Germany?

[Saphira]

I didn't want to scare anyone. I just need to get it out sometimes. I don't have many to talk to about it. Thanks for listening.

 

[SarahDiener]

Haha, no worries!

I meant something like this https://www.amazon.de/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i:aps,k:mamascarf&keywords=mamascarf&ie=UTF8&qid=1348863871 but I found this through ur link

 

[morri]

I think the course I did was really interestinmg, Maybe it would help you to go to such a course too(and since insurance doesnt pay it here it costs me 35€ but I don't think thats too bad a price.)
If you feel like it I can pass on all the info of what she told us . in that course too

 

[Saphira]

Haha, no worries!

I meant something like this https://www.amazon.de/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i:aps,k:mamascarf&keywords=mamascarf&ie=UTF8&qid=1348863871 but I found this through ur link

When in doubt, just type it in in English Sarah.

morri, to be honest, I'm not sure I'd like going to one of those courses. I think I'd feel really uncomfortable and it would be hard to work in with who could watch my daughter when. How often are yours and how long?

 

[morri]

Mine was just a one off course. (once for two hours )

 

[Saphira]

Mine was just a one off course. (once for two hours )

Ah I see! I guess I was thinking they'd be similar to the birth courses at the hospital. They were twice a week for a few hours each from what I can remember. My husband wasn't even allowed to come, which put me off of them completely.

 

[morri]

You mean the antenatal classes?, I am at one which is at the local birthing center(Geburtshaus) they have classes with men and without, mine is without men.

 

[SarahDiener]

You mean the antenatal classes?, I am at one which is at the local birthing center(Geburtshaus) they have classes with men and without, mine is without men.

I did a couples course at a midwife centre.

And yeah, I tried english, but I couldn't think of quite the right phrase :/

So turns out Dh's parents are giving us their car (and oldish A6). We're going to get an Isofix put into it by a mechanic because even though our Corsa (LOL!) has one, the Audi does not! We'll end up spending wayyyy more on petrol but it'll be safer and the pram is going to fit in the back

 

[Saphira]

Does anyone else find it strange that onesies in German are called "Babybodys"? It suddenly clicked with me today that that Englishified translation is a bit odd..

 

[Saphira]

Oo, Audis are nice Sarah! I have noticed many cars don't have the isofix option, that's why an isofix only car seat could be inconvenient if baby's ever in another car without it. Are Audis really such gas guzzlers?

 

[SarahDiener]

It's just a big engine!! And our current is a 1.3 corsa, it basically runs off air .

Haha, yeah, some of the englishified names for things are weird! Speaking of Bodies, whenever my midwife says "body" it sounds like "buddy". She was going on about "only you can know what's right for your buddy!". My DH was so confused, he didnt click until half way through what she was actually saying !

Yeah, ours isnt isofix only, can totally just do the old seatbelt thing. Although it would have sucked if we couldnt get an isofix attachment for this car seeing we have already bought the isofix bit!!

 

[Saphira]

Sorry Sarah, I know you've told me before but I don't remember.. Where are you and your husband from? New Zealand, right?

I didn't always follow when my midwife spoke English with me either. I stuck with German but she went over to English then back to German. It's probably just easier if we both speak in our native languages really. If only I could do so with my husband's parents. I'm soooo slow switching my mind to German. Then the conversations get frustrating for me because I forget the easiest of words. I went on a few sentences in English today with my MIL and didn't notice 'til after. I speak English only with my husband so probably the mistake. I just can't switch to German only or the simplest of conversations would take forever and lack the detail I need in them!

 

[morri]

Actually onesie is a brand name, and they had a court case against someone who used 'onesie' as a name for their body suits. Becuase that is what body is short for Bodysuit. and yes I noticed it is dodgy

 

[Saphira]

Oh man.. we have the absolute worst of luck with neighbors. The lady and her new boyfriend above us have had various projects over the past months. I mean, I don't know how the hell they have room for all their new furniture but they're always getting rid of a bunch of crap and bring more in and build it up for days. I feel like every day there's hammering and banging around up there. But, that was somewhat manageable and we tried to ignore it as best we could. Anyway, they got a whole new load of furniture today. They started putting it together late afternoon and thought it was appropriate to go on until they got it all done, regardless how late that may be.. Our daughter's been in bed since 9, absolutely exhausted, and on they went, an unreasonably loud sawing, hammering and thumping (they were sawing down the new kitchen work space my husband said) until I felt so bad for her, especially as she's a light sleeper, my husband went up at 10:30 asking so nicely to please call it a night our baby's sleeping. She coldly said, "JA KLAR" and I heard a slam of the door. I can't believe it. She knows we have a baby! She's even come down here twice in the past in the middle of the day, when it would be acceptable to bang around or whatever, to say it may be a bit louder. I'm shocked by her reaction tonight. I feel like people are so cold here. The past two apartment buildings we've lived in we've have nothing but "crap neighbors" if I can say it that way. It just hurts and makes such an awkward setting. I never felt this way with any of our neighbors in the U.S. Sometimes I miss it a lot because it's really hard to connect with others at all here. A very distant setting as many don't seem to give a sh.. about those around them. Or maybe we've just had a ton of bad luck with neighbors.. just a bit sad.

 

[WhisperOfHope]

Oh man.. we have the absolute worst of luck with neighbors. The lady and her new boyfriend above us have had various projects over the past months. I mean, I don't know how the hell they have room for all their new furniture but they're always getting rid of a bunch of crap and bring more in and build it up for days. I feel like every day there's hammering and banging around up there. But, that was somewhat manageable and we tried to ignore it as best we could. Anyway, they got a whole new load of furniture today. They started putting it together late afternoon and thought it was appropriate to go on until they got it all done, regardless how late that may be.. Our daughter's been in bed since 9, absolutely exhausted, and on they went, an unreasonably loud sawing, hammering and thumping (they were sawing down the new kitchen work space my husband said) until I felt so bad for her, especially as she's a light sleeper, my husband went up at 10:30 asking so nicely to please call it a night our baby's sleeping. She coldly said, "JA KLAR" and I heard a slam of the door. I can't believe it. She knows we have a baby! She's even come down here twice in the past in the middle of the day, when it would be acceptable to bang around or whatever, to say it may be a bit louder. I'm shocked by her reaction tonight. I feel like people are so cold here. The past two apartment buildings we've lived in we've have nothing but "crap neighbors" if I can say it that way. It just hurts and makes such an awkward setting. I never felt this way with any of our neighbors in the U.S. Sometimes I miss it a lot because it's really hard to connect with others at all here. A very distant setting as many don't seem to give a sh.. about those around them. Or maybe we've just had a ton of bad luck with neighbors.. just a bit sad.

AH dont get me started on rude unfriendly neighbours! we are in the process of moving into our 3rd flat in less then 2 years due to it, the first flat was FULL of drunks and antisocial type people, loud music,loud sex, the guy abouve us used to do his washing at 11 at night and wouldlituraly shake our flat, the one we are moving from now, is full of turkish (i dont have aproblem with them as such just how they are) leaving notes on our doorstep telling us they havent seen us clean the hallway when we had been just cos they couldnt see it as we didnt leave puddles like they do oh and shoes everywhere left for us to trip over in the hallway as they do not wear shoes in side there house yes thats fine too but to leave all 20 pairs outside the door and on OUR doormat,coming in from mosque late at night and allowing there 3 year old to run up and down the landing shouting going between two flats (they are related both out neighbours) oh and DIY seemed to be every weekend hammering and drilling till late just think people do not consider others as much in flats here HOPEFULLY the new flat will be ok the lady across the hallway seems nice and chatty shes in her 70s but the people abouve us seem quite loud and rowdy i guess its just a case of waiting, they will get pay back if they are come feb with a newborn crying

 

[WhisperOfHope]

with us mind you its a case of all we can afford is areas where that type are as we havent much money,cant wait for the day we can live in an area thats nice all around ooooh i sounded snobby there lol im an ex RAF child so always been in good areas in the uk

 

[Saphira]

It's somehow reassuring to know we're not alone, although sad! I'm not looking for neighbors to be great friends with, just wish others could participate in basic respect of those living next to them. I don't understand how sawing a kitchen work space at 10:30 at night with no stopping in sight is using good judgement when others live below and across from you.

Our last apartment building was also full of Turkish people but there was no hausordnung, no no no. There was also 20 pairs of shoes outside of doors, water balloon rests lying all about, manderine peals lining the entrance, trash all over.. There were hallway parties too. But, no one was so directly rude to us there and no one banged around into the late hours. Well, no one wanted anything to do with us once they found out we're not married. Then no one talked to us anymore.

I have noticed the over 60ers are the nicest of them all. And you always hear horror stories about older people being the worst of neighbors. Can't say I agree. They've been so nice, just wish I could understand their dialect. Most speak in a dialect that I have little chance to understand.

Well, I hope you have better luck in your new apartment Whisper! Sounds like it could be a winner. We'll be packing our things next year as well. Hopefully we'll be out of here by the spring/early summer because we're very much over this.

 

[SarahDiener]

My DH is german but he's a very NZ german!

I have the feeling we are going to turn into the annoying neighbours with the newborn crying at all hours :'(

They possibly arent even allowed to saw in their house after 7 or something. Germany has laws about what noise you can make!! I think I'm not allowed to vacuum after 7.

I know of some horrible old people!! LOL, but then I know other nice old people too . The neighbour of my in-laws has sued every person on their group of 17 flats.... He's 50-60 I think.

 

[morri]

You know, I would report them to the police if they are so unruly. 9 pm is definitely not the time to be loud.!

 

[Saphira]

Haha, what's a NZ German like Sarah?

It's not uncontrolled noises (babies crying), which bother me as a baby can't be turned off. I just feel like sawing, hammering and banging around after 7PM is ridiculous as that's controlled noise. It's especially confusing to me since that lady seemed to somewhat care months back as she came down twice to tell us it'll be loud but ever since she's been with her new boyfriend she's become more of a witch. My husband thinks she's annoyed because of our sometimes crying baby but I don't see how that could be the case since she was semi-okay months back and Aurora cried much more when she was younger. She really doesn't cry much so I don't think that could be the reason. Plus they live above us so I don't see how they could hear her. Anyway, she has a child herself, well he's rarely there which I find very odd, but that's another thing. He must be around 4 so you'd think she'd be especially understanding. He's not the quietest of kids either - sounds like a pack of animals up there when he's running and jumping around but he's not the problem, he knows no better. They should. So, if she's annoyed by a baby that rarely cries below and therefore thinks it's okay to be rude then I have no sympathy at all for her.
We saw her today and I was hoping for an apology but she ignored us so whatever. Morri, the next step taken will be notifying the apartment owners and in the worst of cases police. I'm really hoping it won't need to be taken to that extremity. Thankfully they've been calm up there this evening. It wasn't at 9 he went up last night either, it was 10:30!! They probably would have gone on like that until midnight as it wasn't dying down a bit.

Onto better things - picked up the Mura 3 today! It's a beauty! Aurora seems to love it too! She thinks it's funny to be able to watch us while being pushed in it. I never would have thought before having a child how exciting the perfect stroller could be! I never even knew a thing about them, they all looked the same to me then. Well, I'm happy about it!

Other than that not a whole lot new over here. Hope you're all well and enjoyed the weekend!