At the moment I really feel like I've created a place for myself here. I feel like I've established a role in the family, not just with Stephan, Sabine and the girls but with extended family too. This city is everyday, more and more, my city. My social networks and connections are growing and Stephan, Sabine and I now have to discuss who can go out on which nights and who's with the kids. And where the language for so long made me continuously aware that I was a foreigner, I now no longer feel like an outsider. It used to be that I could pick out from miles away if someone were speaking English, for example. It was the only thing I could understand if I were out. But now IF I recognize it, it is only because It seems so funny to hear it.
This is not the point where I tell you all that I've decided to stay longer, or move somewhere else. You must believe me when I say that I am so looking forward to be home. I truly feel that it is time to be back with family and friends. AND I am really looking forward to starting something new. But I have in a way created a kind of home here. Don't take offense, nothing could replace all of you and my feeling when I'm with you all in Seattle. But I also have something special here. Inspite of ups and downs over the year, what I have here is wonderful and the people I've met and the relationships I've formed, are in their own way irreplaceable.
The reality of leaving Germany in November is sinking in and it's a bittersweet feeling all around. Sometimes, from one moment to the next, I'm not sure if I'm sad or excited, if i want to cry or jump for joy.
What do you do when your heart is in two places at once?!
K.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wandern in Österreich
Wandern (v): to hike or ramble about
On Sunday I went with Stephan and Lara for a hike. We drove for about 2 hours south into Austria (Österreich) to hike in the Alps. It was a great day, a nice hike, and it didn't rain on us. Although it was pretty cloudy.
http://www.tannheimer-bergbahnen.at/site.php
On our way to the top. So excited!! Lara was excited too, really she was.
Dark, dark clouds over the mountains.
Lara and I felt a little like Heidi up here. I even saw two little girls hiking around in matching red and white Dirndl's with their hair in braids. Not joking. Pretty cute. And you could hear the cattle bells on the hill sides.
Looking up to the very top!
And looking down.
Lots and lots of paragliders leaving from the top here.
So sweet!!
Taking a break.
At the end we drove out to the lake. It was too much to do the hike out here with Lara. Although she was great the whole way. It was a great day hiking with her! I know she was very tired by the end and her feet were hurting, but she was fantastic, and singing the whole way down the mountain :)
K.
On Sunday I went with Stephan and Lara for a hike. We drove for about 2 hours south into Austria (Österreich) to hike in the Alps. It was a great day, a nice hike, and it didn't rain on us. Although it was pretty cloudy.
http://www.tannheimer-bergbahnen.at/site.php
On our way to the top. So excited!! Lara was excited too, really she was.
Dark, dark clouds over the mountains.
Lara and I felt a little like Heidi up here. I even saw two little girls hiking around in matching red and white Dirndl's with their hair in braids. Not joking. Pretty cute. And you could hear the cattle bells on the hill sides.
Looking up to the very top!
And looking down.
Lots and lots of paragliders leaving from the top here.
So sweet!!
Taking a break.
At the end we drove out to the lake. It was too much to do the hike out here with Lara. Although she was great the whole way. It was a great day hiking with her! I know she was very tired by the end and her feet were hurting, but she was fantastic, and singing the whole way down the mountain :)
K.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Heat Wave
So, after I decided to stop taking my German classes I sort of struggled with what to do with myself all day. I'll admit that I miss not having work or some kind of organized activity but luckily I'm pretty good at entertaining myself and somehow I fell into a kind of routine, including things to do here at the house, as well as getting out and enjoying Stuttgart and the weather.
Well, somewhere I've lost all of that!
Today I woke up at eleven thirty and yesterday I didn't even leave the house!! Now granted I was awake from three until five thirty last night and I don't usually sleep until noon, but it made me realize that I need my schedule back. I can't live, and sleep, like I'm always on holiday!
The fact is that lately the heat here is an issue, even if I can't continue to use that as my excuse. I am someone who loves summer, I love the sun, I love getting my tan on! But this heat seriously has me running for the shade and more often than not, cowering inside. In Seattle we don't have this kind of heat, not for this long. And I am definitely not used to being in this kind of heat and not being able to escape to the water. Not to mention that not having a car here means that the minute you leave the house to go anywhere, you are at the mercy of the sun. In the news just the other day, the air conditioning in one of the trains broke and people went to the hospital after the temperature in the train rose to 50!!! (that's like 120 degrees!)
Somehow I've got to find my routine again. Somehow I've got to get back to a normal sleeping pattern, and get myself out of the house during the day. And somehow, I've got to survive this heat!!
I think I'm already formulating a plan.....
Well, somewhere I've lost all of that!
Today I woke up at eleven thirty and yesterday I didn't even leave the house!! Now granted I was awake from three until five thirty last night and I don't usually sleep until noon, but it made me realize that I need my schedule back. I can't live, and sleep, like I'm always on holiday!
The fact is that lately the heat here is an issue, even if I can't continue to use that as my excuse. I am someone who loves summer, I love the sun, I love getting my tan on! But this heat seriously has me running for the shade and more often than not, cowering inside. In Seattle we don't have this kind of heat, not for this long. And I am definitely not used to being in this kind of heat and not being able to escape to the water. Not to mention that not having a car here means that the minute you leave the house to go anywhere, you are at the mercy of the sun. In the news just the other day, the air conditioning in one of the trains broke and people went to the hospital after the temperature in the train rose to 50!!! (that's like 120 degrees!)
Somehow I've got to find my routine again. Somehow I've got to get back to a normal sleeping pattern, and get myself out of the house during the day. And somehow, I've got to survive this heat!!
I think I'm already formulating a plan.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)