October 11th marked our one year anniversary in Germany. I can easily say, that was the quickest year of my life thus far. It seems like yesterday we stepped off the plane in Dusseldorf wondering "what in the heck are we doing!?" It was pouring rain and before I knew it, I was in a mercedes taxi with both of the kids and the taxi driver who stunk of cigarette smoke. We followed behind our sponsor, who Abe rode with for the hour drive to our guest house. That hour drive felt like 3 hours. The driver kept talking to me and I felt like I needed to physically hold my eyelids open I was so tired. The next week was a definite blur and I remember crying myself to sleep several times. I was 6 months pregnant and felt like I would never get out of my sleep deprivation and it was hard to function. We were in a tiny guesthouse with no phone, fridge, laundry, bathtub, internet and many more necessities. We didn't have a car and I felt stranded and unsure of our new life.
It's weird now to look back and think of all the adjustments I went through from moving to a foreign Country. Cooking & temperatures in Celsius instead of fahrenheit, always military time (which I should be used to, but am not), narrow driving roads where you have to weave in and out of cars parked wherever they want, 4 garbages (yellow bag, paper, glass and regular garbage), windmills and cows everywhere, rolladens, radiators, no ice cubes, paying for water at restaurants because German's don't drink tap water, going to the market on Thursdays for Fruit and Veggies, paying for public bathrooms, having to bring my own bags when shopping (we learned that the hard way after purchasing lots of food at the local grocery store), not knowing where to go when I need something, not being able to communicate with very many people, not having a cell phone plan or regular TV, etc. etc. etc. This was my forth move, so I know that it is hard moving to a new area no matter where you are going. But it was a little rough for me. I didn't think I would meet any friends, feel comfortable shopping on the economy, or going places myself.
Finally after a year of being here, I do feel like I am adjusted for the most part. It may have taken me longer to adjust due to being in a guest house for 6 weeks, then Christmas, having a baby and then recovering from a baby I suppose. It is weird to me that it is more "normal" now going to the local German stores to get odds and ends, going to the market, exploring new towns and trying to communicate with the Germans. We are trying to take advantage of all the opportunities we have here. I am hoping that we can get a lot of traveling and site seeing accomplished this next year so I am not feeling frantic this time next year when we only have one year left! I do miss free refills and ice cubes in the States, Target and a lot of the conveniences, but I wouldn't trade it for the opportunity we have of living here right now. To be honest, I think it is annoying when people are on their phone all the time now. It is NOT like that here and I love it! The most annoying thing to me is that when I am in the States, I know where to go if I need something. Here, it is much harder and quite a bit more expensive. Once again though, with time I am learning and things are become a little bit less frustrating.
Here is to a fun, jam packed year full of lots of great travels and experiences!
