Life in Germany: Driving on the Autobahn

I know you all think it is fun and games in Germany with driving! No speed limits! Go as fast as you want on the autobahn. Let me correct some of those misconceptions.

First of all, there is a recommended speed limit on the autobahn. It is 120 kilometers or about 75 MPH. You may exceed that speed if you want. What you need to know is that if you are in an accident and you are going faster than 120 KPH, you will be given some of the blame! Even if it is totally the other guy's fault! Why? Because you exceeded their recommendations!

Second, there are places on the autobahn that have speed limits. If you are near a city or a big autobahn intersection, there will be speed limits. These are not recommendations! Speed cameras are very popular in this country. They will have cameras out to catch people going over the limit. One that all visitors should know about is the camera outside of the Frankfurt Airport going south. Right before autobahn 5 and 67 break apart their is a speed limit as well as a camera. It is always loaded and flashes regularly!

What else should you know?

• Do not make obscene signals with your hands if you get mad at another driver. They can report you and you can get a hefty fine.
• I have driven on interstates in America. People drive in any lane they want and pass in any lane they want. Not so in Germany! Always drive to the right! Allow faster cars to drive on the left. If you want to pass, get to the left! Do not stay in the middle lane!
• If you miss your exit, go to the next exit and turn around. Do not use the dirt road connectors that are on the autobahn.
• Do not run out of gas on the autobahn!
• If you see an accident, you must stop and render aid. You must also stay until the police arrive and give a statement.
• Every car must have a first aid kit, a warning triangle, and at least two neon colored vests. If you have an accident, don the vest, set out the triangle and then move away from your car!

Always be prepared for a stau! (Traffic Jam) They are everywhere and you can sit in one for hours!

Life in Germany: Food Part 2

I like to eat! All of my favorites! If you are ever in Europe, you should try them!
Schnitzel
Rostbraten smothered in onion
Kasespaetzele
White Spargel with Schwarzwalder Schinken (Absolutely wonderful at Krug's in Rosengarten)
Dark Bier
Grau Burgunder Wine
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
KaseKuchen
Tarte Flambee (Alasian Style)
Bavarian Blu Cheese
Any aged cheese from the Netherlands
Belgian Chocolate especially Leonidas
Munster Cheese from Alsace area of France
Bananenkucken from a little bakery in Viernheim
Scampi Provencale from Kugelofen in Weinheim (Actually everything is wonderful there!)
A three course meal at the Hermannshof at Bollant Spa in Bad Sobernheim
Cote Azur Salad at the Koffeehaus in Schwetzingen
Lachs with Spinat at the St. Leon/Rot Golf Club
Chicken in Red Curry at the Mai Tai in Viernheim
Tapas at the Oliven in Ostringen near Heidelberg
For hearty German food and a view to die for: Haus Sonnenberg near Grunstadt
For wonderful fresh daily specials at Osteria da Silvano in Viernheim

Life in Germany: Food

I love living in Germany! One of the things I like best about living here is the food. I like Wiener Schnitzel. Besides the traditional veal, it also is made with chicken, turkey, and pork. It is best when it is pounded out thinly. They use a special breading for it that you can buy in a German store. It retains its crunchiness like the panko breadcrumbs from Japan. You can get it many different ways:

• Traditional style which is just the breaded meat with a slice of lemon.
• Hunter style which is served with a brown gravy ladened with mushrooms. (Jaegerschnitzel)
• Gypsy style which is served with a spicy gravy and sliced peppers and sometimes mushrooms. (Ziguenerschnitzel)
• Cream style which is served with a cream sauce over the crisply cooked schnitzel. (Rahmschnitzel)

If it is your first time is Germany, it is the food to eat first! It is totally German!

If you live in or are visiting the Mannheim/Heidelberg area in Germany, a good place to taste it is Heidelberger Schnitzelhaus Alte Muenz.

The End

I work at Mannheim Elementary School in Mannheim, Germany. This is a K through 5 school for children for US military personnel stationed in Mannheim, Germany. The school began in Mannheim Feudenheim in 1946 as a K through 12 school. It was in a house! As it grew, it moved to a renovated barracks on Funari Barrack in Mannheim-Kaefertal. By the 1963, the present school was built on Benjamin Franklin Village. Mannheim Elementary School was once the biggest elementary school in DoDDS with over 2200 students. For school year 2011/2012, we had over 150 students for most of the year. The school's last day forever was today, June 15, 2012.

I have taught at this school longer than any other school. I was transferred to the school on a Thursday afternoon and I started my first class the following Monday. It was a traumatic year where I experienced many highs and lows. I will remember the staff camaraderie and the rambunctious students that I taught. I will remember Cochem week long study trip and too long Volksmarches. I will remember Corey, Gerald, Kerstin, Timicus, and many more!

Watch the closing ceremony from AFN!

Another Day in Paradise

Another day in paradise is what I always say! I don't know if I believe it or just hopeful, Very busy day! I learned how to set up a wireless mic and electrical audio board. All the lights on the board made it look very impressive. Unfortunately no matter how I try to sell it to myself, I still spent the morning fighting with cables. I wait anxiously for the day when a wireless set is really wire free! In the afternoon, I wrote a end of the year report. We close forever next week, but we still had to do the EOY report. Go figure! Monday I get to tackle the closing multimedia presentation. I am looking through hundreds of images to find the ones that represent the "Throughout the Years". There are so many images! I think eyeballs will fall out!