About
Welcome! My name is Bethany, and I’ve been living in Northern Germany for about half of my life. I grew up on a farm in the Midwest and got my bachelor’s degree in music performance and German culture in the area at a Big State School as well. After having spent a year abroad in Freiburg, Germany, I decided to return to Germany, this time to Hamburg, in 2004 to get my master’s degree in music performance. After several years of living and working there, I met my German husband and bought a house in the country, where we have been living together with our 2 kids and a cat since 2016.
But be forewarned – this is not a blog about cats (for the most part)! However, by getting my first cat, Dusty, I was actually taking a big step toward building a life over here, whether I realized it at the time or not. It was a subconscious commitment to staying parked for a while. A pet requires long-term commitment and follows you wherever you go… and that he did for the entirety of his life. I’m honored he spent it with my and my family!
Pictured: Dusty, 2007-2021
So why start writing now? I actually started this blog several years back, but it’s gone to the wayside in the past several years. I’m not sure if it’s a growing sentimentality after having lived here for so long or since having children, or it’s a search for more purpose, but I keep feeling drawn to share my thoughts and many gathered experiences to help other expats adjust and thrive, as well as to entertain and inform anyone curious about travel in Germany and Europe or long-term life abroad from a US expat’s perspective. I hope to be a useful resource!
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; it really puts you through the wringer! This is about those stories, adventures, challenges, and laughs that can only be had while living abroad. You learn a lot about yourself, the world, and yes, even your home country, living so far away from where you were raised.
Stories, tips, and information you’ll find here – In the hopes of informing and entertaining you, I’ll be sharing on topics such as:
- travel (solo, family, budget, international)
- German culture (incl. holidays and traditions)
- children (pregnancy, birthing, education)
- bi-cultural and day-to-day living
- daily life in Germany
- crafting and gardening
Feel free to contact me with requests, suggestions, or questions! Out of respect for privacy, I will not be sharing photos with faces in them, or faces will be cut/blocked, so please bear with me!
But here some pics of our cats over the years, just because…
