German Road Safety

So here is something unshocking about the Germans: they require you to have all this emergency-preparedness stuff in order to register your car here. It is illegal to drive without a first aid kit, emergency triangle, and safety vest. If you have an accident or a problem, you must put the emergency triangle behind your car (there is a regulated distance but I cannot remember) and you must don the vest and stand on the other side of the safety divider.

I was telling Joon about all this, and how I have never been able to catch a photo of it while driving, and we were lucky enough to encounter some real live actual Germans doing the said safety activities... So I have posted the photos for your enjoyment.


By the way, a secondary is that often I see groups of Germans standing on overpasses watching the cars drive by on the autobahn. I can't help but think they are giving themselves lung cancer, breathing in all those fumes, but it's pretty damn entertaining watching the crazy people drive on the autobahn. (Sadly, this guy is alone. Usually it's a whole family hanging over the rail soaking up the carbon monoxide.)

1600 (UTC/GMT +2 hours) proves significant

First, who is this? I think his name is likely Pavel or Ignac. He's from Slovenia. Ptuj, to be exact. This is the last postcard I mailed Grandma before she died (though I was too late and she never received it). Carrie and I thought we found a man for Grandma. Doesn't he look sweet? If only she had seen the postcard, maybe she would have lived and met Ignac and it would have been happily ever after. But no.

Next, 1600. Hours that is. Why? Nearly the exact same time (within minutes at least), my house in North Dakota closed and I signed the Hooptie over to Derek. Who is from Iowa. Funny that Molly and Josh are moving there as I write. How circular and strange is life at times.

Possible car and First Volksmarch

Mini car, for 2800Euros with 48,000km on it. Considering it, along with others.

It's not fancy but it would be good enough to get around for now and if I found my "dream car" I could buy it later on at a more leisurely pace. I think the cold winter weather is going to be prohibitive to bicycling to work from town even.

Onto the more exciting photodocumentation:

My Very First Volksmarch.

What is a Volksmarch? It's a dying pasttime of German folks- walking clubs arrange walks all over the country (and other countries) of varying lengths where you can drink beer and eat or just do the walk. Today I went with Ryan from Arizona, who works in the administrative building with Bernie. We did the 20km walk, through the German countryside and towns. It was a perfect fall day for it, with just a light mist of rain at the end of our walk.

The first checkpoint- at each station, you have to get your little card stamped to prove that you did the whole walk, then can keep track of it in a booklet.

Some German people doing the walk. They sure are fit compared to Americans.

Shed on our walk. With a crop I don't know!

Our first split.

The guy who tells you which way in case you can't read I guess. He didn't seem to want his picture taken.

More Germans walking. With nice vines on the side.

They are serious with their solar panels here!

A German hunting tower. Ryan said that they are only allowed to hunt from these towers- no on the ground hunting.

Slipped one in there from New Zealand! Just pretend those red roofs aren't there. I think the sheep were smaller in NZ.

My first German gnome sighting. Surely not the last.

Arrival into town after the end of our walk.

"The Car" ~no worries if you add another scrape~

I
The other side is the fancy side- it has hubcabs. Yah, it's me driving, I have something to tell you all. I've changed my name to Saraesh.

Can't sign off without an inspirational thought for you:

"Has your ability to envision

the astounding intricacy and richness of the web of life

gotten hijacked and hooked

on decadent fantasies about new possessions

that would allegedly make you happier?"

- Rob Brezsny

Back up to the Cooks; meet Ken & Lorraine!

Rarotonga hike photos courtesy of Ken and Lorraine. I didn't haul my camera on that hike- no room after I got my snorkeling gear in my backpack!

I had the honor of their company this weekend in Auckland. They christened my futon/couch for you all who are on your way. It was like a three day slumber party, as we stayed up talking late into the night in the studio apartment. I played tour guide, which was totally fun. Beware, psycho tour guide Sara is alive and thriving! I also bought their car off them as they flew out to Western Australia this morning, before heading off to Africa. I'm now the proud owner of a 1994 red Mazda station wagon. Pictures of my new baby to follow.

The Needle- our destination on the cross the island trek

Ken and Lorraine (Irish). We were all staying in the Rarotonga Backpackers.
Look down and you'll see what I meant by, "Steps made of tree roots provided by the forest."
A little tired at the top

Heading down again


Afterward, Lorraine napping on the beach in her new pants. Ken's shoe, a little worse for the wear. It was the only hike he didn't wear hiking shoes. Maybe that's what jinxed us! :)

For Uncle Brian, or any of you who'd like to put the puzzle together

It's safer in China/India/Mexico/Mars/(insert any place here) to cross the street.

This morning, I was about halfway across the street when I got a "HONK" from the 60 year-old-ish gentleman in a small station wagon who was taking a left turn off a main street onto a side street. You might think he was getting fresh with me. No. It was another of those friendly reminders to get the H off the road if you are on foot. About 10 seconds later, a bicyclist rode by and offered a word of sympathy (I hope anyway) for the rude Aucklander behind the wheel.

There is no place in this town where you are safe crossing the street. Even yesterday, I was crossing at a raised pedestrian walk with white striped lines and 4 circles signs in front of a primary school, only to nearly be plowed down by a navy minivan! However, I am not giving up on my walking habit. I refuse to drive to work and then pay to go to a room and walk or run on a machine. Instead, I am on the lookout for full-body armor for my walk to work. I figure also that will help build up muscles as I will be carrying around and extra 100 pounds or so of metal. Please email me if you find any suits of armor for sale or perhaps you have one in your basement?

A WARM FUZZY FOLLOW UP TO THE HONKING INCIDENT:
I was on my way to the coffee shop Kokako when "the incident" (horn-honk) happened. Every morning I set my alarm for 6:30 so I can be to the coffee shop at 7ish to read the paper and partake in my "Short Black" which is really an organic espresso with maybe a touch of water.

The second time I went to the place, my barista asked me, "Will you have the same as last time?" (Even though my previous visit had been about 5 days before.) After 10 years in Portland, no coffee shop was ever this friendly. They seem genuinely happy to be there. This morning, I got there and they had built a new table in the window. The two of them were both so proud of it, they came over separately and asked if I liked it, one of them offering to move the bouquet of hydrangeas out of the way if it was bothering me.

Today I asked the barista how long he'd been working there. (Because he seems so good and friendly.)
His answer:
"Two weeks, but this is my first full time job in 6 years. I'm working hard for a year to save money, then I'm going on a big trip, overseas I hope. You don't need much, just clothes and food. I get food here [the coffee shop/organic cafe]. Once you get things, you just want more, like you get an Ipod, then you want the next model. I have all I need. My parents were hippies, sort of. One time, I lived for 6 months in a tent."

I thought, AMEN. That's exactly what I needed to hear. That's why I'm here. To slow down, take it easy, figure out the meaning of life. (Not that we ever do, but at least I can reflect on it. And not take my life for granted since I risk it every day walking.)

Goodbye Jetta.

For the first time since I was 16, I have no car. It just left this morning with a nice kid who likes snowboarding. I'd have thought I might have some feelings of sadness, but so far, it's nice. Only that I have to go to the bank on foot now to deposit my money. It's kind of exciting to have only myself or public transport to get around.