Living in Germany

Today I greet you warmly from Saarbrücken with beautiful gray-wet-cold rain-hail-snowy weather. What a cozy atmosphere here, it makes you really want to go out ;)

At least I have my cozy own 4 walls, where I can escape the gray outside and be completely by myself. I am very grateful for this luxury after traveling so much, as it is often more difficult to find privacy on the road. Not only is having my own 4 walls great, but I was also naturally excited to see friends and family again. It feels good to know that I was missed and that so many friends wanted to see me after I landed. It's nice that so many people have asked about and continue to ask about my travel experiences, allowing me to relive my USA experiences again at least in my thoughts. Even though I was away for a long time, it's so great to be warmly welcomed back and at the same time feel like I've never been away. With family and friends, I actually feel like I can continue exactly where I left off. I feel like I've only been away for a weekend and now I can start again with my girls where we left off. A very important, beautiful feeling that close human relationships can continue regardless of time and space. Having the dear people around me again and experiencing direct support from them in case of problems, getting a listening ear, and sharing beautiful moments with them is probably the most positive thing about my return. Especially when you are away for a long time, you realize who is important to you and who you miss the most.

Even the structure in everyday life is sometimes a bit fun. Knowing exactly when you have to get up, what duties you have, being able to realize yourself at work and looking forward to the end of the work day is also something beautiful! Knowing where the nearest supermarket is, which sports class you enjoy, and where the towels are in the closet is a relief and reduces the stress.

However, I don't want to exaggerate, of course, I also notice resistance in many places to being back in Germany. My body is giving me clear signals that my often too busy everyday life stresses it out and my soul feels weighed down by the dark weather and limited freedom. I miss the sun, the beautiful landscapes, the wonderful, warm-hearted people, and above all, the freedom. I resist our German stressful life even more. However, the solution seems to be clearly within myself rather than any external circumstances. Since you can't run away to another country permanently, you have to try to make the best of the external conditions. In the absence of sun, you can treat yourself to warmth in the form of a sauna or by simply enjoying warm, cozy times with tea and a blanket on the sofa. There is beautiful nature everywhere, I should probably open my eyes to it more at home as well. So on Sunday I was once again very surprised at how beautiful the Saarland can be. Thank God I had my hiking group, through which I also get out here and can explore nature. Even if we didn't discover a 'Grand Canyon', there is something beautiful and unique in every natural environment.

It's nice that thanks to social media and cell phones, it is possible to stay in touch with people you have met, even across time and space. So some of my travel acquaintances accompany me on my way in Germany virtually and I really hope they will visit. Of course, my friends are also great, warm-hearted people and help me with the missing. Even though many Germans often seem stressed and unfriendly to me, I hope that through my travel experience I can bring about changes here as well. If I approach the people in my environment with much more openness, warmth, and time, they will certainly behave towards me in a similar way. I can keep the love I have received from so many people on my journey alive and pass it on to others. I am sure that change is achievable through this.

It is hardly changeable fact that we Germans are a people in which efficiency, work, and diligence are high values. Of course, one has to somehow play along and work or study in order to survive here. The attitude towards all the duties and work, however, is crucial. What fascinates me about myself is how much pressure I already put behind all my actions that I undertake in Germany. Why don't I just approach things as loosely as I did in America? Whether I do something with stress or see it calmly, it makes no external difference but completely changes my inner world. I am determined to work on my tenacity and pressure and also try to achieve my goals with serenity in Germany. As the Dutch say so nicely, somehow 'everything will be fine', even without pressure.

I am currently benefiting immensely from all the great, moving impressions of my journey. It gives me so much energy and has taught me so much about life, just being alone in a different culture. I am incredibly grateful for what I have experienced. Besides the sadness that my trip is over, I feel such deep gratitude and joy for what I have experienced, like rarely before in life. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank from the bottom of my heart everyone who has helped me so wonderfully on my journey. My family for financial support, my friends at home for emotional support, all Americans and other travelers who have taken me in, shown me around, or simply shown me appreciation and time. And of course, all of you, for following my pictures, my reports, and my feelings so well. Thank you very much, it is a great feeling that so many people have read my blog. I'm a bit sad to share the last post with you today.

But I'm absolutely sure, after the journey is before the journey. I'm already incredibly looking forward to the next trip :D. I just know that I don't want to live without exploring the world, escaping into nature, and discovering other cultures. And hopefully, there will always be a way to experience that. Of course, it is not cheap and you have to save in advance and/or reduce your expectations while traveling. But it is absolutely worth it. For me, traveling is the best investment of money: Purchased buildings become old, dilapidated, and can collapse. Traveling remains forever in mental and emotional memory. And besides, I have never felt a bigger, more positive, personal change in myself than through the trip. So dare to do it =) And if for whatever reason you cannot travel at the moment but still want to feel a little freedom, I can only recommend Paulo Coelho's books from the bottom of my heart. Especially 'The Alchemist' or 'Veronika Decides to Die' always help me feel more freedom in life and let go of stress.

Thank you and all the best!

Kathrin