1,535 days ago (yes, I counted. I'm freaky like that.) we started our newest adventure ~another 4 years in Europe. Oh my has that time flown. We landed here with a 9 year old 4th grader and a 7 year old 1st grader, anxious about new schools and friends, bewildered by this new language that was just impossible to understand. Now we leave with newly minted high- and middle-schoolers (their mother feeling impossibly old) who will forever be able to keep up with their friends due to that wonderful invention called Facebook. No more wondering when the next letter will come in the mail or begging to make a phone call. And for this I am grateful, for my kids it meant easier goodbyes.
Before we ever set foot in Germany, we sort of set some ground rules. Biggest rule: No traveling back to the USA. Sure, we would miss family terribly. But with the kids being old enough to appreciate and understand their surroundings, we thought our travel time and money would be better spent on seeing things that most people only dream about. Things they will read and study about in history class. World famous landmarks and Wonders of the World. How could we pass that up? So with a "everyone is always welcome to come travel with us," we set off on our adventures. And boy did we make the most of it:
Germany: Berlin, Munich, Oktoberfest (Twice!), more Bavaria (aka heaven on earth), Black Forest, Day trips galore.
France: Paris, Normandy, Mont St Michel, Disneyland!
Belgium: Bastogne, St Vith
Luxembourg
Switzerland: Bern and a beautiful drive through the Alps.
Italy: Genoa, Naples, Pompeii
Austria: Innsbruck, more Alps, Salzburg (the hills are alive....)
Czech Republic: one very loooong day trip to Prague, one of the most beautiful cities I've seen.
Greece: Ancient Olympia, Athens, Crete, Rhodes
Turkey: Mamaris
Egypt: Cairo and the Pyramids. So thankful to have gone on that cruise early in our time here as now you can't get there because of all the unrest.
Denmark: Copenhagen
Estonia: Tallinn (another beautiful city)
Russia: St Petersburg
Sweden: Stockholm
England *disclaimer - everything here could be deemed a repeat but due to our kids not remembering much at all, AND due to the fact that I refused to leave Europe w/out a trip to my fave European country, we spent a week there.* - Dover & White Cliffs, RAF Lakenheath, London.
Phew! I'm tired. I'm afraid I will find the states a bit boring after we land and our vacations come to a screeeeeeching halt. But that is ok. There are some things I am really looking forward to having again:
Family within 2 time zones, ending middle of the night "OMG who died" phone calls where your family just forgot you were 9 zones away and sleeping.
Garbage Disposals
Garages
Garage Door Openers!
Any kind of possible storage closet to include bedroom, hallway, linen, bathroom storage.
an oven that will fit ALL my cookware, or for that matter:
a kitchen that will fit my extensive Pampered Chef and Polish Pottery collections.
T-A-R-G-E-T
Starbucks (pretty easily found here in Europe but oh-so-pricey. Not that a silly thing like cost stopped me from my Caramel Macchiatos and Vanilla Creme Frappachinos)
mail delivered to my front door, to include UPS and FedEx...and an end to "We don't ship to APO's, sorry" emails.
Wendy's
Papa John's
Olive Garden (you get the picture on the restaurant thing)
That being said, there are many more things I will miss about this country. A few:
Lazy Sundays. Everything is closed. People go for walks. There is no rushing around. It's nice.
Rodenbach, our happy little town. I love it.
Rodenbach's Pizza Galerie and take-out delivery restaurant. Best. ever.
Eis Shops.
Gabriellas
Schnitzel (I learned how to make it, but it'll never taste as good)
The Autobahn. Sigh. Cruise control is now my bestest friend.
the kids' schools. Loved VES and KMS.
Traveling, traveling and more traveling.
Bavaria and the Alps (could be roped into the "traveling" line, but I love it so much, it needed it's own shout-out.
Autobahn rest areas. you pay, you get your money back and they are CLEAN. Love it.
Rolladens
There are also things that bug the daylights out of me about this place. But, I choose not to dwell on them. Europe is what it is. You adapt or you're miserable. We adapted, we went with the flow and we loved it. Loved it so much, we are not opposed to coming back if the Air Force so desires Rod's abilities over here again. Family, before you howl the war cry over my last statement, I think we're good for awhile. Chill.
So here we are, looking in on the next stage. We are first time home owners. that will be an adventure all on it's own. The kids will be starting new schools in a few months, once again the "new kids." Rod starting a new job. Me getting a job (gah). New adventures to come.
But, wherever we go, there will be a Biergarten.
Tschuss, Deutschland. Til we meet again.
1 comments:
Laura,
Glad you're back and enjoyed your adventure! One of my biggest regrets about Jeff's career is not getting to go overseas. I've been able to keep up with many people on face book and see pictures and that's been a nice substitute. I believe you guys are in MO, now?? It's a college town, where I went to school. I really liked it there. Pretty country! Best of luck with the job hunt.
Post a Comment