Hello Germany! Here we are – in our new home, our new life. Today is the second morning that I have a couple of hours to myself. The kids are in school and day-care, my husband is at work. And I finally feel like writing again and telling you a little bit about the past weeks and months and the process of transitioning to Germany. But where do I start?
With moving tips and tricks? A travel guide to California or Hawaii? An overview of the amazing coffee shops in San Francisco? An essay on our short and very emotional final visit to Chattanooga, our home for the past 5 years? A post about the first weeks in Germany with many highs (seeing old friends and eating far too much Streuselkuchen and Spaghetti ice-cream sundaes) and lows (the weather, the smileless people)? How we are trying to find a new normal, a daily routine in our new house and home town? Or maybe I should write about the happy reunions with dear friends that we haven’t seen for several months or years? Or about doctor and public office visits, phase-in at day-care, the first days of German elementary school. The numerous differences between living in Germany or in the United States.
I’m pretty sure that by now it’s easy to imagine that all of this is too much a lot to put into words, not to mention to actively and consciously process.
Before we moved out of our house in Chattanooga, I told myself again and again:
Tina, take one day at a time and don’t think too far ahead.
It worked. And it’s still working. But I have to constantly remind myself to live by it:
One day at a time.
So instead of describing, explaining, processing thoughts, feelings, experiences in (too) many words, I’ve decided to take you on a visual journey. A journey that leads us from an empty house in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to beautiful places in California and Hawaii until we finally cross the Atlantic Ocean and arrive in Germany, our new old home country. Let’s do this!
Empty shelves, empty living room, empty house. Oh how I loved these built-in shelves and closets!
On our way to the West Coast. With the end of the summer the kids now are travel and flying experts. Though we are still working on the elimination of the occasional motion sickness…
Spectacular view from the top floor of our hotel in San Francisco. So glad that it took me a couple of days to realize that earthquakes are not uncommon in the area.
Traveling with kids means that you are always looking for a playground. To rest, relax, unwind. You. Not the kids.
My favorite part of our stay in San Francisco: biking across the Golden Gate Bridge. With sunshine!
Spontaneous visit to the vineyards around Paso Robles – so beautiful, even for a non-wine drinker.
Exploring California’s Pacific Coast Highway
Another 5 hour plane ride. This time with Hawaiian Airlines to Maui.
Maui beach life. All day, every day.
The best banana bread on the island did we eat here.
Final coffee and good-byes in Chattanooga.
Welcome to my childhood Germany!
The rainbow that changed everything: the weather, my sleep, my mood.
Welcome to our new home!
Moving in and creating a new home. Box by box.
I instantly fell in love with IKEA Salzburg. Wanna know why? It seems like an exact replica of the IKEA in Atlanta. Plus a really good coffee bar! #coffeeisalwaysagoodidea
One of the things I love about life in Germany: we can ride our bikes everywhere, such as to buy beautiful flower bouquets at the weekly farmer’s market.
Celebrating first day of first grade with these fun muffin toppers by Engel & Banditen.
Whenever possible aka whenever the weather allows, we head out to explore Bavaria. Here we are enjoying the sun on an electro boat on the beautiful Chiemsee.
So this is how we spent our summer. Traveling across the world. Packing and unpacking. Creating and abandoning daily routines. It was a fun and exciting summer. It was an emotional and exhausting summer. Now I’m ready for a slow and relaxing and (hopefully) sunny fall, y’all!
I’ll write more about transitioning, moving, adapting, reverse culture shock or whatever else you call this strange and unique phase in my life. Once I feel ready. Once the words are there.
Until then I would like to answer at least one question. A question I get asked again and again:
Habt Ihr Euch schon eingelebt? Have you settled in yet?
To which my answer has been so far:
Nein. Not yet.
I know that it takes time. I try not to be impatient (which is so not me ;-)) and to take one day a time.
As always I would love to hear from you: what were your experiences when you moved to a new place? Any advice you have for me? Any stories you would like to share or questions you’d like to ask?
Hallo Tina,
so schön, von Dir zu hören/lesen! Danke für die Bilder, eine schöne Idee. So bekommt man einen Eindruck von Euren letzten Wochen!
Ich wünsche Euch weiterhin ein gutes Eingewöhnen und denke viel an Euch! In gut 2 Jahren steht uns die Rückkehr ja auch bevor!
Alles Liebe, Nancy
Liebe Nancy,
genießt weiterhin Eure Zeit und entdeckt und reist so viel wie möglich! Mir wird erst jetzt so richtig bewusst, was für eine einmalige und besondere Situation so ein Expat Assignment ist und ich bin sehr froh, dass wir unsere Reise-To-Dos mehr oder weniger komplett „abgearbeitet“ haben :-)
Liebe Grüße nach Charleston!
Tina
What a surprise to listen to you in Christian’s podcast! All the best for you and your family! Ines (former WPNA employee)
Hi Ines!
So good to hear from you and thank you for heading over here and leaving a comment! I hope you enjoyed the podcast!? Are you still in the Chattanooga area or has your life brought you in a different direction?
Tina
Tina,
One day at a time but it looks and sounds like you are handling all of this chaos and change like pro….because you are one! Love seeing a picture of your new home so I can picture you guys there.
Also, love reading the blog because it makes me feel like you are closer than you really are.
XOXO, Angela
Thank you Angela! So glad you are still here :-)