Two Years

Two years ago, my life changed in a big way. Two years ago, I followed my heart and got on the second one-way flight of my life. Two years ago, I left my beloved NYC for a new adventure in suburban Germany.

When I first got here, it was a huge culture shock for me with both the German and military ways of life, and I went through bouts of unhappiness. Most days, I never left my house and I just felt so scared and alone.

I've changed and grown a lot since then. I have no problems riding public transportation, I walk to our town's downtown shopping area for iced tea at least 4 times a week. While I may not speak German, I do know enough words to order a drink or know my way around a menu in a restaurant. I now have several German clothing stores that are in my regular rotation, and am familiar with my sizes in them. I am more comfortable going grocery shopping off base.

We still have just under two years left in Germany, and there are a few things I'd like to accomplish before we leave. Here is my Bucket List:
*order something from a German store and have it delivered to my house- I have yet to online shop here, and I do really "need" to. I have a small collection of these canisters and want to have a complete set before we leave.



Some of these pieces are only available online, so problem solved.
*get a Dirndl- Cheesy. I know. I don't care. I think they're fun. I know if I leave here and don't get one, I will regret it. And it would make for one awesome Halloween costume for years to come.
*get a cuckoo clock- We have a saying here that everyone leaves Germany with either a cuckoo clock or a baby. Enough said.
*Visit Berlin- I can check this one off my list at the end of September. :)
*climb to the top of the Köln Dom (Cologne Cathedral)- it is one of the tallest churches in the world and climbing to the top of that is quite a feat!



Those of you who remember my challenge with the Strasbourg Cathedral are probably laughing at this goal now. Hard.
*go to an 1.FCK game- our town's local football (soccer) team



*go to the Hofbräuhaus in Munich-



*go to the Nurmberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas markets-



Actually, I also want to visit those places not during Christmas. I work for a German Christmas store company (believe me, the irony of this is not lost on me) that's based out of Rothenburg, and they actually have several shops there, including a year-round Christmas Village.
*go to Liechtenstein- ok so it isn't actually in Germany, but it is pretty close to it, and I would love to go visit, and it's the kind of place that once we leave Europe, I don't think we'd take a vacation to.

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