:-(

Jasmin left yesterday. I am sad. I have to start working today, so that is going to give me some kind of distraction at least. We had tons of fun though. Wednesday we went to San Antonio, Sea World. Aaron and I were a little disappointed, but Jasmin had a lot of fun, so that is good. We met Shamu and some dolphins and had to cool off in the inside attractions because it was 107°F outside, urgh! We spent the night in a hotel and went to San Marcos and Austin on Thursday. The outlet mall was a little too much, because we were really tired, but Austin at night was tons of fun. The guys made sure Jasmin had a drink in her hands at all times as we went down 6th Street.

So, now it is just Aaron, Cody and I left here - for now.
I miss my Jassel.....

One more week :-(

One more week. One more week till it is just Aaron and I again. One more week of fun things to do. One more week till she leaves. :-(
Jasmin and I have been hitting up the malls, the pool and she got her first EVER pedicure. We have been taking some ZUMBA® Fitness classes and the ZUMBA® toning workshop in Waxahahchie. That was soooooo much fun.

This weekend we went out in Dallas and we had a lot of fun, too. This coming week we have something special planned for her. I had originally planned to take her to Mexico, but with the swine flu and all that drama, we decided not to go and rather hang out in Dallas a little more and go to Wal-Mart and get hit on every time we go. ;-)

It is hot in Dallas, and I love it. It is cold in Germany, I hope Jasmin will not catch a cold when she goes back this coming Sunday. I am going to start working the Monday after. I was supposed to start this past Thursday, but I asked if I could postpone it, since Jasmin is in town right now. And if I had to work right now, we would not be able to do Aaron's surprise idea with her ;-).

Jasmin has even turned into a dog-lover - ish. She actually likes Cody a lot and she is so cute. Since Jasmin and I have the same voice it is so cute how Cody looks like whenever we both call her. I would actually like to look into her head and see what she is thinking when we mess with her like that. Anyway, Jasmin needs to get her hair cut today and then it is pool-time and late tonight: BOOTCAMP. baby!!!

♥

Let's walk that talk!

My sister is finally in the States. YEAY! She is finally giving in to the jet-lag, but she was struggling it for Sunday and yesterday. She got in on Sunday afternoon and then we went home and to Aaron's aunt's house that night. Jasmin did awesome till we went home. She passed out in the car and then she went to sleep at like 9.30pm. It was really hot yesterday and we went to the pool and to bootcamp that night. I think that finally took her out. No wonder - she has been working like crazy and now her body is taking its much needed rest.
The week before last week I took a class at the Cooper Institute in Dallas to become a Personal Trainer - and I made it. I took the test the same week and got the results back last Thursday. I did not tell anyone, except for Aaron and my mom, because I wanted it to be a surprise for Jasmin. And it sure was! :-)
So, now I am a Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer. And I already got a job, too. I am going to work at the same gym where I already teach ZUMBA® Fitness on Thursday nights. Also, I am going to teach some more classes (Monday mornings, Wednesday nights, beginning in July) at Baylor Tom Landry downtown. I got it working. The full-time job is going to be hard at first, because I am going to have to work a lot of hours, but once I get it into a routine I think I will be fine. OK, here we go, get ready to laugh or be shocked: I had to take a drug test for the job ;-) Do y'all know how hard it is to aim into a little plastic cup without like peeing on your hand? I did not pee on my hand, but it was difficult, I can tell y'all!
This weekend is going to be exciting. We have our toning workshop in Waxahachie on Saturday and then on Sunday I have to go to Allen to take my AFAA Group Exercise Certification. I am kinda anxious. I do not like failing....
Anyways, our fridge is re-stocked with German chocolate for Aaron and I (!), so I have some food for the nervous brain.
♥

3 months anniversary!!!!

It has been three months since Aaron and I got to Dallas, Texas. We have overcome some obstacles (ss card, weather,.....) and I could not be happier (except for one thing ;-)) Well, and then dear USPS, I would like to finally get my package with my German chocolate and other goodies from my family in Germany!!!!! ♥

Put your nose in the books, girl!

I graduated in July 2007 and thought I would not have to do any studying any time, well, let's say within the next five-ish years. WRONG!!! Everything apparently changed with the arrival of a page in my passport that lets me live my dream - my American dream. OK, like I mentioned in my last post I registered for my AFAA group exercise certification for June, 7th. Yes, I know that some people studied for four months to be able to take it, but I need it, and (!) I already covered all the material in my three-year training in Germany. Anyways, I have been studying for over a week now (Cooper Institute Personal Trainer, AFAA Group Exercise Trainer) and, really, I forgot how much energy it takes to focus on something and how tired and useless you really are when you are done for the day. You should have seen me the last couple of days (ask Aaron), I have just been functioning, no thinking involved after studying, took out my brain and left it with the books.... ;-)
But we did have a fun ZUMBA® Fitness Cinco de Mayo Jam at Gold's Gym on Friday. It was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! We had over 50 people and Amy set up a super-duper laser-light-show and it looked so cool in the dark!!!!
On Friday I am taking my CPR/AED class in Dallas, so I will be set for all the exams and then Saturday morning at 9am: BOOTCAMP, and our personal trainer still has to get me sore...... ;-)
My parents are in Spain right now, burned as usual, but they will be back soon. ♥

It is already May???

So I survived my first time being home alone in Dallas. I got my hair done, took some classes at the gym, took a cooking class with the apartments and ordered Aaron's birthday ice cream cake.
I dropped off the guys last Sunday morning at like 6am, so waaaaaay too early and picked them up on Tuesday night at 11.30pm. I even found my way to the airport without navigation, yeay!
I finally got my bank account set up and registered for AFAA's Group Exercise Certification as well as my personal trainer class with Cooper Institute at the end of May, before Jasmin comes. Costs over $1,000 all together with all the tests and study material but I would have had to get the AFAA anyway and planned on getting PT certified this year as well. I went to Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center on Thursday and talked to the group exercise coordinator there about working there. She is so nice and thanks to Jeremy (again) we got in touch. Hopefully soon I will hear from her about an open position. I took her ZUMBA® Fitness class on Friday at 12noon and taught like four songs myself, so she could see what kind of style I do and if I am any good. And honestly, I did not mind at all. If I worked in the industry and had someone potentially teach a class or more at my facility I would have them "audition" as well, because you want to be sure that it is good work they deliver and that it is safe, especially in the fitness industry nowadays. It was a blast!!
After that I picked up Aaron's cake and went home. Thankfully he was just about to get out of the shower as I went throught the door, so I lit the candles and took the cake to the bathroom. His face was priceless! I was so nervous whether or not he would like the cake, but it turned out awesome and it tastes really good. Friday night we went out with some friends, dinner and then Lift and Wish. We were home at about 2amish and had some cake. I took out Codster and brought the concierge guys some cake, because one of them had his birthday on the same day and I thought it would be nice. So did they ;-).
Anyway, so I was in bed at 2.42am. Bootcamp started the next day at 8am and I had already told EVERYONE I was gonna go, so even though I was really tired I got up at 7am, had some breakfast and went. It was really good. Today we got our fitness assessment done and it turns out that I lost 5% of body fat within the last 5 months. Last time Jasmin measured me was in December 2008 and I did not gain or lose any weight on the scale, so it is all fat that I lost! Whoopa!!! Dear chocolate-covered almonds, I can still eat you, yeay!!!! ♥

I got my social security card - finally!!!

YEAY, I finally got my social security card in the mail on Friday - made my day!!! Other than that nothing has really happened, but now I can finally open up my bank account, get my Texas I.D. and my Texas driver's license! Time to make some money, baby!
This weekend we had a barbecue at Tut's (Aaron's aunt) house for O.J.'s (Aaron's Mom) birthday. That was fun. Also, Tut's son Ken plays soccer and we went to his game. Imagine a handful of four-year-olds on a mini soccer field, who do not know what the heck they are doing.... It was so funny!!!! They lost though. Ken scored one goal - for me, since I am his girlfriend. He even broke up with Hawaii (Aaron's other aunt), so he could be with me, lol.
On Saturday night we went to my first Gambian Party. It was a late Easter Party and let me tell you, they can do things with their butts...... oh boy...... I have never seen that....
So, this week I have a lot of organisational stuff to do and then Aaron is going to Las Vegas on Sunday. I'll be home alone for three days, but maybe that is good for us ;-)

I have the best sister and the best boyfriend in the world!!!!

Wow, it's been a little while, huh? Where do I start?
Last week was.... well, I was a Debbie Downer most of the time and I cannot even tell you why. I just do not know. BUT my sister finally booked a flight and she will be here ALL OF JUNE!!! Whoopa! So, we are going to do the toning workshop together, which is going to be AWESOME!!!! And then I am working on a super-duper surprise for her and she is going to meet all of our friends here and family and it is just going to be the best time ever!!!! So all of that was Friday.
Monday was a whole different story. Jasmin talked to her boss that day and she said no to our plan of her coming at the end of May, so we were both Debbie Downers. Aaron did not know what the hell to do to cheer me up, but he really, really, really tried really, really, really hard! On Tuesday we went to get some dindin and he stopped at the "Cheesecake Factory" to get me some Key Lime Pie. I had been wanting that since Friday night and he surprised me with it to cheer me up. It was really, really, really delicious! Jasmin, you totally have to try it, it is just delicious!
So then we passed this huge German shephard and I saw a sign that said: "Puppies for sale". Now, people that know the boyfriend know that he is a dog-lover. You should have seen his face as he saw the pups. They were really cute. Half shephard and half pitbull. One boy, eight girls. We picked up the boy and played with him. Aaron wanted to get him right there, but wanted to make sure with the apartment that they were going to let us have him. So he asked and called the guy back the next day, but the number was disconnected. On Thursday as Aaron picked me up from teaching my ZUMBA® Fitness class he said that that guy had called. We picked up the pup the next morning. To make a long story short, we gave him back yesterday because in an apartment like ours right now it is not really good to have a dog that is going to be huge, so we are just going to wait a little bit. And Aaron wanted get a German shephard from Germany anyways.
Cody was a total bitch with him. She was all excited as we came back and first did not see the puppy and was jumping up and down just like normally. As she saw him however, she stopped dead in her track. It was so funny!! She started barking and growling and really did not stop. Oh well, I guess she won.
Today I subbed for Amy again and class was fun. I started a new playlist last week, well I did half old and half new and did all new today. The members liked it and I got some compliments for it today. So yeay. To me it seems really different from the last playlist so I was a little scared they would not like it, BUT they said they love all the abs-stuff.
I just cannot wait to see my sister. It will be so much fun! She sent a package for us today and we are going to send one this week, too. My mom's birthday is soon and Jasmin needs her American candy, hehe he. ♥

Saddy Sad or Harold Happy???

Sooooooo, I really miss my sister!! Surprise! We have been talking to each other every day either on the phone or through the webcam, but it is not the same.
Wednesday night Aaron and I went to the Mavs game at the American Airlines Arena and it was so awesome. The not-so-awesome-part was that I had to get my glasses out of my purse, so I could see well, even though we were sitting like five or six rows up, so really close. It was a good game.
On Thursday I had a really bad "I miss my sister"-day. The ZUMBA® toning workshop was posted online, so I could book it. I had told Jasmin about it, that it would be in Waxahachie in June and she said I could not go, because we started the whole ZUMBA® Fitness hype together. I did not know what to do, because I can really make some money with it, teaching some more classes and what not and it is the first one in the south. Anyway, I went to talk to Aaron. He advised me to still book it and then Jasmin and I could talk about it. I booked it and wrote her an email saying that I was really saddy waddy and that maybe she could try to be here for it still.
Friday, 9am, phone rings. It is Jasmin. She was all excited and told me to get out of bed and to switch on my computer and to check my email. I was like what's going on? So she figured since she has some vacation time left she could come here for the workshop. She was going to stay here for two weeks and leave the day after the workshop. We had it all figured out. Wrote her boss an email together on the webcam, found a cheap-a** flight and she planned everything for people to cover her shift. Hmm, nice. Today she had a meeting and her boss told her infront of everyone that it was not going to work, because she did not think she was able to find people to cover her shift. HAHA. Seriously?? She stilll has like eight weeks and my sister's team has her back. So, from high to low. I am sad.
New plan. Jasmin talked to my parents and we decided on something that I cannot tell yet. It is a secret till she talks to her boss. We will see then and hopefully then I can start being really excited!!!!!

Let the world be green, or white?!?!

Yeay, I made it through the week. It was so much fun, but with all those squats I do in my warm-ups my hams started to ache on Thursday night after my last official ZUMBA® Fitness class. On Friday I took the day off. No classes, no working out at the house.
I had a date - with the sister!!!! But, nice oh nice, internet went down! Crap. I was really looking forward to our webcam-session, because Jasmin had some girls over and it would have been so much fun to see them as well. :-(

Classes last week went awesome though. On Wednesday after the night class the group exercise director asked me if I wanted a permanent class on Friday morning at LOA. I told her I would think ab0ut it, because I am tired of Aaron having to drive me around. I want to drive myself.
Well, happy news!!! ( --> "happy news": news that make me happy) I finally got my permanent resident card in the mail. It is white..... not green.....!!!! The social security card is still not here though. Should be though within this to three weeks. URGH. I hate waiting!!!
Saturday, Amy's and my ZUMBA® Fitness demo went awesome! It was at 12noon and if you were not there you missed out on a free class, HAH! It was super hot and I got a nice little sunburn on my shoulders which hurts like crap, but I guess I had to get branded in 2009. Anyway, I asked Aaron today what he thought of me teaching, since he had never seen me teach (I know!!), so he said he has never seen me more confident. Awesome? AWESOME!!
Sunday's choreo jam at Heather's place in Red Oak was super awesome, too. Thank you ladies for the cool day and thanks again Juli for giving me the ride!!
So, overall a fun week, but I still cannot wait for Jasmin to come to Dallas. We will figure things out, girl, and then you will be here sooner than you might want! :-) LOL Luv u bunches and RAWR

ZUMBA® Fitness week here we go

Another week has passed. I changed my address for the USCIS, so they can start sending my things here, or anything that is.

This week is Spring Break, so I am subbing Amy's ZUMBA® Fitness classes. Well, three of the four she teaches. Monday night was fun. Class was only 45 minutes so I took a body pump class afterwards, which was awesome. One of our friends is starting a 5-week-bootcamp-challenge this coming Monday and Aaron is doing it. I would really love-love-love to do it, too, but since I do not have my SSN still I do not have the money for it right now. But I could sure need that extra kick in my not so much maintained perfect a$$ these days. I will get there eventually. I have been doing ZUMBA® Fitness at least three, if not four times a week since I have been here, so I guess I am just really picky with myself.
Anyway, this morning I subbed ZUMBA® Fitness at 9am, urgh. I really start to dislike morning classes, because I feel like I do not have enough energy to really pump it up. I do a waaaaay better class at night. Tonight at 6pm, same procedure. ZUMBA® Fitness baby, all the way. And then my regular class tomorrow night. Saturday we have a grand opening at the gym where Amy and I both teach and we are doing a demo together at 12noon. Hopefully a lot of people will show up and I already know Amy and I are gonna rock that demo!
Sunday, Heather is holding a Dallas choreo jam, which should be super-fun. I missed the last one, because we were not here yet, so I am super-excited to meet all the other ZUMBA® Fitness Instructors from the Dallas area and network and so on.
This passed weekend we went out with a bunch of guys. It was Saint Patrick's Day on Tuesday, so there was a parade on Saturday, which we missed btw, and then everybody went out at night if they had not crawled to bed at 8.30pm due to too much green beer ;-D.
It was a lot of fun, though the females could have used some more support. Ladies, I do not mind at all going out with a bunch of guys, aka the personal bodyguards, but you do not have to sit at home just because your man is drunk and out of control or passed out on the carpet at that :-D. We still had fun and it really paid off to have the personal bodyguards. We actually did go to the bar strip on Greenville though in the afternoon. They had like a gate set up there through which only people age 21 and up were let through after showing their I.D.. So, since I do not have my Texas I.D. yet I showed my German I.D.. That "security guy" actually thought it was fake and did not want to let me get in there. I thought he was kidding me. He said he did not know how all the European I.D.s looked like and that he had never seen that one before. Seriously. I told him I was 25 years old and he wanted to see my passport. I said I did not have it on me, since my visa is in there and that I certainly would not carry that around in a crowd of drunk people and that my I.D. was the same thing that is in my passport. Man, I tell you.... Miss Goody-Two-Shoes a fake I.D.?? HA!!
On Monday I got me my Tassimo coffee machine - to have some of my German home in my American home. Originally I had planned to get it as a reward for my first paycheck, but we had a 20%off coupon for the store which was only valid till the 23rd of March. I told my Dad about it and he actually said, awesome Dad that he is, that I should buy it for Aaron and I and he will put the money in my German account as an early Easter present. Isn't he the most awesome Dad ever? So, now I get to enjoy my favorite kind of coffee, that my awesome Dad actually introduced me to, and so will he whenever he decides to come visit me in my new home. Can't wait!!! Miss you all! Dad, Mom, Sandy and Nicole ...... AND ESPECIALLY MY JASSEL!!!!!!!

How to survive 11 days without internet and cable?? I do not know how I did it, but I did it!

Finally, we are back online. Woo hoo!! Yesterday the guy from at&t came by and set up the internet in Aaron's and mine apartment. This morning he had to come by again to set up the cable, so we can finally catch up with the world. I am happy now! Now we are all set.
So since I have been waiting for my social security card for over three weeks I decided to call the USCIS on Tuesday. At the consulate I was told it takes three weeks at the most and that I was supposed to call if I do not receive it by then. So I tried to call the number I was given at the consulate and that took forever. I was really pissed because the machine voice asks for a social security number even when you say you are calling for a new number for an adult or a child. So, if you do not type it in the phone you basically get disconnected, but you cannot give one as a reference if you do not have one yet, can you?!? Oh well, I figured it out somehow and they told me it takes up to eight weeks, so I was pissed. Last week I received a welcome notice from the USCIS with a tracking number, so I thought I call them to find out about some status. That woman did not even understand what I wanted to know. I told her that I immigrated on February 14th and she asked when I applied for the visa. I was like, are you kidding me??? I explained to her that I had already received my welcome notice and all that and that I was wondering about the status of all my stuff. Then she got it as I told her I got a tracking number and asked if she could check the status. Then within three seconds she told me that it has not been processed. And for all that I spent like 30 minutes on the phone....
So, now I am still waiting on my SSN, so I can finally get a job, a bank account, my license and all that other American stuff....

Checking email at Starbucks - or - It is about that damn time that we get internet at our apartment!!!

I am sitting at Starbucks on Greenville in Dallas, TX right now. We still have no internet at our apartment. We moved there last Sunday, so over a week ago and I am really starting to be bored at the house. I am almost through with all the DVDs we have and we do not have cable yet either. I am really not going to get my book out of the bedroom and start reading in the living room!! It is not that bad. Yet.
But our first apartment is great. It is on the 12th floor and the view is awesome. Last week we got the new couch and the TV was put on the wall. Perfect set-up, just no cable..... I have already cooked in the kitchen and so has Aaron.
My Dad's birthday was on Saturday and I talked to everyone who was there. It was really kind of weird, but oh well. I sent a package to Germany with stuff for Jasmin, a present for my brother's birthday and a card for my Dad and they were thrilled, awesome!!! Sounds like everyone is doing well.
My social security card is still not here, so that means I still have to wait to go out there and get a real job. That is really bugging me!!! I need to call and find out as soon as we have the phone set up at the place. Just two more days and I will be reconnected with the world.... .....

I got my first "job" in America - Or - I just taught a ZUMBA® Fitness class and burned a gazillion calories. GIVE ME THAT DOUGHNUT!!!!

Wow, so I have been in Dallas, Texas for two weeks now. Awesome. Originally I had planned to take it slow. You know.... Wait for the actual greencard and my social security card before I start looking for a job. Well, did not really work out, thanks to ZUMBA® Fitness. And that is a good thing!
Last week I was looking around on the message board in our job section and there was actually someone looking for a sub and potential instructor to take over a class or two. I texted her, we met at Starbucks on Friday, did a team-teaching in one of her classes on Wednesday and I subbed her classes Thursday night and Friday morning. AWESOME!!! Today I talked to the group exercise director of that gym and they want to keep me for the Thursday night class. I am so excited!! My first "job" in America. Whoop. And I did not even have to do so much for it! The director told me after the class that she wanted to come in for the last couple of minutes but got caught up in something else. But as she came my way to meet me she passed some members who told her that I did an awesome job and also to keep me as an instructor. YEAY, that is awesome feedback, because Thursday night I was really excited to teach, but also getting more nervous as the time started running. And then the class was over soooooo fast.

Last Sunday though we went to an OSCAR-party, which was awesome. We had to dress up and everything. The rule was that you had to pick any character from a movie that was ever nominated for anything. I had no clue who or what I was going to pick. I was talking to Jasmin on the phone as she suggested I go as a cartoon character, which was my idea, too. Something fun. So, we went online together and I found a list of all the movies that had been nominated within like the last 20 years. I found "Hook" had been nominated in 1992 for who cares anyway. As I packed my suitcases two weeks ago I had to leave a lot of things, but I would not leave my fairy-wings and my fairy-magic wand. That HAD to come. Well, good thing I packed it as it turned out. I dressed up as Tinkerbell, so fun!!
Last night after class Aaron had to pick me up. He actually got an award for "Bestest Boyfriend in the World". As some of you know and some do not, my favorite oatmeal flavor is banana bread and that is REALLY hard to get. So, I went online to find out where to get it. Turns out you can only get it at Albertson's, and we like never go there. Anyway, Aaron had an hour to kill while I was teaching that (now mine) ZUMBA® Fitness class. He went and got my favorite oatmeal AND two huge bottles of water for my ZUMBA® Fitness workshop tomorrow.



Also, he got a toy for Cody and she was so cute. She even wanted to get it last night as Aaron took her out for a walk, so cute. This morning as I took her out she would not let go of it and I had to pull it from her. It makes some noise, too, and last night she was playing with it and jamming it up, lol!

OK, so this weekend is gonna be busy. ZUMBA® Fitness instructor workshop tomorrow and then we move into our new apartment on Sunday. I am excited!

How to sneak into business class and get caught - or - I have never been on a packed plane like this one before

During his last couple of flights my other half always sneaked into business class somehow. I told him I was not gonna do it and he forced me to on our first part of the trip from Hannover to Frankfurt. I was so scared. They said boarding was complete and I was like phew. WRONG! One of the flight attendents comes over to us and asks to see our ticket because they head-counted and got a number that was off by two. What a coincident..... Yes, we had to change our seats. It was OK. I went to sleep right after take-off.
We actually had not booked our tickets together, so the seats we got for the second part of the flight were not next to each other and the lady in Hannover could not do a lot. In Frankfurt we had to go to the transfer center but they were b*tches about it and said it was not possible. Aaron fixed it later. So much for that. lol
Our flight was fine, seats more or less sucked, but other than that..... Way too long.
OK, so we get to Dallas and I was told that from now on I could stay in line with the residents and citizens, which was wrong as we found out as we got to the end of the line.
So I had to get in line again, in a very long lane now, to show my passport and all that. As I got to the counter and presented my immigration package they were really nice. The officer looked through all my things and then took me and my package to the very end of the hall. There were two counters with officers, who are I guess in charge of the immigration visa reviews. I had to wait for a couple of minutes, give my finger print, sign and then we went through the information, so the card will be send to the right address.
Aaron was already waiting with our luggage and everything went fine!
Oh, in Hannover my dad (I miss you) gave me a video which was made at the party on which everyone that had been at the party said something to me. Very nice! We watched it in Frankfurt to kill some time. Thanks guys. Bestest surprise so far!!!!!

So now I am a legal resident of the United States of America!