3/1/2020 2 Comments Our First Year Abroad365 days ago, we loaded up 10 boxes and 2 suitcases and were dropped off at DFW airport. 30 hours later we arrived by taxi at our apartment in Berlin, Germany. Of course, this is the perfect time for a review. What do we love? What do I miss? What have we learned from this experience? Berlin is a very international city. I love that we have the opportunity to meet so many different people from around the world. Basically we live and work in a melting pot of cultures. We love the ease at which we can travel in Europe. In the last year, we have been to Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Ireland, and Italy. I also attended yoga teacher training in Southern France and Drew took a company trip to Ibiza, Spain. The ability to so easily travel around is one of the main reasons we said yes to this opportunity. I love that we are both growing in our own ways. Drew is developing his leadership skills while I am exploring my yoga practice as a teacher. Growth is not always comfortable but we are eager to gain more experience and see where this path may lead us. I think it goes without saying (or maybe I do need to say it...) that I miss my family, friends and clients so aside from that, there are some other random things that I miss. This list alone is evidence that no matter where I may go, I am a Texas girl at heart. 1. The vibe of a perfectly crowded bar with live country music and a dance floor full of two-steppers. Big surprise...There are no Honky Tonk bars in Berlin. 2. The slow progression of dark rolling clouds and the moment the lightning strikes and the thunder shakes the ground as if cueing the rain to intensely fall from the sky and continue throughout the night. They simply don’t have storms like this in Berlin. 3. Endless baskets of complimentary chips and salsa. Let me go ahead and add to that “Ich hätte gern ein BeerRita bitte!” That means I would like to have a BeerRita please! Since I’m on the subject of food, I’ll keep going...Whataburger, late night Waffle House, Goldfish crackers, Fritos & Bean Dip and of course, Ranch dressing. Don’t judge me. Last night we celebrated our first year in Berlin with a fine dining experience at SkyKitchen, a beautiful restaurant located on the 12th floor of a Berlin hotel with views of the city. The experience was a first for both of us. Incredible food tastefully paired with red wine in a posh and relaxed atmosphere. I have a diverse palette and a broad sense of taste. This is why I can enjoy Waffle House and Michelin Star restaurants. My mom came out to visit last fall and can’t wait to return and we are expecting more rounds of visitors this spring. Sharing our new life with those we love helps us to feel more grounded and at home. Somehow it makes it more real. My German is not where I expected it to be at this point and that is because my interest in learning the language depends on the content we are covering in class as well as how much patience I am willing to have with myself on any given day. My vocabulary is pretty good but honestly I feel like I would benefit from a 3-year old study buddy so we could practice the correct grammatical structure together. I love that visitors think we know so much German but locals would definitely tell you otherwise. (Ich lerne. I am learning.) There have certainly been moments of struggle living abroad but overall, Drew and I can agree that this has been a positive experience for the both of us. Sometimes we feel out of place here but we have decided that we’re okay with that. If you’re not out of place than you’re commonplace and we want to remain open to the newness of the city and embrace the magic of unexpected adventures.
With Love From Berlin, Stevi
2 Comments
Nina
3/1/2020 10:59:16 am
Love to hear about your adventures and so glad to hear from you!
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Kellie
6/20/2022 07:40:10 am
I love your stories they’re very interesting!
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