DAY 4: Relaxing in Ilsede, Germany
I woke up around 8:00 and had breakfast with Julia and Mats, or “hurricane Mats” as I like to call him. At 14 months, he is extremely curious and has miniature hands into everything, especially things that he’s not suppose to find, like electric plugs and dust bunnies.


Peter and Mats

Mats is a thoroughly happy kid. His father’s DNA is most obvious in him, althought Julia claims that biologically, only 50.0000% of the genetic material is from Sören. I wonder.

After napping, I took a bath/shower (long story) and spent some quality time with Julia catching up on things. She endured some pictures from my laptop. We both agreed that ours is a friendship where we just pick up where we left off. Some alone time was really great.

SICKNESS AND A SPLASH OF DRAMA

Now, understand that Marita, Julia and Mats have all been sick. So, throughout my stay, They coughed a lot and were not to worried about washing their hands. The baby’s nose was like a faucet and he enjoyed putting his tiny fingers inside his nose or even enjoyed licking the delicious nectars of his snot from his nostrils. Everyone kissed the child on the lips.

As a sidenote, German refrigerators are small and food typically sits out.

I was SO afraid of getting cold but by God’s grace, I was not. Call it a Christmas miracle.

There is a bit of family drama, which I won’t get into. It has absolutely nothing to do with me, which is kind of a fresh idea as I’m usually the whipping boy in my US-based family.

I went with Peter to see the house that he is renovating, where Julia, Sören and the little Mats will eventually live. He’s got a lot of work ahead of him, but the place will really be nice at the end. We went into Peine (the largest city in the area, walked around in the cold while waiting for Sören to arrive by train, from Hanover.)

A TYPICAL GERMAN DINNER


Sören, Me, Marita and Peter

For supper, Marita made Leberkäse, Sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. Leberkäse, unlike the name implies, is NOT liver and it’s NOT cheese. It’s some kind of ground pork, kind of on the idea of meatloaf, but different spices, possibly different type of meats. Who knows. It was so delicious.


My plate

After supper, we watched a bit of TV. My German is holding up for the most part, which is always encouraging. If I really put my mind to it, I could be fluent at it; I’m just to lazy.

I bid my goodnight at 11:00 and went up to “my” room where I always sleep. I felt thoroughly at home.
- posted by Matt @ 9:22 AM