It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since we left the comfort of our native land and ventured across the pond to settle in Switzerland. It would be an understatement to say that a bit has happened in the past year. Let's see - quit my job, change careers, get knocked up, move overseas, raise a toddler, endure a really cold winter, pregnant in a foreign land, have a baby in a foreign land, well you get the picture. I think I can some up our success in three words - friends and family. We couldn't have done it without the support (
and expensive care packages) from our friends and family back home. In addition we have been blessed in just the short time we've been here to have made some really great friends. I seriously don't think I would have made sanely through this past year it if not for all the great ladies I have met here. Some were just acquaintances before Miles was born and then leaped to our rescue during my hospital stay. Since then we've been inseparable, our friendships have grown and we've done so many cool things with our kids this summer.
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| I love pumpkin |
One of my new friends came to visit me several times while I was in the hospital and then made this amazing picnic lunch for my mom and I before she left this summer. Another friend keeps feeding us (she is an awesome cook). Seriously one day she sends me a text asking if we would like some prawn curry - I am thinking of course because I've had her cooking before and wow that is so nice of her to share some of her leftovers. Not quite, she just decided to cook us an entire meal complete with rice and curry, enough for like two meals. This was not leftovers, this was a concerted effort to make us a huge meal and man was it delicious (Grandpa Warm was lucky enough to be here at the right time). This friend also takes Alison to playgroup on Monday morning while Miles and I are at our German language class. How nice is that, something she volunteered to do. Seriously we've had so much fun this summer and I am just really grateful for the moms who help me out. It would be really challenging to do the things we do by myself with two young kids. I honestly don't think I would leave the house that often if not for my friends and amazing playdates. Since Miles is still so small and Alison so unbelievably active and adventurous, someone has to watch one or the other because it is impossible to do both. So that is where another set of hands come in. My new friends are always helping me out, either holding Miles so I can chase down Alison or more often they are wrangling Alison. I sometimes feel like my mom and Mike in North Carolina - they have these super nice neighbors who are always giving them stuff from their gardens or helping them out on their property without asking for anything in return. Sometimes I feel unworthy since being a mom of two little ones makes it hard to return the favors. And how do you compete with good friends who are really good cooks because you aren't going to invite them over for dinner any time soon. So I continue to rack my brain and just appreciate.
It really made me stop and think about my life though. I mean I know I have good friends but I kind of always chocked it up to being lucky, like being in the right place at the right time. Not to belittle my friendships at all as I hope my friends know how much I appreciate them. But this past year has really made me realize something maybe about myself that I didn't recognize before. I mean we moved to a foreign country where we don't speak the language and yet we managed to make a good number of friends so far. So many in fact we had to limit the number we invited to an upcoming party we are having for Alison and I in November. Friendships are very important to me, they always have been and it hasn't been just dumb luck that has blessed me with good friends. I have to give myself some credit. I take pride in the fact that I have good friends, the kind that I may talk to or see on a regular basis and the kind that I may not talk with for a year or more but can pick up where we left off just like that. I mean I have friends I've known since high school one in particular who stood at my side during my wedding I've known since sixth grade. I also made some great friends when I lived in Pensacola that I am still in touch with. And then there are my amazing friends from Orlando most of whom I met through church or various activist scenarios. And in the four years Erik and I lived in Jupiter we made some incredible friends. And now we are living in Switzerland and I am truly blessed to have made more great friends! It is just something I am really proud of and thankful for and I think says a lot about what's important to Erik and I. Bottom line, I really appreciate my friends and knowing I have support here and there (everywhere), it truly lifts my spirits when I think about you all (you know who you are).
I am also so appreciative of our families support. It is strange to say but we have actually spent more time with our family in the past year that any other time in our adult lives even though we moved so far apart. Not working and being able to go home for weeks at a time and just relax and spend quality time with family is something we couldn't have done if we were both working and living back in Florida. Granted we might see our family and friends a bit more often had we stayed in the US but I wouldn't trade it for the amount of quality time we've spent with everyone (mainly family) this past year. I am thankful for the small fortune my family (and a few friends) have spent mailing us care packages this past year. I am very appreciative to my mom who came and stayed with us for two months after Miles was born and loved it so much she is coming back for another month starting next week. We had such a great time with Grandpa Warm when he was here. I am hoping next year more people take advantage of the beautiful summer and come visit.
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| View this past Sunday from our flat |
In the next year I pledge to learn some German, quit asking for stuff from the US and learn to live with what we have here, blog and travel a bit more, lose weight/exercise, find some balance and just enjoy life in a foreign land. Hopefully this coming year I can return the favors to the great friends we've made here.
So in summary - it has been pretty great. I could do without the cold dreary winter. Especially when it came a bit early this year. But all in all I like it. I couldn't ask for a better place to raise children. There is nothing like throwing your world upside down to give you some perspective. Until next time.
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| Happy Halloween |
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| She zip lines and she's not even 2 yet |
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| Ali gets a kick out of the snow |
