Goodbye and a happy new year 👋🏻🎆

Hello lovelies and a belated Happy New Year from me. ☺️🎆

The wait is over. 😉 I had so much going on in December that I somehow didn't get around to writing anything here. Instead, here's something new from my life. I guess I always have an excuse, but I can't share myself either. 😅

Quick update from December: I visited fewer lakes in December, but I went to lots of different Christmas markets here in Munich. 🎄✨ Some were really nice, some less so... My top 5 were the Christmas market at Munich Airport (winner for the best potato), the Christmas market at the Residenz (winner for the best punch), the Christmas market at Ostbahnhof (winner for the best baked almonds), the Winterbazar Christmas market (winner for the best vibe and the coolest takeaways) and the Christmas market at Münchener Freiheit (best oven-baked herb bread). For me, a good punch, large potatoes with sour cream and cheese (or even better with hollandaise sauce) and baked almonds are a must at a Christmas market. 😍 What are your Christmas market highlights?

On another evening in December, I went out for dinner with a friend. Then we went to see the Quatsch Comedy Club. Fun fact: the presenter was funnier than the comedians themselves. 🙈

ProSieben (Proacht for a short time 😜) is still doing quite well. I was able to watch another Galileo recording and a recording of Abenteuer Leben on Sunday. 🎥

On December 20, I made my way to my aunt in Selb. My parents went there too. Firstly, to say goodbye and secondly, to take me home with them. We went to a small Christmas market there. So this year I've really been to a lot of Christmas markets. 😂

Once I got home, we started looking through things straight away. In case you haven't noticed, my parents have now emigrated to Namibia and as my brother is taking over the house with his little family, I had to pack most of my things in boxes and store them or take them with me. 📦

Over the Christmas holidays, however, we enjoyed some time with the family. We celebrated with my brother, my sister-in-law and my little niece in their apartment, as my parents didn't have much time and didn't want to put up a tree. They also had everything ready. 🎄😅 We had raclette for Christmas. We went out for dinner together once. The last time for now. 🥲

A few days before we left, we had a farewell godi in our home church. A really touching and well-prepared service and also a nice feeling for my parents to know that their church in Germany is behind their new ministry in Namibia.

They flew out on the very last day of 2024 (over New Year's Eve). Saying goodbye was not as easy as I would have thought. It was more difficult for us children than we would have thought at first... I thought it would be easier to let them go because I had lived in America for two years myself. But I had to realize that I was in a completely different situation here. This time I was left behind and not the one who left.

I remember myself how much adrenaline and anticipation I had when I went through the same gate at the same airport about 4-5 years ago. It was probably stupid for the bereaved - in this case my family. With the exception that I came back, of course. But I also know that it was a real step for my parents to leave us behind. How good it is that FaceTime and co. exist. 😊

I accompanied them to the airport in Frankfurt with a man from our church. ✈️ Let's see when I'll visit them in Africa... 🦒🐘☀️

After dropping them off, I got ready for New Year's Eve. I was with my brother and his family and my sister-in-law's brother and his family. It felt like every year. 😄 But this year my niece saw the fireworks for the first time and I was allowed to be there. I already miss her. 🥹 I held her in my arms a lot when I was there...

The first few days of the New Year were spent remodeling the house. Wallpaper was removed and everything that was no longer needed was taken away. It was a strange feeling to change my familiar home. Even my room no longer looks the way I knew it. My washbasin was also removed. A luxury that not everyone had. Nevertheless, I am happy for them and for my niece, who will now grow up in this room. I'm making room for the next generation, so to speak. 😃

Ultimately, these are all earthly things that we should not hold on to. Matthew 6: 19-21 already talks about this: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures here on earth, where moth and worm destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor worm destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The Bible - always full of wisdom that is true. ❤️

But I also used the time at home to meet up with dear friends and catch up again. I also went out to eat with my godmother at what is probably one of my favorite restaurants: Café del Sol. This restaurant is only available a few times in Germany. Every time I go there, I order the same thing. A schnitzel with a slightly spicy hollandaise sauce. 😋

So, the countdown is on: Six more weeks and then my internship at ProSieben is over. 🥲 Then it's back to the flat share in Ansbach. I'm planning to move on February 20/21 or 22. I want to use the remaining weekends to visit friends, host friends and maybe go to one or two lakes. I also have an internship report of 10-15 pages ahead of me. 🙈 I like my time here at ProSieben, but I'm also looking forward to getting back to my familiar surroundings, my own space and my friends. 🙃

There have not been many different things in my life in the past, but there have been bigger things that have required a lot of time and sometimes a bit of strength. This strength doesn't come from me alone, but from the one who loves me and you! 😊

I guess you'll be able to read the next blog entry in February, possibly shortly before or directly after the move. So, that's it. ☺️ I think I've given you enough of an impression of my world here in Munich and at home.

See you here again in the next blog post. 🤗🙋🏼‍♀️ It always remains exciting...