Today

Today has been an unusually people-filled day, and the afternoon has just started!

Smitty and I left home at 8am to take the family we are hosting to the Rathaus to register.  Smitty had a package at the post office, so we parted ways and I went on.  I walked with the six member of the family through the doors and into the office of Herr Kuegel who is responsible for registration.  I first explained in German why we were there and then asked him if he would speak English with us.  He was most accommodating and took care of business in English.

The Ps are registered!

Registration complete, We toured Kandern, indicating where to get "fast food" (not really), the local kitchen store, and the banks.  Meandering, we found Alyssa, a former BFA teacher, who is in Kandern for personal obligations. Winding back to our family's apartment we met Alec, the man Smitty is replacing.  Short chats to catch up.  We dropped the Ps off and walked toward home.

Lois and Hannah at the Sanctuary

On the way we remembered that we had promised to stop and see where our friends Jerry and Lois are staying until they leave on Tuesday.  The Sanctuary is a bed and breakfast for missionaries run by Mary and Len.  When we arrived, my friend and fellow Wollbach teacher, Joyce, was there making lunch for a group who would arrive soon.  We, of course, sat and chatted with Mary, Joyce, and Lois.  Then Lois gave us the grand tour.  I'll be writing that story separately.

Smitty outside the Sanctuary

We wandered home, thinking that we were both ready for lunch and a quiet afternoon, but, as we walked into our apartment, the downstairs bell rang.  Maddie, who had helped care for Tramp, and Rachel, her little sister, came to bring back our key.  They talked with us, then told us they wanted to go to the apartment where their mom was painting, but they didn't know how to get there.  So off we went again.

Once at that apartment, we did a very unGerman thing.  Helen, mom, had the upstairs window open and yelled down at us, so we carried on a conversation like that for about 10 minutes.  We then left the girls and walked back home, both of us ready for a quiet afternoon of talking only with Tramp.  We are catching up with folks who make up the English-speaking community in Kandern!