This is exactly the response I have heard REPEATEDLY over the past two weeks when I tell people that Jess and I are picking up and moving our lives to Germany.
"Do you speak German?" No.
"Have you been to Germany?" Not me.
"What will you do?" Don't know.
"Where will you live?" Don't know.
"Are you crazy?" Potentially. But in a very good way.
I knew when I married Jess that my life would be filled with adventure. Most of our dates consisted of driving down unmarked roads until it was impossible to drive the car an inch further, then running by foot to explore the area even more. Weird? Yes, but something we both enjoyed immensely. I loved these moments where it felt like it was Jess and I alone in the world. When we never knew exactly what was around the corner, but it didn't matter as long as we were together. This is exactly how I feel about our move to Germany.
Jess spent 7 years active in the military after college. He lived in Germany (90 km from where we will be living), Korea, and Africa. When I met Jess, He was two years out of law school and was just home from his most recent deployment in Africa. He was working at a law firm, but uncertain if this was the right gig for him. We began to explore different options and decided that a civilian job with the Army would most definitely kick serious ass! It was the spring of 2008 and the real estate market had begun to tank (I own a small real estate brokerage) in Utah. What better time to move abroad and learn about another culture? We must have sent in 30 applications over the next 6 months! Hawaii, Italy, Germany, Africa - if there was a Department of Defense job somewhere cool-sounding that Jess was qualified for - we applied for it. After receiving 0 responses, not even the typical "thanks, but no thanks" letter, we gave up. We sent our last application in November to Grafenwoehr, Germany, and then got on with life. Jess quit his law firm job and began working at the local VA hospital as a program director in May and despite the down real estate market, my business has been thriving. Life has been good. Which is exactly why we would receive a call out of the blue two weeks ago from Germany saying "Hey, do you still want this job? Because if so, it's yours" and "We want you here, ASAP". Right? If Jess was still at the law firm, or if we hadn't COMPLETELY moved on from the thought of moving, this call would never have come. Murphy's Law SUCKS and ROCKS simultaneously.
We will be moving to Germany in September. While I don't speak any German, I don't know where we'll be living, I don't know what I'll be doing, I don't even know what to expect, there are a few things that I do know:
1. You only live once (unless you believe in reincarnation) and I believe that you have to seize opportunities when they come your way.
2. While I'm scared to leave my business, friends and everything here in Utah, I believe they will all be here when I return and know they will all be with me in my heart in Germany.
3. I don't think I'll look back from my deathbed and say "I wish we hadn't moved to Germany".
4. You will benefit from a lot more blogging, as I won't have a job.
5. My friends will benefit from all of the sweet hangbags I'm unloading.
6. And finally, I believe that you have to leave your comfort zone to grow as a person. This doesn't neccessarily have to mean a move abroad, but for us, right now, it does. While I'm overwhelmed, nervous, abit panicky, and most other emotions you can think of, I'm most excited for all of the possibilites of the unknown and that I get to experience all of this with the one person I am most fond of in this world, my husband.
And here I've laboring under the delusion that I was the person you were most fond of in the world. Now that I think about it, though, your husband is pretty freaking awesome.
I don't have words to tell you how much I'll miss you guys. I remember feeling this way when Jess left for Djibouti but this time it's doubly hard!
I'm very happy for the excuse to visit Germany and practice what I learned over 5 quarters of German in college. What I remember, anyway, which is limited to "Good morning" and "I love you", but I'm sure take me anywhere I need to go, right?
Posted by: Carrie | June 22, 2009 at 01:01 PM
Awesome! Can't wait to hear about your adventures! -)
Posted by: kristin | June 22, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Congratulations! I am so excited for you. Also jealous. I am looking forward to seeing how your adventure goes.
Posted by: Nicole | June 22, 2009 at 01:52 PM
This is such exciting news. I am so happy for you and envious at the same time. I wish I had the nerve to pick up and move to Germany. I really admire you for this and will look forward to reading about your adventures. I would love to have lunch a few more times before you leave. You will be gone before we know it. Congratulations!! XOXO, Ashlee C.
Posted by: Ashlee Christofferson | June 22, 2009 at 03:20 PM
Wow! Congratulations. What an exciting, awesome experience. You 2 will be loving life over there! Can't wait to read all about it. The Purdys send our love and well-wishes!
Posted by: Autumn | June 22, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Go for it! I think you will have a ball, even if it feels like misery at first. I admire you for not letting what's easy fill in for what's right.
Posted by: Libby | June 22, 2009 at 04:04 PM
INCREDIBLE! I would love to get together prior to you departure!
Talk soon!
m.
Posted by: Monique | June 22, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Did I hear handbags? :)
We're going to miss you and if we weren't planning on being poor during those two years you are in Germany, we would TOTALLY come visit... Maybe I can just send Noah. :)
Love you lady, and this is going to be one helluva(n) adventure. And yes, James and I will still be here, with our puzzles and free-things-to-do list. :)
Posted by: Abby | June 23, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Most Germans speak English at least enough to get by. They watch Friends and Bay Watch, so you should be able to communicate just fine. I took German for 4 years in HS and I can hardly remember a single word now. One of my best friends moved to Barcelona not speaking any Spanish and it has been a great adventure for her. I'm sure you will have a fabulous time and I am definitely looking forward to more blogging!
Posted by: Holly Thatcher | June 23, 2009 at 12:02 PM
The two of you are an inspiration. Carry us along on your journey and let us go with you, OK? I know you don't really know me from Adam and visa versa, but it sure feels right from my cheap, Oklahoma seat. Godspeed.
Posted by: jen | June 23, 2009 at 01:35 PM
What a wonderful opportunity. Life is too short for what-ifs. Go have fun exploring the world while you have the chance.
Wishing you guys the best.
:-)
Posted by: beaux | June 25, 2009 at 07:51 PM
hello honey
you are so right to do this :) point six is so spot on - the only time we do grow is when one moves outside of the established comfort zone ...
I have just accepted a job 2500km away from where we live now - shame it is still in the same state !!
it is a small small town that has a huge wet season - flooded in for 14 weeks this year :) it will be quite the adventure too ..
we go in august so can't wait to read all your news as you get sorted - many hugs le
Posted by: le | June 28, 2009 at 03:03 AM
You totally speak Deutsch! Remember your amazing conversation with Fro (pronounced similarly to bra)at that play the night we hucked tacos at pedestrians? You'll do fine!
Meams
Posted by: Meams | August 26, 2009 at 09:33 PM