{source: my flickr}
The other day, I wrote about how I came to California and fell in love. 10 years ago today, I met J.
I told you the whole story on how we met last year here, so I won’t repeat that, but what I didn’t share is where we met. We crossed paths for the first time right up there. Yes, right up there on the left side of this roundabout between his dorms, the main campus and the rec hall. I know, isn’t it kind of crazy to remember the EXACT spot that you saw each other for the very first time? Especially when the place is such a random place (not like a bar, or a class room, or the library).
J and I like to go back there. We have been back to this exact spot many, many times and it’s always a little magical – at least for me – to think that this is the place where we first met. It always makes me feel all giddy again.
So much has happened since that night. Back then, I didn’t have the slightest clue of how big of an impact this day would have on my life.
In all honesty, if you had asked me back then where I saw myself in 10 years, I would not have said “California”. I thought I was doing the exchange semester that I had promised myself for so long, I thought I had made a great friend in J and that I would move back to Germany to live my life there. Boy, was I wrong.
Here are 10 things that happened in the last ten years that (probably) wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t met J.
★ I moved from a small town in Germany to C-a-l-i-f-o-r-n-i-a!
★ Despite having studied English in College, I improved my – written and spoken – English tremendously. (True fact: you’ll never really learn a foreign language, until you live in a country where this language is spoken and until you completely immerse yourself in a foreign culture. And just FYI: after a while, you will also stop sweating profusely every time you have to make a phone call in said foreign language and the freak-outs will diminish greatly.)
★ We got married in VEGAS (and we also had a beautiful wedding in Germany later on!) and am now a permanent resident in this country. I – and a whole lot of other people – would have never expected that I would be permanently living in a foreign country at some point.
★ I learned how to navigate the US health care system chaos. I mean, come on! Nobody can look me in the eye and with a straight face call this a system. Don’t even get me started. I was really worried about the health care situation in this country and let’s just say my concerns were valid in many ways.
★ I found myself a career at a very well-known and respected government agency, working with an awesome group of people. I would have never thought that I would work for them one day.
★ Directly related to that: I went to Hawaii for work. YES. I KNOW! Isn’t that awesome? Like I said, I have the best job in the world.
★ We moved at least 7 times (that about 5 times more than I moved in Germany in 25 years). We lived in Northern California and in Southern California – two completely different places; both having their own perks.
★ I spent time at the beach on Christmas Day a couple of times! The beach! Who does that? (Californians apparently.)
★I went to Disneyland! (Or is it Disneyworld? I can never remember which is which :) but I think Disneyland is right – the one in Los Angeles).
★ I learned to live with having a meager 11 paid holidays per year. You guys, this is very little – as in, absolutely not enough! Luckily, I have a very flexible boss who will let me work overtime and use that as extra vacation time. I tell you, I’d die otherwise. How am I supposed to go and see my family and go on vacation with my husband with two lousy weeks off?
Amazing to look back and think about what turn my life has taken… :)
Holly
October 5, 2011 at 6:48 amI love posts like this :D It’s cool to look back on one moment in your life – and think about how that one moment – one meeting! – can change your life forever!
Eleni Zoe
October 5, 2011 at 7:01 amMy best friend always tells me: You don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.
I never believe her, I’m always: I know that things aren’t going to change remarkably.
But your story (I went back to read the ‘how you met’ post) makes me believe that everything could change for me too.
Thanks so much for sharing! xx
Amber
October 5, 2011 at 7:21 amSo crazy how things end up working out right? Most of the time it is not how we could of imagined. I love that you remember the very spot that you met your husband. So cute :) Also, it is so strange to hear America referred to as a foreign country haha and I really don’t know how you learned English SO WELL. You put me to shame as far as learning German. Sorry about our crappy healthcare system lol but glad you are here to stay :)
Nora
October 5, 2011 at 8:29 amOooooh. Das ist ein schöner Post :)
Besonders süß, dass du ncoh genau weisst, wo du deinen Mann das erste mal gehen hast :)
Ich weiss das auch noch. Es war der Supermarkt ;)
Liebsten Gruß!
Nora.
Stephany
October 5, 2011 at 8:43 amI love how you remember the exact place you two met and revisit it often. That’s so cool! :)
Our healthcare system is a mess. I’ve been without insurance for about 4 years now and it’s just NOT right.
Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks
October 5, 2011 at 9:06 amI love that you know the exact place you met. And 10 years ago? TEN YEARS!!!! That’s an amazing milestone!
evi
October 5, 2011 at 10:19 amlove it !!
Chrissy
October 5, 2011 at 10:37 amGreat post! Love getting to know you better! Very interesting! And don’t we always end up somewhere we had least expected to be?!
Tanja
October 5, 2011 at 11:18 amCongratulations on 10 years! It is awesome that you know the exact point where you have met the love of your life!
It’s crazy how life goes it’s own ways……
BTW – it’s Disneyland…. ;)
Maribeth
October 5, 2011 at 11:26 amI met Hubby at a School Meeting. He was on the local Town School Board and I was a supporter of his. That was 29 years ago!
Stefanie
October 5, 2011 at 12:04 pmYES to all of that in one way or another. :)
I moved from a small village (800 people) to the freaking US of A! Got married, moved what feels like a million times, went to Hawaii, Disney World (the one in Florida)… Fortunately I never truly had to deal with the US health care system like you have been (I feel for you though!) but I did have to pay for some doctor appointments out of pocket when we didn’t have any insurance yet (before Collin joined the military).
Unfortunately we will most likely never be able to go back to the place where we first met. It was in a Mormon church during a youth dance. ;)
Irene
October 5, 2011 at 12:11 pmI also remember exactly were I met my hubby and it was also 10 years ago…I think it is amazing that we can remember and I will tell my kids when they are grown up…
Bathwater
October 5, 2011 at 12:48 pmI agree 11 paid holidays is not enough, good thing I get three weeks vacation too!
rachieannie
October 5, 2011 at 7:13 pmWhat a great memory! And I went and read your love story (I had actually really been wondering about that lately!) and it’s so sweet. I love seeing how all different sorts of people meet. So fun.
steph anne
October 5, 2011 at 10:52 pmI love this post! I’m so jealous of everyone else who doesn’t live in this country because I’d REALLY love to have more paid vacation time!
Karen
October 8, 2011 at 12:58 pmWhat a great post! I love that you remember the exact spot you met in. How that changed your life, huh?
Kat
October 9, 2011 at 8:47 amI could easily get on board with you writing a post like this every. single. week. I love this whole journey you’re on! :) And I think it’s really cool that you remember the exact spot you met! (ALSO, just to rub it in a little, I get TWELVE days off during my 6 months internship. :P)
Terra
October 11, 2011 at 5:59 pmI love that you know the spot where you first saw each other and that it’s a nest place AND that you’ve been back many times. I’m sentimental about places like that and really want to get back to Germany so I can see the place where Andrew and I first said “I love you” to each other.