, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

I feel like I've been slacking on the blog a bit the last couple of weeks. And with our traveling. We have spent most weekends in June and July at home. It feels like I just haven't had the energy to plan weekend trips. At first, we were recovering from our crazy busy April and May, but then July came, and all I wanted to do was sit at home, go to the Saturday markets in Mannheim, binge watch X-Files all day on Sundays, try to stay as cool as possible (we have had incredible heat waves here lately), and do some hobbies around the apartment.

February 18, 2015

American Expats Experience German Karneval

February 18, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

Well folks, this weekend was definitely one for the record books. Friday after work, we boarded a train and headed north to Südlohn, a small town almost in the Netherlands, to participate in a weekend of Karneval festivities with some new German friends. The first parade was on Saturday and they continued through Monday. One of Aaron's coworkers and his friends built probably the most elaborate floats I've ever seen.

February 13, 2015

Fasching, Karneval, Fastnacht

February 13, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

Fasching

Karneval

Fastnacht

Whatever you want to call it, they all mean the same thing, well almost the same thing - party time in Germany! As if the Germans required yet another excuse to party and drink beer, the beginning of the year is known as Karneval season.

January 27, 2015

Real Life

January 27, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

The life of an expat can be glamorous. Traveling, seeing new places, having new experiences. But then reality sets in. We can't travel all the time unfortunately. Things like work and cleaning and cooking and laundry can get in the way.

And that's what happened this weekend. We've been busy pretty much every weekend since the beginning of December. There was Munich and then Cologne, and then we ...

January 16, 2015

Weekend Driving

January 16, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

In between our ''bigger'' trips, we have found we like to stay closer to home and explore. The past two weekends, we spent in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest), which starts just an hour south of where we live. The first weekend, Aaron planned, and didn't tell me where we were going of what we were doing. I always love when he surprises me like that (and secretly hate it too, I never know how to dress for it!).

December 04, 2014

Post Vacay Catch Up

December 04, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

While we were in the Philippines, we came to a startling realization: we haven't been accomplishing things on our Bucket List very quickly. We both worry that *poof* it will be the end of our assignment here and we won't have much to show for it (and empty passports!). With that thought, we had originally planned to head to Basel, Switzerland for a night the weekend after we got back from the Philippines. Well, life managed to get in the way, planning was too rushed, and so we decided not to go to Basel at the last minute. Instead, we caught up on the boring stuff - laundry, cleaning, sleep, that sort of thing.

November 07, 2014

American Food in Germany

November 07, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

There are few things that I miss food wise living in Germany. The way we eat (lots of produce, fresh meat, not a lot of processed foods) is very conducive to living here. The weekly markets are a great place for produce. And the grocery stores carry a decent selection of meats, dairy and non-perishable items that we may need. In general, we haven't had trouble feeding ourselves over here and have actually enjoyed incorporating some more German specialties into our meals (spätzle anyone?). Although, I wouldn't object if someone wanted to open a Taco Bell over here, or a decent Mexican place. Anyone?