Three rolling suitcases placed in front of a large window at an airport with a large plane behind the window during a sunrise. (mikkiorso (123RF))
When I first heard, I thought “That couldn’t happen, we won’t move to Germany.... Right?” So, I asked my parents, and it turned out they were serious.
Then began the packing. As I and my faithful (I’m not going to say loyal because he said that’s not a quality to describe him) brother Thomas began organizing our prized possessions, I began to wonder what difficulties I might face when going abroad: The complications of learning a new language, braving new, unknown cuisine (sauerkraut? ughh); and worst of all, being dragged all over Germany by my parents to see tourist attractions they thought would be an interesting experience.
Sauerkraut with potato and sausage (margouillat (123RF))
After the packing was complete, we temporarily moved to a Condotel (an apartment with more than two rooms, basically - sort of like renting a house), where I discovered a valuable tome that I filled with beings I created of raw imagination - I later branded the book with the name “The Drawing Book or Something.”
But eventually the day came that we would commence the long drive to the Kansas airport where we would partake of a flight to another airport (I think it was one in Colorado, but I don’t quite remember). At that airport, we took another, longer plane ride to Germany, in which I somehow stayed awake the whole time, which resulted in me being very tired when I got off the plane.
Bus in city traffic in motion blur (madrabothair (123RF))
Then we went on a bus to the place the Army had ready for us - Lodging (not as good as the Condotel, but free, ‘cause my dad is in the Army). At the time, we were just glad to get some sleep, but Thomas and I had no idea what the next few days would be like.
For the next four weeks, l and Thomas had to endure cramped living conditions, mediocre German insta-food, tiring walks planned by our mother, and the sensation of knowing that we might get a house someday, but didn’t have it yet. But eventually, an available house popped up on the housing market, and we finally got a house. The next day we unpacked some stuff, and unfortunately lots of cardboard was tossed that I could have used, but that was all right. But then, the mosquitoes came (no one died, but it was close); however, that is a story for later…
Editor’s Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of Defense.
