A Case of Alpha Male Syndrome.

After much thought, i've decided to meet up with the Kazakhstanian Blond Chick again. I figured my German won't get any better if i'm cooped up at home all day doing work. Plus i'm starting to get a feeling that J is getting annoyed that i have to wait for him to return phone calls and run complicated errands because i lack the confidence and the vocabulary.

January had a lot more expenses than i had calculated for and until my client pays me the money that they owe me, i won't be able to register for any German courses. Majority of the courses began 2 weeks ago and nearly all of them are full already. But apparently there's a course beginning in April which i'm thinking of joining.

So until then i'm looking at other options.

One option is to join a German Language Group which is run by an English speaking guy who is fluent in German. Which i'm actually keen on doing since that will mean i could meet other English-speaking people. Plus by having the lessons explained in English, i may actually understand it better rather than always flicking through my dictionary every other minute.

So when i told J about this idea, i don't think he was as enthusiastic about it as i was.

I think he might even be jealous. Never mind that there will be other people in the group. Maybe it's that whole alpha male syndrome talking. He has no issues with me going alone to meet up with random females but getting tutored by a guy [with other people] is a whole different ball game apparently.

I dunno, boys are weird that way.

Anyway, now that we have a faster internet connection, J has started getting into the habit of gaming after he gets back from work. He's not as hardcore as before and so far it's only been 4 times a week but i can't help but think it'll only be a matter of time.

Nippy and Saying Hello To My Shadow Again.

Bedroom | Work Room | Kitchen

Not a single cloud in the sky and the most perfect shade of blue. Oh how i wish i didn't have a deadline today.

But every time i look at the five-day forecast, it puts me in a better mood. It's been so long, i can't even remember the last time i saw that burning ball in the sky.

I hope you have a great weekend!

I Told You So + Sitting Face to Face

If your car gets towed and impounded in Cologne, it costs 197€ to get your car back. I know this because when J woke up this morning, he looked out the window to find that his car was missing.

The first week we moved here he got a ticket for parking at that very spot. And despite reminding him numerous times he shouldn't park there in case the parking inspectors come, he reassured me that they don't check so early in the morning.

On a typical week day, J would leave for work before 7 o'clock but since his boss said that he could come to work late because he's working late tonight, he slept in until 9.

Parking Fine #1

There aren't any signs that says one cannot park there. So, the second time J parked there, he figured that if he parked partially on the sidewalk, it wouldn't obstruct the traffic. In fact, there was ample room for any vehicle to pass.

Parking Fine #2 + Prison for Cars

I guess he was wrong.

Oh well, i guess that shows him, that maybe next time he should listen to his woman!

***

So anyway, yesterday i experienced my first Tandem Language Learning experience. I later learnt that the Russian Blond Chick i was supposed to have a date with, was not from Russia but from Kazakhstan.

When she told me where she was from, it reminded me of that time i was on the monorail back in Malaysia and a guy [who i first thought was from Kazakhstan but ended up being from Kyrgyzstan] passed me his number on a piece of paper as he was exiting the train. You can read all about the days leading up to my "first date" here and here.

And after finally gathering enough guts to contact this stranger, we eventually arranged to have a date several days later but then the dickhead stood me up. Read about what i ended up doing instead here.

ANYWAY, back to my date with the thirty year old Kazakhstanian Blond Chick...

We planned to meet outside a particular bookstore in the city and later have some coffee nearby.


I chose to take the earlier train because i wanted to have a look around the city. It was my first time out on my own, so i wanted to make sure i knew where i was going. And in case i got lost, i would have enough time to find my way back.

2.50€ to travel 9 stops in 18 minutes

But i found my way and had about an hour to spare.

When it got closer to the time, i realised trying to find a complete stranger in a sea of people based on a passport-sized image of only her side profile can be a bit challenging.

But there she was standing by the doorway and not that much taller than me. Somewhat attractive with a shoulder length blond hair, wearing skinny jeans, brown high-heel boots and a matching leather handbag. She definitely looked quite posh.

So the plan was, i was supposed to speak in German and she was supposed to correct me when i made mistakes and vice versa except she would speak English. And although i made far more mistakes and probably ended up speaking a lot more than her, the pressure to make sure my sentences were grammatically correct was on full force.

I almost felt like i was back in school.

So when i explained to her in simple German sentences that i speak English with J and only recently have we started to try speaking German together, she immediately said that it was a pity that my boyfriend didn't speak German with me.

I could almost see the look of disapproval oozing out of her round face.

I immediately became defensive and protective of J and told her in English that it was my fault because i told him not to speak German with me. And that during my early days of learning German, we would often argue because i was annoyed because i didn't understand. But now that i'm slightly more confident and ready, we're trying simple sentences.

So the interrogation continued and just like any other date, we tried to tell one another the more interesting facts about ourselves.

An hour and half later, we ended our session [minus the coffee because we forgot to order some] and to tell you the truth, i was relieved that it was over.

My first impression? She's a wee bit too serious for my liking. Maybe next time i should ask her what her star sign is, so i can see if, astrologically, we get along.


But i think i made a good impression because she wants to meet up again this coming Monday.

I almost feel like i need to study more, in fear that she'll one day whip out a wooden ruler and beat me with it if i repeat the same mistakes for the umpteenth time.

I told her i would write her a message later to confirm.

Maybe if i agree to meet up again, i can suggest going for an ice-cream or maybe drinking a cocktail. There's nothing like a bit of alcohol to make conversations flow better and chill people out.

***

Before i forget...

I apologise for missing half of my nose and looking practically white in this photo. I'm seated directly in front of the window and the blinds were open.

P.S. I'm not that pasty in real life.

Day 2

But this is my new hairdo with a purple tinge to it. I know it's red in this photo but just imagine it to be more purple.

My hair is usually really straight but because i just let my hair down minutes before i took this photo, it looks like my hair is full of volume. I actually quite like it this way but i've got stubborn hair, it refuses to stay curly.

So after growing my hair for over two years and having it hang down to my hips for the last year, i decided to chop off about 6 inches at one go.

Why? Why not.

I figured it won't be another four months or so until i visit the hairdressers again, so i'm sure it'll grow. Plus i wanted to make the visit worth the time and the money.

Signs of Aging + Dating Strangers

I woke up before the crack of dawn with the worst back pain. So after making a little sandwich for J so he could take to work and some coffee to jolt us both back to reality, i decided i had to lie back down. It helped, somewhat, but still i'm having difficulties finding a comfortable seating position.

No, i did not carry anything heavy the night before and neither did i get into any awkward positions before i fell asleep. Something is pinching my lower spinal chord and it's really uncomfortable.

I have an appointment to get my hair cut and coloured this afternoon. I'm really hoping i can sit for three hours straight.

So apart my morning whinge and showing signs of aging, i haven't really been up to so much except that our diet/mission to eat healthier was put on hold.


The past weekend was relatively quiet. The weather has been really crap and with temperatures hovering around 5˚Celsius and at one time it even started snowing lightly, going further than the living room was a bit of a drag.



But we decided to take a walk to the Rhine river anyway to get some fresh air.

It's about 25 minutes away by foot, shorter if you take the underground train one stop. And saw that the high water levels had gone down and all the debris washed up on to the sidewalks. Apparently, this is the route that bicycles should take if they want the scenic view into the city.

Our original plan was to drive to our old apartment to pick up the remaining boxes and paint some walls that we managed to damage. But since one of J's colleagues mentioned there was a nice little cafe near where we were at, it became a mission to go find it.


We found it. And we couldn't resist trying their Tiramisu and Apple cake. I washed down my share of the slices with a coffee and some soy milk.

I would definitely return for the Tiramisu. It was really good.

After that, we walked around the area for about two hours doing some random shopping and in turn burning whatever excess calories we consumed on the way.

Cover design by Yulia Brodskaya
well known for her innovative paper illustrations

We came across a bookstore and i ended up buying Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. It so happens to be the sequel to Eat, Pray, Love. I actually really liked the book, hence the reason why i thought i may like the second. I've only read up to the end of the first chapter. I hope to read more when i'm at the hairdressers' later.

We then came home and pigged out on some roasted & salted corn kernels that we bought at the nearby Turkish supermarket.

Interesting, i know. I just thought i'd share.


On Sunday, J went to go buy fresh bread rolls and mini croissants from Merzenich. The first day we arrived in Koeln, we went to this bakery and i wondered why the place was packed with much older people. Perhaps it's because it's been around since 1896 and the quality has remained consistent. The breads are slightly more pricier but the taste is far more superior than other cheaper bakeries i've been to.

It's now one of my favorite bakeries and the best part is, it's just up the road.

We later spent the rest of the day either napping or watching mindless High Definition programmes with our new Entertain Comfort Package [internet & phone inclusive] from Telekom.

It was just one of those lazy kind of weekends.

***

But that's not all.

I have a date tomorrow with a Russian blonde chick!

I'm assuming she's Russian because she states in her profile that Russian is her native language. English is mine but that doesn't mean i'm English.

Anyway, remember how i signed up on that Language Exchange Partner site last week?

Well since then i've been in contact with several people but only two women so far have shown more interest. One who so happens to be a German teacher but is only available next week because she's in Zürich this week. And the Russian chick, who only just switched our meet up from next week to tomorrow because one of her appointments got cancelled.

I didn't ask what she does for a living since i figured i'd leave those kinds of questions for our meet up. Ya know, just in case we run out of things to say within the first fifteen minutes.

You never know.

Awkward silent moments can be really uncomfortable. There are some people out there who can't seem to get conversations rolling. But i'm really hoping she's not one of them and so i'm sending out positive vibes out into the universe.

I'm not actually sure what a Language Exchange Partner should do during these meet ups but i'm assuming each person is meant to practise the language that they want to learn or have difficulties with.

On one side, i can't believe i'm actually doing this.

For those silent readers who have followed me since i arrived to this side of the world, will know of my hesitation towards speaking German and learning new languages.

But then, on the other hand, i'm super excited at the thought that i may even make one new friend. Never mind that i'll be stuttering. At least i can now say, i have a social life.

I mean, i can be rather shy if i want to be, especially when it comes to speaking German. But something in me is possessing me to get off my arse, be more confident and meet new people.

Maybe it's the Kölsch air.

Or maybe, it's my spine telling me i need to get off my arse and finish doing the housework.

-_-

The Battle Against The Expanding Waistline Begins.

You know when you have to re-examine your food intake when you're forced to readjust your belt size. I wonder how many washing machines out there have been wrongly accused of clothes shrinkage.

And so, as of yesterday, J and i have decided to go on a diet.

Well, more him than me.

They say, "there's a connection between couples and weight. Not only do women and men who live together tend to gain weight at similar times, they also are more likely to achieve better results if they tackle weight loss as a couple." [source]

This sudden leap to start eating more healthier was apparently triggered when he found out that all of his new colleagues are involved in some kind of sport. Which by the way, neither J or i play any sport or attend any gym. One of the sole reasons why we're going to make bike riding a must-do activity over the weekends from now.


But our lack of movement/exercise probably explains why our stomachs have slowly converted themselves into bellies with prominent profiles.

I reckon just as we are aging, so are our metabolisms.

And although i have no real issues with J's expanding waistline, he, on the other hand, feels miserable.

Did you know, "Winter weight gain isn't just an urban myth; it's driven by biology and fueled by mood. In fact, most of us gain between three and four pounds during the winter months. [source]

Damn you, Cold!

So anyway, i've been given strict instructions that the next time i'm at the supermarket, i'm supposed to get J less fattening food and not buy anymore meat for him.

Junk food such as chips, candy and chocolate is now being replaced with roasted almonds, fresh fruits and salad. However, J's allergic to many of the nuts, so i guess that just means that i get to eat them all for myself.

Yum!

Our mission to eat more healthier started with yesterday's dinner;


Salmon encrusted in various herbs and blobs of margarine which i then baked in the oven. And to accompany it, some salad with red radishes, cucumber and red capsicum + rice with a little soy sauce.

The salmon was the frozen kind, 700 grams and bought from Lidl [a discounted supermarket here in Germany] for 5.99€ - well worth the price, i say. It's meant to be for four people but it tasted so good that we managed to eat three-quarters of it.

And the best part was, it didn't even taste fishy! I really don't like eating fish that has little bones or has that awful fishy taste to it. Does that even make sense?

Although technically, if we were on a strict diet there would be no rice, salad dressing or extra margarine. And the salmon would be steamed and a much smaller portion.

OK fine.

It wasn't exactly the most fat-free meal out there but it sure beat the frozen lasagna we ate for dinner the night before.

Now i gotta think, what should i prepare for dinner tonight.

Anybody out there have any suggestions?

One Step Up From Ghetto Curtains + Speaking Deutsch

To shield ourselves from wandering eyes and nosy neighbours, J found a hand towel to hang over the glass and used a piece of wood from our yet-to-be-assembled-wardrobe and propped it up against our bedroom window.

So in an effort to show my independence yesterday, i wanted to drill the holes in the wall to fix the curtain rods because i was getting tired of our ghetto curtains.

But due to unexpected circumstances, i failed.

Not because i didn't know how to use an electric drill but purely because the box that J had said the drill was in, was filled with everything but the drill.

I would try just using a screwdriver but the wall is made out of plaster and concrete and since i'm not exactly the strongest person out there, i know i'll get as far as only damaging the surface.

Originally J's yellow blinds for his workroom was going to extend to the top but due to a hinge getting in the way and the lack of a drill, i've had to come up with something else.

And so the other day, i bought these detachable hinges which just hook up to the top of a window and the blinds hang down from them. Quite practical since one does not need to drill any holes. And i've also hung white half curtains to the top window, so our neighbours can't peek inside.


As for our bedroom, which is directly beside J's workroom, i've fixed a matching half curtain on top. And until we find the missing drill, i've used a temporary spare blanket, that was once used to cushion the interior of Yoshi's pet carrier, to cover part of the window below.

The window sill is deep enough to rest one of their pet carrier's on it, which Luna has now claimed it as hers and uses it to sleep in it at night.

Yup, both kitties now sleep in our room at night.

Which in turn has solved the early-morning-scratching-on-the-door ritual that both Luna and Yoshi would often take part in.

Let's hope nobody pees in our bed this time.

***

In other news, i've signed up looking for a language exchange partner.

It almost feels like i've registered on an online dating service. The only difference is it's free and instead of looking for a "life partner/relationship", one looks for somebody to practise their language of choice.

I told J about the site and he thinks the concept is great.

I was planning on taking another German course but classes have already begun and money is a bit tight this month. Plus i'm looking for a course that runs only 3-4 times per week and so far, i haven't found anything.

I would like to think i know the basic German grammar and by repeating the same course that i did last year it would just drill it into my head even further. But my issue really lies with speaking, which we all know can only be improved if one practises.

So not only will i attempt to jump start my non-existent social life by meeting up with strangers but i'm hoping it'll improve my confidence when speaking deutsch. I know i'm sort of jumping in the deep end but i promised myself and J i would live less like a hermit and improve my German.

Anyway, back to my search for a tandem language partner...

In my introduction i mentioned that i'm living with my boyfriend only because i don't want random guys/weirdos to get the wrong idea.

And so far, i've got three requests for a meet up.

Although one doesn't really count because she addressed her message to somebody completely different. But all three are native German speaking women looking to improve their English. Two of them haven't included photos in their profiles, which i think are a bit suss, but like a blind date, i'm intrigued.

Fingers crossed that the meetups actually work out and we actually understand one another/get along.

I'm so nervous.

Fickle Weather + Too Much Lactose Ain't Good.

For the last week we've been having reasonably warm weather. And by warm i mean 12˚ Celsius. So warm in fact, that i've even dared to shed one layer of clothing and not wear tights... UNDER my jeans that is.


But it looks like the tables are turning because the cooler temperatures are coming back. Tomorrow they predict snow-showers and later on this week it's going to dip down to minus 1˚C. Yuck.

For a second there i thought we were going to have an early Spring. Wishful thinking, i guess.

Well it looks like our bike rides will have to be put on hold.

Not only is the weather crap but J's really not feeling so well. I'm guessing the 17 km bike ride on Sunday wasn't such a good idea after all. He started work last Wednesday and already he's caught the bug. But J being the trooper that he is, is soldiering on and has gone into work today.

Cat TV

As for me, i've got a bunch of things to take care of. Mainly domesticated issues such as unpack some boxes, tidy, do the laundry, iron J's shirts, go to the supermarket, put up curtain rods and finish some work.

Speaking of curtains, last night i fixed the blinds in J's work room.

For the last two weeks we've been leaning the spare mattress and a piece of wood against the window for some privacy. From the outside, it totally looked ghetto but i shouldn't really complain, it did its' purpose.

Now i just have to find the electric drill and a measuring tape because i need to put up the curtain rods. I should really wait for J to come home but here's my attempt to showing my independence.

Wish me luck.

***

But before i go, here are some photos of J's impromptu belated-31st-birthday/just-for-the-sake-of-it dinner we had on Thursday. Also known as the night i overdosed on lactose.

Which by the way, i've only just found out, i'm slightly lactose-intolerant.

Did you know :
Almost all Asians and Native Americans are lactose intolerant, and up to 80% of African Americans and Hispanic Americans also have symptoms of lactose intolerance. [source]

5 € cocktails-to-go

J ate a fillet steak with vegetables + cheese potato gratin

&
I ate a Caesar salad + mixed mushrooms swimming in a lot of cream sauce
+ baked potato with crème fraîche.

The Kölner Dom at night
+
Taking photos from a low angle can be very unflattering.

Built in 1721
+
Eating gelato whilst it's 10˚C.

Venturing Through The Streets Of Koeln.

The second J came home on Friday, he complained of muscle aches and a sore throat. This then escalated to him lying helplessly on the sofa and saying he may have contracted Schweinegrippe = pig flu.

Huh!?


I, on the other hand, suspected that J had just developed a Man Cold.

After finding out he had a 38.8˚Celsius temperature, i spent most of the weekend at his beck and call. And yes, i even made him soup. I also ventured out looking for a pharmacy so i could get him Wicks Medinait which is said to work against fever, pain and cold symptoms.

By Sunday morning he was feeling much better and so i suggested a walk around the park just to get some fresh air.

The weather was looking promising, so J suggested we go on a short bike ride to see the Rhine.

I reckon, it's been over a month since i've rode my bumble bee bicycle anywhere. And at least six months since i've officially done any exercise. So after being cooped up indoors, i was eager to go out.

It was 12˚C and partially sunny, the perfect weather to be out and about.

Several towns and cities along the Rhine river have been slightly flooded due to the mass melting of snow, so we wanted to see for ourselves how high the water had really risen.

So there we were on our bikes, snaking through the streets trying to find our way.


On one of the shortcuts, we had to pass an abandoned industrial factory with broken glass and bricked up windows. And beside it, a squatter area where punk-looking individuals lived in makeshift homes made out of scrap materials. It reminded me of a scene in Mad Max just minus the desert.

Needless to say, we didn't stay very long.

So we eventually got to the Rhine and the park parallel to it was full of people. People of all ages riding their bikes and random people strolling along taking photos. At last, i didn't feel so much like a tourist.


You can see in the above photos, how far the water has crept inland. Previously lined with trees and children's' train track, the water now lies in the foreground, where the promenade once used to be.


Benches along the river are now sitting in water. Jetties that once served as bridges had collapsed and are now isolated.


After crossing one of the massive bridges to get to the city center, we came across a very full canal. The water level had risen to the point where half of the sidewalk [beside the left building] was submerged in water.



Cycling through the back roads and getting slightly lost we stumbled upon a reasonably priced Arabic cafe/take away place called Haibibi.


My love for eating falafel was only heightened when i found out they served them with Hummus.

Each meal was served with a free glass of hot spiced tea and a basket of pita bread. I topped my meal off with a fresh carrot + orange juice and a coffee that ended up being so strong, it's no wonder i had troubles sleeping last night.

Satisfied and eager to just pass out, our next challenge was trying to find our way home.


Somewhere in the middle of the city was a random hill where we took a break, camwhored and watched the sun set.


On one of the massive bridges so we could get back to the other side but not before i had to stop and take a photo of the Cathedral.

After reaching the end, J asked a random couple if they knew of a shortest route back to our suburb. Preferably one that didn't involve passing the Mad Max squatter community. They then told us to follow a path that would get us to another bridge but to be careful because there was high water.

Not knowing what they meant, we followed their directions anyway and soon got to a path a metre wide with banks of water on both sides. And with no light except for the dodgy one on my bike, my biggest fear was falling into the river.


But we eventually made it to the very steep bridge. In the dark you couldn't see where the bridge ended. It was actually kind of scary. That red light at the top is the reflection of the flash on J's bike. The bridge itself was impressive but it was too dark to take a photo.

All in all, our "short" bike ride adventure lasted a total of five hours and i reckon we cycled about 17 km, maybe even more. But despite feeling as if my crotch is bruised and finding muscles that i never knew even existed, J and i had a really good time.

There's so much to see and so many more new streets to venture through. Life just got a little bit more interesting.

Yup, it's official. Ich liebe Köln.

If only Moving was as simple as an IKEA Instruction Manual.

I can't believe it's been twelve days already since my last post. So much to share, so much to grumble about. Where, oh where, do i begin?

But when i wasn't wrapping random items in old newspapers and labeling boxes, i did manage to sneak in a few photos along the way. I haven't gotten around to editing them yet cause i've only just hooked up my computer and managed to get online this morning.

But here's a somewhat brief update of the last twelve days...

It was everything but relaxing.

The move itself went relatively smooth and thanks to the two big Russian men, J's brothers and elder brother's girlfriend for helping bringing the boxes down to the truck, it only took two hours to basically fill a 6.6 tonne truck right to the brim.

Yup.

We have that much stuff. And that doesn't include all the stuff that is still left in the cellar.

But since we had to give three months notice and our landlord couldn't find somebody to move in before the end of January we still have to pay another months' rent. Which sort of works out seeing that we still need to repair/paint part of the wall and clear out whatever stuff we have left.

Sigh.

But unlike our previous cellar which was tiled, clean and big enough to put a queen size bed plus more, the cellar we have now is quite the opposite. I'm just grateful that we've moved into a much bigger apartment.

Anyway, my biggest headache so far has had to be our IKEA kitchen.

We payed extra for IKEA to gather the components to our kitchen and when we got home we found out that some of the items were either missing or completely wrong. But perhaps it was a blessing in disguise because due to some minor miscalculations and crooked pipes, we had to make some last minute adjustments anyway.

After driving to IKEA twice because they promised to deliver the missing items the next day but didn't. They then said we had to wait a week until they could deliver the missing items and pick up the extra pieces because their schedule was full. Annoyed and frustrated because half of our kitchen was missing, J then threatened to return the whole kitchen and insisted that we get our money back.

At which point, the woman went to go speak to her boss and within a few minutes came back and said, they would deliver the pieces the next day already built at 8 in the morning.

Hmmm.

Proof that a little pressure didn't hurt no one.

So anyway, as part of The Moving deal, the big Russian men that helped with our move, also said they would set up our kitchen and do the necessary drilling. Half way through unpacking the items, they tell us that it was the first time they had ever built a kitchen from scratch.

Apparently, there are other kitchen brands that come partially built. One just has to slot the corpuses together and drill the holes for the sink and stove top to fit.

Uhhhh. OK.

We just invested just over a thousand Euros for the kitchen cabinets and knowing that they haven't put together kitchen cabinets before, only stressed me out further.

But after many hours, a few shed tears and some shuteye, they finally finished the job

Never mind that we ended up having to pay them an extra 300 Euros to drive an hour and a half last weekend to finish the job.

I guess it's safe to say, that will be the last time i will ever build an IKEA kitchen.

***

Anyway, as i get distracted by all the different sounds that the city has to offer and stare up at the five-storey block of apartments blocking my view, i look around me wishing the boxes that have yet to be unpacked would just magically disappear. If only there was a genie who would put away all its contents so i could get on with my errands.

Oh right! I am that genie.

But first, i need to get my arse to the hardware store which so happens to be like, twenty minutes away by foot and return some metre long blinds and various items that don't fit. Seriously, i don't know what i was measuring because i was, like, off by 20 cm.

All in all, i love being back in a big city. Everything is reachable within walking distance and shops are literally around the corner.

Great for exercise, not so great for my bank balance.

I'll be back soonish.

Hopefully with some photos.