It always seems to me that life gets busy and I get TERRIBLE about updating my blog- but this weekend I've had time to catch up so you can settle in for a nice, long post.
The Monday after moving I had a check-up with the ENT doctor. I was still sick-ish, but starting to feel very slightly better- so he cleared me and sent me on my way. Of course, the next morning, I woke up fever-ish and sick again. It was the same sort of thing, but more flu like and less cold like.... body aches and really, really weak, upset tummy, congested, headache, sore throat.... really the whole nine-yards. On Wednesday, I pretty much completely lost my voice to the point that I could only whisper. On Thursday (Thanksgiving), we had a class presentation for parents where all the parents come in to watch a presentation of what we've learned so far. I teach 2-3 year olds... so we really just sang songs and hoped that the kids wouldn't be too intimidated by having an audience to actually sing. They did great, but I still didn't have much of a voice and my fever spiked up.... at one point I had to leave to go sit outside because I started feeling really dizzy. I was really proud of my kids, but it wasn't the easiest morning to get through with having to be professional and really upbeat while talking to parents when I felt awful.
After the parents all left, it was lunch time. One boy never wants to eat but I can generally coax him into at least eating most of his meal. That day, he was putting up a HUGE fight. I never force him but I was persistant and he finally ate about 5 bites..... which he promptly threw up onto the table. Needless to say, it wasn't really such a great day and when I got home and talked to Mom and Dad and heard all my family in the background, it's the first time I've been truly homesick while here. I've missed home, and been a touch homesick here and there, or missed something specific (like when it's freezing outside, I washed both pairs of jeans and they are still damp.... I miss a dryer as I blowdry them to try to help make them not so cold).... but Thanksgiving is the first time I just wanted to go home. I wanted my Mom and Dad and my bed and my dog and my house.
After I hung up with Mom and Dad, I was talking to Greg and telling him how sick I was and complaining that I couldn't even get comfortable enough to sleep and I didn't have anything to read, and a few minutes later I got an email saying that someone had bought me a book I've been wanting to read and it had been automatically delivered to my Kindle. Sometimes the point to which he understands me and knows how to cheer me up is a little unbelievable, but it made me feel like someone was really watching out for me and wanted to make sure I was okay even though I was sick and homesick.
The next day I felt slightly better, but I was starting to get really nervous about the Thanksgiving dinner that Tamela and I were hosting on Saturday. Tamela had said she was sous-chef and this was my thing, and I was starting to realize that not only had I never cooked Thanksgiving dinner, I'd also never cooked for 20 people before. Friday evening, Tamela and I were supposed to go shopping for groceries and do some prep work (roasting garlic, baking pies, prepping stuffing) so when she got home around 6:30, we sat down, reviewed the grocery list, and then I was ready to head out. I didn't feel great and I wasn't super excited about going out in the cold, I was also hoping to get to bed early-ish, so I was getting irritated when Tamela kept puttering around the apartment and I couldn't get her out the door. First she wanted to eat, then her boyfriend called, then she did some dishes. When I finally heard her putting her coat on, I was relieved and came out of my room so we could leave. It was around 8PM at this point so I was really itching to get the shopping done. When I came out, Tamela was taking the trash out and said she wasn't ready to go yet. I suggested we just head out and take the trash out on our way but Tamela said, "I'm weird about trash... and I think i need some air!" and practically ran out of the apartment.
By this point, I was really frustrated so I took a deep breath and went back to my room. When I heard Tamela come back in, I didn't bother getting up to go see if she was ready to go, resigned to going whenever she decided she was ready. I was sitting on my bed being a bit mopey when I heard someone in my doorway- I looked up and Greg was standing there. All I could say is "What are you doing here?!" about 50 times. He had told Tamela he was coming and so she had been stalling so we were at the apartment when he arrived. I had NO IDEA he was planning to show up but he said I'd just been sick and homesick and stressed about Thanksgiving and he just wanted to check on me and take care of me for the weekend. It was a wonderful surprise and I was crazy excited. Tamela sent us off to the store and we stocked up and then returned home to do some cooking... only to realize we didn't have a can opener and therefore couldn't make any of the things we had planned.
We got up the next morning and immediately started on the first of two turkeys. Neither Greg nor I have ever cooked a Thanksgiving meal, so getting the turkey in the oven was a little intimidating but as soon as we got it in, we ran back to the store for a can opener. Then we can back and made the fruit salad and started prepping other things that needed to go in the oven once the first turkey came out (including stuffing, sweet potatoes, pies and the other turkey). The meal took the ENTIRE day to prep and cook- Greg nor I ever left the kitchen. Finally, we left Tamela in charge of setting up the apartment and cleaning a bit and we went to get ready for guests. By the time everyone arrived, I was exhausted and not feeling very good, so I wasn't very social. I stayed in the kitchen and nibbled on turkey and baked pies and helped serve people when they came in for seconds from the living room.
I do not think I could have survived the day (and I KNOW all the food would not have gotten done) without Greg there. He is presenting a year's worth of research in 2 days... so about a week and 2 days before that he made time to come see me just b/c he felt like I could really use it. I can't even begin to communicate what a good feeling it is to know that that support is there.
Greg left Sunday morning to head back to Munich and I've spent the past week trying to get better and exploring various Christmas markets. Thursday after work I headed to the markets for the first time and bought all sorts of gifts for the family. The markets are all decorated and there are lights and trees and the whole place smells of cinnamon and mulled wine. On Friday night I headed back to the markets and then, deciding I still hadn't had enough, I took a long walk on Saturday (yesterday), through my neighborhood and then straight west all the way to some of the markets. I keep stopping at one booth to buy more of the same thing and the lady now knows me.... I should probably stop spending money-- I bet she loves to see me coming.
I've had a quiet day today- laundry, cleaning, some writing, watched a Christmas movie, etc. I'm about to go pack now. I leave for Munich tomorrow to go see Greg's research presentation. There will be more markets there so I will let you all know how they compare :)
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