Tuesday, November 24, 2015
When we first became parents, every little thing about caring for a newborn baby seemed new and fresh. That feeling is back as we navigate living in a new country! Here are ten observations and lessons learned from our first week.
- Experiencing jet lag alongside your kids is an adventure in and of itself. I’m still tired.
- We are SO grateful our kitty is with us. She is a little piece of home and a dear companion to all of us, especially for our oldest.
- The checkout lady at the village market is so kind. She is a mother of four and understands the challenges of shopping with kids…”No, we are not getting that.” (Candy is still found near the checkout lanes). She is trying to teach me German. I’m motivated to learn some beginning phrases so I can chat with her.
- I have not seen a flat sheet on a bed. The boys have a fitted sheet with a comforter. We have an additional bedspread on top that brings together our two individual mattresses, fitted sheets and comforters. Kids can make their beds in a snap! No excuses.
- Heated towel rails are in the bathrooms of our apartment to heat our towels before using them and dry them afterwards. I forgot to turn ours on this morning during my shower. What was I thinking??
- Cars move FAST through our village. Sometimes it feels like we are walking alongside an interstate as we walk down the sidewalk. I instruct the boys to stand against the stone walls or wooden fences as cars speed by. Its a little scary at times.
- Many songs are played in English. I don’t know why this surprises me so much but it does. As we ate dinner at IKEA, we listened to Christmas carols in English and the familiarity was comforting.
- There are different speed limits on the Autobahn. Sometimes, it changes from 40 km to 80 km to 100 km within a short distance. Driving involves a lot of mental math conversions. Hopefully, someday, I will think in kilometers!
- I’m amazed to still see flowers growing in this cold weather. I’m inwardly cheering them on as their burst of color add such beauty to the landscape.
- Being the foreigner gives you empathy for other foreigners. Its both lonely and hard to have even the most common, basic things be so different than what you are use to. A smile and a kind word go a long way.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
