Three years ago a fellow balloonist family took in a German girl as an exchange student. Her name is Jenny Ritz, at the time 16 years old and a bubbly ball of energy and ideas. Once I met her at the Albany balloon event I knew she and I would get along famously. She loves Theater and her German school specializes in theater performed in ENGLISH only. Needless to say her English is great.
Since 2007 Jenny has returned for two more short visits. Staying with her original family but visiting with me and bringing along another German girl, Bab, who also is into drama/theater. These visits, in part, prompted Jerry and I to go to Germany this year and visit with Jenny and Bab and their families. We will also visit Gobet family in Switzerland. Then continue over to Munich to visit our own German exchange sons and their families. This might also include a quick trip into Austria and France. So let’s call this the Gobet’s Black Alps Tour. That would mean we are spanning the Black Forest to the German/Swiss Alps in this adventure.
Unlike other German trips this time we will be driving. By driving we have a bit more freedom to explore more areas as we did in Ireland. This also means Jerry got to buy a new toy. A GPS with the European maps on it. Needless to say he has been having fun playing with it for the past few weeks. When we are in the car our “tour guide” keeps switching voices and languages. Sigh. . .boys and their toys.
Next steps are to prepare a few things to take to Germany that our “kids” like from the USA. Brownies/Kraft Mac & Cheese/ Oreos & Pepperidge Farm Goldfish. Interesting what they develop cravings for. Yes these are sold over there but in very small packs and very expensive. So of course I have set aside room in my luggage to be a grocery store.. . .or as they call it in Germany, a Supermarkt.
Speaking of money.
The exchange rate keeps going up and down. But it is STILL lower than it was when we went to Ireland. It is 1€ = $1.22 as of today. When we were in Ireland it was 1€ = $1.37. And here is little known fact. . .Switzerland does not recognize the Euro so we have to spend Swiss Franc while there.
Sigh. . .. all part of the adventure, right?
Next task. . .what clothes to pack. . .Or maybe not.
1 comment:
oh! How cool! I'm excited to follow you through the Black Alps!
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