One lazy Saturday the four of us were lounging around our living room in San Diego. Simon randomly commented that he’d like it if we could live in Germany someday. I think he was thinking maybe in a few years… but as I went about doing the boring chores of the day like laundry, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Why not move to Germany? The girls were growing up and at 6 and 4 years old were becoming more self- sufficient.
If we moved to Cologne, Simon’s hometown, we’d have the support of his family, and the girls would get to know what it’s like to have an Oma (Grandma), Opa (Grandpa), Tante (Aunt) and cousin in their daily lives (all of my family lives on the East Coast).
Also, the girls are half German, so it’s only right that they should understand what that means. To speak the language, to understand the culture, and the only way to truly do that is… to live there. As I was thinking about all of this, I started getting excited. Having lived in places like New York City, Boston, and Amsterdam, I’d missed living in a city rich with culture and diversity.
How amazing would it be for our girls to live in a new culture, learning new things every day?! To have so many other amazing countries and cultures so close by!
Ten minutes after Simon made that random comment I went back into the living room and said, “Let’s do it. Let’s move to Germany!” He looked at me a little stunned, but I could see a spark of wary excitement in his eyes. We talked about it for a bit and there really weren’t many negatives. Half an hour later Simon called his Mom to tell her we were planning to move to Germany. Looking back on it I suppose it seems rather impulsive, to make such a life changing decision for our whole family in about an hour. I guess we were just ready for a change!!
I like that story, that’s the best way to go about a change like that.