I haven't been blogging for quite some time now.
The fall really, really got away from me.
Then there were holidays.
Then there were grandparents.
Then there was working on some semblance of control over our home.
Then there was homework.
Then I wondered if I should keep blogging, and if so, why?
Then I remembered that I wanted a record of some of our experiences here in Germany. I journal during my quiet time in the mornings, but blogging felt easier for pictures and stories.
So I'm back to blogging.
Last week at Kindergarten I saw a sign posted for an "Elterncafe" to be held on Monday the 11th. I thought it might be a parent meeting about things going on at Kindergarten. I decided I would try to attend and introduce myself to some other mothers.
But first some history...
When we lived here a few years ago, Ren and Kate attended a Kindergarten in our old town. We had a good experience. We could drop the kids off between 8:00 and 9:00am and then pick up was at 12:00pm. Mothers (and sometimes dads and omas and opas) would gather outside and chat before the kids were released out of the building in a big group. I had the chance to practice my German a little and I had most of my contact with German mothers there. I really liked it.
At Ada's Kindergarten, things are different. We still have a flexible drop off time, but we also have flexibility for pick up. This is great for me, as now with 3 children, I can adjust my schedule a little when needed. However, I don't find that I talk at all with the other German mothers, and so I speak less German and still feel like a bit of an outsider.
Now let's get back to the Elterncafe...where I hoped to introduce myself to other mothers. I even baked pumpkin bread, just in case...
What I didn't realize is that this was a simple coffee date for mothers. While I can generally understand what is being said at a meeting, following a bunch of fast-talking Swaebisch mothers and wanting to respond with some lucidity was quite different.
I should take a moment to describe the setting. Think decorative napkins. Glasses (placed face down) and bottles of water. Coffee in thermal carafes. Milk in a glass pitcher. 2 homemade cakes (and my pumpkin bread somewhat neatly arranged on a paper plate).
Proseco.
Yes, that's right. Sparkling white wine. At 9:00am.
I introduce myself to the other mothers and try to remember names. It's at this point when the women start chatting that I realize we're there to...chat.
Oi. Now I can manage with answering questions or asking simple questions of other people. But I am absolutely the foreigner in the room. I can feel the awkwardness pouring over me. I know it's good to be here. I know that I'm just planting seeds to get to know these women. I know it may be a year before I'm invited over to someone's home, but it might happen.
Still, it was intimidating.
There were 7 of us, and some cute younger siblings who provided a needed distraction for me while my brain kicked into high gear. A couple of women asked me a few questions, and I was hoping that someone would throw a word or two of English at me when I struggled to find my words. I occasionally missed the meaning of someone's question and provided some information that wasn't really pertinent. There was no English today, but it's likely that they were nervous to try their English at all.
What I did confirm again is that German moms have many of the same concerns as we American moms do. I followed discussions about sick kids, being tired, the adventure of shopping with small children, and schedule challenges.
I stayed for an hour. I had grocery shopping to do and dry cleaning to pick up and laundry to hang.
I'm glad I went and I will go again, hopefully with a few more verbs and a little more confidence.
