Just Another Thursday - ein ganz normal Donnerstag

Christof’s had a birthday on November 19th, and while I am not at liberty to tell you which one, I would like to point out that he once made references to a cult from the 80’s that Sandra and I had never heard of. On his actual birthday, Sandra and I drove to the town of Lippstadt where Christof teaches to surprise him with cake and the greatest gift of all, his son. One of the best things about living abroad for the first time is that even visiting the next town over is so exciting, so we walked around the downtown awhile before heading to Christof’s school. 

All of the teacher’s were supposed to be back from their lunch break at 3, but we couldn’t find the Niemeier family car in the parking lot, which lead to us standing in the parking lot with a stroller for about a half hour. At one point, Sandra went to check if his car was around back, and I couldn’t stop laughing thinking about Christof pulling in at that moment and wondering why his nanny was standing with his son in the middle of his school’s parking lot a half hour from where we were supposed to be. It ended up that he was already in his classroom and after we carried Mathis in his stroller up 3 flights of stairs, Sandra knocked on his door, we left the stroller in the doorway, and we hid down the hall. We thought we were so sneaky until Christof immediately informed us that he’d seen us walking around the downtown on his lunch break, and was checking out the window every couple of minutes wondering when we were coming to visit. So much for surprises, but for sure there is never a dull moment with my life.

We celebrated the next day with four different cakes (how cool is that!), a visit from Christof’s mom, and a big dinner with the whole family. On Sunday I took advantage again of the chance to see another small German town and ride on the Autobahn when I went with Sandra to drop Christof’s mom back to the town where he'd grown up. It was so cute and had a beautiful castle, but it is really starting to get cold outside and these days there is only so much being outside that can be handled. 

Thanksgiving Thursday in Germany, and I’m guessing in every place in this great world but the States, is just another day. But here it’s not just another boring day because on that particular Thursday in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, it snows! A lot! I have been trying to avoid Christmas music until after I celebrated Thanksgiving, but I could not help blasting “Let It Snow” and dancing around Mathis. Now he’s certain that I’m crazy. I built a snowman, which is way harder than I remembered, and we still currently have an extra snowman head lying the in yard because I accidentally rolled it over Kara’s poop. Class was fun because we read an article about Thanksgiving since the whole group knew I loved it so much, and I loved explaining the holiday to the skeptics. They already think I’m the strange, eccentric American because I sang a song about nominative pronouns that I’d learned in high school, so I’m used to the weird looks by now.

I successfully drove home in the snow and Sandra had made a super delicious meal to celebrate, against Christof’s suggestion to eat frozen pizza. I am super appreciative of how much they go out of their way to make me feel at home here, and I’m positive it’s their wonderful family that makes it easy and fun for me to live so far away.  At 10:30pm my time, however, I didn’t feel so far away, because I got to SKYPE with all of the Thanksgiving guests at my grandma’s house in Charlotte, NC. It started with my brother telling me to call back because they’d just started eating, and went through my both my wonderful grandparents, cousin, uncle, family friends that feel like relatives, and back around to my parents. I can not even explain how much happiness talking to the line of guests brought me, and I could not stop laughing and smiling even after I’d finished talking to them. 

Sometimes it takes stepping away from everything you’re accustomed to to realize exactly how much you have. Lucky for me, I have more gifts than I could possibly ask for. Most of the time I am too busy focusing on all that is new and different day to day that I forget to realize truly where I am, to appreciate where I've come from, and to be thankful for how great both places are. And so, to my caring family and closest friends that make me feel loved at all distances, to the Niemeiers that accept me even while slaughtering their language, and to American holidays that find relevance even across continents, thank you. This Thanksgiving, I am so very thankful for you!