We've been living in Germany for a little over three months now! Our life is a lot different then it was just six months ago. We live in an apartment half the size of our old house, we own three bikes and a bike trailer instead of two cars, our monthly income has dropped to less than a third of what we used to have but so have our expenses. Do we miss our old life? Sometimes. Some of it. Do we like our new life? Yes! We love it!
Some of it has been an adjustment.
For Dugan it's the language. He loves to entertain and talk and meet people and its been frustrating for him to be hindered by not speaking German. And he misses his friends and family. And Football.
For me it's been having to go back to work. I really love my new job, but I miss my girls and I feel I am missing out on all the fun things we used to do during the day. It makes me cry when Lily will cling to me in the morning begging me not to go. But I also enjoy work once I am there, so that sure helps. Like I said. Some of it has been an adjustment.
And I will go ahead and admit it. I miss the shopping. Things are expensive here!
The things we love?
-The Weather (we may be the only people in Germany thinking single digit temperatures are great)
-The Food (outside of it tasting good there are so many Gluten Free options available for Dugan)
-The Health Insurance (Almost no co pays or deductibles and our monthly premium is less then half of what it used to be and it even includes dental and vision. We took Emmi to the ER last night for a bad bout of croup and it didn't cost us anything. It sure feels great being able to go to the ER without having to worry about the cost!)
-Almost $500 every month from the government in "child money". Yes, you get paid in Germany to have children!
-Being able to ride our bike everywhere. To work, to the store, to the park, to the doctor... . Even though I have to admit this is going to be a lot more fun in the spring and summer.
-Public Transit. It only takes us 20 Minutes to be Downtown Munich with bus and subway and we can both have a drink going out. No designated driver needed!
-Free Babysitting. Once we put the girls to bed we can do what we want. We just take the Baby Monitor downstairs to the grandparents! Doesn't get any better than that!
-The Sauna. It's super healthy. And yes it is coed and naked. We are in Europe! And yes, we have taken the girls to the sauna too. Lily didn't care for it but Emmi liked it!
Curious on what it is really like? Come see us. We miss all of you guys. Finding new friends has been hard. Especially with us working and going to school full time. And if you can't make it here we are going to be in Texas in May!
