Prost the German "R" rolling version of cheers

Didn't end up walking to Sonthofen... Didn't really do anything today except sleep and relax and eventually move to get food. Last night was a late one with a goodbye party for one of the girls here. We were invited to come and join in the German festivities. One of the girls from the kitchen came with us and though I couldn't really understand much of anything people were saying so it was nice to have a translator by my side. Crowded cigarette smoke filled apartment with a lot of cheap German schnapps. Interesting to say the least and something I’ll try to avoid next time. But it was nice to do something with the people here and I think they appreciated our effort to socialize outside of work.

                For dinner Maya and I went to another nearby restaurant. The menu was in German and our waitress, incredibly chipper and cute in her German suspenders, gave her best effort to help us figure out what to order. She pointed at one item telling us that it was the restaurant’s specialty and if we didn’t like it she would pay for it. All we understood was the “pick” meat (AKA strong accented way of saying pig meat). And it turned out to be a great choice. It was the perfection of sweet and savory. A slice brie or Camembert cheese on top of lingonberry jelly beautifully melted over tender slices of pork loin.

Our meal under the stars was delicious and perfectly paired well with wine glass of still water. Here at the hotel all people drink is water with bubbles. Apparently Germans feel more important drinking water with bubbles since it is poor people who drink the flat stuff from streams. Interesting tidbit no? I really like the wait staff in Germany. It isn’t like back home where every few minutes your waitress / waiter asks you if you need anything or comes by to smile at the table or the opposite when the server only comes by if you stand and wave a red flag… Yes I exaggerate…. But, so far at the restaurants here, we have been left to ourselves to enjoy the meals…. When we need something or a check all we have to do is look up for eye contact and the server cheerfully comes by. It is well balance privacy.

                The nights here are getting colder and colder. As much as I want to get fresh air into my room the shivering starts too quickly and its better just to keep the door closed. I dread walking back to the room at night…. I look like a steam boat since I send a good stream of steam out of my mouth while huffing back up the hill to the apartment.  There is a little party over by the bar…. Not far from where I am sitting right now. Every time I try to think of what I plan to type next some older woman screams in laughter… Probably the schnapps... Time to go to my little room and sleep. My homework has been sent and tomorrow I go back to the kitchen. My work here is done… I really would like someone to tuck me into bed.