The Meaning of Christmas...

So since the holidays have passed, I've been thinking about what I could have done differently, had i been stateside.  One of my favorite things to do (as those of you who know me know), I love to volunteer at shelters, animal shelters, soup kitchens, anywhere I feel like i can bring a smile to someone's face and help them.

So I came up with an idea.  Since we are headed back stateside in July, we will be there for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.  I know this is a time for family, friends and gifts.  But the real meaning if often lost, and I'm not talking about religiously.  Because there are so many religious denominations all over, that celebrating and emphasizing just ONE out of all of them, just doesn't see right to me.  But, one thing almost ALL of them have in common is LOVE.

The holiday seasons brings a sense of love and togetherness and that often gets lost in the commercialism the media and companies have put on the season.  So why not fight back to bring love and togetherness back to the center of the season?

My idea is simple.  Not to completely boycott Christmas, but to significantly scale it down.  Santa can still bring his 2 gifts (though not expensive).  But family gifts, we can put the money we would have spent on gifts towards something to help others.  I am thinking about helping those in need.  Not only could we volunteer on the holidays in the soup kitchens or shelters, but why not give them gifts?  

Why not make backpacks for the homeless?  What would you make them with?  Well the thrift stores have backpacks for $1-$3, you can fill with non perishables you buy on sale, some hygiene items and a thrift store blanket.  You could do all this for under $20 per back pack.  We usually spend about $500-$600 on gifts for both girls, so that would mean about 25-30 backpacks.

Or maybe just buying new clothing/toys on sale, wrapping them and then taking them to a shelter?  When stores are transitioning between seasons, you can pick up some clothing and items and rock bottom prices!  You can even find new with tag type items at thrift stores and consignment shops!

Some of you may think I'm crazy for even entertaining the idea of no presents for kids on Christmas, but Christmas isn't about gifts- at least not material gifts really- it's about love for one another.  And by helping out those in need, you are showing them they still matter, they are still part of our society, they are still loved.  Many homeless people feel society has forgotten about them, and in many cases it is true.  But why not just do something that will make an impact?  Even if it is one time?

Like I said, this is an idea I am toying with.  I have wanted to scale down Christmas and focus more emphasis on giving back for a while now, but never knew how or what do put our energy towards...  But I think gifts for others is a good way to start.

I saw this weekend a "pay it forward" event where people would do something nice in hopes the next person would do a nice act for another.  This is a great idea and if everyone did this, every day- one nice thing- think of how much of a positive impact that would make in our communities!  Little things go a long way!

Think about it.

Katie :)

Transitioning From Germany to the States...

So as our last few months in Germany dwindle down, I am kinda sad to leave.  As many of you know, we have been stationed at Ramstein AB, Germany since August 2011.  Upon arriving, I was quite scared, hesitant and worried.  It took me a good 8 months to get adjusted mostly and it wasn't until about 18 months in, I felt comfortable.

Culture shock hits some people hard, while others don't experience much of it.  Boy did I experience it!  I remember around month 3 being in the bathroom getting ready, being so upset b/c i couldn't understand anything, I was scared to drive, I just "hated" it.  I blurted out to Paul "Why can't everyone just be normal and speak English?!"  His response... "Well, that's very American of you, Katie.  Maybe the reason is b/c you are in GERMANY and it's THEIR language".  It was then I decided this was going to be an amazing assignment or the worst; it all depended on me and my attitude.  To experience another culture, you really have to open your mind, step outside your comfort zone and have patience.  You cannot enjoy any place if you are stuck in the "American way" mentality.

So I started forcing myself out more, driving more in the surrounding communities, shopping on the economy, getting the food sale papers in German and teaching myself a few words every week.  Though I cannot speak many words (enough to find a bathroom, order a couple food items and give a greeting), I can read enough to get by and that's ok with me!

There are many things I will miss about Germany and Europe:  traveling, bakeries, round-a-bouts, driving, cheap,fresh and organic produce, countrysides and rolling hills, small towns, Christmas Markets and churches, Ryanair, T€di, Salvatore's salad dressing, cheap and AMAZING WINE, and walking my kids to/from school everyday.  I will expand upon a few of these things.

TRAVELING

Paul and I decided we wanted to travel extensively while we were here.  1- b/c it is a super central location for everything- SEE

2- ugh it's EUROPE!  3- b/c we didn't want to be "those" families that sit at home, on base, week after week, wondering what happened to the last 3 years and have no experience to talk about when get older!  So, we made plans to travel, made lists of places to see and saved for each trip!  With this duty station, here are a list of places we have been.  Paul in ( ) denotes his lucky and awesome work trips or Katie with her girl's trips!  

• Brussels and Brugge, Belgium
• Zandvoort, Holland
• Paris (one more trip planned April 2014)&Metz, France (along with small shopping towns on the borders)
• (many places in) Germany including Berlin (planned for March 2014)
• Venice, Italy
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Olympia, Greece
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, Spain (Katie)
• Doolin, Tralee, Castleisland, Dingle, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Portmagee, Ballinskelligs, Kenmare, Killarney and Killarney Nat'l Park all in Ireland
• Israel (Paul)
• Poland (Paul)
• Seychelles Island (Paul)
• London, England (Paul)
• Prague, Czech Republic (planned for Feb 2014)
• Lithuania/Estonia (Paul)
• And hopefully I can get to Amsterdam, too before we leave!

BAKERIES  

German Bäckeri- Barbarossa

Bakeries here are like no other!  It is very common when visiting France to see people walking around eating an entire baguette!  Yes, the 18" long skinny bread loaf!  They just eat them like a snack!

And I understand why now- b/c they are DELISH!  Bakeries here (Germany, France, Belgium that I have experienced) produce some of the best breads and pastries I've ever tasted!  Particularly France!  Their macaroons are TO DIE FOR and I'm not talking about coconut things, I'm talking about delectable, sweet, little sandwich cookie things with a slightly crunchy outer shell and then the entire thing just melts in your mouth!

Best French Bakery- Paul

And everything is so cheap!  Fresh pretzels (big ones) are 29 euro cents which is about 35¢, fresh loaves of bread are about $1, pasties range from 30¢ to $3 depending on what it is and how large.  Coffee here is robust, clean and simply the best I've ever had, too!


ROUND-A-BOUTS and DRIVING

After driving in Germany for the last couple years, returning to the States and driving scares me.  Germans are so much more cognizant and responsible!  They have to attend a driving school for a year before getting their license!  The autobahn scared me at first b/c of the speed.  Now, there are speed limits, especially thru towns and cities like this it means- In a city/town the speed limit it 50 KPH (about 30 MPH), outside the town/city it is 100 KPH (about 60 MPH) and on the autobahn (denoted by the blue road symbol) the limit is 130 KPH (about 76 MPH).  BUT.....

When you do see this sign or a sign like this with numbers and lines thru it, that means there is NO SPEED LIMIT.  Cars will fly by you like you are sitting still when you are actually doing 80 MPH!  I am not one of those who enjoys toying with death via a car accident, so I usually cruise at about 130-140 KPH.

"Other people", I won't name names (**Paul**) like to try giving me a heart attack whenever possible!  There might be visible claw marks in his car...  Memories of some terrifying moments...  I'm only kidding about the claw marks... Not about the moments ;)

Round-a-bouts are amazing!  No stop lights, barely any wait time and you just go with the flow!  So much more efficient than a light or stop sign!!!  

Looks scary, but it's VERY EASY to navigate, unless you visit Paris and decide to drive the Arc de Triomphe round-a-bout... Then you have 5 lanes to navigate thru with tons of cars and double decker buses.  Saw it, never want to do it.  

COUNTRY SIDES AND ROLLING HILLS

Germany isn't super industrialized or over built.  The towns are mostly small, they all have their own town square with a huge, elaborate and beautiful church, there are very few stores (some don't even have a gas station), and their views are beautiful!  Who wouldn't love driving and seeing these views? (Thanks Mr. Mike Mander for your photo, dunno who you are, but love your pic).

And if you think that is nice, just google Mosel Valley, Germany.  There is the "wine" road that goes through all of the wineries here.  The hillsides are covered with vineyards for miles and miles along with castles and cute little towns!  Really amazing!

Christmas Markets in Germany/France are unbelievable!  Words can't even describe how awesome they are!  Christmas in the States feel so commercialized and fake, whereas, Christmas here feels like tradition and magic!  The only way to understand it is to experience it!!!

Trier, Germany

Brugge, Belgium

Strasbourg, France

RYANAIR, T€DI & CHEAP WINE

I paired all of these together b/c they are all super inexpensive, but awesome!  RyanAir is an airline company that is usually really cheap! I'm talking €13 each way trip to Ireland cheap (during non peak season).  Or how about a €12 per person RT ticket to Scotland during non peak season?  Yes please!  You can travel cheap if you know how!  Pack light- mind the carry-on restriction sizes, they are strict.  It isn't a normal carry-on size!  If you have to take a bag, buy the extra bag AT THE TIME YOU BUY YOUR TICKET!  It's €50 then.  Or else at the counter it could be as high at €150!  Wear some items with a Roofus Roo Travel Vest.  Yes it looks silly, but seriously I bought one and saved on my check bag fees b/c I was able to use a small carry-on and this vest :)

T€di is like an amazing dollar store, except with way cooler stuff!  I get wrapping paper there for 55 euro cents (about 73¢) :)  I get earring and jewelry for myself and my kids for 50 euro cents to €2 and if you look you can find really cute stuff!  They have school supplies for cheap and even some nice, big artwork in big, heavy, pretty frames (for around €20-€40)!

Wine...  Mmmmmm.  I'll say it again...

WIIIIINNNNE!  Yummy!  I never really drank wine before, except maybe one of those "boxed" wines 1x a year.  Until I got here.  Holy crap is it good!  First, I could only drink sweet stuff like the Eisweins and Moscatos.  But now, I love me some half dry red wines- not so much the whites (unless it's a good Moscato, then I'll have it).  My favorite so far is what is any Halbtrocken Dornfelder wine.  It's a half dry red wine made from the dornfelder grape, grown here in the Mosel Valley.  So delish, so fragrant it just tantalizes my tastebuds!  

There are so many wines I've tried, I couldn't name them all, but almost any wine here is great!  And the best part is- unlike in the States where "cheap" wine tastes like garbage- you can get amazing wine for around €2-€4, thats like $3-$5!!!!!  Yes PLEASE!  I am trying create a stock pile for our return to the States since I have seen friends posting about $15-$30 bottles tasting like garbage :/  Paul thinks I am crazy, but I don't care!  It is so nice to cook a nice meal while listening to some piano music and drinking my wine!  It's calming, soothing, just makes me feel at ease.  Or just downing a bottle during homework makes it better, too!  JUST KIDDING!  I don't do that :)  

WALKING MY KIDS TO/FROM SCHOOL

I added this to my list b/c I just don't know if i am going to be able to do this at our next base.  I imagine there is a busing system since there is no DoD school on base.  Right now, we live 2 blocks from school.  It takes me 5-6 min to walk them there.  It's nice to walk with them as they hop, dance and sing every morning and then we talk about their day on their way home.  Hopefully, we get this opportunity at our next base, but if not, I am going to miss it!

Our favorite Fall tree/ October 2013

These are just a few of the things I will miss about Germany.  I'm sure there will be more once we leave.

I am excited about "going home", but at the same time hopeful about another overseas assignment... Maybe next time Japan?  :)

Loves to all,
Katie <3

Losing Faith in Society…

It has come to pass that I find myself extremely disappointed in the majority of society.  I should clarify, American society.  Our society (American) is becoming more and more self absorbed, less compassionate, less empathetic with each generation that passes and gets more hateful and mean with each new era of minions. 

Maybe our core is becoming cold due to parents being less involved with kids and more involved with their “toys”? Maybe it is because of the pressure and “mandatory” compliance we (society, media) expect to our social norms? Or maybe is due to some bullshit “pre-disposition” malarkey that is going to make it’s way to the latest edition of the DSM.  It could be one or all of those things… 

But I believe it is simple.  Our society is corroding due to the fact that we have the world at our fingertips if we want it.  We expect, we want, we get, and we are losing the sense of putting in hard work for things, we are losing our basic values and ethics, but most of all we are losing our love for others and ourselves.  

The things we have, the technology that is available, the expectation for our “instant gratification” bucket to be filled, and the overuse and abuse of the right to Freedom of Speech that has lead our society to become visceral, mean, and so inept that we trample over each other and feelings because “we can”.   Freedom of Speech is sacred, I will admit.  But when people use it to say hateful, harsh, and bullying comments...that’s not right.  That is not a right that I fought to protect, that is not a right that—I believe—my husband and our friends are still fighting to protect.  What that is called, ladies and gentlemen, is plain old bullying. 

Being a bully doesn’t just happen in school hallways, recess and playgrounds anymore.  Bullying is taking form in coffee shops, work centers and on good ole social media sites.

Some may say- adults don’t bully, adults just need to stop their whining and grow up and deal with it, adults should be able to take it- they have thicker skin.  Well I’m sorry, I disagree.  Yes our society has become “soft” in many ways, but bullying is just plain mean. 

Some may say its just words, or it’s just a post on FaceBook/Twitter/LinkedIn.  Yeah they are just words, words directed at someone with the intent to hurt, demean, degrade and ultimately inflict an inferior feeling on another person.  That isn’t right.  That’s just hateful.   It wasn’t right in the past and is still isn’t right today.

Mean people just suck.  Mean people are becoming more and more prevalent in our society and their negative attitudes, comments and posts are poisoning the people around us.  Our children see how adults act, react, and listen to their words, tones and inflections.  They learn from us.  So are we teaching them it’s OK to treat another human being like this?  Are we teaching them it’s OK not to value other human beings as equals?  Are we teaching them it’s OK not to care about how others feel and the effect that words can have on someone?  The answer is yes…  And that means we are teaching them all the wrong things about how society should act/be. 

People, I believe, are inherently good.  Those in a scientific field often say people are predisposed to certain things, well- maybe so, but being mean isn’t one of them.  I believe that no matter what- you chose to be a compassionate, loving, empathetic person or you chose to be a mean, negative, hateful person- which sometimes means being a bully, too.  If you are a bully, don’t blame your actions and who you are (or have become) on others, don’t use excuses to try and justify your meanness and don’t blame others because you chose to be mean. 

We, as a society, are losing our sense of humanity and the basic kindness for others.  Being empathetic doesn’t mean you are weak, loving others just because doesn’t mean you’re a sissy; it means you care.  Truly caring about other people—whether you know them or not, whether you agree with their lifestyle or not—is part of what has made our race so unique and wonderful.  

Losing that… regardless of the technology we possess, will mean the end of modern civilization. 

That’s not a joke, that’s not a play on words, that’s the truth.  

When we all stop caring about one another and lose our empathy and humanity, we lose everything and the world will deteriorate into a chaotic mess of self-destructive people. 

The saying I try to live by and try to instill in my children- “Be the change you wish to see in the world” – Gandhi. 

If you don’t like the path you are on, change it.  Don’t make excuses- just do it.  There is enough hate in the world, why not spread a little happiness- be nice. 

Much love, 

Katie