One Year: How Life Has Changed

Now again, I must start off by apologizing for not posting about my wonderful trip to Vegas and home, and also not about my quick stay in Dublin. I know, I know, I'll get to it, I swear. But I did have to come here today to add a few comments and thoughts. Today is October 27th, which not only means that yesterday was my mom's birthday (shout out to Suzy Bear!), but that exactly one year ago I started this incredible journey that has completely re-shaped my life. One year ago today I was boarding a plane in Columbus headed for Washington D.C.'s Dulles airport. From there I took a 7 and 1/2 hour flight and had finally landed in Germany. So much has happened this past year and I can definitely say I have grown in all the ways a person can grow. I wouldn't change a minute of it. Looking back there were definitely times I felt depressed and lonely, but I know now those times helped to show me how I can completely enjoy my surroundings and laugh with only myself. There were times I definitely felt stressed or overworked, but I powered through it, and made sure to take a few extra minutes for myself each day to collect my thoughts. There were times where all I wanted to do was complain or vent to someone (unfortunately for him, this often became the burden of Bertus), but at the end of the day it was all worth it. Because in between those times where I was feeling down or depressed or super-stressed were a lot, and I mean a lot of laughs. Experiencing a new culture and learning (or desperately trying to learn) a new language. Falling in love with the Rhein. Making friends around the globe. Drinking a lot of beer. And meeting my second family--well, make that 4th or 5th if I count all the Southwold members ;) that really makes me believe that destiny or fate is real. Looking back over these last 365 days, I can't begin to even believe how lucky I am or what an amazing life I have. I have always said that choosing to go to West Virginia University where I met my soul-mates, was the greatest decision I have ever made so far in my life. This choice to move to Germany has easily been a close second. Wow. What a difference a year can make!

Extremely thankful from Deutschland, xoxo Megan

PS-NOW I promise the next post will be about Vegas ;)

Upcoming Stories

I finally find myself back in Germany. I arrived back to my house here in Kuchenheim last night at around 8 or so. After having a light dinner with Kai and Lisa and Cutie Bear (who is now HUGE!!! He grew so much while I was away!) I headed down to my new room for bed. I slept for a good 15 hours and finally feel like a human being again. Before I can even begin to post about my adventure in Ireland and the mess at the airport, I first need to update everyone out there on the wedding event of the century. So first be expecting my next post to be all about Vegas and my time at home followed by my adventure in Dublin with Travis and Lisa. Stay tuned--I'll be updating as soon as I can!

PS-As I am sure most of you have already noticed, I made a change to the look and style of my blog. Everything for the most part is still in the same place so you will be able to locate everything the same, just an overall color and look. Hopefully it makes it easier to read :) xoxo Megan

My Life is Pretty Amazing.

So many times I find myself questioning what I am doing with my life. As much as I am beyond happy with my choice to move to a country and learn a new language and meet amazing new people (including one super cute snuggle snail), I can't help but see where other people my age are at in their life and what they are doing (i.e. getting their first own place, buying a new car, being promoted) and sometimes get down on myself for not being at that point (or anywhere close) in my life yet. Most of the times when I tell friends that have recently accomplished some of those aforementioned mile-stones, I am always met with responses of, "Megan, I hate my job, I'm miserable and would love to have had the courage to do what you did". But I would be lying if I would say that even with doing this amazing thing within my own life, I still get down/upset/stressed when I don't see myself in this cookie cutter image of where society says a 25 college graduate should be. However, with all this said, at the end of the day just looking back at my life in the past 5 months alone, I would say I live the good life--even if I do only have 6 dollars in my US bank account...

I think of how just in June I was walking the streets of Berlin taking in some of the most amazing history and buildings that I was so excited to be standing in front it. In July I was cruising down the river Seine in a party boat drinking with Jessica with the most breath-taking views of the Eiffel Tower. A week ago I was experiencing the most stunning wedding ever seen at the Four Seasons Las Vegas with all my incredible family and friends (more on that in my next post coming soon), and today I find myself sitting in my favorite room on planet Earth, in Ohio typing this. Tomorrow morning I leave to make the journey back to Germany. I will be making a quick stop-over in Dublin, Ireland to spend a short 36 hours with Travis and Lisa who are on the last leg of their honeymoon, and then I will head back to Bonn to spend some time with someone I miss dearly before getting back to the grind as an Au Pair on Monday. And looking back on all of this, even with no real "job", no new car, no new house/apartment to call my own, and certainly no impressive monthly paycheck, I can still say that I am truly making the most out of my life and living an adventure that most others only dream of. I am bettering myself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually and I just hope that all of you out there reading this do something for yourself that does all these things as well. Go out and explore your world. Travel. Enjoy a good cup a coffee. Read good books. Help a stranger. Laugh with family and friends. Because at the end of the day that's what matters in life, not what year your car is sitting in your driveway or what new designer handbag is hanging from your arm. In this exact moment as I ready myself for my day of travel tomorrow, all I can say is that I am so blessed for the people in my life and for the life in which I have. Because it's pretty amazing.

Goodnight from Columbus xoxox Megan

Ohhhh HERRO!

I'm so close to saying HERRO AMERICA, I can literally taste it. Today is Sunday, which means we can start looking at my countdown in terms of hours instead of days. And that is some freaking exciting news. As of right now (which is noon on Sunday the 3rd) I have 71 hours until my flight departs from Düsseldorf headed for the US. Amazing. I am so excited to see everyone that I don't even know what to do with myself. But, I feel like I have a lot to do before I can be ready to leave, and I'll be heading for the airport before I know it. I need to do some major laundry and I pray that the washer and dryer have already been hooked up from the move. Then I have to go through my few boxes and find what crap I plan on taking home with my etc. And then not to mention go to the bank and also buy the beers I plan on taking home for my mom and Bob. It doesn't sound like toooo much, but in reality I have 2 days (and not even full days, basically 2 evenings) to do it all. But it will keep me busy which will make the time go by faster I am sure. And at this point I don't even know what to do with myself!!!!!! EEEK!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be Stateside on WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!! Amazing.

In other news, today is Bertus' last day in Bonn until around Christmas or so. He moves back to Mainz for the next 3 months and that's depressing. I'm already planning on going down there to visit him a few times if all works out. Hopefully for my birthday weekend also (although I don't want to talk about my upcoming birthday because then it reminds me of being an old POS). But hopefully it won't be too awful while he is away. Naemi and I are also planning to book out 'blind' trip to Eastern Europe when I come back. I'm pretty excited for that also because A, I feel like I haven't seen/talked to her in FOREVER and B, Eastern Europe is so cool to me. Really excited. I'll obviously post about it when it all gets booked and let you know where I'll be heading off to! JuHu!

I'm at Bertus' as we speak actually and need to go figure out the train situation for getting back to the tiny ass town Kuchenheim in a little bit. I spent the weekend here, since it is both my last weekend in Germany for 2 weeks and Bertus' last weekend in Bonn--and not to mention that there is nothing to do in the new town I live in, so coming to Bonn and staying for the weekends I have is something that I will be doing pretty regularly now. But with that said, I need to go and set into motion all the things I need to do before I can leave. EEK! EXCITEMENT!!!!!! xoxoxox