Frohe Weihnachten!

I know I am not very good at this blogging thing anymore...but hopefully I can get to it once a month to fill everyone in on new happenings. (Sorry, I am also horrible at returning e-mails these days too.)

First off, let me say that I REALLY have problems with winter, with the lack of sunlight. (See what growing up in California did to me? ;) ) I realized this the first winter living in Oregon...and well, each consecutive year since then. It has nothing to do with my situation--I think it's just a matter of having the hormones produced by sunlight...or too much of the sleeply hormones produced in darkness. I realized I need something to look forward to after work. The sun goes down around 4:30 right now, so after work, I would just want to come home and sleep! The soccer thing wasn't working out too well because outside in literally freezing cold and often rainy weather is not quite my style. About 4 weeks ago I decided to start going to basketball open gyms at the university. We have no women's basketball team here, but rather basketball in clubs, "vereins". After a couple of weeks of open gyms with mostly guys, I went to practices with each of the teams in the area. I was so tired by the time I made it to the last team that I debated on whether I should even go. Good thing I did, because that is the team I am joining! The first night after practice they invited me to their team christmas party at Pizza Hut. (Yes, we do have Pizza Hut here..and KFC, McDonalds, Burger King...) The girls are really nice, and I feel like I can fit well into the mix as well as be challenged, so I can improve. I was pretty sure I had "retired" from basketball. Now it's just starting up again. Also, my coach coached Dirk Nowitski's younger sister, who went on to play at a Division 1 basketball team in the States. Dirk comes around in the summer too, when he is in town. There are 3 women's teams. Mine is the second team, so we play in the region here...but the first team is a professional German team! And a couple of the girls were recruited from Canada. It'll be interesting to meet them too. Friday is the whole Verein's Christmas Party, then practices will start up again on Jan 2nd.

Ok, enough boring stuff about basketball. :P My research project is coming along...slowly, but I guess that is how this research thing is. I have everything ready to start testing patients, but need to meet one more time with my advisor. It's all a waiting game. Classes are ok, but I feel like I learn so much more pertinent to life (regarding the German language) outside of class, that I sometimes struggle to sit through them. I have got a pretty good balance in life at the moment, better than usual.

The Christmas markets in Germany are amazing! I think they should be here the whole winter, because they make winter more beautiful. :) I am excited for Christmas, although it is awkward to think that I will be here rather than in California.

Time is flying by so incredibly quickly, that in the back of my mind I keep asking myself if I should stay here a little longer? I want to have all doors open. I found this program (maybe it was in my last post):
http://www.master.sport.uni-erlangen.de/index.shtml
It is an international Master's in physical activity and health. Studying here is SUPER cheap, so it would give me a way to stay here longer a couple of years...as well as keep moving forward. (Although I have to admit there are times that I wish I could do nothing other than wear my shorts, flip flops, drive to the beach, be with my fam/friends in the States, etc. BUT...I also know that it won't be realistic to just leave my career and move back to Europe for a year just because...these opportunites don't come around all the time. Pros and cons for both...but as long as all of my doors are open, I will be content for now.)

Anyways, here are some photos during the past month. I wish you all a beautiful Christmas and New Year's! Frohe Weihnachten und frohes neues Jahr!!!

PS. I have a request. I want to hang up some postcards in my room from friends/family around the world. Send me a postcard from wherever you are? If you want one from me, send me an email. (jenn3414@pacificu.edu)
My mailing address: Grombühlstraße 32
97080 Würzburg
GERMANY

Würzburg











Nürnberger Weihnachtsmarkt







































Concert in Hirschaid with My cousins Matthias and Kathrin