Visitors

We are thrilled to have had several family and friends come to Berlin to visit us recently.

We love our new city and often wish we could share it’s unique charm with those we care about most.

For me, winter was difficult at times. With the boys in school, Dave at work and the days short and grey, I was often lonely. Don’t get me wrong. I feel so thankful for my life, but it is often difficult to have new experience such finding a new coffee shop to seeing a beautiful streetscape or garden and not being able to share it with others. Expat life can be quite difficult and for me, the loneliness has been most difficult.

{Tina and I at the Brandenburg Tor}

So I reached out to my friend, Tina, who I’ve known for twenty years and who lives in Atlanta. I’ve been sharing difficulties that I’ve been having being in a new place as a parent to young children. How difficult it has been for our youngest son to adjust at times, how hard it can to be to stay connected with old friends who live six or more time zones away and how labor intensive it had been to find a new apartment and learn German. Tina knew I needed some girl time and she came.

{There’s nothing like having girl time in a new city with an old friend.}

We had a great week filled with some touristy things, some local activities and a lot of good food and drink.

{Lunch at Käfer on top of the Reichstag Building}

Shortly after Tina left, our dear friends from Nashville, Kasar, Reber and their girls, spent an afternoon with us as a part of their European road trip tour.

{Kasar and I}

We loved seeing them. Their oldest daughter was curious about life in Berlin and loved seeing our apartment with it’s smaller refrigerator as well as it’s complex recycling and composting. It was fun to see their impression of Germany and Europe in general. They delighted in sharing the British words for things such as trunk (boot) and sweater (jumper) they had learned while they were in London.

{Volkspark Weinberg}

Though their visit was brief, it was a very sweet time together.

Our next visitor was our best. Sorry, no one can replace your mom, and that’s who we welcomed next. To come, she had to get a new passport and take her first flights in over ten years. But come she did. {Isaac and Mutti at Tegel}

We spent a lot of time in the apartment playing Uno and watching movies. We also took a six day road trip to western Germany to visit family and to see Heidelberg castle and the town.

{Mutti enjoyed staying in our apartment}

Our two weeks together went quickly. Too quickly. We hope she will come again. (See a separate post for more details on her visit.)

Next, we welcomed Dave’s first cousin Ric and his wife Amabel.

They were spending several days in Berlin as a part of a three week trip to Europe.

{Cousins Ric & Amabel spent a day with us here in Berlin}

We look forward to welcoming more friends to Berlin. We have space to invite you and know you would enjoy coming.