I Hate Weather

I had intended to write a very cheery and upbeat post today about how I'm looking forward to seeing Jay. As it turns out, the weather in Europe sucks so bad that I don't know if I'm going to get to see him before Christmas. His flight into London is cancelled, but the flight out of London isn't. The travel agent is closed on Sunday, and I really want to see Jay. The thought of spending Christmas alone makes me want to cry.

Tummy Troubles and Curried Chicken

I ate something in the last 3 or 4 days that is making my tummy very upset. I wish it would just hurry up and get out. I don't like being all bloated and yucky feeling. I didn't sleep well last night or the night before because of it. I had the weirdest nightmares. I guess upset stomach makes me dream weird things. Anyways on to the next thing.

I made a delicious curry vegetable chicken dish. I made it up on the spot of course. I really like it. It's simple and easy. Jay's mom could even cook it if she had the motivation. The most annoying part is chopping vegetables.


Chicken Vegetable Curry

1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes
1 large head of broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
2 large fat carrots, cut into bite-size pieces
2 large handfuls of mini-mushrooms, cut into slices
2 small onions, cut into large pieces
3 large cloves of garlic, chopped small
olive oil
salt
curry powder

Chop everything because this goes quick once the chicken hits the pan. Put a little olive oil and a sprinkle of salt in a pan and heat on medium-high. When the pan is very hot, add the chicken. Do NOT let to oil start smoking; that is too hot. Stir the chicken around every couple minutes, until its white all over. Add all the vegetables and 3 palm-fulls of curry powder. Stir to cook evenly. When the broccoli is deep, bright green., it's done. Makes 4-5 servings depending on how many vegetables you use.


Oh I forgot to put my recipe for stew up here. It was also delicious.

Beef Stew

1 lb stew beef, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 small onions, cut into large pieces
3 carrots, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 head of broccoli, cut into small florets
3 small potatos, cut into bite-size pieces, unpeeled
1 package Knorr onion soup mix
salt
pepper
oregano
olive oil
1-1.5 cups water

Heat a little olive oil in a pot on medium-high. When it is very hot, add the beef. Cook until brown on all sides. Add the vegetables, salt and pepper to taste, and a palm-full of oregano. Cook until the broccoli is bright green. Turn the heat down to medium low, add the soup mix and water until everything has broth surrounding it. Don't add too much water or it will be all watery. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Serve in bowls. I had cornbread with mine.

Today I have a biology class that I don't want to go to. Later tonight I get to go ice skating. I'm excited. I haven't been ice skating in years. Enjoy the new food ideas.
<3 Jess

Shopping

I finally broke down and went shopping. I now have 3 new warm shirts, lots of warm undergarments, a t-shirt, and 2 pairs of pants that fit with my ridiculous winter underwear on. Those pants are a little loose without all the layers, but I plan on being warm this winter.

I now have 5 fun Lego toys on my desk. It's hard to make only one toy per day.

It's snowing like crazy here. My feet are usually warm and dry thanks to those boots I bought in October. Sometimes I over-warm them, and they get sweaty. That just isn't cool,  but I love those boots.

Last week I ended up making a wonderful chicken tomato pasta, but I forgot to post my recipe.

Chicken Basil Tomato Pasta

1 lb chicken breasts cut into cubes

1 medium zucchini cut into cubes

1 bell pepper, any color, cut into cubes

1-2 onions chopped

4 large garlic cloves chopped small

1 can/jar tomato basil sauce

4 servings of pasta, any variety

olive oil

salt

pepper

Italian seasonings

oregano

ground red chilies

Start the pasta water with a little bit of salt. Cook chicken in a skillet with olive oil, a little salt, and generous amounts of pepper. Add pasta to the boiling water. Add all the veggies to the pan with generous amounts of Italian seasoning, red chilies, oregano, and more olive oil if needed and pepper if desired.  Cook until smells awesome and the bell pepper is just starting to get soft. Turn down the heat and add the whole can of tomato sauce. Heat through. Allow to simmer while waiting on the noodles to finish. Serve sauce over noodles and enjoy.

Substitions

tomato basil sauce--2 regular size cans of crushed tomatoes + a large handful of fresh basil leaves chopped fine or 2-3 tablespoons ground basil

red chilies--anything that will give the sauce a bit of a spicy kick

zucchini--eggplant

I hope you like this as much as I did. I used two tiny onions because mine were really spicy. I didn't have the eyes to chop more than two of those little suckers. You can use however many onions you like. The basil is the really important part here. It tastes amazing with tomatoes so don't be shy about using a lot of it. I got lucky and found a jar of crushed tomatoes with basil. You may have to follow the substitutions. Cheese actually doesn't give this dish any help. It's pretty amazing without cheese. I'm glad I forgot to get cheese because it didn't need any at all. Feel free to offer suggestions for my next improvised dish. I never use recipes anymore. I go shopping and leave the store with the goodies to feed me for 4 days and turn them into a tasty dish. 

<3 Jess

Thanksgiving Weekend

I'm so grateful that those horribly sad days have passed. They may come back, but for now I'm feeling better. I went to one of the Christmas Markets with my friends on Wednesday. It was a bit cold, but still very nice to see.    I bought a really nice scarf to keep me warm in the winter here. There is snow all over everything now. I didn't get any turkey on Thanksgiving, but I had a chicken basil pasta that was pretty awesome. I also got out a slice of the pie I made last month to enjoy. It was delicious. Sadly I can't eat any more pie at this point. The microwave is broken, and all the leftovers are frozen solid.

My orchids are doing quite well. They had flowers when I bought them and just keep getting more and more. They are a pretty veined white and purple. My roses don't have any flowers right now, but I'm trying not to kill them. I gave the roses some coffee grounds last week hoping that I could coax them into blooming again. I don't really know if it has had any effect yet.

I'm going shopping with Olga on Monday. I desperately need clothes that fit. We are going ice skating on Friday, and it seems rather hazardous to go skating in pants that are far too big for me. The goal for the trip is to get two or three pairs of pants and two sweaters. Hopefully that won't exceed my budget.

I was annoyed this week when I had to buy a new calculator. I can't use my trusty TI-84 on my exams here because it is programmable. :( I love that thing. It's wicked awesome. I ended up getting a TI-30X IIS. It does some stats calculations and all the trig functions that I need. On the same shopping trip I got a pencil bag that looks like a duck, complete with a mouth that opens. I got tired of dropping my pens during lecture, so I got a little bag to keep them in. I am very glad that I have my Kindle. It is the greatest gadget I have purchased in many years. I put the lecture slides on it and take some notes with it. I like being able to take it to class with me when we do problems. Having the problem statement in my hand is amazingly awesome.

I started the Lego calendar on Friday. I am not actually using it as an Advent calendar. I'm using it as a Jay calendar. There are 22 days until he gets here. I'm excited. Excitement is amazing, but it doesn't do a very good job of keeping me awake past midnight.

<3 Jess

Distracted

In four weeks, I will be preparing for Jay's visit. It's really hard to believe that there are only four weeks left until I can see him again. I am very excited, but I can't seem to get my spirits up. I seem to have developed crippling sadness, and I don't know how to overcome it. My motivation to do things is completely gone. My memory doesn't work for anything except things that involve Jay. Jay is the only person to take notice of this change in my personality, and as much as he tries to help, I still don't know what to do. I keep trying to make friends. but I always end up looking like an idiot who can't speak. I try to learn my lecture materials, and get frustrated from always being confused. I haven't looked at a book in weeks because I don't want to read. I love reading, and it bothers me that I can't even enjoy that anymore. I haven't taken any pictures in almost a month. Taking pictures used to make me happy too. It's always gray, wet, and cold here. That doesn't make me want to go outside. If my roommates were here when I am, I could hang out with them. I still exercise everyday, but that's because I can do the routine without thinking. I eat like a bird because I never seem to be hungry anymore. I sleep way too many hours, or not enough. I either get 3 hours a night or 15. There is no happy medium on sleep. All my clothes are falling off, but I don't ever have the motivation to go buy clothes that fit. My English skills are going downhill, and my German skills aren't improving. I was having a grand time thinking up ideas for weddings, but I was severely annoying Jay with that, so I stopped. I've been trying to plan activities for us to do while Jay is here for Christmas, but keep getting distracted. My attention span is totally gone. I can't even take a shower without spacing out. I should be studying for my grammar test tomorrow, but I can't focus, as usual.

Cookies!!!!!!

I have never been so happy to eat store bought chocolate chip cookies until today. They were like home in a convenient little package. I probably could have made cookies, but I saw that package in the store and seized it like an escaping animal. I ate 3 whole cookies when I got back from the store. Feeling guilty, I then exercised. Those cookies made me feel really good. :)
-Jess

Hot Chocolate

To my disappointment, I found a melted chocolate bar this morning. It was much harder to portion and eat that way. The thought of chocolate reminded me that in the hectic schedule of life last Christmas, I left my hot chocolate mug at Jay's house. I hope it has been getting some good use. I have some special drink chocolate so that we can again share hot chocolate on Christmas. I am so excited for Jay's visit.

Rain and Stew

Today was a cold, wet, horribly yucky affair. I got up around 5am to talk to Jay, like I try to do every day. We got to talk for about 15 minutes before I gave up and went back to bed because I felt terrible. I got up around 8 and had a bowl of müsli with milk and almonds. I also had some turkey. I went to my plastics workshops too. The first one was all about experiments, and it was really fun. The second one was more of a lecture, and I was bored. I had to leave before the second workshop was over because the acetone he used in an experiment made me a bit faint. I later went to the store to purchase water and mouthwash. After returning, I munched on some Jelly Bellies while I made stew. The stew turned out awesome. I will definitely have to make this one again:  beef, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, Italian spices, onion soup mix and olive oil. Sometimes the simplest recipes turn out the be the most delicious. I need to do my Thermo. homework before tomorrow, but I'm procrastinating majorly. For now, I'm going to savor my stew. After I've finished eating, I suppose I should start working on my homework. Jay isn't online right now so I have fewer excuses for being distracted..

<3 Jess

sigh....

I've decided that I hate being alone. I'm always alone now, and frankly it's my fault. If I had not come to Germany then I would be surrounded by my friends and family. I guess in the end this will make me stronger, but right now it's making me sad.I miss my friends, and I miss Jay. I'm glad when I do get to talk to him, but it's very hard being here. I know I won't make another choice like this ever again. I suppose I should get back to the homework that I don't understand, not because it's hard, but because I don't understand the question. So frustrating!

I will be so excited to see Jay for Christmas. That will certainly be an amazing adventure for us. In the meantime I must just soldier on and try not to cry too much.

Promises

Well it's been a while since I posted something on here. Honestly, I'm procrastinating for an essay I don't want to write, but anyways back to the post.

My weekend in Holland with Jay was more than memorable. I shall be a crotchety old lady and still remember that trip. The feeling of relief, joy, and love that I felt in the train station will be with me forever. I was so grateful that Jay and I were in the same country again. Our first hug was so powerfully passionate.I could tell he had missed me just as much as I had missed him. The cuddling in the taxi was amazing. I had nearly forgotten what it was like to be wrapped in those strong arms. We spent the rest of the weekend together. We hardly ever left the sight of each other. Jay was sweeter than usual, but I didn't mind. I think he was trying to make up for making me sad earlier in my stay here. Either way, he proved without a doubt that he loves me a lot more than he did when I left and that he is never ever going to leave. I shall never ever forget all the love that filled that weekend.

I have been sleeping in the superman shirt again while cuddling with JayBear. I asked Jay to wear it while we were together so I could have it for sleeping when I got back here.

My exercise regimen has been doing wonders. I have no idea how much I weigh now, but the numbers don't really matter. I know that all the clothes I brought with me are considerably too big, and I have some ridiculous muscle tone all over my body. I know that I'm the thinnest that I've ever been, and I'm still getting smaller and fitter. My arms and legs are developing really nice shapes. Jay is really appreciative of my new found core. Let's just say he is impressed with what I can do with it.

I have managed to reverse the accidental damage I did to my hair with cheap products. It has returned to a nice healthy texture and is growing again. I'm trying to be extra gentle with it so I don't have to get as many haircuts this year. Split ends are the enemy. They slow growth and make me have to get haircuts. My hair is twice as long as it was last year, and I have no plans of ever cutting it short again. I want it to return to the lovely length that I carried most of childhood. I miss having hair that goes down to my bum. It's very sexy and brings many styling options for formal, fancy hairstyles, even though it is a mild pain to take care of hair that long. I don't really mind. I loved having hair that long.

I am going to continue my procrastination for the day by doing a bit of grocery shopping.

<3 Jess

School Has Started

I was supposed to finally start school on Monday of this week, but as it turns out I have no classes on Monday. Plus my classes don't start until tomorrow. I'm nervous and excited.

I got the bugs worked out of my rent process. Hooray. Now I won't get evicted for not paying.

I have been doing well with my exercise plan. I use my Zumba DVD almost every day, and it is kicking my ass. I have abs now thanks to that thing. Jay likes my new found sexy. ;) I have also been eating much better. Chocolate is my weakness, but I'm working around that. If I don't buy it, then I don't eat it. I just have to have some restraint in the store. Monday I bought Clementines instead of chocolate, and I'm glad. They are so delicious, and I can eat 3 or 4 of them without consequence.

I get to see Jay on Friday! That's two days from now! I am super excited. I cannot wait to hug him and kiss him again. I am also excited to see a different country, and all the Lego creations at Lego World. I am just so excited about seeing Jay that all those other things are kind of flat. My plane leaves Friday evening. I shall be quite crazy to see him. I may not be able to focus on my lecture earlier that day.

Jay is bringing me many useful things that I left at home or have realized that I need since I got here. I'm excited to get the care package, but I really just want to see Jay. I don't care what he's bringing with him as long as I get to see him. I have learned to cherish him more than anything else. I will never forget that ever again.

10 Days

I get to see Jay in ten days!!!!!!! I'm super excited. :D I can't wait to be able to hug him again. My time here is starting to blur together and fly by. I hope it keeps this up. I want this year to be over quickly. Today I have my last grammar test and Thursday is my final exam for my language class. I'm nervous, but excited to be finished. I'm supposed to start classes on Monday, but the course advisor has not responded to my emails yet. It's very frustrating. I'm going to go looking for his office sometime this week and see why he hasn't responded yet. I ended up buying some really crappy hair care products without realizing. They seriously damaged my hair. Right now I'm trying to reverse the effects so I don't have to get a hair cut. Saturday, I bought some winter boots finally. I ordered a Kindle yesterday. I'm super excited about that. I hope it gets to Jay's house before he comes to visit me. I really really want it. I'm a sucker for reading. I've been doing a lot of writing lately too. I write for this blog, in my journal, for class, and just because. I've started considering grad school in a couple different forms. This year is going to a year of thinking. I've already started doing a lot of extra thinking. My facebook is pretty much turned off, and I haven't logged on in several days. It feels nice to not be tied to facebook all the time. I'm super excited to see Jay again! He started planning his Christmas visit. I know I'm blessed to have him. He is quite the perfect man. :) We've been doing a lot of super sweet planning and talking. I need to get back to studying for my test today, but Jay is always on my mind. Oh, I don't know if I said this already or not, but I got JayBear a girlfriend. Jay named her JessBear. We are quite inventive with names you know. hahahahaha Anyways I need to study.

<3 Jess

One Year Anniversary

As I'm sitting here eating my breakfast, I think on all the good times I've had with Jay Kinzie in the past year. We've had a few rough patches, but we always manage to pull through. I wish we could be together today to celebrate all our hard work from the last year, but later today we are going to have a good video call and share some Toblerone. I'm looking forward to this with great happiness. :)

We started as just a simple conversation late at night one year ago. Neither one of us could sleep and hadn't talked to the other in four months. We ended up spending all night together and most of the next day. Then we messaged each other endlessly until we got to be together again. Sometime during that period of messages we became a couple.We knew our relationship would be hard because we lived five hours apart, but that didn't stop us from boldly beginning one. Nearly all of my long breaks from Rose were spent with Jay. Sometimes he came to me and sometimes I came to him, but we did everything we could to make great memories.

Over fall break, Jay met my dad. It was a slightly awkward meeting, but everything worked out great. Dad approved, and I was the happiest I had been in years. During that break, Jay and I went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Like all visitors to that amazing place, Jay loved the water clock and the glass sculpture in the stairwell. Our very first picture together was taken in the basement next to the train engine. We played checkers too, and I lost horribly. I even tried to change to rules to help me and still lost. Jay was just too sharp for me to outwit. Sometime around Fall Break, I can't remember before or after, Jay got Jess and Dawn. They are the sweetest kitties in the whole world.

Thanksgiving brought it's own set of memories and crazy stories. I had survived finals with minimal damage, and Jay was staying with Mike that week so he was easy for me to talk to. Jay got to meet my entire family at our annual Thanksgiving Dinner. It was delicious as usual, and everyone seemed to love him. We played Phase 10 after the meal, and Jay was cheating! Dakota brought me the paddle because she didn't like seeing him cheat. I chased him around with it a little bit, but he was too quick and strong for me to catch. He ended up catching me and showering me in kisses. It was super sweet, like all the things Jay does to me.

After the three worst weeks I've ever had at Rose, it was time to take Christmas Break. Since I no longer had a roommate, Jay had spent most of those three weeks in my room keeping me entertained. We spent the first four or five days of break with my family and then went up to Chicago. It was my first time ever in Chicago, and I had a great time. Jay's family didn't waste any time showing their weird quirks. The first memory I have of Ellen is of her freaking out because I had pierced ears and she didn't. She still has a lot of growing to do. I met most of Jay's family and friends over that break. Jay's parents took us and Ellen into downtown Chicago on Christmas Eve for their family tradition of eating at the Walnut Room and walking through the Christmas Market. I think I even forgot my hot coco glass at their house. It was so magical. It would have been better without the cold rain, but still quite magical. Jay and I got an amazing kissing picture in front of the huge Christmas Tree that was sitting in the middle of the market. After returning home that night, we turned the TV to a Christmas movie marathon and got out the Champagne. It was definitely a night I will never forget. The next day Jay's dad took pictures of us together. They turned out amazing, and I have one sitting on my desk right now. I took the picture that they would use for their annual Christmas Card. It was really cool to get that in the mail. Jay's mom tried to cook dinner, but she has an issue with cooking, and it didn't quite turn out. It was still pretty tasty though. Jay took me to a New Year's Party at Emily's house. Jay's old friends are quite unique. I don't really know how to describe them, but I will probably never forget them. They are just too different to blend into the background. I wasn't very social at that party because I felt like crap, but I wanted to go anyways so Jay took me. I was glad that I went. We got to share a kiss right as the year changed. It was so romantic.

About two weeks later Jay moved out of his parent's house and into a nearby apartment because his kitties were harming his mom's business. I drove up to Chicago by myself for the first time ever, and the weather was terrible. I was so glad that I came though. It was fantastic to be able to help him start a new phase in his life. I have so many memories in that apartment. For the next six months we took turns driving that horribly boring stretch of road between Terre Haute and Chicago. We got to spend every other weekend or at least every third weekend together and all of our long breaks. It probably wasn't so good for our relationships with friends, but it was very good for us as a couple.

After Rose was finished for the year, I moved in with Jay. It was the best choice I ever made. All the love and joy and happiness of the summer of 2010 cannot be captured in words. Brickworld was a unique experience, but I loved it. I am just as much of a Lego fan as Jay. I have just run out of time to really build things. Jay always has a table though so one day I will be able to build something and put it on display for children to admire. We went to many cool places, and shared the long drive to Colorado. Colorado is an amazing place, and I would love to go back there and live. Our weekend at Joyful Journey was amazing. I will definitely be spending more time at spas in the future. While in Colorado we both made promises to get into shape once and for all. We talked to Dr. Cooper and figured out what needed to happen, and we have done quite well so far. Jay is the thinnest he has ever been in his recent memory, and I'm the thinnest I have been since I was ten. We are making phenomenal progress. We tried to teach his kitties how to walk on leashes. It didn't really go over very well, but we did try. We took a really awesome city tour of Chicago and got to ride on a double-decker bus. Jay and I made JayBear in the last weeks of summer, and I'm so glad we did.

At the end of the summer I had to follow through with something that I thought would be great. I chose to study abroad and had to leave my family, friends, and most of all Jay for an entire year. Since I've come here, I've been wondering if it really was the right decision for me. I honestly don't know if it was or not, but I do know that I am totally in love with Jay. If this first month here has taught me anything, it's that I love Jay endlessly and there is nothing that can change that fact. Four thousand miles has not made me love him any less. In fact, it has made me love him more and wish that this year will pass quickly. I am glad that I have JayBear with me. He keeps me company when Jay is not here. I sleep in Jay's superman sweatshirt. I love having that thing. I have a picture of us and a letter from him on my desk. I got so used to Jay buying me flowers at random times that I even had to buy a pot of roses. I love putting my shoes on every day and knowing that the red stains came from our time in Colorado. I love knowing that my sun glasses were bought one spring day when I was driving to go see Jay. Before I left, Jay snuck a Lego piece onto my keyring. I carry that with me every day and the keys to his apartment even though he will have moved by the time I get back. I even carry my cellphone around, even though it's not very useful anymore, just so I can have pictures of Jay in my hand. JayBear goes with me almost everywhere, and even though people laugh, I still bring him. I wear a different necklace from Jay every day. The webcam I use to talk to Jay and everyone else was a gift from him back in January. Most of what I brought with me, reminds me of Jay or is from Jay. :) Most days I cry because I miss him so much, but I know I will be in his arms again. That single truth is what drives me to keep moving forward every day because each day that passes is one day closer to being reunited with my love.

We will be together in Zwolle, Holland on October 22nd. I am very excited and cannot wait to see him. I will probably jump on him, and I know that I will hug him so tight it hurts my arms. It will only be for three short days, but we are still getting valuable time together. Jay is coming to see me for Christmas. He will be here for about three weeks. I am so excited that I might explode. I'm trying to plan lots of cool places for us to visit. We will definitely be going to a New Year's Eve Party, although here it's called Silvester. All the same, it will still be great fun. Hopefully, I can visit Jay in the break between my semesters or over spring break. I really would love to do that. Time is passing quicker than I thought it would, and I know I will be in his arms again before I realize it. Until then though, I have to go to classes, learn things, pass exams, and take lots of pictures. There are only 25 days until I get to see Jay in Zwolle!

<3 Jess

Daily Activites

So Jay was bugging me to post something, and I couldn't think of anything. So I'm just going to tell you about what I do every day.

For starters, you should remember that I am 6 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time. I try to get up around 7 or 8 am and eat some breakfast. I don't really have anything to do, but I can't sleep all day either. Some days I go shopping at Kaufland for groceries. Once in a while I do laundry, but usually I just sit around and waste time on facebook. I eat some sort of lunch and then head to class. I have to ride the S-Bahn (subway) and the H42 (bus) to get to my classes. It takes about 25 minutes. I could also skip the bus and walk now that I know which way to go. I have class every day from 1:30-7pm. I also have homework, but the homework isn't really hard. Just annoying. Learning vocabulary is frustrating.There are two fifteen minute breaks during my five hour German class. It's rather frustrating to be there that long every day. I come home and make dinner if I'm hungry. Lately I've been making a lot of soups. They are easy, cheap, and reasonably healthy. Around the same time that I'm eating dinner, I usually talk to Jay. He has a couple free hours in the middle of the day that we use for chatting with Skype.

Today I did some letter writing and some laundry.

33 Days

I get to see Jay in 33 days. I'm super excited about that. I'm really anxious to see him again.

I went on a trip this last weekend to Neckarsteinach and Heidelberg. Both cities are very pretty. I took over 600 photos. They are amazing. I need to remember to stand still when taking pictures though. When I am walking, they always turn out blurry. My photography skills seem to be improving. I'm liking that a lot.

Today is my roommate's birthday. We are having a party tonight. That shall be fun. I learned how to clean our apartment today, and how to use the washing machine. Now I just need to find the machine to put money on my laundry card.

Mariana and I started planning Christmas trips. Group tickets are cheaper, and we are both having guests. We decided that we would go places together for Christmas this year. I'm excited about that, and I get to see Jay for Christmas! I'm going to love seeing him for so long. We have hit some rough spots, but I know we can make it through this and come out on the other side better than we started.

I'm getting better with the language. I can place an order at a bakery and a cafe with no problems. I can go shopping pretty easily. I have my first test tomorrow afternoon. I'm hoping that goes well. I need to go back to studying though.

<3 Jess

....

Today was a giant shit sandwich. No I will not elaborate. I just feel awful in every way possible. I have no way of fixing it either, so I guess I just endure in this miserable state.

Frustrations and Triumphs

So I tried to do the online banking thing with my bank account here. Well I messed it up, and now I have to go to the bank on Monday and get help. I couldn't understand the instructions very well and got myself locked out of my account. Yay! While I'm there I might as well get help with my debit card too, since I haven't tried to use it yet.

I got a pot of pink roses last week. They are doing quite well. Full of blooms. I'm making friends. My language course is going well. I've been taking lots of pictures of things. JayBear goes everywhere I do, except the grocery store. I need the space in my bag so I can bring the groceries home, otherwise he would go there too. I got a picture from for the most awesome picture of me and Jay. It's nice to be able to look at it again. Jay and I get to talk to each other nearly every day. I'm so glad for technology. It would be so much harder to do long distance without computers. As soon as I can speak reasonably well, I think I'm going to get my hair dyed red. I've been wanting red hair for a while. I'm still listening to Christmas music, but I also got out the Halloween music since I will see Jay at the end of October. I'm so excited for that.

Oh, I did get registered with everyone that I can at this point. I have to wait until the end of the month to register with the Uni.

I need to go help my roommates make dinner. We are making a Ukrainian dish today. I can't remember what it's called. Two days ago we had Spaetzele, a kind of noodle, with a mushroom cream sauce and chicken. It was awesome. I had a cheesy pretzel for lunch on Thursday. It was so good. Anna got me to try toast with jam and cheese. Sounds odd, but tastes great.

First Days

Well, I made it to Germany alive and well. I've been filling out paperwork and standing in lines since I got here. I'm missing my family and friends very much. I'm missing Jay so much more than everyone else. I've been wondering if I should have even come here in the last couple of days. It's so hard to be away from Jay and everyone else. I found a white cat hair on my shirt yesterday, and it made me cry because I miss Jay and his kitties so much. Then I found out that Jay wants to give his cats away to someone else. That was just the cherry on top of my sundae of crap for the week. I hope things start to get better. I'm having a hard time functioning with all the hurt of being away from Jay and his kitties. And then to think that I may never get to see his kitties again, it makes everything seem even worse. I've started listening to Christmas music in hopes that Christmas will get here quicker so that Jay and I can be together again.

 My room is very empty here. I feel like I've been uprooted. I don't like that at all. I have made a couple friends though. Anna is from Australia and we've been doing lots of things together since we met. Mariana is from Mexico, and she lives close to Anna. I've met lots of people from lots of places, but I don't have a phone yet so it's hard to keep in touch with any of them. Anna and I had lunch with Mariana today.  Anna and I went walking in the forest preserve today. It was really nice. I had to take a picture of the corn field we walked past because it made me feel a little more at home.

I start my language class tomorrow. I need it more than I thought I would. I went to the store earlier this week and was stumbling all over myself. If Anna had not been there, I wouldn't have been able to find what I wanted. I'm glad most of the offices that I need to go to in my first few days speak English.

My flat mates are nice. I don't know all their names yet though. I can talk to Alex, but the girl from Ukraine doesn't speak English, and my German is terrible so I can't talk to her very well. I haven't met the third girl yet.

Well, I've had enough for one day. I think I'm going to try to get some sleep on that hard thing that is supposed to be my bed.

More Pre-Departure Pondering

I've been rushing to get lots of things done before I leave, and I never seem to have enough time to do it all. I want to visit as many friends as I can, spend more time with Jay than humanly possible to attain in such a short time, and finish my sewing projects. Not to mention family that wants to see me. My family is pretty mad at me for lots of silly reasons, but they are planning a party so I hope they won't be mad forever. I'm going to miss so many people and so many things. Jay got me a teddy bear to keep me company while we are apart. I'm rushing to finish his blanket so that he has something warm to sleep with. I have to call up my grandparents and get their addresses so that I can write them because they are too old fashioned to have computers. I have yet to start packing anything and I leave in less than two weeks. I'm starting to get really frustrated over a lot of things that I shouldn't be frustrated about because I'm scared of my looming adventure. I fell last week and hurt myself with the impact. That makes moving around hard for me. My back is really sore and so is my right arm. It makes lifting anything of appreciable weight difficult. Strange as  it may seem, I feel like a need a vacation before I go on this trip. I have so many things I need to do before I go: calling business, banks, family, and friends; getting my computer cleaned and reloaded; remembering to stop and breathe so that I won't become so stressed out that I lose the ability to focus. The list goes on and on and on. :/ 

Thoughts Before My Study Abroad in Stuttgart, Germany

Preparing to leave for Germany has been stressful. I have encountered many roadblocks, but managed to pull through them all. I board a Boeing-777 at O'Hare International Airport on August 31.

In the mean time, I am going to continue preparing by packing my bags and spending as much time as possible with my family and Jay. Jay is my wonderful boyfriend, and I will miss him terribly. We have spent most of the summer together. :) He put a Lego piece on my keyring when I wasn't looking a couple weeks ago so that I would always have something to reminds me of him.

I need to get back to writing that packing list, so I don't forget to pack important things.

Tootles,
Jess