Today is our last day in Duesseldorf. We get up early tomorrow morning, swing by and the get the bunnies who are staying in their house in a friends yard (we're leaving the house with the friends) and head to Frankfurt. We have to fly out of Frankfurt because bunnies can't fly out of Duesseldorf, only Frankfurt.
Maddie is really sad about leaving her school. When we left the house, she didn't even blink, but today is her last day at ISD and she is broken hearted. It's just a half day and then most of the first graders are headed to a park for a good-bye pizza picnic. Tonight we have dinner at one of our favorite restaurants with Cousins Torsten and Elke.
As I wrap up my time here in Germany, I am happy to go, but sad to leave friends. It doesn't seem real that there are people I have seen every day for two years that I may never see again. And as our friends prepare to leave for Shanghai, LA, Istanbul and beyond, I imagine the strange places where our paths may once again cross.
Since I can't help but think I could have handled this whole situation better, I keep hearing the words of Voris Johnson, Jr., echoing in my head, "What have we learned from this?" So here goes:
I've learned...
that I am not nearly as adaptable as I thought
that I am a much better mother and wife when I have more going on than being a mother and a wife
that large groups of small children are cute, but soon cause me to have a headache
that I really like ice in my beverages
that you can learn more about a country and a culture over a cup of coffee with someone from that culture than you can from any guidebook
that Walt Disney is right. It really is a small world after all. But rather than continue to stress how we're all the same, we need to learn about, understand and celebrate each other's differences.
that I would like to be Italian and live in Ireland.
that the idea of Unity in the Midst of Diversity is great when I want other people to be tolerant of my ideas, but I'm not very good at practicing it when I have to go to a church where I don't agree with the prevailing thoughts and beliefs.
that even when things are not going the way I want them to, I still have a ridiculously charmed life, full of people who love me. And the list of those people just keeps growing at a rate I certainly don't deserve.
that my husband is more patient that I would have imagined
that my child has the best life of any person I've ever met. She's smart and (generally) sweet. She will try just about anything. She has seen more of the world in the last two years than most people see in a lifetime. Not only has she been at a great school, but both years, she's had the best teachers the school has to offer. She can make a friend faster than it takes most of us to tie a shoe. And she continues to encounter adults and children in her life who love her and encourage her and make her feel good about herself. I can't think of anyone who has it any better.
So with this entry, I will close down the Anne Abroad blog at germanizing.blogspot. com
Be sure to tune in to Anne Abroad: The Sequel at www.londonizing.blogspot.com for the new adventures of the Russ/Lentz clan.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Breaking up is hard to do
Maddie, Leah, Jamie and Matthew
Me, Sheree and Joy
Joy and Donna
Me and Molly Dee
We still have a week-and-a-half to go and I am already weary of the good-bye process. Between the packing and the farewells and the teary daughter, I am plum wore out.
Had a nice time at one of our favorite spots, Myer and Freeman, tonight with friends who wished us well on our journey, and even our church gave us a set of farewell mugs and certificate of thanks and a card to be opened at our new home.
Life will be easier from the hotel after all of our stuff her has been loaded on a truck. Skip is headed out for a mini-European tour early tomorrow through late Wednesday, so whatever happens to get us ready for this move is up to me. Could be kind of a disaster, but I bet we can get there from here.
When the Bubble Bursts
I had just commented on what a little bubble we live in here where everyone is healthy, wealthy and, well, maybe not-so-wise, and now the real world has intruded on us. One of my friends who is getting ready to move back to the states with very little notice, just got word that a friend of hers who has been battling cancer is losing and will probably not live the week. Someone who works for an airline has given my friend some buddy points to fly back home. She'll leave Monday morning and come back Wednesday. So the rest of us will make sure her kids get to and from school and fed during those days.
We Americans are envious of the European ex-pats. If you're a Brit or a Dane living in Germany, you can always make it back for the weddings, graduations and anniversaries. And when something serious happens, you can always get home to be there for friends and family. North Americans can get back if we have to, but it really takes some doing.
We are a closet-less home now. We have clothes hanging from the staircases because all three of our closets have been sold and picked up. I've got to push selling the dryer--it's the one thing I haven't sold that I really need to. There are still quite a few folks around here who don't use a clothes dryer and with energy costs continuing to rise, they're not likely to start using one now.
We are eating strawberries at our house because Skip and Maddie went to a pick-your-own field near our house and picked 3 kilos (about 7 pounds) yesterday. Skip says Maddie worked hard and her pants showed the evidence of it. This afternoon we are gathering with friends to have kind of a good-bye party. Hopefully it will not rain, and I will plan to take some pictures--which I have been neglecting to do lately.
Maddie is getting very sad about leaving. She's sad about leaving Germany, but the thing that brings on the big tears is the idea of leaving her school. She says she will never love a school as much as she loves ISD, and she may be right about that. Though some we know have had their problems with it, the school and her teachers seem to have been custom ordered for Maddie Lentz.
We Americans are envious of the European ex-pats. If you're a Brit or a Dane living in Germany, you can always make it back for the weddings, graduations and anniversaries. And when something serious happens, you can always get home to be there for friends and family. North Americans can get back if we have to, but it really takes some doing.
We are a closet-less home now. We have clothes hanging from the staircases because all three of our closets have been sold and picked up. I've got to push selling the dryer--it's the one thing I haven't sold that I really need to. There are still quite a few folks around here who don't use a clothes dryer and with energy costs continuing to rise, they're not likely to start using one now.
We are eating strawberries at our house because Skip and Maddie went to a pick-your-own field near our house and picked 3 kilos (about 7 pounds) yesterday. Skip says Maddie worked hard and her pants showed the evidence of it. This afternoon we are gathering with friends to have kind of a good-bye party. Hopefully it will not rain, and I will plan to take some pictures--which I have been neglecting to do lately.
Maddie is getting very sad about leaving. She's sad about leaving Germany, but the thing that brings on the big tears is the idea of leaving her school. She says she will never love a school as much as she loves ISD, and she may be right about that. Though some we know have had their problems with it, the school and her teachers seem to have been custom ordered for Maddie Lentz.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Who's the Clothes Horse?
My husband's wardrobe is far larger than mine. This is not to say that he buys more clothes than I do, it's just that he almost never discards anything.
Tomorrow we have three different people coming to pick up the closets they are buying from us. Faithful blog readers will remember that German homes don't come with closets, so we had to buy free standing schranks. However English houses come with built in closets (and light fixtures--yay!), so we need to sell the closets we have. The movers don't come until Thursday, but we're going ahead with getting rid of the closets so that our last weekend in Germany can be relatively free of moving details and we can just enjoy.
But, of course, that means we have to empty the closets before tomorrow. And by "we", I mean "me". Never before in our marriage has the division of labor in this home been so sharply divided. So I've never really sifted through Skip's clothes during a move. Whereas I found one article of clothing that I own that dates back before our marriage (a super-soft sweatshirt from my Surf Expo days), Skip can boast quite a few articles of clothing that are older than our relationship. And as I've been sorting, I remembered our closets at home. They are quite large, but I cleared the majority of my clothing out so our house sitter could use it. Skip's is still quite full. So not only does he have more clothing here in Germany than I do, he has far more clothing sitting in Little Rock as well. When khakis and t-shirts are your uniform of choice, your clothes just don't go out out of style.
So the bedroom is looking pretty odd right now. Our bed is already gone to the folks who purchased it. And now I've got everything that's not on hangers in bags and bins. Skip's socks are in the free Jaegermeister shopping bag I got at my local grocery store yesterday where they were handing out free samples of Jaeger with your choice of mixer. (!) I'm not sure why anyone would even drink it, much less mix it with anything, but I like my free bag. Think they're going to start handing out samples of alcohol at the local Kroger in Little Rock this summer? Skip's collection of ball caps have fit very neatly into a bag from a tie store. I've got our shoes in a set of collapsable crates. And I've put all the clothing that could easily be snagged or damages in the move in plastic bins or over-sized Ziploc bags.
My friend Mary spent all morning with me yesterday helping me sort out Maddie's room and playroom. What a fabulous gift that was! SO much easier and more pleasant with someone else around to help.
Am hoping to finish up the majority of the sorting and sifting today. I am ready for the movers to come and haul it away.
Tomorrow we have three different people coming to pick up the closets they are buying from us. Faithful blog readers will remember that German homes don't come with closets, so we had to buy free standing schranks. However English houses come with built in closets (and light fixtures--yay!), so we need to sell the closets we have. The movers don't come until Thursday, but we're going ahead with getting rid of the closets so that our last weekend in Germany can be relatively free of moving details and we can just enjoy.
But, of course, that means we have to empty the closets before tomorrow. And by "we", I mean "me". Never before in our marriage has the division of labor in this home been so sharply divided. So I've never really sifted through Skip's clothes during a move. Whereas I found one article of clothing that I own that dates back before our marriage (a super-soft sweatshirt from my Surf Expo days), Skip can boast quite a few articles of clothing that are older than our relationship. And as I've been sorting, I remembered our closets at home. They are quite large, but I cleared the majority of my clothing out so our house sitter could use it. Skip's is still quite full. So not only does he have more clothing here in Germany than I do, he has far more clothing sitting in Little Rock as well. When khakis and t-shirts are your uniform of choice, your clothes just don't go out out of style.
So the bedroom is looking pretty odd right now. Our bed is already gone to the folks who purchased it. And now I've got everything that's not on hangers in bags and bins. Skip's socks are in the free Jaegermeister shopping bag I got at my local grocery store yesterday where they were handing out free samples of Jaeger with your choice of mixer. (!) I'm not sure why anyone would even drink it, much less mix it with anything, but I like my free bag. Think they're going to start handing out samples of alcohol at the local Kroger in Little Rock this summer? Skip's collection of ball caps have fit very neatly into a bag from a tie store. I've got our shoes in a set of collapsable crates. And I've put all the clothing that could easily be snagged or damages in the move in plastic bins or over-sized Ziploc bags.
My friend Mary spent all morning with me yesterday helping me sort out Maddie's room and playroom. What a fabulous gift that was! SO much easier and more pleasant with someone else around to help.
Am hoping to finish up the majority of the sorting and sifting today. I am ready for the movers to come and haul it away.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Can we make it 'til Thursday?
Next Thursday, that is. When the movers come and we move into a cushy hotel for our last week in Germany. Breakfast comes with the room and I can walk with Maddie to school every morning.
Moving is just plain stressful anyway. Add an international element to that and it ramps up a little more. And then since we live in a little ex-pat bubble here (away from poverty, hunger, disease and natural disasters), it always makes our problems seem like a bigger deal than they really are.
Emotions are running high all-round. Dads are adjusting to new jobs. Moms are trying to get houses ready for a move or just simply get packed for a summer trip to the states. Kids are either dealing with moving or with one or more of their friends moving. And to add to it for the older kids, one of the staff members at the high school died unexpectedly this week.
Skip is keeping a ridiculous schedule this week in England and then will be in three different countries over the first three days of next week. I've told him I have everything about the move under control on this end (perhaps a slight exaggeration) with the exception of his desk. I'm a little afraid of it. I mean, any work surface of mine has always been a disaster, but that's to be expected from me. When he has a real office, his desk is spotless, but somehow a "home office" is a different animal. Told him if he would just pull out the things he has to have, I can dump the rest of it into marked boxes before the movers come so all of it doesn't get scattered in with random other items.
Maddie's life continues to be one exciting experience after another. I honestly don't believe there is a person on earth whose life is better than hers, and I don't know that she would disagree with that assessment. Though she might add that there are those with more patient mothers.
Moving is just plain stressful anyway. Add an international element to that and it ramps up a little more. And then since we live in a little ex-pat bubble here (away from poverty, hunger, disease and natural disasters), it always makes our problems seem like a bigger deal than they really are.
Emotions are running high all-round. Dads are adjusting to new jobs. Moms are trying to get houses ready for a move or just simply get packed for a summer trip to the states. Kids are either dealing with moving or with one or more of their friends moving. And to add to it for the older kids, one of the staff members at the high school died unexpectedly this week.
Skip is keeping a ridiculous schedule this week in England and then will be in three different countries over the first three days of next week. I've told him I have everything about the move under control on this end (perhaps a slight exaggeration) with the exception of his desk. I'm a little afraid of it. I mean, any work surface of mine has always been a disaster, but that's to be expected from me. When he has a real office, his desk is spotless, but somehow a "home office" is a different animal. Told him if he would just pull out the things he has to have, I can dump the rest of it into marked boxes before the movers come so all of it doesn't get scattered in with random other items.
Maddie's life continues to be one exciting experience after another. I honestly don't believe there is a person on earth whose life is better than hers, and I don't know that she would disagree with that assessment. Though she might add that there are those with more patient mothers.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Busy Times
Made my last run up to the Polish Pottery outlet in the Netherlands on Friday and it there were women there from four different countries, but everyone was American! There were women from Brussels, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf there buying Polish Pottery.
Saturday we made a run to the town of Aachen, which was the seat of Charlamagne when he ruled the Holy Roman Empire. I'd been there several times, but Skip had never seen it. The treasury not only holds treasures but relics from Charlamagne and other saints, so Maddie wasn't real thrilled about looking at ancient bones, nor did she appreciate the Catholic art that featured a bleeding Christ on the Cross. She said she doesn't like the bloody Jesus. Good thing we're raising her Protestant.
It was quick trip into Aachen as we had friends coming over for dinner with their three kids. Natalie (from New Zealand) and husband Russ (from England) instructed me on how to make a proper pot of tea--and there's more to it than you might think. First you must use good water and boil it, when it is just short of boiling, you pour a bit of water into the pot and swirl it around to warm the pot. Then you add the tea bags and pour the water in. After it steeps for exactly five minutes, you pour just a tad of tea out into the sink just in case there are any bits from the tea bag floating around. Then before pouring the tea in the cup you add the milk. You never pour the milk in after the tea as a film will form over the top of our tea. And you always pour the tea just shy of the brim, otherwise your guests will feel you are being a bits. See? Who knew? I have been saved from making several faux pas the first time I have an English neighbor over for tea!
Today we are juggling pick up of some of the stuff we are selling, cleaning the bunny cage, going to church and getting Skip to the airport by 3:30. He'll be in London all week.
We are the lucky ones, though. We know where we're going and when. So many of the ex-pat families here are in a kind of limbo. We have several friends who are in various stages of waiting to see when and where they will go next. Ex-pat life is no place for control freaks!
Saturday we made a run to the town of Aachen, which was the seat of Charlamagne when he ruled the Holy Roman Empire. I'd been there several times, but Skip had never seen it. The treasury not only holds treasures but relics from Charlamagne and other saints, so Maddie wasn't real thrilled about looking at ancient bones, nor did she appreciate the Catholic art that featured a bleeding Christ on the Cross. She said she doesn't like the bloody Jesus. Good thing we're raising her Protestant.
It was quick trip into Aachen as we had friends coming over for dinner with their three kids. Natalie (from New Zealand) and husband Russ (from England) instructed me on how to make a proper pot of tea--and there's more to it than you might think. First you must use good water and boil it, when it is just short of boiling, you pour a bit of water into the pot and swirl it around to warm the pot. Then you add the tea bags and pour the water in. After it steeps for exactly five minutes, you pour just a tad of tea out into the sink just in case there are any bits from the tea bag floating around. Then before pouring the tea in the cup you add the milk. You never pour the milk in after the tea as a film will form over the top of our tea. And you always pour the tea just shy of the brim, otherwise your guests will feel you are being a bits. See? Who knew? I have been saved from making several faux pas the first time I have an English neighbor over for tea!
Today we are juggling pick up of some of the stuff we are selling, cleaning the bunny cage, going to church and getting Skip to the airport by 3:30. He'll be in London all week.
We are the lucky ones, though. We know where we're going and when. So many of the ex-pat families here are in a kind of limbo. We have several friends who are in various stages of waiting to see when and where they will go next. Ex-pat life is no place for control freaks!
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