favorite moments from germany

Since I've been home for over a week now, I wanted to recap my favorite photos or moments from each month of my Au Pair experience.

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Nervous, but so excited for my upcoming adventure.

Happy Birthday to me!

Things started getting busy as I got settled.

Tuscan family vacation...dream come true!

I love dressing up :)

First time in Amsterdam. Love at first encounter.

Celebrating Sylvester in the city center.

Karneval trumps Halloween.

I think I really just partied a lot this month. Especially with all of my Latino exchange friends.

Edinburgh + St. Andrews were magical.

American BFF + German BFF's take on my favorite city and I couldn't have been happier.

Goodbye party, so sad...but such a great finish to the 

BEST.YEAR.EVUHHH.

how to celebrate a mavs win in germany...

This is awkward. 

I can't remember if I've posted this before.

Please tell me if I have.

My life is still in jumbles since coming home.

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So, I like basketball. But I'm a Portland fan. 

And I love the Spurs.

But, since Dirk is from Deutschland, I had to cheer on the Mavs.

Plus, I can't stand Lebron. 

I got mad love for D.Wade though, what up.

Anyway, I watched the game with Henning and Jan. Some serious German b-ball fans. 

These are the final moments right before the Mavs won:

Those crazy Germans.

I probably would have been more excited if I hadn't been sleep deprived at 5:00 in the morning.

getting home is hard...[part two]

So, I left off last time at being delayed 20 hours and staying an extra night in Germany.

Looking back, I am extremely thankful I got an extra night in Osnabruck to hang out with friends and family one last time. A huge group of [drunk] friends showed up at 4:00 in the morning to wish me farewell, which was super sweet, and I also dragged Henning along for the ride to Dusseldorf, again, with Dani and Wolfgang. We had breakfast and had a few tearful goodbye's, again, and I headed on my way. 

This is where it got really fun.

Like I said earlier, boarding passes were the same, meaning seating was the same...thank god. I had an isle seat, and an empty seat next to me. A family from the Bay Area on my right, Germerican family on my left. All was good.  Until I started cramping like a mo-fo and went to the tiny airplane bathroom to find that yes, I had in fact gotten a lovely gift from mother nature days early and was totally unprepared. That was awesome. So I maneuvered through the situation the best I could. 

[trying to not give too much TMI, sorry Dad, and any other male readers, but ladies...I know you feel me on how shitty this can be!]

Anyway so I had that whole situation on my plate, not to mention the nasty cold tat was making me blow huge amounts of bodily fluid out of my nose. Yum! So, I drugged myself and prepared for sleep. Since I was going on hour number 31 of being wide awake. 

Naturally, I only slept for 2 hours on the plane. Lovely.

Then I tried to order a beer, and realized that I had no American dollars. Is this real life? 

Apparently, it was.

They wouldn't take Euros.

Joy. Pure, joy.

So when we finally made it to California, it was only natural that my head felt like it would explode during our descent. I figured this would happen, but I wasn't prepared for the 'needles gouging my eyeballs' feeling that took over for over a minute causing my eyes to tear uncontrollably and my left eye gets all  puffy and red. I was a hot mess I tell ya. A hot, hot mess.

We finally landed at 10:45am. I got through security at 12:35pm. 

Let me tell you why...

First of all, the immigration and customs at LAX is absolutely dreadful. It took for.ev.er and I was questioned in a separate area for 5 minutes! Conversations that took place during my interrogation:

Immigration Dude: "Take your glasses off."

I remove my glasses.

Immigration Dude: "Don't wear your glasses while handing over your passport again."

Me: "Okay. Sorry. I've been up for 40 hours, I can't see very well."

He's totally unsympathetic to this situation.

Dude: "How long were you in Europe?"

Me: "Eleven months."

Dude: "Why were you there for eleven months?"

Me: "I was an Au Pair in Germany, I have a German Visa on page seven."

He turns to page nine.

Dude: "It's not here."

Me: "Page seven..."

Dude: "Your visa states you were permitted to reside in Germany for twelve months. Why did you come back a month early?"

Me: "Well, oddly enough, flights to America are almost doubled in July or August compared to in June."

Dude: "Did you assist in the hiding of any illegal aliens?"

Okay, shit's getting real now...

[I'm thinking, yeah I've got some illegal aliens in my back pocket. Where the hell would I be hiding a person?!]

Me: "No."

Dude: "Did you mother any children while out of the country?"

Okay, WTF? 

Me: "Umm, no. And if I did I think I would have them with me."

He just stares.

Dude: "Okay. You are free to go."

Me: "Thank you. Have good day."

He just stares.

So then, I make my way to the baggage carousel. Grab my things, and get in line. While I'm waiting, a nice looking security guard with a German Shepard makes his way to my cart of baggage. 

The dog begins sniffing my bag.

Security Dude: "Hello Ma'am, where are you coming from today?"

Ma'am? Really. I'm 21, yet I look like I'm no older than 17.

Me: "Germany."

Security Dude: "Would you be travelling with any drugs today?"

Just a casual, everyday question I suppose...

Me: "Nope. Drug free today."

Dude: "How about any wursten?"

---Let me point out that he was pronouncing it like "were-stan".

Me: "What?"

Dude: "Wursten."

Me: "What?"

Dude: "Were-stan. German sausage?"

Me: "Ohh, wursten? No I don't have any wursten in my bag."

---Let me point out that I was pronouncing it correctly like, "vurst-hyen"

Dude: "Riiiight, how about bratwurst?"

Me: "Nope. Unfortunately I have no German meat, cheese, or produce in my baggage."

Dude: "Okay, thanks."

He then continues to stand next to me silently for like, 20 seconds.

Me: "Can I pet your dog?"

Dude: "No."

He then walks away.

I have now made it to the bag scan after a long 15 minute wait. 

When I reach the machine I am now instructed to go to the other line, the line for "threatening persons".

Okay, is this really real life?

I make it over to the "threatening persons" area and the guy finds it hilarious that I have been asked such strange questions. He doesn't understand why I would be seen as a threat. Finally, someone who understands me. He then lets me know I look better without my glasses on.

Our friendship is now over.

I push my extremely heavy bag outside of the international terminal and walk it 15 more minutes in the sweltering heat. I find the Southwest terminal, and switch my flight electronically. You see, my flight was scheduled for 5:45 pm. Keep in mind it's 12:45. Um, no thanks. So I'm overly excited there is a spot on the 2:35 flight to Sacramento. Until I put my bags on the scale and realize I have to pay $100 for 2 overweight bags. 

Clearly, luck is on my side this weekend.

I make it through security, grab a water and M&M's, and sit down by the gate. 

I have already talked to my Mom, and Dad. I have also been texting Henning throughout the entire incident. They all find my experience weird, yet hilarious. I'm still angry about the entire ordeal. 

At this point I am having a horrible time speaking English, my brain only wants to work in German. The fake L.A bimbos (no offense L.A readers...) are really ticking me off. 

Every American accent is driving me cray cray, and I have never wanted anything more in life than to be back in Osnabruck. I begin to cry. I put my sunglasses on.

It was serious sadness.

But, alas, the clock rolls around to 2:30. 

Why are we not boarding yet?

Oh, no worries, my 2:35 flight is delayed until 3:45.

Of course it is.

Needless to say, I finally made it back home. But have NEVER, in my entire life, been subject to such travelling horrors.

Horror, I tell you. Horror.

Thankfully, my family took my hot mess of a self to In-N-Out.

And the rest is history.

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Since I'm feeling nostalgic, here are some images from my last few days in Deutschland:

getting home is hard...[part one]

[warning: lengthy post, sans pictures]

I should be cleaning/re-organizing my room on this lovely day. Or maybe sitting by the pool, but, I feel the need to blog about my now hilarious yet at the time horrendous ordeal of coming through immigration at LAX. 

But let me back up, and talk about the morning of Saturday, June 25th, when I was scheduled to leave Germany at 1:25 in the afternoon. I said my goodbye's at home to all of my friends the night before. Said goodbye to Oma, Opa, and Henning that morning, and been in tears. I composed myself for a few hours, yet broke down when saying goodbye to Daniela, Wolfgang, Esra, Elias, and Cajus, my better than wonderful family for the year.

I walked alone through security, leaving my sunglasses tucked into my tank top, underneath my zipped hoodie, thus causing a serious German woman to man handle me all the way to second base. I legitimately was asked to take my shirts-plural-off, until my tiny cami, and then was asked to "bend over". I can't make this up. But they finally realized I was not a threat and let me through. There I was, sitting alone on the plane, crying while reading a full page People article about Pippa Middleton's ass. Good stuff. 

It seems like we are taking an awfully long time on the tarmac. I glance at my new watch from the family and see that it is in fact, 1:55pm. We are 30 minutes late, I think to myself, 'I'm definitely not making my Southwest connection in LA.' But it's whatever, I'll get another flight. 

I have now read through two maagzines, one of them being Cosmo, so you know it's been awhile. I look at the watch again. 2:45. Yeah, it's been about an hour. What is going on? Long story short, there were bags on the plane, yet the passengers had "voluntarily removed themselves" from the plane. So, it was only proper security measures that they remove all the baggage in order to find these particular bags. In the pouring rain...just throwing them on the cement runway...spectacular. 

By the time the crew has realized the bags are nowhere to be found [only to add to everyone's confusion], they are very close to working over the allotted 24 hours. We are now instructed to leave the plane and collect our baggage at carousel 18. No other information is given to us. 

Thankfully I had made friends with this Germerican* family sitting across the isle and the nice American Dad lets me use his phone to call Dani. I basically told her that the plane hadn't left and we were delayed, but I have no other information, if she could please call my Mom, or write her on Facebook letting her know I'll be late but I would call her when I get to LA. She said yes and to try to call when I know anything. I would like to point out that we didn't receive any vouchers for wifi, or beer. Not that I'm spoiled or anything, but c'mon, we were going on two hours on the tarmac here, you can't shoot a Heineken over my way?! 

Anyway, we are at the carousel waiting to snag our luggage, when the nice German Mom runs over saying, "Hayley? Hayley, the phone is for you."

It was Dani, calling back, to let me know that the flight was delayed until 8:30 the next morning! She was on her way back to get me, and I would be staying an extra night in Osnabruck.

I was honestly relieved that they were coming to get me, yet couldn't even believe that I had said so many tearful goodbye's and would have to completely do it all over again. Anyway, I was so happy to see them, and we talked to the people in the airport and realized that yes, 8:30 am was the next flight. Thankfully the boarding passes were the same, and thankfully I would be sleeping in my own bed that night and not at the airport. So, there I went, all the way back to Osnabruck. And of course had to hang out with Jan and Henning again, and had a good time with the family. The next day the fun really started when I landed back in the states, but I'll save that for another day.

*Germerican: 1/2 German, 1/2 American family

i tried to go home today.

but after sitting on the runway for a good two hours, our plane was delayed until tomorrow morning and i am back in osnabruck for one more night.

really only like six hours, but that's neither here nor there.

i'll go into detail about leaving another time, but for now, here are some photos from my going away party.

yummy food and jello shots.

received an inappropriate, yet awesome soccer football jersey from my lovely friends.

 yep, i only have guy friends.

i'm that girl.

it was one of the best nights, ever. really.

like, if you could plan a party with all of your favorite people present, this would have been that party.

the jello shots were a hit with the germans, and the best part was continuing the fiesta at my favorite club until the wee hours of the morn...host parents included.

and yeah, i used the same two pictures twice...who does that?! jeez!

love them. fo' reals.

until the good old u.s. of a,

xo, hay.

worpswede, germany: part two

i give to you the last batch of worspede photos.

these particular photos are some of my favorite ever.

the lighting was gorgeous and i was aching for a DSLR...soon, soon.

but regardless of what camera i was using, i still had some beautiful shots.

how wonderful of a wedding could you have here?

obligatory tree shot for opa gunther.

the tree was awesome, and so big.

had to get a running start to jump up, which i'm sure looked crazy for all the other peeps in the audience.

adorable.

i would kill to have some colorful chairs like that. and i love the buddha street art. love it.

 we then headed back...exhausted.

'twas a glorious day.

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in other news:

i leave germany in 9 days.

i can't even believe it, but on the other hand, the realization is definitely hitting me.

between going through my entire wardrobe, closet, book shelf, and drawers and trying to motivate myself to pack it all away, the realization has hit. so, with that being said, i may be a bit m.i.a for a few days, but maybe not...you never know.

also, i'm giving this here blog a complete make over so some of it may be under construction...but i hope to be all organized soon! 

thanks for sticking by, loves.

xo, hay

worpswede, germany: part one

last saturday, dani, wolfgang, cajus, oma + opa, and myself took a day trip to worpswede.

a small artists colony north of bremen.

we left the house a little before nine by bike and jumped on a train, with the said bikes.

we arrived in a small village, not worpswede, and cycled to our destination.

the day started out pretty chilly and overcast, we were worried about rain. but if you know me, you know i firmly believe in frolicking in the water, so i was cool with it.

when we finally arrived, we were greeted by a little bit of sun, bunting hanging from the trees, and pretty art and architecture.

we started at the mini farmer's market and art show.

[kunst schau in deutsch] 

i love the art display on hemp, held together with clothespins and branches.

we ventured through the woods to a gallery.

i'm so afraid to take photographs inside art galleries-totally wimpy, i know-i'll get better at it...but i don't have any from the exhibit, which was very cool.

anyway, i took some fun photos outside.

such an adorable family.

 the courtyard in front of the gallery housed these life size ceramic statues that were fun to play and pose with.

cajus loved it:

 haha. i laugh at myself all the time. that's okay, right?

the exterior area of the gallery:

some random shots:

gotta love the barney stinson graffiti. 

the scenery was truly lovely, this was towards the end of our day, which i'll post tomorrow, but i had to post these gorgeous sky and landscape photos:

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it's when you're sitting on the train exhausted on your way home, when you look up from the ipod and see things like this, that you know that life is sweet. and if you look up at the right moment, everything is okay and how it should be.

gute nacht, lovelies.

wherever you are on this pretty planet.

xo, hay

fill in the blank friday.

  whaddup dudes.

i'm playing along with this cool chick and some other with my first ever fill in the blank friday!

i'm pretty excited.

you can play along too if you want.

1.   This weekend I'm doing the usual. So basically going out with friends. Maybe going with D+W to an Art Museum on Saturday.   

2.  My last vacation was in the beginning of April when I went on my solo vacay to Scotland.

3.  My next vacation will be I think Tahoe in July...I leave Germany in sixteen days, sadness. But I love Tahoe so I'm a happy gal.

4.  My favorite way to relax is different each time, depending on my mood. Sometimes I want to take a bike ride, walk, or hike. Other times I just want to curl up with a movie or good book.

5.  When vacationing one should always have a camera :).

6.  When vacationing one should never work. I made the mistake of bringing progress reports with me to Palm Desert last year and it was stressful.

7.  The best part about a vacation is seeing new places, relaxing, and making memories.

Hope you guys enjoyed that!

Here's a little video of the boo thang and myself on a bike ride. 

Yes, I blast music when I ride. Yes, I almost fell. Biking one handed with a camera and trying to avoid running into a child can be a bit tough.

     

Happy Weekending!

xo, hay

rain in june

remember when i said it was sunny and summer is finally here?

i lied.

it's really rainy.

but he's cute:

postcards + tomatoes

a few things.

one: 

loved all the responses from the last post about the tomatoes. am i right?! taste is totally different when tomatoes are raw, compared to when thrown in sauce, or soup. 

two: 

the weather last night included rain, hail, thunder, and lightening.

but today it looked like this,

three:

a while back i mentioned something about being snail mail pals.

i've done it with a few blog friends and it is so fun. i love snail mail, and getting it from family and friends at home is great, but it's super exciting getting it from blogworld friends.

so, with that being said, i only have 19 (!) days left in germany so if any of you would like a german post card, let me know and we can trade!

email me at : hejohns (at) gmail (dot) com

it's fun + worth it...promise.

especially if you are abroad too...

...or not :]

  

happy monday friends,

hay