And just like that, it’s over… The time has come for us to leave Germany and head back home. All of our bags are packed, the apartment is empty, we've said our goodbyes, and we’re heading to the airport in just a few short hours. I can’t believe how quickly three years has flown by! I guess the saying is true after all… Time really does fly when you’re having fun! :)
I can still remember the day we left the U.S. and arrived in Germany just like it was yesterday. I was absolutely petrified at the thought of living in a foreign country for an extended period of time… I literally had to be dragged here kicking and screaming (well, not literally, but there were definitely a lot of tears! :)) But, somehow, over the past few years, I’ve grown to love this country. I mean, sure, we had our share of ups and downs and many trials and tribulations along the way… But, we always managed to persevere, and somewhere along the line, Germany started to feel like home to us. And, in the course of three short years, we managed to create a life for ourselves in this country. And, now, it’s hard to believe that it’s time to give that up.
I’m honestly having a hard time putting into words how difficult it is to say goodbye to this country that I’ve grown to love. I’ve sat down so many times over the past few months and tried to type up a post that could explain how I was feeling about leaving… But, every time I tried, I was never able to accurately describe my feelings.
So, I’ll just attempt to summarize it now… Basically, I feel that I’m coming back to the U.S. a different person from when I left. Living here has taught me a lot about myself… For instance, I’m now more interested in and I have a better understanding of the world around me, I’m more knowledgeable about different cultures, I’ve learned how to assimilate into a foreign culture, I’ve become more confident in myself and my abilities. I’m no longer scared to try new things… Now, I tend to seek out new and exciting adventures to embark upon. And, to top it all off, this experience has been a blessing for my and Brian’s relationship. We’ve had to depend on each other to get through all of the ups and downs of living in a different country, and in doing so, our relationship has strengthened because of it. We’ve found that we make a pretty darn good team. :) So, in the end, I’ve grown so much as a person throughout the past few years, and I guess I’m just a little nervous about going back to the U.S. and losing all that I’ve gained… I mean, I highly doubt that will happen, but it’s still something that is in the back of my mind. I mean, we’re leaving a life and a lifestyle that we both thoroughly enjoy over here, to return to the U.S. and start all over again. Don’t get me wrong, we are thrilled to be close to our family and friends again! But, at the end of the day, we’ve changed over the past few years, as has everyone else. And now, it’s just a little unnerving to think about the future, as neither of us knows what to expect… But, I guess we did the same thing three years ago when we came over to Germany, and look how well that turned out for us. :) So, seeing as how we’ve been there, done that, I guess going home and starting anew might not be all that bad after all… Needless to say, we’ll soon find out what the future has in store for us. :)
Bis spaeter, Germany! :)
And, no worries dear readers, even though we’re no longer “Strangers in a Strange Land”, we’ll still be keeping the blog up and running… So keep checking back and see how life is treating us in the good ole USA. :)
1 comment:
Aw, I can totally relate. I was so scared like you to live in Germany and it was a great experience. So much so that I would move back there in a heart beat. And, yes, I feel changed also. DE was good for you. It will always hold a special place in your heart. Can't wait to continue with you onto the next adventure of life in the U.S.
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