Returning Home

     (for week of 27. Feb)

     No, this weekend I did not return to America, but went to visit my old neighbors in Reichenbach-Steegen with Joanna and Megan this weekend. The Christmann family lived next door to mine in the duplex we lived in while my father was stationed at Ramstein AFB and helped us practice our German, brought us to town events, and introduced us to the wonderful meal that is Raclette. Stefan and Nicole (the parents) still live there with their two sons Philip and Frederik who have grown considerably since I last saw them ten years ago (as 3- and 1-year-olds, respectively), and their amazingly energetic boxer Alesco. 
     After a 4-hour journey by train, the three of us arrived at Ramstein Hbf and met up with Nicole. She asked us if we had any plans for the night, and after hearing that we had none, she offered up a concert that was being held at 8, commemorating the 60-year presence of the US Air Force in Ramstein. We thought that sounded like a great idea so we went to buy tickets, and she refused to let us pay. After profusely thanking her, we jumped in the car for a trip up to Landstuhl Castle, where we walked around and realized how surprised we were to hear English spoken by others in everyday conversation--specifically from the kids (presumably with military parents) who were playing around the castle. Sadly, the inside of the castle had just closed, so we walked around the outside for a little while longer, looked out over the town, and then jumped back into the car to go home to Reichenbach. On the way we picked up Philip and one of his friends from the Schwimmbad where I remembered going for friends' birthday parties back when we were stationed here.
     When we got to the house, we brought our things up to Philip's room where we were staying. After a few minutes, I realized that since their half of the duplex was the mirror-image of ours, we were staying in what was the mirror-version of my room. It was a strange feeling. After unpacking, we went downstairs and were greeted by Alesco, their four-year-old Boxer who was, for me, a new addition, and energetic doesn't even begin to describe him. Eventually, we made it past the foot of the stairs with Alesco to sit down for a while and I had the chance to look at the photos from their trip to America last summer. It was strange to think that, for them, America had the same appeal as a foreign country that Germany and everywhere else in Europe has for me.

Raclette Grill

     During this time, they had pulled together everything for Raclette. This was a meal to which the Christmanns introduced us on New Year's Eve in 1999, to welcome in the new millennium. It fills the same sort of purpose as fondue, as a social meal where everyone prepares their own food. Basically, everyone has their own little pan which they fill with a variety of cut-up vegetables and meats, covers with a slice of Raclette cheese (from which the meal/dish gets its name) and places under a heating element to melt. Once it is finished, everything is slid out from the pan onto mashed potatoes, topped with assorted sauces, eaten, and then the whole process is repeated until everyone has had their fill.
     After dinner, during which time we made the decision to try to converse in German in order to get in some good practice, we returned to Ramstein with Nicole for the concert. It was put together by the local government, with the USAF Phoenix Foundation Jazz Ensemble as special guests at the end. The music choice was composed of favorites that spanned the sixty years of Ramstein's partnership with and support of the US Air Force presence at Ramstein AFB, since March 2, 1952. A children's choir, youth choir, and adult choir all performed a few songs to open with, followed by a short speech from the Mayor, welcoming everyone and asking a few questions of Gen. Welsh and a representative from state government of the Rheinland-Pfalz, whom I believe he addressed as Madam-Secretary (in German, of course). The program continued with several pieces performed by the State Youth Jazz Orchestra, the names of which I did not recognize, but I certainly knew the tunes and a couple of the artists' names. Just before intermission, the Phoenix Foundation Jazz Ensemble joined them for a piece.
     During the break, we went out and talked with Stephan's parents, who we were seated next to, about their week-long trip to New York. This was entirely in German, since they did not know much English at all, but I am proud to say that the three of us were able to understand almost all of what he said with minimal help from Nicole. This occupied the whole intermission, so we then went back in and listened to the PFJE's renditions of some 50's and 60's medleys, Thriller, Michael Buble, Santana, and Cee-Lo Green. The whole time, the three of us suppressed the urge to get up and dance, because the group had amazing energy. One of the great things about military musical groups is that they are disciplined in everything they do, so the musical talent is great, and they know how to get the audience into the performance. After being treated to an encore, the program ended, and we went out to receive the pretzel and wine that came with the ticket, went home, and went to bed.
     Saturday morning, we woke up and had bread from what is apparently the best bakery in the area, as they make their own bread every day from scratch, and I will admit it was some of the best I've had since coming here. I also learned that, and had a "crack" at (pun intended), Philip's preferred method of opening hard-boiled eggs: by cracking them on his forehead. I used my own forehead of course, and I found that it worked pretty well! We spoke German at breakfast, too, and learned some Pfälzisch (the local dialect). After talking for a while, Nicole and Stephan helped us figure out trains, and we headed upstairs to pack up. Before we left, we got a few pictures and said our good-byes to Stephan, Philip, a tired Frederik, and Alesco. Nicole drove us to Kaiserslautern Hbf, helped us get the regional ticket that would get us all to Heidelberg and partway home, and went with us to the train platform before saying good-bye.

(left to right) Joanna, Nicole, Megan, Stephan, me

     Over the course of driving around on Friday and Saturday morning, it was great to remember and see places from my time in Germany: where friends used to live, the old Bike-Inn just outside of town on the bike path where we would go and get ice cream in the spring and summer, the town meeting hall where they held a few special events every year, the bus stop where I learned to ride a bike, and the road up to the Sportplatz where I played soccer on the local team.