There was a reason I was born in March...because it is the beginning of spring and coincidentally my favorite season! Just like a butterfly metamorphs out of their cocoon, so the world awakens from its winter slumber. It gets me every year and never will stop amazing me!
Germany is finally getting warmer! Praise God! This winter was no joke. Thankfully, I had many friends in Germany to keep my spirits warm and lots of blankets to keep me physically warm. I am on the search for a bike, so I can ride the trails of Germany. I need one badly! But until then the joys of trail running will suffice!
New adventures include going back to Switzerland for a second go on the Alps. I love skiing the more I go and can't wait for next season. You can't beat skiing in a thin jacket with no hat and your toes not screaming. The snow was a bit like mashed potatoes though...
Last weekend I made a trip to visit my Scotland cronies in Bavaria. Bavaria is much more of your rustic Germany and less like the Americanized Kaiserslautern community I live in. We visited Nuremberg for the day and saw a few sights. It was even complete with a wonderful birthday party put on by dear Sarah for me and Tim, my birthday buddy. We both were born on March 31, 1987- just two hours apart.
Easter is a big deal in Germany! Did you know the bunny originated from Germany? My town has a haystack Easter bunny greeting you as you enter. Oh Erzenhausen...
I can't wait to see my mother and aunts soon in London although for a short time! I miss my family, but thanks to Skype and the telephone we keep in touch. I love technology...
I hope this post finds you having a blessed Easter season. Easter was always a big deal in the Cummings house because Cathy loves bunnies and the Cummings girls love chocolate, so a perfect fit! I look forward to celebrating Christ's resurrection with my new church, Frontline. What a blessing it is to me. God has been asking me lately how I am going to use my spiritual gifts in my life for Him and I am trying to figure it out... I don't want to go to heaven with my hands empty.
Happy Easter! Bunny kisses! (that one was for you Cath)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Begining of my Nurse Career at Landstuhl
This may be a shock, but I actually came to Germany to work as a nurse! Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (or LRMC pronounced LARM-C) is the biggest US hospital outside of the US. It is on the "hilltop." I drive twenty-five minutes into work everyday up the hill, through the security gates, park far away, have a security officer check my ID again and bag, then I finally make my way to the floor! Security is high as it should be.
Can I talk a little bit about the mission of LRMC? I always knew that it played a huge role in the link between the conflict in the Middle East and the US, but in the past couple weeks this role of my hospital has become very clear to me. Everyday LRMC gets a bus full of injured soldiers who come from Iraq and Afghanistan. Their injuries vary from psychological to critical blast injuries. It is heart wrenching and warming at the same time. Everyone works together to accomplish our mission to take the best care of the troops until we can send them to the States or back to the battlefield. I am in love with our mission and can't talk enough about it. I love being a nurse here! I have been rotating through the flight line, OR, and receiving new patients and finally see "the big picture."
There are many, many new nurses at Landstuhl, but everyone has such a high motivation for what they do! I think that I have been negative in previous posts about being in Germany. It is all worth it to be at Landstuhl with our men and women who serve us. I am humbled by their stories and wish I could share them with you on the Internet! (but I can't :( )
Finally, I thought I would share a few pictures of my apartment if you haven't seen them yet on facebook:
Wow, it takes long to upload photos. Guess this is it for now! Auf Wiedersen friends!
Can I talk a little bit about the mission of LRMC? I always knew that it played a huge role in the link between the conflict in the Middle East and the US, but in the past couple weeks this role of my hospital has become very clear to me. Everyday LRMC gets a bus full of injured soldiers who come from Iraq and Afghanistan. Their injuries vary from psychological to critical blast injuries. It is heart wrenching and warming at the same time. Everyone works together to accomplish our mission to take the best care of the troops until we can send them to the States or back to the battlefield. I am in love with our mission and can't talk enough about it. I love being a nurse here! I have been rotating through the flight line, OR, and receiving new patients and finally see "the big picture."
There are many, many new nurses at Landstuhl, but everyone has such a high motivation for what they do! I think that I have been negative in previous posts about being in Germany. It is all worth it to be at Landstuhl with our men and women who serve us. I am humbled by their stories and wish I could share them with you on the Internet! (but I can't :( )
Finally, I thought I would share a few pictures of my apartment if you haven't seen them yet on facebook:
Wow, it takes long to upload photos. Guess this is it for now! Auf Wiedersen friends!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Germany 6
Friends! I have pictures! My friend Sarah got her landlord's wireless internet password, so I have an Internet connection. I think I have mentioned in previous post how difficult it can be to get things done around Deutschland! Here are some pictures of what I have been up to! The pictures are of my trips to the Alps to go skiing and SCOTLAND! I feel extremely blessed for the opprotunities I have had recently to see Europe. 
Haggis, tatties, neeps- traditional Scottish food!
Haggis, tatties, neeps- traditional Scottish food!
My first hostel experience! We had a group of 6 and stayed in this "lovely" place in dowtown edinburgh!
Downtown EdinburghThe Edinburgh castle- what a fortress!
Skiing with friends in the Alps--- so much fun!
Nurse Corps Buddies!
Wow! Thanks God for your beautiful creation and the beautiful day to ski! You are so awesome. 
Wow! Thanks God for your beautiful creation and the beautiful day to ski! You are so awesome. My apartment is coming along smashingly. Thanks to Ikea, my household goods arriving, a spritful 14 year old neighbor who likes to help me put things together, and many Euros. It looks way better than the flashback to the 80s it was before! I can't wait for family to come visit. I also can't wait for the weather to get warmer! I can't wait to run on the trails (hopefully bike too once I get one!).
My church, Frontline, is amazing. I can't wait to get involved more. It is so alive and rockin'. I am blessed to find the community. Aaaand there are lots of kiddos running around so hopefully I will find an opprotunity to babysit! (I need a kid fix)
The top 3 things I miss about the United States:
3) My phone plan... goodbye free minutes
2) the dollar
1) my drink being filled with endless amounts of water at restaurants!
The Army Nurse Transition Program is...slow. I am trying to be patient about the process and enjoy the weekends off and the things I am doing. Sometimes I just want to scream, "I AM AN RN! LET ME ON THE FLOOR!" I know I have much to learn, but also know the only way to learn is to start actually doing it and not sitting in the classroom. Please pray for patience for me as I will be in this transition program until July.
Okay, I think that is good for tonight! I wish I could watch the Olympics more, but with the lack of Internet and T.V. It's been difficult. USA all the way!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Germany 5
Still no pictures! I feel that I am going to be losing readers if I don't get Internet soon and can post pictures!
Updates for this week include finding a church, going skiing in Switzerland, and FINALLY starting my nurse transition program.
First, finding a church. The church is called Frontline and it is made of mostly Kaiserslautern military community members. The pastor is very outgoing and the church is very alive! I can't wait to get connected with a Lifegroup and hopefully even finding a few kiddos to babysit!
Skiiing in Switzerland was even better than I expected! My friends and I went on a one day ski trip to the Alps. It was beautiful sunny weather and great powder. It took an hour just to get down the mountain. I was in awe at many points going down the moutain and seeing the scenery.
The nurse transition program will go until June. I am the "communications officer." I could use improvement in my communication skill, so serving in this position for my transition class will be a good exercise for me! The advantage right now of being in this program is- weekends off! I am going to enjoy them while they last!
My apartment is still being settled into. I feel that I am always "out and about" and basically just sleep there and make food! We have had a break from the SNOW. They are saying it is the worst winter here in 30 years. Just my luck, eh?
This President's Day Weekend I am heading to SCOTLAND! I am going to ask Nessi if he will be my Valentine. I hope the Lochness says yes!
Later!
Caitlin
Updates for this week include finding a church, going skiing in Switzerland, and FINALLY starting my nurse transition program.
First, finding a church. The church is called Frontline and it is made of mostly Kaiserslautern military community members. The pastor is very outgoing and the church is very alive! I can't wait to get connected with a Lifegroup and hopefully even finding a few kiddos to babysit!
Skiiing in Switzerland was even better than I expected! My friends and I went on a one day ski trip to the Alps. It was beautiful sunny weather and great powder. It took an hour just to get down the mountain. I was in awe at many points going down the moutain and seeing the scenery.
The nurse transition program will go until June. I am the "communications officer." I could use improvement in my communication skill, so serving in this position for my transition class will be a good exercise for me! The advantage right now of being in this program is- weekends off! I am going to enjoy them while they last!
My apartment is still being settled into. I feel that I am always "out and about" and basically just sleep there and make food! We have had a break from the SNOW. They are saying it is the worst winter here in 30 years. Just my luck, eh?
This President's Day Weekend I am heading to SCOTLAND! I am going to ask Nessi if he will be my Valentine. I hope the Lochness says yes!
Later!
Caitlin
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Germany Week #3
Sorry Folks, no pictures this week. I still have to get my Internet up and running at my apartment. I promise pictures to come fairly soon.
This week was a combination of moving into my apartment and a little program called ITC (Individual Transition Course?). My apartment is in a VERY small town called Erzenhausen. It is two bedrooms and 1.5 baths. It is great because I have three sets of neighbors in the apartment complex. They are all Air Force and all very nice people. Two energetic boys live below me who are homeschooled and constantly playing pranks. One night the boy knocked on my door wearing a ski mask and said, "I am a burglar! Give me all of your money." Needless to say, I wasn't very scared and just laughed at these two poor kids who obviously are desperate for interaction. I hope to go sledding with them soon! ;)
ITC is a program to help soldiers make their adjustment to Germany. We take classes such as defense German driving, financial planning, and learn about all the recreational opprotunities available to us here in the great Kaiserslautern Military Community. It is neat to be apart of such a neat community.
Living alone is...quiet. I am used to being surrounded by lots of people and voices. I am an extrovert which means I get my energy from being around others. This living alone thing will be a hard adjustment for me. God created us to be in community with others. I hope to get keyed in more to my community and start feeling "at home" here. Alas, St. Chuck, MO will ALWAYS be my true home.
I am thankful for all my fellow Nurse Corps members who I met at Officer Basic Leadership Course and came here with me. We are going through this transition together! Having friends definitely makes the frustrating times easier!
New hobbies of mine include scraping the endless amounts of snow and ice off my car (worst snow in 9 years, go figure), online shopping (got to love free shipping to APO addresses), and eating lots of Doner (if you come to visit, I will take you!).
The moral of the story is LIVING in Germany is different from VACATIONING in Germany. I am going to Frankfurt this weekend to explore. Skiing in Switzerland the week after that!
Auf Wierdersen!
This week was a combination of moving into my apartment and a little program called ITC (Individual Transition Course?). My apartment is in a VERY small town called Erzenhausen. It is two bedrooms and 1.5 baths. It is great because I have three sets of neighbors in the apartment complex. They are all Air Force and all very nice people. Two energetic boys live below me who are homeschooled and constantly playing pranks. One night the boy knocked on my door wearing a ski mask and said, "I am a burglar! Give me all of your money." Needless to say, I wasn't very scared and just laughed at these two poor kids who obviously are desperate for interaction. I hope to go sledding with them soon! ;)
ITC is a program to help soldiers make their adjustment to Germany. We take classes such as defense German driving, financial planning, and learn about all the recreational opprotunities available to us here in the great Kaiserslautern Military Community. It is neat to be apart of such a neat community.
Living alone is...quiet. I am used to being surrounded by lots of people and voices. I am an extrovert which means I get my energy from being around others. This living alone thing will be a hard adjustment for me. God created us to be in community with others. I hope to get keyed in more to my community and start feeling "at home" here. Alas, St. Chuck, MO will ALWAYS be my true home.
I am thankful for all my fellow Nurse Corps members who I met at Officer Basic Leadership Course and came here with me. We are going through this transition together! Having friends definitely makes the frustrating times easier!
New hobbies of mine include scraping the endless amounts of snow and ice off my car (worst snow in 9 years, go figure), online shopping (got to love free shipping to APO addresses), and eating lots of Doner (if you come to visit, I will take you!).
The moral of the story is LIVING in Germany is different from VACATIONING in Germany. I am going to Frankfurt this weekend to explore. Skiing in Switzerland the week after that!
Auf Wierdersen!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Germany Week #2
Okay, so this moving to Germany thing isn't as simple as I hoped. For one thing, I have to make DECISIONS. One of my favorite "songs" is the Sunscreen Song. You know, "If I could offer you one piece of advice sunscreen would be it." Well, there is a part of the song about all choices being 1/2 chance. I feel like half the decisions I make are good and half are bad! Life is quite frustrating at times...
I finally was reunited with good ol' Katydid this past week. Isn't she a beauty? It was crazy seeing MY car in a foreign country. I decided to switch apartments too. (Oh Caitlin Jo) I picked this one in the end because it was cozier and furnished. I move in the end of this week!
Adventures of the past weekend included going to Cologne to visit Yvonne, my friend. Yvonne and I first met when she was an exchange student from 2004-2005 at my friend Nicole's. She was a great hostess and showed my friend Shannon and I a great time! Driving on the Autobahn there was actually very easy! (Thanks to Hanz, my GPS) Driving in the city was hard how
ever.
I also had a chance to visit the city of Trier. Trier was the Romans' vacation spot in the summer. It had incredible buildings and the atomsphere was VERY chill. People strolled lazily around on a Sunday afternoon. Dining here is so different. You have to pay for water and must a
sk for "no gas." There is no rush to get you out of the restaurant. You can spend all day just visiting.
I finally was reunited with good ol' Katydid this past week. Isn't she a beauty? It was crazy seeing MY car in a foreign country. I decided to switch apartments too. (Oh Caitlin Jo) I picked this one in the end because it was cozier and furnished. I move in the end of this week!
Adventures of the past weekend included going to Cologne to visit Yvonne, my friend. Yvonne and I first met when she was an exchange student from 2004-2005 at my friend Nicole's. She was a great hostess and showed my friend Shannon and I a great time! Driving on the Autobahn there was actually very easy! (Thanks to Hanz, my GPS) Driving in the city was hard how
ever.I also had a chance to visit the city of Trier. Trier was the Romans' vacation spot in the summer. It had incredible buildings and the atomsphere was VERY chill. People strolled lazily around on a Sunday afternoon. Dining here is so different. You have to pay for water and must a
sk for "no gas." There is no rush to get you out of the restaurant. You can spend all day just visiting.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
GERMANY WEEK #1
Gutten Tag from Deutschland. I arrived early January 4th on a Luthansia flight. I sat next to a German physical therapist who helped me learn about German culture and study for my German Driver's exam. As I descended from the clouds and saw this sunset in the air before we fell below the clouds. "for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens." Job 28:24.
My stomach sank as we sank closer and closer to Germany. I thought, "What am I doing here?!" "I have such a wonderful family and friends- why am I leaving them! I was comforted by the sun's rising and reminded that God still rises and sets the sun here, so HE must be in control. I was soon connected with the USO (after wheeling all my luggage around for awhile). There I signed in and reported for duty! It was comforting to see some familiar faces at the airport.
My body felt OUT of whack as we got on and off buses and then eventually met our sponsors at Landstuhl. My sponsor I like to compare to my fairy godmother. She is a blessing from above and one of the continual stream of the BEST people God puts in my life to help me along the way.
We hit the ground running trying to get ahead of the "in processing game." It truly is a game getting your endless checklist complete. In the first week I in- processed, started a cell phone, got a bank account, opened a mailbox, took a driver's course, looked at apartments, and passed my driver's test.
The biggest accomplishment of the week was finding this beauty:
It is my apartment. A two bedroom 1 1/2 bathroom house with a little backyard and patio. My landlord is a lady with two children. It is in the town of Quidersbach that I knew before coming to Germany I wanted to live in. It is a 15 minute drive to work, but it is my favorite town I visited. Schmitt bakery is right around the corner along with the grocer, cafe, and gas station. It snowed two feet last night and children took their wooden sleighs down the hills in Quidersbach. So quaint and exactly where I wanted to live. Now, it is my time to make it into a home. This will be a labor of love, money, and time. I look forward to the challenge and hopefully it will be very cute by the time my family comes to visit (or friends- I have a room just for you!) :)
I pick up my car next week on Monday and I get my "wings" as the veterans say. I can't wait to start settling into an apartment and eventually traveling!
I miss YOU if you are reading this. I carry my family and friends close to my heart always. Your love gives me my wings to fly! Auf Wiedersehen!
My stomach sank as we sank closer and closer to Germany. I thought, "What am I doing here?!" "I have such a wonderful family and friends- why am I leaving them! I was comforted by the sun's rising and reminded that God still rises and sets the sun here, so HE must be in control. I was soon connected with the USO (after wheeling all my luggage around for awhile). There I signed in and reported for duty! It was comforting to see some familiar faces at the airport.
My body felt OUT of whack as we got on and off buses and then eventually met our sponsors at Landstuhl. My sponsor I like to compare to my fairy godmother. She is a blessing from above and one of the continual stream of the BEST people God puts in my life to help me along the way.
We hit the ground running trying to get ahead of the "in processing game." It truly is a game getting your endless checklist complete. In the first week I in- processed, started a cell phone, got a bank account, opened a mailbox, took a driver's course, looked at apartments, and passed my driver's test.
The biggest accomplishment of the week was finding this beauty:
It is my apartment. A two bedroom 1 1/2 bathroom house with a little backyard and patio. My landlord is a lady with two children. It is in the town of Quidersbach that I knew before coming to Germany I wanted to live in. It is a 15 minute drive to work, but it is my favorite town I visited. Schmitt bakery is right around the corner along with the grocer, cafe, and gas station. It snowed two feet last night and children took their wooden sleighs down the hills in Quidersbach. So quaint and exactly where I wanted to live. Now, it is my time to make it into a home. This will be a labor of love, money, and time. I look forward to the challenge and hopefully it will be very cute by the time my family comes to visit (or friends- I have a room just for you!) :)
I pick up my car next week on Monday and I get my "wings" as the veterans say. I can't wait to start settling into an apartment and eventually traveling!
I miss YOU if you are reading this. I carry my family and friends close to my heart always. Your love gives me my wings to fly! Auf Wiedersehen!
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