Hallo Deutschland! Have been in Germany since thursdy and so far am loving it! Have been so lucky to be shown around the city by Sabine and Pia, two sisters who I came to Kerikeri in 2005. 

Köln (Cologne if you can't master the Ö sound) is a really nice old city with Europe's biggest cathedral - its huge! My friends flat is very central and everything is so easy to reach by bike, its great.

Found a gym that does the same classes as back home but much more often. So yesterday I was the unco one down the back that kept smiling randomly when the intructor would say something to me and wonder why I didn't do it... unfortunately all I hear/understand is "bla bla bla clean and press bla bla bla stop (sounds like shtop) and a few of the numbers... but its great fun and I even learnt words during the class. Am currently in post mount kenya like pain but its all good...

Am starting a German language course on tuesday which I'm really looking forward to but meanwhile I am being educated on more essentials such as "Eine bier, yetzt!" (A beer, now!)