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Hello-
 
My name is Angela, and I am a longtime friend of Mrs. Christopherson. I have been living in Germany for the last year and working at the US Army hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. The wildcat made his way here safe and sound and has had some fun exploring the area where I live. Attached are a few pictures from his travels.
 
Queidersbach: the village I live in has a population of about 2800. It is located in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. It is a rural farming community very similar to a small Midwest town.

 

 
Lederhosen: "Leather pants" are trousers that woodsmen and farmers used to wear. It is more common to see lederhosen in Bavaria, which is in the Southeastern part of Germany. They are a symbol of the Alpine heritage in that area. Lederhosen are still seen in daily use, but most commonly are saved for cultural festivals.

 
Burg Nanstein: A castle near my village. Castles are very common to see throughout the countryside. It was built out of red sandstone around 1160. It's purpose was that of a defense for the Palatinate.

          
 
I hope you've enjoyed some of these photos. The wildcat will be on to his next adventure soon!
 
Angela Mortland

Hello Mr. Bannick and 8th grade Computer students!

 

My name is Sarah Taylor and my husband, Doug, and I received the Wildcat Mascot from Angela Mortland. We have been living in Landstuhl Germany, for  the past year and a half, where Doug is a nurse working at the US Army hospital and I take care of Robert (Angelas son- the one in Lederhosen). We are both from the northwest of the United States, Seattle, Washinton and Portland,Oregon, respecivly. We met while going to school at the University of Portland, then moved to Germany following graduation. 

 

While living here in Germany we have taken many opportunities to travel and were fortunate enough to go to Pisa, Florence and the Tuscan country side in Italy with your Wildcat Mascot this past weekend.

Here are just a few (More to come) of the Wildcats adventures in Italy!

He had a great time and looks forward to more travels! Ciao!

 

Duomo- This is Florences cathedreal, in the heart of the city.

 

Bike Attack- While roaming Tuscany, the Wildcat came upon a biker, who unknowingly stopped to pet him. The biker was in for a suprise when the Wildcat attacked, throwing the biker to the middle of the street and causing him to rethink stopping for furry stuffed animals.

 

Statue- Because of prior accident, we did not hessitate to stop for the Wildcat when it insisted that it get its picture taken with the stature of a larger "wildcat".

 

 

Volterra- For the fans of Twilight, This is the sigh pointing the way to where the powerful vampire family, the Volturi, live.

 

 

Leaning Tower of Pisa-  Here is the Wildcat trying to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from falling down.

 

Greetings from the Mortland clan and the Wildcat once again. This time, he has taken a short trip to the Netherlands. This time of year is beautiful with all of the flowers, specifically tulips, in bloom.

 

Tiptoe in the Tulips: Tulips were brought to the Netherlands from Central Asia in the 17th Century. They became very popular and a major trading product. A single tulip bulb could cost as much as a house at that time! Wildcat really liked all the beautiful colors!

Windmill:  Over half of the Netherlands is lower than sea level. In earlier days, to protect farmland and houses from flooding, the inhabitants built dikes and used windmills to pump away the excess water. In other places, the mills were used as corn or sawmills.

Bicycles: Are everywhere!  Thousands of people use this as a mode of transportation, both in the countryside and big cities like Amsterdam. Wildcat couldn't quite reach the pedals, but fit nicely on the luggage rack in back!

 

Wildcat had fun on this trip, but is looking for a little warmer weather. Maybe he will make some new friends in the Mediterranean....

 

Angela Mortland    

 

Shalom from Israel!

 

My name is Ian Boyd.  I’m a Major serving as the Assistant Air Attaché at the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.  John Mortland sent me your mascot from Germany some time ago.  John and I knew each other when we were instructors at the Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training school in Pensacola, FL.  

 

Mr. Wildcat made some great friends here in Israel.  In fact it seems the little wildcat took a vacation from his travels and joined my three little girls and their collection of stuffed animals for some much needed R and R and play.  Now he is re-emerged (found) and ready to resume his travels!

 

Since resuming his travels, the little Wildcat has had quite an adventure in Israel.  He took a trip on an Israeli Air Force Helicopter with the Commander of the US Air Forces in Europe, General Roger Brady.  They flew all over Israel and got some great pictures over the Old City of Jerusalem, and the city of Jaffa by the sea!  They also got some close ups of the Dome of the Rock and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher inside of the city!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve enjoyed the wildcat’s stay with us and are sad to see him go, but like all great travelers and adventurers, it’s time for him to move on.  Where will he go next?