Vogelweh is for lovers

HALLO! We have now been here three days and are getting our sea legs....or German legs. We are currently staying, and will most likely be living, on Vogelweh which just happens to be part of an Airforce instalation. If I havent mentioned it yet, everything here is Airforce, which is not a bad thing, the housing is better, but we are sorta outta the loop when it comes to info because...well...its they dont really tell us. This is not a big deal, it just means we are stuck finding out things by ourselves, or my way which is asking every stranger I meet about 8 zillion questions. I can't help that I am friendly and proactive. I will not be miserable like some other wives here and sit around and do nothing, I need activities...for free or reasonable prices. Today I convinced my husband after much whining and complaining to go off post with me, our first big adventure! No map, slight direction from the lady at the movie theater, and a few euro in our pockets and apparently inappropriate shoes on my part. I got super scared about half way to the gate and have officially decided that I have Stockholm syndrome, I resent the gates and the confinement but when I go to leave I dont want to, super wierd. So off we went into a foreign country! It was the most terrifying experience of my life. Germany is very nice but the safety net is a little thinner here. After much walking we found part of K-town, which is apprently very spread out, and a McDonalds. The prices are more expencive and nothing is in english so it wasnt as comforting as you would think. There were also no trash cans, which I have yet to figure out. Everyone put their trays on wracks with all the trash still on them. I'll let ya know when I figure that one out. Come to find out, along the way, in Germany...everything is in German, go figure! Like no english....NONE! Atleast on street signs and most buildings. Sooooo there are lots of things that look important or like warnings, but theres not a ton you can do when you cant read them. Note to self, learn German, atleast enough to know if your walking into something bad. Luckily, we didnt but still. We walked and walked and walked and learned that, atleast in the part that we were in, there are lots of houses and resteraunts and thats about it! It was fun though, and we saw a swan in a pond, who was just hanging out and swam right to us for pictures which was epic. We basically walked about 4 or 5 hours and then came back. We ended up sampling German Korean food and German Mexican food, niether would I reccomend. It was alot of fun and have learned alot in the past three days.
1. Germans don't believe in air conditioning or elevators
2. They are unbelievably eco friendly
3. They don't pick up on subtle hints, if you want something you HAVE to ask for it. Nothing is assumed.
4. If you see a bathroom, GO! There wont be another for a while!
5. Relationships are built and if they dont know you they really dont want to help you.
6. They will stare at you, alot.
7. Meals should take you a while, so they will leave you to it and wont come back for what seems like forever.
8. Its hard to speak even words you know in German because english runs out of your mouth first. I would say thank you about 4 times before "Danka" would run out of my mouth.
9. Learn basic laws before you set out in a new country. We jay walked several times and I'm not sure thats okay here.
Those are just a few things, I'm sure there is more but I cant think of them right now. I will tackle the shuttle on monday and I'm sure will have more funny stories then.

                                         The symbol of Kaiserslautern- The K-town fish!

                                                                Isn't she beautiful!

                                                          My first real German beer

                                                          Totally scandanavian house