Sunday, July 17, 2011

Coming Home

I officially have a homecoming date!

Sunday, July 24!!!!

The Foshee's have been amazing helping me figure out my flight. I will be taking the train tin Amsterdam verrrrrry early (5am!) on the 23rd. That leaves me some time to check out the city, which I'm really excited about! I will stay in a hotel the night before and then I have an 8am flight out of Amsterdam.

Can't believe that this year is coming to an end in less than one week. I have so many memories and it has been an amazing journey. I will miss Passau and Germany, but I am looking forward to being home.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Dachau

I went to the Dachau Concentration Camp last weekend. It was quite the experience. Most of the camp was actually torn down after it was liberated, but they rebuilt one of the barracks and there was a great account of the history displayed.


Entrance to the camp

Roll call area and rebuilt barracks


See description in the next picture



"bathrooms" in the barracks


3 tiers of this. No individual bed, just one long platform. The camp was built to hold 6,000 people, and by 1944 it had over 35,000

Picture of the original barracks

The cement outlines of where the barracks used to be. They gray weather added to the experience


See next two pictures


In the crematorium

Very small room disguised as "showers" where the prisoners were gassed


Fumigation chamber


Crematorium from the outside

The old crematorium (believe it or not they built another one ) :(

"Crematorium. Think about those who have died here"


Barbed wire electric fence and death strip

Arbeit Macht Frei


It was a very moving experience visiting Dachau. I can't even imagine what it was like when the American Soldiers liberated the camp.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Same old, same old

Sorry for the long lapse in posts, but there has been nothing new to write about! I have been back in school for about 1 1/2 months and classes are going well.
The weather has been mostly cloudy and rainy lately which is a bummer. When it's nice out though, I take Heidi for walks along the river. She even got in the other day and went swimming! Speaking of swimming...the pool in town is open and I have been using it tons! It's a really nice pool with lap lanes, a diving well (including a 10 meter diving platform!!!!), a big main pool, a wave pool, and TONS of space for laying out.

It's crazy to think that I will be home at the end of NEXT MONTH! I have loved my time in Germany, but coming home will be so great.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Heidi is the featured puppy today on www.dailypuppy.com

http://www.dailypuppy.com/puppies/heidi-the-havanese_2011-06-04

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Is the Toothfairy Coming?

Heidi lost a tooth today!
I didn't even realize or think about the fact that puppies lose their baby teeth and get adult ones! Learn something new every day.
Now I have to start reading up on puppy teething...

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Familiar Faces in Passau

What a whirlwind the past month has been! Mom and dad got here the day after Easter, Jake a few days later, and Dan a few days after him! My life was full of visitors. It was so great to have everybody here and hang out with some familiar faces.

Mom, Dad, and I started their stay with a trip to Salzburg, Austria. We went on The Sound of Music Tour. It was actually pretty neat, and we got to see some BEAUTIFUL views of Austria!



Once Jake got here we hit the road to Italy! We spent an entire day in Venice. I definitely hope to go back there someday to see more of it. The city is so beautiful.



On the way home from Italy we made a quick stop in Innsbruck, Austria. We got to ride an elevator up to the top of the old olympic ski jump! This is the view from the top. Absolutely gorgeous! 

Delicious traditional Bavarian food was enjoyed by all! :)





Dan and I met up with the family in Munich on the day that they left. I was sad to see them go, but glad that we had so much f un together!!!



This picture is for mom: Real Petit Fours!!!

Also for mom and dad: Remember the flowers outside of the hotel in Passau? They changed them all!!!!! Before they were mostly purple. They're crazy about the landscaping here


I had a fabulous time with Dan. We went to the Neuschwanstein Castle on the west side of Bavaria. The tour of the castle is not so great because you only get to see a few rooms, but the view is definitely worth it.


I REALLY miss everybody! Heidi and I had a great time hanging out and being tourists! Only about 2 more months until I am home. I have started up classes again. It's really hard to concentrate when the weather is so nice! The Americans really have it right with summer break. This is just torture! haha

Will be sure to post more when I have a new adventure

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everybody!!!!
Today was great. I made American breakfast for my friends: pancakes with maple syrup, scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit salad, and orange juice! It was absolutely delicious and a great way to celebrate Easter and spring! :)


Linda mixing up the fruit salad


Getting ready to scramble some eggs!


Starting to smell yummy!!!!!


The girls cooking up a storm....and Thomas in the background cleaning up after us ;)


Tomas and Katie


Katie hanging out on the balcony. Isn't the backyard beautiful? This is where we spent our time alllllll week!!!


Easter breakfast is ready! Dig in

Everybody is looking forward to eating the breakfast


Heidi took an Easter nap while we were cooking

yummmmmm


Heidi had some pancake! :)


Trying out some shades


Love birds (Katie and her boyfriend Tom, visiting from Wales)


Me and my baby!


I was sad that I wasn't able to spend time with my family, but I had a GREAT time with my friends.

Talked to mommy and daddy today while they were on their way to the airport. I am taking a 6:30am train out of Passau tomorrow morning to pick them up at the airport!!!!!! Looking forward to a very exciting 3 weeks ahead of me!