Odds and Ends in Jena

Well, both kids have taken a turn writing so it seems only fair I put in an entry.  I think I will let Reuben off the hook since part of why we are here is for him to do a large amount of writing for work, and it seems wrong to ask him to do more!  Many things here in Jena feel easy and comfortable since this is our third trip here.  My German is not easy or comfortable.  We have a different apartment this time which is kind of fun.  It is a two story apartment and the great part is not having to nag the kids to walk quietly since we've no one living below us.  We had a bbq party in the parkplatz the first weekend we were here and it was fun to rejoin the community here.  The park platz is just a parking lot that these apartment are centered on, which the children play in and we grill in!  And yes, people can park their cars there as well.  There are some new families here and some of the families here were here on our last visit.  It was fun for the all of us to socialize. 

Besides the kids attending school, we have gone on bike rides, gone to a swimming pool and taken some short hikes here.  So not very exciting.  But it is good to be in a different place  and experience a different lifestyle.  There are a few random things that I've been noticing lately.   The Germans live outside more than we do.  People are outside regardless of weather (although always dressed in appropriate clothes!) and socialize more outside, expect to walk or bike to where they are going no matter what the weather, and generally just go out.  Another thing is that people always go out dressed in real clothes.  By that I mean no sweats, sports clothes or anything like that.  And the women (and some of the men and children too!) wear scarves almost all the time!  I counted today until I forgot and got to 23 women with scarves and 3 without.  Finally, the Germans wear cool shoes and must like buying them because there are a lot of shoe stores! 

Reuben got to contribute to the shoe buying here because he had to purchase new cleats.  He and the kids have been putting their cleats outside on the back porch after wearing them.  One night something (we suspect a fox) scattered them on the lawn, chewed the back of one of Reuben's cleats and made off with the other.  Now the cleats are living on the balcony on the second floor!  

Nothing earthshaking here but we are glad to be back.

 Kegan sitting in our "computer" corner (i.e. the place with the outlets) of the living room

 Logan in the dining room

 Kegan getting her favorite "Langestangen mit Wiener und Kase" at a stand in the Goethe Gallerie

 In front of the grocery store that I go to pretty much everyday.  Every day I walk down the hill, go to the store and haul up what fits in my backpack.  Interestingly beer only fits in Reuben's backpack.

View from our apartment building looking down on the trash house of the apartments, the park platz, then downtown Jena.  A pretty view when the sun shines.  Which it does not do often enough!

 Most of the older kids playing a card game in the parkplatz.  Funnily enough there were 6 little kids sitting in a circle just out of sight of the camera!

 Former East Germany has the best "walk" and "don't walk" lights. 

 This is Kirche (Cherry) the cat who comes by to visit and checks out any and all parts of the apartment if allowed.  But then continues on her way.

Logan and Jakob playing Magic (a collector card game that can only be enjoyed by boys between the ages of 10 and 16.  Maybe I am exaggerating and 9 and 17 year olds can enjoy it too.).  They really did swim for an hour before retiring to do this.