It’s not chocolate.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.11.10 under Uncategorized
I think I forgot to mention that I fixed comments. You do not need a WP account to post a comment, but I will need to approve it.
I decided to start Couch-to-5k today. About 10 minutes in to the walk/combo I was overheating. It was pretty hot out by the time I decided to go outside and start anyway so I decided to play it safe and walk the rest of the way. It took me about an hour to totally cool down, even after a cold shower. My face was quite red for awhile! So I’ll resume on Tuesday. Earlier in the morning, for sure.
Today I am going into town for lunch. 6″ Subway turkey sandwich! Calorie-wise I’m playing it safe with the sandwich. I’ve been wanting a sandwich I don’t have to make myself and this is apparently as close to that as I might get in Germany. It is 5 points on Weight Watchers’. /shrug. In order to make sure I am eating on track with this one, I am writing down exactly what I want. Hey, it’s a plan! I am sometimes still shaky on food terms.
After that I am meeting Rebecca. I am either going to get a scoop of ice cream or Spaghettieis. Logically a scoop of ice cream is the more calorie friendly choice but mmm, strawberries and ice cream that looks like spaghetti! OH YEAH. HOW CAN YOU SAY NO?! I have enough points held over to do either, but I will be dipping into my weekly points allowance if I get the Spaghettieis. I would like to point out that this is not chocolate. I guess I could walk to town in order to really deserve it, if that logic works out but. . . Oh hell. I have no idea what I’ll order. It depends on how full I will be from the sandwich.
Hour 24 without chocolate. Not going well.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.10.10 under Uncategorized
I am definitely and without question a Skewes. My Grandma can outeat Mrs. See’s herself and my dad has been known to stash Riesen’s in his car. Or just about anything, really.
So it should come as no surprise to most of you that I too have this sweet tooth. In the US it is easy to control because the chocolate is crap. So is the ice cream. But here the Ritter Sport is abundant and the rivers might as well be made of molten Kinder Bueno. The problem is my deadly treat - Hazelnut flavored anything. If someone handed me a bell pepper (the closest a food item can get to a steaming pile of crap) and it was covered in Nutella, I might eat it.
So, Hazelnut Ice Cream. Marzipan Ice Cream. Strawberry Sundaes the size of a toddler’s head. . . and the German’s love their sweets. It’s why there is a whole time of day dedicated to Kaffee und Kuchen, but to be honest it seems to me it’s more like “cigarette with smoke blowing in your general direction with coffee and maybe cake.” Whatever the case, I find that I have to make it a point to avoid town in the afternoon unless I too begin to think “Mmmm, ice cream.” There are seriously so many people eating outside at the cafes with sweets! Yet another reason for the family to come in June, I suppose.
So I am trying to get the chocolate out of my system. On my week long break I seriously ate whatever I wanted. Twix on a train? Better than snakes on a plane! Stracciatella ice cream? Natuerlich! I’ve been trying to fix this. It was rough the week I got back because I binged in Berlin thanks to the 4th of July (and I was only 3 days into Weight Watchers when I was out of flex points) and then Michaela came over to see Germany get their asses handed them by Spain and she had the Kinder Bueno on hand and I seriously cannot stop. If someone puts a sweet in front of me, I will probably eat the damn thing. I have no willpower.
Even the supermarkets are arranged to be my downfall. I went to the nice grocery store to buy more earl grey and get some brown sugar when I realized that in order to check out I had to walk by the chocolate, the gummis, the chips, and the alcohol. This is serious. It is better at Edeka Wist and to a percentage Aldi and Pennymarkt, but Sand Passage is the worst. So I bought Smarties. A 240g bag. I ate a few and put them away. Then I went back into the kitchen and grabbed the bag so I could munch while watching Inglorious Basterds. Ate the whole damn bag. Contrary to what my sister thinks, these are NOT American Smarties. They were Nestle Smarties, like M&Ms. I thought if I saved some I could enjoy them today, but you know. . . ate the whole damn bag.
I’d hang my head in fat shame, but they were delicious and I got creative with my Weight Watchers’ points so it was a pass. I’ve mostly been eating oatmeal, offbrand corn flakes, and whole wheat pasta with grana padano cheese grated over it this weekend because am out of everything else. I need more protein in my life. I’ll buy Chicken on Monday, which is when I’m going to the store again. I *almost* went today but I was worried I would snap up chocolate. Even if I am not hungry when I go to the store, I will buy chocolate. I was hopping if I had got a whole weekend without chocolate in my system I could get around on Monday.
But it’s pretty good, this shopping on Monday thing. I try to shop twice a week in order to stay on the 20 euro a week target. 500g (approx 1.1pounds) whole wheat pasta is like 99 euro cents and Oatmeal and Cornflakes are just as cheap but I tend to only eat meat at lunch during the week in the cafeteria since it means I don’t have to clean it up myself. I guess I could buy eggs. . .
Lg > Bonn > Vienna > Berlin > Good ol Lg.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.09.10 under Uncategorized
This is probably the worst post I have written. I don’t really remember a lot of what I did in detail other than hemorrhage money but I owe everyone an update.
I left on Saturday June 26th for Bonn so I could go to E’s birthday party. It was a busy weekend but worth it. I still love those little girls and the family is still cool.
I left Bonn on Monday the 28th for Vienna. Holy dang long train ride, and I was so worried I would miss the ICE to Vienna because the RE (Regional train) was late by 15 minutes and I only had 8 minutes for my connection. Very thankfully the ICE was also late. But 9+ hours later was I happy to have arrived in Vienna.
That quickly wore off when I realized it was hotter and more humid than anything I have experienced in quite some time. Doug, Katie, their friend and I all went out to the Museum’s Quartier since Doug’s dad said it would be a fun place to hang out. Sadly it was mostly closing down. I grabbed a beer and we sat outside where I was eaten by mosquitoes and then had a drink spilled on me. After that we headed back.
I wished I had brought something cooler to sleep in, like underwear. But alas, I did not. So I slept without a blanket.
I woke up on Tuesday itchy as hell. Katie, Doug, and I went to the KHM which now allows pictures. SCORE. I will upload those someday.
After the KHM we went back and did something.
That night Doug, his friend, and I went to a club that was expensive and hot. Earlier in the evening I wanted to celebrate getting a B in advanced German (that’s right a B. I shouldn’t be so hard on myself!) but 22 euros and one hour later I just wanted to get out of there.
On Wednesday Katie, Doug, and I were going to go to the Liechtenstein Museum but we failed to check their operating hours and they were closed. We went to Schonbrunn instead, which was the summer palace of the Hapsburgs. I spent 9.50 on an applestrudel, a coffee, a small soda, and a recipe for the applestudel. Then we went on a train ride around the tourist trap. I had pretty much had it with Vienna. It is still expensive. Maybe I will go back with Andrea if she comes to visit me. Maybe.
I headed out to Berlin on Thursday morning. The train ride was about 9 hours as well, even though I was going further. Surprise lol. Oh well. On the train I had an unpleasant encounter. It went something like this:
“Hmmm, I really have to pee. Is someone in the WC? Oh yeah, the light is on. . .”
3 minutes later. . ..
“What are they doing in there? Taking the browns to the Super Bowl? . . . fine, I will go to another car. ”
I walked to the next car, which happened to be the quiet car, my jersey knit skirt catching on the arm rests because they too are covered in fabric and the law of clingy is working out.
Some drunk obnoxious asshole was standing in the aisle talking to his friend noticed this and said: (auf Deutsch) “Hahahaaaaaaaaaaa HER SKIRT IS GETTING STUCK BECAUSE SHE IS A FAT ASS”
About 20 steps down the train aisle, my brain finally caught up to what he said.
I paused, thought about turning around and saying, in English, natch! “Well I might be fat but at least I don’t look like a toad faced mother******, ******”
Instead I went to the bathroom, splashed cold enough water on my face, and calmed myself down. I almost burst into tears in the bathroom but then that guy would be winning. When I walked out he had been subdued by a train attendant.
When I got to Berlin I weighed myself at Michaela’s. I have gained anywhere from 5-7 pounds in 2 months so as of today (Friday July 9th) I am officially back on weight watchers. That has nothing to do with my trip though.
Thursday night I went to Viktoriapark and met some of Michaela’s friends. We had a picnic. It was lovely.
Friday at Michaela’s I hung out and did nothing. I read, napped, and really just relaxed. Friday night I did go out to finally try Pho and spring rolls/summer rolls in Germany. Not so good.
Then I walked around. Then I went back and slept.
Saturday I went out to the Pergamon museum and saw cool middle eastern/Babylonian/Hellenistic artifacts. Then I bought a graphic shirt which is really cool looking, and a pair of silver and lapis earrings for 14 euro. I now have earrings.
After the museum I met Michaela and we went shopping for the ingredients for our 4th of July cake. Then we met the other fellowship scholars* at a cool place to watch the game. After that we went to a chi-chi houseparty on a lake in Potsdam.
I lost my cell sometime between the party and coming back to Berlin.
The next day we made our cakey cake.
I came back to Lg on Monday and have been busy learning German ever since.
*Michaela got into Harvard and there’s this special group of super awesome German students who got in to and Michaela had to spend the weekend with them. it was ok.
Friends in Germany
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 06.23.10 under Uncategorized
During orientation, the program advisor said something that totally warmed my heart and Michaela even agrees with this assessment: In Northern Germany especially, the people tend to be a little reserved and when you throw that on top of the language barrier and my shyness anyway, making friends is very difficult. However once you make a friend, you have a friend for life.
I met Michaela two years ago when we lived together in Campus 4 (Our WG rocked) and we ended up being FB friends and over the past two years we would send Facebook messages, etc.
Now back in Germany I see her like once a week because she works in the Lg and we eat lunch/cook dinner together, and she’ll spend the night if it is dinner because she still lives in Berlin and it’s a terribly long commute and plus I like having her here, etc.
Last night was a dinner night. I made a pizza (pesto, edam, green onions, crushed garlic, and basil leaves), and a cucumber salad, and she made a flourless chocolate cake that hit my chocolate craving for like the next year, and then we stayed up late watching soccer (omg Korea and Nigeria and LOL Argentina and Greece), and then we talked until maybe 1:30 or 2? and it was great. It was seriously like a slumber party.
It really made me feel better. All the stress from yesterday dissipated. I have been really stressed because of school. I forgot how incredibly stupid language classes make me feel, and the super accelerated pace just exacerbates the situation. It is so bad for me that I am probably going to get a C if I am very lucky and a D if I’m not lucky, and I am just going to take German Conversation for 3 credits next summer session to make up for the crap grade I will be getting this session. I feel like in any other situation, a C in advanced language class is no big deal but I’m applying to grad school for uh - German (comp lit, but still). It is a huge deal. Also learning Grammar again is making me rethink things as I say them. I dislike that. I am now second guessing myself.
Future travel plans:
This weekend is Bonn for Es birthday
Monday-Friday might be Austria. Waiting to hear back from Doug and Katie now.
Friday-Sunday is Berlin to see Michi. I am looking forward to it!
Meh. Again.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.22.10 under Uncategorized
I was going to post a really happy cheerful post about Augsburg, but I am not in in a happy and cheerful posting mood so none of that.
I had to go to the Deutsche Bank to get money and then to the store to get groceries and I had to gift for someone.
I went out and bought a birthday gift for E, since I am going to Bonn since weekend for her B-day. Also bought a little gift for A, her younger sister. I think A is too young to understand why her sister gets a gift and she does not. I wouldn’t say I ended up breaking the bank on this one. I bought E. a pencil with horses on it, horse stickers, and band-aids with horses since she is super into horses.
I bought A an small ABC coloring book and some stickers too.
I hate buying gifts for anyone, I’d much rather throw a gift card their way. Shopping for kids is more stressful. “HM IS THIS A CHOKING HAZARD?” I thought in all caps when I saw tiddlywinks, which is an awesome game. Yes, yes it is - both awesome and a choking hazard. I mean 2 might be a little old to stick things in mouths, idk. Whatever.
I’m still depressed and tired - If Rebecca weren’t coming over to do her laundry I would take a nap. I think actually the next time she asks I am just going to say no. I know the machine is broken thus making laundry free (at least washing) but it’s 2.5 hours I could have to myself to feel like crap. I kind of want some alone time. At least I don’t have class tomorrow. I am going to sleep in and relax.
:(
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.21.10 under Uncategorized
I am so tired I could cry. Actually I did cry earlier but that’s because the realization that I really won’t see my mother and the rest of my family until August 2011 set in. I could see them sooner if they fly to see me, but I doubt it.
Heh. Heimweh.
This is why I dislike people.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.17.10 under Uncategorized
I’m still happy about my job, but I’m also mad about the jerky behavior of other USAC students.
Basically once a week I’ve been doing a dinner on Thursdays. People RSVP, bring ingredients, and then I cook. This Thursday 4 people (out of 6) backed out to go to Hamburg to gay bar hop and shop. They RSVPd LAST WEEK. That’s really great for them, but I did not know being in Germany was an excuse to put on the asshats and prance around and cancel a previous commitment just to get drunk and go shopping. P.S. Hamburg is always there.
But my dinner parties aren’t. As a result I’ve canceled all open dinner parties. Now they are VERY select and by personal invite only. But GRRRR. Really. Being young is no excuse, especially since out of 18 people invited, only 6 can RSVP because I ain’t cookin for 18. Those spots could have been open for someone else. And they literally canceled at the last minute. Had I known about this I would have had time to change my plans for travel but it was too last minute for me to get my travel plans together.
Speaking of cooking for 18, I cooked pancakes for 8. I did not get a single buttermilk pancake. Some inconsiderate jerk ate like 3 buttermilk pancakes, then grabbed the last one off the platter while I was making scrambled eggs. I said to Nathalie (roommate) “sometimes people only think of their own stomachs so if you want another pancake, tell me and I will make one for you.” The guy who ate the last buttermilk pancake (USAC student), may have understood but I did not care.
To make matters worse, I’m also PMSing. I’ve eaten my feelings in general in the form of 2 Rittersport bars and 1 bag of chocolate covered raisins. Not in the same day, more like over a 14 hour period. But still. All the weight I’ve lost is probably going to be packed back on 
No more chocolate for me.
Also I fixed comments without Craig’s help. Now anyone can comment, I just have to approve it. So please, comment away.
This is a heart-splodey post.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.15.10 under Uncategorized
I did not blog about my trip to Bonn yet, but I will now.
der Plumpsack geht um! Wer sich umdreht oder lacht kriegt den Buckel blau gemacht.
I am married to your charms & grace
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.11.10 under Uncategorized
I have come to accept that I am just not the type of gal who takes pictures. I bring my camera with the best of intentions, totally meaning to take pictures, but it stays in my bag. I am just not into that sort of thing I guess. I’d rather mail postcards of the places I go (which I did), then take a photo. It’s so hard to capture the essence of a place anyway.
This happened today when I went to Celle with Rebecca and Corey. I really wanted to go to the beach and Luebeck, but Rebecca really wanted to see a palace. I’m put off by anything Baroque, so I felt Celle was a good compromise. 16th century and older Altstadt, Baroque palace. Corey was just along for the ride I think. He did not have an opinion either way.
So, Celle. I came, I saw, I ate.
That’s the best way to describe it. After the museum/palace I was hungry and my cranky pants were on and I wanted traditional German food. The place we found was only ok, but the schnitzel there owned the hell out of the schnitzel they serve at the Mensa. I just realized that my Grandma might not understand that phrase, so by that I mean “was way way better.” Afterwards I ate an ice cream sunday with Eier Likor (blech) and Toffifee on top (yum!). I really need to offset all of this crap with a huge salad. I just wish I liked lettuce more.
Anyway here are the few pictures I took in Celle.
The French Garden in Celle. I had to take this picture through a fence, since for some reason this was fenced off. Boo
I just thought this was cool.
And that’s about it.
And now, homework and laundry. Woohoo.
Tomorrow: Bonn!
Sunday: Coming back from Bonn!
Monday: Class. Whoopdedoo. If I could enroll in beginner German I would. I think I would say “you see, I did not really come here to think. I came here to be in Germany, not do 4 hours of homework a night” but I really should be thinking and learning.
Let’s discuss a legit issue while traveling/living abroad.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.10.10 under Uncategorized
I am drinking Glauber’s Salt now.
It tastes like a memory.
Once when I was four my dad took me to Pismo beach to let me play in the ocean. He called my name when I was playing in the waves and I turned around and a wave knocked me over and salt water got all up in my mouth.
He laughed at me.
When I drank a sip the undiluted dose of Glauber’s Salt (1 TBSP in 500ml water) , I almost threw up because it reminded me of the traumatic childhood even that would scar me for life. 1 tablespoon ended up in 750 ml water.
Why am I drinking this filthy concoction?
Because I can’t poop. I understand a lady is not supposed to talk about these things in public, but good thing I am not a lady and after talking to some friends this is a serious issue so I am going to enlighten you all now as to what I have done before reaching this near-vomit inducing low in my time here.
I have not pooped since Sunday. I tried on Wednesday since I was super gassy and thought I could, but it was not a full evacuation if you know what I mean.
Normally pooping is not an issue for me. I think it’s my lack of Kashi AKA “super colon blow” and my morning cup of coffee coupled with the fact that I am taking birth control which apparently can cause constipation. I’ve been hydrating like a mofo (4 liters aka half my body weight in ounces a day so lets all figure out how much Allison weighs now), I have been drinking hot water with lemon juice, I have been drinking hot water with cinnamon, I tried massaging my stomach, I tried doing situps and going to the bathroom, I tried doing squats then going to the bathroom. I drank two cups of coffee last night in order to uh, get things moving - NOTHING.
So when Michaela came over for lunch and I asked her if I had to buy fiber at a pharmacy, and she said that yes I did, she was kind of clued in to the issue. So naturally we talked about poop and what to do.
She suggested Glaubersalz and after she left I immediately caught a bus to town to buy this miracle laxative and a scoop of ice cream to make my imminent gastro intestinal hell a little more bearable because you know, once you eat ice cream the world can be a better place (especially when it’s humid and you’re melting, but I digress).
So I came home and mixed up the dose and almost puked.
I doubled the water and with 500 ml more of water to go, I type this and wait. If I don’t die from not pooping, Glauber’s Salt might actually kill me.
Really. This stuff is VILE. I was eating bread with it to soften the blow but now my pretzel roll is gone and this stuff goes straight to the back of your tongue so I think I’ll eat a piece of toast too. If I don’t poop tonight I am going to call a doctor. RIDICULOUS.
>.<
ETA: Ok, the Glauber’s Salt works. It’s not as thorough as say, a good old fashion colon scrub, but it works.
Am now fasting.
Also: Beach tomorrow without looking fat and pregnant with a food baby! more woohoo!