Carols by Candlelight

Sam's professor is the director of the University of Mainz choir and he invited us to their Christmas concert. I'm grateful we got the invite! The concert was great; they were very talented. We had no idea what to expect but it turned out to be a pretty big deal. Actually, it turned out to be a charity event as well. They were selling Gluehwein, juice, and tasty homemade waffles with powdered sugar! We wanted to do our part so we decided we would give 5 euro to the cause by means of purchasing 5 waffles. Delicious and helpful : )

By the way, it was all in English. It was so nice to hear English at all let alone to hear American Christmas carols. It really put us in the Christmas spirit!

When we got home we looked up Sam's professor on Wikipedia. Sam had heard he was well-known around here. Take a look at just bits and pieces of this guy's Wikipedia page.

Manfred Siebald is a German singer-songwriter and Lecturer in American Studies in Mainz.

He is best known as a Christian singer-song writer, who writes and speaks on Contemporary Worship music. His songs have gained a firm place in the song books of many different Christian denominations and are sung in fellowships and youth groups throughout Germany.

Over time he has become the most well known German Christian singer songwriter, and has influenced many others.

Additionally Manfred Siebald translates English songs and writes lyrics for other singers.

To date Siebald has penned about 350 songs, produced 19 albums and published seven poetry books.

Manfred Siebald performs about thirty concerts annually, accompanying himself on various acoustic guitars. For this he travels all over Germany and abroad. For his concerts abroad, including the U.S., South Africa and Sri Lanka, he has produced English versions of his songs.

In 1983 he was made Assistant Professor (tenured) for American Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University and continued his academic work after completion of his PhD. He interrupted his work at Mainz by taking sabbaticals at Wheaton in Illinois (Clyde S. Kirby) Professor in 1992[Frederick Beuckner last held this professorship) and Guest Professor at Georgia State University, Atlanta,Georgia(1996 and 1997). In the first year (1996) Siebald produced the monograph Der verlorene Sohn in der amerikanischen Literatur - The Prodigal Son in American Literature which was published in 2003. He was made Associate Professor in American Studies in Mainz in 2002 and has remained there to the present.

Manfred Siebald is Curator of the Faith and Science Institute of the Studentenmission in Deutschland (SMD) the German equivalent of the UCCF. In 1979 the Nationwide television special "Whether My Songs Are Loud or Soft" was broadcast about his work.

In 2008, President Horst Koehler awarded him and his wife the Federal Cross of Merit for their tireless charity work both at home and abroad.

Pretty impressive, right?

Introduction to Weihnachtsmarkts

Weihnachtsmarkt = Christmas Market.

They are huge and beautiful and the definite highlight of the Holiday season here in Germany. They are comprised of dozens of individual booths (very cute, decorated, mini log cabins). The booths sell traditional German food and drinks including Gluehwein. Gluehwein is also a trademark of Germany during this time of year. It is hot, spiced red wine. Can't wait to try the famous Gluehwein they serve here in Mainz. The booths also sell Christmas gifts for all. Hand made arts and crafts as well as winter clothing and accessories, children's toys, candles, home decor and countless other German things.

Mainz' own Weihnachtsmarkt is very well known in this region. There is also one across the river in Wiesbaden. We personally like that one better (it is more spread out and has more lights) but for some reason anyone and everyone we ask around here says Mainz is the best. Whatever.

Last Saturday Sam and I made a quick trip to each of these to snap a few photos to show y'all.

We got slightly distracted when I dropped my mitten in the middle of the extremely crowded path while it was very dark out. We were both very upset because these are the mittens that Sam gave me for Christmas last year and they are very unique and NOT cheap. Sam had given up, he said there was no way we could find it (he should have been right) but I insisted we re-trace our every step just in case. What do you know, Sam found it! YAY!!! (Mom, I know what you're thinking...typical me. oops.)

Anyways, we did not get that many pictures and they are not that great. Don't you worry though, this is just a taste of what's to come. I will try to get some in daylight so you can see the booths etc.

Scott Kirchoff (best man in our wedding) is coming to visit us for 2 weeks! He arrives on Friday and we have many plans for his trip. We will be visiting these Markets again as well as at least 2 or 3 others. I plan to take lots of pictures while Sam and Scott are catching up on life.

The best news of all; tomorrow is my last day of work before I get TWO WEEKS OFF!!! I am so thrilled. The kiddos are cute but draining. We plan to do as much traveling as possible with Scottie so I hope to have a couple good blogs in store for y'all. Although possibly not until after Christmas.

I hope everyone back home is surviving the extreme cold and snow we keep hearing about. Take care!

Zankt Gwoahhhhh

Saint Goar (pronounced Zankt Gwah) was a wonderful little town to visit for just one Saturday afternoon. The travel books were right; not much to see in the town but the gigantic castle overlooking Saint Goar makes it worth the trip.

Here is the "small" castle across the river.

Below is the ONE street in town with shops and restaurants. You can see the large castle in the background.

The shop with the most and the largest beer steins in the WORLD!!!

(or so they claim)

Here is the largest coo-coo clock to be mounted IN THE WORLD!!!

(or so they claim)

I took this picture for you, dad! Its "golfer teddy bear".

Here begins our trek through the vineyards to get to the castle.

Quite the view on the way up!

We made it!

So many great views from the top!

We're goin' in!!

This castle was ENORMOUS! Too many nooks, crannies, tunnels and towers to keep track of.

This was my favorite view! (double click to see larger)

Sam contemplated a way to get beyond the barbed wire...

Oh nothing, just hanging out in a castle courtyard.

Looking down on Saint Goar from the top.

On the way back down... Church and graveyard above town.

A very fun day except that I wore my new shoes for the first time. Bad idea on a day for hiking and walking. Good news is I broke them in and now they fit great. Glad we made the day trip!

p.s. Work is going well except that my immune system is not strong enough to fight off germs from 150 small children so I have basically been sick since I started at the kindergarten. The fact that I have been at my worst over the last two weekends is a blessing and a curse. I don't miss work but I also don't get to go out and enjoy Mainz with Sam. He has been so great at taking care of me and making dinner, grocery shopping and doing laundry. I'm one lucky girl!