Stupid Internet

Hello Everybody!!

Sorry it has been so long, we have encountered more Internet trouble which is unbelievably frustrating. We put 30 more Euros on our Sim card so we could renew our montly subscription on our USB Internet Stick and the money promptly disappeared without renewing the script so we have no internet at home. DUMB! I can’t even remember the last time we wrote, early last week I think. So, quick updates, we still have no jobs, either one of us. Both teams are searching for us now, I know Jen’s coaches/managers are now looking a little more diligently and my manager and teammates have started keeping an eye out and asking around. Hopefully something comes up soon. We are going to go to Basel on Monday and do the old walk in and ask if they have any openings. We have found a few English/Irish bars and a few other nicer establishments that we will look in to see if they need an experienced bartender. Jen is looking into a Fitness Center that has English speaking clients and perhaps room for an English-speaking trainer. I was secretly hoping to not ever have to bartend again, except maybe on the side or when I'm retired for fun but a job is a job.

My team had our first real game on Tuesday this week, it was a Cup game, which means it wasn’t in league play; we played a team in the league above us and although it was close, we ended up losing by 7 or 8 I think. I unfortunately didn’t get the chance to play; we have run into a problem with our player cards. Many thanks to Steve for working quickly and diligently to solve the problem. We both have games later today, the first of our league match ups, both games are at home. They are at the same time though, so we will not be able to watch each other. Jen will for sure be able to play and I think I will. Player card issues! Her coach knows somebody at the IHF and even though they will not have her player card in hand (the rule) the IHF has told Jen's coach to say they lost it and they are in the process of getting a new one. A somewhat ballsy move but the record states we have been cleared since the 16th so in the end nothing could happen. My coach/manager has not put the same effort in/doesn't want to chance it I guess so my possibility of playing is still in the air. Regardless, we will both be able to play next weekend for sure.

We worked Weds and Thurs of this week for Jen’s coach. Much easier work this time, not so much manual labor and I was able to escape unscathed. Blessings! Side note: My Achilles has healed wonderfully, the scar is actually not so big (disappointing) and I have no after effects. Gotta love American schooled doctors. The little bit of work that Jen’s coach has been able to provide has kept us from going bankrupt, we live rather cheaply, only spend money at Starbucks so we can use their internet and on gas for the Vespa, which is literally like $10 a gallon – Ridiculous!

Starbucks has been amazing for us though. The workers let us sit for hours and use the Internet. It is always interesting getting to Basel to the Starbucks but we always make it. I ride the Vespa and Jen rides a teammates bike. Basel is like any big city in the US with one ways and such, but with a few added obstacles A. I really don’t understand the signs and they apply differently to Mopeds. B. Some roads are for Buses only, some for people only and as mentioned in A, I don’t understand the signs. C. Bikers usually but not always have their own marked lanes and Euro bikers are crazy and there are a million of them. Many who have very little disregard for their own lives apparently, because they feel free to ride in the middle of busy lanes all over the city. I can’t stop envisioning smashing a biker with the Vespa, hope it never happens. I have only been pulled over once but Jen and I ride in fear of breaking some law every trip to Basel. Hopefully it never ends in a visit to the impound, for you must remember these vehicles are not ours.

Last weekend was our last “free” weekend and we enjoyed it. I spent Friday night with my teammates. We started at the local bar they frequent in Weil, called the Sit In. We than ventured to a festival that was thriving on the streets in old town Weil. Déjà Vu struck around midnight when I found myself surrounded by old men singing German fold songs. After a few minutes of this, my teammates introduced me to a new wrinkle in the festival; a makeshift bar that played young/hip music. It was a nice change from the Old Man Folk Karaoke. I got home late but had a blast with my teammates. Saturday night Jen and I joined her teammates at one of the team houses for a cook out. We played German Karaoke on the PS2, Jen and I are not good singers as is, so you can imagine what we sounded like singing German songs. Needless to say, our team did not win. We spent the rest of the evening chatting and playing a variety of games. It was a very enjoyable evening.

We are both greatly improving in the Handball area, which is good because that is the whole point of moving to this beautiful country. Practices are going well and we are understanding more and more; to the point that we don’t need our teammates to translate drills and instructions anymore.

In Response to Tom’s Intuitive line of Questioning:
Jordan, the team you play for is in Weil Am Rhein, and this is a German team (correct?). That is correct, Weil am Rhein is in Germany.

But to travel to that town, do you drive through Switzerland, it looks like through the town of Riehen?? 

I have to drive through Riehen one way or Basel the other way, it is a pain, I have to go through two toll houses both ways and this makes me nervous, considering all I have is my passport, a Kansas drivers license and papers to a bike I don’t own written in German.

Must have been kind of cool buzzing down through a pedestrian mall, did you get the ee-ore ee-ore sirens?? Unfortunately I did not receiver the sirens, I luckily looked to my left and saw a station wagon full of Swiss Police and the front passenger motioning and shouting something. I couldn’t comprehend what he was shouting but thought it best to pull over.
Did you think about making a run for the german border on the powerful vestpa or were the cops on bicycles?? Stay clear of the Hoosegow!!

Definitely thought about making a run but than I realized I didn’t know exactly where I was or where to go. However, considering the bike is not mine, I would say I have the option of making a run for the border if and when I get tagged next time.

Please send links to local newspapers so i can check it out. Hopefully there are pictures??

Researching local newspapers links, but we have websites for our squads. Good luck navigating through them considering its all in German. Jen’s is tv-grenzach-handball.de and her team is Damen 1. Jordan’s is ww.esvweil-handball.de and his team is Herren 1. Good luck.
One more question, Jordan's team is named ESV Weil, what is that? and Jen what is the name of your team? Are teams named after people or similar to US, like Hornets and Falcons or Bearcats?? The teams are not named after falcons or bearcats. That would be cool though. The letters in front of the team name usually represent something like an old town initials or mean sport club/team. For example FC is Futball Club. HC is Handball Club. Most of the clubs have multiple sports however so the club initials stand for that. So pretty boring. Jen’s jerseys are bright bright yellow and black shorts. Mine are white on white or blue on blue. So pretty cool.

We are signing off, gotta head back to Grenzach for our pregame meal. Hope all is well back in the States. Happy Birthday to Uncle Donnie and Judy Acone and Ella Ferns and Erika Bohn. Bill and Jane, hope you both had wonderful birthdays! Miss you all!!