Since Spain, a lot has happened. Michael is currently working (hurray!) even though it is not yet an engineering job. My big boss has taken him under his wing, getting Michael to fix the systems upstairs, while he helps Michael to find a job. Michael also started Germany lessons in preparation for potential jobs. So my boss has really given Michael and I a positive lift that we really needed. We were nearly ready to give up home and fly home.
In between that, Michael's Mum, Dad and Sister came for a visit. This was incredibly well timed and super important to us as at the time we were about to mark our 1 year anniversary here in Munich. Yes, believe it or not, we have now been living (and for me working) for a whole year in Germany. We are really quite proud of ourselves. And we are not more hopeful and very much looking forward to a few more years here yet! But back to the visit, Sharon, Denis and Tess came to stay with us for a few days, before we all jumped in a car and headed to Italy for a week long vacation. I know I said I was busy, but to be fair, a holiday can be just as intense as working! I had lots of shopping and sight seeing to do.
In and around all of this, I had some very pressing work issues. Like Sommerfest! So let's be honest here, the Germans just love to celebrate. Just about anything. I have now seen so many festivals and celebrations and traditions that I can't remember which goes where. There is St. Martins in November, Oktoberfest (in September), Entedank festival, Fasching, and Frühlingsfest just to name a few. But of course, summer is a short lived season here, and yet it is so beautiful to feel that warm sun, and have longer days that it must of course be celebrated. Sommerfest however, is a big party we organise for the entire families of our students. So the Saturday before Michael's family arrived, Michael and I could be found in a large field at a farm, serving coffee and cake to a million people. Well, not a million, but it was certainly a lot.
Michael very kindly agreed to help out at Sommerfest, but ended up being more helpful that he expected to be. When looking around for someone to drive all the supplies to the venue in the giant work van, my boss looked and Michael then threw him the keys! Talk about trust! But as soon as we drove into the farm, it was all hands on deck with just 2 hours preparation time before all the families arrived. Benches set up, decorations everywhere and a delicious barbeque smoking away, we were so in the spirit for a celebration. I did nearly get carried away by the helium balloons though (they were all tied to my belt loops as I added the strings, and would have had at least 40 attached at one point). 
So the other thing I forgot to mention was the theme. Of course this was right in the middle of the World Cup - which of course Germany went on to win! I must say, what a time to live in Germany. What an atmosphere. But I'm going off course here. The theme of the day was world cup, so each class, kindergarten and krippe requested the parents provide a t-shirt which was then turned into a class Trikot - a jersey. When all the kids arrived at Sommerfest, we put them all in their Trikots and got them lined up for their performances. I had been rehearsing with my kids for weeks to perform a cool dance to the world cup song 'La la la' by Shakira! And didn't my little dancers just do me proud! It is times like these I really wish I could share with you my video and photos because my kids just did the most amazing job and were so adorably cute! However, I was pleased when it was over. 'La la la' just got too repetitive! Especially with my kids continuing to sing it for hours after rehearsal (and only knowing one line 'la la la').
But after the performances, I served kaffee und kuchen till it was coming out of my ears. Michael got to sample some of the bbq goodies while I nabbed some of the delicious salads that the parents had brought. At the end of the celebration, we were all super exhausted, and full. But it had been such a great day!
So that was before the Mulcahy's visited. I promise that within the next week or so, there will be a couple more blogs from me. One of them will be purely dedicated to our time away in Italy with Michael's family. But for now, I will jump over that and discuss the week after. The week that marked our 1 year anniversary.
To mark our special chapter - I went to the zoo! With my kids of course. We went to the Tierpark Hellebrun in Munich. And what a fun time it was with my munchkins. May or may not have had something to do with the fact that I was dressed like a giraffe! My one goal in my profession is to be the best teacher I can be. They say that you will only remember two teachers in your life, the best one and the worst one. I'm sure you all know which one I am aiming to be. Because of course, when you dress up like a giraffe to go to the zoo with your class, how can I be forgotten!
So off we went to the zoo, 14 children, 2 teachers... and a giraffe. It certainly made it easy for my kids to stay with the group. "Follow the giraffe" was a popular phrase that day from my two colleagues! We were technically studying the theme 'Safari' so I had made mini binoculars with my kids, so throughout the day the kids could be seen 'looking' at the animals through their little binoculars! It was so cute! The first thing we went to see was of course... the giraffes! My kids giggled at me having my photo taken with my brothers and sisters (as we told them).
However I do have to say that the zoo in Munich is actually really cool, and very nicely laid out. We saw so many things in a very short space of time. Best of all was seeing a brand new bunch of baby emus. They were so new that several news crews were there filming them as we walked past! As always the Germans are fascinated with anything Australian!
So yes, I clearly have had an eventful few weeks. And an eventful year. Looking back on our one year, Michael and I are pretty impressed with our achievements, even if he doesn't have his real job yet. In 12 months, we have managed 10 mini vacations, most of which in other countries. We have experienced so much of this beautiful city and made soooo many new friends. Bring on the next 12 months!
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