Too many emails, relatively happy kids, a rocking
boat, piles of things to be grateful for, too much electronic input, and a
messy house, online groceries and those without groceries. Those are my
thoughts today.
OMGEE! I cannot take all the emails. I cannot keep them straight. About 40% of the stuff in my Inbox this week is needless communications from various businesses I have bought something from in the last oh, 20 years or so. Y’all, just stop for a minute! You are really bugging me. I realize many businesses are struggling right now. The economic impact of this pandemic and subsequent shut down is immense. But could you just please hold off for about 10 days until I can get my feet under me? Then send me all the emails you want.
The onslaught of unnecessary emails is really Bugging me,
I really have to focus on the other 60% because
they are almost entirely from my children’s teachers. Oh, these poor teachers.
Can you imagine how hard it is for them to get all their lesson plans changed
for an online class? Setting up Google Classroom, finding links to videos that
are pertinent and appropriate to grade and age levels? Knowing all the while we
parents will do our best but likely fail miserably? And they will be there to
pick up the pieces when our children go back to school. They are working
overtime and for them I am grateful.
After school time yesterday I thought I had only
missed one email. Bahahaha, I had missed several. I thought we were cruising
on smooth waters but today this boat was definitely rocking. It’s not leaking
yet but we have hit some choppy water by missing assignments and kids rushing
to get done to play video games etc. To alleviate some of that chop, Mark and I
decided there will be no electronics this week until after school ends on
Friday. We have hesitated on this because electronics are the only way our kids
can be social right now. Maybe we will allow them some FaceTime or Zoom in the
evenings in a day or two but, for now, we need them to focus. I say that as my
ADD hits 120 mph. Anyway, I have thus far chickened out on laying down this mandate.
I just don’t want the drama. Pray for me my friends, it may blow an eardrum or
two.
The branches on this Bilbao Tree are what my brain feel like right now.
Despite all the changes and lack of outside human
interaction both boys are relatively happy. I wonder if that is due in part to
our constant travels. In an average year we as a family spend about 14 weeks on
the road, usually abroad. The boys have come to rely on one another for
companionship in a way most siblings don’t. They are often the only kids in a
given place. When we are around other kids it is usually for brief visits. I am incredibly grateful they are as close as
they are.
The boys at our favorite restaurant in Montmartre.
Twice in the past week Liam has shed a tear or two in
worry over the health of his grandparents. He knows they are at higher risk for
CoVid than the rest of us due to their being, well, grandparent age. We calm
his fears as best we can. But it is difficult. Caleb however, always finds a
way to take Liam’s mind off things in a way we can’t. They have built a nest
and a pillow fort and have acted out a book they read together. I fell asleep
the other night to the sound of laughter. Mark waited to sleep until the boys
did…he stayed up far too late doing so. But dang, does that make this Mama
happy.
School today was different. We started even later than
yesterday. Caleb is working on all of his subjects every day. Liam decided to
finish the whole weeks’ worth of Math today and continue to focus on one
subject each day. This is the glory of homeschooling. It is interesting to see
them find what works best for them. They still took their breaks, practicing for
the Fungi Olympics—you know where you sit and become mold-like. I pushed Liam
to do a kickboxing workout with me today. That was great fun for about 10 mins.
Then he decided it would be ‘math’ if he just sat down and counted my reps for
me. Fungi.
My house is a mess. I should just come to grips with that for the next couple weeks, months…does anyone have any clue what timeframe we are looking at here? Anyway, it is a mess and I should just suck it up and love the mess because it means my family is here and active and healthy. But I am not very good at that. Why can’t people just actually get the garbage in the garbage can? If you have to step over something 16 times in one day why don’t you just pick it up? How many action figures does Mark really need to have out at one time? Yes, Mark. He is using them as ‘Easter Eggs’ in his videos for his students to make it more fun. But really it is just an excuse for him to play with them like it is 1986.
This is the state of my mantle right now.
I drove my virtual shopping cart around Meijer today.
It was actually kinda fun. I made a game of it. I tried to order things according
to my usual shopping pattern. Every time I go to the grocery store, I have a
very specific pattern of navigating the store so as to get what I need while
avoiding the sections I get sucked into. Do other people do that? Well, it
helped me remember that I needed dish gloves. And yes, I use gloves when I wash
dishes. Madge ain’t got nothin on me! Am I the only person who remembers Madge
and her dishpan hands?
Photo credit, The Dollar Stretcher
I spent an hour or so sewing a shower curtain for the
children’s bathroom for which I bought fabric a year ago. I got the big parts started
and then realized I need another curtain rod. Shoot, I should have ordered that
from Meijer! It felt good to do something creative. I need to pull out some
paints and things and do more of that. I really should be using my time home
more wisely.
My sewing project for the week.
In all the mundane things I did today I thought about how very lucky I am to be home with my three little pigs, safe and sound. I know that while I am worrying about how I am going to get my kids to do all their school work there are many mothers out there worrying about how they will feed their kids now that school is closed. Mark and I are working on something to support our local foodbank. I imagine all our foodbanks are going to be catering to more people than usual. We need to keep our eyes on one another and do what we can where we can. I am going to spend some time this week working on that…
Last night after we put the kids to bed Mark and I
talked about what we thought today would look like. I was full of trepidation
and assumed that if I was, the boys would be too. I buried the desire to start
with a mimosa (not that I even have the makings for one) and instead decided to
start with a fancy breakfast and some humor. I kept thinking it would be really
funny to walk in to the ‘classroom’ dressed at Miss Trunchbull.
Pam Ferris as Miss Trunchbull. Photo credit, TriStar Pictures
I got up early, showered and tried on four outfits
before settling on one. Then I got to work on that fancy breakfast. The thing
is, I am not going to the grocery very often and my supplies are limited but I
do have eggs and, amazingly, bagels. Well, eggs and bagels isn’t a very fancy dish
but Eggs Benedict is! I couldn’t make the traditional dish but I am the Queen
of Kitchen Improv so, I quick toasted the bagels, dug out the few not rotten
leaves of spinach I had left and set them to sauté. I put water on to boil, and
cracked a few eggs into the pot. I cheated and did the blender method of hollandaise,
which in my opinion, tastes as good as the real thing, and started assembling
everything. Cooking makes me happy. My day was off to a glorious start.
The kids came down to eat at 10:15. So fancy breakfast
became fancy brunch. I have learned to pick my battles. And making them get up
at 7 and be ready for school at 8 when we are 10 days into Quarantine is not
worth the turmoil. They ate the eggs and even the spinach but apparently there is
a reason Eggs Benedict is served on English Muffins and not bagels. The sweet,
chewy nature of the bagel is quite revolting when topped with hollandaise. Oh
well, I am gluten free so my eggs with hollandaise and spinach were delicious!
The boys said I got A’s for effort, and a really good sauce.
Mama’s Makeshift Eggs Benedict, aka Fancy Brunch.
Mark got the boys settled in the classroom with all their things while I went upstairs and changed. I so wanted a prop but couldn’t find a ruler anywhere. Anyway, I walked in and they had a good laugh. I welcomed them to class and promptly took Caleb’s phone and Liam’s nunchucks. Cue the eyerolls, whining and arguing. And let me tell you, my 13yo can argue like a lawyer in front of the Supreme Court! But guess what, this is not a democracy and when Headmistress Mama says no phones, you don’t get a phone. So…things didn’t start off quite as awesome as I would have liked but it was pretty good.
Headmistress Mama welcomes her eager pupils to The Wolters Learning Academy.
I had printed out all the emails and lesson plans
from their teachers and we got to work. The first 15 minutes were wonderful.
Then came the complaints, (insert whiney voices here) this is way more work than
we do in school, I don’t know what this means—read chapter 27 and answer the
questions in your book, why is there so much, why do I need to know Latin
roots, Google Classroom—I don’t remember my login, on and on it went ad
nauseum. It was so much Fun!
I completely ignored them, letting them whine for a while, and once they stopped, we got to work again. I gave them 15 mins free time after every 2 subjects were finished and 20mins free while I made lunch. Did I say I find joy in the kitchen? I really needed to make lunch. We went back to work again, taking breaks as we finished tasks. It really wasn’t all that bad once they got past the need to moan and complain. Liam and I took turns reading aloud from his assigned book (I found it really interesting), Caleb zipped through most of his work and I kept thinking something is missing here. Well, that is because I missed an email from his math teacher. Whatever. My math skills are somewhere around that of a baboon so Dad gets to teach that subject anyway.
These Baboons do math as well as I. Pic from our safari in Tanzania.
The other thing that has struck me about homeschooling
the boys is that I am headmistress, teacher, lunch lady, and batslap crazy mom
all at the same time. We may need to rethink the household duties each of us
carries because I can’t do it all. That also means I am going to have to live
with things not being up to my standards. But really, who is kidding whom here,
my floors may shine and my house may be sparkling but that only lasts as long
as I am home by myself because the minute the three little pigs walk in it is a
muddy-handprints-on-the-wall, jello-on-the-floor, toothpaste-on-the-ceiling
kind of mess.
As to Mark, he has been filming more videos for his
students and really working hard to create a positive learning environment for
them. He keeps saying, this pandemic is going to define their generation, how
do I help them through that? We have talked
a lot about how different things will be for the students, working from home.
Home may not be an ideal learning environment. These students are back home, Sheltering
in Place (SIP) with parents, siblings and maybe other relatives. There is so
much to consider for them, do they have enough computer time away from others, do
they have slow internet, or even no internet? Are they taking care of sick or elderly
relatives or younger siblings?
Mark really does love his students. He is rooting for them and praying they come out of this bigger, better people.
How do you create a productive online learning
environment for a class that was never meant to be online for students who
never meant to take it online? Mark being who he is, polled 300 of his students
before Spring Break and asked them what they felt does and what doesn’t work for
online classes. He got some really good feedback. He is trying to divide each
of his lectures into several short and sweet videos that students can binge
watch. He is having Live office hours several times a week. He has given his
students his Twitter and Insta accounts. The thing he decided is that he would
extend them some grace and hope they would do the same for him because one week
isn’t enough to turn a semester class from in person lecture to online and make
it perfect. But he will be available to them in as many ways as he can ‘in
person’. I think I won the lottery when I married this man.
Overall, today wasn’t perfect but you know what? It wasn’t
awful either. We all did some new stuff. We all messed up. We all succeeded
somewhere. And no one had to go to the hospital. I’ll take that for the 10th
day of Quarantine and the 1st day of homeschool anytime. Now, if I
could just get my dog to stop barking…
Today’s post is going to be as dull as dishwater. You know why? Because I am in a bad mood and I haven’t done squat. All. Dang. Day. I took a shower, got dressed, made breakfast and lunch (so far, so good) and that is where it ends. Mark on the other hand made the last 6 of his videos for one of his classes that will go live next week. The two boys have played video games and watched TV since they woke up. And all three of them are driving me nuts. They are perpetually making messes, Mark is all mushy and annoying, Caleb is in his room being all teenager-y, and Liam keeps asking me where Dad is (HINT: probably IN THE HOUSE where he has been FOR NINE DAYS!).
On a normal Sunday we would have gone to church, come
home and invited friends over for a lunch that would roll into dinner before we
all rushed the kids to bed because they have school in the morning. I would be
chill, happy to watch the kids play with their friends while we adults hang out
in the kitchen snacking and talking with a side of hot wine (because on top of
everything, it’s snowing). Instead, I am cranky, my shoulders are so tense they
are residing somewhere north of my earlobes, and you know what, I have absolutely
NO reason to be a giant cranky B right now.
No church but I have my Icons and Crosses from around the World.
We have a roof over our heads, clean water, nourishing
food to last a week, Mark’s job is stable, and we are all healthy, Praise God!
But being stuck with these wonderful men of mine is too much today. I want to
go back to bed and wake up on the right side. I want to spend some time with a
person who has more estrogen than testosterone. I want to go somewhere and do
something. But I cannot do any of those things and that is why this sucks. And
as I type that I have The Guilt because I know my life is so very good and yet
I want more.
I miss time with my girlfriends. Living with only boys can be um, difficult. -Paris, France
I want my sunny disposition back. The posts on social
media are sucking the Happy right out of me. I went to bed last night angsting
over some troll who virtually screamed about my last blog post being too
lighthearted. I woke up to her making another snide comment. I marked her as
Spam.
My usual Happy Disposition. -Meow Wolf, Santa Fe, NM
You know what? I know how bad it is. I am in contact
with people I love around the world. I am heartbroken for my friends in Italy
and triumphant for my friend in China, I am fearful for my friends and family
members who are high risk and relieved for those who are not. I am writing this
for my descendants, for the sake of history. I am not here to report the numbers,
those will be in the history books. I am here to tell the story of my family
and how this looked to real people in the situation. If I choose to show my
emotion, happy, cranky, mirthful, sad, lackadaisical, overwhelmed, joyful or
maudlin that is my choice—you’ll just get me as I am.
Now that all that is off my chest, I feel slightly better. I am looking to starting school tomorrow with just a little anxiety. We have been cruising so far because it has been Spring Break. Our kids have done little of consequence, unless you call moving up several levels in random video games consequential. Being thrown into some strange amalgamation of homeschool and regular school is not something I look forward to. As a matter of fact, it makes me want to pour a stiff drink. I have tried homeschooling before. It wasn’t the worst thing ever but it wasn’t awesome either. I always thought Liam would do rather well in homeschool. I guess we are about to find out.
A stiff drink.
What I do know is that I am going to do the basics. I
will happily read the lessons with them and answer questions and work through
things. I will not be the mom who creates intricate lessons, I will be the mom
handing them the lesson from their Amazing, Educated, Actual Teachers. I will
not correct their work to make them get better grades. I will support them and
help them find new ways of looking at things. I will not pretend to know what
the heck I am doing. Except in Art. I will totally give them some cool art projects—cue
the dropcloths and turpentine.
I have the idea that the kids should take 20-30
minutes to do each lesson. Their classes are only 50mins long so I figure about
30mins of that is the teacher explaining the theory with discussion and lecture
and the rest is work time. You have permission to laugh at my naivety. I know
it will be like pulling teeth to get Caleb to listen because we are not his
teachers, we are his parents and we do everything the ‘old fashioned’ way.
(This is where I will pour myself an actual Old Fashioned and hand the teaching
off entirely to Mark) Liam, who eagerly soaks up knowledge in the classroom,
will whine every time we ask him to write anything. He will instead want to
tell us the answers and that be enough. But both will get it all finished and
be just fine for next year.
Piles of textbooks, piles of novels, piles of history books. All the piles of books.
I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be doing this
the rest of the school year. I pray we won’t but realistically my kids only
have 7.5 weeks of school left. I can see this continuing that long
unfortunately. We in the US have only just begun this. In China they went on
hard lockdown and got things under control in a few months. A few months takes
us to June…
So, yesterday I started this Quarantine Blog and found it to be emotionally draining. Truly, after writing a week’s worth of weirdness I was kinda spent. I had mentioned yesterday that I thought more government restrictions were coming if people didn’t take this ‘social distancing’ and self-quarantining seriously. Well, as I was writing that Governor Pritzker ordered a ‘Shelter in Place’ mandate for the State of Illinois. I hate it when I’m right.
Shelter in place has begun in Illinos.
Shelter in Place sounds scary, doesn’t it? Like as if
a zombie apocalypse is imminent or something. In, reality it is what we have
been doing for 8 days now. We are supposed to stay home, all essential
businesses are open, i.e. grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, and doctor’s
offices. Heck, they have even deemed the liquor stores and cannabis dispensaries
as essential (insert a myriad of jokes here). Restaurants can still have take-out
and delivery food too. What is shut down are things like gyms, boutiques, shopping
malls, nail salons, and a million other things. I’m not sure about services
like insurance companies and accountants, they are probably closed too. On that
note, the Federal Government has pushed back Tax Day until July 15 (our State
hasn’t though so we still have to do the work now).
We haven’t been frequenting anything other than the Grocery
Store so ‘Shelter in Place’ hasn’t changed anything for us except that, being
government mandated and not my own free choice is kind of scary. In all honesty
it makes me mad. If people had just stayed home, been prudent, educated themselves,
and not panicked we could have just done this without being ‘mandated’. Again,
my mantra, Be Prudent but Don’t Panic.
Our YouTube Live Steam. Building a social community when social-distancing is the new normal.
We hosted a Live stream on YouTube for about 2 hours
today. There was still some worry and questions about when we think this will
end and how travel will look in the future. We hate to speculate but, mankind
has always ventured beyond their home and will continue to long after this pandemic.
A few of our followers had suffered losses of some sort, a job, a family member—it
is hard to hear and harder to not be able to do anything. I keep looking to all
those who are keeping things going, the supply chain people, warehouse workers,
truckers, stock(wo)men, the nurses and doctors, the people in civil service.
They somehow help make the losses easier because you see them doing their part,
working hard, pulling extra weight for the rest of us. I am rooting for them
from home.
As for our family, things are pretty good. Mark has
been cleaning and organizing like a man possessed—I’ve been waiting our whole
marriage for this and all it took was a global pandemic! Truth be told, now
that he is all up on the cleaning, he’s driving me a little batty. He isn’t
that well versed in organizing. None of his logic on where things go makes any
sense to me but, that’s ok. He feels better and, as my father in law would say,
It’s a Start!
He did do a magnificent job cleaning the basement. Our basement
is the kid’s realm, read: filthy pigsty. Mark found no less than 32 socks, a melted
box of Junior Mints under the couch (I’m soo excited to work on that Giant
Stain!), about 1000 nerf bullets, 5 empty bags of chips/cookies/beef jerky, 4
t-shirts, 2 sweatshirts, 1 pair of jeans, and a partridge in a pear tree.
My kids leave socks everywhere. Friends have actually given us baggies full of our children’s abandoned socks.
The boys played several games online with their
friends yesterday. It was the first time Liam got to play online with 2 of his
friends from school. He was joyous! He tends to get very loud when he is
excited. Because I couldn’t hear myself think, I made him play in his room with
the door shut. Mark and Caleb could still hear him while they were in the
basement. It’s cute in hindsight, his excitement spilling into his voice. I am
glad he got some friend time.
I am ok, except for the fact that I keep falling into
some time warp. The 3rd day of this I went down to make dinner after
being buried in a book. I thought it was around 6p, it was 845p. Whoops. I did
it again today. The boys said they were hungry for lunch, turns out it was 4p.
So, Liam said, that’s ok we will just have intermezzo instead. Our world may have
gotten significantly smaller but that kid’s vocabulary hasn’t, praise God!
An empty pot sits on my stove top waiting for me to come out of my time warp and make dinner
I checked in on a bunch of friends. For the most part the majority of our friends are holed up at home and are doing fine. Many are getting long forgotten projects done, reading that book they’d bought years ago, and playing more games with their children. I worked out with my friend via Zoom today. That was different but it was good to see her and catch up. The best thing was that I got to see my friend across the street—in person! In ‘the old days’ (a week ago) she would have hollered, I’ll be right over, then run in to pour a glass of wine and met me on my porch to chat. Instead we met in the middle, about 8-10 feet apart and talked rather louder than normal for 5 minutes. It was Awesome! I love my husband but not being an extrovert and not being around another adults is hard—and weird. We typically have friends over once or twice a week. One week without people coming over and I’m all sixes and sevens. I am going to be so socially awkward at the end of this. I feel like I will have forgotten social norms. I’ll probably be hugging every person I see, that will go over well in the grocery store, I am sure.
I miss sitting on the porch with a glass of wine and talking to my friends for hours.
I do wonder what it will be like. I picture us all
coming out of something like a bomb shelter, blinking at the bright light of
the sun…
Welcome studious marketing students. Here is the turbo study
guide for our second exam in BADM 320: Principles of Marketing. This collection
of videos and marketing topics are here in order to help you be more focused in
your studies for the exam. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to
me.
Topic 5: Consumer Behavior
This topic covers the area of consumer behavior. We look
at how and why consumers act, from their decision making process to how the
atmosphere of a store can influence their purchasing. We also take a look at
marketing in general from the eyes of the consumer.
Types of Risk that Consumer Face
From performance risk to psychological risk there is a lot to think about.
Ever regret the morning after a late night at the bars? That is buyer’s remorse.
4 C’s of Marketing
It is the 4ps but from the consumer’s perspective.
Consumer Decision Making Matrix – Types of Consumer Decision Groups
Mystic is really a nice town.
The Consumer Decision Making Process
Little dude is a lot older now. If you can’t tell from seeing me in this video.
Topic 6: B2B Marketing
Business to Business marketing may not be the most
exciting of marketing topics, however the amount of money involved in the B2B
side of marketing is significant, hence why there are so many more people involved
in decision making. Here are the basics of B2B Marketing.
What is B2B Marketing
So what is B2B Marketing anyway?
B2B Buying Centers
So many get involved in B2B Marketing
B2B Buying Situations
The situation you find yourself in depends on what you are buying.
The Differences Between B2B & B2C Marketing
The differences and similarities between B2B & B2C Marketing
Topic 7: Global Marketing
In today’s ever more integrated world it is important to
understand what globalization is and means to business, the ramifications of
the global marketplace, and how we as businesses can grow and thrive in a
globally competitive business environment.
What Brought About Globalization? The Drivers of
Globalization.
Rwanda is awesome. I highly recommend you go there.
Porter’s National Diamond Framework
Yes, I picked the ugliest place in Prague to film. My bad.
Global Market Entry Strategies
Evaluating International Markets: Political System Analysis
Governement and business…
Hofstede’s Model on Culture
Teaching in Beijing was so coolThis funny looking fellow misses his students. Good luck on the exam!
Topic 8: Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning
Segmentation relates to dividing up your customers into
different groups based on similar attributes to the members of that segment.
Targeting focuses on which customers
firm should be shooting for when they are looking to grow their
business. Positioning looks at how firms set themselves up to be seen in a certain
way in the marketplace.
Typical Market Segmentation Methods
Sweet Tea vs Catfish
How To Evaluate Market Segment Attractiveness
You can see the damage from the fire in Notre Dame in the video
Mass Marketing vs Micromarketing: Marketing Strategies
Who wouldn’t want their own personally designed pair of Kicks?
Topic 9: Marketing Research
Marketing research helps firms in so many different ways,
whether it is in product development, understanding their customers, or
analyzing their competition firms are constantly keeping an eye on what is
going on all around them.
Primary Data Explained
Do it yourself marketing
Secondary Data Explained
Have someone else do the hard work marketing
Questions You Should Ask (and not ask) in Marketing Research
Apparently my son is channeling Mick Jagger here.
Exploratory vs Conclusive Research
It was a long summer, kind of explains some of these thumbnails.
Topic 10: Branding
Some say it is all about the brand, but in reality the
brand does have an extreme influence on a business, only if the firm wants the
brand to be influential. The brand needs to flow throughout the business so all
members of the company understand what the firm’s brand really means.
Types of Products
So many types of products.
Brand Image vs Brand Identity
Image or Identity?
Primary vs Secondary Packaging
Strasbourg, France is really awesome by the way.
Brand Vision vs Brand Promises
Love me some Coca-Cola & Culver’s.
The 4 P’s of Marketing: The Marketing Mix Explained
If you get this question wrong on the exam, we can’t be friends anymore.
I’ve decided to Blog our Self-Imposed Quarantine. I’m doing this more for our kids and one day grandchildren than anyone else. As I sit and think about this crazy time it makes me think of how I used to ask what it was like for my grandparents during WW2. This is far from a world war but, it is unprecedented. So, for my curious descendants, this is what Quarantine looks like for us in 2020.
I’m starting this after a week at home so I’ll just recap
the past week or so in this first post and hopefully future posts will be
shorter…
In the past month Mark and I had been getting updates from our friends in Vicenza, Italy. The situation there was nightmarish, overrun hospitals, people dying and, finally Italy called a countrywide quarantine. We could see the writing on the wall, we knew we would have to limit our time in public to help slow the spread of the novel corona virus known as COVID 19 or SARS-CoV-2.
A moment in our Italian “hometown” Vicenza.
On Wednesday 11 March 2020 the University of Illinois (where Mark is a professor) told its faculty to be prepared to switch all classes to online classes. That night President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation banning EU (Schengen) citizens from entering the United States. Mark and I stared at the TV. It was unprecedented but we understood it. We immediately went to work on finding out what this meant for travelers so we could pass on good information to our followers on YouTube and woltersworld.com. I read that dang proclamation front to back. If you haven’t read a Presidential Proclamation, it is not what I would call enjoyable reading. The boys knew about the virus and how things are in Italy though vaguely.
On Thursday both boys were sick from having eaten too much spicy Korean noodles so we let them stay home. Mark and I were thinking it was probably time to just stay home all together. We got all our information together and made a quick video to explain what the proclamation meant in layman’s terms. I wrote it in a blog citing the CDC and Department of State.
Friday, we sent the boys to school. It was the last day of school before Spring Break and the school had already sent an email saying students should take home all of their books in anticipation of a government shutdown of schools in Illinois.
While the boys were at school, we tried to have our normal Friday morning date day. We ran to Target and got a few things, new jammies for the boys, some Reese’s Eggs for me, things to make the transition less drastic, I guess. We went to Barnes and Noble because that is our date place. We got a couple of magazines for the boys, Soccer for Caleb and Science for Liam and I, as always got a new book. After, we stopped by the music store to get instruction books for guitar and drums so Mark could teach the boys at home.
We still aren’t sure why everyone bought all the toilet paper, but no Kleenexes.
We felt pretty prepared for self-quarantine. Stores had been out of toilet paper all week but we had our usual amount at home and had been grocery shopping earlier in the week. We hadn’t gone nuts and hoarded things like we were seeing in the news but we had enough for a couple three weeks which was kind of our usual. All we had to do was get the boys from school and stay home.
At pick up every child was walking out with a massive amount of stuff. I’m glad they had that day to get their things and see their friends once more before we holed up at home for some indefinite amount of time. One of Liam’s best buds asked if they could have a playdate…it kinda crushed me to say, not today, knowing it would be some time before they could play together in person again. Teachers and staff were calm but I could see there was some worry beneath their placid exteriors. That same day Governor Pritzker closed Illinois schools for 2 weeks.
That night the president banned citizens from the UK and Ireland from entering the United States. Rumors were all over social media, people were panicky. My mantra became, Be Prudent but Don’t Panic.
Saturday was, for the most part, a lazy day at home. Mark and I did a YouTube Live chat with our followers. There were a lot of questions, confusion, and some apprehension if not outright fear. People were trying to cancel flights and trips or get home from around the globe. Several people from other countries were concerned about getting home. Everyone wanted to know what this would look like for them now and in the future. Our answers came from the CDC or US State Department. We couldn’t speculate how long this would last. In our hearts we were hoping it would only be a month or so but secretly thinking it would get worse before it gets better. The boys played an inordinate amount of video games while Mark and I were researching.
Sunday, we didn’t go to church. That was weird. Instead I found a video of the Great Doxology on a Greek Orthodox YouTube page. I read the day’s readings and thought about them and about this new environment we were living in. I kept thinking; this is truly Lent. We did another Live chat that day and answered most of the same questions and assuaged the same concerns as best as we could. We decided what people really needed was some community and as we had one built in, we would set up regular Live chats on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The boys thought it was brilliant to sleep in on a Sunday. Liam did join me in listening to the Great Doxology though–he really likes to sing our old school chants at church.
Monday, we were running low on eggs and dog food. I was going to go to the store early but chickened out. Somehow, I let the media and rumors get to me, as if going out would infect me and my household. Around noon I thought, this is ridiculous. You aren’t being prudent, you’re panicking. So, I went to the store for dog food, eggs, and some rice as we were down to half a bag (we eat a lot of rice).
There were limits at the store, but people were still nice & friendly.
The store was packed. I felt the need to get other stuff because everyone was in mad shop-mode. In the end I only got what we needed plus a corned beef. So many of the shoppers were elderly, it scared me. What if they got sick? What if they couldn’t afford all this? I know social security checks come at the first of the month…it might be detrimental to our elderly on fixed incomes and that scared me more.
While I was there, I saw people wearing latex gloves and trying to put distance between themselves and others. I saw the people feverishly stocking the shelves. I told a couple of them thank you. It must be a crazy, thankless job with people pushing past to get what they need (or think they need) so desperately. Generally, no one was speaking to anyone else. It was tense. I made a few comments to people as we waited in line, the older guy with a 6-pack of beer and a loaf of bread, you’ve got your priorities in order, don’t you? I just needed to make someone laugh.
I let two people go in front of me as they only had 1 or 2 items. I thanked the guy checking my groceries and the woman bagging them. They were so appreciative. You could see they had been stressed out and we chatted amiably, I think they needed that. I think we all do.
The boys were still in no-school mode, if I heard the theme song from Johnny Test one more time my head may explode. In my mind every time the song said, Jooohny Te-eest I heard hoooly cra-aap. (Can I say that in a blog? Well, I just did.)
Tuesday was St. Patrick’s Day. Usually, I would tune in to watch the parade in Savannah online. Well, there was no parade. We all wore green anyway. I started the corned beef in the morning so something would feel normal about St. Pats.
Mark and I got back to working out and started to get ourselves a routine. Tuesday, I felt more normal than any of the previous days. The new normal was beginning to set in. I thought about those 4 months I spent on bedrest (when pregnant with Liam) and how I had to have a routine to combat the blues. Getting one in order really helped.
We did a Live chat with our members and patrons from our various online communities. It was wonderful. These people are our champions. They support us with small donations every month but more that that, they are like friends we’ve never met. We had about 35 or 40 online and we all talked. Several of them have developed friendships with one another through Wolters World also. This gives me joy.
Caleb on the other hand had a rough day. He wanted to play basketball with his buddy, Josiah. He had a little meltdown when we said, no we are self-quarantining. He was angry as 13yo boys can be. He cited a lot of stuff he had read online about how is won’t hurt any of us as we are young and not at risk.
We had a hard talk about why we had decided to stay in. This virus is unknown, it doesn’t show symptoms for 2-14 days so, healthy people may actually be carrying it and spreading it unbeknownst to them. This damn thing kills the elderly and immuno-compromised. We explained that Papoo, my dad, just got over an awful case of pneumonia, and my sister is also at high risk. These are people he loves and he kinda got it.
But we also talked about how Nando and Elena and all our friends in Italy have been under quarantine for weeks. His buddy Philippo can’t go play with his friends either, he has been at home and the Italian army in the streets because the spread is so bad. We don’t want that so we are staying home now before it gets bad. We talked about how people are dying at home because the hospitals in Italy are overrun and even if they had room, they don’t have enough medical supplies for everyone.
What an awful discussion, there were some tears, some shouting, and in the end understanding and compassion.
Andra Tutto Bene! This is the cry of Italy right now, Everything Will Be OK!
Wednesday and Thursday Mark and I made our bed, walked and worked out while the boys slept in. It is still Spring Break so we are being lax on their schedules for now. We worked around the house, I’ve been prepping food and trying to remake dinners so we don’t have the same dish as our leftovers but a different meal. It makes me think of my Yiayia and Grandma. Both of them lived through the Great Depression and I saw the way they never let a bite of food go to waste. I inherited a love of cooking from Yiayia, I wish I had inherited my Grandma’s baking skills. I am channeling both of them as I cook for my family.
Corned Beef Dinner becomes Soup the next day. My Grandmothers are smiling down on me now.Who knew Corned Beef could be such a yummy Beef and Veggie Soup?
The boys were a little at each other’s throats both days. They kept apart more than usual but when they were together, they picked on each other, a lot. They have the usual squabbles but generally, they are really close and play well together but, not Wednesday and Thursday. It was frustrating. We got them moving, made them shower, and play outside when the weather was good Thursday afternoon.
Mark made each of us write 4 things we wanted to do as a family and put them in a hat. We drew papers from the hat all day and subsequently; played Jenga and poker, colored pictures to send to the elderly in our local nursing homes, Mark read 3 chapters of our current book and I made their favorite soup (Avgolemono) for dinner.
The grey skies and fluctuating temperatures are not helpful. If only it were warmer and sunny life would be easier but then, there is always ‘if only’.
So, today, Friday the 20th I am looking to the immediate future and how it will look. So far, I have decided on a schedule (pliable, as all our family schedules are) and am apparently writing this blog. Our days will consist of a walk and workouts at home, prepping meals and then school time for the boys and work time for Mark and me. I am hoping school can be done in 2-3hours so we can have some free time for art, reading, and playing. I envision a lot of family movie nights and Mark reading to us as usual but maybe a little more than the usual amount of time.
The boys are back to their usual selves today, playing and laughing together, thank God!
Brothers make the Best Friends. Tazumal, El Salvador
I am a little trepidatious about the immediate future. I have a feeling if more people don’t take this social distancing and staying home thing seriously, we will have to do it longer or the government will make us.
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Las Vegas, Nevada! It’s a unique city that everyone should visit at least once in their life. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll when you visit Las Vegas.
Hate
#1: Las Vegas Taxis
Taxi prices in Las Vegas are astronomical. You
can expect to pay at least $40 to get from the airport to the Strip. It’s also
about $20 to go from the Strip to downtown Las Vegas. If you do take a taxi in
Las Vegas, ask them to take the local route from the airport, not the highway.
It will save you time and money. The airport is practically at the end of the
Strip, yet most taxi drivers will take you the long (expensive) way to your
hotel. Uber and Lyft are also available in Vegas, so check those prices as
well.
Don’ts let the glitz trick you. Vegas has a lot to offer.
Hate
#2: Prices in Vegas
Las Vegas used to be a cheap destination, with
low hotel rates to lure gamblers in. That’s not the case anymore, as it’s
become an international destination. Hotels and restaurants are expensive. If
you aren’t gambling and you order drinks, they are pretty expensive as well.
Sure, there are budget-friendly options in Vegas, but be careful when choosing
a budget hotel and make sure you carefully check the location and traveler
reviews. It won’t do you any good to save money on a hotel if you then have to
take a taxi to the Strip every day. (Also: watch out for those resort fees that
are mandatory but not shown in your hotel rate!)
This can be a love or hate, but there are some
crazy people in Las Vegas. There’s just crazy/eccentric and then there are the
crazy/drunk people in Vegas. The whole atmosphere is unlike any other
destination in the world. You can drink on the street, so you see a LOT of
drunk people running around. It’s a popular bachelor/bachelorette destination
and there’s a lot of people trying to relive the Hangover movies. If you are
visiting Vegas with kids, beware of the peddlers on the street handing out
cards – they’re for escort services, and the photos are most definitely not
family-friendly!
Smoking has been banned practically everywhere
in the United States, so most of us are not used to dealing with cigarette
smoke indoors. Vegas is the lone holdout and still allows smoking in casinos,
strip clubs, brothels, and bars. If you don’t like smoking, you have to seek
out a non-smoking area. Don’t bother to complain about it as that’s a good way
to get into a fight. When you book your Las Vegas hotel, be sure to ask for a
non-smoking hotel room.
Hate
#5: Summer in Las Vegas
Vegas may have a “dry heat” since it’s in the
desert, but even a dry heat can be oppressive when temperatures go over
100-degrees. You have to really stay hydrated, especially if you visit Las
Vegas in the summer. The nights still cool down considerably, so you’ll need
layers if you plan to go out at night. Summer is probably the worst time to
visit Vegas, but you can also score some hotel deals if you do visit in the
summer.
Of course you have to get a picture with the Las Vegas sign!
Love
#1: People Watching Along the Strip
One of the best things to do in Vegas is to
sit back and watch all of the interesting people along the Strip. You’ll see a
lot of street performers and people dressed up as characters. If you want a
photo of them or with them, you’ll be expected to pay them. Then there are the
different tourists to watch and the local “street workers.” It’s just a really
interesting environment.
Love
#2: Vegas Never Sleeps
There is no last call in Las Vegas; it’s
really a 24/7 city. You’ll see grandmas at the slot machine at 4 am and people
knocking back shots at 8 am. You can do
almost anything you want in Las Vegas: hang out with Elvis, rent a luxury
sports car, have steak for breakfast or waffles for dinner! There are no clocks
or windows in the casinos, so they make it very hard to know what time it is.
Make sure you don’t get burned out and build some downtime into your Las Vegas
itinerary. (Or at least plan a recovery day at home before you go back to
work!)
Love
#3: Las Vegas Restaurants
Food is such an essential experience of
traveling and Vegas is no exception! The food in Vegas is amazing. You can hit
a dozen all-you-can-eat buffets or one of 12 Michelin-star restaurants in Las
Vegas. You can get fabulous food in Las Vegas at all hours of the day and
night. Skip the fast food in Vegas, take advantage of the amazing dining
opportunities and try something new.
Love
#4: Free Drinks!
No, it’s not an urban legend. You really can
drink for free in Las Vegas…if you’re gambling. Now, if you’re at a nightclub
or a bar or restaurant, you will have to pay (a lot) for your drinks. But once
you are in the casino, if you are gambling, you can get free alcoholic
beverages. You can even be at the penny slots, but make sure you are tipping
the waitress, which will ensure she comes back around quickly.
Theme hotels everywhere, but worth stopping in.
Love
#5: Other Things to Do in Vegas
Besides gambling, there are so many cool
things to do in Vegas. There are museums in Vegas, like the Mob Museum or the
Neon Sign Museum. The Fremont Street Experience is a cool light show. There’s
awesome hiking right outside Vegas at Mt Charleston and Red Rock Canyon. You
can even take day trips from Las Vegas to see the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam.
Then there are the shows in Vegas: Circus Circus is always popular, and many
performers like Britney Spears, Celine Dion and Cher have ongoing residencies
in Las Vegas. When you are planning your Las Vegas itinerary, make sure you
leave room for some of the cool day trips from Las Vegas!
Las
Vegas is a really interesting city, no matter what kind of travel you prefer.
The “hates” are really just things to have a heads up on rather than a reason
not to plan a Las Vegas vacation. Want more tips for traveling in the United
States? Check out these other blog posts:
Greetings from England! Today we’re sharing the don’ts of traveling in England.
Oh look another castle!!!
England Travel Tip #1: Don’t Worry if You Don’t Understand the
English
Many travelers from other English speaking countries may have a
hard time understand the English spoken in England. The accents vary within the
country, and some of the sayings or phrases aren’t well known outside of
England. Some examples include: taking the piss, Bob’s your uncle, gutted,
brolly, cheeky, gaff, leg it, gobsmacked and minging. English humor can be very
different so it’s hard to tell if someone is making fun or being serious
sometimes.
England Travel Tip #2: Don’t Be Scared of the Food
English food is not as bad
as the reputation it gets. While it may not be a “foodie” destination,
the food scene in England has improved a ton over the last 20 years since I
started coming here. There is a lot of international food to enjoy, but
traditional English food can be pretty tasty. Pub classics like shepherd’s pie
or Sunday roast are really good, not to mention the fish and chips if you are
near the ocean. You might actually be surprised at some of the good food you’ll
try in England.
England has so many great accommodation options; one of the
quintessential parts of traveling through England is to stay in Bed &
Breakfasts. There’s a whole network of inns and guest houses throughout the
countryside, which you can string together for a fun and authentic English road
trip. By staying with a local family, you’ll get so much more information and
history about the area than you would from a hotel.
Don’t think England is just London. There is so much more.
England Travel Tip #4: Don’t Be Scared to Drive
Yes, they drive on the left side of the road in England, but
don’t be scared to drive when you are visiting. Do make sure you know how to
drive a stick shift, though. Public transport through the countryside of
England gets expensive, so it’s really more economical to rent a car, and this
gives you more freedom to explore. It’s a bit odd when you first drive on the
left, but after your first roundabout, you’ll be a pro.
England Travel Tip #5: Don’t Forget to Look Right When Crossing
the Street
Because they drive on the left in England, you also have to pay
attention to this as a pedestrian. Make sure to look to the right, not the
left, when crossing the street.
England Travel Tip #6: Don’t Think That London is the Only
Place in England
London is a great city, but it’s not all that England has to
offer. Imagine if an English tourist only ever visited New York and thought
they saw “America.” Exploring the country outside of London is an entirely
different experience; from Dover to York to Brighton. (Also, don’t confuse
England and Britain. Britain includes Scotland and Wales, not just England.)
England Travel Tip #7: Don’t Forget Your P’s & Queues
Politeness is key in England, and you will hear “sorry” over and
over again because they are just very polite and proper. It’s considered rude
to be late in England, also. This applies to queues as well, so don’t jump the
queue.
England Travel Tip #8: Don’t Forget a Rain Coat
It doesn’t rain all the time in England, but it does rain often.
So it’s a good idea to have a waterproof jacket, and waterproof shoes for when
it does rain. You can buy a cheap umbrella, but you don’t want to spend travel
money on coats and shoes if you already have them.
England Travel Tip #9: Don’t Forget to Go to the Pub
England is definitely a pub culture, and the place to go for a pint, a chat or a tasty meal. The local pub is a great place to really see the “locals in action.” And it is definitely something you do not want to miss out on when you are in England. Also, take note of the fun names that a lot of the pubs have.
Jolly good times are had in England.
These are just nine simple “don’ts” to help you better enjoy
your England vacation. For more travel tips, check out these blog posts and
videos:
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit the American Midwest! This includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. I was born and raised in the Midwest, and even though I travel all over the world frequently, it’s still the place I call home. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate on your Midwest vacations.
The best and worst of visiting the Midwest
Hate
#1: Vast Distances
The Midwest is the breadbasket of America, so
there are wide open spaces for miles and miles. The distances between major
cities in the Midwest are pretty great. From St. Louis to Chicago, it takes
about five hours to drive. From Chicago to the Black Hills of South Dakota, it takes
14 hours to drive. This is true of most of the United States, but in the
Midwest, you are driving through a lot of cornfields and wheat fields, which
can make the drive seem longer.
The Midwest has some of the friendliest people
in the United States. People in the Midwest are genuine and honest; they won’t
sugarcoat anything like people in the South, but they aren’t rude like the
people of the Northeast. As you travel the Midwest, you’ll be treated really
well and there’s little risk of being ripped off, with the exception of a large
Midwest city like Chicago.
Hate
#2: Midwest Weather
Weather in the Midwest ranges from one extreme
to another. Summer temperatures can climb to 100-degrees with high humidity.
Along with mosquitos, the heat and humidity can make summers in the Midwest
very uncomfortable. Fortunately, the extreme heat is not persistent for more
than a few days at a time. Midwest winters are legendary, with temperatures
frequently dipping below zero degrees, plus wind, snow, and gray days. The
Great Lakes are famous for producing “lake effect” snow which can easily reach
a couple of feet deep in one storm.
Love
#2: Four Distinct Seasons
While the weather in the Midwest can be
extreme, you do have four distinct seasons, which is really nice to experience.
Summers are warm with long days, autumn brings colorful leaves changing, with
warm days and cool nights. Winter can be magical if you have the right clothing
to get outside and enjoy the snow. And spring brings more color with blooming
flowers and trees.
Showing my buddies the Bean in Chicago.
Hate
#3: Missing Out on Midwest Charm
Unless you know someone locally, chances are
you are going to miss out on a lot of the charming small towns that really set
the Midwest apart from other regions. It’s easy to visit the big cities like
Chicago, St. Louis or Minneapolis, but most visitors wouldn’t know to visit a
town like Quincy, Illinois. These quaint little towns are often left out of
travel guides, so if you know someone from the Midwest, ask them about some of
the lesser-known destinations in the Midwest states.
Love
#3: Quaint Small Towns
Besides the great cities of the Midwest, some
of the best places to visit in the Midwest are the small towns. My hometown of
Quincy, Illinois is the perfect example of a charming town that is off the
beaten path. These towns are all over the Midwest and give you a glimpse of
what America used to be. Many still have a town square in the center, with
local businesses around the square. You won’t find these towns if you travel
exclusively by Interstate, so you’ll have to take some two-lane highways that pass
through these towns.
Most travelers visit the Midwest states in the
summer when the weather is pleasant, but that’s also prime mosquito season.
Several of the Midwest states claim the state bird is the mosquito. Mosquitos
hatch near wet areas in the spring and live through summer, so make sure you
are carrying bug spray if you plan to spend any time outdoors in the Midwest
during spring and summer.
Love
#4: Midwest Food
Food in the Midwest is very hearty, with items
like steak, potatoes, fried chicken and apple pie. Fresh farm fruits and
vegetables feature heavily on Midwest menus in the summertime, while stews and
soups are perfect for cold winter days. When summer arrives in the Midwest,
everyone is all about grilling outside, so if you are invited to a Midwest
cookout, don’t pass up the opportunity!
some fun Christmas markets in the midwest
Hate
#5: Rust Belt Atmosphere
The Midwest used to be the great manufacturing
hub of the United States. Detroit is famous as the home of huge car
manufacturers and factories, while other regions produce farm equipment, and of
course, much farming takes place in the Midwest. As manufacturing moves
overseas, a lot of towns are left in a depressed economic situation. Cities
like Detroit, Cleveland or Gary, Indiana are a shell of what they once were,
and you’ll find some areas that have been completely boarded up and abandoned. Many
Midwest cities are making a comeback, but you will notice a difference in some
areas.
Love
#5: Safety in the Midwest
The Midwest is one of the safest regions of
the United States. There are many small towns where people still don’t lock the
front door of their home. Obviously, it depends on where you are traveling, as
larger cities will always have some neighborhoods to avoid, but in general,
Midwest destinations are quite safe.
Overall,
the Midwest is a really fantastic place to live or travel, with wide-open
spaces, friendly people, history, and comfort food. The “hates” are really just
things to have a heads up on rather than a reason to avoid Midwest travel. Want
more tips for planning a US vacation? Check out some of our other blog posts:
Greetings from Munich, the heart of Bavarian Germany! It’s a
great place to explore, and there are lots of things to do. But today we’re
talking about the “dont’s” of Munich.
Munich Travel Tip #1 Don’t Assume Munich is Just Beer
Munich is famous for the Hofbrauhaus, and has a famous beer
culture. Visitors to Munich definitely should see the beer gardens, and sample
the beer, but realize that Munich has so much more to offer. There are palaces,
and museums ranging from art, history and even the BMW museum. One of the best
science & industry museums in the world is in Munich.
Munich Travel Tip
#2 Don’t Try to Steal a Big Beer Mug
When you do visit Hofbrauhaus, don’t try to steal one of the big
beer steins or mugs. These places are used to this tourist trick and they stay
on top of it, watching very carefully. It’s really easy to buy these mugs and
steins now, so don’t risk getting in trouble over one.
So much to do aside from drinking in Munich
Munich Travel Tip
#3 Don’t Think the Hofbrauhaus is the Only Beer Hall
Yes, it’s the most famous, but there are other beer halls in
Munich worth visiting. It’s fun to explore all the different beer halls in
Munich, and enjoy the different scenes you’ll find at each. For a calmer,
quieter dinner experience, check out the
Munich Travel Tip
#4 Don’t Think Munich is Going to be Cheap
Generally, Germany has some great deals, and there are a lot of
good deals to be had in Munich. With the Bayern ticket, you can travel all over
Bavaria for a really good price. But in general, hotels, restaurants and
shopping in Munich can be expensive.
Munich Travel Tip
#5 Don’t Be Scared to Take Public Transportation
The public transportation in Munich goes everywhere. The S-Bahn
are the above-ground trains, the U-Bahn is the subway, and the buses will get
you anywhere you want to go. A lot of the main tourist sights in Munich are in
a compact, walkable area, but don’t be afraid to hop on the train and explore a
bit farther afield. Buying tickets is also very easy.
Munich Travel Tip
#6 Don’t Think that Oktoberfest is Only in October
Don’t forget that Oktoberfest actually starts in September and
only goes through the first week of October. If you’re coming for Oktoberfest,
don’t forget to reserve your rooms ahead of time, as well as make reservations
for a table in an Oktoberfest tent. It can be hard to find a place last minute,
and the prices tend to skyrocket as it gets closer. You can’t order beer if you
aren’t at a table, so snagging one is a key part of enjoying Oktoberfest.
The locals are quite friendly and in this case tasty!
Munich Travel Tip
#7 Don’t Plan to Shop on Sundays
Munich is one of the best cities in Germany for shopping.
However, most of the stores aren’t open on Sundays. Tourist shops and train
stations are the few exceptions, but for the most part, you won’t get much
shopping done on Sunday. Likewise, a lot of museums in Munich are closed on
Mondays, so factor this in to your Munich itinerary.
Munich Travel Tip
#8 Don’t Be Disrespectful at Dachau
For travelers visiting the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, I
can’t emphasize enough how important it is to be respectful and appropriate.
I’ve seen tourists taking duck-face selfies in front of gas chambers where
people were murdered. I know our readers are much more aware than that, but it
never hurts to have a reminder.
Munich Travel Tip
#9 Don’t Just Stay in Munich
There are tons of great day trips from Munich, so make sure to
set aside time to explore outside of Munich. With the Bayern ticket, it’s easy
to explore nearby areas of Bavaria, including Nuremburg, Bamberg, Regensburg,
Oberammergau, Neuschwanstein Castle, or even Salzburg, Austria.
Munich Travel Tip
#10 Don’t Be Afraid to Visit in the Off Season
Many people only visit Munich in the summer because they don’t
want to have cold weather. Munich is a year-round destination, with something
to do in every season. The weather shouldn’t be a factor since there are so
many museums to enjoy. In the summer, Munich is crowded, and prices are higher.
These are just ten simple “don’ts” to help you better enjoy
your Munich vacation. Before you go, don’t forget to learn a few German phrases
to get around. Germans will really appreciate it and will warm up to you much
more quickly. For more travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos:
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