Bachelor degree review

Oh and there was also the long awaited email from WES ;) The review of my Bachelor degree is completed and everything will now be sent to the University of Maryland University College. Like I said, I'm going to think of a response in early January. Of course I looked at the unofficial copy of the report which is available online and I must say I'm really surprised :D Attended 24 seminars, 14 of them an A, 7 is a B, two C + and C. WOW WOW My GPA  is 3,45 points. WOW again ;) Well let's see what UMUC will say!

screenshort of the report

3 months back in America

Oh man, how time flies. Since I'm already 3 months back in America! I feel the time goes by so fast. Soon it's Christmas again and then 2012 is almost over again! WOW :) Otherwise there is not much to tell. JT and I had ​​a very nice weekend. We went out, met some friend and started our gingerbread house and spent most of Sunday with football.

our gingerbread house

Football looking to Champps

This week I should - finally - get the results of my review and then it shouldn't be long until UMUC receives that results too. I guess around the first week of January I have a decision of UMUC whether I was accepted in the masters program or if I still have to make up some classes. Wish me luck :)

News all around my Studies

In September I applied at the UMUC in Maryland and I sent them all the paperwork they needed. Additionally, they needed my bachelor degree to get evaluated. So I ordered at a evaluation company in New York a report and sent them all the paperwork, too. After a couple of weeks I received and email letting me know that I needed an official transcript of the Rajamangala University of Technology in Thanyaburi, Thailand, where I completed an exchange semester. At the same time I tried to convince UMUC to admitt me to the graduate college just for getting at least like a research class done, but hey no flexibilty at all! I mean it would has been my own risk getting admitted without maybe even having the same bachelor. But anyway I kind of understand their situation too so I accepted that I had to start studying in Spring.

Then I contacted my university in Germany to get a current email address of the contact person from Thailand. Then I was in email contact with the Dean of the Thai University. After I explained my situation and sent him all the necessary forms, he has led the rest of the way. Well, it seem really easy but ... Forget it! After over a month by mail from Thailand to New York, the rating company has contacted me to tell me that the envelope of the transcript was not sealed and was therefore not accepted *ahhhhhh* This was almost 3 weeks ago. Now I have spoken to the University in Thailand, again explained everything carefully and ask for express shipping. And today I finally got the long awaited email from the rating company: all documents are received and their evaluation is under way. On December 18th it should be ready!  I will definitely study from the spring semester *yeah* :)

long-awaited email :)

2. Advent

Oh yes my friends, the time goes by just like that. Since we already have the second advent :) This week not much happened except that I once again had a 24-hour virus caught with all Pi-Pa-Po. I was very sorry for my employers, as they had to cancel important meetings and also the scheduled date had to be postponed, but I was really sick. On Friday everything was fine again. Well and this weekend I was all alone at home, as JT has one extra job. My best friend on this side of the world, Monica, was so nice  pick me up in Bethesda and to entertain me over the weekend. Without a car it sucks! But we spent a lovely girls weekend with football, quite many series and all the stuff. And surprise: We were able to pick up JT today. Yes we had to pick him up, because my boyfriend had forgotten his key! Annoying, but whatever :D I had him back. Have yet tasty one evening together and then we went back to Bethesda. Oh and here is the winter landscape that I craft for the little one :) 

Background

Santa Claus

Advent, Advent a candle is burning...

first one, then two, then three, then four, then the Christ child is coming :)  The last few days I decorated a lot of our apartment :) We now have a great Christmas wreath, Christmas stockings, Christmas tree stands already for several days and then soon an advent calendar. On the weekend we have used our fireplace for the first time :) It was so nice :)

Our Advent wreath :)

Decoration: D

Christmas, TV and rest decoration: D

our fireplace with socks and pictures :)

oh nice fire

Sunday Breakfast in America

The first light is burning

Yesterday we went back to Bethesda. Arrived, I was really surprised by the long-awaited package of my parents :)

4kg chocolate advent calendar and my socks

So much chocolate and gluhwine spice and it's sooooo much. Many thanks to my parents: * <3 I've already started filling up the calendar stockings and of course I already have one, two bits of german chocolate ;) My boyfriend will love it! :D Oh, and my employer have asked me if I would babysitt the little one on a regularly basis Thursday nights because they wanted a date night. And of course I said yes, the money I can always use :)

Black Friday

This morning we went out into the Black Friday hype: D We were shopping 6 hours and we were at the Mall of Columbia, Target and Best Buy. It was not as worse than on a normal Saturday, but on many small things you've seen it was Black Friday :D chairs outside the shops, emptied shelves, super long lines at the checkouts and super discounts. These are our achievements. We treated ourselves to a sound box for our new TV and then I bought a coffee machine, make-up, a new handbag and shoes :D We really saved a lot of money :D I love Black Friday! :D

Happy Thanksgiving

The turkey is eaten and now the Christmas rush is going on here in America :) but start at the beginning: This morning we got up early to turn the delicious food purchased in german red cabbage and german potato salad. We did not wake up as early as our dear hostess, because shewas already with her ​​mom since 7 am in the kitchen and has pushed the turkey in the oven. After a lot cutting and a rescue of my red cabbage - my boyfriend thought he knows how German red cabbage taste and the result was super salty - the two dishes were finally ready. Then it was time to clean up the kitchen and off we went :) The turkey was already out of the oven and it smelled so delicious in the whole house :D The food and especially the turkey were fabulous and I definitely ate too much: D but no matter, Thanksgiving is only once a year. My potato salad was a big hit! Many thanks mom for the recipe! I am now responsible for the potato salad for all family events ;) Why Americans love Thanksgiving so much? Because of the 3 Fs: family, food, football! And so it was after dinner we all watched football ;D

Dinner table with Kristen :)

On the way home we saw the first decorated houses. As I said, the Christmas rush is happening right now in America: Christmas music is playing, Christmas Advertising is shown on TV and everywhere and the houses and trees are decorated. Like ours:) we have just set up our first Christmas tree and decorated it :)

Our Christmas tree and the new TV wall :)

It's getting cozier

So the long weekend is already over and it the next long one is coming up :D two days left until Thanksgiving - the most popular holiday of the Americans! My boyfriend is already mega excited, just like everybody else :D it will be expecting 20 guests and each brings like 1-2 side dishes. Yesterday Kristen and Mike brought the turkey. Wednesday night, I will face in the kitchen and conjure two German side dishes: red cabbage and potato salad alla mama! I'm curious what the Americans are saying the "real" German potato salad. My long weekend I first started in the bed and I was there all day and not moved away: Skype, surfing, watching TV: D very chill! In the evening I wanted to surprise her with a dinner JT, but the men had love in our home is not flushed and I had no great desire to sort out the mess of them, so I invited my friend out on a date ;) was also a nice surprise! We went to eat delicious sushi and then spontaneously to Best Buy. JT is / was so excited about the impending Christmas, the electronics store where he wanted to visit.


Well, and what we found here: just the TV, we wanted to have. Well quickly phoned a colleague, if he has time, because JT's car too small for a 51 inch flat screen TV and bought was a good piece: D

Samsung 3D Smart TV, 51 inch

a good piece in the bedroom yet

On Sunday we also JT's friend helped the long-awaited futon pick from his sister. Now we can finally use our living room and as I have :) first fitted the picture frames on the fireplace with beautiful pictures This Saturday we buy wolten still a shelf from IKEA, because I currently have just 0 storage space for my things, like my entire scrapbook stuff :/

our living room :)

Fireplace with all the pictures :)

It runs every time more homely with us in two weeks :) I can finally put up the Christmas tree, and hopefully by then, the two packages of my parents there. Then I can also hang a beautiful Advent and JT and I were going to buy two Christmas stockings for our fireplace :)

Halloween and other things

Such a storm like Sandy can not really throw the Americans out of their tracks, so naturally Halloween was held on October 31st :D I've been thinking all day long, which outfit the little one should wear. She looked like a little like fairy My boyfriend decided to surprise me and the little girl with a pumpkin :D He knew that I absolutely wanted to carve a pumpkin - my very first here in America - and, unfortunately, due to time constraints, it never worked on weekends. JT came Wednesday right after work and so Jill, JT and me carved a pumpkin. Then the three of us went out for "trick or treat" :)

the end result: D

With the end of the week I was so exhausted because I had to work from sunday evening to friday evening! So the weekend I decided that JT should plan it. On Saturday we were shooting clay pigeons. Man man man, I had a lots of respect and angst. At first I only watched and then I could finally try to shoot myself. I can only say WOW! That was a lot of fun and I shot my first clay pigeon :D

Shooting in Prince George Country, MD :)

Then we went the first time grocery shopping :D We got a lot and found some pretty nice savings :D In the evening we went out for bowling with his family. We bowled no less than 4 (!) hours and it has been so much fun! A few strikes I also managed, unfortunately, I never won the game itself, but I was better than my boyfriend :D *haha* On Sunday we just relaxed and fought with sore muscles :D Sunday evening we went to his sister's, because she invited us to the birthday dinner for their little sister. Kristen was 5 hours in the kitchen and cooking the favorite food of Kelly- Perogies! This is a kind of pasta filled with mashed potatoes or sauerkraut. It was quite tasty, but I'm not the big fan of Polish food.

this is what the Perogies!

Veterans Day was on Monday and I was off half a day. And what makes Steffi at their half day off when she has to work at 3 clock again? Exactly - getting sick :( I was just tired, freezing and exhausted. Well I went to work anyway and I got rewarded with fever and barely sleep through the night. The next day all was well again. Stupid 24 h viruses!!






And now I sit here and write my blog, where I have to actually work :D Yes indeed I had an early start in the weekend, because my employer took the friday off. And what I'll do? A bit of paperwork and just sleeping :D


Oh and the total shock to me: Thanksgiving is already next week: D and Christmas is *juhuuuuuu* and what will JT and Steffi buy for Christmas? Yesssss a TV :D

Birthday

Thanks to all the people who thought of me and many thanks for the great birthday cards from Germany! My employer has given me a wonderful birthday table with cake, flowers and gifts. I got a great candle for our fireplace and a really great picture frame ;)

My birthday table ;)

The birthday card from my parents was my absolute favorite (map in the foreground with the world and the two sheep): D My lovely boyfriend took me out for dinner to the Woodmont Grill in Downtown Bethesda. You should absolutely try it, when you are around! The steak was delicious and the atmosphere just great :)

The first weeks in the U.S.

For almost 4 weeks, I'm back in the States. Autumn has now arrived and the first houses begin to decorate for Halloween. I'm already really in autumn mood and soon it's also my birthday :) So how were the first few weeks here in the States? Stressful :D but positively exhausting.

Working with the baby is fun to me and it is wonderful to see that she learns something new every day. My normal working day looks like this:

I start at 8.30am and then the little one I have breakfast. Then I change her diapers and we get ready to leave the house for her classes. Tuesdays we go to baby yoga, she has a Music Class Wednesdays and Thursdays/Fridays she goes to a Waldorf School playgroup. I take care of a pretty busy young lady :D After these activities, we usually go shortly to the playground. Then back home I cook lunch. In general the little lady eats a lot of vegetables, meat and fish - so very healthy :D Then she is taking her nap, which is usually around 2.5 hours. After the nap we play a little bit and then go again to a playground or we have playdates. By 6pm I prepare dinner for her and then I am off. A standard 10-hour day for little me. The first weeks I will work a lot of overtime because my employer's have so much stress at work. More money for me, but yeah, I just fall exhausted into bed. Despite all the work it's just mega fun working with the little one :)

After such an exhausting week, every person just ones a relaxing weekend. Yes, I hope that I sometimes have one :D So far, I had a lot to do on the weekends because I'm stuck in Bethesda during the week without a car. So all the to-do's need to be moved to the weekend! Friday night my boyfriends picks me up and on Sunday evenings he brings me back to Bethesda. The first weekend JT and I just drove around for us to look at apartments. Fortunately, we have finally found one two weeks ago :D The basement apartment of the house where he lives now *haha* Last weekend we finally moved downstairs into the apartment. But now I am living only on weekends in our apartment, because I'm still on car search :/ Most of my time on the weekends I spend now at car dealers or banks. Currently, even with no great success, but maybe this weekend will change it.

Regarding university, I couldn't start yet, because the rating company needs still to evaluate my bachelor's degree from Germany. Well, that means to wait now and then I suppose I can start in the spring semester.

How the rest of my week looks like, you guys can imagine. But what will this weekend be like? On Saturday I have to go to the driving license office in order to get my American driver's license. Then I have to open an account for the Federal Credit Union because my visa allows me to open one there. Then we have to clean JT's old room and I have to pick up the rest of my moving boxes. We are getting a futon sofa from is sister and then we wanted to go to IKEA to buy a nice dresser. Currently, most of my clothes are flying around on the ground. And then I wanted to buy a Halloween costume this weekend :D any suggestions? Last year I was Little Red Riding Hood :D

Autumn weather 10/17/2012

Anniversary

One year ago I got on an airplane and I knew my life would change ... I met incredible people, had ups and downs and learned more about life in this time ... Espescially that life sometimes can be an a ******!

But still it was the best decision I made ​​to take this 'time-off' after my studies. Who thought one year ago I could not do that and that this 'time-off' would not be good for my life?

But hey look now: I am living my dream in America! I am working in Maryland and I want to start my master studies this spring semester! I am getting my own car, I want to move together with my boyfriend and I found some awesome friends! Yep this 'time-off' was not good ... It was awesome!!

I can just thank my parents, my sister and her boyfriend, my two best friends and Nora & Toddi for the support and help I got and that you made ​​this possible ♥ ♥ ♥

The first few days back in the States

After arriving at Dulles airport, I could still not believe it! Just to strange! I quickly went to immigration and after many questions I was back in the States :D My employer was not there yet, but after a short time they came to pick me up. At my new home ​my boss told me the first things. After that we went all out for dinner at an Irish pub in Bethesda. But the evening ended early for me - Hello JETLEG :D but well, I have a nice bed ;)

my bed ;)

The next day I was super excited ;) why? My boyfriend wanted to pick me up after working. The day went by really quickly and the little one and I get along very well :) And then JT came and close after two months we had each other back ;) The rest of the weekend I spent with JT and we surprised our friends in our favorite bar. And I must say, it went pretty well :D Monica almost fell off her chair as she saw me and Evan just freaked out that I'm back in the states :)

my girls and I ;)