Hello my old friend, G Blogger. Guess you wondered where I've been or if I have been too sick to write after reading my last post in 2014? Quite the opposite. After beating cancer, I have been living my life to the fullest, raising a family, spending time with my husband/family/friends and started a non-profit business as a way to spread joy and help support others battling cancer. Now my life has taken another turn.... As of two weeks ago, my husband, two teenage children and I are back in Stuttgart Germany living as (non-military) expats for a second time. (In case you are wondering why the non-military part is relevant....We do not get to shop or partake on events that take place on U.S., military bases. I support this fact since these are the families that seem to move often to defend our country...so they should get as many "American" accommodations as possible during their stay in another country. But this blog will be about acclimating to a complete German culture for us.
Lately, I have been thinking....Wouldn't it be nice if at birth, we received a little road map to help us navigate all the twists and turns our life will take us? But, I guess that would end up being boring kinda like a orange Hotwheels car circling around and around on its plastic track.Without a "Kirstin's life" navigation map, I sit here looking at every other map and information brochure trying to re-familiarize myself with Stuttgart Germany. I thought I was prepared to speak German again after attending a 40 hour Berlitz intensive immersion course in Washington DC...but I seemed to have forgotten the rate of speed everyone would speak once we were actually in Germany. (I'm sure it will provide for many humorous posts in the future)
For now, let me reintroduce myself:
I'm Kirstin
I"m alive and well-4 1/2 years out from Chemo and radiation.
We moved back to Stuttgart Germany 2 weeks ago after saying many sad "so longs" to our family and friends" to live as expats.
This time living in Germany, I have two teenagers rather than the young children I had that were happy just to find a fantastic German playground. (I wish someone had given me a map for raising teenagers too)
I prefer to find the positives in life...even when it is challenging.
and lastly...I am determined to find the energy to experience all of the new adventures waiting for us here in Germany and hopefully, share some of these with you whether you will be traveling abroad or also living as an expat.
My motto-" It is easy...spread JOY"
