Home Sweet Home, the American that is!

I have been back in my American home since Thursday afternoon. The Coldplay concert on Tuesday in Hannover was awesome. The only thing that wasn’t was that it started drizzling, but we had covered seats, so Jasmin and I really did not mind that much. The concert started at 9pm, because it was dark at that time and since Coldplay plays a lot with lights and so on they had to wait till was dark outside. Before we went to the concert though we had coffee and lunch with my mom and her co-worker in Burgdorf. I picked up Jasmin at the train station and then we met my mom and Traute at the bar. We went to Jasmin’s apartment after that and Mara came over for some juice and cookies around 4pm, so we got to see each other one more time before I left. After the concert the whole part of the city in the area where the stadium is was crowded with Coldplay fans. Fortunately we had taken Jasmin’s bikes to go to the stadium, so we could squeeze in between the cars and people walking on the streets. Unfortunately our coffee date with Uschi did not work out, because something popped up, but we had some coffee with Nathalie instead, which was nice as well, because she had worked at the concert till 5am and then had to be back at her other job early in the morning. I bet she was really tired, but she still wanted to see me one last time and we had a really good time. After our coffee date Jasmin and I went back to my parents’ house so I could start packing and we needed to go to the store to get some things before I left. Of course my mom cooked for me and it was delicious!!! Nicole came by a little later as well to say bye and so did Elli. It was really good to see them again, even if it was late and only for a short time, but they made the time, which I really appreciate!!! My plane was scheduled for 7.20am on Thursday morning, so we left my parents’ house at 5.30am. My dad had to go to work soon after, so my parents did not stick around too long, but Jasmin did. As we got to the counter to check-in the woman asked for my address in the U.S. and I told her that I was a permanent resident. Maybe I should not have said that, because she got really bitchy afterward. One of my suitcases was one kilo too heavy and the other one two. She looked down at me and asked how many more things I had, because Jasmin had a bigger bag with her too. But we told her that that was not mine and then she made me weigh my hand luggage, which was also 2 kilos too heavy. She started lecturing me and said she could make me pay now, but that she was not going to. So I said thanks and left. Jasmin and I made fun of her afterward. The plane ride home to Dallas was okay, but way too long! Ten and a half hours is way too long. The food sucked big time, so I was happy that I still had some baked goods and two sandwiches in my hand luggage. I could barely sleep and we got to Dallas 30 minutes late. Going through the passport check did not take long at all and I could go to one of the “U.S. citizens/residents”-counters. The only thing that took long was my suitcases. They were probably the last ones to get on the belt. Aaron picked me up and he had some beautiful flowers for me. We were at the apartment at 4.30pm and I had to leave at 5.30pm to teach my Zumba® Fitness class, because I had promised the members I would come and teach it. It was a long day and I went to bed at 9.45pm that night, because I was really tired and I had to work all day on Friday. Overall, I had a terrific time in Germany and it was good to see all my girls and my parents, my brother and Nicole. I am still disappointed that sometimes my expectations cannot be met, even if I do not ask for much, but sometimes the saying “Out of sight, out of mind” still applies, even if it is only on one side.

I miss my family, and I am glad my mom and dad enjoyed my stay. They and Jasmin did a lot for me in that one week and I really appreciate it!!!! Luv u guys!!!

It is almost time again...

Today is Tuesday, I am leaving on Thursday. Let’s see how the last days have gone. On Friday after my dad and Jasmin picked me up we went to my parents’ house in Burgdorf. Since my mom did not know I was coming my dad was really nervous. We decided for me to lay down on the backseat and that Jasmin and my dad would go inside and tell her something about some surprise and then come get me. So that is what we did. As my mom saw me she did not know whether to laugh or to cry. It was so funny and cute. And then she hugged me so tight that I almost could not breathe anymore. We sat down in the new kitchen and had some coffee and cookies and my dad made me some black German bread with fried eggs, lol. My mom’s first question by the way was ”Where is Aaron?”, followed by “When are you leaving?”. Anyway, we told her about all the plans and she said we should rather go get my hair done that day. That’s what we did and there was nobody at the salon, so we were in and out. Later, we went to the grocery store with everyone and then my mom cooked for me, of course. On Saturday my dad made the bestest breakfast ever, with eggs, broetchen and everything else you might want. My parents went to Bremerhaven that day and that was good like that because we had plans for the ladies’ night anyway. Nicole and my brother were expected to come by, since Jasmin had told them she had a surprise for them. I brought Nicole’s suitcase and we put it in the middle of the hallway downstairs. As we heard them coming we were hoping that my brother would unlock the door with his keys right away and he did. Since the suitcase was in the middle of the hallway they could not not see it. Nicole was confused and my brother yelled “Hallo!” and I answered. He heard it right away, but we had expected that. They were happy to see me and we had some coffee, of course, and then they dropped us off at the train station so we could go to Hannover. We had to go to a grocery store, and after having been there, I know exactly why I never found a decent man for me in Germany. OMG, I was so ready to get out of there after 5 minutes. After that we went to my old job to say hi to one of my co-workers. We are gonna have coffee with her on Wednesday, because she could not make it to the breakfast on Sunday. Ladies’ night was awesome on Saturday night. Janis, Mara and Nathalie came over for pizza and drinks and then we watched old DRS-videos which had us rolling on the floor laughing. We discovered a new club in Hannover and went to bed at 4.30am. Our brunch plans for Sunday started at 9.30am the next morning, because that is when Jasmin woke us up. Everybody came except for one. I was disappointed big time, but I guess that is just how it is. Some people just cannot make it work. Oh well, we had tons of fun and it was so awesome to see my ladies again!!! Thank you girls so much for making time to see me and spend some time together with everyone. We had dindin at my parents’ house that night and Nicole and Sandy came as well. I ate waaaay too much, but it was so good! I went with Jasmin that night, because she had her Jazz-/Aerobics class that night followed by a Zumba® Fitness class and it was fun. We team-taught that class and it was soooo much fun!!! On Monday I went to my old job, the private school. Nobody was really there, so I left after an hour and met with my parents and Jasmin in Hannover to go shopping. It was so much fun and we had lunch at the steak house. After that we went to see Anja and Katrin, so we could talk about exchange organizations, because Katrin wants to go overseas for a year. Overall a really good time so far, and it is getting better tonight, because we are going to the Coldplay Concert in Hannover!!!

I did not order this rain – or – 9 hours on a plane with stereotypical Germans and I am ready to head back to Dallas ;-D

(I originally wrote this at the airport this morning at 10am local time.)

Surprise!!! Yesterday, after I worked from 6am till 12noon I got on my way to Germany, by myself. I am sitting in Frankfurt at the international airport right now and am waiting for my connecting flight, which is in three hours, urgh. My flight here was not bad, though it is really weird to have so many Germans around me again after having lived in the States for six months already. I had a really nice lady sitting next to me on this very full long-distance-flight. I already talked to Jasmin on my German (!) cell phone, lol and am trying to kill time right now.

I heard it was 33°C here yesterday… So what happened, guys? Who got their car washed today or did not finish their dindin last night?? I really am not a fan of this shitty weather here. Anyway. I am so excited about my mom’s face when she sees me, because she does not know I am in the country. So, let me tell you how this all worked out. Since Jasmin was in Dallas all June and she missed the Coldplay concert there in July, Aaron and I had said (in February) that we would go to Hannover for the concert there on this coming Tuesday. Well, Aaron stayed at home in Dallas, because he just got back from Costa Rica and has to work. Someone has to pay the bills around the house ;-). So, here I am. Waiting for the tight schedule to start. I think we tried to stuff our day plans so bad, that I won’t even have time to be jet-lagged. Hehe he. So, well, back to the story. So, Aaron decided not to come with me and first I thought, well since I started working in July, I might as well stick with the good German mentality and wait for a little bit before I ask for some time off. Well, I changed my mind. I do not break promises and I had PROMISED Jasmin I would be there for the concert. Of course my dad knows, because obviously he has to pick me up at the airport, but my mom doesn’t know, and my brother and Nicole do not know either. Some of our friends do know though, because on Sunday morning we are having a brunch at a place in Hannover and Jasmin had to reserve a table, so we needed a head-count. Today, nothing is really planned, other than calming my mom down, I guess. I requested a dindin dish, well Jasmin did, but my mom refused to cook it, because she said it was gonna be too hot today. Well mom, it is RAINING!!! Tomorrow, I plan on getting my hair done, because I did not get a chance to do so in Dallas before I left and then we are having a ladies night out, with dindin. Sunday then is the brunch with the girls and maybe we will get to relax a little bit. Monday I am visiting my old co-workers at the school and then shopping with the fam. My dad took the day off. Why? That depends on who is asking. If my mom is asking, then just because. If anybody else is asking, then so we get to spend some more time together, lol. Tuesday is the concert and I do not think there is anything else. Maybe some more window-shopping and running errands. And then there is already that Wednesday. Lunch with my brother at some famous pasta-place and then back to my parents’ house to pack and get ready to fly back home to Dallas Thursday morning, EARLY. Urgh. And that will really be it. I am sure there will be more details soon though. This was just the heads-up rough draft. But if you read this and you are in the area and want to see me, call me on my cell (my German cell), email me or call Jasmin!!!

Wow - Six months passed really fast!!!!

Today is my six-months-anniversary of being a legal U.S.-resident, yeay!!!! These last six months have had their ups and downs, but I am really happy I was brave enough to take that big leap, really, it is not a step, it was a huge leap across the ocean. Aaron has supported me with all my decisions and everything else I needed support with! :D I miss my family in Germany every now and then, but then I have my support team here as well. I am starting to really like my job now and it gets better each day. My classes are going great as well. I got a couple of compliments this week, so that always helps. I am really ready for the weekend, but let's see what else happened this past week.
Aaron went to Costa Rica for the first time for his job last Wednesday and came back on Sunday. He was stuck in Atlanta for ever and finally made it back to DFW a little before 11pm on that Sunday. His grandma came in town on the day he left and I went to see her on Sunday.
The Thursday before "FreshBerry" opened its doors and gave away free frozen yogurt cups all day but every time I passed it the line was way too long, so I went there on Friday and simply paid for my cup after I had worked out with one of my co-workers and cleaned the house for two and a half hours. This week, I have been working a little less than last week, but that is ok, because training is picking up and I just have not been doing a lot of orientations with the members.
Cody got her hair done on Sunday and she looks super-adorable. Her bows are still in as well, so I am proud of her of not messing with them anymore. :-D

Dear August - let's do this!!!

Wow, it is already August, can y'all believe it?? I can't. This month we have a lot going on. Aaron is going to Costa Rica on Wednesday, his grandma is coming to Dallas on Wednesday as well, my six-months-anniversary of being a legal citizen of the U.S. is coming up and I am sure there is gonna be a lot more! ;-)

Let's see what happened this past week. Aaron and I both worked a lot and other than that did not really do much more. I sold another session package, but my goal for this month is to sell at least 24 sessions each week. And that is absolutely realistic (pressure?? ;-)). There was a lot of rain this week and I sure did not like it at all, because those weather-headaches are not fun at all. Aaron's family has been spoiling us this week. On Tuesday we went over to Amy's house and she had made peanut-butter-soup (my favorite meal) and then my second-favorite meal as well, which she sent home with us and it lasted us for two days!!! My classes are going excellent and they are growing as well. Personal Training has picked up some as well and it is getting better every day because slowly people know who I am there now, too, and my bio is on the wall, so people can learn more about me and my education. Last night we went to Tut's house and she had made peanut-butter-soup as well! Thank you!!!I have been working out every day and feel great. It is really weird how burning energy can actually give you more energy!I heard that my mom was a little upset about my last blog entry because I did not mention how great she is. My mom is the best mom you could ever have and she is awesome! We all have our moments, but I know she will always be there for me and always do her very best and more to keep myself and my siblings happy. Don't be sad that I am not there right now, mom, you know deep in your heart that this is the right thing for me and you know you would have done the same thing back in the day if the circumstances had been different! ♥