The Fifth Season Has Ended

Karneval is known as the "Fifth Season" in Cologne, and from its official opening on November 11th to Mardi Gras it does take on a life of its own, especially after Christmas is over and done with. I'd like to tell you more but I'm so miserably sick of/from my 2 week old flu that I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Unlike spring in Chicago, Karneval is guaranteed in any case to come again every year.

Rose Monday parade

You have to admit Monchi's lion costume is rather fitting...

Jochen's claw - scary! In Cologne they throw chocolates and flowers, not beads...

In the end the kids win out. There is a tacit understanding that if you're a Little Person you get to stand in the first row along the parade route, no questions asked. The paraders always make sure the kids get more than their fair share of candy. The most effective combo is when Jochen held Monchi as bait - everyone then came and offered up tons of stuffed animals and big chocolate bars. Of course she wanted no more of the ruckus after 20 minutes...

That's only half of the booty we collected this past weekend. In other words, Karneval means good business for dentists in Cologne!

Pig has exercised amazing self control over the loot - on Ash Wednesday we told him Karneval is over and normal rules on candy are back on, and he hasn't been a nuisance about it at all - even though the containers are still in plain view. Instead his favorite treat right now is Ricola...I don't understand it, either.

Karneval Dry Run

I'm sick as a dog right now...the cold has been creeping up in the last days but it finally got me this morning. Could be that I shouldn't have ventured out yesterday with Monchi to celebrate the opening of Karneval in our neighborhood. In any case we rated a mention in the Cologne newspaper this morning, plus Monch got her picture in the online gallery.

Yesterday was our dry run for the upcoming Rose Monday Parade - that is if I make it. The weather this weekend will be dreary, but nothing will keep Pig from going for free candy. It struck me a few days ago that I immigrated to the US in October 1978 and within days of landing on the shores went trick-or-treating without a costume or a clear understanding what this phrase that generated candies from strangers meant. Again in 1999 when I arrived in Cologne it wasn't long before I was in costume yelling Kamelle and joining in the massive party. Perhaps this is why I have fond feelings for both celebrations, as sillly as they are in their way.

Scary thought of the day: I have to admit since this last pregnancy I've been obsessing about my wrinkles - they've probably been there all along but now I have the leisure to stare at them and rue all the times I wasn't vigilant with the sunscreen. But I have to say I fancy myself looking younger in the Karneval picture above. SO I guess my options are to keep walking around with face paint. Or follow the footsteps of Jocelyn Wildenstein...

PS - Monchichi's lion costume is actually a US import...Arlene sent it for Pig a few years ago and it's now being passed on!

Jochen *Heart* Ovifat

Jochen loves a lot of things...in no particular order: Microsoft Excel, chocolates, coffee, cake, windpower, public transport, we 3, etc. Last week as Monchichi and I were making cookies he said to me, what about going to Ovifat this Saturday.

Where's Ovifat, I asked, and why do you want to go?? It was stupid of me to ask the second question.

Ovifat is apparently the highest point in Belgium (Belgium being part of the Low Countries, you can imagine how impressive this is) - in other words ca 610m. There, you find I think the only alpine ski area in Belgium with FOUR ski lifts. This Saturday a perfect combination of snow and sunshine made it irresistible even to our ecologically minded friend NOT to drive the 1.5hrs to go skiing.

Wow, and skiing we did. Or rather, we two took turns looking after Monch and playing plough horse to Felix's skiing in the parking lot. And yet, it was really really fun. For someone who loves the sport Jochen is surprisingly patient with beginners. I think the proximity to snow (and mountains) is enough for him. All in all he was really pleased Piggy showed incredible promise that we won't be flushing our money down the toilet for his week of ski lessons in end March. Piggy to his credit is now getting the hang of the plow stop and having fun in the snow - a good PR jaunt after all.

Advantages to skiing in Belgium - Belgian beer and cuisine.

Above are views from the only red run - rather short at 400m.

I would say - the next time we're in Chicago during the winter I ain't bothering with heading out to Colorado anymore. I think Alpine Valley will be plenty to keep Jochen the Ski Slut happy!!

Monkey on My Back

An interesting New York Times article on my favorite demon - procrastination.

The article has a link to an online quiz - a perfect distraction for 15 minutes. I scored at slightly above 50th percentile - no surprise to me, as I'm well aware of the things I manage to put off on a regular basis, often overprioritizing work (because it is more structured) at the expense of my personal life (exercise? maybe tomorrow)

This, thankfully, has improved since Pig came on the scene, though Jochen may continue to argue otherwise...

Now get back to work!

Lego Discovery Centre Duisburg

Yesterday we made our way to the Lego Discovery Centre in Duisburg, about an hour's drive away from Cologne. Duisberg is part of a region called the Ruhrgebiet, which was a heavily industrialized area of the country and played a major role in the postwar boom economy. Those heydays are long gone, so the harbor has been rehabilitated with museums, shops and cafes - below is the area in miniature:



What Jochen and I do best - covertly reading whilst playing with Piggy.

Monchi unimpressed with these larger than life figures.

All in all Jochen wasn't too impressed with the facility, and indeed it's smalltime compared to the major themeparks. I didn't think it was half bad - open 365 days a year (impressive in Germany), Pig went on his first amusement ride and sat through his first 4D movie without freaking out...I think it's exactly our speed for the next couple of years.

Candid Camera

Monchi Ponchi in action.

Ok, we've collected ourselves, now. Here's Monchi's new do.

10th Anniversary - Part II

Boy, talk about painting yourself into a corner. Can I really explain why I stayed?? After I posted the last entry the guilt started in again because my decision could also be interpreted as a vote against coming back. For those of you who remembered the period in 2002/2003 when I was often incommunicado, you may recall it wasn't an easy time for me. Still isn't, except for the fact that you guys stuck with me through all these years and for that I am beyond GRATEFUL!!!

Did I plan my life to unfold this way?? Definitely not. I wish I had the gumption to set some clear objectives and just go after them, instead of haphazardly making the best of chance outcomes...Still, some random reasons for staying:

• Paris - you see what I mean?? In 1996 when Niki and I travelled through Europe I told her I wanted to live in Paris. Paris is 4 hours by train from Cologne and at the time when I accepted the offer I thought to myself: that's close enough, because it would be too impossible to actually make my way to Paris and find a decent paying job. Now, why didn't I just grow a backbone and go?? Of course being so close means I've been to Paris countless times in the past decade, but I'll put it down right here and say I'll manage to live in Paris before I kick the bucket, ok? (Thankfully Jochen doesn't read this blog because I haven't cleared it with him)
• Travel in general - there's loads to discover in the US, but Europe is just so compactly different in itself, and offers good proximity to Africa and the Middle East
• Jochen - we're really an odd couple, and maybe that's why it works so well. At first Pig's birth really stressed our relationship; surprisingly Monchi's addition really mellowed us out...you don't quite believe me?? Come visit and check us out on our best behavior (while it lasts, that is)
• Gelato - 'nuff said, or 'nuff can't be said
• Skiing - you don't have to be loaded to go skiing here and the lodges are beautifully quaint. Then again the tradeoff is wet snow instead of powder
• Cologne - not much to look at but just a great little town with such an intimate feel. I do love Karneval, as repetitive as the nuttiness (and the songs) may be
• A simpler life - I was really taken with the underdeveloped consumerism I found in 1999: no shop hours on Sundays, general use of public transportation, less fascination with "toys" and a fanatical approach to recycling. Now, shouldn't I have lived more radically in the US and built this lifestyle for myself instead of decamping to another country?? In any case I think the gap between the two societies have closed in the past decade - though not always in the ecologically responsible direction

In short, I'm glad I stayed and built a life for myself here - made infinitely richer with Jochen, Pig and Monchichi. Given it's also a place where I keep losing good friends as people move away, I'm resigned to the fact that in our global world today physical proximity is a luxury, but I'm not willing to let its absence be a deal breaker in terms of keeping in touch or staying close. So, keep reading, keep writing me, calling and letting me know what's going on with you. I promise the same and I truly hope we continue to be a relevant part of each other's lives ahead.

10th Anniversary - Part I

Hard to believe I arrived in Cologne on February 1st 1999. Some initial impressions/experiences from the first days:

• Not a single sunny day during the whole month of February that year, I was pretty depressed by the time March came around
• Why were there only white people on the streets...and were they all staring at me??
• I didn't have enough cash to pay for my meal and the restaurant didn't take credit cards. I had to leave some personal belongings behind as collateral and go get cash from the ATM
• The director I worked for got twice daily coffee service and restock of mineral water and juices, weekly fruit basket, and cookies served at all his meetings...my company was flush back then but this was definitely European flair not seen in Dearborn Michigan
• Karneval! I loved the colors, the people and the craziness that suddenly takes over the town during this week in the dreary winter - almost obscured Point Number 1 above
• Alcohol at the workplace during Karneval - Mon Dieu!
• When I wanted to say something in German, French came out

Since then, I've gotten used to the crap weather, forgotten every shred of French I used to know, and continued to enjoy this friendly town. In the meantime, Cologne (and to a certain extent Germany) also went through some changes of its own in the past decade - you judge whether for better or worse:

• Even groceries now accept credit cards
• Ca 4 years ago the first Starbucks opened; now we also have KFC, Subway, and Dunkin' Donuts (in addition to Burger King and McD, of course)
• There are many more Asian and African faces on the streets now
• Can you believe stores can stay open until 10pm weekdays and Saturdays (doesn't mean they all do)
• Sundays remain off limits, with exception (I really like this rule, actually)
• Home Shopping Network and ilk have invaded the airwaves
• With the resurgence of Berlin, a lot of art/media interests have moved away from Cologne to the capital - even though I'm far away from these scenes I definitely feel the difference as an average resident

The list goes on. Now with small children I spend my time differently in the city - the zoo instead of the museums, the Lego store instead of the clothing shops. It remains a great little city/village and one I love as much as St Paul/Minnesota and almost as much as Chicagoland...

Next post: why I stayed in the first place...