I'm sorry. I have admittedly been a terrible blogger. But, between juggling a toddler, setting up a new home, and trying to navigate a new society I feel I deserve a pass on this one. So with that, here is my newest discovery... Germans don't smile. I mean they do, but not as a rule. For example, do you ever pass a fellow mom at the store and just smile at her that smile of - I get it. Whatever you are going through in this moment, I get it because we are bonded by motherhood. Do you ever give a smile to an elder passing just because they are your elder, and you want to say, "Hey, thanks for paving the way for my existence." Well, apparently, all of my seemingly friendly smiles are taken as a sign of stupidity by most Germans. At least the Hessians. In their opinion (and really no one is right or wrong here because I can see it from both sides), what is there to smile about when there is so much wrong with the world. To smile is to be naive to what is really going on. A little doomsday-ish, but I get it. On the other hand, there is a Chinese proverb that says something to the effect of, "If you see a friend without a smile then give him one of yours." I bring this up because as I have spent every afternoon since we arrived here in September at the playground with my daughter, and this no smile phenomenon is even apparent amongst German children. How strange it is to see children playing and not smiling...
Showing posts with label toddler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toddler. Show all posts
19 October 2010
29 August 2010
It's Happening!
Mission:
To survive a year abroad with a toddler, and my sanity, while observing the diversity and similarity of motherhood at home and abroad.
Background:
More than a year ago my husband sat me down to talk. I dread talks that begin with me having to "find a comfy spot" or "take a load off for a sec." He confided that his utmost desire was to achieve a Master's degree in Germany from a U.S. based university, Middlebury, a very prestigious language school. This venture could be achieved one of two ways - spending four summers in Vermont, or spending 6 weeks in Vermont and then one year abroad. I already knew which of these options was most appealing to him, and I couldn't disagree because I'd rather be together in a strange place for a year than apart for four summers (an addendum to this is that in seven years of wedded bliss, we have spent only three complete summers together).
Now, I enjoy traveling, I would even say I LOVE traveling, but this was going to be different. As I watched our 18-month old daughter playing on the floor my mind began to drift... visions of the overseas plane ride, German food, my child throwing a tantrum in a museum full of really old shit, trendy European moms, no Wegmans, soon my mind was spinning. After a few deep breaths I realized this would be the perfect time to abandon all of my creature comforts and embark on what could/would/and should be an AMAZING experience!
After many months of not knowing how the financial aspect of this was going to work out we sort of threw all caution to the wind and decided that there was no way we were going to be apart for a year, and there was no way we weren't going to try and do this, so the money didn't really matter as long as we could get there, find a place to live, and start looking for jobs.
The apartment is found, job offers have been made, and the money is slowly working itself out.
The Present:
Well the time to depart is almost here. Today was the last day of our two day garage sale extravaganza. It was liberating to let so many "prized" possessions (items we had no idea existed until be started going through bins in the attic and the top shelves of closets) go to new homes. Now I must figure out how to fit 4 seasons of clothes for 3 people, toys, and 2 sets of bagpipes into 3 suitcases, 3 carry-ons, and 3 personal items...
To survive a year abroad with a toddler, and my sanity, while observing the diversity and similarity of motherhood at home and abroad.
Background:
More than a year ago my husband sat me down to talk. I dread talks that begin with me having to "find a comfy spot" or "take a load off for a sec." He confided that his utmost desire was to achieve a Master's degree in Germany from a U.S. based university, Middlebury, a very prestigious language school. This venture could be achieved one of two ways - spending four summers in Vermont, or spending 6 weeks in Vermont and then one year abroad. I already knew which of these options was most appealing to him, and I couldn't disagree because I'd rather be together in a strange place for a year than apart for four summers (an addendum to this is that in seven years of wedded bliss, we have spent only three complete summers together).
Now, I enjoy traveling, I would even say I LOVE traveling, but this was going to be different. As I watched our 18-month old daughter playing on the floor my mind began to drift... visions of the overseas plane ride, German food, my child throwing a tantrum in a museum full of really old shit, trendy European moms, no Wegmans, soon my mind was spinning. After a few deep breaths I realized this would be the perfect time to abandon all of my creature comforts and embark on what could/would/and should be an AMAZING experience!
After many months of not knowing how the financial aspect of this was going to work out we sort of threw all caution to the wind and decided that there was no way we were going to be apart for a year, and there was no way we weren't going to try and do this, so the money didn't really matter as long as we could get there, find a place to live, and start looking for jobs.
The apartment is found, job offers have been made, and the money is slowly working itself out.
The Present:
Well the time to depart is almost here. Today was the last day of our two day garage sale extravaganza. It was liberating to let so many "prized" possessions (items we had no idea existed until be started going through bins in the attic and the top shelves of closets) go to new homes. Now I must figure out how to fit 4 seasons of clothes for 3 people, toys, and 2 sets of bagpipes into 3 suitcases, 3 carry-ons, and 3 personal items...
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