6 Inches...

It snowed in the Düs on Sunday.

I looked out the window to see a husband and wife team clearing off their car. The husband, using his arm and bare hand for snow removal. The wife, holding their two year old son and taking video with her free hand. The best part was when yet another neighbor came out and took a picture of them... clearing the car... taking video...

It doesn't snow here often.

The Usual Suspects

Let me introduce you to the Düsseldorf cast of TJX transplants... since you'll be hearing about them alot over the next two years.

Kelly

Originally from Orlando, Kelly has an unbelievable knack of meeting and befriending foreigners. Her power over them is amazing - I think it's in her dimples.

Katie

Moved here with her hubby Dan (far right). She lives around the corner from me and we work in the same division at work. Dave, in his time at the apartment, has perfected the Irish Coffee and somehow lighting it on fire is part of the receipe. We get along just fine :)

Evan

He's a TJX lifer. He interned there in college and has been working there ever since. He loves premium denim and his girlfriend back home, Ilyssa.

Abraham

A firey Mainer, Abe hails from Kunnebunk. A sailor and avid outdoorsman, he has taken the helm as our adventure planner.

Why I'm here....

So I realized that no where on the blog does it explain why I'm in Germany. Here is the abbreviated version:
Work.

TJX, the company I have worked at the last 5 years, opened a chain in Germany a year ago - TK Maxx. They have been growing faster than anyone anticipated or could have planned. As a result, they opened up the opportunity for people in the US-Framingham office to transfer for a two year stint.

I signed up. I interviewed. I was offered one of the positions.

So, here I am in Düsseldorf (affectionately referred to as "the Düs" by the 5 of us that transferred), two months in and 22 months to go.

It's Weihnachtsmarkt Time!

With no Thanksgiving in Germany, the country just barrels straight into Christmas season in mid-November. From my observation - this is one of the most anticipated times of the year for people in Germany and they want the season to be as long as possible.

A favorite activity is going to one of the countless Christmas Markets, Weihnachtsmarkt for those of you working on your German. There is nearly one on every busy corner, square and/or circle.

It seemed too early to take in the lights, holly and mistletoe but Evan, Abe and I had to check out what the Weihnachtsmarkts had to offer. Here are a few pics from our research gathering mission a few weeks ago.

Happy little trees converted into tables.

Mulled wine, or Glüwein, is a must. Each market has a handful of stands that sell it. The sweet hot wine helps keep you warm as you wonder around and is available with various addions as well (whiskey, rum, etc...). Each Glüwein stand has their own custom glasses, you put down a deposit for the glass that you get back when you return it.

Mmmmm.... Delicious, warm Glüwein.

There are tons of amazing treats available to cut the wine. Sausages, crepes and roasted chestnuts are there for the taking. Here is Evan picking up a fresh pretzel.

Some of the more popular areas even had live farm animals to pet.

A few weeks in now, and we have pretty much taken in as many Weihnachtsmarkts as one can. Our research has shown that they are pretty much all cookie cutter versions of one another. Each one always has a couple Glüwein stands - to help people get in the spirit no doubt. There is always a sausage guy, crepes with Nutella and the ocassional ice rink. The handmade trinkets and candles sold seem to all start looking the same after a while.

That being said - there is something about the markets we all really liked. Something that, if I was a better writer, I could convey in my post - the atmosphere.

It's quaint, it's jovial, it's Weihnachten in Germany!

Long Distance Relationships

One word, skype.


If anyone is interested in a sampling of the kind of conversations Jenn and I are having, tonight we talked about the fact that, in addition to working hard, Jenn should be thinking pro actively about a three way, office wide, tri country Olympic games of sort. For morale, unity.

Kinda like in the martial arts epic The Best of the Best, but with three nationalities represented (America, the Britons, and Deutschland) instead of two (America And Korea), and with Kickball, tricycle racing etc., rather than full contact Taekwondo.

Of course I had to take into consideration that being thousands of miles away and removed from the situation and all the people involved, my perspective was unique and invaluable.

What better way can there be to forge a unified business team than in the fires of a somewhat satirical but ultimateley serious competition?


Also, tonight Jenn told me there's a handball court behind the apt.

G

There is nothing to say about Watford

We land in Dusseldorf and have just enough time to get the keys to our apartments, drop off some bags, repack and head to the airport to fly to London. Wow, I thought - London will make the fast turnaround worth it and we'll be there for two weeks for training.... WRONG. Scratch that. We will be in Watford, 20 minutes outside of London, for training.

Two days in and it was quickly determined, if we were going to make it through two weeks, we had to get out of Watford and into London.

 They must lose a lot of tourists each year - this is painted on the streets of downtown London.

 We had to do the double-decker bus tour. It was cold though - and we didn't last long upstairs.

 Tafalgar Square Lions - the most photographed statues in the world. We tried to climb on them - but with little success... Cute kids always seemed to make their way to the front of the line.

 The expats in our UK office took us out to dinner- but first we went to this adorable bar... I mean Pub, for a drink.

Later on at dinner, this sign was at the top of the staircase.

"Don't fall down the stairs!"

 Proof I saw the Tower Bridge.

 Decent picture of the Tower Bridge.

Cool cars were EVERYWHERE so I was in heaven. Here is a Lotus at the train station.

There was one decent thing we found in Watford. Bodega's - a pub that had an amazing fireplace mantle with wax from years of burning candles.

 "Beware of Hot Dripping Wax!" I guess the English have something on posting signs about the obvious.

Looks like I will be in the Watford area at least once a month while I am here. Wish me luck in finding something else besides a mantel with wax on it!

Until next time. Auf Wiedersehen.

I live in Germany! ...What?

So, it is official. I've made the move to Germany.

Glen and I set this blog up so we could keep everyone up to date on our adventures in Europe - but thus far, it's been filled with the mustache challenge and a few other gems Glen has posted. This is my first post.

Leaving Boston was hard. MUCH harder that I expected and nothing I was prepared for. I don't think I'm the most emotional person - but I couldn't help but cry most of the afternoon of my departure. At some point I realized the following: I arrived to Boston in a U-Haul on 10/31/01... I was flying out of Boston on 10/31/09...eight years to the day!

The morning I left - I was packing, wondering why I had left so much to do at the last minute when I knew this was happening for months. When I finally zipped up the last bag - it was time to start saying my goodbyes to Glen's family and a couple friends. To say I was a mess would be an understatement. Tears, hugs and more tears.

Just when I started to pull it together, Glen's family met us at the airport... tears again.

It was a great send off and I wouldn't have done it any other way. I am surrounded by amazing friends and family.
Thank You.

Here is a picture of Glen and I having my last Sam Adams for a while in the Logan airport. The blur of the photo seemed like appropriate symbolism for the entire day.

Jenn takes to the lanes

There was beer.

There was kanoodling.  Check out these star crossed lovers:

In Chuck and Dana's defense, they lost graciously.

To Venier.

Mike brought his intensity,

His lady,

And his A game. 

I'd like to use this image as the icon for a future production company.

"Kock Em Down Pictures" 

"Lane Nine Films"

...?

Jenn's going away party was held at Kings Bowling Alleys in Dedham, MA. 

More from the fray:

Mike and Kate continued to strategize.

Dano mited.  I stashed.

Free Shoes!

Alas the beer was not free.

CL began to Smooth.

 

Jenn had fun.

No looking back.

No worries.

You've got this.

Its possible the last post ended a little badly

...and while I recognize this is how obsessive blogging begins (although few would accuse me of anything obsessive-I still don't like to bear the stigma of such labels.  I'd rather dream about great white sharks and out running motorcycle cops.)  But here's a better ending. 

Here's Chris, Chuck and Bayla on the porch couch.  Notice the shirt of Capt Kenny, M.D. (network sitcom/drama concept?)  It was bought on a Yosemite camong trip a couple summers back.  I have the same.

Sayanora?

Yo,

This might be the end of the Aaron Miller Mustache Challenge.  (4 weeks and 75 shaves in the bag- do the math.) Look at how good I look.

Lately we've been celebrating how great it is that Jenn is going to Germany (b/c we're all going to visit her) and how sad it is she's leaving (b/c we're all going to miss miss her.)

This is Jenn with Bayla, after she had celebrated with friends.

This is me betting on the tensile strength of a lampshade vis-a-vis a mediumly grown pumpkin.  Pardon me while I quickly google "tensile strength"...ok, I spelled that right- the first time m'er effers!

I should probably wrap this up..so here's Jenn and I at the JP Lantern Festival on Sunday...google it.   

Wouldn't have known about festival except for good friend Jamie, who happened by wearing fashionable daughter accesory Addison (Add-eeee-son) strapped to her chest.  Thanks Jamie!

Blue Hills in Autumn

Jenn, Mike and Kate and I find "the secret spot"

Can you see the chairs?  Some artist made em.  Of his own volition.  He also makes furniture from wood gathered in the Blue Hills.  I'd like some of that.  The chairs were comf and they had a great view.

MAAAAAAAASSACHUSETTS.  City of Boston.

This is who led us to the secret spot.  Fran and Earl.  I think.  We weren't sure if we were going to get kidnapped, robbed, etc.  But they seemed nice and harmless.

Mike getting artsy in the woods:

Me and B...going to miss the dog.