One year in hell.

Haha. Love the title. It was hubby’s idea and his contribution to this blog. „Hell“ has a double meaning: English, OMG we have to go back to „hell“. In German, hell means „light“ like it wasn’t too bad coming back after all.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” – Laotse, China

Our first step to an amazing adventure together was taken pretty much exactly 9 years ago! And how many exciting miles we have made since.

Some of those miles brought us now back to Europe. Already one year ago. We made it! Wow! Time is flying. Back in Germany after 8 years abroad. And what can I say: we were very afraid of coming back (my bucket list pro Germany helped). And yes, life has been different for the past 12 months. Different but good! To our great surprise we are enjoying it!

For sure the „skyline“ of our town cannot cope with the one in Shanghai.

We are also definitely missing Shanghai’s amazing (roof top) bars & fabulous restaurants (what would we give for a visit at Mr & Mrs Bund…) and Mr Xu and the fabric market. And who would have ever guessed the advantages of smog: I was hay-fever-free for 3 years!

Even after 4 years, we are still missing our sunshine state SC, the blue sky, key lime pie, BBQs and the awesome cars we had. Our friends and my all-time favorite city: NYC.

Back in Germany. I didn’t think that I would ever appreciate the most common thing: fresh air. Just simply clean air to breath (and not have to choose between opening the window after showering to get bad air in or keeping window closed and produce mold)! Since Monday I can clearly see (well, or not see. LoL) the benefits of smog: no hay fever (currently missing the smog. Haha).

We love living in a little town in the countryside which brings us to the fields within minutes for walks.

I enjoy experiencing the seasons again (a super hot summer 2019, a colorful autumn, a rather warm winter and a fantastic spring 2020).

I truly appreciate the access to free & unfiltered news again. (Listening to it everywhere, all the time is a different story and can get exhausting.)

It felt weird in the beginning that we could again understand people talking around us (and sometimes I wish I couldn’t or didn’t have to…).

Needless to say: I love driving in the automobile country without speed limits: free, fast & flexible. And hopefully soon on the motorbike.

Back in the country of carnival!

Being in the same time zone as most family & friends (even some are disappointed that we don’t see each other more frequently).

It’s about the little things which have a big meaning to us. And most people take for granted.

Having a garden.

Cool nights. No humidity.

A short walk to the butcher, bakery and ice cream place (pavements & not getting run over by e-bikes, scooters, cars or trucks).

Home office.

Shopping: clothes in all sizes available again, every day (missing the fabulous bargains though).

Favorite magazines & newspaper again available.

Of course there’s a couple of annoying things as well (like in every other country, too): German bureaucracy sucks (7 months waiting time to apply for a driver license and 2 hour waiting time to pick it up – Germany is still far away from service friendly…).

I’m happy that we are happy being back. We are a little less Irish and a little less German and a little more American and a little more Chinese. I love working for an international company which makes everything a little less German, even in Germany.

We became good in taking roots but also learnt to dissolve them. We don’t have only one home but many. We are flexible. We have to be flexible. In British we would be called „anywhere’s“.

Lots of people are asking: what did you like better, the USA or China. We loved both and it’s not really comparable since both countries are very different. We met wonderful people in both countries. We made a lot of amazing cultural experiences and learnt: we all smile in the same language. Big hugs & kisses around the globe. It’s you who made & makes our life colorful!

For now we keep enjoying discovering Germany & Europe with the positive attitude from America and the practical way of China.

There’s lots to love about the cities of Europe: freshly pressed olive oil, grand and sweeping avenues, corner boulangeries, thick café crèmes, tidy public transport, crêperies, chocolatiers, flower shops, antiquity shops, sweet cafés and so much more.

Home is wherever I’m with you (now I cannot get that catchy song out of my mind anymore).