Trip to Vienna - The Import Food Store

Dobry den! [Good day! Greeting used like "Hello"]

Great Trip Today!

I met 4 other moms at the school and we went to Vienna today.  Not to see any sites - but to go to the Import Food Store. 

The ride over to Austria is quick - only about 30 min + a couple extra to find parking.  Jeannine drove us all and had lived in Vienna 10 years ago, so she knows the ropes.  The group that went was 4 of us with kids in the 8 year old class, and one that is in the Slovak Language class.  There are only 3 of us in the Slovak class and all three were on this trip too because we are also the newbies for this year.

After we found parking (which is different than the rest of Europe I have seen - parking on the sidewalks is a HUGE NO-NO - they are a bit aloof in Vienna), we went to a bagel shop for coffee and food.  Sounds common - but, bagels are not common here.  Brian and I did find a new Bagel/Coffee shop in downtown Bratislava though that we were able to share with the people that have been here longer.  Anyway, they also had a dessert section that listed waffles.  So, I had a waffle.  It was Super!!!  It actually had sugar crystals in the batter (so it was more dessert-y, I guess) and I actually got syrup with it!  Another item that is not common here!  If you find syrup it is REAL maple syrup and like 24 euros.  I had thought about bringing some in my luggage from Costco since we like to have pancakes on the weekend, but figured it was too heavy - Should have done it!!!  I'll be making a list for my visitors to bring extra bags!!!

After my sugar and cappuccino dose, we walked around the corner to Bobby's Food Store.  It is famous & everyone knows about it (and it is physically tiny).  It imports foods from America and the UK.  So, they had things we can't get here.  Of course you have to pay a premium though - but you also aren't paying shipping!  So, the store was tiny, but I did manage to spend 40 euro.  Of course I didn't get much for that - and you all know how I am about a bargain (cheap) - but you also know how I am about hoarding!  So, I'll be making a few special things and spacing them out.  I'm also going to be looking for some alternative recipes to make.  We aren't in bad shape yet, I just knew that I needed to take the opportunity of having a ride there.  And, now I know where we can get Diet Dr. Pepper or A&W if we need a can. 

My Expensive American Food - Not Necessarily Health Food.

It was great to get to know some more moms - and ones that have been here for a bit (and on other European assignments).  Turns out there are more options for the new health care offices - they just cost more because they are private.  But, for us it is totally worth it - they new places speak English, take appointments, are in nice new buildings, etc. - and our insurance will be paying anyway.  The other American expat in Brian's company is also now on the new insurance, so he can help us too.  He's been here forever.  Don't worry - we definitely won't be here like him - he has a Slovak girlfriend and is living here by choice - he also has a PhD from MIT (or somewhere equally nerdy).  And we all know how strange that makes him, don't we Heidi!?!?

Ahoj!  [Bye! - can also be used as Hello! - sounds like a sailor]

Relo Tour Around Town

Tuesday, the co-owner of the Relocation Company took me on a quick tour of some important things.

First, we went to the International Women's Club meeting in the Crowne Plaza Hotel downtown.  Normally they have informal coffee meetings every Tuesday but, this day they were holding the elections for the coming year.  No one ran opposed, so everyone won - they try to rotate new people in each year or two so that others can have turns and also so that no one has too hard of a job.  The club actually does a lot of activities.  They host a large Christmas Bazaar/Market that all of the embassies participate in.  All of the proceeds go to charity.  They also have many groups and special activities.  Group examples: Golf, Hiking, Book Club, French, German, Slovak, English, Mah-Jong, etc.  Activity examples: Cultural Trip, Shopping Trip, Lunch of the Month, etc.  And, at meetings they try to bring in a speaker - the one we saw this time was a medical group and their spa and what they had to offer.  It was actually really nice to know that there are multiple options for health care.  I also met several American women that have children at our school, and again one that has a boy in Scouts.  Since September is a time when most rotations start, there were 24 new members from all over the world - including 5 Americans.  So, is a good place to meet new people and get to see cultural places and new things with others.  

Speaking of Health Care, next Ivona took me to a recommended Doctor's Office for Brian and I - just so I knew where it was.  And then to the Children's Hospital and the Emergency Room and a recommended pediatrician (all 3 in the same building).  The building is really old and nothing is in English.  Ivona and her employees can help us with translations if needed.  I just really hope that we never have to use it.  (I did find out on Wednesday that there are a couple more options...more in next post).

Your Slovak word for the day:
    Dovidenia (Goodbye)

Halloween Party & Budapest!

 Wow - so had a good week last week & weekend!

I rode the tram downtown by myself and then walked across the novy most (new bridge) over the Danube to the Aupark mall.  I found socks for Hayden, who had only 2 pairs left due to holes, and did some grocery shopping.  This is actually harder than it sounds because clothes are expensive and not as nice and also in European sizes!  I can't wait till our stuff gets here!

Then I walked back across the river to downtown to the American Embassy.  It's hard to miss - in among all of the beautiful old buildings, it has a giant fence all around it.  Pretty sad.  I was trying to ask if I needed my whole family there to register, or if I could just bring the passports for all of us and do it myself.  Well, the guards didn't speak English well.  Hmmm.  So, I took down the phone number and called when I got home.  After listening to the messages in English, and (just like in America) not getting any of the answers I needed, I decided to try the "push zero" trick and it did work!  But, it connected me with the operator that didn't speak a lot of English - or enough to answer my questions.  So, she connected me with another heavily accented person who actually was able to help me after some repeating for both of us.  It turns out that you don't even go there anymore, you just register on-line.  And, typical government, the on-line form looks like it was done by an 8th grader.  It is the form for ALL travel registration for the US.  Either we used a summer intern, or paid the lowest bidder....mmm, the good old government intern days - at least I never slid down the halls of the CIA with duct tape on my feet!! (Brian)

So, Friday we went to the QSI (American School) Halloween party.  It was early since there is no school the last week of October.  First there was a movie and then food & crafts, then trunk-or-treating and a walk through the scary forest!  It was great fun!  I'm just glad I thought to pack one costume for each of the boys in the bags that came with us on the airplane.  Halloween isn't something that is really celebrated here.  We got to hang out with Hayden's new "best friend" and his dad.  His class has been talking about him each day (they do attendance and whoever isn't there, they wish well), so they were all super excited to see him actually come to school!  And, Eiden and he took to each other immediately.  Eiden's dad is Dutch and is the manager of the Crowne Plaza downtown.  It is really neat how everyone is from all over.  We even found out that one of our very own neighbors is in boy scouts at the American school.  His mom, Cala, is Slovak and his dad is British.  It'll be good to get to know them and their son Alex is 9, so hopefully he and Owen will get to play.
Pictures from Halloween:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248011&id=518481164&l=6e8df3f096

Saturday, we headed to Budapest to see some friends that used to work in Mt. Vernon, IN at GE with us.  They work for Celanese now and started an expat assignment a few months before us.  We had lunch at a really neat restaurant right near their house.  The food was great and there was a playground for the kids to play on while waiting.  Then we walked around downtown and saw some really neat stuff - great architecture, shopping, markets, playgrounds, etc.  The money is still not Euros there - so it was really strange to pay with bills that were in the thousands!  Then we ate dinner and it was time to drive home.  Next time, we'll go stay longer!  And, when we get our stuff, they'll get to come here - gotta have a place for them to sleep, even if it is just a futon.  :)
Check out our pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248013&id=518481164&l=5f3aac4ff3

Well - I'll try to be much better about not stuffing it all in one post.  More frequent updates to follow!

Love to you all!

He's not gonna Pork her Rusty

Here goes - our first test post!

Got the picture thing down.
Check out the video links on the sidebar!

Much, Much More to Come!!!