Mein Zimmer

Here is a little peak at my room (mein zimmer) so far. It may be a little boring, but I am usually snoopy and interested at what others' living spaces are like. I still have a lot of decorating to do, but that will take time and collection. My little world is in the basement of the house and this darkness is going to take some getting used to.  

^^apparently using one giant pillow instead of multiple smaller ones is a thing here.^^

^^my closet almost feels like I'm back in Phelan Hall at USF my freshman year...^^

^^I'll get some color in here eventually.^^

^^these photos were taken at night time, but the day time lighting looks identical.^^

^^my little tisch almost makes me feel like I'm in a biergarten, almost.^^

^^hi. shout out to Lauren Birdwell via my UT shirt.^^

^^the sunflower my host mom greeted me with at the airport.^^

^^a little portion of my reading and my maps.^^

I'll add some more photos as I decorate and liven up the place a bit. We're approaching the second weekend of Wiesn (Oktoberfest) now. Tonight will likely be my fourth time. Ugh-oh. I can hear my liver crawling away from me now. 

Bis bald! 

Zum Geburtstag viel Glück Abby!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBY! 

Today this saucy minx turns 21 years old. And so, her love of gin will commence. Kidding, I have a feeling she will be more of a whiskey or rum girl. Time will tell. Abigail, I am so wondrously proud of the woman you've become. Even though you are my younger sister, I look up to you. You are my best friend and my shoulder. My wisdom and my hope! (Are we married?) You have immense wit and the best sense of humor. I can say with confidence you are the funniest person I know.

Live your birthday to the fullest. Maybe without puking on yourself or...ahem.... in my bed. You have traveled across the country, you've made new memories and friends. Here's to making more! Prost! 

p.s. I'll be chugging a beer for you at Oktoberfest today. Okay, maybe 3. 

xoxo ganz große Liebe

^^I told you this would end up on here. especially since it's the best snap capture ever. Happy Birthday!^^

Alive in Munich

For anyone that has been following (generous word choice for only one post), I apologize for slacking so hard on updates! The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. I promise I have plans to retroactively update you. I spent most of last week preparing my host family for their trip to the Italian coast. This meant loads upon loads of laundry, running errands to grocery and clothing stores (they primarily shop at H&M), and packing up 14 days worth of kids' paraphernalia. They left for Apulia Saturday morning at 5 a.m. Kaitlyn, their previous au pair, was the lucky soul that got to drive them to the airport. 

The exciting part was, once the family left for Italy it was time for our trip to Spain! Kaitlyn, her best friend Sierra, Christie (a Kiwi au pair here in Munich) and myself all set off just after 7a.m. for our journey to Barcelona. Let me tell you, Barcelona is a special city. No amount of research or advice could have prepared me for the vibrancy, culture, color and hangovers I would experience in Barcelona. 

A Barcelona post is coming soon with photos documenting our fun. Until then, here are some photos from my iPhone of life in Munich thus far:

^^the view of Munich from Kirche Alter Peter^^

^^Munich from the other side of Alter Peter, the double-domed church is Frauen Kirche ("lady church" get it?.....)^^

^^the living room of my new home. a little puristic and spartan, no?^^

^^the dining room and kitchen, each cabinet and drawer has an engine to open it out of the wall, leaning against the counter will never be the same.^^

^^this view of the backyard is misleading, it has been cloudy and raining for the last six days.^^

^^the Isar! this river runs through the city and people surf at this part, called the Eisbach, all year round. not my cup o' tea when it's negative degrees outside.^^

^^we sat by the Isar in the Englischer Garten and played a German board game with another au pair and her host kids.^^

^^people tan and drink by the man-made Isar river during the warm months.^^

^^the Isar here reminds me of the Wonka chocolate river.^^

^^some days are even gorgeous with the clouds.^^

^^little Gisela sporting Steffen's new shoes. so chic.^^

^^this is dinkel (cereal). most breakfasts look like this. muesli, fruit and tea.^^

^^a fraction of the yarn and string at Ludwig Beck (German Bloomingdales)^^

^^see mom and dad, they do have fresh fruit in Germany.^^

^^the Glockenspiel, a Munich landmark in Marienplatz at the center of the city.^^

^^Sophia being coy on a post-Kindergarten stroll.^^

^^this is the view from the playground(spielplatz) on the walk home from Kindergarten. the playground is in a biergarten. Germany, I love you.^^

^^looking toward the city center from the S-Bahn station in Hirschgarten. I wasn't lying about the clouds and rain.^^

^^what I believe is the coast of France, on my plane to Barcelona!^^

A Broad, Abroad

In regards to the title, I am now both of these things. I have officially left the best coast to fly across

the globe and work as an Au Pair. For those reading who are unfamiliar with the French term, think of

the popular ABC Family movie in the early 2000s (minus the whole marrying the employer bit). An Au

Pair is for practical purposes a glorified international babysitter.

As of tomorrow, I will be living in my host family's home in Munich, Germany. There are three children: 

four year-old twins named Max and Emma as well as three year-old Mathilda. They will likely be 

celebrities on this lil' blog, so more of them to come in the near future. 

 

And now, a famous quote to get us off to a cliché'ed blog beginning:

"Reputation is something people with courage can do without."- Rhett Butler to Scarlett O'Hara

If you're unsure what movie this quote is referencing, stop reading now and google search Gone With The Wind)

Then spend 4 hours watching it. 

This morning I awoke a little after 5:15a.m., West Coast time, to blindly shower and shove last minute

things like a toothbrush and an iPhone charger into my carry-on bag(s). Hi, I'm Katie and I'm an 

over-packer. Is it laughable that I'm proud of my 3 checked bags and large carry-on backpack?

I brought a smaller suitcase as a carry-on but was able to sneakily check it at the gate for free.

I love that trick. I loath baggage fees. Remarkably, I checked 3 suitcases and not a single one 

was over 50 pounds! The expert packer award goes to me, "I'd to thank my mom and her rolling

skills, Phoebe and her ability to bear her entire weight on a suitcase to zip it closed, and my dad/his 

credit card for making the purchase of these suitcase guts possible."

I felt a little swollen and groggy for the first two hours of the journey, but anything in my world can 

be cured with coffee and eggs. I look a bit shambly ('sh*t girls say' youtube video reference) but

who do I need to impress on my 18 hour trip? Oh yeah, no one. 

Nostalgia, nervousness, nor homesickness have set in and I'm not inviting them to come any 

time soon. I am only excited. Excited with curiosity, happiness, relief, all of it. I've felt immense 

love in the last few months and especially in the past week and final southern Californian days.

Thank you to everyone who called, accepted my calls, texted, emailed, and gave me hugs and

sweet words. Reminders have been espoused to me by both family and friends about how proud

everyone is of me. While I'm grateful for the encouragement - I don't feel at all like I'm doing any 

sort of noble deed. 

I'm going off to explore for myself and therein to explore myself. I have almost zero idea what to expect, and

that is what makes all of this thrilling. There is no fear associated with the unknown this time, only 

a fiery desire to see what's around the next corner! While I've received confused looks, silent

 judgements and spoken judgements of my choice to live and work abroad, I have two things to say

 to those that expressed or harbored doubt of my plans:

1. YOU ARE WRONG.

2. Refer to the quote introducing this post.

It's unconventional and random and it's going to be fun as hell so strap in with me and let's go. 

This blog will be my way of illustrating my traveling, my day-to-day life, my work, my pleasures, 

my embarrassments (yes there will be many) and my new found loves. I am planning to post as

many pictures as I do words. When I'm unable to do that I promise to paint a picture with my

words for you all instead. 

Ganz liebe Grüße | Katie