fennkids

Well I made it home. Our last stop was in Frankfurt, Germany. The Nu Skin office is actually in another city about 10 miles from downtown Frankfurt called Eschborn. We arrived around 4pm to the hotel (after our taxi got a little lost). The hotel was suppose to be about 15 minutes from the airport, but somehow our taxi managed to take about 30. Anyway we decided to walk about 15 minutes to some restaurants and one the way we passed the Nu Skin office. They were still there so we went in to meet everyone. One of the staff was getting ready to leave and offered to drop us off in the city (Frankfurt). She dropped us off in the old part of the city along the river Rhein. (This is a picture taken from one of the bridges.) The old town square was crowded people building out booths for a fair that will start next week. Everything was being decorated for Christmas. We walked around for a wile and finally ended up at a German/Italian restaurant. We weren't very hungry so we ordered a personal pizza. We then went to a nearby ice cream shop and ordered some ice cream and crepes, hmmmm. The next day we were in the office all day until about 4pm. Because of some other things going on the office was closing at 4pm that day. Between the office and the hotel was a huge grocery store. Kind of like a super Walmart, but more groceries and less other stuff. We walked in and then realized we wanted a shopping cart and when we tried leaving a lady started yelling in German. We told her we didn't speak any Germany, only English so she started shouting around to all the other customers if there was anyone else that spoke English. Another lady came over and explained that you aren't allow to have bags in the store and you are suppose to check them at the service counter. She explained that the employee thought we were shoplifting. Nice. So we gave them our bags and found a cart and started our shopping. Some of the Nu Skin workers told us that a very typical German candy is the gummy fruit (bears, worms, etc.) So we looked for the candy aisle. We found it and you wouldn't believe the variety of gummy candy: bears, cats, strawberries, cherries, coke flavors, yogurt flavors, black licorice flavors, everything. I couldn't believe how many varieties of shapes and flavors. We bought quite a few and then went to check out the rest of the store. It ended up being 2 stories tall. So when we went on the escalator (more of a moving ramp) it was really cool because the cart had magnets on the wheels and it locked itself to the floor so it wouldn't roll back on us. Pretty cool. We finally got back to the hotel and grabbed a taxi going back to the city. This time the staff told us to go to a place called Kaufhof. It was pretty amazing. It was a 8 story department store. So picture a Mervyn's or JC Penny, but 8 stories. The top floor was all restaurants, but everything else was shopping. And it wasn't like a mall, it was one store. We left there and bought some bratwurst from a little booth and enjoyed some frenchfries and Bratwurst. Very good.
The interesting thing in Germany was how few people spoke English compared to Norway and Denmark. We asked about this and they said in Germany and France all the TV and movies are translated (dubbed), so they aren't exposed to a lot of English. However in Denmark and Norway almost everything is in English with subtitles. Also almost everyone in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark) starts taking English in the 5th grade.
Well I'm home and rested. No mishaps on the flight home. Don't ever feel too jetlagged today (we'll see later this afternoon). Until next time...

Since my last post we've had a few experiences. Monday was busy with trainings all day long. We left the office around 5:30pm and ran to a few stores to buy some last minute souvenirs only to find most of them closed. The wind was very cold in Oslo. I was freezing most of the time. I think the highs were in the low 40s and everyone in the office kept commenting on how nice and warm it is. Crazy. I'm glad I wasn't there for the normal weather. That night some of the staff took us out to dinner. I ate a typical dish that is eaten traditionally at Christmas time. It is called Pinnekjøtt (peenachoot). It is "Dry Salted Lamb Rib". So it tastes a lot like a ham, but with lamb rib instead of pork. It was not bad. I had hoped to try another common Nordic food, Reigndeer, but they didn't offer it at that restaurant.
Tuesday was an adventure. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 7:45 am. So we had to get up around 4:45 am to get ready and catch the train by 5:50. We got to the airport around 6:40 and when we got there to check in we found out the flight was canceled! So we stood at the counter for about 30 minutes while they tries to figure out how to get us to Brussels, Belgium. At one point she hangs up the phone and says, "OK, I think we've got it, and you're going to get to do some sight seeing. We're going to fly you to Amsterdam and then you'll take a bus to Brussels." (WHAT??!!) I explained that we had meetings starting at 1pm. So back to the phone. Finally she found us a flight that would take us to Munich, Germany and from there to Brussels. We'd arrive at 12:35 and with luck we could make it to the office around 1. Well we got to Munich and to our surprise the flight to Brussels was delayed and would not be departing until 12:45. So we finally ended up in Brussels around 3pm (we should have arrived about 9:40am). We went straight to the office with enough time for only one training.
Today we went to the office around 8 am. We had a ton of trainings all day long. At 5 pm we wrapped it up and took a taxi to downtown Brussels to a place called "Grand Place". Laura and I had visited this place on our last trip so I knew it would meet our tourist needs. We were able to buy several gifts and souvenirs and finally ended up on the "Rue Des Bouchers"(Butcher's Street) Here's a picture when Laura and I were there earlier this year. The place is lined with restaurants serving the same thing. So outside each one they have waiters and Hoststryingg to get you to come in. They offer you free beer and alcohol, tables by the fire, tables with a view, etc. It is worse that walking through the county fair with everyone yelling at you to play their games. Well we finally ended up at a restaurant recommended by one of the tourist guide books. We enjoyed an appetizer of mussels, and then I had some rabbit stew, and finished it off with a creme brulée. A very good meal.
Well we're off to Frankfurt Germany tomorrow afternoon and then back home Saturday morning. -Au revoir

We went to dinner in Copenhagen tonight. I can't believe how early it gets dark. By 5:30pm it is already nighttime. We walked around for a bit to see some of the city. As we were walking we came to a church and decided to go it. It turned out to be a Lutheran Cathedral. It was a little more contemporary than most catholic cathedrals. Everything was painted white. I even remember thinking how nice of a spirit I could feel in there. Everything was bright, quite a contrast to the typical grays and low lights of the gothic cathedrals. We were especially impresses by the massive statues of Christ and the apostles. We were also noticing the influence of Christ and the lack of emphasis on Mary that is usually so typical. Well I didn't think much of it except that the statue looked just like the Christus in temple square. So tonight (I'm actually writting this on 11/13/05) I found this from an article written by Rex D. Pinegar in the Nov. 1976 Ensign:

Following the closing session in Copenhagen, Denmark, we all visited a cathedral referred to as the Dome. Within this great edifice are the best-loved works of Denmark's greatest sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen-his original Christus and the Twelve Apostles. The imposing statue of Christ stands in an alcove at the front of the cathedral beyond an altar. Standing in order along the two sides of the cathedral are the lifelike statues of the apostles, with Paul replacing the betrayer Judas Iscariot. As we looked at those beautiful works of art we noted that Peter was sculptured with large keys in his hands; John is holding scriptures. Others of the Twelve are shown with identifying symbols indicating, for example, the manner in which they earned a living or how they were martyred. President Kimball thoughtfully studied each statue.

As we were ready to leave the cathedral, the Danish caretaker, a man about sixty years of age, was standing near the door awaiting our departure. President Kimball shook his hand, thanked him for his kindness in letting us visit the cathedral. Then the president began an explanation of the church established by Jesus Christ and of its importance to us. All those present gathered near to be taught by the prophet.
He began in simple words which went something like this: "My dear friend, the man who created these statues was surely inspired of the Lord. The beauty and majesty of the Christus are wonderful. While Thorvaldsen was doing his work here, in 1821 to 1844 Joseph Smith was doing his work in America. Thorvaldsen didn't have the gospel as did Joseph Smith, but he had the Spirit. He must have been inspired to create these statues of Christ and the apostles. He was trying to bring them to life.

Gathering President Tanner, Elder Monson, and Elder Packer closer to him, the president continued, "We are living apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are Twelve Apostles and three others who are the presidency of the Church. We hold the real keys, as Peter did, and we use them every day. They are in use constantly." Then the president introduced me. "This is a real, live seventy," he said. "You will recall that the Savior called His Twelve Apostles and His seventy. He sent the seventy two by two before His face into every city into which He Himself should come to prepare the way before Him. We can give you the true gospel of Jesus Christ."

Also from the net: "The first such statue acquired by the Church was a gift of Stephen L Richards, First Counselor to President David O. McKay. In 1966 this heroic-size (11 feet, 1 inch) Christus was placed in the North Visitors Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City." I couldn't believe that we saw the original statue. I wish I would have known this and taken a few pictures. (I had my camera, but I didn't want to be disrespectful to those who were there worshiping). Pretty cool...