I Never Knew I Meant So Much To People

I have stated since I left Germany that I plan on going back there, the problem is, its going to be very hard to that. The reaction of my friends since I got back has really touched me. Its been wonderful been back and meeting everyone again and all the hugs and kisses cause I know I have missed all my friends in Cork, I just didn't realise how much they missed me. This is going to make it so much harder to leave the next time, especially if it is more long/medium-term like I was(?) planning. I will face that when it comes, but it will make that decision so much harder.

Of course I miss all my friends too in Koeln and I will be back for a visit next year, more then likely for Karnival!

But back to my friends here, the things people have said since I got back and being out dancing in Freakscene and Ruby's has made my relationships with my friends so much stronger as I realise how much I appreciated them and what I mean to them. I actually have tears in my eyes writing this. I am not sure why, but it shows how touched I have been!

anyway ciao for now!
Steve
xxx

Jobhunting....

I thought this morning, when I was originally planning on posting about Job hunting that it would be a moaning piece about the lack of jobs and me not being contacted by anyone I applied to, but that all changed this morning when I got a call from Zenith Menswear telling me they had a vacancy and asking me to come in for a chat.

So "Woo!". I know a few of the lads in there and there was no job there last week when I went in, but that changed this morning. I was the first person I rang! I am so happy to have a job again!!

I start tomorrow at 9am, it will be interesting working in a clothes shop. I like a challenge so it should be interesting!

I'm Home!

Hallo alles!!

So I'm back in Cork at home and sitting in the living room on mz sisters laptop! Strange to be home, I'm excited as I met a friend on the plane from Amsterdam! Amsterdam was great fun and I'll post up about it later!

Again thanks to ALL my friends who turned up at Koeln Hauptbanhof and made me cry and give me a lovely card and everything! I'll miss ye!!!!

Koeln was a great expeirence and will reminesce while trying to learn German and find a job!!

So anyway I'm off to bed take care.

Tschues,
Steve

So Long Farewell!

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu
So long, farewell, au revoir, auf wiedersehen
I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye -- Goodbye

That among other songs in German and to do with saying Goodbye are flying around my head today. So today I leave Köln and I am genuinely sad. Köln has become my home, it is just fabulous. The people, my friends, everyone I have met has been wonderful.

So I leave from the HauptBahnhof at 15:25 on my 1st leg of my journey to Amsterdam. There will be four legs. I'll have a notebook with me, se expect to see random musings posted some time next week from the trip.

Im looking forward to seeing my parents today, I havent seen them for 5 months so it will be great to see them. I am also looking forward to seeing all my friends and Cork CSD! I mean Pride! I have definately gone native so will drive people crazy at home with my German mannerisms!!!

So again thank you to everyone I have met in Köln for making my stay so wonderful! Remember this blog is not over yet! I may no longer be an Au Pair, but I shall be learning German with a view to moving back here! My Mother didn't sound too impressed with that idea but anyway!

So Tschüs for now, the fun of job hunting gets into full swing also next week!!
Steve

Thank You

I would at this point like to thank everyone I have met in Köln ensuring that I had the best time possible here. I will not name names as I will leave someone out!

You know who ye are though, the Toytown Crowd, the MultiCulti, the regulars in corners, random people I meet from other countries (yes thats you Lee and other people also!), the mothers on the school run, my host family and their extended family, the teachers at the boys school, random people who stop and talk to me as I speak english, the boys (of course) without whom I wouldnt be here and life would have been very boring without!

Köln and the Kölner people have had a huge impression on me (with help of all of the above) in making returning to Germany and Köln in particular a life goal for me! So this blog will not disappear and I will continue to learn (well really start properly) to learn German!

So keep checking on the blog!

Ciao
Steve

Apologies!

My mother has already tetxed me to make sure I was alright as I hadnt blogged in awhile! I have excuses, mainly massive hangovers thanks to two going away partys with my fabulous friends who I will miss alot!!! I have ideas for a few blog posts which I hope to post up in between packing!

Also yesterday was a Bank Holiday and today the boys are off, so not alot of online activity today! Hopefully all back to normal (for 3 days) tomorrow!

*Tries not to cry at thought of only 3 days left here*

Ciao
Steve

Last 9 days...

Yikes, we are down to single digits! So I leave next friday at 15:25 from Köln Hauptbahnof for Amsterdam. I am all excited and sad at the same time, like I was before I cam here. I am of course going to miss all my friends here who have made my time here to enjoyable and am having going away drinks on Friday in Jamesons Bar, on Frisen STR at 9:00pm.

Im going to miss alot of things about Germany. The people, the language (surprisingly), the night life, the reliable public transport, the bakeries (yum...), Döner places and the cheap cost of living.

There are other things I wont miss, sundays with nothing open, expensive Irish Bars and hangovers from strong German drinks and German Customer Service.

As you can see I'm going to miss more things then not.

I am looking forward to going home, but I have to find a Job when I get there, so this blog may end up detailing that as well!

I do plan on returning to Germany, especially if I get my preferred course in College (Applied German and IT), so that will have be back here! If not I'll be back here for Karneval anyway!!!!!

Oh its another lovely day here, and I'm hiding in the basements, as I got sunburnt yesterday.... My knees of all places...

Any have a nice day!

Tschüs!
Steve

The Munster Song

Via the Limerick Blogger

heard this a few weeks back on Top 40 Óifiguil na hÉireann on REDFM and loved it so here enjoy!



Its in aid of the Bluebell ABA school in Limerick. Buy it if you see it!

Its been a scorcher!

Wow! The weather is fab, the weather was good on Sunday but I must say I didnt take much notice being Hungover and all. But yesterday it was wonderful. It was 25°C before 11:00am and its heading that way again! MOre sunbathing for me while the boys do homework! Im cruel I know, but Im making the most of the weather while I'm here!

Hope the weather is nice where ever you are!

Tschüs
Steve

Warning: Erdbeerbowle

Traditional German drinks are potent! This is a warning. I was given Erdbeerbowle, a strawberry version of Maibowle which is made with Melon. God, one sip and I could feel the alcohol. The bits of strawberry actually fizzed on my tongue! But this afternnon when I emerged, I was so hungover! I actually looked pale which takes alot for me!!!

So be warned!

(by the way, it was free and put in front of me thats why i drank it!)

Deutsch, Francais unt/et/and English

Okay this week has been really interesting (read weird) on the language front. On thursday before a coffee meet I went to Subway. As usaul, I had my speil (not game) ready. Then as usual I get asked something I dont know, so I responded in English. The Girl didnt speak English so she spoke to me in French. I studied it for 8 years so its okay. But the problem is I haven't used it in ages. So everytime she said something in French, I responded in German!

We muddled through anyway we the two languages!

Then on friday the old Au Aupir, Rebecca arrived. The thing is shes English, but now lives in France so hasnt had to use English for awhile which means we speak in French! She sometimes speaks german to me which leads the rest of the family to speak to me in German! Its all getting confusing! The thing is I am beginning to understand the German to a degree, I just cant speak it! Ich Sprache kein Deutsch!

Less then two weeks left

So less then two weeks left and I nearly committed murder during the week! The boys were really acting up on Tuesday and Wednesday, but they have calmed now. We were fighting like Cats and Dogs. Me being stubborn though did not give in! As thursday was a Bank Holiday they had a sports thing so that allowed them cool off away from me as I stayed at home. So all is well!

I didnt go out for Tanz in den Mai as I bought my ticket for Amsterdam. I dont get how I can travel to Amsterdam from Cologne for 40€ yet in Ireland its 70€ for Cork to Dublin. I dont understand it at all!

Im getting that mixed feeling about going home. I am looking forward to seeing all my friends there at home but I will miss my friends here. The one thing thats helping is I get to see Amsterdam on the way home. We are going to Anne Franks house, so that will be well worth it!

Having leaving drinks on Friday, will post details when I have decided what Im doing!