Well we arrived in Germany a month ago, and there has been a lot of unpacking, studying for my EUSAREUR drivers license, and then dropping a ginormous tube TV on my left foot whilst unpacking.
Along with all the normal stresses of moving, this one has been harder with the language barrier and twelve hour time difference. Coming from 70-80 degree weather in Hawaii with plenty of sunshine, going straight into a Bavarian winter has been strange. So I found myself at the lowest point of this new adventure while icing my black and purple foot, trying to connect my wireless internet with German instructions, surrounded by boxes that still needed to be unpacked.
But, there have been great moments, too:
- When I see my son playing with his new friends, giggling and chasing each other around the playground as if they’ve known each other their whole lives
- Our first snow fall of the year
- Drinking hot chocolate at my very first German Christmas market
- The way my dog smiles with his head held high as he prances through the forest by our house
I can see train tracks from our new house and I recently discovered that these tracks carried Jewish men and women to concentration camps during World War II. From my upstairs office I can see the neighboring village with its smoking chimneys and stone castle built in the seventeenth century – green farmland in between. Being on crutches for the last couple weeks I haven’t been on too many adventures yet, but we have been doing a lot of research and trip planning for the next year. Pretty excited for our trips to Italy and France! I’m also excited for a German class I’m starting next month.
Here are some pics from the first Christmas Market we went to this year!
amazing and detailed story of joy and great experience in life!
Thank you! It has really been a great experience so far.
That first snowfall is always fantastic. I am the same way when I watch my dog prancing too! Sorry about your foot – you be careful!!
Yeah and in Hawaii we didn’t see a first snowfall, so my son was ecstatic to see snow falling from the sky (just like the books and movies lol)
Oh wow I’m sure the trips will be well planned. I also want to travel to Europe and particularly, Italy and France are two places that I want to visit with my family. Will the German class be a short course or one that will last for months to a year?
It’s a 3 month class for now. We had to get enough people together who wanted to take it so the teacher would come down from the city. Maybe if everyone really likes it we can do a follow on class as well!
You will do wunderbar Jamie…you’re a good student and you have some good basics. Hope your Fuß feels better so you can play some Fußball with Scott! Merry Christmas und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
Gute Besserung und frohe Weihnachten!
Ahhh I totally had to google translate that lol. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you too David!
Laughter… the universal language of friendship. I love that your son has found friends to play with. That always makes the transition to a new place much easier. Please keep taking pictures of the markets. They are beautiful.
So true! Me too, I’m glad that he’s found friends already. It makes me so happy :)
What a huge transition for you and your family. I know this will prove to be a great experience and what an amazing time to do this with your son so young. the older the kids the less they would want to move, but they would better remember it. Good luck in your new location.
Thanks, Maria! Yes, I’m glad my son is young enough to love the adventure more than he is sad to leave his old home.
Oh wow, I’ve always loved Christmas villages, more so in Europe! It looks like you enjoyed your trip. Hope you had a blast! I would also be thrilled to visit a European town for some Christmas winter.
It was pretty incredible! We didn’t have snow for Christmas, but we had loads of it right after :)
What an amazing adventure ahead of you! I can imagine that the language barrier can be a bit nerve wracking, but I’m told a lot of Germans speak English pretty well. Can’t wait to hear about what is to come in the New Year. Until then, have a blessed holiday!
It’s true, many of the Germans speak at least a little English, and some are totally fluent. It makes it easier, but I also feel guilty since we are in GERMANY after all – I should be speaking German to them!
He is so beautiful! Aww what a beautiful place. It looks beautiful especially at this time of the year. The holidays are such a wonderful time, I love traveling personally. Your story is inspirational.
Thanks Michelle :)
oh bless sorry to hear about the foot and the stress of it all, on the other hand you enjoying some of the best markets German can offer. I am planning to attend one German market next year the ones we have recreated in the UK are not the same so i want to go to the source. Good luck on your new adventure and hope you get better soon
They sure are amazing here, and we have only been to the smaller ones. Maybe next year we can try to go to the bigger and famous ones. And maybe I will see you there ;)
Those special moments seem to go by so quickly when they’re young. You all are lucky to be able to show him different parts of the world. Germany seem like an interesting place to live, the culture & food etc.
We are definitely lucky and really grateful for the experience! The German culture has been really interesting, but the food not so much! The only thing I like so far is the beer and pretzels :)
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry about your foot! I’ve dropped a dictionary on mine before and broke my toe and the cussing was rather inventive, I can only imagine what a whole TV would do! But it looks like you are making the best of this amazing adventure! You and your son are experiencing more than so many people that I know and I’m so glad you are seeing the positive side of things. I can’t wait to see what adventures you guys go on once your foot heals.
Take care and Merry Christmas!
Oh my goodness, a dictionary on the foot sounds awful! Amazingly nothing was broken in my foot.
What an amazing adventure! That Christmas market looks like so much fun. I could spend some serious cash there. You are going to learn so much and create so many incredible memories. And what a great experience for your so as well. Such a great way to learn about a place and culture. The food is amazing there too. So much good stuff. Be sure to try it all. :)
That’s the problem with the Christmas markets – too many amazing things to buy! I really do hope we learn and experience a lot while here. Thanks for reading, Melanie!