Happy Christmas

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Here is a brief slide show of our 2009 year. We hope you had a wonderful 2009 and will have an even better 2010!

Happy Christmas!

Here is a brief slide show of our 2009 year. We hope you had a wonderful 2009 and will have an even better 2010!



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Happy Holidays to Friends of Friends of Friends

"Happiness is like a stampede.
Nicholas Christakis, a professor at Harvard University suggests that whether you're happy depends not just on your own actions and behaviors and thoughts, but on those of people you don't even know."

Happy people are often found at the center of social networks
and have many friends who are also happy. Friends or siblings who live
nearby increase people's chances of being upbeat, and happiness is
thought to spread outward by three degrees, to the friends of friends
of friends.

"Every friend increases the probability that you're at the center of a
network, which means you are more eligible to get a wave of happiness,"
was one researcher’s conclusion.

Here's to that wave! I received this message from the Superintendent of my new school. I love it! I haven't gotten into the Facebook thing for several reasons, but maybe I should. Even my own mother has a Facebook page! Happiness and friendship are the themes of my message this year. I am currently teaching 7th grade English and Humanities in Highland Park, IL. It's as if someone said, "Let's create the perfect job for Suzanne. We'll create a class where kids read high quality literature and discuss it and we'll throw in some grammar. We will also have one of the classes be for gifted/high ability learners." Well, that is what happens. I have always loved what I do but I think I'm "home" now. I love the 12-13 year olds, I love literature and my training in Gifted Education is once again being put to use. I love the people I work with and felt like I fit in from day one. It took some time but I've found happiness and friendship. What a gift I've been given!

Joe is the Director of Jazz Studies at Augustana College. This school is in Rock Island (practically Iowa) so he stays there 2 nights a week. He has never taught before and is learning all kinds of new things. To this I say, "Welcome to my world." I am not sure he has found his niche yet. He is a performer through and through and is still struggling with not playing as often as he'd like. He does odd gigs here and there but not enough to satisfy his artistic spirit. However, he has hooked up with friends from the Air Force Bands, college, and even his high school band director. Friendship prevails!

We haven't done the extensive traveling that we used to do but we did go to Door County, Wisconsin. It's a beautiful part of our country complete with vineyards, quaint shops, water sports (we went kayaking), bike paths, etc. It is about 3 hours from our home and was an easy drive. Remember, you could plan a vacation to this area and use our home as a stopover point. OttCo Travel Agency is here to please. Here is a link to Door County: http://www.doorcounty.com/

So to all of you I say, Happy Holidays to you and your friends and your friends of friends.

Happy Holidays!

Howdy to all from the good ole US of A! It's been a long time since I've posted anything and I began to wonder if I should keep up with my blog. I don't know if I will but we do enjoy hearing from you all and it's a good way to keep in touch. I'll give a brief synopsis of the last 6 months. After Joe retired from the Air Force band in June, we moved back to Illinois on 1 July. By the way, if you watch the TV show called the Amazing Race you'll appreciate the surprise party I had for him. If you'd like to check out the link to the invitation click here: http://joesamazingrace.blogspot.com

HOME SWEET HOME
We arrived into O'Hare Airport on a Saturday afternoon. We picked up a rental car on Sunday and Joe saw his new house for the first time. We were greeted with a beautiful house complete with purple petunias at the front door and a huge red, white and blue sign that said, " Welcome Home to the Otts". His family had filled it with the bare necessities such as a kitchen table and chairs, 2 lazy boy chairs, TV, pots, pans, dishes, glassware, towel, etc. They knew we would not have any furniture for up to 2 months but also knew we would want to stay in our new home right away. After settling for just a few minutes we decided to go to a Super Walmart to pick up a few food items. We were fighting serious jetlag and tried to do everything we could to stay awake so that we'd supposedly adjust more easily. That was a mistake. We were overwhelmed by the size, choices, noise, activity. We literally were on sensory overload. We honestly cannot tell you what we purchased that day. We went home, made dinner, tried to stay awake a bit longer, and finally collapsed onto our luxurious blue velveteen blow up mattress. We weren't able to sleep and woke up at 3 am. By 7 am we decided to stimulate our nervous systems by getting our Illinois' Driver's Licenses. We passed and drove to another government building where I paid for my Illinois Teaching License, we set up our new bank accounts, had lunch at Portillos (Joe has been dreaming of hotdogs for the last 5 years!), joined the library, went home, and once again collapsed onto our luxurious bed.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

This was especially special to us because we had had to keep our" Americanism" under cover for the last 5 years. In addition, Joe has always been working on this holiday. This was the first time that we were able to sit together, side by side, since we were married 21 years ago. We celebrated at Joe's brother's house along with his parents who live an hour away, his other brother and wife from Tennessee, and several Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. The 4th is also Joe's dad's birthday so it was a celebration of independence, a birthday celebration, and a homecoming all rolled into one day! After watching a good old fashioned All American parade, we ate and watched a fantastic fireworks show from the comforts of the backyard. I'm looking forward to this new tradition next year!

NO GAME FACE NECESSARY

After being in country for 3 days we decided it was time to buy a car. We went to Car Max and it was actually a wonderful experience. No haggling with the price. We selected a car and went back the next day to pict it up. It was the simplest, easiest, most pleasant car buying experience we've ever had.

JOE AND SUZANNE STAR IN MOVIE

Ok, that may have gotten your attention but didn't really star in a movie but we sure felt like our life was a part of a movie. Just imagine a couple finds a vacant house and decide to live in it. Perhaps the "real" owners are on vacation. They find some cash and credit cards and just start purchasing things...things like wall units, closet organizers, cars, vacuum cleaners, 110 appliances, even some brushed nickel hardware for the kitchen cabinets. The "real" owners still aren't back from their vacation so the couple continue to live there. They are happy and love this beautiful new home. They wonder, " What would it be like to have furniture in this house? Turkish rugs? kitchenware? a bed? a table? patio furniture? a 2nd car in the driveway?

Will this couple get to stay in the house? Will they have a 2nd car in the garage? Will the house be filled with things from their travels?

Stay tuned. More to come next month.

Well,the wait was worth it and now that we are settled, it is beautiful. We love having the space and are especially enamored with our many fuses. We can turn the lights on, vacuum the house, dry my hair, watch TV, work on the computer, and so much more and absolutely nothing blows a fuse. Of course, we don't do all those things at the same time, but we could! Power was a problem in Germany. Our tiny little house was not designed for modern appliances. After nearly 2 months we finally have a house that feels like our own. We had so many things in storage that unpacking felt like Christmas to us. Our house does reflect our travels and has Joe and Suzanne written all over it. Of course, if you'd like to see that for yourself, come visit us. The OttCO Travel agency is still available upon request:)

JOB HUNT NOT SO EASY
I began the job hunt immediately to no avail. This was a bit of a shock because we kept reading about teacher shortages. Well, there is NO shortage here in Illinois. In fact, universities are encouraging Elementary Education majors to get a specialty such as special education or math and science. I have an endorsement in Gifted Education that Illinois doesn't acknowledge and several credits in reading and educational technology but not enough to count toward an endorsement. On the other hand, I do have a Master's degree but this is a negative because now I cost too much! It's amazing to me that the very field I am in, literally punishes me for having too much education! If you want to become a teacher, I encourage you to go into Special Education or have some endorsement in a specific field. Luckily, I did find a job as an Aide and am hoping to be a "real teacher" next year.

Joe is working on opening a teaching studio and doing some outside gigs. It takes time to get into the system and our patience is constantly being tested. He is excited about finally having the time to devote to practicing 4-5 hours per day. This is a luxury he did not have previously.

We both joined a community band. I'm playing the flute and he the clarinet. It's a challenge for me because I have not practiced regularly in years. It is not a challenge for him but gives him a chance to play, even at a very low level for him. He is also helping out with the Swing Band which has slightly better musicians. They seem almost in awe of him because they are not used to working with a professional musician. He is doing some writing for the group as well.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
We will spend Christmas in our own home for the first time in 21 years. We made the difficult situation to stay in Illinois and not travel to Florida to see my family. However, we did make the trip in September and it was fun to relax and enjoy each other without a holiday attached to it. Of course, we love to see everyone during the holidays, but it seems there is not enough time to just sit and visit. We were only there for 4 days and I think we talked the entire time about anything and everything. We will spend next Christmas in Florida. This year the Otts have allowed us to host at our house. I am so excited about this that I can hardly contain myself. We'll see how I feel after it's all over:)

CULTURE SHOCK
Joe and I are enjoying being back in America but must admit that we sometimes feel like foreigners in our own country. We didn't realize how much we had acclimated to the German way of life.Here's a list of some of the shocks we're experiencing:

• Choices- in everything
• Shopping on Sundays
• People looking at us and saying hello or greeting us with a smile
• Gas prices
• Stores open well into the evening
• Everyone understands us and we them
• No one stares at us
• We are not different and don't stand out in a crowd
• We can look American without offending anyone
• American flags are prominently displayed
• Air conditioning
• More than 2 fuses in our house
• Noise...too much noise
• No opportunity to decipher German when in stores...now it's Spanish!
• We can talk to friends and family anytime we want and only have an hour time difference in some cases
• Ice in our drinks
• No mineral water
• Everything is bigger and better than the next guy
• Billboards
• Decimal points not commas in numbers

I know I've written a lot but it's been nearly 5 months since we've been in country. We would love to hear from you all and please know that although I'm not living in a fabulous European country and can't take you to France or Italy or Switzerland or Austria or....well you get the picture, I do live in a wonderful state in the USA and you are ALWAYS welcome.

Suzanne in front of the Heidelburg Castle. Mom and I enjoy lunch!

Standing where spies were once exchanged.

MARCH-APRIL NEWSLETTER
2006
Happy spring! Well, at least I hope it is spring wherever you are. It still feels a bit like winter here but we are slowly coming along. At first we would wake up to a thin layer of ice on the windshields of our cars but we’d drive home in 50 to 60 degree weather. We have had a few days of warm weather only to be driven out by a cold, wet spell. The wet season is upon us along with the light mornings and evenings. In about a month the sun will continue to shine into our bedroom window as late as 10 or 11 at night. And just as that begins to slow down, we will be on a flight to the United States of America! That’s right. The time has finally come for Joe to retire from the Air Force. He has been serving for 21 years and now it is time to do something else. He has been asked what he will do when he isn’t playing music and traveling the world and his answer is always different. Sometimes its “I really don’t know.” Sometimes it’s,”I think I’ll run a hotdog cart.” Sometimes it’s, “I’ll finish off the basement and start a teaching studio.” Other times he thinks he’ll work at Home Depot so he can get a discount. And one time he mentioned professional couch potato. I will give him 2 weeks at that job and then we’ll have to discuss other optionsJ So, as you can imagine, our life is about to change dramatically. We’ll be moving back to our own country which is very exciting for us. I often make a joke about our future. I tell my friends, “Oh yes, we bought a lovely house that includes a mortgage, we’ll need to buy a new car immediately, you know all the extra costs that are involved in moving and having a new home……and by the way……at this time neither of us has a job!”

SUZANNE GOES TDY
As you know, I work for the Department of Defense Schools. Several times I have gone away for one day training and been given orders, much like Joe gets when he goes TDY (Tour of Duty). Mine usually involve getting paid for the mileage to and from the training. In March, I went away for 5 day training in Gifted Education. I was not only given mileage but meals and hotel. I had to fill out the same form he has to use when he goes on a tour. I guess we both got a taste of each others’ medicine. He didn’t much like being home alone and it was strange for me to be the one going away for work. Notice I didn’t say I didn’t like it. However, one time in 5 years didn’t give me the opportunity to be tired of traveling on business, living and eating in a hotel, and all the other drudgery Joe has to deal with.

This training was for DODDS Gifted Education teachers in all of Europe. That means I met people who were teaching in not only Germany but Iceland, Spain, Italy, England, Turkey, and even Bahrain. Of course most of them were American but I did meet one lady who was Greek and married an American and another who was also a military spouse who was from the Czech Republic. America really is the melting pot (or salad bowl for the politically correct term).

It was fun to be in the comfort zone while in Germany. This doesn’t happen too often. Several of us went to dinner and only two of us knew any German. I actually had to help translate for them! When we wanted to answer affirmatively, I’d say Ya for yes. Others would say si or da. The same went for saying thank you. Then it came time for paying for the meals. Most European countries are now using euros but not all of them and customs are different. For example, the woman who teaches in Iceland pulled out a credit card to pay. It is very unusual for a small restaurant in Germany to take credit cards. Germans are very thrifty and they don’t want to pay the 3% charge necessary for allowing credit cards. She said it is frowned upon to pay cash in Iceland. I guess it is considered a lower class thing to do! We had to loan her euros until she could get to a bank. Another woman forgot to exchange her money and only had British pounds. Again, we covered her and she paid us back. As we walked back to the hotel and our respective rooms, we all said our goodbyes. I said “Tchuss” which is how Germans say goodbye. Another said Ciao, another Cheers and others that I don’t remember. I guess the real message I am trying to share is that whether we know it or not, we have all adapted and acclimated to the local country we are living and working in. I’ve begun to incorporate certain German words into my English vocabulary and it has become automatic. I call it Genglish. I may actually have to taken an American English refresher course when I get back to Illinois!

NOT SO WELCOME
As our time ends here, we’ve noticed some changes in attitude from the Germans. At first you think, “Hmmm…maybe I’m just reading into this.” But then you start talking to others and find they are having similar experiences. I think that the war in Iraq has damaged more relationships than we probably realize. Not only with the countries directly involved in the war on terror but many of the European countries including Germany. I have German friends that have told me they know people who don’t want us living in their villages. However, they don’t seem to mind working for us. The money is definitely better and without our presence, many people would be out of a job. Our village has never truly embraced us. They are all very kind and nice to us, but no one other than our wonderful landlords has ever included us on anything. Oopppsss…. I have to retract that statement. Zoë was invited to a dog party but didn’t go. Maybe that was our downfallL Anyway, we are busy with our lives and haven’t really thought too much about it until lately. We’ve had a few disturbing experiences. Not too long ago, we had a big snowstorm. In front of our house, someone had written a message to us in the snow. It said, “Sieg Heil”. If you know anything about history, these two words can not possibly have a positive message behind them. Believe me, I tried to twist and turn the words to mean something good and I just couldn’t do it. I asked my landlord about it and she was visibly upset as well. If you are too young to know these words, I’ll mention one name and that should do it for you: Hitler.

Another friend parked his car in a residential village near a train station for 15 minutes. He was picking up some tickets near this small station. He came back to this message clearly written by a German.
This is a residential parking spot.
You should not be parked here.
This isn't Iraq!
Of course, the license plate on the car is American so there was no misunderstanding the message this person wanted to share.
GO TEAM USA
The Olympics are always fun and we do get to see quite a bit of coverage albeit at 2am! One of the teachers at my school decided to make a bulletin board and have her students keep up with the scores. This was a great, interactive bulletin board. She titled the board in giant letters, “Go, Team USA!” Another teacher saw the board and suggested that perhaps she should include the host nation and everyone agreed. So the board was split to show scores for both Germany and the USA. She was trying to find someone to translate how to say “Go Team Germany”. It was an unusual day because not one German was in the building that spoke English. We have a lot of custodial staff but they don’t speak English. Our secretary was out for training and the Host Nation teacher was on a field trip with her students. So, this teacher decided to just try it on her own. After all, we know a lot of sight words. It’s our grammar that isn’t so great. She put up her own translation of “Go Team Germany” and was very proud of how it looked. One of the custodial staff, who is actually Russian, looked at it and said. “Nein, nein.” But he was unable to express what was wrong with what she had on the board. She decided to leave it up until the next day when she could ask for help from the secretary. The secretary looked at it and said, “You must take this down now.” The teacher had translated word for word correctly. However, the meaning wasn’t the same. When we say “Go Team USA” I think we all can agree that we are cheering on our team in a positive manner. However, when translated, she said it meant, “Go Away Team Germany!” Of course, she had no idea that she had done this. She promptly changed it to a grammatically and politically correct cheer with a bit of embarrassment. The next time the Russian custodian saw it, he gave her a universal signal. Thumbs up!

RADIO TRIVIA
I often listen to the radio while driving. I’m unable to get American radio so I listen to the German stations, hoping to pick up a word or two as I’m driving. I can usually get the gist of something but it’s frustrating not to be absolutely sure of what is being said. One of the local rock stations was asking callers to call in and sing the words to a particular song. Most of the songs are the same as you’d hear in the states. This one was “Give a little bit of your life to me.” Callers would call in and whoever could get it right won a prize. No one could get it right. One of the callers said, “Give a little boot and a laugh to me.” I guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t always understand what is being said!
Here’s another bit of trivia for you. What do you think is the purpose of a Yield sign? Why not put a stop sign instead? I thought the answer was obvious and in the states, it probably is. But I just recently found out that the Germans use more yield signs than stop signs because it is more economical for your car. Think about it. You come to a stop, stay for a few seconds, and then pump the gas to get going again. But if you come to a yield, you just slow down and then continue on. Germany is so smart about some things. They also turn off stoplights on Sundays and holidays to save on the electricity. We always read about how small things can make a big difference in the end. They have a lot of little “tricks and tips” that we could learn from.

MOMMY VISITS ME
The highlight of the last two months was that my mom came to visit me. Unfortunately, my dad was unable to make it but he was generous enough to let me have her to myself for 3 whole weeks. She called one day and casually asked when my spring break was. I never count down days to breaks or holidays so I didn’t know the exact time. I said it was sometime in early April. She then asked if I’d like a visitor. I suddenly became one of those people who count down the days to a break. We discussed the dates and shortly thereafter, she was here. Now, when you read about all the things we did, you will think that my friend was here, not my mom. You will think that I have a very energetic friend and will wonder if I am so energetic. You will think that it was my younger sister that was here. You will not think that a 70 year old woman was visiting me. And if you saw my mom, you’d call me a liar because you would say she may be 55 but not 70. Then you would begin to ponder this idea and would realize that she can’t be 55 because I am 44. Then you would think “Wow, I hope I look like that when I’m 70.” Then you would think, “Wow, Suzanne has some good genes. No wonder she’s so happy.” And then you would think to yourself, “I am not going to ponder this any longer. Some people are just lucky!” So now that I have bragged about my mommy, let me share with you some of our fun.

Mom got here in Thursday morning and on Friday afternoon we were already on a trip to Köln,
(Cologne) Germany. I had already signed up for an international yoga conference so mom got to go along. She toured the city while I was at the conference. Köln is a wonderful city and easy to get around. It is famous for its gothic cathedral second in size only to St. Peter’s in Rome. I found an English speaking tour for her to go on while I was at the conference. The city is safe and easy to get around, but I wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable on her own. This way, she’d be with a group and then go back to the hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed the yoga conference but have to admit, I felt a bit guilty leaving her on her own. When I got back to the hotel, I asked how the tour was. My adventurous mom didn’t take the tour. She realized that all the museums have information in English and she could do it on her own. She spent several hours just walking around in the museums and the city. She finally got tired and happened to go into the cathedral just as mass was beginning. The pews were blocked off and she saw a priest and simply said, “Mass?” He nodded and let her in. She not only got a chance to rest her weary legs, she went to church in one of the largest cathedrals in the world! After that she walked back to the hotel on her own and realized that she was in Europe. She did what most Europeans do at this time of day, and had a glass of wine. She’d been in the country for less than a day and already had acclimated to the local customs!
Mom was here for 3 weeks and I had one week off for spring break. I did take a couple of days off here and there, but had to work a couple as well.J She came to work with me when I was taking my Brain Bowl Team (Academic Bowl) to a competition. She enjoyed watching the kids but was glad she didn’t have to answer the questions as was I. The next day, I took a group of kids to an Oral Reading and Storytelling Festival. She enjoyed watching and listening to the kids but was again glad she didn’t have to get on that stage and speak.
Our first big trip was to Berlin. This was on my list of places to see before I leave. Thanks to mom, I got to cross that off my list. Joe has not been there yet but will be traveling there with the band. I can’t possibly go into detail about everything we saw, but just let me name a few that you have probably heard of. We saw the Brandenburg Gate and were able to walk just a few steps from east to west Germany. We saw the Berlin Wall and a museum called Topography of Terrors, Check Point Charlie, the Olympic Stadium where in 1936 Hitler would not let Jesse Owens participate because he was black. This was the beginning of racism in Germany, Unter den Linden also known as the former East German Broadway, the Reichstag and more. We had lunch at a Berliner Cafe, did some shopping and went to bed. The next day we went to Potsdam. This is not as well known as Berlin but just as important in history. We crossed the bridge where spies were exchanged including the U2 Pilot, Gary Powers. Did you know that even the waters were blocked with iron grates built below the surface so that East Germans could not escape? The buildings were black from lack of care and pollution, but in just the last 3 years are being restored. You can see the Russian influence everywhere you look. We went to the Cicilienhof where the “Big 3” met including Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. Cicelia was known as the Princess Diana of her time. There was a joke about how these important men met. They each entered the roundtable conference room from a different entrance. Churchill was from the whiskey sector, Russian from the vodka sector, later France joined as the champagne sector, and America was the CocaCola Sector! We also went to an Italian palace called San Soucci. This means Without Worries. I think I’m going to name my house after this palace. What a wonderful mantra. Clinton was the first (and last so far) person to dine in this palace in the last 200 years. Frederick the Philosopher was buried here with his 11 dogs. His tombstone says, “Once you get to know people, you begin to love dogs.” Eekkk! We also noticed that people put roses and potatoes on his grave. We could understand the roses but not the potatoes. It seems that he introduced the potato to the peasants who were poor and hungry. They planted them and ate the leaves which made them all sick. To this, Frederick responded, “Oh stupid peasants, you must eat the roots!” He is now famous for saving his people during hard times.
Do you have a pergola in your yard? If so, you might have been considered royalty back in the day. Wealthy people must have white and fair skin but they still enjoyed being outside. The only way they could enjoy the weather without damaging their skin was to sit under a plant covered pergola. I guess based on my skin, that I would be considered a lower class.
There are so many stories about the East Germans and their plight. Our tour guide was actually there when the wall came down and had so many interesting things to share. But as write, I realize that my letter is becoming quite long and I still have more to say. Perhaps, we’ll sit together and I can tell you more about this amazing trip.

We came back for a day and then went on to Rothenburg which is a medieval walled city. We spent one night there and were able to catch an evening night watchman tour. Rothenburg is one of my favorite cities. We walked along the wall above the city just to see a different perspective. We were told it was about a mile long but I think our informant confused kilometers and miles. It was more like 3 miles long but worth the exercise. This town is most famous for its Criminal Museum. I have shared this with you in past newsletters. I have now been there 3 times and each time I see something different.

We came back for a day and mom went on a tour to England. Unfortunately, my passport expired and I was unable to get it renewed in time for Mom’s visit, so I couldn’t go with her. She was able to see many of the highlights of London that most of us just read about. She was thrilled to get the opportunity to see these things but admits that it would have been more fun if we’d gone together. You see what I mean about adventurous? She went to England by herself! I’m not sure I would have the guts to do that. By the way, several museums offer senior discounts and when they looked at her said,”You must be 65 or older” along with a scowl. When she said, “Yes, I’m 70” they didn’t believe her. Can you imagine being 70 years old and still being carded? While on the tour she mentioned to another lady that she was getting tired. The lady said, “Oh but you’re so young. You shouldn’t be tired.” She was several years younger than my mom! I told you she’d amazing.
When she got back from England she took a down day and then came to school with me. I had the kids try to guess who she was. One kid thought she was J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. When I told them she was my mommy, one of the girls blurted, “Wow, she looks just like you!” I then said, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” She was embarrassed and said, “Uh…yeah.” Anyway, it was neat for her to see a typical day in my life. We then realized that we had never really spent any time together alone. I think we should make a habit of this. I have a really cool mom and she’s fun to hang out withJ
Just two days before she left, we made one more daytrip to Heidelberg. We toured the castle and the old part of town. Mark Twain spent a lot of time here and there is a restaurant called the Red Ox where he used to enjoy a view of the castle and write.
WHO BUT A MOM?
Before I end my newsletter, I have to say that no matter how old you get, you always be your mom’s kid. When we were in Koln I wasn’t sure I’d have time for dinner between breaks and getting to the hotel to pick up my mom. She had made a sandwich from the breakfast bar for me so I wouldn’t starve. Who but a mom would do that? She also rubbed my back on the bus when I looked tired. Who but a mom would do that? She also saved my life. We were in the water and the current was very strong. We were both trying to get out of the water and she got to a calmer part but I was unable to get away from the strong current. We were laughing but it was getting frustrating for me not to get out. She finally grabbed my hand and pulled me to safety. It was a harrowing experience.
( Ok, I have to admit that it was a wave pool and we were laughing because we’d just got out of the Jacuzzi which was in the middle of this wave pool. It wasn’t really that harrowing, just really funny.)
It was finally time to say goodbye and it wasn’t easy for me. I truly enjoyed spending time with my mom and will always cherish this time. But at least I can soon look forward to being a few hours away from her by plane rather than a continent away. Suddenly, the miles between Florida and Illinois don’t seem so far.
Hooray! I’ll be back on US soil in no time! I hope to see you then. I’m sorry to say that OttCo Travel Agency is no longer available in Europe. However, we will continue to offer our home to you in Johnsburg, Illinois. It’s a wonderful location for you to visit. More about that in a few months.




MARCH-APRIL NEWSLETTER
2006
Happy spring! Well, at least I hope it is spring wherever you are. It still feels a bit like winter here but we are slowly coming along. At first we would wake up to a thin layer of ice on the windshields of our cars but we’d drive home in 50 to 60 degree weather. We have had a few days of warm weather only to be driven out by a cold, wet spell. The wet season is upon us along with the light mornings and evenings. In about a month the sun will continue to shine into our bedroom window as late as 10 or 11 at night. And just as that begins to slow down, we will be on a flight to the United States of America! That’s right. The time has finally come for Joe to retire from the Air Force. He has been serving for 21 years and now it is time to do something else. He has been asked what he will do when he isn’t playing music and traveling the world and his answer is always different. Sometimes its “I really don’t know.” Sometimes it’s,”I think I’ll run a hotdog cart.” Sometimes it’s, “I’ll finish off the basement and start a teaching studio.” Other times he thinks he’ll work at Home Depot so he can get a discount. And one time he mentioned professional couch potato. I will give him 2 weeks at that job and then we’ll have to discuss other optionsJ So, as you can imagine, our life is about to change dramatically. We’ll be moving back to our own country which is very exciting for us. I often make a joke about our future. I tell my friends, “Oh yes, we bought a lovely house that includes a mortgage, we’ll need to buy a new car immediately, you know all the extra costs that are involved in moving and having a new home……and by the way……at this time neither of us has a job!”

SUZANNE GOES TDY
As you know, I work for the Department of Defense Schools. Several times I have gone away for one day training and been given orders, much like Joe gets when he goes TDY (Tour of Duty). Mine usually involve getting paid for the mileage to and from the training. In March, I went away for 5 day training in Gifted Education. I was not only given mileage but meals and hotel. I had to fill out the same form he has to use when he goes on a tour. I guess we both got a taste of each others’ medicine. He didn’t much like being home alone and it was strange for me to be the one going away for work. Notice I didn’t say I didn’t like it. However, one time in 5 years didn’t give me the opportunity to be tired of traveling on business, living and eating in a hotel, and all the other drudgery Joe has to deal with.

This training was for DODDS Gifted Education teachers in all of Europe. That means I met people who were teaching in not only Germany but Iceland, Spain, Italy, England, Turkey, and even Bahrain. Of course most of them were American but I did meet one lady who was Greek and married an American and another who was also a military spouse who was from the Czech Republic. America really is the melting pot (or salad bowl for the politically correct term).

It was fun to be in the comfort zone while in Germany. This doesn’t happen too often. Several of us went to dinner and only two of us knew any German. I actually had to help translate for them! When we wanted to answer affirmatively, I’d say Ya for yes. Others would say si or da. The same went for saying thank you. Then it came time for paying for the meals. Most European countries are now using euros but not all of them and customs are different. For example, the woman who teaches in Iceland pulled out a credit card to pay. It is very unusual for a small restaurant in Germany to take credit cards. Germans are very thrifty and they don’t want to pay the 3% charge necessary for allowing credit cards. She said it is frowned upon to pay cash in Iceland. I guess it is considered a lower class thing to do! We had to loan her euros until she could get to a bank. Another woman forgot to exchange her money and only had British pounds. Again, we covered her and she paid us back. As we walked back to the hotel and our respective rooms, we all said our goodbyes. I said “Tchuss” which is how Germans say goodbye. Another said Ciao, another Cheers and others that I don’t remember. I guess the real message I am trying to share is that whether we know it or not, we have all adapted and acclimated to the local country we are living and working in. I’ve begun to incorporate certain German words into my English vocabulary and it has become automatic. I call it Genglish. I may actually have to taken an American English refresher course when I get back to Illinois!

NOT SO WELCOME
As our time ends here, we’ve noticed some changes in attitude from the Germans. At first you think, “Hmmm…maybe I’m just reading into this.” But then you start talking to others and find they are having similar experiences. I think that the war in Iraq has damaged more relationships than we probably realize. Not only with the countries directly involved in the war on terror but many of the European countries including Germany. I have German friends that have told me they know people who don’t want us living in their villages. However, they don’t seem to mind working for us. The money is definitely better and without our presence, many people would be out of a job. Our village has never truly embraced us. They are all very kind and nice to us, but no one other than our wonderful landlords has ever included us on anything. Oopppsss…. I have to retract that statement. Zoë was invited to a dog party but didn’t go. Maybe that was our downfallL Anyway, we are busy with our lives and haven’t really thought too much about it until lately. We’ve had a few disturbing experiences. Not too long ago, we had a big snowstorm. In front of our house, someone had written a message to us in the snow. It said, “Sieg Heil”. If you know anything about history, these two words can not possibly have a positive message behind them. Believe me, I tried to twist and turn the words to mean something good and I just couldn’t do it. I asked my landlord about it and she was visibly upset as well. If you are too young to know these words, I’ll mention one name and that should do it for you: Hitler.

Another friend parked his car in a residential village near a train station for 15 minutes. He was picking up some tickets near this small station. He came back to this message clearly written by a German.
This is a residential parking spot.
You should not be parked here.
This isn't Iraq!
Of course, the license plate on the car is American so there was no misunderstanding the message this person wanted to share.
GO TEAM USA
The Olympics are always fun and we do get to see quite a bit of coverage albeit at 2am! One of the teachers at my school decided to make a bulletin board and have her students keep up with the scores. This was a great, interactive bulletin board. She titled the board in giant letters, “Go, Team USA!” Another teacher saw the board and suggested that perhaps she should include the host nation and everyone agreed. So the board was split to show scores for both Germany and the USA. She was trying to find someone to translate how to say “Go Team Germany”. It was an unusual day because not one German was in the building that spoke English. We have a lot of custodial staff but they don’t speak English. Our secretary was out for training and the Host Nation teacher was on a field trip with her students. So, this teacher decided to just try it on her own. After all, we know a lot of sight words. It’s our grammar that isn’t so great. She put up her own translation of “Go Team Germany” and was very proud of how it looked. One of the custodial staff, who is actually Russian, looked at it and said. “Nein, nein.” But he was unable to express what was wrong with what she had on the board. She decided to leave it up until the next day when she could ask for help from the secretary. The secretary looked at it and said, “You must take this down now.” The teacher had translated word for word correctly. However, the meaning wasn’t the same. When we say “Go Team USA” I think we all can agree that we are cheering on our team in a positive manner. However, when translated, she said it meant, “Go Away Team Germany!” Of course, she had no idea that she had done this. She promptly changed it to a grammatically and politically correct cheer with a bit of embarrassment. The next time the Russian custodian saw it, he gave her a universal signal. Thumbs up!

RADIO TRIVIA
I often listen to the radio while driving. I’m unable to get American radio so I listen to the German stations, hoping to pick up a word or two as I’m driving. I can usually get the gist of something but it’s frustrating not to be absolutely sure of what is being said. One of the local rock stations was asking callers to call in and sing the words to a particular song. Most of the songs are the same as you’d hear in the states. This one was “Give a little bit of your life to me.” Callers would call in and whoever could get it right won a prize. No one could get it right. One of the callers said, “Give a little boot and a laugh to me.” I guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t always understand what is being said!
Here’s another bit of trivia for you. What do you think is the purpose of a Yield sign? Why not put a stop sign instead? I thought the answer was obvious and in the states, it probably is. But I just recently found out that the Germans use more yield signs than stop signs because it is more economical for your car. Think about it. You come to a stop, stay for a few seconds, and then pump the gas to get going again. But if you come to a yield, you just slow down and then continue on. Germany is so smart about some things. They also turn off stoplights on Sundays and holidays to save on the electricity. We always read about how small things can make a big difference in the end. They have a lot of little “tricks and tips” that we could learn from.

MOMMY VISITS ME
The highlight of the last two months was that my mom came to visit me. Unfortunately, my dad was unable to make it but he was generous enough to let me have her to myself for 3 whole weeks. She called one day and casually asked when my spring break was. I never count down days to breaks or holidays so I didn’t know the exact time. I said it was sometime in early April. She then asked if I’d like a visitor. I suddenly became one of those people who count down the days to a break. We discussed the dates and shortly thereafter, she was here. Now, when you read about all the things we did, you will think that my friend was here, not my mom. You will think that I have a very energetic friend and will wonder if I am so energetic. You will think that it was my younger sister that was here. You will not think that a 70 year old woman was visiting me. And if you saw my mom, you’d call me a liar because you would say she may be 55 but not 70. Then you would begin to ponder this idea and would realize that she can’t be 55 because I am 44. Then you would think “Wow, I hope I look like that when I’m 70.” Then you would think, “Wow, Suzanne has some good genes. No wonder she’s so happy.” And then you would think to yourself, “I am not going to ponder this any longer. Some people are just lucky!” So now that I have bragged about my mommy, let me share with you some of our fun.

Mom got here in Thursday morning and on Friday afternoon we were already on a trip to Köln,
(Cologne) Germany. I had already signed up for an international yoga conference so mom got to go along. She toured the city while I was at the conference. Köln is a wonderful city and easy to get around. It is famous for its gothic cathedral second in size only to St. Peter’s in Rome. I found an English speaking tour for her to go on while I was at the conference. The city is safe and easy to get around, but I wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable on her own. This way, she’d be with a group and then go back to the hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed the yoga conference but have to admit, I felt a bit guilty leaving her on her own. When I got back to the hotel, I asked how the tour was. My adventurous mom didn’t take the tour. She realized that all the museums have information in English and she could do it on her own. She spent several hours just walking around in the museums and the city. She finally got tired and happened to go into the cathedral just as mass was beginning. The pews were blocked off and she saw a priest and simply said, “Mass?” He nodded and let her in. She not only got a chance to rest her weary legs, she went to church in one of the largest cathedrals in the world! After that she walked back to the hotel on her own and realized that she was in Europe. She did what most Europeans do at this time of day, and had a glass of wine. She’d been in the country for less than a day and already had acclimated to the local customs!
Mom was here for 3 weeks and I had one week off for spring break. I did take a couple of days off here and there, but had to work a couple as well.J She came to work with me when I was taking my Brain Bowl Team (Academic Bowl) to a competition. She enjoyed watching the kids but was glad she didn’t have to answer the questions as was I. The next day, I took a group of kids to an Oral Reading and Storytelling Festival. She enjoyed watching and listening to the kids but was again glad she didn’t have to get on that stage and speak.
Our first big trip was to Berlin. This was on my list of places to see before I leave. Thanks to mom, I got to cross that off my list. Joe has not been there yet but will be traveling there with the band. I can’t possibly go into detail about everything we saw, but just let me name a few that you have probably heard of. We saw the Brandenburg Gate and were able to walk just a few steps from east to west Germany. We saw the Berlin Wall and a museum called Topography of Terrors, Check Point Charlie, the Olympic Stadium where in 1936 Hitler would not let Jesse Owens participate because he was black. This was the beginning of racism in Germany, Unter den Linden also known as the former East German Broadway, the Reichstag and more. We had lunch at a Berliner Cafe, did some shopping and went to bed. The next day we went to Potsdam. This is not as well known as Berlin but just as important in history. We crossed the bridge where spies were exchanged including the U2 Pilot, Gary Powers. Did you know that even the waters were blocked with iron grates built below the surface so that East Germans could not escape? The buildings were black from lack of care and pollution, but in just the last 3 years are being restored. You can see the Russian influence everywhere you look. We went to the Cicilienhof where the “Big 3” met including Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. Cicelia was known as the Princess Diana of her time. There was a joke about how these important men met. They each entered the roundtable conference room from a different entrance. Churchill was from the whiskey sector, Russian from the vodka sector, later France joined as the champagne sector, and America was the CocaCola Sector! We also went to an Italian palace called San Soucci. This means Without Worries. I think I’m going to name my house after this palace. What a wonderful mantra. Clinton was the first (and last so far) person to dine in this palace in the last 200 years. Frederick the Philosopher was buried here with his 11 dogs. His tombstone says, “Once you get to know people, you begin to love dogs.” Eekkk! We also noticed that people put roses and potatoes on his grave. We could understand the roses but not the potatoes. It seems that he introduced the potato to the peasants who were poor and hungry. They planted them and ate the leaves which made them all sick. To this, Frederick responded, “Oh stupid peasants, you must eat the roots!” He is now famous for saving his people during hard times.
Do you have a pergola in your yard? If so, you might have been considered royalty back in the day. Wealthy people must have white and fair skin but they still enjoyed being outside. The only way they could enjoy the weather without damaging their skin was to sit under a plant covered pergola. I guess based on my skin, that I would be considered a lower class.
There are so many stories about the East Germans and their plight. Our tour guide was actually there when the wall came down and had so many interesting things to share. But as write, I realize that my letter is becoming quite long and I still have more to say. Perhaps, we’ll sit together and I can tell you more about this amazing trip.

We came back for a day and then went on to Rothenburg which is a medieval walled city. We spent one night there and were able to catch an evening night watchman tour. Rothenburg is one of my favorite cities. We walked along the wall above the city just to see a different perspective. We were told it was about a mile long but I think our informant confused kilometers and miles. It was more like 3 miles long but worth the exercise. This town is most famous for its Criminal Museum. I have shared this with you in past newsletters. I have now been there 3 times and each time I see something different.

We came back for a day and mom went on a tour to England. Unfortunately, my passport expired and I was unable to get it renewed in time for Mom’s visit, so I couldn’t go with her. She was able to see many of the highlights of London that most of us just read about. She was thrilled to get the opportunity to see these things but admits that it would have been more fun if we’d gone together. You see what I mean about adventurous? She went to England by herself! I’m not sure I would have the guts to do that. By the way, several museums offer senior discounts and when they looked at her said,”You must be 65 or older” along with a scowl. When she said, “Yes, I’m 70” they didn’t believe her. Can you imagine being 70 years old and still being carded? While on the tour she mentioned to another lady that she was getting tired. The lady said, “Oh but you’re so young. You shouldn’t be tired.” She was several years younger than my mom! I told you she’d amazing.
When she got back from England she took a down day and then came to school with me. I had the kids try to guess who she was. One kid thought she was J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. When I told them she was my mommy, one of the girls blurted, “Wow, she looks just like you!” I then said, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” She was embarrassed and said, “Uh…yeah.” Anyway, it was neat for her to see a typical day in my life. We then realized that we had never really spent any time together alone. I think we should make a habit of this. I have a really cool mom and she’s fun to hang out withJ
Just two days before she left, we made one more daytrip to Heidelberg. We toured the castle and the old part of town. Mark Twain spent a lot of time here and there is a restaurant called the Red Ox where he used to enjoy a view of the castle and write.
WHO BUT A MOM?
Before I end my newsletter, I have to say that no matter how old you get, you always be your mom’s kid. When we were in Koln I wasn’t sure I’d have time for dinner between breaks and getting to the hotel to pick up my mom. She had made a sandwich from the breakfast bar for me so I wouldn’t starve. Who but a mom would do that? She also rubbed my back on the bus when I looked tired. Who but a mom would do that? She also saved my life. We were in the water and the current was very strong. We were both trying to get out of the water and she got to a calmer part but I was unable to get away from the strong current. We were laughing but it was getting frustrating for me not to get out. She finally grabbed my hand and pulled me to safety. It was a harrowing experience.
( Ok, I have to admit that it was a wave pool and we were laughing because we’d just got out of the Jacuzzi which was in the middle of this wave pool. It wasn’t really that harrowing, just really funny.)
It was finally time to say goodbye and it wasn’t easy for me. I truly enjoyed spending time with my mom and will always cherish this time. But at least I can soon look forward to being a few hours away from her by plane rather than a continent away. Suddenly, the miles between Florida and Illinois don’t seem so far.
Hooray! I’ll be back on US soil in no time! I hope to see you then. I’m sorry to say that OttCo Travel Agency is no longer available in Europe. However, we will continue to offer our home to you in Johnsburg, Illinois. It’s a wonderful location for you to visit. More about that in a few months.





MARCH-APRIL NEWSLETTER
2006
Happy spring! Well, at least I hope it is spring wherever you are. It still feels a bit like winter here but we are slowly coming along. At first we would wake up to a thin layer of ice on the windshields of our cars but we’d drive home in 50 to 60 degree weather. We have had a few days of warm weather only to be driven out by a cold, wet spell. The wet season is upon us along with the light mornings and evenings. In about a month the sun will continue to shine into our bedroom window as late as 10 or 11 at night. And just as that begins to slow down, we will be on a flight to the United States of America! That’s right. The time has finally come for Joe to retire from the Air Force. He has been serving for 21 years and now it is time to do something else. He has been asked what he will do when he isn’t playing music and traveling the world and his answer is always different. Sometimes its “I really don’t know.” Sometimes it’s,”I think I’ll run a hotdog cart.” Sometimes it’s, “I’ll finish off the basement and start a teaching studio.” Other times he thinks he’ll work at Home Depot so he can get a discount. And one time he mentioned professional couch potato. I will give him 2 weeks at that job and then we’ll have to discuss other optionsJ So, as you can imagine, our life is about to change dramatically. We’ll be moving back to our own country which is very exciting for us. I often make a joke about our future. I tell my friends, “Oh yes, we bought a lovely house that includes a mortgage, we’ll need to buy a new car immediately, you know all the extra costs that are involved in moving and having a new home……and by the way……at this time neither of us has a job!”

SUZANNE GOES TDY
As you know, I work for the Department of Defense Schools. Several times I have gone away for one day training and been given orders, much like Joe gets when he goes TDY (Tour of Duty). Mine usually involve getting paid for the mileage to and from the training. In March, I went away for 5 day training in Gifted Education. I was not only given mileage but meals and hotel. I had to fill out the same form he has to use when he goes on a tour. I guess we both got a taste of each others’ medicine. He didn’t much like being home alone and it was strange for me to be the one going away for work. Notice I didn’t say I didn’t like it. However, one time in 5 years didn’t give me the opportunity to be tired of traveling on business, living and eating in a hotel, and all the other drudgery Joe has to deal with.

This training was for DODDS Gifted Education teachers in all of Europe. That means I met people who were teaching in not only Germany but Iceland, Spain, Italy, England, Turkey, and even Bahrain. Of course most of them were American but I did meet one lady who was Greek and married an American and another who was also a military spouse who was from the Czech Republic. America really is the melting pot (or salad bowl for the politically correct term).

It was fun to be in the comfort zone while in Germany. This doesn’t happen too often. Several of us went to dinner and only two of us knew any German. I actually had to help translate for them! When we wanted to answer affirmatively, I’d say Ya for yes. Others would say si or da. The same went for saying thank you. Then it came time for paying for the meals. Most European countries are now using euros but not all of them and customs are different. For example, the woman who teaches in Iceland pulled out a credit card to pay. It is very unusual for a small restaurant in Germany to take credit cards. Germans are very thrifty and they don’t want to pay the 3% charge necessary for allowing credit cards. She said it is frowned upon to pay cash in Iceland. I guess it is considered a lower class thing to do! We had to loan her euros until she could get to a bank. Another woman forgot to exchange her money and only had British pounds. Again, we covered her and she paid us back. As we walked back to the hotel and our respective rooms, we all said our goodbyes. I said “Tchuss” which is how Germans say goodbye. Another said Ciao, another Cheers and others that I don’t remember. I guess the real message I am trying to share is that whether we know it or not, we have all adapted and acclimated to the local country we are living and working in. I’ve begun to incorporate certain German words into my English vocabulary and it has become automatic. I call it Genglish. I may actually have to taken an American English refresher course when I get back to Illinois!

NOT SO WELCOME
As our time ends here, we’ve noticed some changes in attitude from the Germans. At first you think, “Hmmm…maybe I’m just reading into this.” But then you start talking to others and find they are having similar experiences. I think that the war in Iraq has damaged more relationships than we probably realize. Not only with the countries directly involved in the war on terror but many of the European countries including Germany. I have German friends that have told me they know people who don’t want us living in their villages. However, they don’t seem to mind working for us. The money is definitely better and without our presence, many people would be out of a job. Our village has never truly embraced us. They are all very kind and nice to us, but no one other than our wonderful landlords has ever included us on anything. Oopppsss…. I have to retract that statement. Zoë was invited to a dog party but didn’t go. Maybe that was our downfallL Anyway, we are busy with our lives and haven’t really thought too much about it until lately. We’ve had a few disturbing experiences. Not too long ago, we had a big snowstorm. In front of our house, someone had written a message to us in the snow. It said, “Sieg Heil”. If you know anything about history, these two words can not possibly have a positive message behind them. Believe me, I tried to twist and turn the words to mean something good and I just couldn’t do it. I asked my landlord about it and she was visibly upset as well. If you are too young to know these words, I’ll mention one name and that should do it for you: Hitler.

Another friend parked his car in a residential village near a train station for 15 minutes. He was picking up some tickets near this small station. He came back to this message clearly written by a German.
This is a residential parking spot.
You should not be parked here.
This isn't Iraq!
Of course, the license plate on the car is American so there was no misunderstanding the message this person wanted to share.
GO TEAM USA
The Olympics are always fun and we do get to see quite a bit of coverage albeit at 2am! One of the teachers at my school decided to make a bulletin board and have her students keep up with the scores. This was a great, interactive bulletin board. She titled the board in giant letters, “Go, Team USA!” Another teacher saw the board and suggested that perhaps she should include the host nation and everyone agreed. So the board was split to show scores for both Germany and the USA. She was trying to find someone to translate how to say “Go Team Germany”. It was an unusual day because not one German was in the building that spoke English. We have a lot of custodial staff but they don’t speak English. Our secretary was out for training and the Host Nation teacher was on a field trip with her students. So, this teacher decided to just try it on her own. After all, we know a lot of sight words. It’s our grammar that isn’t so great. She put up her own translation of “Go Team Germany” and was very proud of how it looked. One of the custodial staff, who is actually Russian, looked at it and said. “Nein, nein.” But he was unable to express what was wrong with what she had on the board. She decided to leave it up until the next day when she could ask for help from the secretary. The secretary looked at it and said, “You must take this down now.” The teacher had translated word for word correctly. However, the meaning wasn’t the same. When we say “Go Team USA” I think we all can agree that we are cheering on our team in a positive manner. However, when translated, she said it meant, “Go Away Team Germany!” Of course, she had no idea that she had done this. She promptly changed it to a grammatically and politically correct cheer with a bit of embarrassment. The next time the Russian custodian saw it, he gave her a universal signal. Thumbs up!

RADIO TRIVIA
I often listen to the radio while driving. I’m unable to get American radio so I listen to the German stations, hoping to pick up a word or two as I’m driving. I can usually get the gist of something but it’s frustrating not to be absolutely sure of what is being said. One of the local rock stations was asking callers to call in and sing the words to a particular song. Most of the songs are the same as you’d hear in the states. This one was “Give a little bit of your life to me.” Callers would call in and whoever could get it right won a prize. No one could get it right. One of the callers said, “Give a little boot and a laugh to me.” I guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t always understand what is being said!
Here’s another bit of trivia for you. What do you think is the purpose of a Yield sign? Why not put a stop sign instead? I thought the answer was obvious and in the states, it probably is. But I just recently found out that the Germans use more yield signs than stop signs because it is more economical for your car. Think about it. You come to a stop, stay for a few seconds, and then pump the gas to get going again. But if you come to a yield, you just slow down and then continue on. Germany is so smart about some things. They also turn off stoplights on Sundays and holidays to save on the electricity. We always read about how small things can make a big difference in the end. They have a lot of little “tricks and tips” that we could learn from.

MOMMY VISITS ME
The highlight of the last two months was that my mom came to visit me. Unfortunately, my dad was unable to make it but he was generous enough to let me have her to myself for 3 whole weeks. She called one day and casually asked when my spring break was. I never count down days to breaks or holidays so I didn’t know the exact time. I said it was sometime in early April. She then asked if I’d like a visitor. I suddenly became one of those people who count down the days to a break. We discussed the dates and shortly thereafter, she was here. Now, when you read about all the things we did, you will think that my friend was here, not my mom. You will think that I have a very energetic friend and will wonder if I am so energetic. You will think that it was my younger sister that was here. You will not think that a 70 year old woman was visiting me. And if you saw my mom, you’d call me a liar because you would say she may be 55 but not 70. Then you would begin to ponder this idea and would realize that she can’t be 55 because I am 44. Then you would think “Wow, I hope I look like that when I’m 70.” Then you would think, “Wow, Suzanne has some good genes. No wonder she’s so happy.” And then you would think to yourself, “I am not going to ponder this any longer. Some people are just lucky!” So now that I have bragged about my mommy, let me share with you some of our fun.

Mom got here in Thursday morning and on Friday afternoon we were already on a trip to Köln,
(Cologne) Germany. I had already signed up for an international yoga conference so mom got to go along. She toured the city while I was at the conference. Köln is a wonderful city and easy to get around. It is famous for its gothic cathedral second in size only to St. Peter’s in Rome. I found an English speaking tour for her to go on while I was at the conference. The city is safe and easy to get around, but I wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable on her own. This way, she’d be with a group and then go back to the hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed the yoga conference but have to admit, I felt a bit guilty leaving her on her own. When I got back to the hotel, I asked how the tour was. My adventurous mom didn’t take the tour. She realized that all the museums have information in English and she could do it on her own. She spent several hours just walking around in the museums and the city. She finally got tired and happened to go into the cathedral just as mass was beginning. The pews were blocked off and she saw a priest and simply said, “Mass?” He nodded and let her in. She not only got a chance to rest her weary legs, she went to church in one of the largest cathedrals in the world! After that she walked back to the hotel on her own and realized that she was in Europe. She did what most Europeans do at this time of day, and had a glass of wine. She’d been in the country for less than a day and already had acclimated to the local customs!
Mom was here for 3 weeks and I had one week off for spring break. I did take a couple of days off here and there, but had to work a couple as well.J She came to work with me when I was taking my Brain Bowl Team (Academic Bowl) to a competition. She enjoyed watching the kids but was glad she didn’t have to answer the questions as was I. The next day, I took a group of kids to an Oral Reading and Storytelling Festival. She enjoyed watching and listening to the kids but was again glad she didn’t have to get on that stage and speak.
Our first big trip was to Berlin. This was on my list of places to see before I leave. Thanks to mom, I got to cross that off my list. Joe has not been there yet but will be traveling there with the band. I can’t possibly go into detail about everything we saw, but just let me name a few that you have probably heard of. We saw the Brandenburg Gate and were able to walk just a few steps from east to west Germany. We saw the Berlin Wall and a museum called Topography of Terrors, Check Point Charlie, the Olympic Stadium where in 1936 Hitler would not let Jesse Owens participate because he was black. This was the beginning of racism in Germany, Unter den Linden also known as the former East German Broadway, the Reichstag and more. We had lunch at a Berliner Cafe, did some shopping and went to bed. The next day we went to Potsdam. This is not as well known as Berlin but just as important in history. We crossed the bridge where spies were exchanged including the U2 Pilot, Gary Powers. Did you know that even the waters were blocked with iron grates built below the surface so that East Germans could not escape? The buildings were black from lack of care and pollution, but in just the last 3 years are being restored. You can see the Russian influence everywhere you look. We went to the Cicilienhof where the “Big 3” met including Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. Cicelia was known as the Princess Diana of her time. There was a joke about how these important men met. They each entered the roundtable conference room from a different entrance. Churchill was from the whiskey sector, Russian from the vodka sector, later France joined as the champagne sector, and America was the CocaCola Sector! We also went to an Italian palace called San Soucci. This means Without Worries. I think I’m going to name my house after this palace. What a wonderful mantra. Clinton was the first (and last so far) person to dine in this palace in the last 200 years. Frederick the Philosopher was buried here with his 11 dogs. His tombstone says, “Once you get to know people, you begin to love dogs.” Eekkk! We also noticed that people put roses and potatoes on his grave. We could understand the roses but not the potatoes. It seems that he introduced the potato to the peasants who were poor and hungry. They planted them and ate the leaves which made them all sick. To this, Frederick responded, “Oh stupid peasants, you must eat the roots!” He is now famous for saving his people during hard times.
Do you have a pergola in your yard? If so, you might have been considered royalty back in the day. Wealthy people must have white and fair skin but they still enjoyed being outside. The only way they could enjoy the weather without damaging their skin was to sit under a plant covered pergola. I guess based on my skin, that I would be considered a lower class.
There are so many stories about the East Germans and their plight. Our tour guide was actually there when the wall came down and had so many interesting things to share. But as write, I realize that my letter is becoming quite long and I still have more to say. Perhaps, we’ll sit together and I can tell you more about this amazing trip.

We came back for a day and then went on to Rothenburg which is a medieval walled city. We spent one night there and were able to catch an evening night watchman tour. Rothenburg is one of my favorite cities. We walked along the wall above the city just to see a different perspective. We were told it was about a mile long but I think our informant confused kilometers and miles. It was more like 3 miles long but worth the exercise. This town is most famous for its Criminal Museum. I have shared this with you in past newsletters. I have now been there 3 times and each time I see something different.

We came back for a day and mom went on a tour to England. Unfortunately, my passport expired and I was unable to get it renewed in time for Mom’s visit, so I couldn’t go with her. She was able to see many of the highlights of London that most of us just read about. She was thrilled to get the opportunity to see these things but admits that it would have been more fun if we’d gone together. You see what I mean about adventurous? She went to England by herself! I’m not sure I would have the guts to do that. By the way, several museums offer senior discounts and when they looked at her said,”You must be 65 or older” along with a scowl. When she said, “Yes, I’m 70” they didn’t believe her. Can you imagine being 70 years old and still being carded? While on the tour she mentioned to another lady that she was getting tired. The lady said, “Oh but you’re so young. You shouldn’t be tired.” She was several years younger than my mom! I told you she’d amazing.
When she got back from England she took a down day and then came to school with me. I had the kids try to guess who she was. One kid thought she was J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. When I told them she was my mommy, one of the girls blurted, “Wow, she looks just like you!” I then said, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” She was embarrassed and said, “Uh…yeah.” Anyway, it was neat for her to see a typical day in my life. We then realized that we had never really spent any time together alone. I think we should make a habit of this. I have a really cool mom and she’s fun to hang out withJ
Just two days before she left, we made one more daytrip to Heidelberg. We toured the castle and the old part of town. Mark Twain spent a lot of time here and there is a restaurant called the Red Ox where he used to enjoy a view of the castle and write.
WHO BUT A MOM?
Before I end my newsletter, I have to say that no matter how old you get, you always be your mom’s kid. When we were in Koln I wasn’t sure I’d have time for dinner between breaks and getting to the hotel to pick up my mom. She had made a sandwich from the breakfast bar for me so I wouldn’t starve. Who but a mom would do that? She also rubbed my back on the bus when I looked tired. Who but a mom would do that? She also saved my life. We were in the water and the current was very strong. We were both trying to get out of the water and she got to a calmer part but I was unable to get away from the strong current. We were laughing but it was getting frustrating for me not to get out. She finally grabbed my hand and pulled me to safety. It was a harrowing experience.
( Ok, I have to admit that it was a wave pool and we were laughing because we’d just got out of the Jacuzzi which was in the middle of this wave pool. It wasn’t really that harrowing, just really funny.)
It was finally time to say goodbye and it wasn’t easy for me. I truly enjoyed spending time with my mom and will always cherish this time. But at least I can soon look forward to being a few hours away from her by plane rather than a continent away. Suddenly, the miles between Florida and Illinois don’t seem so far.
Hooray! I’ll be back on US soil in no time! I hope to see you then. I’m sorry to say that OttCo Travel Agency is no longer available in Europe. However, we will continue to offer our home to you in Johnsburg, Illinois. It’s a wonderful location for you to visit. More about that in a few months.





MARCH-APRIL NEWSLETTER
2006
Happy spring! Well, at least I hope it is spring wherever you are. It still feels a bit like winter here but we are slowly coming along. At first we would wake up to a thin layer of ice on the windshields of our cars but we’d drive home in 50 to 60 degree weather. We have had a few days of warm weather only to be driven out by a cold, wet spell. The wet season is upon us along with the light mornings and evenings. In about a month the sun will continue to shine into our bedroom window as late as 10 or 11 at night. And just as that begins to slow down, we will be on a flight to the United States of America! That’s right. The time has finally come for Joe to retire from the Air Force. He has been serving for 21 years and now it is time to do something else. He has been asked what he will do when he isn’t playing music and traveling the world and his answer is always different. Sometimes its “I really don’t know.” Sometimes it’s,”I think I’ll run a hotdog cart.” Sometimes it’s, “I’ll finish off the basement and start a teaching studio.” Other times he thinks he’ll work at Home Depot so he can get a discount. And one time he mentioned professional couch potato. I will give him 2 weeks at that job and then we’ll have to discuss other optionsJ So, as you can imagine, our life is about to change dramatically. We’ll be moving back to our own country which is very exciting for us. I often make a joke about our future. I tell my friends, “Oh yes, we bought a lovely house that includes a mortgage, we’ll need to buy a new car immediately, you know all the extra costs that are involved in moving and having a new home……and by the way……at this time neither of us has a job!”

SUZANNE GOES TDY
As you know, I work for the Department of Defense Schools. Several times I have gone away for one day training and been given orders, much like Joe gets when he goes TDY (Tour of Duty). Mine usually involve getting paid for the mileage to and from the training. In March, I went away for 5 day training in Gifted Education. I was not only given mileage but meals and hotel. I had to fill out the same form he has to use when he goes on a tour. I guess we both got a taste of each others’ medicine. He didn’t much like being home alone and it was strange for me to be the one going away for work. Notice I didn’t say I didn’t like it. However, one time in 5 years didn’t give me the opportunity to be tired of traveling on business, living and eating in a hotel, and all the other drudgery Joe has to deal with.

This training was for DODDS Gifted Education teachers in all of Europe. That means I met people who were teaching in not only Germany but Iceland, Spain, Italy, England, Turkey, and even Bahrain. Of course most of them were American but I did meet one lady who was Greek and married an American and another who was also a military spouse who was from the Czech Republic. America really is the melting pot (or salad bowl for the politically correct term).

It was fun to be in the comfort zone while in Germany. This doesn’t happen too often. Several of us went to dinner and only two of us knew any German. I actually had to help translate for them! When we wanted to answer affirmatively, I’d say Ya for yes. Others would say si or da. The same went for saying thank you. Then it came time for paying for the meals. Most European countries are now using euros but not all of them and customs are different. For example, the woman who teaches in Iceland pulled out a credit card to pay. It is very unusual for a small restaurant in Germany to take credit cards. Germans are very thrifty and they don’t want to pay the 3% charge necessary for allowing credit cards. She said it is frowned upon to pay cash in Iceland. I guess it is considered a lower class thing to do! We had to loan her euros until she could get to a bank. Another woman forgot to exchange her money and only had British pounds. Again, we covered her and she paid us back. As we walked back to the hotel and our respective rooms, we all said our goodbyes. I said “Tchuss” which is how Germans say goodbye. Another said Ciao, another Cheers and others that I don’t remember. I guess the real message I am trying to share is that whether we know it or not, we have all adapted and acclimated to the local country we are living and working in. I’ve begun to incorporate certain German words into my English vocabulary and it has become automatic. I call it Genglish. I may actually have to taken an American English refresher course when I get back to Illinois!

NOT SO WELCOME
As our time ends here, we’ve noticed some changes in attitude from the Germans. At first you think, “Hmmm…maybe I’m just reading into this.” But then you start talking to others and find they are having similar experiences. I think that the war in Iraq has damaged more relationships than we probably realize. Not only with the countries directly involved in the war on terror but many of the European countries including Germany. I have German friends that have told me they know people who don’t want us living in their villages. However, they don’t seem to mind working for us. The money is definitely better and without our presence, many people would be out of a job. Our village has never truly embraced us. They are all very kind and nice to us, but no one other than our wonderful landlords has ever included us on anything. Oopppsss…. I have to retract that statement. Zoë was invited to a dog party but didn’t go. Maybe that was our downfallL Anyway, we are busy with our lives and haven’t really thought too much about it until lately. We’ve had a few disturbing experiences. Not too long ago, we had a big snowstorm. In front of our house, someone had written a message to us in the snow. It said, “Sieg Heil”. If you know anything about history, these two words can not possibly have a positive message behind them. Believe me, I tried to twist and turn the words to mean something good and I just couldn’t do it. I asked my landlord about it and she was visibly upset as well. If you are too young to know these words, I’ll mention one name and that should do it for you: Hitler.

Another friend parked his car in a residential village near a train station for 15 minutes. He was picking up some tickets near this small station. He came back to this message clearly written by a German.
This is a residential parking spot.
You should not be parked here.
This isn't Iraq!
Of course, the license plate on the car is American so there was no misunderstanding the message this person wanted to share.
GO TEAM USA
The Olympics are always fun and we do get to see quite a bit of coverage albeit at 2am! One of the teachers at my school decided to make a bulletin board and have her students keep up with the scores. This was a great, interactive bulletin board. She titled the board in giant letters, “Go, Team USA!” Another teacher saw the board and suggested that perhaps she should include the host nation and everyone agreed. So the board was split to show scores for both Germany and the USA. She was trying to find someone to translate how to say “Go Team Germany”. It was an unusual day because not one German was in the building that spoke English. We have a lot of custodial staff but they don’t speak English. Our secretary was out for training and the Host Nation teacher was on a field trip with her students. So, this teacher decided to just try it on her own. After all, we know a lot of sight words. It’s our grammar that isn’t so great. She put up her own translation of “Go Team Germany” and was very proud of how it looked. One of the custodial staff, who is actually Russian, looked at it and said. “Nein, nein.” But he was unable to express what was wrong with what she had on the board. She decided to leave it up until the next day when she could ask for help from the secretary. The secretary looked at it and said, “You must take this down now.” The teacher had translated word for word correctly. However, the meaning wasn’t the same. When we say “Go Team USA” I think we all can agree that we are cheering on our team in a positive manner. However, when translated, she said it meant, “Go Away Team Germany!” Of course, she had no idea that she had done this. She promptly changed it to a grammatically and politically correct cheer with a bit of embarrassment. The next time the Russian custodian saw it, he gave her a universal signal. Thumbs up!

RADIO TRIVIA
I often listen to the radio while driving. I’m unable to get American radio so I listen to the German stations, hoping to pick up a word or two as I’m driving. I can usually get the gist of something but it’s frustrating not to be absolutely sure of what is being said. One of the local rock stations was asking callers to call in and sing the words to a particular song. Most of the songs are the same as you’d hear in the states. This one was “Give a little bit of your life to me.” Callers would call in and whoever could get it right won a prize. No one could get it right. One of the callers said, “Give a little boot and a laugh to me.” I guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t always understand what is being said!
Here’s another bit of trivia for you. What do you think is the purpose of a Yield sign? Why not put a stop sign instead? I thought the answer was obvious and in the states, it probably is. But I just recently found out that the Germans use more yield signs than stop signs because it is more economical for your car. Think about it. You come to a stop, stay for a few seconds, and then pump the gas to get going again. But if you come to a yield, you just slow down and then continue on. Germany is so smart about some things. They also turn off stoplights on Sundays and holidays to save on the electricity. We always read about how small things can make a big difference in the end. They have a lot of little “tricks and tips” that we could learn from.

MOMMY VISITS ME
The highlight of the last two months was that my mom came to visit me. Unfortunately, my dad was unable to make it but he was generous enough to let me have her to myself for 3 whole weeks. She called one day and casually asked when my spring break was. I never count down days to breaks or holidays so I didn’t know the exact time. I said it was sometime in early April. She then asked if I’d like a visitor. I suddenly became one of those people who count down the days to a break. We discussed the dates and shortly thereafter, she was here. Now, when you read about all the things we did, you will think that my friend was here, not my mom. You will think that I have a very energetic friend and will wonder if I am so energetic. You will think that it was my younger sister that was here. You will not think that a 70 year old woman was visiting me. And if you saw my mom, you’d call me a liar because you would say she may be 55 but not 70. Then you would begin to ponder this idea and would realize that she can’t be 55 because I am 44. Then you would think “Wow, I hope I look like that when I’m 70.” Then you would think, “Wow, Suzanne has some good genes. No wonder she’s so happy.” And then you would think to yourself, “I am not going to ponder this any longer. Some people are just lucky!” So now that I have bragged about my mommy, let me share with you some of our fun.

Mom got here in Thursday morning and on Friday afternoon we were already on a trip to Köln,
(Cologne) Germany. I had already signed up for an international yoga conference so mom got to go along. She toured the city while I was at the conference. Köln is a wonderful city and easy to get around. It is famous for its gothic cathedral second in size only to St. Peter’s in Rome. I found an English speaking tour for her to go on while I was at the conference. The city is safe and easy to get around, but I wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable on her own. This way, she’d be with a group and then go back to the hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed the yoga conference but have to admit, I felt a bit guilty leaving her on her own. When I got back to the hotel, I asked how the tour was. My adventurous mom didn’t take the tour. She realized that all the museums have information in English and she could do it on her own. She spent several hours just walking around in the museums and the city. She finally got tired and happened to go into the cathedral just as mass was beginning. The pews were blocked off and she saw a priest and simply said, “Mass?” He nodded and let her in. She not only got a chance to rest her weary legs, she went to church in one of the largest cathedrals in the world! After that she walked back to the hotel on her own and realized that she was in Europe. She did what most Europeans do at this time of day, and had a glass of wine. She’d been in the country for less than a day and already had acclimated to the local customs!
Mom was here for 3 weeks and I had one week off for spring break. I did take a couple of days off here and there, but had to work a couple as well.J She came to work with me when I was taking my Brain Bowl Team (Academic Bowl) to a competition. She enjoyed watching the kids but was glad she didn’t have to answer the questions as was I. The next day, I took a group of kids to an Oral Reading and Storytelling Festival. She enjoyed watching and listening to the kids but was again glad she didn’t have to get on that stage and speak.
Our first big trip was to Berlin. This was on my list of places to see before I leave. Thanks to mom, I got to cross that off my list. Joe has not been there yet but will be traveling there with the band. I can’t possibly go into detail about everything we saw, but just let me name a few that you have probably heard of. We saw the Brandenburg Gate and were able to walk just a few steps from east to west Germany. We saw the Berlin Wall and a museum called Topography of Terrors, Check Point Charlie, the Olympic Stadium where in 1936 Hitler would not let Jesse Owens participate because he was black. This was the beginning of racism in Germany, Unter den Linden also known as the former East German Broadway, the Reichstag and more. We had lunch at a Berliner Cafe, did some shopping and went to bed. The next day we went to Potsdam. This is not as well known as Berlin but just as important in history. We crossed the bridge where spies were exchanged including the U2 Pilot, Gary Powers. Did you know that even the waters were blocked with iron grates built below the surface so that East Germans could not escape? The buildings were black from lack of care and pollution, but in just the last 3 years are being restored. You can see the Russian influence everywhere you look. We went to the Cicilienhof where the “Big 3” met including Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. Cicelia was known as the Princess Diana of her time. There was a joke about how these important men met. They each entered the roundtable conference room from a different entrance. Churchill was from the whiskey sector, Russian from the vodka sector, later France joined as the champagne sector, and America was the CocaCola Sector! We also went to an Italian palace called San Soucci. This means Without Worries. I think I’m going to name my house after this palace. What a wonderful mantra. Clinton was the first (and last so far) person to dine in this palace in the last 200 years. Frederick the Philosopher was buried here with his 11 dogs. His tombstone says, “Once you get to know people, you begin to love dogs.” Eekkk! We also noticed that people put roses and potatoes on his grave. We could understand the roses but not the potatoes. It seems that he introduced the potato to the peasants who were poor and hungry. They planted them and ate the leaves which made them all sick. To this, Frederick responded, “Oh stupid peasants, you must eat the roots!” He is now famous for saving his people during hard times.
Do you have a pergola in your yard? If so, you might have been considered royalty back in the day. Wealthy people must have white and fair skin but they still enjoyed being outside. The only way they could enjoy the weather without damaging their skin was to sit under a plant covered pergola. I guess based on my skin, that I would be considered a lower class.
There are so many stories about the East Germans and their plight. Our tour guide was actually there when the wall came down and had so many interesting things to share. But as write, I realize that my letter is becoming quite long and I still have more to say. Perhaps, we’ll sit together and I can tell you more about this amazing trip.

We came back for a day and then went on to Rothenburg which is a medieval walled city. We spent one night there and were able to catch an evening night watchman tour. Rothenburg is one of my favorite cities. We walked along the wall above the city just to see a different perspective. We were told it was about a mile long but I think our informant confused kilometers and miles. It was more like 3 miles long but worth the exercise. This town is most famous for its Criminal Museum. I have shared this with you in past newsletters. I have now been there 3 times and each time I see something different.

We came back for a day and mom went on a tour to England. Unfortunately, my passport expired and I was unable to get it renewed in time for Mom’s visit, so I couldn’t go with her. She was able to see many of the highlights of London that most of us just read about. She was thrilled to get the opportunity to see these things but admits that it would have been more fun if we’d gone together. You see what I mean about adventurous? She went to England by herself! I’m not sure I would have the guts to do that. By the way, several museums offer senior discounts and when they looked at her said,”You must be 65 or older” along with a scowl. When she said, “Yes, I’m 70” they didn’t believe her. Can you imagine being 70 years old and still being carded? While on the tour she mentioned to another lady that she was getting tired. The lady said, “Oh but you’re so young. You shouldn’t be tired.” She was several years younger than my mom! I told you she’d amazing.
When she got back from England she took a down day and then came to school with me. I had the kids try to guess who she was. One kid thought she was J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. When I told them she was my mommy, one of the girls blurted, “Wow, she looks just like you!” I then said, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” She was embarrassed and said, “Uh…yeah.” Anyway, it was neat for her to see a typical day in my life. We then realized that we had never really spent any time together alone. I think we should make a habit of this. I have a really cool mom and she’s fun to hang out withJ
Just two days before she left, we made one more daytrip to Heidelberg. We toured the castle and the old part of town. Mark Twain spent a lot of time here and there is a restaurant called the Red Ox where he used to enjoy a view of the castle and write.
WHO BUT A MOM?
Before I end my newsletter, I have to say that no matter how old you get, you always be your mom’s kid. When we were in Koln I wasn’t sure I’d have time for dinner between breaks and getting to the hotel to pick up my mom. She had made a sandwich from the breakfast bar for me so I wouldn’t starve. Who but a mom would do that? She also rubbed my back on the bus when I looked tired. Who but a mom would do that? She also saved my life. We were in the water and the current was very strong. We were both trying to get out of the water and she got to a calmer part but I was unable to get away from the strong current. We were laughing but it was getting frustrating for me not to get out. She finally grabbed my hand and pulled me to safety. It was a harrowing experience.
( Ok, I have to admit that it was a wave pool and we were laughing because we’d just got out of the Jacuzzi which was in the middle of this wave pool. It wasn’t really that harrowing, just really funny.)
It was finally time to say goodbye and it wasn’t easy for me. I truly enjoyed spending time with my mom and will always cherish this time. But at least I can soon look forward to being a few hours away from her by plane rather than a continent away. Suddenly, the miles between Florida and Illinois don’t seem so far.
Hooray! I’ll be back on US soil in no time! I hope to see you then. I’m sorry to say that OttCo Travel Agency is no longer available in Europe. However, we will continue to offer our home to you in Johnsburg, Illinois. It’s a wonderful location for you to visit. More about that in a few months.





MARCH-APRIL NEWSLETTER
2006
Happy spring! Well, at least I hope it is spring wherever you are. It still feels a bit like winter here but we are slowly coming along. At first we would wake up to a thin layer of ice on the windshields of our cars but we’d drive home in 50 to 60 degree weather. We have had a few days of warm weather only to be driven out by a cold, wet spell. The wet season is upon us along with the light mornings and evenings. In about a month the sun will continue to shine into our bedroom window as late as 10 or 11 at night. And just as that begins to slow down, we will be on a flight to the United States of America! That’s right. The time has finally come for Joe to retire from the Air Force. He has been serving for 21 years and now it is time to do something else. He has been asked what he will do when he isn’t playing music and traveling the world and his answer is always different. Sometimes its “I really don’t know.” Sometimes it’s,”I think I’ll run a hotdog cart.” Sometimes it’s, “I’ll finish off the basement and start a teaching studio.” Other times he thinks he’ll work at Home Depot so he can get a discount. And one time he mentioned professional couch potato. I will give him 2 weeks at that job and then we’ll have to discuss other optionsJ So, as you can imagine, our life is about to change dramatically. We’ll be moving back to our own country which is very exciting for us. I often make a joke about our future. I tell my friends, “Oh yes, we bought a lovely house that includes a mortgage, we’ll need to buy a new car immediately, you know all the extra costs that are involved in moving and having a new home……and by the way……at this time neither of us has a job!”

SUZANNE GOES TDY
As you know, I work for the Department of Defense Schools. Several times I have gone away for one day training and been given orders, much like Joe gets when he goes TDY (Tour of Duty). Mine usually involve getting paid for the mileage to and from the training. In March, I went away for 5 day training in Gifted Education. I was not only given mileage but meals and hotel. I had to fill out the same form he has to use when he goes on a tour. I guess we both got a taste of each others’ medicine. He didn’t much like being home alone and it was strange for me to be the one going away for work. Notice I didn’t say I didn’t like it. However, one time in 5 years didn’t give me the opportunity to be tired of traveling on business, living and eating in a hotel, and all the other drudgery Joe has to deal with.

This training was for DODDS Gifted Education teachers in all of Europe. That means I met people who were teaching in not only Germany but Iceland, Spain, Italy, England, Turkey, and even Bahrain. Of course most of them were American but I did meet one lady who was Greek and married an American and another who was also a military spouse who was from the Czech Republic. America really is the melting pot (or salad bowl for the politically correct term).

It was fun to be in the comfort zone while in Germany. This doesn’t happen too often. Several of us went to dinner and only two of us knew any German. I actually had to help translate for them! When we wanted to answer affirmatively, I’d say Ya for yes. Others would say si or da. The same went for saying thank you. Then it came time for paying for the meals. Most European countries are now using euros but not all of them and customs are different. For example, the woman who teaches in Iceland pulled out a credit card to pay. It is very unusual for a small restaurant in Germany to take credit cards. Germans are very thrifty and they don’t want to pay the 3% charge necessary for allowing credit cards. She said it is frowned upon to pay cash in Iceland. I guess it is considered a lower class thing to do! We had to loan her euros until she could get to a bank. Another woman forgot to exchange her money and only had British pounds. Again, we covered her and she paid us back. As we walked back to the hotel and our respective rooms, we all said our goodbyes. I said “Tchuss” which is how Germans say goodbye. Another said Ciao, another Cheers and others that I don’t remember. I guess the real message I am trying to share is that whether we know it or not, we have all adapted and acclimated to the local country we are living and working in. I’ve begun to incorporate certain German words into my English vocabulary and it has become automatic. I call it Genglish. I may actually have to taken an American English refresher course when I get back to Illinois!

NOT SO WELCOME
As our time ends here, we’ve noticed some changes in attitude from the Germans. At first you think, “Hmmm…maybe I’m just reading into this.” But then you start talking to others and find they are having similar experiences. I think that the war in Iraq has damaged more relationships than we probably realize. Not only with the countries directly involved in the war on terror but many of the European countries including Germany. I have German friends that have told me they know people who don’t want us living in their villages. However, they don’t seem to mind working for us. The money is definitely better and without our presence, many people would be out of a job. Our village has never truly embraced us. They are all very kind and nice to us, but no one other than our wonderful landlords has ever included us on anything. Oopppsss…. I have to retract that statement. Zoë was invited to a dog party but didn’t go. Maybe that was our downfallL Anyway, we are busy with our lives and haven’t really thought too much about it until lately. We’ve had a few disturbing experiences. Not too long ago, we had a big snowstorm. In front of our house, someone had written a message to us in the snow. It said, “Sieg Heil”. If you know anything about history, these two words can not possibly have a positive message behind them. Believe me, I tried to twist and turn the words to mean something good and I just couldn’t do it. I asked my landlord about it and she was visibly upset as well. If you are too young to know these words, I’ll mention one name and that should do it for you: Hitler.

Another friend parked his car in a residential village near a train station for 15 minutes. He was picking up some tickets near this small station. He came back to this message clearly written by a German.
This is a residential parking spot.
You should not be parked here.
This isn't Iraq!
Of course, the license plate on the car is American so there was no misunderstanding the message this person wanted to share.
GO TEAM USA
The Olympics are always fun and we do get to see quite a bit of coverage albeit at 2am! One of the teachers at my school decided to make a bulletin board and have her students keep up with the scores. This was a great, interactive bulletin board. She titled the board in giant letters, “Go, Team USA!” Another teacher saw the board and suggested that perhaps she should include the host nation and everyone agreed. So the board was split to show scores for both Germany and the USA. She was trying to find someone to translate how to say “Go Team Germany”. It was an unusual day because not one German was in the building that spoke English. We have a lot of custodial staff but they don’t speak English. Our secretary was out for training and the Host Nation teacher was on a field trip with her students. So, this teacher decided to just try it on her own. After all, we know a lot of sight words. It’s our grammar that isn’t so great. She put up her own translation of “Go Team Germany” and was very proud of how it looked. One of the custodial staff, who is actually Russian, looked at it and said. “Nein, nein.” But he was unable to express what was wrong with what she had on the board. She decided to leave it up until the next day when she could ask for help from the secretary. The secretary looked at it and said, “You must take this down now.” The teacher had translated word for word correctly. However, the meaning wasn’t the same. When we say “Go Team USA” I think we all can agree that we are cheering on our team in a positive manner. However, when translated, she said it meant, “Go Away Team Germany!” Of course, she had no idea that she had done this. She promptly changed it to a grammatically and politically correct cheer with a bit of embarrassment. The next time the Russian custodian saw it, he gave her a universal signal. Thumbs up!

RADIO TRIVIA
I often listen to the radio while driving. I’m unable to get American radio so I listen to the German stations, hoping to pick up a word or two as I’m driving. I can usually get the gist of something but it’s frustrating not to be absolutely sure of what is being said. One of the local rock stations was asking callers to call in and sing the words to a particular song. Most of the songs are the same as you’d hear in the states. This one was “Give a little bit of your life to me.” Callers would call in and whoever could get it right won a prize. No one could get it right. One of the callers said, “Give a little boot and a laugh to me.” I guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t always understand what is being said!
Here’s another bit of trivia for you. What do you think is the purpose of a Yield sign? Why not put a stop sign instead? I thought the answer was obvious and in the states, it probably is. But I just recently found out that the Germans use more yield signs than stop signs because it is more economical for your car. Think about it. You come to a stop, stay for a few seconds, and then pump the gas to get going again. But if you come to a yield, you just slow down and then continue on. Germany is so smart about some things. They also turn off stoplights on Sundays and holidays to save on the electricity. We always read about how small things can make a big difference in the end. They have a lot of little “tricks and tips” that we could learn from.

MOMMY VISITS ME
The highlight of the last two months was that my mom came to visit me. Unfortunately, my dad was unable to make it but he was generous enough to let me have her to myself for 3 whole weeks. She called one day and casually asked when my spring break was. I never count down days to breaks or holidays so I didn’t know the exact time. I said it was sometime in early April. She then asked if I’d like a visitor. I suddenly became one of those people who count down the days to a break. We discussed the dates and shortly thereafter, she was here. Now, when you read about all the things we did, you will think that my friend was here, not my mom. You will think that I have a very energetic friend and will wonder if I am so energetic. You will think that it was my younger sister that was here. You will not think that a 70 year old woman was visiting me. And if you saw my mom, you’d call me a liar because you would say she may be 55 but not 70. Then you would begin to ponder this idea and would realize that she can’t be 55 because I am 44. Then you would think “Wow, I hope I look like that when I’m 70.” Then you would think, “Wow, Suzanne has some good genes. No wonder she’s so happy.” And then you would think to yourself, “I am not going to ponder this any longer. Some people are just lucky!” So now that I have bragged about my mommy, let me share with you some of our fun.

Mom got here in Thursday morning and on Friday afternoon we were already on a trip to Köln,
(Cologne) Germany. I had already signed up for an international yoga conference so mom got to go along. She toured the city while I was at the conference. Köln is a wonderful city and easy to get around. It is famous for its gothic cathedral second in size only to St. Peter’s in Rome. I found an English speaking tour for her to go on while I was at the conference. The city is safe and easy to get around, but I wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable on her own. This way, she’d be with a group and then go back to the hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed the yoga conference but have to admit, I felt a bit guilty leaving her on her own. When I got back to the hotel, I asked how the tour was. My adventurous mom didn’t take the tour. She realized that all the museums have information in English and she could do it on her own. She spent several hours just walking around in the museums and the city. She finally got tired and happened to go into the cathedral just as mass was beginning. The pews were blocked off and she saw a priest and simply said, “Mass?” He nodded and let her in. She not only got a chance to rest her weary legs, she went to church in one of the largest cathedrals in the world! After that she walked back to the hotel on her own and realized that she was in Europe. She did what most Europeans do at this time of day, and had a glass of wine. She’d been in the country for less than a day and already had acclimated to the local customs!
Mom was here for 3 weeks and I had one week off for spring break. I did take a couple of days off here and there, but had to work a couple as well.J She came to work with me when I was taking my Brain Bowl Team (Academic Bowl) to a competition. She enjoyed watching the kids but was glad she didn’t have to answer the questions as was I. The next day, I took a group of kids to an Oral Reading and Storytelling Festival. She enjoyed watching and listening to the kids but was again glad she didn’t have to get on that stage and speak.
Our first big trip was to Berlin. This was on my list of places to see before I leave. Thanks to mom, I got to cross that off my list. Joe has not been there yet but will be traveling there with the band. I can’t possibly go into detail about everything we saw, but just let me name a few that you have probably heard of. We saw the Brandenburg Gate and were able to walk just a few steps from east to west Germany. We saw the Berlin Wall and a museum called Topography of Terrors, Check Point Charlie, the Olympic Stadium where in 1936 Hitler would not let Jesse Owens participate because he was black. This was the beginning of racism in Germany, Unter den Linden also known as the former East German Broadway, the Reichstag and more. We had lunch at a Berliner Cafe, did some shopping and went to bed. The next day we went to Potsdam. This is not as well known as Berlin but just as important in history. We crossed the bridge where spies were exchanged including the U2 Pilot, Gary Powers. Did you know that even the waters were blocked with iron grates built below the surface so that East Germans could not escape? The buildings were black from lack of care and pollution, but in just the last 3 years are being restored. You can see the Russian influence everywhere you look. We went to the Cicilienhof where the “Big 3” met including Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. Cicelia was known as the Princess Diana of her time. There was a joke about how these important men met. They each entered the roundtable conference room from a different entrance. Churchill was from the whiskey sector, Russian from the vodka sector, later France joined as the champagne sector, and America was the CocaCola Sector! We also went to an Italian palace called San Soucci. This means Without Worries. I think I’m going to name my house after this palace. What a wonderful mantra. Clinton was the first (and last so far) person to dine in this palace in the last 200 years. Frederick the Philosopher was buried here with his 11 dogs. His tombstone says, “Once you get to know people, you begin to love dogs.” Eekkk! We also noticed that people put roses and potatoes on his grave. We could understand the roses but not the potatoes. It seems that he introduced the potato to the peasants who were poor and hungry. They planted them and ate the leaves which made them all sick. To this, Frederick responded, “Oh stupid peasants, you must eat the roots!” He is now famous for saving his people during hard times.
Do you have a pergola in your yard? If so, you might have been considered royalty back in the day. Wealthy people must have white and fair skin but they still enjoyed being outside. The only way they could enjoy the weather without damaging their skin was to sit under a plant covered pergola. I guess based on my skin, that I would be considered a lower class.
There are so many stories about the East Germans and their plight. Our tour guide was actually there when the wall came down and had so many interesting things to share. But as write, I realize that my letter is becoming quite long and I still have more to say. Perhaps, we’ll sit together and I can tell you more about this amazing trip.

We came back for a day and then went on to Rothenburg which is a medieval walled city. We spent one night there and were able to catch an evening night watchman tour. Rothenburg is one of my favorite cities. We walked along the wall above the city just to see a different perspective. We were told it was about a mile long but I think our informant confused kilometers and miles. It was more like 3 miles long but worth the exercise. This town is most famous for its Criminal Museum. I have shared this with you in past newsletters. I have now been there 3 times and each time I see something different.

We came back for a day and mom went on a tour to England. Unfortunately, my passport expired and I was unable to get it renewed in time for Mom’s visit, so I couldn’t go with her. She was able to see many of the highlights of London that most of us just read about. She was thrilled to get the opportunity to see these things but admits that it would have been more fun if we’d gone together. You see what I mean about adventurous? She went to England by herself! I’m not sure I would have the guts to do that. By the way, several museums offer senior discounts and when they looked at her said,”You must be 65 or older” along with a scowl. When she said, “Yes, I’m 70” they didn’t believe her. Can you imagine being 70 years old and still being carded? While on the tour she mentioned to another lady that she was getting tired. The lady said, “Oh but you’re so young. You shouldn’t be tired.” She was several years younger than my mom! I told you she’d amazing.
When she got back from England she took a down day and then came to school with me. I had the kids try to guess who she was. One kid thought she was J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. When I told them she was my mommy, one of the girls blurted, “Wow, she looks just like you!” I then said, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” She was embarrassed and said, “Uh…yeah.” Anyway, it was neat for her to see a typical day in my life. We then realized that we had never really spent any time together alone. I think we should make a habit of this. I have a really cool mom and she’s fun to hang out withJ
Just two days before she left, we made one more daytrip to Heidelberg. We toured the castle and the old part of town. Mark Twain spent a lot of time here and there is a restaurant called the Red Ox where he used to enjoy a view of the castle and write.
WHO BUT A MOM?
Before I end my newsletter, I have to say that no matter how old you get, you always be your mom’s kid. When we were in Koln I wasn’t sure I’d have time for dinner between breaks and getting to the hotel to pick up my mom. She had made a sandwich from the breakfast bar for me so I wouldn’t starve. Who but a mom would do that? She also rubbed my back on the bus when I looked tired. Who but a mom would do that? She also saved my life. We were in the water and the current was very strong. We were both trying to get out of the water and she got to a calmer part but I was unable to get away from the strong current. We were laughing but it was getting frustrating for me not to get out. She finally grabbed my hand and pulled me to safety. It was a harrowing experience.
( Ok, I have to admit that it was a wave pool and we were laughing because we’d just got out of the Jacuzzi which was in the middle of this wave pool. It wasn’t really that harrowing, just really funny.)
It was finally time to say goodbye and it wasn’t easy for me. I truly enjoyed spending time with my mom and will always cherish this time. But at least I can soon look forward to being a few hours away from her by plane rather than a continent away. Suddenly, the miles between Florida and Illinois don’t seem so far.
Hooray! I’ll be back on US soil in no time! I hope to see you then. I’m sorry to say that OttCo Travel Agency is no longer available in Europe. However, we will continue to offer our home to you in Johnsburg, Illinois. It’s a wonderful location for you to visit. More about that in a few months.