Laura @Virelai@octodon.social

So, following @julia, here are my #MastoVoice #introductions, and be assured it was super awkward filming this. Phew. But here, go and enjoy my double chin.

I'm late to the #introductions, but here it goes. I'm 30, she/her, from #Germany. I work as a environmental scientist at a university, pursuing a PhD degree. I need some #python #programming skills to do that.
I'm fairly into #crafts, especially #fiberarts like #knitting and #sewing.
I enjoy #boardgames a lot, I also started playing #shadowrun about a year ago.
#games like #citiesskylines or #civilization5 have quite a few hours on my steam account.
Plus: Trying to improve my #french ;)

Hello 32.

The restaurants here in France usually close during 2-7 pm. Us Germans are usually hungry at six. So we had to kill an hour to get to the restaurant and then some because we didn't want to be "ze punctual tschörmans" - at 10-15 after, we we're glad another couple was already there, so we didn't feel too off. But guess what, I overheard them talking later and yes, Tschörman as well.

We have castle overload today. "Laura, I don't want to visit another castle today, ok?". We're in Tours now, but it's so hot and the sun so brutal, we're doing it slow today (currently sitting in a fancy jardin)

Didn't think we would have 30 degree weather mid-september. Since we're running up and down winded stairs and steep hills of castles, parks and cities, we could do with a few degrees less.
We're keeping our streak alive of not having bad weather on vacation. Not once in 15 years. Never rained during the day, always warmer than average and even though we never went in the summer. We had 30°C at the first of October in Hamburg once, no jacket weather end of October in Paris etc. we're lucky!

The Boyfriend™ has upgraded to Fiancé™.
After 15 years together, we kinda feel like we like each other, you know?

Two days in, seen pretty things so far!
Yesterday we went to Villandry, castle with a big garden, today Amboise - little city at the Loire with a castle (actually two but we only visited one) and it's where Leonardo da Vinci died, so the house where he lived is a museum now. We were a little disappointed here, for the price, there were a few things out of order and generally it could have been more interactive with the model versions of his inventions etc.

Currently on Vacation in France and the cities are decorated with so many flowers and plants! And I have seen so many varieties of Coleus /painted nettle, I keep going "ohh there's another one!!" at my boyfriend, to which he usually replies "really? It doesn't look like the one we have!", then I point out the similarities and he goes "oooh" and repeat ;)
I also was really close to stealing an iresine herbstii cutting at a castle today. #florespondence

Apart from that, the appartment is great and the woman who welcomed us and showed us around complimented my french "I can talk to you like a french person! One with a strong German accent, but a french person!" ;)

I also had to bust us out of the parking garage in Troyes, the barrier wouldn't open even though we paid our ticket. Happened to us before in St. Malo 3 years ago (?) but this time I didn't panic having to ring someone for help, so - #languagelearning progress!

Forgot how uncompatible German and French preferences on bed sheets are. Ugh.

We got our needed papers to make claims with our insurance and got to explore the city a bit more. I love the style of half-timbered houses they have here! #France #Troyes

At the police station we we're greated by a bull of a man, lots of tattoos. My first sentence was that my french wasn't great so he switched to English. He had difficulties understanding but then organized someone for us who could speak English as well, she greated us and informed us that she was able to speak English, I explained what happened and she called in the big guy again saying she doesn't get what I was trying to say :D back and forth in frenglish then

First stop, Police station. Someone grazed our car on the parking lot and left. #France

Arrived in #Troyes, we're only staying for a night to break up our 8-10h drive, we'll be able to explore a little more tomorrow but it's beautiful! #france

We'll leave in like half an hour for our vacation to France. I build a wick watering system for our #plants, let's see how it works. I think the thirsty coleus might have trouble but I might replant soon anyway. Wish us luck! #indoorplants #florespondence

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/sep/04/macron-hears-police-officer-refuse-to-help-woman-in-danger?fbclid=IwAR3CNlIJGtA_TxTgLnHOFG0IGGI3VR99zK1IR8Zg0pPH8R6vTc6slE012NA

Are supermarkets in your country also starting to sell Christmas sweets or is it just Germany?

Similar effect as the indian kerala banana chips we had here a while ago. First bite: "yeah ok, decent, not too exciting. But let me try again." ...(shortly after...) "GIMME MORE I CAN'T STOP"

Good thing working with international people is that hey bring snacks you've never seen before. Bad thing as you can't read what it's supposed to be on the package and you kind of have to take the plunge.
These are from Kenya and after a bit of googling (couldn't find the respective colleague to ask) it seems to be Nduma Crisps, or Arrow root chips.
They're tasty!