Not only are 4 leaf clover's green....

but so is the German Polizei.

Not only is March 17th the day that Christian Muehlenberg (matthias's dad) was born, but also a commonly known holiday as "st. patrick's day." We were in Krefeld at the Muehlenberg's house celebrating and I went back to Duesseldorf with Katie (Flo's girlfriend) to pick up Matthias after work. The entire way to Duesseldorf (about 20 min) I was telling Katie how driving here is way more relaxed since there are no speed limits on the Autobahn and how I never see the Polizei pulling people over. About 10 min later, I notice a Polizei car behind me following me and didn't think much of it...then all of a sudden I see the red "Polizei, STOP" sign flashing. Naturally, my palms start sweating and I franticly ask Katie what I'm supposed to do, (even in the U.S I've never been pulled over). I pull over to the side and Katie instructs me not to speak German, I figured too, its always better to play the "dumb American." I hand her my driver's license and she asks if I've been drinking, I say "No" and she asks if she can give me an Breathalyzer test. I agreed, then attempted to do the Breathalyzer, and it took me two time to get it right (gotta play up to my dumb american role) and successfully passed. She handed all of my stuff and told me to have a nice night.

Germans have an absolute zero tolerance policy for alcohol and driving. Legally you are only allowed to have one beer and are still O.K to drive. Anything after there you are pretty much screwed! They don't need a reason to pull you over, and are allowed to give you a Breathalyzer and a pee test at any time with out any reason. It was very nervr-recking but now I can say I survived the German Polizei!

About Marriott...

So as you know, or may not know, I applied for a job through the Marriott website here in Duesseldorf. It was really all a coincidence, I was sitting on the couch one night while Erik and Matthias were playing playstation and we checking out job opportunities. I happened to find a front desk position at a Courtyard Marriott in the area. It was about 3am and I just decided to apply, just to "see" what would happen. In the past when I've applied online for a job at a hotel it normally takes at least a couple of months. Surprisingly, the next day I got an email inviting me for an interview. The next week, I interviewed (alles auf Deutsch) and had a really good feeling about the interview and job....they wrote me an email about a week later and said they were reconstructing and didn't have room for me but would like to keep my application on file for the future. Thinking that was just an easy way to let me down, I didn't think too much about it and continued waking up every morning and heading to Le Pain.

Then out of nowhere, I recieved another email inviting me back for yet another interview for a new event department position. I interviewed, again and the next day I was offered the job!!

I was hired as the in-house event coordinator and will the "go-to" person for when we have in events. I will be working directly with another girl and its just the 2 of us that make up the event department.

I quit the restaurant today, a little sad, but how could I pass up this opportunity? My last day is on Monday. Matthias also quit because he needs to write his bachelor thesis and will leave at the end of April. It was a great experience and I was able to vastly improve my German skills. It was fun while it lasted, but Mr. Marriott has called my name...

Out from the Blogger Cave

So I've decided that instead of me sending out a bunch of emails that you are forced to read, I've decided to start a blog to keep you all updated on Matthias and I's life here in Germany! I have been a turtle hiding in its shell for awhile and I think it's time to come out and get into contact with everyone again!

I know I've been promising pictures of our apartment for a while now, well today is your lucky day....drum roll please....

I wish I had pictures of the apartment before, but there was absolutely NOTHING in this apartment, I'm happy to say that we built this all on our own!! Ikea should sponsor us...we invested a lot of our mula into their stores...you're welcome Ikea!

This is our Kitchen (grey wall)/Living Room...

Living room part of the living room (red wall)...

Of course the T.V...

Our extremely 'huge' bathroom...

Our bedroom looking into the kitchen/living room...

Our balcony over looking the city!

Our hand-made closet, Dad you should be proud!