Guten Tag!

It has bee so long since my last post that the site's format has changed and I had to figure out how to use it! I owe you a post of Katheryn's 10 year birthday bash! But I don't know how to upload pictures onto the laptop, so that will have to wait.

So...uhm...We have moved. Yup. Again. Moved. Overseas. Across the pond.  Another continent. Another country.

Germany! It is so beautiful here.

We arrived about 2 weeks ago, but the time between then and now seems more like 2 months. Hotel living isn't always prime living. But it could be worse. We have 3 rooms to split between the 6 of us.

After we arrived, we hit the ground running. And I don't mean sight-seeing. I mean finding us a house ASAP!

Realty is done A WHOLE LOT different here. We were prepped on that by some friends before our arrival, but you can't be totally prepared for the experience until you have actually started going through the process.

In Germany, you have to go through the realtor that listed the property in order to actually see the property. So, if you want to see 5 different houses, you have to call 5 different realtors, who then call 5 different landlords, who then set up 5 different showing times. The showings are only granted IF and ONLY IF the landlord feels like it.

The culture is considerably more laid-back than our own, too. So, don't even think about calling the realtor before 10 a.m. or between 1p.m. and 3p.m..

Are we the only country that doesn't take naps during that time?

Basically, you are at the mercy of the realtor and the landlord. And they will call you back when the feel like it. Or maybe they won't because you are American, or have four kids, or have a dog. But whatever.

Nevertheless, we found a house. I am hesitant to even say it because it has only been a verbal agreement. But then again...they do things differently here. We sign the contract tomorrow.

The house is a dream. All the main living is on one level, which is hard to find in Germany. And that includes all the bedrooms! But that isn't the best part. The house overlooks a valley, and on the other side of the valley stands a castle!! (I won't tell you that you have to have a telescope to actually see the castle, but it's there!) The yard wraps around the house and is totally protected on three sides by a 8 foot hedge of shrubbery, and there are two large apple trees waiting to bloom! There is a sunroom with sliding glass doors that open entirely, and the flower garden then becomes a mere extension of the family room.

Move in date is yet to come, but we anticipate it to be around the beginning of June. Until then....it is hotel living for us. But now we won't be chained to our room waiting for a call from a realtor. We will be eating pretzels and drinking beer....root beer of course.

Auf Wiedersehen!!!