Thulani's final day in Germany

Thulani‘s time in Germany has come to an end. What has he learned? Well, he learnt that Germans do have a sense of humour, that it‘s a country with a long history, that even a bear can become a star, that in essence people all over the world are the same. He‘s looking forward to his next stop Poland and is excited about all he will learn there. Hamba Kahle Thulani! Go well our funny little bear. You will be missed!

He watched me get the pages for his diary sorted :0)

One sad little girl brings a bear to the post office

Thulani's Day Sun 15th April

Sunday started slowly, as Sundays do. Thulani woke up to another grey german day. Jamie decided it would be good to bake some muffins. We hit a snag as we did not have eggs but no real problem we have great neighbours. Thulani had great fun licking the bits from the mixer and I had to wipe chocolate off his face. After lunch we took Jamie, Linus, Marike and Thulani to see the "Stone age house" in Venne, a small village near Bramsche. We did not know that it would be closed today so we could not see inside. But the kids and Thulani had fun anyway. It was really cold so we did not stay long. Tomorrow will be Thulani's last day in Germany. We sure are going to miss the furry fellow.

Jamie wanted to bake some muffins. The mouse on the package is from the "Sendung mit der Maus" and is a very well known german childrens program.

The best part was getting to lick the leftovers

They looked yummy

The "Steinzeithaus" (Stone age house) in Venne.

Thulani with Linus and Marike at the not yet finished store room

The bread oven

The house was unfortunately closed so we could only see it from the outside.

Thulani's Day Sat 14th

Thulani had a really lazy Saturday.

 

He listened to Friedrich fight with the home computer network, he wondered if everyone in Germany has a network at home. I explained that most people don't but when you are a software engineer it's par for the course.

 

He played dress up with Jamie while waiting for Adriana to arrive. The girls then did some designs with "bugeln perlen" (iorning beads). They even went out and played in the rain with umbrellas. Thulani opted to stay inside, don't blame him it's rather cold.

 

Later we headed off to Osabrück as the shops were open till 10 at night. I explained to Thulani that most shops only open at 10 in the morning in Germany. They don't open at all on Sundays. Most cities have special events 4 times a year or so which allow them to open on Sundays but only... after 1 in the afternoon. There is no interferring with people going to church.

 

We walked around the city and Thulani saw quite a few young men and woman dressed up in stange outfits "selling" schnaps to passersby, he wanted to know more. These are people who will soon marry and it's their stag or hen night I explained. They try to get some money together for the party. We asked if one would pose for a photo, which he did and he was delighted to hear that Thulani will be visiting Poland next as that is where he comes from. It's a small world.

 

There was a fireworks/ laser show which we stayed for and it was really good. Only problem was that it was rather loud so Thulani hid in the side pocket of my handbag. ( I think it was a little too loud and full for a small bear) That was Thulani's Saturday. He told me he's loved his time in Germany but he's itching to move on so on Monday we will send him off to Poland.

Is that Thulani?

Yes, playing dress up.

Iorning beads

There are always attractions for the kids.

On of the big stores in Osnabrück really make an effort with their store windows.

 

A bachelor out on the town being made a fool of. He's polish and will marry next week.

 

 

The "Rathaus" dressed in blue

 

 

The lazers show

 

 

The fire works

 

 

Friday the 13th

Friday's are always rather hectic at the Kronenbergs, but after a good snuggle and sleep with Jamie Thulani was up for the challenge.

The day started with him discovering Nutella a chocolate spread many germans have for breakfast. He thought chocolate for breakfast is really funny.

Thulani wanted to know all about this nutella stuff that some germans eat for breakfast

Germans like crispy rolls, jam, cheese and cold meats for breakfast. After breakfast it was time to see me get all red in the face again at my exercise class. It's a constant battle against the flab! He was quite excited to see my Australian bag and asked if I'd been there. I explained I had as my brother lives in Perth. My family is all over the world with my parents in Johannesburg South Africa.

He spotted something familiar when he say Lee-Ann's bag with her sport kit.

The first gymastic ball was just too big.

He found one just his size.

The "igel" (hedgehog) ball was a little prickly.

Next we visited Jamie at school.

Jamie's school on a misty morning.

As we know 60 years ago there was a little Austrian man who lived in germany and started a war. After the war Germany was divided into zones. There were quite a few Dutch people stationed in Bramsche. They used the school. In 1988 they left and the school "Grundschule im Sande" was founded making it the 3rd junior school in Bramsche. Thulani was warmly greeted with a firm handshake by the principal Herr Dibowski. Germans have a thing about firm handshakes. Mr. Dibowski, who had read about him in the newspaper, took him in to meet the other teachers before he joined Jamie's class in the libary. The children all cuddled him and asked him about his journey. Frau Wenker, Jamie's teacher, found the idea absolutely brilliant and was impressed that Friedrich took the time to show Thulani around. Thulani then spent the rest of the day with Jamie at school.

The class 2b were very excited about his visit. Jamie and I got to tell the class about his travels when they visited the library.

Thulani liked the comfy cusions.

Frau Wenker Jamie's teacher also wanted a photo with Thulani, so did her 22 class mates. We will be giving them all their individual photo's. They can put them in their school diary they have documenting their junior school experience.

Once home and they had a rest, Jamie, Friedrich and Thulani did a little cycling tour. 

After her picnic with Friedrich and Thulani, Jamie did some in-line skating with her furry friend.

Jamie then took him in-line skating with her friend Marike who is also our neighbour. Jamie is an only child and our neighbours children Linus and Marike are almost like a brother and sister. Another short breather and then is was off to acrobatics.

He made it to the top of the pyramid at acrobatics.

Thulani was not scared to be on the top of the pyramid thank goodness.

Then is was time for supper. Friday night take aways, which is a traditional "currywurst and pommes". Curry wurst is a "brat wurst" (sausage) with a tomato sauce mixed with curry powder. But it does not taste like curry at all.

He had a good giggle when he saw of take aways are packaged in Germany.

He could not believe that this was "traditional" german food. "Currywurst und pommes" curry sausage and chips. The sausage does not really have a curry taste at all.

One very tired bear and Jamie then went off to bed. It was a great Friday the 13.

Thulani's Day - 12 April

Today I had the pleasure of Thulani's company while Jamie was at school. She gave me stict instructions not to take Thulani with me to water gymnastics, but Thulani gave me a sad bear look with his little brown eyes so I gave in and took him along. He had a great time watching me get all red in the face. I had to explain that going swimming is not quite the same as in South Africa. Firstly, the pool is indoors.

Secondly you have to shower before you can use it. Thulani found this very funny.

He did not want to shower.

He wanted to jump into the "vario-becken" which is really warm at around 30°. It's called a "vario" because the pool level can be adjusted.

After swimming we did something really mundane. We went grocery shopping.

He found it funny that you need money to get a trolley

Thulani had never seen a german Aldi. It's what is called a discount store. They have a fixed range of products all under their own brand name which is complemented by seasonal goods.

The one thing the Kronenberg house is never without chocolate.

He had fun at the till.

Thulani found the fruit department quite interesting as there were strawberries from Spain, grapes from Chile...he wondered if anything grows in Germany. I explained that it does but we will have to wait for some sun to get nice juicy german strawberries.

Thulani kept on having to remind me to drive on the right side of the road after 2 weeks of driving on the "wrong" (left) side of the road. It's so much better driving around Bramsche, Johannesburg traffic is just hectic.

After all the shopping he had a rest till Jamie got home from school. He then looked over her shoulder while she did her homework to get an idea of what to expect at school tomorrow as he will be joining her.

She decided to play with her friends today as they had not seen each other for 2 weeks so Thulani joined the girls for the afternoon. I was told he did not like the outdoor trampoline.

Jamie loves Mirjam's disco ball.

Thulani with Jamie's best friends Adriana and Mirjam

He had a chat with Mirjams toys.