Home is where the heart is......

There's no place like home - 

I've heard that saying so many times....but as my flight from Budapest descended, and I saw the lights of Frankfurt below....it felt like home.  Germany....home...how can that be?  It's only been 11 weeks (but who's counting).  As an Expat you are quickly immersed in a new culture....a new community and you realize that your home is where your family and children are.....no matter where that may be!  There are certainly numerous differences....but when those wheels touch down.....you are home.  

There was a funny thing that happened on my flight yesterday that made me realize that things are easily lost in translation, and it's not quite like home.  I was lucky to be sitting in the front row of the Malev Airlines flight from Budapest.....although the bulkhead wasn't quite what I was expecting, as there was this green drape that separated economy and business class.....and every time the flight attendant would come down the aisle and open the green curtain....the velcrow would stick to my pant leg!  When I sat down I said 'hello' to my 'row-mate' - he acknowledged and simply went back to reading. (Oh, and I did step on the toe of the passenger behind me - that was definitely not lost in translation)  As we descended I asked where he was from...he simply replied "Germany" - Germans for the most part are private people.....but I wasn't really being annoying....(at least I didn't think so)!  'Everyone has a story, right'.  He did loosen up a bit, and was quite pleasant. I found out that his connecting flight was delayed.....and he had a few hours to spare.  I mentioned to him that he may need to get a coffee before he boards his next plane to stay awake......at that moment I got a peculiar look.....actually I think the color drained from his face....and he replied "Oh no, I don't need to get a coffee with you".....at that moment if there was a bubble above his head it would say, "I think she's coming onto me".......I guess I have to watch what I say.....but I chuckled to myself as he got on the complete opposite end of the shuttle bus that took that took us to the terminal.  He probably was thinking I was some crazy American!

I spent the weekend in Budapest with a lovely group of ladies that invited me along.  The Expat community is filled with such interesting women....and I find them to be accepting and welcoming - they've 'been there, done that' and we all share a similar story. We explored the city of Budapest.....and I found it to be an odd little place.  When you arrive in some places you are embraced with a feeling of warmth.....I didn't get that in Budapest...it felt kind of sad to me....I thought the architecture was interesting....but I got this feeling that it's a country still trying to get on its feet....it's amazing to think that it was a communist country until 1989.  That seems like yesterday. 

 

  

The currency in Hungary is not so easy.....and with my math skills (heck I can't even handle Hannah's 7th grade math). 

  

  

It was a little strange as I withdrew 25,000 from the ATM at the airport...yikes!  I am just getting used to the Euro.....and all the coins!  I did have a hard time paying 2000 for a silly little gnome.....but that ended up being only about 8 euro....thankfully someone has now introduced me to a 'conversion' app!  Perfect!  I do agree with the commercial that says, "there's an app for that".  

Home is where the heart is...and all the to-do lists and chores that go along with it no matter where you are!  Home sweet home! 

 

    

C'mon I must be on candid camera.......(Daily)

Culture Shock! 

I've read many a book over here about moving overseas and culture shock headlines at least one chapter in all of them.....what is it?  People experience it when they are confronted with a different culture in daily life!  BINGO - that would be me!  Today was another day when I was asked this all to familiar question, "Is this your first international move?" - after 9 domestic ones I thought I was a pro....but this overseas thing is a challenge.  I am constantly meeting people that are such seasoned expats! For me,today was the day I just wanted to master ONE thing - and like magic that would make my life easier.....think again....with culture shock there is no one single thing to master.....it's a million little things that you never have to think about at home......should I actually look up and acknowledge this person when he walks by - but they might thing I'm a stalker.  Can I talk to a person in the checkout line.....oh, that might be a little too personal....heck...I'm still trying to back 'junior' out of the driveway without backing into my neighbors stone wall......and how do they keep their cobblestone driveways so neat?  I think you could eat off any one of them and you wouldn't find the hard macaroni noodles like you do on my dining room floor.

Today the sun was shining.....the birds are singing and it's time for me to get that winter crud off my car.  With my 'wee one' in tow (home sick today) we set out for what should be a very simple thing.....which turned into an adventure!  Any guesses from the picture?

 

  

I realize that a car wash should be simple.....we pull into a local gas station!  The same station that I took junior to for the first time and couldn't figure out what to use......no aha moment for me...they all looked the same - other than diesel - and there was no unleaded!   This is the same station I had to walk in and kindly ask how, and what to fill my tank with......BENZENE!  As I walk in the door today to ask about the car wash....I could see he recognized me......oh no, the American lady who doesn't speak much German!  Guten Tag (the appropriate greeting for 11:00am) because we're an hour past Guten Morgen (that ends at 10:00am.)  I get my code for the carwash and try to interpret what the heck he's telling me to do.....charades may have been helpful at this point.  Caleb and I head to the machine...I have flashbacks to the ATM at the bank.....everything is in German - the door to the carwash is closed.....we just talked with friends about the carwash and they said it's German engineering at it's best.  I remember my mantra - EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!  I'm 9 euros in at this point (about 11+ dollars) and I'm not turning back.  I push in the code and nothing happens....the machine says 'bitte nieren'....now what???  Caleb sees a big green button on the side of the garage door...it was like an episode of Blues Clues...the button was huge and it's almost as though it came to life and said push me...you crazy American!  Caleb pushed it and the garage door opened....we jumped in the car and drove in the 'box' - if there was one thing I got from the gas attendent in any language was......EXIT the garage!  We turn around and dash out....the door closes and junior is having the first real 'car spa' experience.  We waited about funf minuten and the door opened again....there isn't even an inch (or centimeter) to spare when you open your door....so we get in as fast as we can and have to back out before the door closes...and at this point there is a line of cars....and not much room to back out! I was sure the door would close and there we would be....the cover of the latest Kronberger (local paper) - 'Crazy American stuck in the carwash'......

All in all we made it - I mastered one thing today....and even attempted to vacuum the car as well.....one euro lasted about 2 minuten....but as we were vacuuming we noticed this on one of my car mats and it made our adventure worth every minuten.

Gute Fahrt.....gotta love Germany!