Cologne certainly doesn’t lack for green space, and indeed, parks are threaded throughout the city. The Mann and I went exploring a few of them last weekend. I was hoping to cast my eyes upon some beautiful tulips, daffodils, and blossoming trees, but alas, aside from the spare tree, these were not to be found [...]
Posts under ‘Everyday Life’
The Scent of Cologne in the Springtime
Life is looking up. I have Internet. I am starting to feel a bit better. The springtime weather could not be more gorgeous. April is one of my favorite months for a reason. The Mann came up to Cologne last weekend and this time we went out into the city to explore a bit and [...]
Peeking out from under the covers
Where on earth is Resident on Earth?! Well, I haven’t vanished inside the bowels of the Cologne cathedral, I can assure you of that. I can see that happening, by the way. You know that book/movie combo “Where the Heart Is” where Natalie Portman is pregnant and her boyfriend abandons her at Wal-Mart and she [...]
Train Me
Transportation and trains are topics I am passionate about. So when I read about Obama’s dreams of bringing high-speed rail to certain corridors in the U.S., I can’t help but get really excited about it, even though I know the reality is that it probably won’t ever happen. It saddens me that America seems to [...]
Settling into Simplicity
So, yes. These past three weeks I’ve been settling into the split-city life with a new job, new city, new apartment, and new (weekly) commute. I think I’m finally starting to get past the “oh shit I’m in shock” phase, and with every day and every week it’s all starting to feel like the new [...]
Spring!
Woot! The sun was out and it was nearly 14 degrees (60 F) today. The Mann and I spent a glorious afternoon biking through the wilderness and sitting on benches warming ourselves in the sunshine. It’s T-shirt and sweater weather. The flowers are blooming! This is a historical moment in this year to date. Loads [...]
A Visa is Born
During a meeting this morning, The Mann received an urgent phone call. He stood up, grabbed his coat, and while rushing out of the room declared, “We’re having a visa!” (Well, okay, maybe I’ve added some dramatic flare…heh heh.) He rushed home to pick me up (Hurry! Hurry!), and we sped toward the immigration clinic, [...]
A German Movie without the Training Wheels
We interrupt this blog to bring you an important announcement, brought to you by There is Hope for the Language Impaired, an organization dedicated to encouraging discouraged language learners. So last night The Mann and I settled in to watch the German film Vertraute Fremde. Since it didn’t have English subtitles, I’m here to say [...]
The German Toilet Exposé
Germany is a country that suffers from a lack of imaginative bathrooms. Whether in private homes or public places, bathrooms/restrooms/toilets/water closets (WC)/whatever you call them are typically plain and clinical with sensible white or gray tile covering the floors and walls, giving one the impression of being in a hospital clinic giving a urine specimen. [...]
First Possibility of Spring
I know it’s a bit early yet, but I can’t help but feel a bit of hope that spring is on its way. The sunshine, warmer temps, and blue skies this week have done me so much good. I’ve spent my afternoons outside in the precious, weak light. Today I saw the first flowers in [...]
I'm a Europhile living with my German boyfriend ("The Mann") and splitting my time between Cologne and the Frankfurt area, Germany.
