When we left off in February, I was enjoying my semester break, catching up on my work from the previous semester. I can’t say much exciting happened in February. Although there was a week there with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, it was just a fools spring. It’s been pretty solidly in the 30s and 40s since then, straight through March and August.
March
In March I started my C1 German intensive. Similar to the US, Germany also began to experience another wave of COVID, guaranteeing that my course would be taught online. Thankfully, Will’s work and Herbert’s Kita continue to be impervious to everything going on. Due to how far behind Germany is regarding vaccines compared to the US, we aren’t coming out of this wave as quickly, but at the beginning of May it seems like we are starting to. At least our county is almost back to February numbers.
Back to my German class. A C1 level is what is required to study for university. That first week was a bit of a shock to the system – the teachers really kicked it up a notch compared to our B2 class last semester! I’ve grown accustomed to the workload now, but it is still quite a difficult course as we prepare for the official exam in June.
Back in the States, we sold our house that we bought when I was exactly 39 weeks pregnant with Herbert. There was a lot of emotion tied up in that decision and that sale, but in the end it was the right decision.
March also brought the official start to my internship! After months of waiting, the paperwork finally all went through and we got down to work. It has been relaxed and enjoyable up to this point, looking at different data sets and now at the beginning of May we are creating a concrete plan that will guide us through August and help me gather all the data and content I need for my master’s thesis – focusing on creating pathways to help churches become carbon neutral. I’m really excited about it!
April
We had a quiet Easter once again this year. Herbert learned all about the Osterhase (Easter Bunny) and got lots of chocolate at Kita, so he was all about Easter this year. We colored eggs on Saturday and on Easter morning he hunted all over for the eggs and whatever chocolate we had in the house. On Monday we celebrated one of our patron saints, St. Crescentia of Kaufbeuren, with a Bavarian feast of Weißwurst, Käsespätzel, and Tänzelfest Suppe.
I continued my C1 course and my internship, and I found a supervisor for my thesis. My goal is to finish my studies by the end of 2021, and slowly things are coming together! Above all May is shaping up to be a crazy busy month, filled with German, internship work, and 3 weeks of full time courses for my Master’s. Luckily May also brings two (weekday) public holidays to break things up a bit.
To make things even crazier, we have some big plans on the horizon that we are working on as a family. But for now, before all the crazy starts, I’m enjoying the slow change into spring. Herbert is learning all about the flowers and last week even went on a trip with his Kita to go see some goats. The weather is still mostly cool, but not enough to keep us indoors. Hopefully soon the warm weather will come out for more than one day at a time.
