Germany :: Day 04

This is the day that nearly got us all. I woke up not feeling well, but took some cold medicine and rallied. My poor host-mom and host-brother were both laid up the entire day, however. A shame, since my host-mom got tickets for us to see a performance at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and was going to join Gudrun and me. Gudrun and I still met up, and took the train into Hamburg. The concert hall is absolutely amazing. Beautiful and the sound was incredible. I couldn't understand a single word of the performance, but that didn't even matter. It was a treat. After the concert, Andrea met up with us. We had a coffee, then Gudrun went her separate way and Andrea and I walked around the observation area of the Elphi, then had a delicious lunch at Cafe Elbwein. On our way back to the house, we decided to stop at our old school and take a look around. Can't believe 37 years have past. The next day, it was time for me to fly home. I just hope my surprise visit was even half as meaningful to my host-father as it was for me. It was incredible. Until next time. 

Germany :: Day 03

The first photo is me standing outside of the house I lived in during my year abroad. Felt so great to be back. On Saturday, we drove to Sierksdorf / Neustadt to meet up with one of my host-father’s friends who graciously invited us for a trip around the harbor on his gorgeous boat since my host-parents boat is not in the water yet for the season. It was another beautiful day, and the ride was absolutely lovely. I even got to drive the boat for a bit! After, we went to Claudia, their cousins house, which is also close by. She and her husband own Hansa-Park, an amusement park. The season doesn’t start for a couple of weeks but I was given a really fascinating behind-the-scenes tour. How cool is that?

Germany :: Day 02

After a long, good night's sleep at Stephan + Gudrun's, it was time for time for me to transfer over to my Mami + Papi's house. Last time we visited, they were in a different house and Stephan lived in the house they were in when I lived there. Now, Stephan has built a new house, and they are back in the house I lived in. It felt like home. Even though they did renovate my bedroom into a bathroom, in what seemed at the time like immediately after I left in 1988. Ha! Papi and I had a leisurely afternoon at home, then it was time to head into Hamburg. They had a retirement party to go to, so I had a few hours to wander around one of my all-time favorite cities with their driver. When I lived there, I spent so much time in Hamburg, usually with friends or meeting up with other exchange students. We walked around the harbor, city hall and along the Alster. I love this city so much. And what a gorgeous day to get to revisit it again. 

Germany :: Day 01

I just got back from a whirlwind, amazing few days in Germany! What? I know, right? Here's how that happened. Less than a month ago, I was texting my host-mother from Germany, to wish her a happy birthday. Before you know it, she was inviting me and Brian to come over to surprise my host-father for his 80th birthday. I honestly didn't know how to reply. Of course that sounded incredible. But also a little crazy, considering the big day was less than three weeks away. I said Brian unfortunately was going to be traveling, but that I was available. Before I knew it, I was on the phone with cousin Claudia, and plans were in place. Only a couple people knew I was coming. My host-mom, who had the grand plan, Claudia, who speaks perfect English and really helped me out as a liaison. Later, Gudrun, my host-brother's wife, found out, since I would be staying at their house the first night. Stephan, my host-brother, was worried about keeping the secret, so he found out two days before, since he was the one who picked up up at the airport. So funny. We spent the morning and Stephan and Gudrun's house. My host-mom stopped by for a little bit to say hello, then she was off to get ready for the big party at Restaurant Hof Immenhorst. I was able to relax a little that afternoon, then Claudia and her husband picked Gudrun and I so we could head over to the party. I don't think anyone expected it. It was amazing. I love how happy we all look too. Me for sure. It was the first time in 15 years that I've visited my host-family. Way too long. My German was definitely rusty, but better than I thought I would be. Let's just say, I understood most, and could get by. It was a beautiful party, and a fantastic night. These people mean the world to me, and I hope it meant even half as much to the birthday boy as it did to me. 

Germany - The End

We had to leave the house by 5:30 a.m. our last morning, so were up at the crack of dawn. I have to say, the boys were such troopers throughout this whole trip, and especially on this day. We had been on kind of a strange sleep pattern the entire time -- staying up a bit later, and sleeping late (I would have to set my alarm for 8:30 a.m. -- we never, ever, sleep that late normally). But they woke up without many complaints, and were really great. We even made it to our flight with a one-hour layover in Amsterdam without a problem. The flight was really good -- we all watched a bunch of movies, which made the time go pretty fast. And when we landed, my dad was there to meet us at the airport with Storm, which was a great homecoming. It was such a great vacation. Yes, the weather was cold and a bit rainy, but it was amazing to get to hang out with these people who I really consider a second family. Even after so many years have gone by, it's like I never left. It's a pretty special thing, if you ask me. And I'm so happy I got to share it with Brian and the boys. I cannot wait until we see each other again.

Germany - Day 10

Believe it or not, we left the birthday party pretty early. It started at 3:00, so by the time we left, we had been indulging for several hours already. We went home, and stayed up until the wee hours again drinking wine. (We were very productive though, and even planned an amazing motor home vacation we hope to take in a couple years.) The morning after, we headed back to Andrea's for a huge breakfast feast -- and some left-over sweets and ice-cream. That afternoon, Brian, the boys and I went to Möbel Kraft, which was an absolute zoo, then drove to Henstedt-Ulzburg for coffee and cake at Stefan's house. Stefan now lives in the house we lived in when I was an exchange student for a year. It's a beautiful home -- despite the fact that as soon as I left the house, they turned my tiny bedroom into a bathroom and I've never forgiven them since. (Just kidding. Kind of.) We rushed back so Andrea & Andreas could pick me up so I could go with them to take their son M back to school. He goes to a boarding school close by, and was home for Fall Break. It was a beautiful school. Afterwards, we just hung out a bit, and had dinner. It was a nice, quiet night.

Germany - Day 9 {The Main Event}

And now, the main reason for Germany in October -- Andrea's 40th Birthday party. That morning, my German Mami and I surprised Andrea and kidnapped her. We took her for a morning of pampering while we went shopping. After we picked Andrea up, we took her back to their house to enjoy a glass of rosé champagne and to get ready. Then, it was time for the birthday party, complete with an Oktoberfest theme. Such a blast. There was an ice cream cart, cotton candy machine, beer tap, cookies, cakes, candy and amazing food galore. It was a super fun night for a super fantastic person.