Ich werde Giessen geniessen/ I will enjoy Giessen

So I've arrived! Destination point came after heartfelt goodbyes, an early morning train, and several great conversations. Aber vorher, I'll explain the last couple days. Too much happened in Berlin to recount. Let me begin by saying: Liebe kommt durch den Magen, or literally translated Love comes through the stomach. Wera, Chris and I slaved many hours in the kitchen, while laughing a lot and enjoying every minute. Hmm... curried chicken with vegetables one night, Moroccan Tajine dishes by a party with fresh mint tea and sweet couscous desert, and naturally homemade spätzle with a sinfully good mushroom/meat sauce. Echt Lecker! Last night we had a tremendous dinner of tacos-both beef and fish. Although they were far from true Mexican cuisine, they were enormously good. And as I've said before, I have yet to find real, good, Mexican food in Germany. But that can wait for now because my stomach is ganz statt (well-fed) and my heart is full as well.

I've had such endearing experience here already. After a sweet goodbye to my host-mom, I boarded the train and quickly met a travel friend. Apparently in a week my german has returned to me, because my conversations were quite interesting on the train. I met a guy moving to Marburg from Berlin; we chatted about Berlin naturally, our new cities, politics, education, and finding meaningful jobs. Shortly after he left a very comical grandfather began asking me questions and telling stories of his relatives. When I got off at Giessen I then met a very friendly PhD student who was also searching for the Marktplatz. My venture with luggage was almost done. After going in a circle I found the correct quiet street where I live. Ksenia, the woman I'm renting from, was great to meet me there and help me carry my one large suitcase to the top floor. Its unexplainable the feeling of discovering the new place you call home. Already I went into the city for the afternoon and looked for necessary cheap things to make this room homey. However, the only thing I bought (besides groceries) were rain boots. Although one would think in a very precipitous climate people would gladly wear rain boots, most of the shops I searched had none. But at last my hunt came to an end in TK Maxx, yes the Deutsch version of TJ Max. Therefore, currently my feet are dry and warm.

After returning to my new spot I was pleasantly surprised by very good accordian music coming from the apartment below. This new place has me in wonder, and my tired state puts me into an even greater sense of dreaming. These last few days even I have awoken remembering specifically of speaking German in very descriptive dreams. This practice came in handy as I was invited by Ksenia to a University opening party. After the official greeting party for this month-long international program, we all went to a cafe/bar across the street. I felt a strong satisfaction sitting at a quiet table amongst professors and university staff, conversing in German about various things and possibilities here in Giessen, while in the back room sat almost seventy international students speaking english ganz deutlich (extremely loudly). I've moved on, most certainly, from the erasmus/foreign exchange stage, and I'm very excited to become integrated here, amongst this small community, and soon too in the school where I'll be working.

For the past few days, although I have had such a grandiose time, I have a lot of time to think and reflect on my decisions. Often I have been thinking of my friend Ariel Lawson, as many of you know, passed away this last January. When I was talking with Doris, about what has changed us in the two years since we've seen one another, we both had unfortunate stories. Doris also lost a dear friend to cancer last winter, and I could see that even though we couldn't communicate the sense of loss, we understood each others suffering. While traveling all of the senses seem to have a heightened consciousness for new surroundings, and so to enjoy this discovery brings an emotional pining. I want my friend to also experience life now in this way. It has made me reflect what I want out of this experience. Without a doubt, I am determined to make the most of this environment change. I know there are difficult days flipside miraculous ones; therefore to make the most of what life presents, I'll remember that all moments are fleeting, and its best to acknowledge them in wonderment.

Keep your lebenslust/passion for life!
Liebe Grüße,
Kyra

Ich bin eben angekommen/I just arrived

My final days in New York were all I could have hoped for. I slept in, drank coffee at Outpost, and most importantly spent time with loved ones. Lydia, Gabe and I ventured to the Natural History Museum (one of my all-time favorites). It was the busiest day I'd ever seen, probably due to the excellent rainy museum-day weather and the height of tourist season. Due to our lovely friend Janeen, we got an amazing voucher that enabled us to see the planetarium movie, and two special exhibitions for free! It was a grand day at the museum, then to top that off we were treated to dinner by the Lyons. Their excitement to see me again was incredibly touching. I couldn't have been more fortunate with the work I've had in Manhattan, teaching at Discovery and watching Jimmy and Katie. They are incredible kids, and I will sorely miss them. During dinner they were quite amazingly showed off their talent as spoon balancers (shown below). That marked the end to my ten months in the city. With all my friends, culture, and opportunities in the Big Apple, it definitely fulfilled my childhood dream of making it there. Yet, I'm comfortable with the fact that when I return to the states Gabe and I'll be searching for new spots to live.

                                                   

So onto Germany.  My flight went smoothly, although I didn't sleep much. I'm not normally outwardly emotional, but somehow traveling gets me. Listening to the sentimental mix Gabe made, plus the weariness of time zone change, made me prone to feeling a bit under the weather. Yet, when I arrived in Berlin the skies cleared, and I felt rejuvenated. I was greeted warmly at the gate by Wera  (host sister from my semester abroad), her boyfriend Chris, and friend Mario, and how happy that made me! Back to the good ol' times in Berlin. That evening we slowly cooked a fantastic curry dinner, served with homemade lavender/honey bread, and laughed heartily with Doris and Klaus (former host parents). Afterwards we went to the familiar singing group that I enjoyed so much when here two years before.

Returning to Berlin before starting my assistantship was wholeheartedly the right choice. I'm reconnecting with old friends and reliving memories in this lively city. I most certainly will be coming back here throughout the year, as I see it as a home away from home. Tonight I'm meeting up with my good friend Rachel, who was also a FU-Bester (my exchange program). Surely there will be some stories from our outings together. Until später,

Alles gute! 

Pre-departure News

How nice it is to return home. Gabe and I got back to Brooklyn early Friday morning, and have been soaking in the comforts of life with furniture, and internet. Back to the bustling world of New York we're now able to share the good news with you all. As some of you might have heard already through the cyber grapevine, Gabe and I are engaged.

The tremendous outpouring of congratulations, well wishes, and surprised excitement has been heartwarming. We're very excited to share a life together of curiosity, creativity and love. This announcement might be surprising to some, others were placing bets, but most importantly we believe this is a sign of our commitment and hope in our future. Ideas of a wedding are tossed about, but the main concern for us now is to focus on our immediate goals. With only a few days remaining before I take off for Germany there is a lot on our minds, and a lot to look forward to. Although parting will be difficult, we both have remarkable changes that will keep us occupied. Gabe is starting a director position at RARE Gallery in early September, while I'll be starting work in the classroom. So the pre-departure news consists of the story many of you've been asking: how did it go down?

Well to get to the proposal point I have to explain the week's worth of glory. We left NY last Friday on a bus that bolted us to Boston, making it there at the grim hour of 2:30 am. There was a picture I thought of including but it was definite black-mail material. After a brief rest and EARLY breakfast at a Boston Diner we took to the streets on our bike. Our first day was the most grueling. Supposedly 50 miles with google maps, the winding directions took us, we estimate, about 75 miles until we reached our campsite at Miles Standish National Park. To avid bikers that distance seems very feasible; to me though, carrying a hefty pack and riding an outdated Schwinn tested my limits.  However, I'm happy to say that we made it! Our friend Pat Weise is inspiration to a. not complain, and b. become a long-distance cylcist. I've included a picture of my proud biker tan, not so secretly envying Gabe's olive complexion. Our days continued in a breeze of glorious summer sun and scenic road rides. We camped at State forests--Miles Standish, as mentioned before, and Shawme Crowell. The later was much more serene and quiet, despite the earth-shaking thunderstorm at 4 am that drove us into the bathroom shelter. We also camped at two beaches--in Wellfleet and at the very tip of the Provincetown hook. Both provided lulling ocean early bedtimes and breathtaking sunrises.

So that brings me to the story you're probably searching for: he proposed by writing it in the sand. We'd been talking about this now for a while, but the morning wake-up call was clever. The beach, was my favorite part of this trip. We laughed a lot, napped in the warm sand, skipped rocks, and somewhat swam in the chilly saltwater.  We concluded are trip in Provincetown. Unexpectedly we arrived in town somewhat exhausted and ready for coffee. At the quaint shop the server asked if we were ready for the party. "Party?" "Carnival's tomorrow." So my first experience of the most liberal city was definitely the most colorful show. The theme was Jungle! so I felt overly covered in a summer dress. It was a lot of fun to take in the city, the sites, and then fly away on the über fast ferry to Boston. Coming full circle, we bused it back to our present home. So that's the news for now. I'll write again when in Rome...ah hem I mean Germany. I will be in touch. With love from New York, all the best.

Pat I hope you're proud!