If you ever want to feel like you're having a legit heart attack, try sleeping through one of Germany's thunder and lightning storms! I woke up in the middle of the night to what sounded like actual bombs being dropped on us. I flew open the curtains and realized that the storm was right above our apartment complex. It took me a long time to fall back asleep, but I managed to film some of the storm. Unfortunately, it doesn't give you the full effect since you can't hear it as well as it was.
But anyway, today is our first day of observational training! I'm definitely excited to see the base we'll be working at, the staff we'll be working alongside, as well as the kids themselves!
I'll try writing again tonight if I have the opportunity! In the meantime, I have to go stand outside for my ride to get here!
Guten tag!
(good day)
August 23, 2011
Day One of Training.
Waking up this morning was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. I think it was because I'm still on Portland time, in which case it was just after 10:00 PM. Getting ready quickly, we all were outside waiting for our ride just on time.
We ended up getting picked up by a nice woman (I can't remember her name), who dropped us off at Vilseck for our first day of training. Meeting up with the other interns, we spent the entire day going over information that we would need to know for the next four months. It was mostly stuff that I already know, or stuff we had to learn during our overall Camp Adventure training: communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, child abuse, etc. It was SO hot in that conference room, it was unbelievable. One of the speakers, who actually lived in Portland and worked as an RN at the VA hospital on the hill, was unbelievably hospitable. He brought us in fans and was continuously refilling water pitchers for us. We were beyond thankful.
Our training ended up lasting from 8.30 until about 4 PM. Looooong day. Afterwards, we made our way over to the PX where they had a small cellphone store outside of it. We each are required to buy a cell phone, however, it costs a whole lot to use. It is free to receive calls, so if anyone wants to call me, I can give you the number.
We stopped by the grocery store on our way home and it was so unbelievably overwhelming. Everything was in German, and everyone spoke very little English. I ended up buying a few things: cereal, milk, peanut butter and jelly, frozen pizza, and a few other items. I'm hoping everything tastes okay, since so far things taste way different. Also, I'm hoping I meet someone who will allow me to go to the commissary, where they sell American brands and products. In the mean time, it is safe to say that I might starve here. And die of dehydration... the water is awful.
As soon as we made it back to our apartment, I changed my clothes and have been laying on my bed ever since. I honestly could fall asleep right now, but they've been pushing it on us to stay awake for a while so we start getting used to the time difference.
Also, a few of my friends and I are starting to plan out our trips for this weekend. We're not allowed to do any over night trips yet, so we're looking at going to Nuremberg on Saturday for the day, and then going to the Black Forest on Sunday. We'll have to do a little more research, but I'm getting super excited.
Oh, and a few things we've learned so far from being here:
1. You don't tip the waiters. They'll actually round your bill up to the closest dollar. And they don't have pennies.
2. It costs one euro for a glass of water at a restaurant. Also, the waiters don't just come by and refill your glass. And they don't bring the check unless you specifically ask for it.
3. They don't have ice. Or air conditioning.
4. "Danka" ("thank you") has been one of the most important words thus far.
5. Graf just had 3,000 soldiers deployed in May/June, so my part of the base seems pretty empty.
6. Beer is considered a food group.
7. Graf is a universal training site. There are people from legitimately all over the world that come here and train together- they do that so the different countries learn to work together.
I'm sure there is more, but I think I'll just keep adding to that list as I think of things.
It's our first day of observation tomorrow, and I believe they said we will generally work a nine hour day, with a one hour lunch break. I'm hoping tomorrow won't be that long, but I guess we'll find out!
We ended up getting picked up by a nice woman (I can't remember her name), who dropped us off at Vilseck for our first day of training. Meeting up with the other interns, we spent the entire day going over information that we would need to know for the next four months. It was mostly stuff that I already know, or stuff we had to learn during our overall Camp Adventure training: communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, child abuse, etc. It was SO hot in that conference room, it was unbelievable. One of the speakers, who actually lived in Portland and worked as an RN at the VA hospital on the hill, was unbelievably hospitable. He brought us in fans and was continuously refilling water pitchers for us. We were beyond thankful.
Our training ended up lasting from 8.30 until about 4 PM. Looooong day. Afterwards, we made our way over to the PX where they had a small cellphone store outside of it. We each are required to buy a cell phone, however, it costs a whole lot to use. It is free to receive calls, so if anyone wants to call me, I can give you the number.
We stopped by the grocery store on our way home and it was so unbelievably overwhelming. Everything was in German, and everyone spoke very little English. I ended up buying a few things: cereal, milk, peanut butter and jelly, frozen pizza, and a few other items. I'm hoping everything tastes okay, since so far things taste way different. Also, I'm hoping I meet someone who will allow me to go to the commissary, where they sell American brands and products. In the mean time, it is safe to say that I might starve here. And die of dehydration... the water is awful.
As soon as we made it back to our apartment, I changed my clothes and have been laying on my bed ever since. I honestly could fall asleep right now, but they've been pushing it on us to stay awake for a while so we start getting used to the time difference.
Also, a few of my friends and I are starting to plan out our trips for this weekend. We're not allowed to do any over night trips yet, so we're looking at going to Nuremberg on Saturday for the day, and then going to the Black Forest on Sunday. We'll have to do a little more research, but I'm getting super excited.
Oh, and a few things we've learned so far from being here:
1. You don't tip the waiters. They'll actually round your bill up to the closest dollar. And they don't have pennies.
2. It costs one euro for a glass of water at a restaurant. Also, the waiters don't just come by and refill your glass. And they don't bring the check unless you specifically ask for it.
3. They don't have ice. Or air conditioning.
4. "Danka" ("thank you") has been one of the most important words thus far.
5. Graf just had 3,000 soldiers deployed in May/June, so my part of the base seems pretty empty.
6. Beer is considered a food group.
7. Graf is a universal training site. There are people from legitimately all over the world that come here and train together- they do that so the different countries learn to work together.
I'm sure there is more, but I think I'll just keep adding to that list as I think of things.
It's our first day of observation tomorrow, and I believe they said we will generally work a nine hour day, with a one hour lunch break. I'm hoping tomorrow won't be that long, but I guess we'll find out!
Made it to Germany!
Leaving the airport in Munich, us Camp Adventure people boarded a plane that felt like it was going to fall apart when it took off, went through turbulence, and landed. I'm pretty sure I had my eyes closed for the entire forty minute flight down to Nuremberg.
Getting off the plane, I was so thankful that all of us found our baggage, and quickly located the staff who were picking us up. Dropping our luggage off on the private shuttle bus, we headed back in the airport to wait for the remaining interns, especially since it had air conditioning!
The majority of the rest of the Camp A people showed up not long after we did, so we all got back on the bus and started our journey down the autobahn to Grafenwohr. (Which, in case you're wondering, it's pronounced "graf-en-vere". Apparently the "w's" sound like 'v's' here.) I took a few pictures, but the majority didn't turn out very well because of the glare from the sun.
I found out that I was going to stay on the Graf base, with three other girls: Sydney, Nicole and Juliet. The other interns got seperated to Vilseck, which is about a thirty minute ride away from our base. The four of us girls have an apartment in a military complex, and it's actually pretty cool. It has four bedrooms, but room to sleep six in actual beds. We have our own washer and dryer, full kitchen, and balcony. I somehow ended up with the "master bedroom" which has a connecting bathroom and shower in it! I'm not complaining at all!
Once we got unpacked and settled, we all took a quick shower and set off to find some dinner off base. We started walking down the road directly in front of the base, but after walking a while, we ended up stopping in a gas station to ask where a restaurant was. We ended up going to "Bohm," which served German food. I ended up ordering spaghetti (surprise surprise), but tried schnitzel, and two other dishes that had German names to them.
After dinner, we made our way back to the base, only to find out that the entrance gate to the base itself closes at 9.00 PM. We got back at 9:05. With nobody in sight, we decided to start following the fence in the direction we had just come from, thinking it would eventually lead us to the pedestrian entrance. After over an hour of walking, we finally decided to just turn around and head back for the gate.
When we got back, the gate was still locked, there was nobody in sight, and no cars heading in. Thankfully, there is a small Italian restaurant located just outside of the gate, so we walked over there and asked two men to use their cell phone. Calling our supervisor, he didn't really have anything to say. I think it was partially because he had just arrived a few hours before us, or because he was sleeping. Regardless, the owner of the Italian restaurant, who thankfully spoke English, told us he would give us a ride to base, since he makes deliveries there often. We never found out what his name was, but we promised that we would go eat at his restaurant as soon as we could.
Making it back onto base, we spent the next hour searching for our apartment. Unfortunately, all the military houses look EXACTLY the same, so every apartment complex we thought was ours, wasn't. We eventually found it, and as soon as we got inside, we all just went to our rooms and passed out.
It was definitely an unforgettable way to start our trip.
Getting off the plane, I was so thankful that all of us found our baggage, and quickly located the staff who were picking us up. Dropping our luggage off on the private shuttle bus, we headed back in the airport to wait for the remaining interns, especially since it had air conditioning!
The majority of the rest of the Camp A people showed up not long after we did, so we all got back on the bus and started our journey down the autobahn to Grafenwohr. (Which, in case you're wondering, it's pronounced "graf-en-vere". Apparently the "w's" sound like 'v's' here.) I took a few pictures, but the majority didn't turn out very well because of the glare from the sun.
I found out that I was going to stay on the Graf base, with three other girls: Sydney, Nicole and Juliet. The other interns got seperated to Vilseck, which is about a thirty minute ride away from our base. The four of us girls have an apartment in a military complex, and it's actually pretty cool. It has four bedrooms, but room to sleep six in actual beds. We have our own washer and dryer, full kitchen, and balcony. I somehow ended up with the "master bedroom" which has a connecting bathroom and shower in it! I'm not complaining at all!
Once we got unpacked and settled, we all took a quick shower and set off to find some dinner off base. We started walking down the road directly in front of the base, but after walking a while, we ended up stopping in a gas station to ask where a restaurant was. We ended up going to "Bohm," which served German food. I ended up ordering spaghetti (surprise surprise), but tried schnitzel, and two other dishes that had German names to them.
 |
| Bohm |
When we got back, the gate was still locked, there was nobody in sight, and no cars heading in. Thankfully, there is a small Italian restaurant located just outside of the gate, so we walked over there and asked two men to use their cell phone. Calling our supervisor, he didn't really have anything to say. I think it was partially because he had just arrived a few hours before us, or because he was sleeping. Regardless, the owner of the Italian restaurant, who thankfully spoke English, told us he would give us a ride to base, since he makes deliveries there often. We never found out what his name was, but we promised that we would go eat at his restaurant as soon as we could.
Making it back onto base, we spent the next hour searching for our apartment. Unfortunately, all the military houses look EXACTLY the same, so every apartment complex we thought was ours, wasn't. We eventually found it, and as soon as we got inside, we all just went to our rooms and passed out.
It was definitely an unforgettable way to start our trip.
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