So I have finally made it back to my bed with my trusty macbook, a good play list, and too many pictures and experiences that have happened in the past month that I couldn't possibly write about them all. I am coming up to my three month mark of being here but it feels like I've been here for a lifetime. But I guess that's what happens when you pick yourself up and *plop!*- land yourself in a foreign country. Every day I encounter special people, conversations, and so far have had some very interesting adventures. This past month has been an especially happy one for me. I finished my language course so I was again given more time, which means more exploration! But more importantly, my mom was able to make the trek over the big pond to spend a couple weeks with me. We had a very special time together which was of no surprise. The first few days she was here we walked around the streets of Bad Godesberg and in the city of Bonn, and did a lot of sight seeing. (Beethoven's Haus, Schloss Augustusburg, Schoss Drachenburg, Konigswinter..) She had a much easier time adjusting to the time here than I did, and again as no surprise, Martin and Carmen and the kids loved her as well as she loved them. It was such a nice time. This is the busiest time for the family and Kunst!Rasen so I think my moms presence-and cooking skills- were very much appreciated!! She made mittagessen everyday while I watched the kids, and every meal was very enjoyed. It was really nice to have that taste of home too. My mom and I prepared burritos one day for mittagessen and it was a huge hit. I have never seen that reaction from Carmen before in terms of food so I am sure she'll be supportive of me making them again. On my moms first full day here we went to Bonn and ended our time in an Irish pub "James Joyce" where we drank a few dark and malty beers. We were walking home from the train station and were forced to stop in the empty mall for a toilette for my mom..beer moves fast as you may know. She was moving fast up the unmoving escalator stairs when her flip flops caught the wrong angle of the step and slid off leaving an unusually deep gash in her toe. I was laughing hard because I only saw her trip and maybe too because the beers were pretty heavy, but then her flip flop started to fill with blood. We got up to the floor and to the bathroom only to find the door was locked. By this time there is a trail of blood from the escalator, on a bench, and a puddle forming underneath her while she tried to keep it from bleeding although we had nothing to use for pressure! Thankfully a custodian found us. Immediately he turned around walked away, returning with a mop for me and an aid kit for mom. The rest of the trip she wore close-toed shoes and a big, white bandage on her toe.

Schloss Drachenburg

 Schloss Drachenburg atop of a castle tower overlooking the Rhine.

After a long day of sight seeing and lots of walking, I made my mom the very popular cocktail--the Aperol Spritzer. It's a bitter Italian liquor with dry Rose' and a citrus ring. Yummmmm.

After the first 4 days we were very blessed to be able to go back to Winnweiler, the tiny village in which we lived for 4 years. We actually stayed in Schweisweiler, an even smaller village consisting of just two streets just 5 minutes from Winnweiler. This area is so completely different than Bonn or any of the major cities in Germany and it was such an amazing thing to be there. We were in the true country of Germany. Rolling green hills, wooden fences keeping herds of cows, winding country roads, bails of hay, and different colored patches of agricultural fields. My mom and I actually woke to a roosters call in the mornings. We stayed in a beautiful and cozy barnhouse built in 1736. It was such a perfect sweet little home. It felt like a dream really. Or like we time traveled back to simpler times. Every day we were there we had wonderful family friends come from sun up to well past sun down, eating, drinking tea and wine, and enjoying good conversation in the living room with a fire. (Keep in mind it isn't feeling a thing like summer..) Some of these friends we haven't seen for 16 years, others only 10. Even so, there is much to learn and talk about and it was such a fun time. One of the nights we had 11 people together for raclette thanks to the amazing Birgit. We spent many hours in that small house and the memory of it is very special. Everything about our trip was miraculous as far as timing. The first time we were dropped off in Winnweiler a young man and a beautiful white retriever were crossing the street in front of our car. We "ooed" and "awwed" over the dog as they walked to a trail we were familiar to. We walked to the house we used to live in and I began to unpack my bag and camera as we planned to take some photos. At that point the same dog and owner were headed back our direction, in fact the dog ran right to us happy as can be. After only a couple words exchanged between the man and us, my mom asked if he lived anywhere around there. Turns out, our old house is now his. He was so friendly and welcomed us inside giving us a tour. We lived on the top two floors and my "Oma" ,Margot, lived in the bottom floor where he and his girlfriend now are. At that time the woman who lives upstairs was not home and so we decided to walk up the trail we used to walk often to see a war memorial and monument. He offered for us to take his dog with us since he could tell how much we loved her. I mean, talk about trust and friendliness! So off we went, dog in tow, and took the same path taken many times before to the monument with a view over the village. When we returned, the woman who lived in our home was now home and she graciously let us in as well. She was very kind and had two children. She is very artistic so the house is much more colorful than when we lived there but she has a nice eye for decor. It was really amazing and surreal to be inside the house that my sisters and I grew up in and to know I crawled up those same stairs, took my first steps in that kitchen, or that we danced together where her furniture now sits. As sentimental as it was, especially for my mom, we both felt very happy knowing such loving people live there now since it was such a special place for our family. 

 Our sweet little home in Schweisweiler.

 The house across the street. Where the rooster and chickens roamed freely.

 Winnweiler

 Raclette for 11!

 

 Then and now.

 

An den Hopfengarten Strasse 5

 

 The Rossgers. Such fun time was spend with these people!

 Last day in Schweisweiler. We were not ready to leave.

 To send us off on our last day to Bonn, Gabby, Oma's best friend had us over for mittagessen and good wine.

 The wine region of Germany.. seems pretty accurate.

On mom's last day and night in Germany we spent our time in Heidelberg, where we both agreed was our favorite, or one of our favorite, city/spots in Germany. It has such a special and almost romantic feel to it. There is a lot of history in these cobble stone streets and buildings, along with the churches and of course the castle. The streets were packed with people and so many need little shops- not the chain H&M or other clothing stores. We were there with another old friend of my moms, Martina, who lives by Heidelberg so we had someone who knew the area well and was an amazing host. She is very sweet and fun. We had such a good time together, eating cake and drinking tea, walking the city streets, touring the castle grounds (crashing a private bank party), and then when a rain storm hit, we ran into a small frenchy wine bar where we drank some wine over candle light. I said romantic, right? It was such a perfect end to our time together and my mom got to see the one last friend on her list before her departure. Heidelberg felt almost magical and, again, will be a time I don't think we can forget.

View from the castle over the city.

 

 The streets of Heidelberg.

 Right before the rain came.

There are many things that I have left out, but it would take me days to fit all that I and we have done in this post. Most importantly I want to thank my mom for being such an amazing person who has never failed to bring me support, love, and most of all--laughter, through all my days. I am undeserving but very thankful to have such a good friend and mentor for life. She is the kind of person everybody loves and she inspires me to become a little more gentle and patient as she didn't pass that gene on to me.. thank you for all of our laughs and tears and memories! You are the greatest. I miss you already.