theinbetweenismine

just a girl living the expat life

6: My parents’ Oktoberfest-themed birthday bash

filed under: birthday, family, Germany, home, NaBloPoMo

I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2019

My family

Contrary to popular belief, Germans do not run around in Dirndls and Lederhosen on a daily basis, not even in Bavaria. So this is not a picture of how we usually dress. However, as it has become popular in other countries, September and October are the months of Oktoberfest-themed parties everywhere. 

So my parents got with the program and organized their birthday party Oktoberfest-style. I mean, the food alone is reason enough, but my parents also asked guests to dress up in Bavarian-style clothing.

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I personally don’t own a Dirndl, but I got lucky as my sister had bought a new one and said that I would probably fit into her old one. (True. It’s nice to be able to share a closet with your sister.) I was also surprised to see how many of the guest also follow suit and showed up in Dirndls and Lederhosen. 

The party was on October 3, which is a public holiday in Germany, so we started the celebrations at 11 in the morning. As you do.

We were super-lucky with the weather, as it rained most days when we were in Germany. My parents had set up a pop-up canopy tent in the backyard, hoping we could make use of the extra space and luckily, it was mostly dry and sunny on the day of the party.

My parents didn’t want any gifts, as they’re planning to come visit us here in California again next year with my sister, BIL, and the kids. But nevertheless, my sister and I organized a little “presentation” that included a few games and gifts pertaining to the US-trip that they’re planning for next summer. (Honestly, I cannot wait to have them back here in California.)

The whole day was a lot of fun, but I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

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Brothers

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Sisters

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Friends

We were about 35 people and the whole day was full of good food, conversation, love and laughter. We had a blast and Jon and I were so happy we could be part of it. 

70 Geburtstag Moni und Peter-42

How to pull off a birthday surprise

filed under: birthday, family, Germany, travel

 


Remember when I said that I was keeping a secret?

You probably didn’t notice that it was quiet around here for the last couple of weeks. I had prepared a couple of posts to automatically post during my absence (I am not always that prepared, mind you), so you couldn’t know that Jon and I were actually spending time in a different time zone. 

On October 1, J and I got on a plane to Germany to surprise my parents for their 70th birthdays. To be honest, I hadn’t really thought that it was a possibility. I had just been in Germany in May. My parents’ birthdays are 2,5 weeks apart and there was no way I could get time off long enough to be there for both their birthdays. But when my Mom called at the end of August, saying that they had changed their minds about not having a party and were planning one for October 3rd (her actual birthday and a German public holiday), the wheels in my head started turning.

70 is a milestone birthday. My parents are not getting any younger (although I’d like to think of them as perpetually young-ish). I remembered that I was in Germany for their 60th birthdays. How could I miss this big event in my parents’ life and not go? So, I decided that we would go. Just like that.

Well, not really ‘just like that’. I talked with Jon (he was instantly on board!), I talked with my supervisor at work (to request time off), I checked flight prices, and then we just went ahead and booked tickets. 

When I told my sister that we were planning on coming, she was beyond thrilled, as she hadn’t really thought that this would be a possibility either. My parents, of course,  had no clue that we had booked tickets. In fact, nobody knew anything besides my sister. We were so paranoid that someone would slip up and ruin the surprise.
Believe me, it was hard enough to keep the secret for about 4 weeks myself, as I talk to my parents a few times every week. I made sure to complain plenty about the fact how much we hated that we weren’t going to be there for the party, that we would miss out on the amazing food, and how much it sucked sometimes to live so far away. At the same time, I hoped that I wasn’t coming off too strong and making them suspicious.

Finally, the day of our departure was here and as far as we could tell, the secret was still safe. We arrived in Germany on October 2, my sister had arranged for someone to pick us up from the airport and take us to her house, and then we surprised my parents in the evening before the party.

We had first thought about just “showing up” at the party the next day, but a) I didn’t want to give my parents a heart attack on the day of their party and b) we didn’t want to take away the focus from their birthday celebrations, as it was their day, not ours. (I mean, plenty of people still were surprised to see us, but at least my parents weren’t completely emotionally overwhelmed and could focus on their other guests instead of just us.)

My sister drove us and the kids over to my parents’ house in the evening, but dropped us off at the street corner so that she could see them alone first (pretending that she was bringing over some last minute things for the party). We had taken a picture with the kids in her backyard earlier in the afternoon, which she was going to show them. Since J hadn’t been in Germany with me for a while, they’d hopefully notice instantly that the picture was very current.

Meanwhile, we and the kids had walked up to the front door of my parents’ house and were waiting for them to realize what was going on.

Of course, I wish I could have actually seen my parents’ faces when they caught on to what was happening. My sister tried to capture the moment while trying not to seem suspicious when she started filming them. Haha.

Finally, the door opened and they came outside. My Mom was crying and I could tell that even my Dad, even though he doesn’t get emotional quickly, was moved to see us. I’d like to think: the surprise was a definite success and it felt amazing that we had been able to pull this off!


When I asked my parents if they had suspected something… anything… they said no. Of course, they had hoped and wished that we could be there with them for their birthdays, but both of them didn’t think that it was a possibility because of my limited amount of vacation time (comparatively speaking), the fact that I had just visited for three weeks in the spring, and the fact that flying in from California is not a simple train ride into town.

I am just so, so glad we went. I cannot explain how much it means to me to know that we were able to spend this time with them. I’ll tell you all about the actual birthday party (Octoberfest-themed!) and the rest of our stay (we stayed for 11 days) in another post, but just wanted to let you in on my little secret. 

My trip home

filed under: Expat stories, family, food, Germany, reminiscence, travel

I can’t believe it’s been four almost five weeks since I returned from my long-anticipated visit back home with my family. Time just won’t slow down and it’s been hard to get back into my blogging game (as you can tell).

I had an absolutely wonderful time and soaked up every minute. I can also say that I was able to almost check everything of my Germany Bucket List.

Like,

… spending time with my niece and nephew (and the rest of the family)

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You know what was really, really nice about this trip? That I really enjoyed being at home at my parents’ house and that I was part of everyone’s daily routine. Since my sister and BIL were working and the kids were in school, we didn’t do a whole lot of “adventuring” or “vacation stuff”, but it was nice to pretend that I was always part of their daily routines for a while.

I took my niece to her riding lesson and we had a movie night at my sister’s house and various afternoons and dinners where we just hung out together.

… spending time with my best friend

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I didn’t get to spend as much time with my friend as I had hoped to. Shortly after I arrived, she left for an almost two-week stay at a pain clinic (for chronic headaches) where a spot had just opened up. Of course, she had to take it. I wish I could have spent more time with her and build her up a bit more, but I am glad we got to see each other at all. Every hour is precious.

… attending one of my best friends’ wedding

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I was stoked that I was able to attend one of my best friend’s wedding during my visit. We met many moons ago on the Internet, but have become really close over the years and to be able to be there for her (and her new husband) on their wedding day was such a treat (for me and for her!). (Separate recap to come.)

… my nephew’s first communion.

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Last time I visited for my niece’s first communion, so of course I had to make sure that I am there for my nephew’s as well. So glad I could make this happen. (Separate recap to come.)

… eating all the food

My Mom went above and beyond to fulfill all my food cravings. Every day, I made a new request for lunch or dinner and she made it all.

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Mettbrötchen (rolls with freshly minced meat, salt, pepper and onions – OMG!) – pork roast with crackling with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes – Schnibbelskuchen (baked potato wedges with eggs on whole grain bread with sugar beet syrup)

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potato pancakes – green bean soup with sausages – herring in cream sauce with potatoes and bacon bits

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meatballs with kohlrabi and potatoes – waffles with strawberries and ice cream – bratwurst with red cabbage and potatoes

Not pictured: goulash and dumplings, pizza, and  ALL THE FRESH BREAD + ROLLS all day, every day. 

… walking with my Mom

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My Mom has been getting into a regular morning walk routine since I last visited and I did not only join her for one, but many walks (I think five!). It was so great to get out and walk with her, which also gave us the opportunity to talk and just spend time together. I ended up only running once, but the walks were far more important to me this time.

… going  for a run with my cousin (and maybe my sister?)

Unfortunately that didn’t happen and I blame two things: a) bad weather (it rained a lot while I was there!) and b) timing (my cousin and my sister had to work, so there wasn’t as much opportunity), but I still got out for a run around my hometown!

… working out with my Dad

Unfortunately, that also didn’t happen, because my Dad had issues with his shoulder and couldn’t go to the gym with me (and subsequently had surgery scheduled two weeks after I left).

… having  some quality time with my sister

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I got to spend two nights at my sister’s house and I wish I could do that more often. It’s just so nice to hang out, sleep in the same bed and then have breakfast together the next morning (including fancy out-of-the-shower-towel-turbans, ha!) – as if we do that every Saturday. I mean, at least it felt like that… even if in reality, it’s such a rare event.

… seeing an old friend from high school

Timing was difficult because she had to work and my weekends were already filled up with family stuff, but I did get to see my high school friend for a few hours one evening during the week and I am so glad we both were able to make the time to reconnect.

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… spending a day with a dear friend in Köln

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I did get to meet up with one of my longest, dearest friends  in Cologne again and we got to spend some time in our favorite city.  (Separate recap to come.)

… seeing a few other dear (family) friends (BONUS!)

I was able to squeeze in a couple more friends (I got to have coffee with an old pen friend that I hadn’t seen in 20 years and I also  was able to reconnect with a dear friend, who lives in Hamburg now) and we saw two family friends for a few hours and I am so glad we were able to make it happen.

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… shopping for items to bring back to my US home.

Of course, I did shop for some stuff to bring back home (I believe, every expat does!) and even though my must-get list has gotten shorter, there is definitely a few things I always bring back. Wanna know what these things are? I might write a separate post about it, if you’re interested. (Or you can hop on Instagram and Facebook to see the “Germany hauls” some people post, although I am not bringing half of that stuff that other people are bringing back. Just sayin’.)

My time back home was packed full of awesome people, awesome food and I returned to the US with a really full heart.

5 things you can do to get over emotional jet lag

filed under: Germany, travel, USA


{Photo by Juliana Kozoski on Unsplash}

Before I dive into a slew of recaps about my trip home (which are already three weeks overdue, I am sorry!), I thought I’d share some thoughts on how I navigate the treacherous waters of emotional jet lag.

I don’t know if that is an official term, but I’ve been using it for a while because it so adequately describes the feeling when I return from a long anticipated visit with family and friends, only to return home knowing that I won’t see them again for quite some time.

Physical jet lag after an overseas trip is pretty common. We all know about time differences, struggling to stay awake, sleeping for 12 hours straight, waking up in the middle of the night to pee, yadda, yadda. I won’t talk about strategies to adjust to a new time zone here.

Instead, I want to focus on emotional jet lag, which for me feels like a “mini-depression”. I am putting this in quotation marks because I don’t want it to be confused with clinical depression, which is so much more serious and because I have no idea what that actually feels like (luckily), but in case of emotional jet lag, I use the word depression in the actual sense of the word, aka “being emotionally down” and overwhelmed.  I am lethargic, cranky, and just generally miserable (and justifiably so).

It’s also caused by that vacuum that you’re in when you travel large distance by plane, because it’s not like a road trip, where you can see the changing landscape and adapt slowly from one place to the next. No, it’s like one minute you get on the plane in Germany and – poof! – just like that you exit the plane and you’re back in the US.  It’s never easy to go from  60mph to literally ZERO in a matter of hours and I always find the transition from being there and “all of a sudden” being here again difficult. The sensation is bizarre and has, even if faded, not completely disappeared.

I am assuming that many people experience some sort of emotional jet lag when they travel internationally just because they just experienced new cultures, new foods, new people for a short, but intense period of time. So much to “process” and “digest”.

In my case, it is the abyss between being immersed in a place and culture that is so familiar to me (more familiar than anything really, but which has also become a little distant and foreign in a strange way ever since I moved away) and the everyday life that awaits me upon I return to my current home.

It feels like part of me is traveling back in time with some serious déjà vus thrown in, and then, all of a sudden, I am propelled forward again at lightning speed to the time and place where I live now.

The first few days back, I usually wonder: how did I end up here? Why do I live so far away from family and friends, or more accurately, what compelled me to make such a decision? And then I remember that, oh yeah, there was a guy and I kinda liked it here and it kinda just happened (gradually), without me really consciously making the decision that I want to live thousands of miles away from home. At the time, in my 20’s, it might have looked like bravery to some and it, for sure, felt like adventure to me, but you can’t really grasp what it actually means to move away unless you do it and live it for a while.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret it, but if you are also someone who moved (far) away from home, you’ll know and understand that your heart will forever be split between two worlds.

But I digress.

So, what do I do when I come back from a trip overseas and I feel so emotionally hung over that everything feels a little off and I don’t want to deal with anything or anyone?

Here are five things that usually help me get over the emotional jet lag.

1) I allow myself to wallow in my feelings. I personally don’t believe it’s a good thing to suppress any emotions, regardless of how icky they make you feel. I usually give myself some time and spent a couple of days scrolling through the photos on my phone and reliving every single moment of the previous few weeks. It’s like by intentionally exposing myself  to the memories, I somehow purge the pain out of my system or something. I talk to my family on the phone and tell them how much I miss them and what a great time it was and how shitty I currently feel (because honestly, I know they feel the same way and why not be honest about it? Saying goodbye stinks.) But at the same time, 

2) I try to get back into my routine. I mean, it’s probably something none of us can avoid anyway, as we have to go back to work and deal with the shenanigans of daily life, but it also helps me tremendously in finding my groove again. It puts me a bit on auto-pilot (which is just what I need), where I don’t have to think much or make decisions, but just go through the motions (while I sort out my  mental state).

3) I start working out again right away. Working out always, always lifts my mood and makes me feel better, no matter how shitty I feel. So obviously, it’s something I wanted to get back to right away. The other reason was that I had to catch up on my half marathon training ASAP, so that gave me an extra push to not delay getting back into my workout routine.  

4) I put plans on the calendar that I can look forward to. We had a couple of outings planned upon my return (seeing friends and going to a concert), which gave me something to focus on. I must admit, it also helps that summer is just around the corner here and we can get outside and enjoy the parks and the beer gardens. When I am homesick, I try to remind myself of the things I love about California and all the things I’d love to do this summer.

5) I talk and write about my trip. While part of the reminiscing process makes me sad (because the trip is over), writing about and recapping my trip also puts a smile on my face and I will tell everybody that will listen about the wonderful time I had. Because regardless of how hard it is to go somewhere and then having to leave again, I wouldn’t want to miss the experience for anything, least of all to avoid the subsequent heartache.

Everbody knows that all good things must end, but aren’t we fortunate to have experienced them?

HOW LUCKY I AM TO HAVE SOMETHING
THAT MAKES SAYING GOODBYE SO HARD.

                                               – A. A. MILNE 

Now, three weeks later, I still think a lot – pretty much daily – about my trip, but I also slowly feel like I have mentally arrived back here in the States and that’s a good thing.

Have you experienced emotional jet lag? How do you deal with it?

Tap, tap… is this thing on?

filed under: about me, Germany, travel, USA

 

Hi strangers. I am writing to you from the fog that is having your heart split between two worlds.

I just returned from my long-anticipated trip overseas and it was everything that I hoped for and more. But – as always after each visit – I am emotionally hungover and cranky. Saying goodbye to family and friends is hard. You’d think that this kind of thing gets easier with time, but to the contrary. I feel that it’s, in fact, getting harder every time I visit. As much as I love my life here, those visits always show me quite plainly what I am missing out on. 

I tried to be present during my visit. Hence, the lack of blog posts, and only the occasional Instagram update. I usually take advantage of those trips by pretty much completely unplugging from the Internet. It’s nice to not be tied to your phone all the time. My Feedly Reader had 1000+ unread posts upon my return and I honestly could care less  right now. (But no worries, you know me. I’ll try to catch up on all of your lives!)

I had the best three weeks and I am happy to report that I was able to almost check everything off my Germany bucket list. My time was incredibly dense and packed full of love and friendship, which was so needed to recharge my emotional batteries, but going from 60 back to nil is an adjustment, to say the least.

I hope May has been treating you well so far. I am hoping to be back with some recaps and regular posting soon!

My (updated) travel carry-on essentials

filed under: Germany, my so-called life, travel, USA

Two years ago, I shared a list of my travel essentials when I travel internationally. Not too much has changed, many of the things are still must-haves during travel, but I thought I’d update my list a little bit.

The most important stuff:

I might be a little paranoid, but when I travel internationally, I like to keep all the important stuff (passports, wallet, phone) close to my body. I haven’t invested in one of these travel money belts yet (haha), although on second thought, I could probably repurpose my running belt. But for now, I use a small cross-body bag that stays on me at all times (yes, even when I am in my seat or got to the restroom).

In this bag goes my travel wallet. I bought this over-sized coin purse at DSW many moons ago and it’s slowly falling apart (you don’t want to see the backside), but it’s the best small travel wallet. I usually don’t take all my cards and everything with me when I travel (esp. internationally) and this wallet fits everything I need.

I also have a “Germany” wallet (from Bungalow360 – aren’t those patterns fun?)  which holds my Euros, a German SIM card, and my German bank card.

The bag also holds my iPhone and my passports.

I will be ok if I have this bag, even if, for some reason, I’d lose the rest of my luggage. But, here are the things that make life a whole lot easier and more pleasant when I travel.

Comfort/personal care:

Simple cleansing wipes and Grove Hand Sanitizer.  

I always have a Labello Pearl & Shine Lip Balm (which I got in Germany) in my purse when I travel. It keeps my lips happy and adds a bit of shine (like a gloss). This Nivea lip balm is a similar alternative.

Can’t leave anywhere without deodorant (Schmidt’s is my favorite and Target has the best price!). I am always a sweaty mess when I travel.

I always have hand creme, currently using this one from L’Occitane. Do your hands get so dry too when you fly?

I got this Clinique Moisture surge moisturizer  as a sample and it’s the perfect size to stick in your carry-on.

I usually don’t use mists in my skincare routine, but when I travel, I really like spraying something on my ever-dried-out skin to make it feel refreshed. This Derma E Hydrating Mist was in a subscription box and I really like it.

I also always have a travel toothbrush and/or mouthwash, mini hairbrush with me and I found my favorite dry shampoo from Batiste in travel size. Hallelujah.

Tech stuff + entertainment:

Now that I own a phone that uses the same port to charge your phone and plug in your headphones (still not a fan, Apple!), I sure am glad to own some awesome Jaybird X3 Bluetooth headphones now. The Jaybirds are not advertised as noise-canceling headphones, but they’re definitely noise-isolating, which is a plus when you travel, and the battery lasts a good while.

I am so excited that I finally upgraded from my old and cumbersome nook to the Amazon Fire. I know, you probably swear by your Kindle Paperwhite, but since I don’t own a tablet (gasp, what!), I thought it would be nice to have something that functions as both a tablet and e-reader.

While my iPhone 7 still holds a decent charge, I will definitely need my power bank + all charger cables (for various gadgets) during travel. Have you ever noticed how incredibly slow the outlets in airports charge phones (if you can find one that isn’t occupied)?

Don’t ever get stuck in a foreign airport without a travel adapter when your power bank has no juice anymore. It’s the worst.

I always bring a USB stick when I travel. You never know if you need to transfer some pictures before you head home (although I must admit that ‘air drop’ on the iPhone is a pretty nifty thing these days. The USB stick is just a back up option, really.)

I also usually have a Sudoku book and whatever piece of knitting I am working on in my carry-on.

Snacks

We all know airport food is expensive and what they serve on airplanes (if you get a meal at all) can be hit and miss. Therefore, I always have some snacks in my carry-on, you know, just in case.

I have recently raved about the Perfect Bars because they’re the only protein bars so far that I can stomach. In fact, they taste like a ‘treat’, but are actually full of protein and good things.

Usually, I carry a snack-sized bag (or two) of Trader Joe’s trail mix in my purse on a regular day, so I also take some when I travel.

I usually stock up on these Dextro energy cubes when I am in Germany, but I think you can find them here now, too. They give you a quick boost of energy when you need it, and they simply taste good.

My current go-to snack if I just want something to suck on: licorice. Gustaf’s Dutch Licorice Coins from World Market are my favorite right now.

A few other things; not pictured:

  • Shawl– I don’t go onto a longer flight without a shawl/blanket scarf. It looks stylish (if it’s cold enough to wear it), comes in handy as a blanket, shoulder wrap or pillow on your flight.
  • Wet Wipes – always. They come in handy not just to freshen up.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Neck pillow – (I have a cheap inflatable one from Target – it does the job). Originally, I thought that neck pillows are kinda silly, because you can just roll up your sweater and rest your head against the window, right? Well, unless you don’t have a window seats and ever since I intentionally book aisle seats on longer flights (because I like to be able to get up whenever I want without bothering a stranger in the aisle seat), I’ve come to love the neck pillow.
  • a change of clothes (not pictured). It only happened to me once or twice so far that my luggage didn’t make it to my destination. When it happened, I was either at my parents’ house or back home, so I wasn’t stranded somewhere with NOTHING but the clothes on my back, but I still have gotten into the habit of packing a set of fresh clothes in my carry-on now when I travel.
  • Some money in international currency (luckily, I always keep some Euros on hand from my last trip)
  • Travel insurance (copy)
  • Medications (I don’t take any  medications except for birth control and a supplement, but I always take some Zantac and Aleve, just in case).
  • Valuables (I have a little pouch with all my jewelry. Even though none of it is really expensive, I  would hate to lose it and don’t like to put it in my suitcase.)

What are your must-haves when you travel? 
Do you travel with a bagpack or a (big) purse?

My Germany bucket list

filed under: about me, family, friends, Germany, travel

Once again, I’ll be traveling home soon and I have a bucket list of things to do when I am there.  Everyone does have such a list, right?

Since I haven’t been home in two years (gasp!), my list is long, but again doesn’t include much out of the ordinary, unless you count being able to attend a wedding AND a communion during ONE visit out of the ordinary (which I guess it is).

However, visiting home usually includes mostly just simple things that most people take for granted and that I miss out on by living so far away from family and friends. So, I soak them up whenever I can.

This time around I am looking forward to…

… spending time with my niece and nephew (and the rest of the family)

Always. I miss my two munchkins and wish we could be together more often.

… spending time with my best friend

I told you about my best friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008. She’s been through so much through those 11 years and I just wish she’d get some relief already.

After her last treatment over a year ago, she developed trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain condition of the trigeminal nerve of the face, and even though her tumor has been in remission, she’s has been dealing with this severe nerve pain since then. She just can’t catch a break, it seems, but I hope that I can cheer her up some.

… attending one of my best friends’ wedding

I am so stoked that I’ll be able to attend one of my best friend’s wedding during my visit. I’ve missed so many weddings and events by living so far away, so it’s really a strike of luck that this worked out.

… my nephew’s first communion.

Last time I visited for my niece’s first communion, so of course I had to make sure that I am there for my nephew’s as well. So glad I could make this happen.

… eating all the food

I always have a list of things that I want to eat when I go home, mostly because these things are a) not available in the US or b) homemade by Mama.  Some include “Mettbrötchen” (rolls with freshly minced meat, salt, pepper and onions – OMG!), my Mom’s potato pancakes, all the fresh bread + deli meats (there is a much larger variety than here!) , and white asparagus (it’s asparagus season in Germany!).

… walking with my Mom

My Mom has been getting into a regular morning walk routine since I last visited and I am looking forward to joining her on one (or many) of her walks!

… going  for a run with my cousin (and maybe my sister?)

I haven’t brought it up with them yet, but I hope they realize that I’ll be expecting them to run  with me while I am there.

… working out with my Dad

As you know, my Dad is a retired P.E. teacher, but he still keeps active by playing tennis, golfing, and going to the gym a few times per week. One of my favorite things to do when I visit is join him for a workout. I’d do that all the time if we lived closer.

… having  a heart-to-heart with my sister

One of the things I miss most  is being able to just hang out with my sister and talk about everything. Of course, we talk on the phone and we always  know what is going on in each other’s lives, but it’s not the same as talking in person and sometimes life is busy and we don’t get to talk and share stuff as much I’d like to. 

… seeing an old friend from high school

I won’t have much time to see a lot of people during my visit because of family commitments, but I’ve been Whatsapp-ing with one of my old high school friends recently and I hope I can see her for coffee or something.

… having brunch with a friend in Köln

I will probably meet up with one of my longest, dearest friends  in Cologne again and get to spend some time in my favorite city. Win-win.

… shopping for items to bring back to my US home.

The list of things I shop for and bring back to the US when I visit Germany has become shorter over the years, but there are a still a few things that I always have to get on my visits. That’s normal, right?

This is only a partial list of  what I want to do and I know there will be things that I won’t be able to fit in; again. But hey, I am always, always grateful for the time that I do get to spend back home.

How far away is home for you?

21: More German idioms

filed under: Germany, NaBloPoMo, Things you wouldn't know

Idioms are probably one of my favorite things about foreign languages.

This is a series I’ve carried through a number of years of NaBloPoMo and many people have told me over the years that the posts about German idioms are one of their favorites, so I’ll, once again, try to find some good German sayings for you (along with their sometimes hilarious literal translations).

I’ve always enjoyed learning English idioms and also really enjoy teaching German idioms to my non-native German-speaking husband. He’s successfully dropped one or the other German idiom in conversation with me in the past and it’s always a bit of a fist-pump-kinda-moment. Hehe.

Make sure you check out the other round-ups of idioms here, here, here, here, and here, and here.

Hast du Tomaten auf den Augen?  (Do you have tomatoes on your eyes?) To be ignorant or oblivious to what is going on around you.

Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen. (To kill two flies with one swat.)  To kill two birds with one stone. (I prefer to kill flies, don’t you? ;))

Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben. (Don’t praise the day before the evening.) Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

Unter einer Decke stecken. (To be under the blankets with someone.) This is not what you think, ha! It means that you’re in cahoots with someone.

Jemanden Löcher in den Bauch fragen. (To ask someone holes in the belly.) To bombard someone with questions.

Die Kuh vom Eis holen. (To get the cow from the ice.) To save the situation.

Auf der faulen Haut liegen.  (To lie on the lazy skin.) This means to be a lazy blob.

Wir sitzen ganz schön in der Tinte. (We’re beautifully sitting in the ink.) We’re in deep trouble.

Die Kacke ist am dampfen. (The poop is steaming.) Shit hit the fan.

Teach me an idiom! Or ask me for the translation of an English idiom into German!

20: Things you wouldn’t know: More German Idioms

filed under: Germany, NaBloPoMo, Things you wouldn't know

This is a series I’ve carried through a number of years of NaBloPoMo and I’ve been told that people always enjoy learning more German idioms, so I’ll attempt to find some more German sayings (along with their sometimes hilarious literal translations).

I tried to only pick idioms that are used pretty frequently in today’s everyday German (as far as I know). I use these pretty frequently and I also really enjoy teaching them to my non native German-speaking husband. He’s successfully dropped one or the other German idiom in conversation with me in the past and it’s always a bit of a fist-pump-kinda-moment. Hehe.

Make sure you check out the other round-ups of idioms here, here, here, here, and here.

Er ist nicht auf den Kopf gefallen. (He hasn’t been dropped on the head.) He’s a clever little guy.

Um den heißen Brei herumreden. (To talk around the hot porridge.) This is pretty self-explanatory, right? It means to not get to the point, but to beat around the bush.

Himmel und Hölle in Bewegung setzen. (To put heaven and hell into motion.) Oh hey, look, this one is always the same in both languages: to move heaven and earth.

Hier steppt der Bär. (The bear is tap-dancing around here.) We say that to say that it’s a good party and we’re having a good time.

Das geht weg wie warme Semmeln. (This goes like warm bread rolls.) What can I say, we Germans like our bread references, but this one is not far from the English translation. If something is very popular it goes like warm bread rolls or goes/sells like hotcakes.

Du kannst mich mal am A…bend besuchen. (You can come visit me at night.) Ok, this one is actually funny. The original saying goes “du kannst mich mal am Arsch lecken” (you can lick my ass!), but because that is very vulgar, someone started using “du kannst mich mal am Abend besuchen” (changing the sentence last minute from using “Arsch” (ass) to “Abend” (evening). The implication is still the same, it just sounds nicer: kiss my ass.

Ich komme in Teufels Küche. (I’ll get in the devil’s kitchen.) This means to “get into hot waters’, to get in trouble.

Er fällt immer mit der Tür ins Haus. (He always falls into the house with the door.) This is particularly German, I guess because it means “he always gets right to the point/blurts it out”. We Germans do like to be direct and oftentimes a bit blunt.

Gib ihm den kleinen Finger und er nimmt die ganze Hand. (Give him your little finger and he’ll take the whole hand.) Give an inch and they’ll take a mile.

Geh mir aus der Sonne. (Step out of my sun!) This could literally mean that someone is blocking the sun from you and you’re asking them to step aside a bit, but it’s often used figuratively to tell someone that they’re annoying you and that they’d rather have you shut up and disappear as not to dampen your mood.

Teach me an idiom! Or ask me for the translation of an English idiom into German!

My time back home

filed under: family, Germany, home, travel

I am finally getting around to do a little recap of my Germany visit. My trip home was short and sweet. I mainly went to be there for my niece’s first communion and I am not that mad that it was a pretty short trip overall. Ideally, I go home for a visit when my sister and the kids are on school break to maximize our time together, but unfortunately, the communion didn’t overlap with a school break.

My sister had to work and the kids had school, so we had to steal away all possible hours during the week to spend as much time together as possible. As you recall, I had a bucket list for my trip and I was able to check pretty much everything off my list…

 … spending time with my niece and nephew

I tried to spend as much time with them as possible in the short time I was there and it was wonderful. I always miss my two munchkins and they just grow up so fast. Someone — anyone! —  slow down time.


… spending 24 hours near Munich with my best friend

I already told you about that here. I am so glad I got to visit her and see her new home. We had the best time.

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… my niece’s first communion.

I blogged about that day earlier last week. I don’t get to be home for a lot of family celebrations. I have missed many birthdays, a few Christmases and other joyful occasions, but I am extra thankful that I was able to be there for the communion.

… sleeping in my childhood room

I love coming home to my parents’ house and sleeping in my childhood bedroom. It’s almost a little bit of time travel right there. Love the view from my second-floor window.


… going  for a run with my cousin

Yes! We only went out together once, but it was awesome to run with my cousin Basti. He’s pretty fit and it was great to have someone “push” me along for our 15 km run.


… working out with my Dad

I also got to go to the gym with my Dad. I took him to my gym here when he and my Mom visited last fall and I wanted to go work out with him at his gym when I went back home. I wish I could work out with my Dad more often. He’s the reason why I love sports.

… having  a sleepover at my sister’s house

I only stayed over at my sister’s house once. As I mentioned, my sister had to work during the time I was home and so I stayed over at her place on the weekend after we had a nice BBQ with sausages, steaks, baked potatoes, salads, bread and herbed butter.


We got super lucky with the weather, so we could sit outside in my sister’s backyard.


It was nice to be at her house and just hang out. After the kids went to bed, we even had a bit of time to talk and catch up, which was super nice as we sometimes go a couple of weeks without talking on the phone (but we do text!)
The next morning, I loved waking up being woken up by the kids and then all have breakfast together — as if we do that every Saturday. I mean, at least it felt like that… even if in reality, it’s such a rare event.

… having brunch with a friend in Köln and shopping with my Mom and sister

I got to see my friend Ilka in Köln for breakfast and we had some uninterrupted girl time to catch up on each others’ lives. I wish we could do that more often.
I also got to go shopping with my Mom and sister that day.


… spending Mother’s Day with my Mom (and rest of the family!) hanging out in my hometown


We walked around at the park downtown, took some pictures and then went out for ice-cream. It was such a fun afternoon!


In the evening, we had dinner at my parents’ house. My Mom made white asparagus (see below!), which I had requested for my last dinner at home. May is ‘asparagus season’ in Germany and you’ll see it everywhere!  I am not really sure why white asparagus is not so popular over here, because it’s delicious!


… eating all the food

I already told you about all the delicious food we had for my niece’s communion, but besides that my Mom also tried everything to satisfy my cravings for (mostly) German food.


White asparagus with ham and potatoes — coffee and strawberry tartlets — Mettbrötchen


German BBQ — Italian Antipasti — Sauerkraut and pork belly


Belgian fries — ribs, mashed potatoes, and cucumber salad — Apricot tart with whipped cream

Not pictured:  Heringsstipp (pickled herring in cream sauce), gelato from my favorite Italian ice-cream shop and ALL THE FRESH BREAD + ROLLS.

So yeah, in case you can’t tell, I had a horrible time…. hahaha! [\sarcasm off]