Family Blog

...Manuel and Philip left Germany. Five weeks ago they came back to Germany. Since two weeks they work at the company where I work. Today there was a brown bag lunch at the company where Manuel and Philip talked about the differences between the U.S. and Germany and their experiences in America (slides: germnay-vs-us (pdf, 3,882 KB) ). We were nine people in the meeting room and it was fun to listen Manuel and Philip.

Last year in October Manuel visted Mr. Obama (look at his blog or on the picture left) – now he visited us. Oh, not really us, but our country. Yesterday Mr. Obama was in Berlin, today he will visit perhaps Rammstein. But Manuel and Philip are on an AFS camp for the "retournees" so they can't visit him.

A lot has changed since last year - both on the political area and on the family area. Since yesterday the vacations have started also here in Baden Württemberg. Next week Manuel and Philip will go working for two weeks at agentes (it's the company where I work). They need the money for the drivers licence which is expensive here in Germany.

Last Friday I had an operation at my nose but since yesterday I'm back home. I still feel a little weak but here it is not so boring as in the hospital - there is much more life here and I can go online or do anything else.

When the family visited me on Sunday all three children (and my wife!) began to laugh when they saw me. I look like a pig with my swelled nose! What cheek!

Today I had time to check the news and my emails. Jeff has started a new blog on jeff-closson.blogspot.com. Manuel and Philip have started with their driver's lesson. If you want to check your knowledge you can try it with this test sheet (in German) — I failed (12 error points).

Yesterday we were with Manuel and Philip the first time at the Lichterfest in Stuttgart. Last year Manuel and Philip were on an AFS camp at that time (the last camp before leaving Germany). The whole Killesbergpark was decorated with lights and there were many stalls where you can buy something to drink or to eat. When it was dark the light show at the Killesbergturm began, followed by a firework, highlighted with music. It was fantastic.

Today we had to get up early in the morning because Manuel and Philip had their first concert with the Hymnus Choir after their return from Wisconsin and California. One year ago it was their last concert at a church service before they left us. After the church service the summer party of the Hymnus Choir started at the Waldheim Möhringen. Fortunately it stopped raining when the church service was over and the party began.

One and a half week ago Philip and Manuel came back from America. The school year here in South Germany is not yet over so they have to go to school this week and next week. It is not easy for them because the school system and the teachers are so different from the American way of school.

What has changed for us? There is much more life in our house now and it seems that the house has shrunk. In the morning much more coordination is needed now because each of us wants to take a shower before to go to school or work.

On the one side Manuel and Philip are both more independent than one year before, on the other side they enjoy doing things together. Today they took their bike and went to the sports field to play soccer. There was only one lock for both bikes because Philip has broken his key when he was at downtown (and he had to carry his bike the whole way back). When Manuel and Philip came back from the sports field their bikes were locked together - Manuel has broken his key :-)

I had a real busy week now. On Tuesday and Wednesday we went to Frankfurt to pick up first Philip and then Manuel. On Wednesday we had invited our relationship for a little barbeque evening to welcome Manuel and Philip.

On Thursday I was on a conference of the Java User Group Stuttgart where over 1,000 people came. First I had a talk and in the afternoon I had to moderate three talks among other a talk of Erich Gamma, one of the Top Ten of the software gurus.

On Friday Carmen and my wife have organized a welcome party with Manuel's and Philip's friends. In the afternoon another exchange student, Dario, came to help to prepare the party. When he talked to our boys the whole conversation was in Englisch - I felt like a stranger on my own site. Cordula had dress rehearsal of the opera "Carmen" and I went back to my work when the party began. It was late in the night when the party was over.

On Saturday there was the performance of the opera "Carmen" from Georges Bizet in the townhall of Gerlingen. It was a part of the celebration because of grant privileges of a town 50 years ago. The whole family went to this opera - Cordula as a part of the school choir and the rest as audiences. After the concert there was a firework on the place before the city hall.

Today on Sunday I find at last some time to take a look to all the things what our boys brought back from the U.S. Our house is much fuller now and it looks like a moving. Philip and Manuel filled out the form for school with their subjects for the next 2 years while Cordula has a performance again with the choir at the city hall.

This morning we drove to Frankfurt to pick up Manuel. Yesterday we took Philip so we had some experience to find the right parking garage and the right gate. Nevertheless we have been very excited to see Manuel life again after nearly one year absence. And then he came with a big smile and we have been so happy to see him again.

He seems to be now half an American. He is not used to speak German and on way back to Gerlingen most the time he spoke English and we answered in German.

When we are at home again Philip just waked up. We went with Manuel through our house. It seems to be smaller now for him as one year before.

With over an hour delay Philip landed today in Frankfurt. We had to wait another hour till we saw him coming out in the arrival hall. He was one of the first of his machine and we were all happy to see and embrace him. He looks a little bit greater than one year before and has twice as much baggage as he left Germany.

Now we are waiting for Manuel's arrival which is scheduled for 6:55 AM what means we have to start at 4:30 in Gerlingen. Fortunately for us the flight will have a delay of 3 hours. Perhaps a result of the strike of the ground personal which started today...

Yesterday Philip left Lincoln together with his host family to go to Truckee, where there was the
gathering point of AFS. Then it was time to say goodbye and for both sides it was a teary farewell as Jeff wrote me. Especially Philips sister Elene was very sad.

From Truckee the entire AFS group boarded a bus for an overnight trip to Los Angeles. At about 16:30 o'clock Philip will leave California and has a flight of about 11 hours. Tomorrow we will go to Frankfurt to receive him. I guess he will be very tired from the journey and farewell.

Manuel will leave Wisconsin tomorrow. For him and his family it also will not be an easy farewell. Manuel will arrive Germany on Wednesday early in the morning.

We are waiting to embrace them and see them reunited...

Also Manuel had his graduation now as you can read in his blog. Unfortunately we have no pictures from this event but I think next week when he will back in Germany we will see some.

Philip will leave today his host family while Manuel has time till tomorrow to pack his bags. It is not so easy to get all the things from the last 11 months into the bag because space and weight is limited.

Here in Germany everybody is excited about the finals of the European Soccer Championship where Germany plays against Spain.

Next week Manuel and Philip will come back from their exchange year in the USA. We are very excited to welcome them back at home. How will they look like? Will they be the same as one year ago? Will they be more great and heavier?

I guess the last week will be hard for them and their host families. Time flies and shortly it is time to say goodbye. I can remember how hard my heart felt after the leave at the airport.

CUL8R...

If you can dream it, you can do it. (Walt Disney)

Happy Birthday, Manuel and Philip. In Germany you would be of age. Enjoy your last days in America. We are waiting for you...

Cordula, Carmen and me

Philip! Yesterday Philip had his graduation. On the Silver Grad Night Philip won a laptop and other things. And it was early in the morning when he went to bed.

School is now over for Philip and this event is the end of a successful and eventfully year. In the subjects Calculus, English and Comparative Politics he was the best in his class and he learned a lot about the American way of life.

School is also over for Manuel but he will have his graduation next week.

The streets here will be empty this evening – the European Soccer Championship has started yesterday and today Germany has its first match (against Poland).

My brother sent us a postcard from Kalifornien (California) where he was on vacation with his family. But this "Kalifornien" is a small town in North Germany (see Google Maps) near Brasilien (Brazil).