I made it!

Yes, I arrived here safelz in Munich. No problems getting out of O'Hare or Philidelphia... the weather cooperated and was perfect! I had a longer layover in Philly than I thought (it ended up being 3.5 hrs instead of 2.5 hrs) because I apparently don't know how to calculate time. Michael was there to pick me up at the airport and we spent a while looking for his car... since he parked about as far away as one can get! But it was good because it gave us more time to talk and catch up a bit.
I walked around Marienplatz for a while on Wednesday since Michael needed to work on his thesis a bit more. Unfortunately, it was raining, so I wasn't able to sit outside at one of the beer gardens and people watch, but I still had fun. I met some random professor (who grew up in the states) while I was waiting for the subway... one of his students came up to me and asked me to take a survey... in German... which, of course, I don't really speak a lick of. So, I told him I don't speak German... and he apparently went back and told his professor... and I ended up taking the survey in English. It was a good conversation... he is a theology professor so the survey was about ones beliefs of Christianity... and got me thinking. After the survey, we just talked about Christianity for a while... not the typical conversation I'd expect to have in the U-Bahn station in Munich, but it was still good!
I was kind of jet lagged on Wednesday, so we didn't do too much. Oh yeah... so far I've only had pizza, bread, and hot dogs to eat... hahahah!!!
I'll share more later when I get time. I won't be able to upload any photos until I get back home in the states... so you will all have to wait for that!

V

Disclaimer: This was written on a German laptop (whose keyboard is different from that in the states)... so bare with me if there are any typos (since it's telling me that just about every word is a typo since the language is set as German!).

Flying out

Just wanted to ask for a quick prayer from everyone that my flight gets out of O'Hare today... and semi-on-time... it's supposed to storm today and we all know how airport delays (especially at ORD) can be! I need a vacation!!!

What a great day!

Okay... big news of the day... I'm going to Germany for Oktoberfest!!! Yes... this year!!! It was a total last minute thing... my friend Michael (who happens to live in Munich) invited me. I texted him on Thursday because we hadn't talked in a little over a month and I knew he was moving to Munich and finishing work on his thesis. He texted me back and said all was going well and that he really likes Munich... and then said that I should come over for Oktoberfest. I thought that it was already going on (as it usually is earlier in September) and he said it was the 22nd through October 7th... and that he would call me Thursday night. So... that got the wheels a turnin' in my head... he called last night, we talked for a while... and he convinced me that I should try and come over for about a week... but I still had to ask off from work. (We have that whole 2 week rule for requests off, too.) I asked my boss this morning... who said it sounded like a great opportunity... but she had to check to see if we had coverage and she'd get back to me ASAP... but it comes to be 330 in the afternoon and I still hadn't heard ANYTHING so I was way nervous thinking that she wasn't going to let me take off. Finally... I asked her again if she had made up her mind and she said "oh, I thought I had told you, go go go, we have coverage." I was so excited I screamed and told her I loved her and gave her a huge hug... she said I could go as long as I brought her back something. Haha! So... I rushed home after work... got my tickets... will be gone September 25th to October 1st... I know it's not a super long time, but I have to be back at work because another girl is taking off for her wedding (which is slight more important I think)... but I way excited to head overseas again! Everyone pray for me that I make it there okay... and that my luggage makes it there too (unlike last time)!

Updates...

So, it's been a while since I've last posted anything... alright... nearly a month! I've been busy! Kind of... the month of bachelorette parties and weddings continued... only one more left! Congratulations to Jackie and Scott who were married on September 1st... it was a beautiful wedding!
On the 18th of August (I know, a while ago) some friends from work and I went sailing... here are the pics!


Nicole and myself posing and ready for the sail!


Travis looking dasher in his cowboy hat? All he needs is a piece of hay in his mouth...





Tammy and Nicole were supposed to be the ones to push us away from the dock... they had a few problems and needed some help! I thought the girls had the guns!


Some of the guys just chilling at the bow of the boat.


A view of the city from the lake... yes, the day is a bit dreary (and it was pretty chilly... and then rainy!) You can see the rainclouds approaching.



Tammy and Nicole enjoying a drink




Above are pics of the air show that was going on during our sail... though we were headed back to port since some people were getting a bit "green!"



Kasia sailing the boat!


Brian, Travis, and Andy trying to get the mainsail up... it didn't work.

It was kind of a dreary day... the water was rough... it was windy (but not always from the same direction)... and then it started to rain. Not everyone that was with us had sea legs... so we were only out on the lake for about an hour (it was supposed to be a three hour tour!) We still had a good time... the boat company let us chill on the boat when we got back into port. It was a good thing we came in when we did... it started pouring not long afterwards!
Kasia, Andy, Brian, and I will hopefully get to go out one more time this fall... so we can get the mainsail up and not just the jib and really haul on the lake!