Welcome! My name is Bethany, I am in my late 30s, lived in downtown Hamburg, Germany until a few years ago and am now in the country outside of town with my German husband, 2 young kids, and 2 cats. Life is an adventure no matter where you live, but somehow I feel like more “life” happens when you are living in a foreign country. And especially once it is not just you anymore, but with a few little ones you want to guide through life in a country that is becoming more and more familiar, yet is not your own.

Just so you can’t say I didn’t warn you, this is not a blog about cats (for the most part)! However, by getting my first cat, Dusty (see below), I was actually taking a big step toward building a life over here, whether I realized it at the time or not. A cat requires long-term commitment and can follow you wherever you go…and he has thus far.

This is about thoughts that I have been floating around in my head for a while now. About stories, adventures, challenges, and laughs that can only be had while living abroad. You learn a lot about yourself and the world living so far away from where you were raised. So why start writing now? Not only has having kids given me a lot more material to reflect upon, but this summer will mark 15 years of living in Germany! Wow! Time to start sharing!

My hope is that my stories and tips are not only amusing or maybe even interesting or inspirational for anyone reading, but also reassuring and helpful to fellow expats and others curious about day-to-day life abroad – and especially for all moms and people trying to find their place in the world, wherever that may be!