Laura Beth in Germany

Many of you probably remember a few years ago when I hosted a St. Anthony's kindergarten reunion party... I love seeing how time changes people over the years! So when Fabian found this old photo a few weeks ago, I immediately wanted to recreate it. And they agreed! Of course, 20 years later, it's hard to make the exact same face as you did when you were three, but we were generally successful. Here's the finished product:   Since we already had the backdrop and lights set up, we went ahead and made it a full-blown photoshoot! Below, from left to right: Katja, Fabian Joos, Jessi, Fabian, and me.   Last weekend, this same group of friends went "kegeln", which is like bowling, except with smaller, lighter balls that only have two finger holes. There are only 9 pins, which dangle on strings to reset themselves. You get a chalkboard for keeping score, and a waiter that brings you whatever drinks or food you desire. The slightly-shorter lanes r...

It's a cloudy, wet Monday. I just spent about an hour proofreading the latest version of Fabi's Bachelor thesis, correcting his very minimal grammar mistakes. He's drafting a new market selection tool which will help his company decide which new countries to enter with their medical x-ray products. After that, I (being the badass English teacher I am) gave a copy of "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" as homework to my 13-year-old student. His assignment: watch the zombie movie in English over the weekend, then be able to describe the plot to me on Monday. Who says reported speech can't be about zombies and rednecks? I also had a lesson with codename Aladdin this morning, my favorite corporate student. Always brings me coffee, always offers me a buttered prezel for breakfast, which I politely decline. He is nearing the end of his private lessons now. His final test is next Monday, so today we did some review & played "the Superlatives game" - a boar...

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's official. LB and Fabi's trip home has been booked for late August to early September! It will be my first trip home post-moving to Germany, and our first flight over the ocean together. (It's gonna be nice not having to sit next to a stranger for 8+ hours over the ocean.) By that time, it will be over a year since I've stepped foot in the States. Luckily half of that year is already behind me! But it makes me think about all the hurdles I've been through thus far. In September last year, I never would have imagined that I'd have a semi-normal life by now, with a more or less steady job. The fact that I found employment so quickly is a blessing in itself. It seems the universe conspired on my side and enabled things to unfold in my favor. Thanks, universe! Now I've just got to get through a little more than five months before the big trip. The upcoming hurdles include a battle with the Landratsamt over the validity of my driver...