Settling in...and traveling already!

Well, traveling went smoothly and I arrived in Frankfurt on time at 7:40 AM New Years day (20 minutes before my family back home in Montana celebrated their New Years in fact. My seat-partner and I clinked beer cans (not quite as luxurious as the champaigne the people next to us were having, but it was free) at the German New Year and enjoyed the rest of the flight, although neither of us actually slept. John and Sandy, my gracious hosts, were there to meet me and drove me to what they call their "humble" accommodations. Their place is very nice, quite homey, and I am very much enjoying the sunsets seen from my window in the extremely comfortable room they've placed me in. I couldn't ask for a nicer family to be staying with and their hospitality is phenomenal.
I spent the next many hours working to stay awake, enjoying what had to be one of my top five showers ever, a brief nap, and an absolutely phenomenal dinner. In celebration of the new year, we had london broil, crab, shrimp, and Sandy and I enjoyed a glass of champagne. Extremely decadent, and extremely tasty. What a welcome to the country, the new year, and their family.
The next day, Sandy, her 11 year old daughter Katie, and I went to Heidelberg, the city with Germany's first University (we are calling me Kate for this month, not too hard for me to get used, however I will come home used to ignoring questions asked to those named Katie!). We took in the food-portion of what was left of their Christmas market, walked up to and took in the local Castle (which was absolutely stunning), and walked around the town some taking in the sites, including a beautiful church. I had my first true German bratwurst and also tried the Christmas treat of a warm mulled wine termed Glühwein!
Today, Saturday January 3rd, Sandy, Katie, and I took another girls excursion and headed to Metz, France. It was a very new experience to be able to drive an hour and half and suddenly be visiting another country! We took in the beyond breathtaking Cathedral, which includes three stain glass windows by the famous artist Chagall, created after the originals had been broken in World War II. The rest of the original windows were still intact, just as stunning, and I, as usual, could not get enough of the art and architecture. To imagine the tools and hands that built such an architectural masterpiece, still standing 800 years later is simply mind-boggling. The history teacher in me is beyond disappointed that my 7th graders could not be there to appreciate the medieval history that lay within the buildings walls. We had a wonderful lunch, in which I had the chance to use a little of my high school French, successfully ordering two baguettes and chocolate pastries on our way out. Oh how much I enjoyed appreciating the cheese on their meals. I officially love France, if for no other reason than their cheese...and their cathedrals.
And I have droned on long enough. I have enjoyed my first few days here immensely and look forward to starting in the classroom on Monday.
Until then,
Katie