I’ve been extended a week and half longer here in Germany. I’m not thrilled cause I miss Mandy, my friends, and my house terribly! Fortunately before I left we planned some fun weekend events with friends and family (late night dinners, superbowl parties, dinning out after work, Jai-Alai, Orlando Improv, guy’s night, a dog walk or just going out for some wine tasting). The worst part about being extended is I’ll only be home a week and half before I leave again, for another ’supposed’ two weeks.

This being away from home reminds me of when I was a young lad. Sleep-overs always sounded cool and fun, but I could never follow through because I would become very home sick. So much that sometimes my parents would have to pick me up. Fortunately I grew out of it. This trip reminds me how much I love being home, with the wife, the dogs, tv, the macbook pro and people that speak English. Of course before I left I was excited to see Germany and I’ve seen some (but not as much as I’d like or have time for).

Flying over here to Germany (on an 8 + hour flight), you could easily recognize who was there for business and it made me wonder. When you don’t have much to get home to, might it be easier to deal traveling for long periods at a time? – I get home sick after visiting my parents after just 2 days (or just tired of them..love you mom!)  So for me when traveling for more than 3 weeks without my Mandypants is not so fun.

Mandy brought up a very good point to me, I can’t complain too much because her bestfriend is pregnant with a second child, and her husband is being shipped to Iraq for 8 months starting in March (God Bless you Mere & Jay).  Things could always be worse, so to everyone back home I miss you all, and hope to see you very soon for a fun evening out….before I leave again!

Shit like this is why I’m such a huge fan of Robin Williams…that along with him and I can relate with the hair thing….

Robin Williams Saves the Day at TED When Tech Fails | Epicenter from Wired.com

Sunday I finally went snowboarding, it’s been on my unwritten list of goals for a long time. I still can’t believe I snowboarded in the alps as my first time! The weather was amazing probably around 54-56 Fahrenheit! Where you skied was in this ‘big bowl of snow’ and you were surrounded by mountains which blocked the wind, just the sun would beat on ya.

Scott a co-worker taught me what to do (I don’t think they offered lessons…and especially in English). I took my first hill down to the ski lift like a champ, not falling once! He didn’t believe that this was my first time, because I looked so natural. I did fall though, and once pretty hard where I flipped. I couldn’t get comfortable trying to stop with my toes, only my heels (you’ll know what I mean if you’ve tried snow boarding before). Regardless it was a fun and difficult challenge to snowboard.

Though, I’m not sure if I’d do it again. They say I need to go twice to really get the grasp of it, and I’m not sure how much I want to. Being surrounded by so much snow as a born and raised Floridian was a little much. In addition, the whole, take the trolley car up one side of the mountain, trolley car down the other side of the mountain, stomping around with these huge boots on, carrying this board, then taking the small hill down to the ski lift with gloves, a big jacket, ski pants, goggles, beanie, scarf, etc was just too much work! I think the novelty wore off. I’m a simple man, give me some swim trunks and a surfboard and I’m good to go! The video below shows me snowboarding down this really small hill. I wanted the video to remember how messed up I looked. The secret is I just fell before Scott started shooting.

Snowboarding in German Alps from Jesus Salgueiro on Vimeo.

I haven’t seen this till just now, and it’s fucking awesome! Catch the Sarah Silverman from the same user.

Well it’s day 3 of my 2 week…err 3 week (maybe one month) work adventure to Germany. I’ve been here a few days now and it’s been very eye opening. Especially for the fact that I don’t know very much German. Although, I know understand and can relate to what it feels like to not speak any Spanish in Miami (what Mandy must feel like sometimes to be the only whitey when hanging with my family). Work has been super busy so I haven’t been able to experience the Bavarian culture very much. For example yesterday I had McDonalds for lunch and Chinese for dinner. Did you know there were Asians in Germany, that spoke German, but don’t have chopsticks in their restaurants? I did!

Some things I like and don’t like so far:

The cold sucks, although I can’t complain, it’s been beautiful the last few days with a high of 52F or 11c whichever you prefer. The cars are nice with most having seat warmers in the front and the back seats! The people are also nice, and there’s hardly no crime. Once I learn some German, and get some time I’ll really take advantage. For now, it’s Speichen sei Englisch?  Unterhaching, the city I’m in for work is nice, but I know central Munich is much prettier. The weather though has been amazing mid day, obviously in the mornings and evenings it isn’t pleasant.

I’m 15 minutes from central Munich and hope to experience it soon enough. The pictures are one of Mandy before I left all ready for the cold when she comes over soon, and the botttom picture is of a neighborhood we’re staying close to. Guten Tag!

Now I may sound terrible, but I can jam out with the best of them. This is me singing Dani California by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Rockband. Look at Ian’s intensity, he’s a very serious drummer.

Rock band with the guys from Jesus Salgueiro on Vimeo.