Do you miss Germany?

This is a question I have been asked quite a bit since coming home from Germany, and I always answer this question with a definite "yes." But along with this "yes" comes a lot of mixed feelings and emotions. I miss Germany because of the friends, colleagues, and students I left there; because I miss speaking German every day; because of the beauty and history of Germany; because of some the aspects of German culture and lifestyle. But, of course, I always also tell people that I am glad to be home and closer to my family and friends. I'm glad to be moving on with my life by planning my wedding and looking for a full-time job, so basically persuing long-term and permanent aspects of life.

I often miss Germany the most when I get e-mails or letters from friends back in Germany or when I see a stranger who looks like someone I know from Germany and I think for a split second that it might be them. Or when I go to a local church that has Masses in German. And sometimes even when I'm driving in my car and something reminds me of my life there. It's hard to completely define the emotions I feel when I think about the life I had for ten months in a foreign country; the life I will never go back to. I guess it's like any part of life that we leave behind, like when graduating from college. But just like any adjustment in life, it can be difficult.

The Most Important Things

Kenny, two friends of mine, and me in Germany, drinking some good beer. And no, I'm not going to write about how beer is one of the most important things in life, sorry to disappoint anyone ;)

Long time no see, everyone! Sorry for my lack of writing...it shouldn't happen again, but I can't make any promises...

I've been thinking about weddings lately, not just because I'm planning my own, but also because it's the time in my life and the time of year when I'm going to a lot of weddings. And when I was at my most recent wedding, I realized that weddings help me to remember the most important things in life: God, family, friends, and relationships. Seeing the bride and groom surrounded by their family and friends, always reminds me of my own, and it reminds me to take time to spend time with them and grow in my relationships. I've often struggled with balancing work/school and the people and things outside of it (the more important things!) Often during college, I found myself working on school work to the point that I hardly had any social life and often regreting that I sat in my apartment writing papers and reading school assignments so many weekends. So particularly now, while I only have a part-time job and living with my parents, I'm trying to remember to strengthen my relationships with God, friends, and family. They're what's most important and what will stay the most constant in our lives.