My last day at work - Pt. 2

After 2 years and 10 months of working here in the US, I am leaving my current company today. I owe this company a lot. I started working for them as an intern at their headquarters, which happen to be in the town where I went to university. I would have never guessed that I would still work for them 7 years later. That they would bring me here, to the US. Open so many doors for me, in Germany AND the United States. Enable me to meet my awesome husband!!! Teach me so much of what I know about the industry (automotive electronics). Let me meet so many kind and talented mentors, colleagues, customers. Etc etc etc.

7 years is a long time, especially when considering that I was still "green behind the ears" when I started working there. I'm an emotional person (you have probably guessed that by now). Change can be hard on me sometimes, all the goodbyes, all the flashbacks of memories in this place or that. But I really am excited too. I have a chance to work in a field I am really excited about and personally think that it's the coolest thing since... ummm... cars?

So there you have it. The circle is closing. I started this blog when I was about to move here to work for this company, and now I have grown -personally and professionally- and well, here we are. Having another Last Day at Work. Closing this chapter, and opening another (still here in the Metro Detroit area).

See you on the other side!

Two years and counting

I missed my blog's second birthday! I missed Christmas! I missed New Years! I missed the second anniversary of my big move! Things have been pretty awesome around here, but busy busy busy. Of course December is a busy month for everybody, but this last one year really takes the cake! Within only a few weeks, there were several birthdays, holidays, and other major life events that required a good party.

Was that vague enough for you? ;)

Let's try again...




We got engaged!

I apologize for the long absence, and I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season. Cheers to a fresh and new and awesome 2013!

Home Connection

It was hard to leave our new home for three weeks. Now that almost two weeks have passed, it's still hard... I'm ready to enjoy my last week in Germany a lot (no more work! lots of family time!) and get back home soon.

Meanwhile, I'll be snuggling with Lil' Turtle, while his momma Miss Turtle is hanging out at home with my boyfriend.

 

(Lil' Turtle is trying some good German food: Rahm-Schnitzel.)

You'll be united soon, my dear turtle friends! Promise!

I'm in Germany.

I've made it safe and sound. I have eaten Currywurst Pommes twice so far (yay!). I'm living the business travel lifestyle (a lot of work, eating out every. single. meal) and it's kind of annoying. No yoga so far; I miss it.

More interesting posts to come (hopefully). I just didn't want my readers to think I've drowned in the Atlantic ;)

Namaste.

What I miss: Currywurst Pommes Mayo

Hands down, my favorite German fast food item is Currywurst, a sliced up bratwurst (sometimes they use a different sausage) slathered in curried ketchup... LOVE! A side of french fries (Pommes), of course with lots of mayo... oh man... it's been tough to make do without this in the past year.

Currywurst with Pommes Mayo, also lovingly called Mantaplatte

(picture somewhere on flickr, couldn't find exact source)

BUT!!! Not for much longer will I have to long for it desperately. My flight to Germany is booked, and in less than two weeks I expect to indulge in this delicacy again :)

I will be in Germany for three weeks, two of which will be work-related travel and one will be vacation! I can't wait to see my family and friends! It also feels really funny that I will be away from home for three weeks... or will I? Where is home, anyway?

I'm just happy and excited and anxious and everything at once! Yay!

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful and positive start into the new year! (Better late than never, right? :) )

My break was much needed and very much enjoyed. Having the puppies around was a great experience and brought us much joy and snuggle time. (It was also much more work and worry than I had anticipated, since they are still very young. We will not be getting our own puppies anytime soon! At least not in this top floor apartment without a fenced in yard.)

The cutie pies :)

Snuggle time :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, dear friends and readers! I hope you get to spend the holidays with your family and loved ones.

We will have a family dinner (BF's family) and then unwrap our presents tonight, on Christmas Eve, just like in Germany. Here in the USA most families seem to unwrap presents on Christmas day morning (December 25), but my boyfriend suggested we unwrap tonight, just like I'm used to from home <3

Hugs to All! Enjoy the holidays!

Full circle

It's my blog's first birthday today... Happy Birthday!

Photo from ABC Cakeshop & Bakery


These last few days have really felt like I've come full circle in the last year. It's winter again, just like when my journey started. I've been packing boxes again, just like I did a year ago. This year has been quite the ride, and it's been hard at times of course, but it's also been AWESOME! I am SO SO SO glad I took this job and opportunity to move across the ocean.

It's going to be my birthday soon, and then Christmas, so normally this would mean seeing my family and friends. But alas, not this year. This has definitely caused me some heartache. I have been away from home often, even as a child (boarding school), so I felt basically as prepared as one can feel before moving across the ocean to live on another continent. I had never been away for more than a year at a time though and now I can honestly say: I know what "homesick" feels like.

My new friends and friends who feel like family have been wonderful. I have really enjoyed having them around for holidays and special occasions, but... on occasion it makes me miss my family even more. Never fret though, as a trip to Germany is in the works. It will not happen before 2012, but oh well! I will enjoy the anticipation until then :)

Anyway, I am proud of myself and happy and grateful for all the new friends and old friends, and family, and supporters, and helpers I have had this past year.

♥ Thank you so much, All! ♥

It's time...

... to pack some boxes! Right on time, before the one year anniversary of my big move, I put in notice to vacate my apartment. I'm moving again :)

I am taking another step forward and moving in with my wonderful boyfriend, into a sweet house in a lovely town & neighborhood. I'm so excited!

Summer's last Hurrah (or: Fall in Michigan)

These past few days, we were blessed with gorgeous weather. (70 degF = 21 degC, for all metric unit lovers.) After the humid and hot summer, this felt like heaven.

Not only did it feel good, but the clear and sunny days and crisp nights turned the trees into a million different colors, all beautiful... look and see!

 

 

  
Across the magic lake...

Michigan from its best side <3

Right here.

Hi world!

I just wanted to pop in to say, I'm still right here, where I'm supposed to be :) Well and kicking, enjoying summer, and way too busy to post haha!

Honestly, there is not much going on... I'm practicing Bikram as often as I can, I work as seldom as I can (kidding!), and enjoying my "new life"... it's awesome! Hope you're all well!

You didn't think I was gonna do it, did you?

Yep, I bought furniture!! ......... (I'm waiting for applause...)


During my trip to South Haven, MI, I finally found some furniture that I liked. American style furniture usually doesn't appeal to me... fake antique style... way overpriced... even my grandma would find it antiquated. The pieces that I found are actually old, made of nice wood, were obviously heavily used, and are definitely not from a chain store (and they were a steal, btw). Hurray! Thank you, lovely stores of South Haven, MI!

before:

after:

Good-bye, trusty moving box furniture!

To my grandmother

I love you. Please feel better soon. I'm so sorry that I cannot be with you right now. I will come and visit soon.
It is my favorite time of the year right now in the US. All the trees with the pink blossoms make me so happy :) You would love them as well. Thank you so much for showing me how to enjoy the little things in life. I love you!!!!!!

All my stuff!

Party with me! As of last Thursday, I have officially received all of the eight packages I had sent over from Germany. They were all mailed on the same day. The first one got here after three weeks, the last one after seven weeks. If I recall correctly, none arrived on the same day. (I'm just happy they all made it!)

Deutsch: Feiert mit mir! Seit Donnerstag bin ich offiziell wieder im Besitz meiner Sachen, die ich in acht Kisten von Deutschland in die USA geschickt habe. Ich habe sie alle am selben Tag losgeschickt. Die erste Kiste kam nach drei Wochen an, die letzte nach sieben. Wenn ich mich recht erinnere, kamen keine zwei Kisten am selben Tag an. (Ich bin nur froh, dass sie alle angekommen sind!)

The one with the unexpected VISITOR!!!

On Saturday I got an unexpected message from a friend from my German university days... he was in the area! It's was pretty cool and unexpected, because this friend apparently didn't even know I moved to the US and only found out by coincidence on Facebook! We had a really nice dinner and then went to an Irish pub. I had a great time and it was so nice to see someone from "back home" and just hang out. (He also did an exchange semester with me in Michigan in 2005, thus the Michigan jersey!)

 

The bathrooms in the Irish pub were so cool! They had the Claddagh symbol on them... just like my ring :)

Das Auto.

Picked up my new car last night!

Here it is again... Sorry, the gray Michigan weather isn't really ideal for picture taking :)

Yep, we're German :)

Vrrrrmmmmm vvvrrrrrrmmmm!

What's that beautiful sound, you ask?

Yep, it's German, it's got 5 cylinders, it's pretty awesome!

Yeah!!! I'm picking it up on Monday!

Driver's license and -- yeah!!! -- two more boxes

I spent my lunch hour at the Secretary of State to get a new Michigan driver's license. After a lot of back and forth (bureaucracy is the same in every country, I guess) I was issued a temporary one and my new one should arrive soon... Yay!

Aaaaand, two more boxes arrived today!!!!!! 5 down, 3 to go!

One of them was really beat up and had this notice from the postal service, telling me they had to repack, because the package was falling apart... When I read that, I hoped everything would still be in there...

Then I found this in the package.

What it is?

I don't know! It doesn't belong to me! *scratching head* .... but.... ummm.... thank you... I guess?

I was very, very glad to find my yellow fleece blanket in the package! I have been freezing like crazy in my bedroom. My apartment does get warm, but the bedroom is very cold and I've had to turn the heat up more than I liked to so I don't freeze to death in my sleep. So yes!!! Blanket!!! <3

Moving into my apartment!

Packed my stuff and ready to move into my new place!

My rental agreement and my keys... Thank you again to my sweet friends who let me stay with them for a couple of days before I could move in!!!

All my stuff trying to squeeze through the front door :)

My first piece of furniture... is borrowed :D Thank you, friends!!!

So my apartment feels nice and spacious. I think I'll like it here :) More pics to follow as my apartment goes through its transformation from "house" to "home".

Just another boring, but expensive day

Got a super-yummy, healthy and fairly affordable lunch at Jimmy John's today! Hmmm, veggie gourmet sub! After lunch, I went to the bank and got my security deposit etc for the new apartment... like I said... expensive day! I get to move in tomorrow, yaaaay! :)