I have never ever seen SO MUCH SNOW in my life!! Oh my, it was beautiful!

When the news announced the snow storm, people were going NUTS! The grocery stores were crowded with rushing families, crying kids and wild people, trying to get the last 5 packages of bread, cans of milk and packages of cereal (bars), tissues, M & Ms and Syrup (Which is all absolutely necessary for a snow storm weekend!). Shelves were empty,

It kept snowing from Friday evening until Saturday, we had about 3 feet (almost 1m) of snow at once! Cars were covered, streets unable to drive or even walk on, we even had to shovel a lot before we could even leave the house, even though we have a roof over the  porch! Monty was like a little child, playing and jumping in the snow, got skeptical though when he sank in and was not able to get out of it anymore 😀 Andrea got stuck in the snow one time, too haha! It was crazy. So on Sunday, when it finally stopped snowing, everyone was shoveling (I used to say shuffling.. WhoOps) the sidewalks, streets and especially their cars. Too bad though, that there is no space where you could put the snow! We used an empty parking spot, which looked like a truck was buried below (but it was only snow). Our friendly neighbor helped us with his snowblower (fortunately!). Otherwise, I would have been lost! The snow was so heavy and the neighbor so strong though, that he broke our shovel lol.

High Schools, Colleges and offices, under it mine, were closed from Saturday through Monday as the streets were still full of the white bulk and mud. Since Sunday, the driving prohibition was revoked but we were still recommended not to leave the house if we didn’t have to. Today (Tuesday), our office opened again as the street cleaners could work a little. So after Eiskratzen, panicking if my car would start, being concerned about the weird smell produced by my car’s gas in the snow (as my trunk was still covered) and a special Ausparkenmanoever (…), I managed driving to work!  First time ever driving in snow! #proud! It took a long time, the side streets are still horrible. Streets with two lanes shrinked to one lane, which means only one side can pass at the same time (I blocked an intersection one time hehe). However, the main roads are fine so I could drive normally for like 65% of the way to work. I bet we won’t have many clients coming in today but a loot of phone calls 😀

I baked an (weird) apple cake for my co-workers on my birthday (which they somehow liked). We always used to do that at my previous employer joka in Cologne and ate it together after lunch. Here though, the Geburtstagskind mostly gets cake and does either have to bake, prepare or cook not worry about setting up a party or celebration. In the U.S., your friends and family usually do that for you #luxusBirthday #ILoveBakingThough

Anyway(s), EMERGENCE DAY!

In the afternoon, the bell rang at work but I saw nobody (happens). Once I saw it, my reaction was : NO WAAAY!!!

Olha, Han and Matthew somehow detected my office and surprised me with Balloons (pieces of Art, sag ich Euch!), birthday crowns and a German Happy Birthday: “Alles Gute zum Gbrstashg, alles Gute Gbnrtch, alles Guuute Liisaaa, alles Gute LaLaaH.” It was wonderful!

Afterwards, we made HACC (college) unsicher and went to Texas Roadhouse in the evening.

• Sneaking a whole lot of peanuts √
• Feeling horrible throwing the shells on the ground √
• photoshooting in the country-style waiting room √
• eating very good food: steak, salad, chicken, rice, veggies, … √
• Riding on a wooden horse & yehaa x
• Getting a bday dance x

The house did only sing for me though. Normally they do a whole “ride the wooden horse and YEEHAAA” attraction and dance for you. Not this time, not for me! However, my friend’s performances and entertainment made up for that!! I got vacuum bags from my hosts (needed!), a cosy, cool sweater from Han, an amazing portrait + pillow/penguin/stuffedBuddy from Olha and a Matt Mix from Matthew #oldSchoolCD√

I had a very fun time!

Thank you guys, I ♥ you

• Girly dressing-up √
  • Taking 8 dresses (max) into the changing room
  • While buying none
  • But taking a bunch of model and non–model pictures
  • And locking ourselves out of the room 3x 
    • → made us feel young again (or at least me)

• Freestyling in HACC’s gym with amazing SPB shirts on √
  • Feeling
  • Posing
  • Improvising

• Spending 4 – 6 hours in Giant √ 
  Talking, chatting, laughing
• Singing, dancing, beatboxing and freestyle rapping next to carrots
• Analyzing girl’s movements
• Riding carts
• Getting kicked out   “Hey guys, I will have to ask you to wrap it up. And get out of the cart.”

Feeling like Cheerleaders √ 

• Building pyramids
• Karaoke
• Dancing like in da club

Vietnamese food, VA

On Sunday, Han, Olha, Tony and I met Han’s friend Thuyy in Tyson’s Corner Center, VA. On the way we passed PA, and MD and our trip took us also to D.C. and and Virginia as the States are pretty close to each other at a certain point.  First, we had great Vietnamese food at a Vietnamese plaza!

Harbor, D.C.

Georgetown, D.C.

Then we visited Georgetown in D.C. (passed the Monument and Lincoln memorial, again). It is a nice area with cute, old buildings and also a fancy shopping mile. Then, we went to the Harbor in D.C. and also to the National Harbor in Maryland, which was very pretty (and windy).

National Harbor, MD

New Year’s Eve was a lot of fun!

Gỏi cuốn Rice paper rolls -> Self rolled!!

My friend Han invited me and Olha to party with her family and friends at her house. We had a lot (some too much) fun with singing Karaoke, dancing, eating great Vietnamese food, playing Jenga and fooling around (a lot!). I saw people singing, dancing and giving love to people, I would not have expected to, which was fun! #OnlySoberPerson’sDestiny

Our friend Matthew could unfortunately not come. However, we made that up by staying up until 7am on New Year’s Day after we went Downtown York for First Friday (whereas we spent most of the time in the car and Giant) #LifeTipsAndAnalysis  

Job Search!

A Pain in the butt is all I can say. After that one company (that desperately wanted to hire me as a Recruiter) never replied or got back to me again, I had to start my job search all over again. So I spent pretty all of my free time applying at around 50 companies. I kind of enjoyed it, adapting my resume & cover letter, convincing the mysterious hiring manager behind the Computer of my talent and what I great asset I’d be for their company! However, the reflux (Ruecklauf) was disappointing. I went to around 7 interviews but most of the companies do not want to hire somebody for only 6 months. -> Then why do you even invite me for an interview?! Read my resume and cover letter before you make ma false hopes! :@

The time frame is really the biggest challenge. So I ended up at a Staffing Agency, which finally got me a job #WohoOOoOo! I now work as a Receptionist in an Accounting firm (no, I still dislike taxes and numbers!)

So far, it is pretty slow because tax season has not really started yet and they cannot train me on something before it comes up. So I kill time by learning French, reading news or blogging! However, in a few weeks it will get crazily busy! This is why they hired me. I mainly help with admin, taking calls and taking care of incoming clients. The people here are nice, even though not really “cool”, except for maybe one or two exceptions. We do not have a real lunch break either, where people all eat together, which is schade. Still, they are welcoming, helpful and patient and it is a very laid back atmosphere. This is why I can blog now! And they like snacks! #SnackPower 

All in all, I do not expect a lot. That way, I might end up liking it more than I expect!