Meeting my German penpal Ann-Kathrin :) part 1

On telling my penpal Ann-Kathrin that I would be working in Germany in a town close to where she lived, it was only normal that we would plan our meeting. We both became so excited and planned all the fun things we would do and looked forward to visiting the North Sea together. When I told her the news, she was just as excited as me! :)

" this is unbelieveable!!! =D I`m so looking forward to meeting you soon. Of course, I wil help you in any way possible. For example, I could teach you some German and help you organize your visit. And if you like to, I will show you my city and we could plan a trip to the North Sea. Waaaahhhh I just cannot believe it- YOU ARE COMING TO GERMANY!!! "

When I arrived in Germany, she wrote on my Facebook wall, something like, “ My friend from Jamaica is finally in Germany!“ and I was even more excited at the idea of meeting my penpal for the first time! It was like one of my dreams coming through added to the fact that I never thought I would travel out of Jamaica. 

After some weeks in Germany, I planned to go to Poland as I really wanted to see some sites there and even try to meet my other penpal Grzegorz. IAESTE had planned a trip to Poland and I was very eager to go! I showed this to Ann-Kathrin so that we could go to Poland together with the IAESTE team on July 22,2011, since they had organized a weekend trip to Poland. Ann-Kathrin wanted to come but she had an exam on that day.  Also we didnt get enough passengers for ride share and so we had to cancel the trip to Poland. Then we organized a next trip to Poland without IAESTE( since Manuel and I thought it would be a better idea if we went on our own and then we could do anything we wanted anytime, instead of a scheduled trip with mostly parties) and invited Ann-Kathrin again but she said she had to work during the time we would leave and I was a bit sad. However, we decided to go to Poland anyway and decided to meet my penpal Grzegorz. While thinking about it at the time, I wondered how I would deal with attending to both my penpals at the same time and meeting them for the first time. Somehow I think things turned out for the best and I got to give each my penpals individual attention and enjoy their company separately, since Annie didn't get to come to Poland with us.

 After my trip to Poland, Ann-Kathrin decided to visit me in Oldenburg on Friday, August 12,2011. I was very excited and planned what we would do. We emailed each other about where we would meet and what time and that Manuel and I would come and pick her up at the Gleis. Manuel drove us to the Gleis and we toured the bottom floor wondering where we were supposed to meet her. Then we decided to go upstairs and that was when we saw the area where the trains were. I was interested in the train tracks and was jokingly about to step down in that area when Manuel got frightened and said I should never step down there. Of course, I knew. We looked around and decided to make a video of our meeting. As Manuel videoed me searching for Annie, suddenly a girl came towards me quickly and I was surprised to see it was really her! We hugged immediately as if we were long lost friends :)

our first meeting!

I introduced her to Manuel and we headed off to the car. We took a few pictures while walking back to the car and I was just gleaming with happiness at finally meeting my penpal.

 When we arrived at the house, I introduced her to my flatmates and I remember Benny (my German flatmate) talking to her in English and on hearing her German accent, he said, “oh, you are German!” and they started speaking in German. After the introductions and letting her put her stuff in our room, we decided to go to Lappan and go shopping and show her the mall of Oldenburg. We viewed many stores, most of which she was familiar with and told me about the best features of them, like Pimkies, which is the one that comes to mind at the moment. I was also in search of hair gel and a black hoodie sweater and she helped Manuel and I pick out a simple and reasonable black hoodie sweater J Afterwards, we bought hair gel for me to comb my hair nicely for church the next day. We took many pictures in Lappan, (getting to know the place) and near the schloss (castle) in Oldenburg. 

Manuel and Annie 

In front of the schloss

We also toured the other parts of Oldenburg to see the boats, a canal, some lovely buildings, sculptures, a prison and the rest of the town.

looking at a monument that is shaped like a rosebud

 the prison. it looks so homely with flowers on the windows! 

by the canal 

near the little boats

inside the Galleria at the Converse shoes store!

 inside the Galleria

dinosaur made from Legos

 It was getting late and I had to return home to prepare for Sabbath and to make dinner. Oh yeah, I remember going to the supermarket in the Galleria and also sampling a wide variety of cheese spreads! It was awesome with cheeses with flavours like curry and tomato. I took a picture of the area of the cheese sampling but the lady got upset and told us to delete it. Stupidly, I deleted it even though I was on the stairs a couple feet away from her and now I regret not having a picture of that memory. Manuel said some people don’t like when people take pictures of their arrangement for fear that they will steal their idea. Anyway, we headed home but I sent Manuel to the store near our home to get some flour. Annie helped to slice some of the vegetables and we had a nice time preparing the dinner. I made dumplings, boiled potatoes and carrots with steamed fish with pepper in mine and none in Annie’s portion of the meal since she doesn’t like spicy food.

 me kneading flour for the dumplings with Annie helping by slicing vegetable for dinner 

boiled potatoes

boiled Jamaican dumplings

fish about to be steamed :)

 I remember telling her how this chili pepper was not hot and so, to show to her that I could handle it, I took a bite of the chili pepper.

Normally, I am able to eat the skin of the chili pepper and it would be bearable. Since I have eaten the skin Jamaican Scotch Bonnet pepper and I was able to endure it, I am able to eat any skin of any pepper and be quite fine. However, no Jamaican dares to eat the seed of the Scotch Bonnet pepper. I forgot this when eating the chili pepper, (that seeds were the most dangerous part) and so I proudly showed my penpal I could manage the heat. I placed all the pepper in my mouth and the heat didn’t start right away. Nope, I thought I was quite fine until I started chewing on the seeds inside and I started to feel a burning sensation which made me quickly rush to drink water and milk. Of course, Manuel and Annie laughed at me and I was quite embarrassed ^^,

We also used some of the fish and some cabbage as filling for the patties I made the following day.

So we sat down to enjoy the meal :)

 I wanted her to eat and enjoy Jamaican cuisine and so for the first time, I made patties. It turned out quite well and that was for our Saturday lunch. Manuel and I made blueberry-oreo cheesecake for dessert on Friday and I remember sharing some with Annie and Magda( my other German flatmate) and everyone enjoyed that cheesecake so much!

blueberry-oreo cheesecake :D

 Annie, after eating dumplings and about to eat the cheesecake I made ^^

Dinner with Annie and Manuel :) - what a messy table ^^

After eating our dinner, it was then time for bed. We washed up and Manuel made her sleeping area comfortable and ideal for a young lady to sleep on :) She brought a sleeping bag and sheet. Before we slept, we talked and exchanged gifts. I remember she wanted me to buy her a Jamaican bracelet and so I did. Actually I bought one with a beach theme at Half Way Tree but realized it was too big and it was too late to change it. I thought I couldn’t leave Jamaica with just that and it wouldn’t be able to fit her. Therefore, at the airport, before finding my area, I quickly rushed in a Jamaican store and I bought her another type. I didn’t expect her to bring me a gift too and so when I saw her take out a little box, I was surprised as well as thrilled. She said the cutest thing which I always say when I tell people about this bracelet, “ A for Alecia and A for Ann-Kathrin”. I smiled so much and thought it was too cute! I suggested that she signed the box so I could always remember this moment and date. 

exchange of friendship bracelets

I remember taking pictures of her before she slept and she didn’t quite like that, well who would if they were in a sleepy mood ^^ I noticed she was turning so red and I asked her why is she blushing for her to look so red. She replied that she is just tired and gets red when she is tired :)  We laughed and then went to sleep. It was a lovely day!